Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I've been here about two months and just posted some infor about the Universidad de Piura in the job info journal, so hopefully it will be there in the next month or so and when it is, I'll copy and paste it.
If you have any questions, PM me. I think the uni is a pretty good place to work.

[naturegirl321]

I heard about this university from this site, so I thought that I should write more about it. I got the job while I was in China and had never been to Peru before I came here.
I've been here two months and have nothing but good things to say about the University. The Centro de Idiomas has been so helpful and like a family. They made sure that I was happy with my housing, could find my way around town, and helped me find a doctor to get shots. The people are kind and friendly, and always are inviting you somewhere.
My weekends are chock full with lunch dates, parties and shopping with people that I've met here at the Uni. They speak English very very well, But will also speak to you in Spanish if you want.
Coming from China, Piura seems small, about 300,000 people. There is not a lot of shopping and it seems expenive to me. They have a cinema and a market, though the market isn't that safe. It's a modern city well internet cafes and cell phones. it's not too safe to walk around after dark alone, but there are plenty of taxis and motos to choose from.
There are tons of Catholic churches here and also Christian ones. I go to a great Baptist church.
The only things that I don't like are the heat and working split shifts, but I guess that it's somethings that I will just have to get used to.
Anyways, if you have questions, you can email me or go to their website. www.udep.edu.pe

Sharon
[email protected]
PM name naturegirl321
23 Sept 2004
Piura, PERU
Posted: September 23, 2004

[Flo]

I was also employed at the Universidad de Piura a year ago. Overall, the job wasn�t too bad, although there were problems with some people in the office (some of which have left already). I did have a different experience than nature girl, in that there were only 2 individuals in the office that offered to socialize with the foreigners. As a result the foreign teachers spent the majority of their free time hanging out with each other and speaking English. While I did manage to eventually meet some other Peruvian friends, the University wasn�t very helpful on the social end.

The good thing about the University is that they set you up in a house when you arrive and they pick you up at the airport and take you to your place. You don�t have to worry about where you will stay when you get there. I was not so fortunate with my next position (in a different country) and had a miserable and expensive living arrangement until something else was sorted out. The family who owned the bording house I stayed at was wonderful...they treated me like one of their own kids.

Living in Piura left some things to be desired. It is a very poor area and crime is out of control. I am glad I went there for the experience, but it definately isn�t for everyone. There is a lot of robbery, assult, and an occasional kidknapping. The good thing about Piura is it is hot and less than an hour from the beach. Everything is cheap! A kilo of the world�s best strawberries is about a dollar, and round trip bus fare to the beach is $2.

I travelled extensively while in Peru and believe that UdeP is probably the best English teaching job one can find in the country. If someone has their heart set on living in a poverty stricken nation, I would recommend contacting them. PM me if you want any details.

[naturegirl321]