Job Discussion Forums

waygukgaijinhaole · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 5:20 am Post subject:

Twisting-no biggie, but let me know what your friends think.

Just to clarify, I was wondering if it was customary. From the varied answers, I guess not. Another issue to add, I found out that the boss is not Ecuadorian...but Irish. Does that matter?

I guess I'll bring something small and see how the situation feels when I meet her.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Irish? Well then, a bottle of anythin g should do fine, or no lad?

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

One of my friends got back to me. Now, before I report, let me just say neither of my friends is Ecuadoran. One is Argentine and the other Chilean. Both have been teachers for 40 years. The Argentine has taught both in Argentina and in the US. The Chilean only in Chile.

My Argentine friend says she is "unaware" of such a custom, but concedes that customs vary from country to country. She has an Ecuadoran teacher friend whom she will pass this question along to, tho. I told her to try to get back to me before January.

I think the person being Irish would change things for me, at least. I've been a teacher for 20 years in the multi-cultural environment of Los Angeles. I've worked in Latin America in another field for two years in two different countries, in addition to traveling throughout Mexico, Central and South America, staying with local families and trying to get as close to local customs and culture that I could for a gringo/gabacho/yanqui, and I've never heard of giving a gift to the employer upon employment. It may be a custom in Asia, but is certainly not a western one that I know of, IMHO. I would just feel strange if I gave a gift upon employment, like I was sucking up or something. But that's just me. I'll post again when my other friend gets back to me and if I hear definitively from the Ecuadoran teacher.

BTW, where will you be in Ecuador? I was last there in 1990. I imagine things have changed a lot. Will you be teaching in Quito? If you get a chance, on your time off, be sure to go two places:

First, you must get out to Coca. You take a bus to Lago Agrio, but don't stay there long--it's a filthy oil town with nothing to recommend it. Then, I think I took another bus, or maybe I flew, to Coca. Coca is a picturesque little town on the Rio Napo and the jumping off point to the Ecuadoran Amazon. You can arrange all sorts of jungle treks from there, incuding arranging to see the Haoarani Indians (previously called the Auca--they were headhunters 50 years ago)

Second, you've got to go to the beach at Muisne. To get there take a bus to Esmeraldas, and you have to take a ferry or a couple of them. Musine is very isolated. You can stay in a little cabana on the beach, drink and make fun of the French.

I'll get back to you when I have some more info. Laughing

waygukgaijinhaole · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:55 am Post subject:

Twisting - I'll be in Cuenca. Coca has been recommended by several other people, as well. I will try to get there. Thanks for the info.

Guy - I'm not a "lad", but a lass. Smile

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I was working in Ecuador last year. Cuenca is fine--a little pricey, though. The best food in the sierra is in Ba�os de Agua, between Riobamba and Ambato. The place is small, a bit touristed, with okay hot springs pools to soak in and look up at the actve volcano, a couple of pretty good massage therapists....

Stay away from Guayaquil. In general, the coastal equatorianos are incredibly conflictive. (And I am not a person who shrinks from conflict, so consider yourself warned.)