Guayaquil, Ecuador Report of what it's like to live there - 06/15/13
Personal Experiences from Guayaquil, Ecuador
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No, this is one of several other overseas assignments that I have experienced.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Home base is the western United States - California. Normally we would fly out of Washington DC during transfers, but flying from the west coast to DC normally takes about six hours. 2 hour flight to Miami, and then a 4 hour flight to Guayaquil. American Airlines is the main carrier which Foreign Service members use getting to Guayaquil. There are co-shares available such as LAN, but it depends on how your organization wants to route your trip.
3. How long have you lived here?
Approximately three years.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Affiliated with the US Consulate.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
If you work for the US Government, then you will be part of a furnished housing pool. There are 4 main housing areas, one of them (Puerto Azul) is where the school is located. In my experiences with other housing at past assignments, the housing here is sub-standard. The construction of the houses is quite poor, and the GSO/Facilities crew are fixing things around the clock. During the rainy season the leaks become a major problem, in addition to electrical, air conditioning, and periodic power outages. Most houses come equipped with generators to help with the power spikes and outages than happen.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Anything imported is high. Fruit and vegetables can vary. Household supplies also vary in cost. Meats are not of good quality.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
US soap, different spices, and other pantry products not seen on the supermarket shelves here. More equipment for beach activities.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Carl's Jr. Prices are not too high.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and various types of insects that one can expect to find in a tropical climate.
The mosquitoes are the most problematic - don't forget to bring plenty of insect repellent.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
The consulate has a DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) for US personnel who are affiliated.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
It's affordable. Part-time domestic help will run about $160 a month, plus insurance for the maid (usually 40 dollars per month). Full time help is about $300 or more per month plus the health insurance for the maid.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There are some, but I don't know the quality of them.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
I wouldn't recommend using them.
5. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
You need to know Spanish - otherwise it will be difficult to get around and go shopping without knowing the language.
6. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
This is not a city which is friendly for those with disabilities. Accessibility to hospitals and shopping centers is not the best, and that makes it difficult.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Only vetted taxis are permitted. Check with the security office at the consulate. If you don't use the taxis at the hotels or the ones recommended by the consulate, then you place yourself at risk. Buses are prohibited to use for Americans who work at the consulate.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
An SUV or 4x4 would be recommended, especially if you're going to travel outside of Guayaquil and explore the country. If you're just going to stay within Guayaquil and go to the beaches, you really don't need an SUV.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
The internet here is mediocre at best. You can pay for higher bandwidth but the quality and service is not great. There will be frequent disruptions in service.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Bring one that will work anywhere in the world and which is unlocked. You can also check the local cell phone stores for programs that work for you.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
No.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Don't know about the town, but within the consulate it's not good.
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Shirt and tie for those who have management responsibilities.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Guayaquil is a critically rated city for crime - there are all sorts of issues with security here. It is not advisable to travel during the night outside of Guayaquil, and constantly be on the alert when going into Guayaquil or surrounding barrios. Use common sense and listen to the security alerts that are given by the consulate to Americans. The security problem causes a lot of stress among the expats here in Guayaquil.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Poor healthcare here. Many people use medevacs to resolve their health problems that cannot be resolved locally.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
It's fair, but with the humidity it can cause mold problems and wreck havoc with one's allergies.
4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Dry and not as humid from May until November. Hot, humid, and rainy from late November until April/May.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
The main international school here is the InterAmerican Academy, and it's the best that Guayaquil has to offer, but well below the standards of other international schools within the region. There is a high turnover of teachers because many have a difficult time adjusting to the isolation factor of living here. When I arrived, they had gone through many directors in a very short span. The current director has been here the longest, and although not the best I have seen, he's really tried hard to keep the interest in the school at a high level. Some families have sent their children to boarding schools in the United States because the IAA school does not challenge the students sufficiently and lacks quality materials and curriculum that are currently used in the US.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
There are no accommodations here. If you have children with special needs, whether they are gifted or have difficulty with learning - do not bring them here, because the school simply does not have the resources or the programs to work with special-needs children.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
Yes. It's ok I've heard from others that have children there.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
There are some available, but they are very limited.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Small.
2. Morale among expats:
This is the worst I have seen in my career - it's very low.
3. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Barbecues, parties, drinking - that's just about all that most American employees do. There is a tremendous sense of isolation, and therefore many people feel the need to entertain and socialize with Americans. So they don't do much about getting to know the local community.
4. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
I think for singles it can be entertaining. For families there isn't much to do here but hang out with other families at barbecues and social activities sponsored by the consulate. It all depends on what the family wants with their activities, because there isn't anything to do here in Guayaquil - you'll see all there is to see in a few weeks, and then it becomes redundant and boring.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
I think that the LGBT community is well represented here. Ecuadorians, in my view, do not discriminate against LGBT, and within the office there seems to be a large representation of LGBT.
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
Yes, there is some. The Ecuadorians themselves are prejudiced against dark-skinned people. However, there are many black and dark-skinned Ecuadorians throughout the city and Ecuador. The discrimination isn't obvious but it's there.
7. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
I think the best part of the experience was exploring outside of Guayaquil. Going to Cuenca, Quito, Baños, Mindo, Puyo, MishahuaÃ, Amazon, the beaches, Isla de Plata, etc.
8. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
9. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
I didn't find anything unique that was worth buying.
10. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
You can save some money here, but the prices of groceries have gone up, especially with anything imported into Ecuador. The weather outside of the rainy season is quite delightful - cool breezes at night, not too hot during the day. The rainy season begins in December and ends in May normally, and does have its hot days with plenty of humidity. Comparably, it's like Miami during the hot summer during the peak summer months. I did not find any advantage living in the city, didn't really find any culture in my opinion that was worthwhile in Guayaquil - outside of Guayaquil is a different story altogether.
11. Can you save money?
Some, but not if you're traveling to the Galapagos and traveling around Ecuador and throughout South America.
Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Absolutely not.
2. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
winter clothing and your expectations that Guayaquil is going to offer a lot.
3. But don't forget your:
sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
4. Do you have any other comments?
I realize that some people like the rustic atmospheres and places around the globe, without worrying to much about the comforts and modernization of other posts. This place wasn't for me, and I will never serve again at a small post. The city just didn't have anything worthwhile to offer, and the hypersensitivity to security caused a lot of stress and anxiety. The traffic and driving here are absolutely atrocious.
