Job Discussion Forums

marg252 · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 55

I posted this in the general LA forum, but didn't get many responses. I would love to hear anything that any of you have to offer.

I am currently teaching in Shanghai, China and looking forward to leaving at the end of this contract. I keep flip-flopping between Chile and CR for the next place.

I have never been to either of these places. I love the outdoors and am looking forward to not being cold all winter (no central heating in Shanghai, so I'm cold every day, wore a ski hat to teach in January). A cooler climate is my main concern with Chile- otherwise, it wins. I don't mind cool weather, but wearing double long-johns in bed is too much for me. Of course I want good food and nice people, but access to outdoor activities is actually my first priority. I want to feel safe. I also want somewhere that I could settle for a few years and work on a distance learning masters. It would be nice to live somewhere with a feeling of community. I just need to make enough money to get by. My spanish is mediocre, but I'm working on it now and looking forward to the opportunity to get better.

So, any recommendations from people who have been to/taught/lived in these places? Thank you for any help you have to offer!

treasurechess · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject: torn between Costa Rica and Chile

I can't speak about Chile but I have been volunteer teaching in Costa Rica since Feb. 1 and I love it. You won't have to worry about cold weather, only about the rainy season and possibly mosquitos. Costa Rica is a smaller country bordering on the Pacific and the Caribbean. Most of the language schools are around San Jose, the capital. I was hired by one of these to teach on Saturday at one of their clients offices. In Costa Rica you can get to most places with a two hour bus ride. I think Chile might have more remote towns and may be colder but, as I said, I have not been there.

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

If you want outdoor activities, avoiding the jungles of Costa Rica might be a good idea unless you're up for learning something brand new. There are plenty of mountains in CR though. If you love the outdoors, I imagine a noisy, polluted city (San Jose) might not be your game?

I'd say go for Chile, but then, I've never been in Chile so. :)