Job Discussion Forums

[gambasbo]

I have been teaching here for over four years, and if anyone has any questions, I will do my best to try and answer them. I live in Cochabamba, the City of Eternal Spring!

Feel free to ask here, or direct to my e mail. ([email protected])

Mike

[lozwich]

Hi Mike,

In the Mexico forum, there's a longish post about what people can expect when they come here. If you are of a mind, I'd really appreciate something like that for Bolivia. At this point, I don't know if I like Mexico just because I've experienced it, and I'd like to know if other parts of Latin America are similar, or completely different in exciting ways!

Cheers,

Lozwich.

[gambasbo]

OK Lozwich. Anything I miss, just ask.

As I said, I came here with the TESOL qualification, but that doesn't seem to be an essential.

I started with one Institute very quickly and they were paying just under 2 dollars an hour. However they made great promises about training days that they never kept, so I left fairly quickly. I walked into another and was asked if I could start the following Monday, which I did. They paid 4.2 dollars an hour and were much better. You can get more money if you are qualified, which I am, and if you like teaching children which I don't!!!

I stayed at the second Institute for just over 18 months and also started to teach in house, as the Institute was usually only for three hours a night. Eventually, I changed to just teaching at home as a). it's easier and b) I was fed up with teaching teenagers and adults who were often only there because their parents could afford the tuition fees.

A word about the economy here. It's the poorest country in South America and the average professional wage is 140 dollars a month. Therefore, most people live with their families, in some cases even after they're married. You should be able to get a reasonable apartment for about 100 dollars a month, and food is very cheap with fruit and vegetables in plenty and of course an abundance of chicken. They have something here where almuerzo, (a 3 or 4 course lunch), is usually about a dollar in most restaurants.

I love it here and get on very well with Bolivians. It's only fair to point out that, though, that unrest is always here, and there are periodic protests and outbreaks of violence. The President resigned about a month ago, which may have prevented a Civil War!!

Cochabamba is a city of about half a million and it's at 2500 metres, which is just perfect. The altitude hardly affects you and the all year round daily temperature is between about 70 and 90 degrees, with little humidity. It's called the City of Eternal Spring. The rainy season is from about Dec to March. Bolivian cities are very different. La Paz, the capital, is in a beautiful setting, but a lot higher, and some are affected by the altitude. The weather is also not as nice as Cochabamba's. Santa Cruz, in the Lowlands, is very hot and humid. So something for everyone.

I should also mention that I now teach free. However, I do think that if you advertised in the local press, you would have a plentiful supply of students as most want to learn English. I am in the fortunate position of being able to do this as I took early retirement and receive a pension, which goes a lot further here than at home.

A story to finish with. When I was charging my students, I charged 3 dollars an hour if they could afford it. A young woman joined and wanted 4 hours a week tuition. A few weeks later I asked her what she was earning and she was paying me about 70 percent of her salary, so I halved her fees. (she was still paying me over a third of her salary) She was a professional but wasn't working full hours.

I later found out that her husband had left her, was working in the USA, but was not sending her any money and she had a young daughter, which was the reason she wanted to learn English to teach her, so I halved her fees again to under a dollar an hour (still 17% of her salary) It's because of stories like this that I eventually decided to teach free but students have to get 65% in periodic tests to remain, to ensure they are working.

I should also mention about getting visas. I don't know what its like for residents of other countries but I got a 1 month tourist visa to start with and then applied for a one year, followed by a 2 year. I now have an unlimited visa. The whole process is very costly and like probably every other Latin American country very bureaucratic. Be prepared for a lot of blood sweat and tears!!

Hope that helps to give you a better picture.

Mike

[lozwich]

Thanks for that, Mike, very comprehensive, and I think answered all of the questions I had.

I've always been fascinated by Bolivia, but think I will relegate it to a holiday visit. Number one priority for me is to live in a country with a coastline. Just a leftover from calling the world's largest island my home...

Thanks again,
Lozwich.

[gambasbo]

Anyone know how to make a topic sticky, or does that come from the Administrator?

I think some of the information here may be useful to someone considering Bolivia. Also if anyone has any questions, fire away.

Mike

[Munchen]

Directed to Mike in particular.
I find your post very interesting. For starters, I have reached SS eligibility this past year but not having much on other pension/savings, I will have to continue working for a long time living in the DC area. (SS about $850 a month) I hope to be moving somewhere south of the border in the coming year or so.
I have given a lot of thought to Costa Rica as I was there in the sixties working as a priest of the Episcopal Church. However, I know some things have changed there.
In reading your remarks about Cochabamba, I happend to be involved with Hispanic ministry in the Arlington, VA area and most of one congregation consists of people from Bolivia, mostly from Cochabamba.
There seems to be a large community of Bolivians from that area living in the Northern VA suburban DC area. I have celebrated Mass for their observation of the Virgen de Urkupina festival, in private homes and a community center. I can assure you I have never heard of it until I ran into these folks.
I can testify that they like most Hispanics are very hard working people. The young people are remarkable, going to area high schools and have obtained rapid fluency in English. They have to assist their parents who are much slower on the uptake.
What attracts me, of course, is the cost of living you are talking about.
I did teach English in Spain back in the '70s. Have thought about TEFL program but never got to it and in a way, feel a little old for that now.
I know some of the VA area Bolivians return there for periods of 2-3 month visits
Just wondering, how decent an apartment can you get for $100 a month? That's like living here in the sixties. Would one have to buy utilities such as stove, refrigerator, etc. or are they supplied?
Yes, the Bolivians I have met here are great. Some of them have it rough here and wonder why they would want to leave a place of "Eternal spring."
I suppose if I were interested, I would have some contacts ready made.
Kind of a broad question, but would appreciate any comments about living costs. Would think a maid would be affordable and maybe necessary for grocery shopping and cooking.
No rush about this and you can address me on this post or directly here at [email protected].
Would enjoy hearing any further insights on living in Bolivia and Cochabamba.

[gambasbo]

I reckon that you could live reasonably comfortably here for about 600 dollars a month and that would be allowing 150 dollars for an apartment. No, apartments wouldn't normally include refrigerators, cookers, etc, at that price.

Be prepared for lots of hassles with the paperwork for immigration, though!!!

Mike

Interestingly enough, four of my former students live in Virginia. It is a place that Bolivians seem to be drawn to. (I think two were evangelicals and two were catholics, so maybe the two catholics are in your congregation!!)

[Munchen]

Mike, I appreciate your prompt reply. Yes, I'm sure there would be red tape and immigration hassles. I know I could check further with Bolivian Embassy here and it is something for consideration.

Have you had any experience with the medical arena there? Being in the senior range, I take medication for hypertension and Type II diabetes, both under reasonable control.
Also the dental area? In consideration of countries, I know Costa Rica is pretty decent and still may be better off there. Can you participate in a national health insurance plan in Bolivia? I'm just looking at all possibilities right now and if I hadn't gotten to know some of the Bolivians here, I probably wouldn't have given it much thought.

As I am unattached, I live fairly simply and, in fact, my biggest monthly expense here is an apartment, over $700 a month and that's in the reasonable range for this area. Books probably the main luxury, many of which I would have to unload if I were to live elsewhere out of the US.
Doubt if I spend more than $100-150 on food for a month. In fact the Peruvian chicken establishments are real bargains here. One Bolivian lady I know will not give out her "secret" recipe for her roast chicken!!

I know safety is a concern everywhere but in Bolivia, any "gringo" would be considered rich even on SS income. Do you get asked about US foreign policy and situation in Iraq?

Thanks again for your response and would appreciate hearing about any further thoughts or comments at your convenience.

[gambasbo]

Hi there

I do know a very good doctor and also a good dentist. The doctor costs about 13 dollars a visit. You do pay for medication, although there's one place you can get it considerably cheaper if you are willing to queue. There is no national health insurance plan here that I am aware of. Just no money to do it.

Safety has been a lot better here since they introduced security guys in the streets about two years ago, who are just about everywhere. But it makes it a lot safer to walk at nights.

As I am not a North American, No, I dont get asked about US foreign policy and the situation in Iraq? But most Bolivians strongly dislike the United States' foreign policy. I think that on the whole they are quite friendly to individual North Americans, though.

Once again, I hope my comments help.

Mike

[Munchen]

Thanks once again for your reply and remarks have been very helpful.
You have answered at least some of the basic questions and if I should pursue Cochabamba, I will be in contact again.
Although I know I could get info from some of the Bolivians I know here, it is good to get some insight from a non-Bolivian living there.
Have a Happy New Year there in Bolivia!

[gambasbo]

Reading what I wrote again, I see that I said that the average professional wage here is 140 dollars a month. This is because so many here only work part time, either mornings or afternoons only. But even those fortunate enough to be working full time would still only receive about 300 dollars a month maximum. And so many professionals, too, are unemployed.

Mike

[guerrita]

Hi - i just wanted to know if you are still in cochabamba? i am planning on going back there next year (i have been 3 times before but only short term) and i am hoping to get a job teaching english for at least a year. i am well aware of the economic situation, so my hope is to not to make tons of money, but really to experience the city and country.

i just wondered if you had any suggestions as to schools i could look into? i will graduate in the spring with a BA and TEFL certificate.

any info you could pass on would be great in terms of schools, or job opportunities

thanks a lot

[gambasbo]

I would suggest two.

1 - The Calvert School - but no point in contacting them until you arrive.

2 - Britanico Boliviano de Cultura (BBC) - normally just evenings and only if they have sufficient students. Calle Espa�a between Calle Columbia and Avenida Heroinas.

Mike

[gambasbo]

I lost this site when a technician didn't save about 250 of my favourite web sites when reinstalling Windows, and have just retrieved it.

So I am bringing this post to the top of the pile, as I am still available to offer any information you need about teaching in Bolivia

Mike