Job Discussion Forums

fresas · Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Cuenca, Ecuador

Hi
Can anyone give me some info about Spirit Lanaguage School in Guayaquil? Have you had good/bad experiences teaching there?
Thanks a lot!

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

I know nothing about the school but will give you one piece of advice. Stay. Away. From. Guayaquil.

It's one of the most unpleasant cities in Latin America and has pretty much no redeeming features. Hot, muggy, dangerous, dirty, nothing to do. The airport and bus station are the only places you want to see there.

Other than that...Enjoy!!

fresas · Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Cuenca, Ecuador

I've noticed that's a common theme in these forums--"don't go to Guayaquil." I actually really enjoyed my time there--about a year and a half in total (although I agree that the heat and humidity are brutal). My host family, church, and students were wonderful. I guess it all depends on who you meet.

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

Well fair enough then-each to their own...You're the first person i've heard of saying Guayaquil isn't a total hell-hole, and that includes the Guayaquilinos(??) i knew in Quito and it's certainly not a place i'd recommend people to go and teach in if they were thinking of Latin America.

Good luck with all.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:46 pm Post subject:

"Guayaquile�os." Very Happy

But here in Quito, they mostly just call the "coste�os," meaning from the cost. Or sometimes they use more direct racist slurs, as the two regions really don't get along.

And no, most of the Guayaquile�os here in Quito don't have much good to say about the place, but that's probably why they�re here, not there. Most foreigners I've met haven't cared for Guayaquil, but most any city will do if you have good contacts, and can move into a good situation.

Good luck,
Justin

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:00 pm Post subject:

Hey Fresas-
Would you mind sending me the contact details for your school? I'm in QUito, but looking to pass a little business to some Guayaquile�os.

Thanks
Justin

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I would like to second that Guayaquil is a hellhole.

Che Guevara was stuck there for awhile in the early 50s without any money, and he described it as a hellhole.

It has not changed its spots.

fresas · Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Cuenca, Ecuador

Hey, Justin--sorry it took me so long to respond.
I think this is the correct address for the school: Av. Juan T. Marengo and Av. Las Aguas. I think they moved a couple of years ago, so I'm not 100% sure if this was their old or new address. In any case, if you're talking to Guayaquilenos, you can tell them that it's right beside the Colegio Espiritu Santo. The phone number I found is: 288-9156 and the director when I stopped by there a year ago was Martha Sarrazin.
Hope this helps!

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Colegio Esp�ritu Santo is another must miss.

gharwell1 · Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 48

I spent two year in Guayaquil running an English school. This was from 1985 to 1987. When I got there I had $15 and a note from the owner of the school in Costa Rica that I was now in Charge. The Secretary had run off with ALL the money and half the students were behind on paying for their courses.

I was an Illegal Alien the whole time I was there. You were only allowed 45 days per year to stay in the country. Immigration used to sweep the School for illegal Americans. I managed to slip out the back when the came. To get out,i gave the clener boy at the schoolmy pasprt and he would go down to the Bahia and give it to some guy in a little stall and go back three days later to get the passport. It had been legally exited and returned a couple of days before. I also got held up at the airport one time when I had passed through Customs and Immigration upon leaving and told I didnt'have a special stamp but for $20 they could give it to me at the airport. Now, this was AFTER I had gone through Immigration and was waiting for my flight.

I met some good people there and would welcome the oportunity to visit Guayaquil to see them again as a TOURIST. I'm not sure I would want to work there again but I survived the first time and could do so a second time. There ARE better places to work than Guayaquil but ther are WORSE places also.

Gary Harwell
Formerly of IAVI

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

There are WORSE places? Like WHERE?

gharwell1 · Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 48

Worse places..
Well, the first two on my list would be Jubail and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Gary

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I can't comment about KSA. At the moment I am in Jordan (nice place) and am headed for Bahrain in a week. I would certainly give Amman a MUCH higher rating than Guayaquil.

MELEE · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:58 pm Post subject:

I also did not like Quayaquil. In addition to hot and humid, the place smelled of rotting fruit.

I lived in Cuenca, absolutely lovely, for six months.

But if I had the offer of a really, I mean really, great job in Quayaguil I might take it because you only have to travel about half an hour up the coast to find increadible nearly deserted beaches. So if that's a factor for anyone (wasn't someone asking about surfing recently), it might be worth a shot.