marquesdevelez
Ecuadorian expat in Spain
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About me
Ecuadorian
Lives in Barcelona
Speaks Castellano (nativo). Catalán (segunda lengua). Inglés (nivel A2). Francés (nivel A1).
Registration: 29 July 2011
About
My expat journey
Barcelona, Spain
I came with the intention of, supposedly, studying Philosophy. But I really wanted to live in Europe, as had always been my dream. Spain would be my gateway to then move through other European countries.
The postgraduate studies in Philosophy were, to a large extent, my entry point. I had not studied Philosophy as a degree, so my philosophical training was reduced to what I could have studied in high school. I was a dilettante in Philosophy, but it occurred to me to come, theoretically, to do a Doctorate in Philosophy.
The reality is that, without ceasing to like Philosophy, I hated the academic environment, as well as Academic Philosophy, which had nothing to do with my interests and inclinations. So I left it in predoctoral studies and decided not to do any doctoral thesis, because the formally established lines of research do not correspond to my interests and the existing teaching staff, I do not believe that they have enough connection with me to direct a thesis or to guide my concerns.
Now, with the training I have, I try to be an academic manager and advisor to people who come to do postgraduate studies in Spain and who plan to stay here for a while.
I have been a research fellow in a university department, which has meant having many material resources for research, but, unfortunately, little personalized attention. I have carried out teaching collaboration tasks in certain subjects taught at the undergraduate level, as well as I have provided my cooperation in the organization of academic events.
I have also been, at times, a collaboration intern at the same university (administrative areas) and for another time I have collaborated in a real estate office as an administrator.
And other times I have dedicated myself, to a large extent, to doing nothing, which is what allows me, to a large extent, to do what I like.
The political-institutional stability, the high degree of development in terms of social rights, the existing public aid for almost everything.
The museums, the art, the antique stores. The enormous cultural life that exists and that fascinates me.
The existing legal security.
The hours, especially, that many places close at noon and do not reopen until 4 or 5 in the afternoon.
Likewise, it bothers me that banks only serve until 2:00 p.m., as do certain public institutions.
I also don't like the idea that you have to dedicate yourself to just one thing and not do others, which is inconceivable for me, who is used to combining activities.
Public education, in general. I have always been trained in private and Catholic institutions...here I have only just been able to learn what public and secular educational institutions are and my experience has not been pleasant or satisfactory: from having top-of-the-line teachers, concerned about you down to the smallest details to having teachers who are academically very qualified, but not very pedagogical and not very committed to teaching, because they give greater importance to research and publications and for that reason, practically, they pass by the students, there is an atrocious difference. I was always used to personalized treatment and teachers being available when I needed them. I have encountered bureaucrats who teach reluctantly and who, although they formally direct theses, in practice, are unaware of the matter.
I think I have clashed a bit with a university model that is radically different from the one I was always used to: an excessively academic model, in which the teaching staff may be of high level, but who, apparently, have no will or vocation for teaching. And also, in many cases, depending on the careers, a teaching staff who has done nothing else in their life other than being at the university, without professional experiences outside that field. I was trained in an environment in which university professors were practicing professionals who dedicated a few hours to teaching... there were good professionals and bad teachers and vice versa, mediocre professionals, but excellent teachers: the vocation for teaching is not something that all people possess and I think that in universities, in general, we tend to forget that and confuse the brilliant academic or professional resume with the effective capacity and will to transmit knowledge.
Santiago, Chile
I was invited to do an internship at a law firm in the city of Santiago, while I lived with a Chilean family of Jewish descent, who welcomed me into their home.
Internship in a law firm in the city of Santiago. Fundamentally, observation and learning of local legal practice, very similar to the Ecuadorian one, as well as support in carrying out administrative and judicial procedures. Also establishment of professional and academic contacts.
Order, organization, punctuality, the culture of making the most of time. Also the existing wine culture, being a producing country and equally, the existing cultural and literary life in Santiago; The image of the snowy Andes mountain range. I also really liked Valparaíso and the coastal towns.
The excessive pollution of Santiago, the traffic, the time wasted traveling and the stress caused by having to leave well in advance to get from one place to another.
Also that banks and public institutions were only open until 2:00 p.m.
There were also slightly uncomfortable situations, such as having to pay to enter the toilet in certain shopping centers or even the information brochures having a price.
Guayaquil, Ecuador
I was born and raised in Guayaquil. I studied in private Catholic schools and then Law at a Catholic University.
Always related to legal advice, both to natural and legal persons. Also, experience in university teaching in Law.
For some time, also cooperation in commercial activities.
The socioeconomic environment in which I grew up, the education received, the universe of life aspirations that was instilled in me. Likewise, the spontaneity to start activities and the pragmatism to carry out a project or solve vicissitudes that could appear along the way.
The food, of course, which I consider has greatly influenced my palate.
Religiosity still exists in the environment, although with nuances. It was evident that there was a very rich cultural syncretism, but that it could be unhealthy if it was not transmitted and received with due prudence and nuances.
The landscape, the diversity of climates and the enormous potential it had in many aspects.
Political instability, legal insecurity and the enormous existing economic and social inequalities. These were problems of both the formal-institutional structure of the State on the one hand and, on the other hand, also serious problems of social structure, since it is a country that has existed as an independent State for relatively very recently... around 200 years, which for the life and development of a country as such is relatively little, taking into account that Universal History teaches us that the great civilizations took several centuries to form and consolidate as peoples.
Then, as the other side of the coin compared to pragmatism, was that, many times, in the name of that pragmatism, elementary legal principles were violated, which was not admissible from any point of view.
To a large extent, a certain mentality present in a significant percentage of the population, which in many aspects seemed old-fashioned or outdated to me, but also a result of the social structure.