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Working in South America

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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Whilst I realise most of NS may not be able to help me, I remember that there are some Chilean nsers, and maybe some of the SAS campers might have an idea as well. And yes I would have put it in regionals, but there doesn't appear to be a SA one!

Anyway, I quite want to go instruct in South America next summer, but I don't really speak Spanish that well. Any ideas how much of a problem this is? I hear there are quite a few English speaking lessons too. I will probably go to Central America for a few months first, so my Spanish should be good by the time I get there, but I need to get a job earlier than that. 

Anyone worked down there or got any ideas?

Cheers




Sep 29 2010 1:29AM
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kt_1027
Posts: 60 - Karma: 10
hey man,

its not a massive problem if your there to make a living and ski alot. you wont make any money to buy new skis etc, just enough to cover your hostel room food and a party here and there.

i know the las lenas school is always looking for part time english instructors here's a link


your other option is working for CAB in baralochie but they use a lot of peak leaders training instructors to do beginner lessons etc so work is a bit more difficult to get.


ive done a work and have friends whom have worked with both and they treated us well.

do not email them before you call them. as an email in another language is very easy to ignore your best bet is to get a few Spanish phrases down and give them a phone call (it will take a few calls till you get noticed or get a response)

good luck
Sep 29 2010 7:38AM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Awesome, cheers. Did you work in Lenas or Bariloche? Which did you prefer?

Not going to apply for a while, just thinking about my options for next year, I have friends who speak Spanish so will probably get them to help me write an email.
Sep 29 2010 9:29PM
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paulmay
Posts: 804 - Karma: 18
im Chilean, what is the question that you actually have.
If you want to ski in Chile I really recomend you to go to Valle Nevado, specially if you dont manage your english becaus eit is a more "international" resort. Also thats where i will be working next year, as a park shaper :)
Sep 29 2010 10:05PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Sweet, do you know whether they have many English speakers working there right now? Does ski school pay ok there?
Sep 29 2010 10:13PM
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paulmay
Posts: 804 - Karma: 18
i know that there are some people that donmt speak much spanish, there was a couple of french dudes and some gringos and a german i think. Basically to get hired you need a certified level 2 (maybe level 1, but u wont get paid as much). I dont really know how much you get paid but i know that these dudes get a lot of free time specially during the week when they are not in vacations.
Also if you are an instructor you can stay in the Valle Nevado Villas, which are the dorms for the employes, and they arent a really nice place to stay but since you are an instructor u need to pay like 300 bucks to stay all season and you have a dorm in the "better" place in the Villas.
Sep 29 2010 10:39PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Sweet, I'm level 3 certified, so hopefully pay might be ok, but if rent is only 300 for the season I don't really care! Sounds good, especially the part about it being quiet during the week, I don't really want to work too much, I just like getting a free pass and my accomodation sorted! Is Valle Nevado pretty fun to ski? Much nightlife?
Sep 29 2010 10:48PM
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NWFlow
Posts: 1557 - Karma: 61
Any info on patrolling down there? I am also interested in Chile and my spanish is pretty good. Would like to spend a summer down there next year. Is this an option? Are there often foreign patrollers?
Sep 29 2010 10:52PM
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paulmay
Posts: 804 - Karma: 18
I personally think valle nevado is a sick mountain the park is small but really nice.
We have a 3 jump line and a big air. and like 14 boxes and rails. and a wall ride. and next year its gonna be even better.
Also the backcountry is really acecible and not many people go, so in a pow day you can ski almost all untracked from 9am to 5pm

Night life in Valle is fun but it get really mundane after a while. Thats why we go parting in farellones which is the little village that is like 20 minutes away. And that is a fun place to party.

It would be cool if you could come, if you do, for sure PM me.
Sep 29 2010 10:54PM
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paulmay
Posts: 804 - Karma: 18
by patrolling, do you mean Ski Patrol? yeah there are some forgieng ski patrol and its voluntary u just get to ski the mountain and stay for free in farellones, but most of the ski patrols are gapers
Sep 29 2010 10:57PM
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NWFlow
Posts: 1557 - Karma: 61
I wouldn't mind working with gapers or the free accomodations. Thanks this helps out quite a bit.
Sep 29 2010 11:08PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Cool man, thanks for the help, might see you next year!
Sep 29 2010 11:13PM
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