kallenfranchise

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I do not intend for this blog post to discourage anyone from moving to Ecuador. In fact, I encourage you to come here (there are a lots of sights to see). Rather, I hope this post will inform you on what to expect. Ecuador is a beautiful country and it definitely has its advantages. But nothing is all "lillies and roses". All Ecuadorians are not like this but there are a large portion that are (about 70% of them)....

A Day In My Life As A TEFL Teacher

My typical Monday in Quevedo 630am The alarm goes off. 630 Jump in the shower. 640 Out of the shower. 645 Put on my Green Hills uniform. 650 Brush my teeth. 651 Eat my everyday breakfast....granola & soy milk....(Ecuador has some good granola) 700 Take the trash out to the corner. 703 Read, review, and revise my week's agenda. 710 Do some studying in my Spanish books. 725 Walking to the bus stop...waiting for the bus....(the bus...

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Group	Topic	Activity	Posts
Thailand	My VISA documents arrived this morning!	hours ago	3
A Day in The Life of a TEFL Teacher	The first ever lesson	hours ago	1
A Day in The Life of a TEFL Teacher	The first ever lesson	hours ago	1
Japan	Teaching without degree	days ago	26
South Korea	North Korean Threats	3:39AM	3

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Hi again-

Thanks for getting back to me, it's lots to think about. Easiest question first; no health problems here. I like the idea of being on the coast, but I really don't like hot/humid weather. The climate in Cuenca sounds comfortable. As far as what kind of setting I'd like to work in, I'm somewhat open. My experience so far is at a private language institute in South Korea, and before that I volunteered at public schools and social services centers in Guatemala. I like working with younger kids and adults more so than with middle school students. In Ecuador, in terms of pay/working environment, what are the pros and cons of public schools vs private schools vs private language schools? Big city vs small town? It's a stretch but I'd hope to be somewhere with good internet access. One of my biggest concerns would be being able to live close to my worksite--I have a no further than a 30 minute bike ride rule. And safety, as a woman living alone...that would be a concern. Yes, I probably prefer to live alone/maybe with a roommate or two in the right circumstances. Maybe upon arrival, live with a family for a month or two while I gather my bearings/learn the nuances of the community. I enjoyed living with a Guatemalan family for a few weeks but then needed some space.

Yeah, I`m sorry for getting you to help me and then leaving before we could really spend much time chatting etc. Was hoping you could come out for dinner or a beer but I didn`t realise you had so many work commintments. I was sitting in the park reading the paper and this young guy came and started talking to me. I really couldn´t understand his accent and I had a bad feeling about him. I tried telling I didn`t understand him but he wouldn´t leave me alone. Then there was this other man sitting opposite and watching us intently - I really got the feeling I was being cased, do you think I`m paranoid? I chatted to other people in the park without any bad feelings, it was just these two.

It was really nice to meet you anyway, I must say you seem like a really good person, I hope you can come to Loja, where the food is good, the beer is cheap and the hostels are nice!

Take care now, that`s a hectic city you`re in! I guess I`m a country girl at heart, I like a city hit from time to time, I enjoy the vibrancy but not the danger...

Alx

Hi Kallen-

I've been interested in Ecuador after I met some people in Guatemala who'd spent a quite a bit of time there. I've a bit about the challenges you've experienced living and working there. When I asked Alix about how she found her job/what she thought the best way to go about it and where the best places to live and work may be, she recommended that I get in touch with you. I won't be finished with my current contract in South Korea until the end of March but I want to start getting an idea of where to look. So far it sounds like there are advantages to just showing up and then finding work? Anyhow, I have a 4 year degree (half of my coursework consisted of Spanish/Latin American studies), trying to finish the 20 hours of specialized courses/video course-god help me I'll have 120 hours of TEFL certification, and a year of experience by March. If you have some time, can you tell me what kind of options I might have there? I know the money isn't going to be what it is here. Thanks!

Hi Kallen, how´s things going? I´m in Baños at the moment, it´s very different to last time I was here cos the volcano is quiet and the town is full of people again. I´m off to Latacunga tomorrow, then Quito, possibly Manta, and hope to stop in Guayaquil on the way back. Unfortunately I had a small attack of petit mal this morning and if that causes me problems I might just have to head back to Loja, but as long as things are ok I´ll hopefully see you in a few days. Not really got any plans, but I´ll call you when i know more.

Hi Kallen, how are you finding things in Guayaquil? There is an ad campaign for Guayaquil here in Toronto- I keep seeing ads for it in the subway stations! Anyway, I'll be in Ecuador in less than two weeks, and getting pretty excited about it!

Hi, just got blagged into taking on a private student so can´t get away unti last week of August which is a pain cos my family will be back from the coast by then. They´re trying to get to me to help with handing out flyers but for $2 an hour, can I handle it or should I just say no? Maybe I should make every dollar I possibly can between now and my travels? Plenty of Ecuadorians probably work for less!

Maybe I could go Banos, Tena, Quito, Guayaquil... I´m just sulking cos everyone else has gone away!

I´m so glad you´re happier in Guyaquil, you really seemed to hate it in Quevedo. What´s the new school like? Is it adults or kids or both?

Hope to see you in the holidays, see the note I just left you on my journal entry of the other day. I think we just caught the tail end of that earthquake, apparently it was 6.9 at it's epicenter, somewhere between Tena and Ambato from what i can make out. Good luck with the new job, you deserve it! Let us know how it goes?

Hey Kallen did you feel a little earthquake this morning? (Thursday). Just enough to shake my building but not scary. When are you coming?

Thanks so much for the great advice :)

So jealous your in Ecuador! I was hoping you could maybe answer a few of my questions... I was wondering if yougot your TEFL certificate from i to i. How many hours did you do? Was it pretty hard to land a job afteryou were certified?

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: mistymaxey said: “Thanks so much for the great advice :)”
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: kittyvic said: “Hi Kallen, I will be arriving in Ecuador in September....”
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: Monique said: “Good Luck! Keep us posted”
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: honor said: “Seconded - really looking foward to hearing all about your...”
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: AlixM09 said: “Kallen that's amazing! I can't get there til June as...”
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: rsanzo said: “Hey man... with most carriers, when you travel they allow...”
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: rsanzo said: “Thanks Kallen... I appreciate your info. I´ll get back at...”
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: i-to-i said: “Great tips! Thanks for sharing!”
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: i-to-i said: “Hey Kalle, Thanks for setting this up - it's...”
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: AlixM09 said: “Sounds interesting, what are you researching? ”
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: AndrewJack said: “Nice sofa.”
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: sandychow17 said: “Brilliant vid! I love Japanese supermarkets! It's so full of...”
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