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Ing Martin Skala, UCT Prague,

ročník 0

Faculty

Faculty of Chemical Technology

Field of study

Material Science

Field of internship

Physical Sciences, Other

Specialization of Internship

Pharmacology

Internship period (from - to)

9.9.2015 - 22.12.2015

Internship duration (weeks)

Transport (means, price)

airplane, 1000 EUR

Insurance/Insurance company

AXA

Visa/Work permit (yes/no)

12 visa VIII cultural exchange visa

Price of Visa

80 USD

City of Internship

Ecuador, Quito

Internship reference number

EC-2015-USFQ019

About the country

Location of the place

Ecuador is located on equator on the coast of Pacific ocean with neighbour countries Colombia and Peru.

City

Quito lies aprox 8 hours from the closest coastline. The city itself is located in mountains in averadge altitude 2800 m above the sea level.

Surroundings (possible trips, ...)

The closest trip is to Rucu Picincha (4700 m), mountain basically upon Quito. Further there are posibilities to ride to Quilotoa (crater lake), Chimborazo (volano 6300 m), trip to the jungle (eg. Cuyabeno national park). Those spots are quite far from the city but one can reach them with a night bus which is quite convenient.

Employer

Qualipharm laboratorio farmaceutico SA. Producer of drugs and cosmetics for clients (brands) which have their interest on the ecuatorian market.

Work description

Work in field of quality control and quality assurance. Quality control (work in the laboratory and performing analysis of products or primary materials). Quality assurance (combined office and in-plant work, equipment qualification, equipement calibration, area qualification, schedule of calibration preparation, implementing of standards in field of quality control.

Salary (sufficient for local conditions?)

Salary 350 USD/month which is base salary in Ecuador. It might cover the living cost if you live like local people. It is not sufficient to cover additional traveling or leasure activities expences.

Language requirements

Everything in Ecuador and even in the company is about spanish. I have improved a lot during my stay and people are nice and willing and patient to help you any time.

Accommodation (price, who provided it)

I stayed in Casa agua canela for 150USD per month including everything only laundry you need to pay extra. This hostel is well located and was recommended by local IAESTE administrator.

Social life

Meeting IAESTE members (pick-up at the airport, organized events...)

From the airport I was pick up by the owner of the hostel. IAESTE members in Ecuador are helpful and they organise more events and help in case when needed.

Meeting other foreign students

We have all lived in the same hostal so we've planned the trips and diners and all together. There was always a lot of fun and thinks to do.

Sport and culture

The most common is to take some latino dance classes or go to the gym on daily basis. During the weekends is very populat to do hiking because there are beautiful mountains in Ecuador.

Food, local specialties

The most common meat is chicken and pork usually served with rice, patacones (babana pancakes) and slice of avocado. Really popular is aji sauce which is kind of chilly. You will find here a lot of cheap and delicious (for Europians exotic) fruits for amaizingly cheap prices (especially on the market).

Ecuador is a country of bananas which you may find more than four kinds. To the local specialities belongs cuy (roasted guinea pig) on the coast than you may find a lot of sea food (ceviche, ecocado, camarones, conchas).

Other information

Possibilites to communicate with the Czech Republic

Czech Republic is (like the most of Europe) 6 hours shifted from Ecuador so it is difficult to manage the calls or chats during the week days however the connection works well.

The post card from Czech Republic to Quito travels one month.

Recommendations for students who will go to the same place

Bring more than one sunglasses. Bring sunblocker. Bring some liquor (if you hesitate you can bring anything like a gift). All those thing you can buy in Ecuador as well but for a way higher prices than in Europe. Ordinar Ray Ban glasses costs 370USD. One bottle of Jaegermaister is 80USD per 0.5l.

What not to forget with you

Don't forget recommended vaccination. Take the adapter for your chargers, in Ecuador they use US standard. Take some spanish listening lessons to your cell phone, you may use it during your bus ride to work (which can be up to one hour and so you use your time effectively).

Manage your visa in Europe, in Ecuador it is posible but takes a loooot of time.
Hiking shoes. Underwater camera if you plan to go to Galapagos and spyglass you specially apreciate in trip to the jungle.

Benefits of the internship

The employer provides you a lunch at work, flue vaccination, there are employees events such as company anivarsary and other events relateted to local festivities.

Cooperation with IAESTE in the foreign country

There was no problems, IAESTE coordinator comunicates well in english and is helpful both in ecuador as well during the initial stage during emailing and managing all necesary documents on the distance.

Overall experience with IAESTE

IAESTE as organization works quite ok but you have to email many times different people to achieve anything you want to handle. If you just submit your application and wait you might end up waiting in stead of doing your intership.