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Quito vs. Guayaquil

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petman2001
  2/11/2010 13:57 EST

As a non-certified teacher looking to move to Ecuador, I am hoping some of you already there can give me your comparisons about working and living in both Quito and Guayaquil. Which city offers steadier work teaching English? What about issues like: housing, cost of living, transportation, etc. Any info is most welcome. THANKS! Peter Manale

OceanHideaway
  2/11/2010 15:32 EST

Hi Pete:

I know you will get some answers to your questions about these cities very quickly, but more than likely the answer will ultimately lie with what you prefer as a living location.

Quito has more culture and a more historic feel. Guayaquil has a more modern feel and is closer to the coast. So the question really is "apples or oranges" or more to the point strawberries or coconuts!

And keep in mind that being a small country (the size of Nevada) you can get everywhere by short commuter flight and/or bus ride.

And ...welcome to the Forum!

Susan
www.TheOceanHideaway.net

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petman2001
  2/12/2010 02:04 EST

Hi Susan,

Thanks for your warm welcome. You're right about the participants on this forum. I am already getting friendly and invaluable information.

Take care,
Peter

suspirar
  2/14/2010 16:06 EST

I tried looking for English-teaching jobs too, and I think Quito has more opportunities. Quito is prettier, surrounded by majestic green mountains. However, I would choose GUAYAQUIL. I loathe Guayaquil. I hate Guayaquil. But Guayaquil´s climate is nicer in my opinion and in the opinions of people outside of Ecuador who have been to both cities. Quito gets damned cold if you live in cheap housing.

Guayaquil is a scary place for newbies. It´s best if you can go there with an Ecuadorian. I couldn´t find myself a good map of Guayaquil.

Also, showers tend to be cold in Guayaquil. However, you can heat up your own bucket of water by cutting an electrical cord, which you plug into a wall. I guess it´s best to have someone show you how to do it; you could get electrocuted to death. Usually a spoon is connected to the hot and neutral wire (therefore 2 spoons are used).

Inlingua hires in Guayaquil.

You may also want to try Cuenca (also cold) or other cities, like Puerto Lopez.

suspirar
  2/14/2010 19:13 EST

I should mention that temporary housing (nights in hostales) is much more expensive in Guayaquil than in Quito. You might want to stay outside the city of Guayaquil at first.

Quito is good in that you can get maps easily. In 2007 I met an English teacher who was staying in a "funky" furnished studio apartment, with kitchen and hot water, in Quito for only $95 per month. I think Quito has many more furnished apartments available than Guayaquil.

Silverwater
  2/14/2010 20:54 EST

I really dont think that Guayaquil is terribly scary for newbies. I am a single mom with kids who has lived here for five years. We have never had a problem. I ride busses at night to and from work and have never had any issues. Like any other large city, you have to take precautions. And people here will go out of their way to help you. There is great shopping here, movies in English, tons of restaraunts, great museums. The schools are excellent, and we are just over an hour away from the beach. As far as hot showers go...any Feriseriato here carries a device that can be hooked up to your shower. They run about ten bucks, and you can pay a gafitero a small fee to install it. Guayaquil is not for everyone, but I dont think its fair to paint it as incredibly scary.

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boncur
  2/15/2010 08:24 EST

I really think it depends first off on whether you like warm, beach type weather, or whether you prefer, chilly, brisk mountain weather. People are more reserved in the mountains and more out-going on the coast. People will dress flashier on the coast and more conservatively in the Andes. I see two different types of lives.

All big cities have alot to offer, you just have to dig in and get settled!

Suspirar, I know you meant well, but it was not a good idea to tell people to put a cut electrical cord, while plugged in, into a pail of water to heat it! Even in my most minimalist, roughing it, hippie days in the early seventies, when we were paying $1.00 a night for a hovel, did we do that!

Those electrical devices that are connected right on to the shower head are not bad, but they must be installed correctly. They are made better than they were years go and about 25 years ago, I touched one and was promptly thrown across the room (must not have been connected correctly!).

petman2001
  2/16/2010 20:56 EST

Thanks, everyone, for the great info! It seems both cities have their positive and negative aspects, as do all cities. My main criteria, however, (based on bad experiences working in Venezuela) has to be job stability. I have been assured that Guayaquil has plenty of reliable teaching jobs that offer both contracts and guaranteed hours with wages that can support a moderate, frugal lifestyle. Does anyone have info of this kind about Quito? What a choice I have to make! Thanks for any assistance in helping me decide. Peter

petman2001
  2/16/2010 20:59 EST

Hi suspirar,

Thanks for your comment. You said you had tried seeking employment in both cities. Were you successful? If so, what were the jobs like? Were you looking for temporary jobs or long-term jobs? Any details would be appreciated. Thanks, Peter

suspirar
  2/16/2010 21:27 EST

With the electrical cord, the main thing is to not touch the hot wire with one hand and the neutral wire with the other, so that you complete the circuit through your chest! The water, if not polluted, provides enough resistance when serving as a conductor between hot and neutral wires. It´s best to buy the device that Silverwater recommended, but you may have to connect to wires behind a concrete wall if there´s no socket.

No, I was not successful in finding employment. Within one month of being in Ecuador in 2008, I got robbed at gunpoint in downtown Guayaquil, so I went back to the USA with my tail between my legs. Fortunately, I was staying with friends in Guayaquil and not having to spend on hotel. By the way, Quito has armed robberies too, not just Guayaquil.

Inlingua in Guayaquil seemed interested in me. Near them is another language institute; the brand sells books. They´re located near Inlingua. BERLITZ I think.

But why limit yourself to Quito and Guayaquil?

The cost of airplane fare may exceed any money you save from teaching.

Silverwater
  2/17/2010 18:42 EST

Don't limit yourself to just English institutes. High schools are much more stable and offer better pay. Also, if you have a degree in anything, many universities will hire you. I've also taught primary school too.

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ILA
  2/23/2010 21:27 EST

Actually Guayaquil and Quito (I love both equally) are like day and night.Guayaquil can be quite sauna-ish.stepping out of the airport at midnight after a long travel stint from the below zeros into the beautiful warm air with the huge palm trees and large koi gathering in their elegant airport pond,to wait for the shuttle or taxi is soooooo pleasant.i've never minded the cold showers which really are not that cold when it is 89 degrees out,it beats dodging electrocution.i've never heard of such a thing.I love this site one learns so much.

ILA
  2/23/2010 21:42 EST

I must jump to Quayaquil's defense.It has aspects of pure charm.the magical malecon gardens and Santa Ana.the cute park with the Iguanas smack in the middle of the big city.I've always felt safe.I take buses all over for a quarter and the worst has been the gringo glance.Not saying that it does not have the barrios and the desperate,sometimes being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
once another couple and my husband and I were just off a flight and taking a taxi to downtown's palace hotel from the airport.The Taxi driver tried to get us to pay $5.00 per person,instead of just the $5.00 for the cab ride.I've been often enough that I wouldn't go for it.Other greener gringos probably would have though.The ecuadoreans know very well about those gringo impuestas and in my experience when asked what a fare should be will say don't pay anymore than such and such,being very helpful.I'm getting off topic.if I was mugged in Chicago or Mpls,I don't think I'd dis the whole city ,it is the nature of any city.

petman2001
  2/24/2010 00:12 EST

Hi ILA,

Thanks for joining in the conversation and sharing your impressions about Guayaquil. All this first hand information is certainly helpful to me.
RE: the safety of Ecuador in general and the cities of Guayaquil & Quito in particular. This seems to be a hot topic on this forum and others. Some seem to want to brand the entire country as "very dangerous to live in" or to apply this label to the entire cities of Quito and Guayaquil. This is probably too broad of a generalization. Every city, no matter where in the world, probably has higher crime rates than more suburban or rural areas. This is the nature of cities. Also, within each city, there are neighborhoods that are safer than others. You learn which neighborhoods are which and adjust your travels accordingly. And yes, on average, it seems fair to say that cities in third world countries may have higher rates of some kinds of crimes. There are no guarantees in life. One must accept the risks AS THEY TRULY ARE and take precautions or stay out of the cities---wherever they might be. My two-cents from a person who has never been to Ecuador but who has spent considerable time in Caracas, Venezuela, and cities in the US. I hope you continue to share your experiences in both Guayaquil and Quito.
Cheers, Peter

suspirar
  2/27/2010 19:05 EST

Something you should know:

In Guayaquil, you´ll find people who are eager to help you at the bus terminal. Most times, these people want a tip. It´s best to ask if they want to work for a tip, and then negotiate the price of their work. In smaller towns in Ecuador, people will help you for free.

For my very first time in Guayaquil, I arrived at the bus terminal, and I started following the other people towards the buses (back in 2007, the arrivals and departures were separated). A man was shouting out, "Quito, Quito." In most parts of Ecuador, at the bus terminals, people who work for bus companies will shout out the names of destinations. They don´t want tips. Well, I thought this man who was shouting out "Quito, Quito" worked for a bus company. He didn´t. We continued following people towards the buses, where the first booths were selling tickets to Quito, and the ticket sellers were shouting out "Quito, Quito!" The man who was helping me asked the booth for my ticket and I paid the booth.

Then he asked for $1.25 for compensation for a drink. I knew that his few minutes of work were not worth that much (Ecuadorians earn about $1.50 per hour), and I knew that drinks don´t cost $1.25, so I gave him 75 cents. I was ticked off because I would have easily figured out how to buy a ticket to Quito by myself, by just following the other people. I didn´t need help with my rolling small luggage. Plus, when I finally looked at my ticket, it had the wrong time on it--one hour too early--which didn´t give me time to eat dinner. The ticket booth refused to exchange the ticket for a ticket with the correct time. Before buying my ticket, I had said loudly the correct time, and the bus employee just kind of nodded me on, even though he knew my ticket had a different time. My dinner was interrupted halfway by this bus employee because I had to get on the bus that was leaving 1 hour too early for me. I got on the bus grumpy, and to the man next to me, I explained what had happened. He told me that Ecuador was the most corrupt country in Latin America. Our bus left around 9:35 p.m. Other passengers on the bus had been told that the bus would leave at 9 p.m. The bus employee had lied to me to get me on the earlier bus, because the bus wouldn´t leave until it was full.

That was my introduction to Guayaquil. In Santo Domingo de los Colorados, you´ll run into the same kind of people hussling for tips at the bus station. Sometimes it´s nice to have them for help, but you need to know that they are working for tips, because they won´t tell you upfront.

Guayaquil´s bus terminal has since changed since my first visit there in 2007. Quito´s main bus station has changed too.

In Guayaquil, beware of people who talk to you fast, especially ones who speak to you in English.

One day, at my friend´s restaurant in Guayaquil, a man claiming to represent the building owner came in to tell us that the restaurant was being evicted. Ecuadorian law states that renters must get 3 months notice before an eviction. 2 days later, some lawyers came and ate in the restaurant. They were representing the party that wanted us evicted. However, because "they liked me", they said that they would provide legal services to prevent our eviction, but they couldn´t save the other tenants, because that´s how things happen in Ecuador, despite the law (lawyers were saying this!). They said that we would only have to pay them if they won the case. It was fishy. My friends turned them down.

Silverwater
  2/27/2010 20:43 EST

The bus station is an interesting adventure if you arent used to it. In Guayaquil, the new terminal is much better and more user-friendly. You do have to be aware that in many cases, you cannot buy ticket ahead of time for busses. When you buy a ticket, it is automatically for the next bus. There are some for which this is not the case, but usually, you cannot buy ahead, especially if the busses leave with any amount of frequency.

ILA
  2/28/2010 01:05 EST

HI peter,
Thank you for your kind words. I have not been to Venezuela but I'd like to go there some day,as well as other countries in South America.All my life I have lived for travel. I lived in Morocco and lived in Europe for many years .I think that the travel addicted on this site, have very open minds because of traveling extensively

The danger factor,is as you say certain areas and one learns where they are and even how to conduct yourself in a foreign country,to avoid harm.
We do not wander around Guayaquil or Quito at night.We have taken a taxi,obtained by hotel personnel to specific places,after dark.Random hailing of taxis has had bad consequences for others.We have been just as cautious in other parts of the world.

Best Wishes Peter.

ILA
  2/28/2010 03:23 EST

Your'e right Suspirar. The bus stations can be enormously pressuring for the unsuspecting
,there is a period of getting broken in, til you become bus station savvy.
It seems best to refuse any offer from anyone at the bus station,figure it out and buy the ticket on your own and be slow about decisions.
There are so many bus companies all going to the same place and it can be confusing.The conductors act like salesmen trying to get as many people as possible to get on their bus,yelling passionately as if it is a matter of the utmost urgency to ride on that particular bus at that time.Yet there always seem to be buses every few minutes going all over Ecuador
What I really like though,is,once you have made the choice, they take care of you .They help people get on and off .take your hand or arm ,we even had a bus ,after we got off and it took off ,back up again and tell us to get back on.It was dark out and they seemed concerned.
We were looking for the little ferry that takes us across to Bahia and would have had to walk a few blocks.Some of the passengers were having a big conversation as we were getting off about us,it was obvious they were all discussing what should be done.then we noticed him backing up and yelling at us to get back on.When he got to the ferry ,we got off .it was the smallest ferry on the planet and completely packed, seated beside us were two women with huge wedding cakes on their laps.The ferry tossed for the ten minute rough ride and the cakes made the crossing intact.
We like the Reine buses which have a/c + BR. (never have used it) the door gets locked and it's a straight run to the city without hundreds of stops. I've found though,that sometimes it can be completely sold out for the entire day.So we have learned to buy the ticket the day before.
The alternative bus ride takes much longer,
frequent stops,no a/c ,windows wide open sometimes curtains flapping and whipping your face.constant vendors giving spiels.Then at certain points the people enter in droves and its sardine time.My husband is very tall and can't stand up ,he has to stoop to fit the small bus with low ceilings.
No matter where you go in Ecuador,the cost is about a dollar an hour.The Reine is a couple of dollars more.Bus riding has been a lot of fun for us.Sometimes in Quito ,during the day,we just get on any bus and see where we end up,pay our quarter and after half hour or so when everyone has gotten off and the bus is empty then we get off and find another and do the same all over again .We have explored all over Quito that way and beyond.

OceanHideaway
  2/28/2010 16:30 EST

The new Terminal Terrestre in Guayaquil is very nice and easy to navigate. The front half is a Mall and Food Court (with a McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC, Pinguino Ice Cream (which is similar to Good Humor) as well as all the local food and juice vendors.

At the entrance to the ticket sales area -- which is divided by location and province -- is a blue kiosk for infomation (Informacione) and they can direct you to where you want to go.

Following your purchase you can either use the escalotors or freight size elevators to go up a level or two to where your bus departs. You will enter the bus area through a turnstyle and luggage roller (like at the airport) there is a gate available for larger baggage or a baby carriage (or for the palette carts carrying produce.)

I always request the Executive (Ejecutivo) Busses for my trips. To Salinas and Libertad that would be the companies: CLP (Maroon) and COSTA AZUL (Blue). The trip costs less than $6 and they have softdrinks and sandwhiches available for purchase as well as a DVD playing a movie to pass the time. Sit to the front if you want to watch the movie since it will probably be in Spanish with English subtitles.

The smaller non-executive buses are a bit less comfortable but they have the fun of onloading and offloading food vendors. Worth the experience when you don't have to travel with your luggage.

And do feel free to chat with the folks sitting next to you -- they are as curious about you and the USA as you are about them and Ecuador.

Woohoo ...the adventure is part of the fun!

Susan
Facebook: The Ocean Hideaway
www.TheOceanHideaway.net

Kandlrumple
  3/5/2013 15:21 EST

Dear Silverwater

What high schools or universities did you teach at? How did you find a job? What certifications do you have? I have no TEFL of any kind but I have a Bachelor's degree.

Thanks!

Kurtis

Silverwater
  3/5/2013 19:30 EST

I have taught at three universities in Guayaquil, am currently a coordinator in the Languages department at one. I have taught at a bilingual high school, and at an English academy. I also teach classes to executives at the Cerveceria Nacional. Most places do want the TEFL, but some will hire you without it but ask you to get it. The biggest issue is the visa. A few high schools will get it for you and some English institues but not all.

Kandlrumple
  3/6/2013 08:29 EST

Silverwater

Thanks for the reply! Does it matter where I get my TEFL certification? I need to obtain mine through an online program, will this be accepted in Guayaquil? Once obtaining a TEFL, will I be able to teach anywhere that you have taught? How did you get a job at those places (call, email, etc)? Can you provide me with any contact information for the places you have taught?

Kandlrumple
  6/14/2013 11:25 EST

Does anyone know when the school year begins and ends in Guayaquil? Is it the same for universities as it is for public/private schools? What about teaching English to business professionals- are there schools just for this? If so, when do they begin and end?

Thanks!

Silverwater
  6/14/2013 18:47 EST

The school year in Guayquil starts in May. Universities generally start in April but have summer courses. There are also English Institutes, that operate year round.

justathought
  6/14/2013 21:38 EST

Silverwater,
when does the school year end? How many breaks they have and when? How is it different for high schools/collegios and universities? Thank you :)

HGQ2112
  6/15/2013 14:06 EST

Peter,

Pressed for time, so sorry for the thumbnail response. I visit both cities regularly and have for 25 years. Just got back from significant recent trips to both. They are both "big cities", with Quito built on the back of government and Guayaquil built on the back of commerce. Housing is readily available in both, across all price categories. Cost of living is a bit higher in Guayaquil, on average, but suffice to say that both are the top 2 most expensive Ecuadorian cities to live in, so there is your true perspective. Public transportation is readily available in both, though I think Guayaquil get an edge in that sector. However, both have uniquely different, but still horrid, traffic issues. As for teaching ESL or similar, it is kind of the glass half full perspective. Perhaps shocking for a commercial capitol, but I find Quito to be a much more cosmopolitan and wordily city than Guayaquil. Perhaps it is the "diplomatic corps" hangover. In any case, English, as a percentage of the population, is already more widely spoken in Quito than Guayaquil. Ditto for most foreign languages. So, as an linguistic teacher, I am not sure what would be "better", a market already inclined towards a second language, but with greater market penetration of the same, or a market with less second language penetration, thus offering virgin territory to mine? Lastly, I am a big fan of both cities, but I find few people that would argue against the reality that Quito is a more physically attractive and cleaner city than Guayaquil, if that matters to you.

Hector G. Quintana
[email protected]
“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” -- Frank Zappa (Yes...THAT Frank Zappa)

Kandlrumple
  6/21/2013 09:12 EST

Has anyone taught with Inlingua? I would love to get feedback from someone with experience with Inlingua.

Kandlrumple
  7/15/2013 10:06 EST

Does anyone else have any experience/knowledge of teaching English in Guayaquil? How about development work? That's what my bachelor's is in...

cowbro
  8/6/2013 19:35 EST

What sort of info do you need ? Are you planning on working there ?

Kandlrumple
  8/7/2013 08:31 EST

Well I'm looking into working there. I interviewed with them a few weeks ago. Here are some of the questions I have:
Do they hire before you arrive in Guayaquil? (I"m in the US). How often do you get paid? Do they hold the first month's pay? What is a typical work schedule? (Or any example)

Have you taught with them?

Thanks so much! You can email me at [email protected] if you want.

cowbro
  8/7/2013 13:42 EST

I have had experience with Inlingua,worked there until last Labor Day.I would not recommend them.The owner speaks NO English and academic coordinater talks to teachers like they are servants,no customer service ,and very poor English.Pay is low,$5.00 hourly,paid the end of the next month.Classes are very irregular,lots of promises but nothing definite.Most teachers there seem to be non-native English speakers...why would anyone want to be taught English by an Ecuadorian native ???? Training is a joke also.There are much better and more professional schools in Guayaquil.
Just my 2 cents worth !!!

Kandlrumple
  8/8/2013 10:11 EST

Are you still in Guayaquil? Would you recommend any other places to teach English?
Thanks so much!

cowbro
  8/8/2013 14:29 EST

Wall St and EF are probably the two best,altho to be honest,I think they are all pretty poor.No one seems willing to pay a good salary,and as a result,cannot attract good applicants.They all seem to promise a lot but never follow thru.I would also stay away from Berrlitz.Your best bet would be to offer private lessons.
I am back in Canada but will be back in Ecuador in September.

Kandlrumple
  8/8/2013 15:33 EST

Do you have any idea of what a teacher could make per month at either of those places? (On a typical 40 hour work week) Or do you have any idea if a teacher could even get a consistent 40 hour work week? Also, do you know if either EF or Wall Street hires before you arrive in Guayaquil?

Thanks so much! I really appreciate your feedback!

sueb4bs
  8/8/2013 19:55 EST

I teach privately here in Quito. Have lived in QUito for almost 2 years. I generally work with referrals from Fullbright Commission. Two teachers there, one with almost ten years teaching at FB have told me that working privately, making your own schedule and taking referrals etc you can ask $12- hr or $15 hr if you go to the individual's home or office. When I taught in Chile (also privately) with physicians, families with kids -- I was paid $20-$30 hr. This was in 2005-06. The reality is that Ecuador pays modest wages and because I have professionally taught in the U.S. and have the necessary creds to teach here (in this case, experience and TEFL) it is not easy to work for so little but asi es la vida here in Ecuador. I love the work so it is fine with me. Out of curiosity, Is anyone else making more? sueb4bs

cowbro
  8/9/2013 19:12 EST

I am pretty sure that you would not be able to get a 49 hour week teaching English here.The only way to do this would be if you taught at a high school,or college.Even then,it would be very unusual.I believe most places here like you to apply in person.I personally think this is better,as I woukd not trust anything they tell you over the net.Best to be here in person.

Miguelito
  8/9/2013 20:51 EST

My only suggesrion: Bring a fine tipped WHIRE magic maeker to Guayaquil so you can label the mosquitos. One night I counted 38 on the ceiling. Lucky for me they don't like sweet things. The best employment would be exterminator in Guayaquil.

SteveM
  8/10/2013 13:58 EST

I've lived in Ecuador for 11 years and specifically Quito for 8. I taught private lessons between 2003 and 2006. I made between $6 and $10/ hour back then but since prices have doubled in the last 7 years or so it makes perfect sense that you could earn $10-15 now. The best wages though would be working in an expensive private school where you can easily earn $2,500 a month which affords a very good lifestyle here. I'm talking specifically about the Colegio Americano in Quito. If you start looking at 2nd tier private schools then the wages drop off quite considerably.
Regards Quito v Guayaquil I would say that the only benefits Guayaquil has is that the people are on the whole friendlier. Suspirar has been commenting on here for years that Cuenca and Quito are "cold" but that is her perception. I will say that north Quito, despite being higher than Cuenca and other Sierran towns is somehow sunnier than them. And when the sun is out it is perfect - my perception. Also you can find warmer temperatures living in the valleys outside Quito although rental costs in the Tumbaco valley are higher.
Quito on the whole is marginally cheaper than Guayaquil when it comes to eating out, taxis, and rent. Furthermore, there is a lot more of interest in striking distance of Quito as I found out when I had a Guayaquilena girlfriend unable to recommend places of interest within an hour of Guayaquil - apart from the beach.

SteveM
  8/10/2013 14:10 EST

Can't speak for Guayaquil but in Quito I am regularly asked if I can do private lessons. I know of an institute run by expats. They are always needing more teachers. Pay is $800/month with benefits (health ins.) less deductions teaching mostly mornings and evenings.

SteveM
  8/10/2013 14:19 EST

whilst I'm on a role ... neither city is scary per se in my experience. The violence when it happens comes without warning. I have spent maybe a total of 6 weeks in Guayaquil spread out to maybe 20 visits or so. On one visit I was walking in an area just a block from the Malecon and to my shock I came across a lot of blood on the pavement (sidewalk). Just 5 minutes earlier a local had been stabbed for resisting a robbery. I've never come across that in 8 years in Quito. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen but if you scan the blood and guts tabloid headlines there seems to be more crime in Guayaquil than Quito. Cue the argument starting about perception and statistics - sigh!

sueb4bs
  8/10/2013 17:25 EST

Thanks, Steve M-- for all the dope on teaching in these two cities -you are experienced here --for sure. I have no interest in working at the Cotopaxi School or other schools FT (have made lots of gringo contacts there) and pretty much like the private teaching schedule for now. THe tradeoffs in the other FT deal are not interesting to me.
I also have another gig working for a U.S. university doing professional field supervision for grad students in my profession. . THat is another short term deal. SO it goes... thanks for the info. sueb4bs

Kandlrumple
  8/13/2013 12:27 EST

By the way, what TEFL provider did you use to obtain your certifications? How did you find your jobs in Guayaquil/Quito? (Door to door/online/newspaper...?)

Thanks!!

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Living in Ecuador GuideLiving in Ecuador Guide

Expats in Ecuador share some of the pros and cons of living in Ecuador. Topics covered include where to live, the bureaucracy, the people and more.

Ecuador Forum Ecuador Forum
Join our Ecuador forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Ecuador.

Contribute to Ecuador Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ecuador.

Best Places to Live in Ecuador Best Places to Live in Ecuador

If you're dreaming about living in Ecuador, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Ecuador in 2023.

Healthcare in EcuadorHealthcare in Ecuador

Expats in Ecuador share their experiences with healthcare and overseas medical insurance in Ecuador.

Cost of Living in EcuadorCost of Living in Ecuador

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Ecuador.

Moving to EcuadorMoving to Ecuador Guide

Expats in Ecuador offer advice to newcomers and people considering a move to Ecuador about clothing, sunscreen, renting before buying, gringo pricing, Ecuadorians politeness and much more.

Real Estate in EcuadorReal Estate in Ecuador

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Ecuador.

Pros Cons of Living in EcuadorPros & Cons of Living in Ecuador

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Ecuador.

Retiring in EcuadorRetiring in Ecuador

Advice for people retiring in Ecuador.

10 Tips for Living in Ecuador10 Tips for Living in Ecuador

If you've recently arrived in Ecuador, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Ecuador.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
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Allianz CareAllianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Contribute to Ecuador Network Contribute
Help others in Ecuador by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ecuador.

Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca
Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca

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