Job Discussion Forums

[bradford]

I am planning on going to South America in the next three months and I have been planning on going to Santiago. I keep hearing negative feedback and am now considering Ecuador. Anyone have info on the job situation there? Best times to arrive? Good cities to stay in? Work in?
Thanks,
Sara

[Justin Trullinger]

Hey Sara,
I don't know if it's better here than in Santiago (never been there) but I'm having a pretty good time. There are several good posts in the job information journal, so I'll try not to repeat anything that's there.
I can only talk about Quito, as it's the only place I've lived around here, although the rest of the country is certainly beautiful to visit. What time to arrive seems to make fairly little difference, as the school years and workloads seem to be changing on a more random than seasonal basis. It isn't a place that's crawling with TEFL schools, but there are a fair few, and if you make the rounds with your resume, you're pretty likely to find something. If you're only staying 3 months, it may be a bit difficult to find work, start work, and then leave in that time, so be sure your cash reserves are ok before you arrive.
Lots of good temporary places to stay, mostly in a zone called la mariscal, or more poetically, Gringolandia. Lots of good restaurants there, also lots of sleazy bars, fair bit of crime. It might be worth it to check out neighborhoods like el dorado, where there isn't so much night life, but not so many hassles either.
Good Luck
Justin

[bradford]

Justin, Thanks for the quick reply. But now I just have more questions... How difficult is it to find an apartment (I am planning on staying at least a year), how much savings should I bring with me just in case, how much do apartments cost in a decent area and how necessary is it to have a TEFL certificate? -I have a degree in education and have been teaching for a year and my spanish is ok (I lived in Spain for six months) but I am sure it will improve quickly. I am thinking of taking an online TEFL course but is it a waste of money?
Thanks a lot!
Sara

[Justin Trullinger]

Alright, one point at a time-
How much money to bring depends a lot on you, and your lifestyle. The "cost of living" thread on this forum has some good info- not just my opinion, but a few other people who`ve been here as well. My apartment (old building, but in a nice neighborhood, and very big) costs 250 a month, + about $25 dollars in bills. This is too much for one person on a local salary, but for two it works out fine. You should know, the advantage of hostels and other temporary accomodation is that they don't charge a deposit. A standard deposit on an apartment here is 1-2 months rent, plus the 1st months rent on top. Ouch! And I've had no problems myself, but I know that it's sometimes easier to pay the deposit than to get it back.
Also, unfurnished flats are much cheaper than furnished, but furniture is way expensive. (refridgerators cost almost as much as in the US) So if you don't mind living with minimal furniture for a bit, as you accumulate second hand stuff, you can save quite a bit in the long term.
I came here with a couple grand, and still have about $1000 of it left, but I was pretty lucky in my set up costs, many people I know spent more.
PM me, and I can send you the names of some schools. (I'd do it here, but I don't know the rules about advertising on this forum)

Justin

[bg430]

"I came here with a couple grand, and still have about $1000 of it left"


How long have you been ther Justin?

[Justin Trullinger]

How long have you been ther Justin?

Coming up on two years! (Time is fun when you're having flies!)

But I was fortunate to have a job lined up before I came, so after initial set up costs, I haven't had to touch any savings. Which is good, because while you can live relatively well on a teacher�s salary here, you'll never be able to save anything that's worth much back home.

Justin[/quote]