View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
viv123
Joined: 27 Aug 2011 Posts: 7
|
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 3:05 am Post subject: Where to live and work with a 2 year old |
|
|
My partner and I would like to spend about 6 to 9 months living somewhere in South America next year. The plan is I will teach and my partner will stay at home and take care of our son, who'll be 2.
I have a BA, a Masters (but not in Education), a CELTA and about 8 years experience teaching English. I don't speak Spanish and I have an Australian accent, which I imagine will count against me.
Can anyone recommend a good place for us to live? Cuenca, Ecuador sounds great, but I was shocked by the wages there- around $300 a month! We are happy to take some money from home to supplement my income, but we don't want to go broke either. If we take an extra $200 a month, will that be enough for us to live on? Or is it unrealistic to expect the three of us to get by living in Cuenca on $500 a month?
Can anyone recommend somewhere similar in South America where the wages are slightly better, but where it is still relatively safe and nice to live in?
Any advice would be really appreciated. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home
|
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
Your partner, you mean you're married or not? If not then you couldn't get them a visa. I'd look at universities if I were you. Pay might be 700 to 1500 a month.
UDEP used to pay 700 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
just_a_mirage
Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Posts: 169 Location: ecuador
|
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 3:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Most of the decent paying work in Ecuador is in Quito or Guayaquil. I would love to live on the coast, but simply cant afford the low wages. Cuenca does not pay much. You dont see many long-term English teachers there who rely only on their earned income. Most who are living there have other sources of income besides teaching. Its a beautiful city, but not the best choice for people who need to earn a living. I live in Guayaquil, and work two full time jobs. I work six days a week, and make about $1200 a month. You could conceivably live on $500 a month, but you would be living very bare bones...no travel, nights out, etc. Or you could work two jobs. Most teachers here in Ecuador work more than one.
If you wanted to come for just six months, you could come on the 12-IX which is the extended tourist visa which allows you to work legally. If you are not married, you would have to apply separately, and one of you could claim your child as a dependent. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1450 Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
|
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 5:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Mexico might be worth looking into.
I'd also say look at unis in Mexico. (While further away from Australia, there are probably more flights connecting through Los Angeles, so travel time actually be shorter than to Ecuador.)
What countries and what types of students did you teach over your 8 years of experience? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
viv123
Joined: 27 Aug 2011 Posts: 7
|
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks very much for those suggestions. We're not married at the moment but we're planning to be by the time we go overseas.
I taught children in Japan and Korea for a few years and then taught adults in Australia- EAP, FCE, General English. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1450 Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
|
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
There are schools in Mexico that would be interested in someone familiar with the FCE that would pay enough for your partner to stay home with your son. But they would likely only offer a 12 month contract. PM me if you want more information. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|