Moving from Fort Laud, FL to Ecuador in next few months

DrKaren wrote:

I am a 57 yr old, medically retired Veteran (USAF) divorced woman who is planning the move to Ecuador....

I am in the process of applying for the Pension VISA but am too young to retire. I am a FL licensed Psychologist and Board Certified Sex Therapist who recently closed a private practice after 19 years. I am also a CONTINUING EDUCATION provider and can offer CE's for mental health and medical professionals on a variety of subjects.

I am also looking to find an English-speaking university to apply for a teaching position....

I know I will need to brush up on my Spanish.

Dear Dr. Karen,

Welcome to the Ecuador forum.

I have been living in Ecuador's capital and most international city for years .. and have never heard of an English-speaking university in La República.

If you google:  topuniversities.com ecuador .. you will see on the Top U's welcome page a list of the major universities in Ecuador.  All of these schools have names in español and not English.

Of course, English is taught at these schools, but they're not looking for English-speaking professors in medical subjects.

As for working in the medical field in Ecuador, candidates need not only Spanish but Spanish-specific medical terminology.  So it's not just a matter of 'brushing up' on your old Spanish-language knowledge.

Given the sour economy (oil prices being so low) and the government's budget crisis, Ecuador is not about to relax its long-standing policy favoring native Ecuadorians for all jobs for which they are qualified.  The lone exception may be teaching English, which is typically not lucrative for first-time English teachers.

If you thought about putting up a shingle and counseling Expats, to do so legally would require you to pass an exam in your professional specialty or specialties.  That exam would be in Spanish.

Since I hate to leave anyone with no path out .. please keep reading, below.

cccmedia in Quito

DrKaren wrote:

I am... planning the move to Ecuador after a long search of possibilities around the world!

Having scoured the world, perhaps you already know that there are 94 countries and territories worldwide where English is an official language.

Common sense tells us that you would have a better shot at finding work in the medical field in some of these places than in Spanish-speaking South American countries.

Resource...  Google:  countries and territories where English is official language wikipedia.com

-- cccmedia in Quito

I'm from Florida also Karen.   Also, it's possible for you to offer your services globally online. Many therapists are doing it.  See you in Ecuador. Cheers!

Hi! thanks for your reply. I am a FL licensed psychologist and must comply with the ethical guidelines posted by the DPR and APA. I am researching the "hoops" that I need to go through in Ecuador to practice "above board." I am also a Board Certified Sex Therapist and CE provider able to teach a variety of subjects and wish to apply for a teaching position in a grad school or medical school once settled.

You can find out more about the scope of my practice at xxx

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

cheers!

I'm having a hard time imagining an Ecuadorian going to a sex therapist, especially an American female sex therapist.  Its a pretty conservative culture.  Seems like there might be better angles of approach for transitioning into a new life in a new country. 

Not trying to be rude, but the more I think about it, the more difficult it is to think your post is serious.  Curious - do you know of any Ecuadorian sex therapists?

Good luck.

Mike