Ever wonder what it’s like to have lived in different countries? Well, some people have done it, even young people.

A Northwest High School Senior, Gabe Perez is from Ecuador, which is famous for its climate and natural regions. Perez was born in Ecuador Guayaquil, on May 7, 2004 and moved to the United States in 2012. Perez’s mother moved them to the United States for a better future and chose to settle in Kansas because that is where his stepfather was. 

Gabe and his family still celebrate traditions they would back home including Dia De Los Muertos, also known as The Day of The Dead. Beginning Sunday, October 31and ending Tuesday, November 2, Dia De Los Muertos honors the dead with festivals and lively celebrations, a typically Latin American custom. 

 Some of the key differences of living in Ecuador from the U.S were “The streets are extremely busy, You have to wear uniforms for school. Things are a lot more expensive because the economy is bad there. The police service is not as good as the U.S.” (Perez) Gabe is Bilingual and can speak both Spanish and English. He plans to go visit Ecuador this summer with his family since the last time he was there was in 2016. 

“I miss My family and the weather because it was always warm.” (Perez) Gabe prefers living in the United States over Ecuador Although, he is fond of both countries because one is his past and the other is his future.