Word: ecuador
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Dates: during 2000-2000
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Where to go? What retirees tend to want most is--no surprise--a pleasant climate. Fortunately, they can find sunny skies in countries where the cost of living is low, such as Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Ecuador. Some retirees feel comfortable with a large expatriate community, which they can find in nearby Mexico. Many are lured back to places they have worked or visited--or to the land of their ancestors, say, France, Italy or Greece. Some Americans are braving the Irish weather or escaping to the wide-open spaces of countries like Canada or New Zealand. John...
...Margaret Amundson is no stranger to adventure, having raced dragon boats in China's Hunan province and explored the Tikal ruins of Guatemala. When she cast about in 1997 for a school to improve her Spanish, the Michigan nurse looked first to Ecuador, explaining, "I was fascinated by the indigenous cultures, and I wanted to see the Galapagos before they are destroyed." At the Academia Latinoamericana de Espanol in the capital city of Quito, she was not disappointed. After three intensive weeks of private classes and living with a family, she went off better prepared for her explorations. Says Amundson...
People like Amundson are responsible for a miniboom in language instruction in this small South American nation, where more than 60 schools, academies and tutoring firms have sprouted since 1995. With a total of 100 language schools, Ecuador rivals Costa Rica, Mexico and Guatemala as a Spanish-learning mecca, and government officials are hoping to turn language tourism into a significant generator of income. "It is exactly the kind of quality industry that our country so badly needs," explains Concepcion Barahona de Pozo, Ecuador's tourism undersecretary...
...mountain community 35 minutes by air to the south. Nearly half the language students are more than 40 years old, with as many from Europe as the U.S. They study Spanish to prepare for travel, to scout retirement sites--or just to learn something new. They are attracted by Ecuador's diverse cultures and spectacular topography. Off-hours, the adventuresome can trek in the nearby Andes...
...many visitors, Ecuador's bargain prices are as alluring as its scenery, especially following the September currency conversion. The going rate for private lessons is just $5 an hour. A first-rate dinner for two in Quito is $15; taxis are usually less than $2. Accommodations with local families average $12 to $15 a night. For a typical student, a month's expenses may never...