Job Discussion Forums

[sara.ede]

Starting out my ESL career and have been offered a position in Guayaquil at In Lingua and in Merida at the Iowa Institute. Anyone have any experience with these places/employers? Any info would be appreciated.

Sara

[moonraven]

I wrote a piece for the Job Information Journal last March with a title something along the lines of Stay the H*E*L*L Away from Guayaquil. The title pretty much says it all.

However, just in case you need more:

The people in Guayaquil are the most conflictive I have dealt with ANYWHERE. A former President of the country who is from Guayaqul and still lives there says the same thing, so apparently being conflictive is an issue of pride for those folks. (Folks up in the Sierra--in Cuenca, for example--are normal, friendly types.)

There are very few days of sunshine. Just leaden skies over the sluggish river and the city of 2 and a half million folks who haven't learned to smile.

Homestays there are the worst: rude and grumpy hosts, a diet of rice (several teachers who worked for me at the university lived briefly in those pestholes.) A small furnished apartment with appliances that don't work will set you back at least 300 dollars plus utilities, and you must have someone co-sign for a year of rent payments and pay a 2 months' rental deposit--which you will not get back if you leave sooner than a year.

Food is expensive--like everything else in a dollarized economy--especially in the gringo places in the malls. The best food is in hole in the wall spots, where you can eat lunch for about a dollar fifty. It won't be tasty, but you won't get sick from it. Probably.

Although they are on a campaign to bring culture to the city (new IMAX theater on the Malec�n), it's an uphill battle. Cinemas show mostly Hollywood garbage. Occasionally there are art films downtown at one of the consulates, but most folks are working at the hour they are scheduled. Museums are CLOSED on Sundays.

One of the teachers who worked for me said: "These folks have no souls." That might have been an extreme statement. Or she may have just be right.

[matttheboy]

For once i agree whole-heartedly with moonraven. Guayaquil is possibly the most unpleasant place i've visited (with the exception of wolverhampton)-dirty, dangerous, and ugly is how i would describe the place. The only redeeming feature is the bus station which gets you to montanita. Do yourself a favour and choose somewhere else. If you want a big city and nightlife then quito is fun (i worked there for a few months and had a great time teaching and in general) or if you want somewhere a little more relaxed Cuenca is beautiful (i found it a touch dull after a week though). There's a fair bit of info about ecuador on this forum if you search for it, otherwise PM and i'll try to answer any questions you might have.

[moonraven]

Che Guevara ran out of money in Guayaquil in the early 50s, and he also described it as the worst place he's ever been. It hasn't changed much in 50 years, either--they just slapped on a veneer of big overpriced shopping malls where none of the locals can afford to buy anything....

[sara.ede]

Thanks! I was leaning more towards Venezuela anyway....

[moonraven]

You will LOVE Venezuela! (And its president....)