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jumpingpete

I haven't been able to find any information on this website about El Salvador. Has anyone ever been there on holiday/ for work? I've been offered an English teaching job there. Any advice/ suggestions would be very appreciated.

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador

pollitatica · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 82

Don't know too much about the country, however, I do hope to visit there as I will be living in Honduras for the next year and a half or so.

But I do know that they have amazing pupusas. Smile

Sushi-Q · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 5

Hello. I realize the first message about El Salvador was put up last year, but since I have been to El Salvador a few times I thought maybe I could help.

In terms of finding a job teaching, I am not too sure how successful you will be because I have never looked into it. However, I feel that maybe the chances of finding jobs teaching ESL via internet in this country may be more difficult than other simply because there are not very many schools with internet websites. The two that I know of are "The Escuela Americana" and the "Colegio Panamericano".

Fresh food in El Salvador is VERY inexpensive. For example, you can often buy two heads of lettuce for .25 cents, juice in a bag for like .15 cents, and so on. Pupusas are usually .25 cents each, and make sure you try the one made with rice flour! But when going to the store to buy cereal that you could find in Canada or the US, expect to find prices similar to those in North America (i.e. a Box of Corn Flakes can cost $4 or so). Similarly, shampoo and shaving gel are the same prices in El Salvador as they are in North America.

The people are generally friendly and helpful as long as you speak Spanish because English-speakers are scarse. There are very few tourists (which is nice because you actually have the chance to be immersed into the culture). One thing to watch out for is "los manosos" and gang members who board the buses to quickly rob people. I wouldn't recommend wearing any jewelry because people who do are an easy target. Friday is pay day in El Salvador so it tends to be the day on which most of these types of robberies occur. Also, being out late at night (past 10 p.m. or so) is not recommended.

As long as you know these things, you will be very safe. The country is beautiful and has many natural wonders that can be discovered. Also, make sure you get to know the people... things will be so much more pleasant if you do.