Safety - Ecuador
Volunteer Information 

	Hello, I am your coordinator for your volunteering.  My job is to make sure you have private transportation, rooms, meals, and tours while you are volunteering in Ecuador.  I can also coordinate any Spanish, cooking or painting classes.  But, the most important part of my job is to talk to you about SAFETY.
Ecuador, to me, is like New York City or Los Angeles, California. People there understand that crime exist.  And learn to live with it.  In big cities, you have good and safe areas… And then, you have bad and very unsafe parts.   What are we doing for your safety? We have hired people that we know & trust, and that we have been working with for very long time.   The places where you are staying, are good hotels and if you are staying in a home, it is owned by a family member or a friend of the family.  So, we know that you will be in a safe place.   The pre-school is a little far away.  But, there has never been problems in that area of the country.  Because of all this precautions, our volunteering costs (specially transportation) is higher than any other volunteering program.
Now, that is what WE are doing to keep you safe.

We need your help for your safety

Your safety depends on YOU.

a) In the airplane People tend to become very comfortable and friendly with strangers sitting in the same row.  Don't ask me why it is.  But, when this perfect stranger that is sitting next to me for 4 hours, starts talking about where I am going, where I am going to stay and how long I will be in Ecuador....  I just start telling him/her all about me, my life, and my life plans.  Also, the spaces are so close to each other, that my information not only is listened by the person intended, but instead 6 or 8 people sited nearby. Being friendly is a good thing.  But, be safe too...  And don't tell a perfect stranger your plans.  As always, be very general in what areas you will be staying and when.  But, don't be specific.  If you see that the person is interested in the Volunteering Program, just give them our website information.

"Use common Sense"

"Don't tell strangers about your plans"

At the Ecuador's Airport Don't be afraid to see military personnel all over the airport.  Most of the airports in the world are controled by the military.  Some of them have very big guns.  So, don't worry... they only are there to make sure all your papers are in order at arrival or departure & of course that you have not brought or are taking something illigal in your luggage.  If you are staying less than 90 days in the country, you don't need a visa.  But, check your passport.  It can not expire within 6 months from the day of departure.  (Even if you are only staying for a couple of days).  One big difference in the USA and in Ecuador... is that you will see that people don't give you as much space in lines while waiting for their turn.  So, when you are going through immigration, people will get very close to you.  That is only because our "personal space" is much smaller than in the USA.  If you feel uncomfortable, try to put your backpack on your chest instead than in your back.  I have always felt safe at the airport.  But, don't leave your bags unattended.  *  Be aware that after you pass and you are about to leave immigration, you will be asked to show the "luggage tickets" as prove that those luggage actually belong to you.  So make sure that in the Airport in your country, they attach them to your tickets.  * My mom or my brother will be waiting for you at the exit of immigration.  You will see tons of people waiting for their love ones just outside immigration.  Put yourself to the side, out of the people's way, and wait to see us.  Please don't leave the building.  There is not too much space between immigration and the outside door.  *  We will send you an email with my families pictures so you will be able to find them.  And we will need a picture of you, so they can recognize you.  Don't leave with anybody else.

"Try not to call attention to yourself" - avoid Jewelry, expensive camaras, huge laptops, etc

Money *  Ecuador uses as currency the USA Dollar. (for the moment).  Banks and ATM's: *  They are available all over big & medium cities.  In small towns there may not be more than one ATM in the whole town. *  According to Laura Bruce, from BankRate.com, "ATM's are a great convenience, but they can compromise your safety.  A robber looking for easy prey only has to stake out an ATM in a low traffic, dimly lit area and bide his time." * Try to use the ATM inside a Bank, instead than in the street. (specially if that ATM is in a corner - you will always have a blind spot.)  Also, you can use safely in a "SuperMaxi - Grocery Store" or a "Fibeca - drug store".  * Pay attention to your surroundings before, after and throughout the entire transaction process.  Be aware of people and cars park nearby. *  As in immigration line at the airport, when you are in an ATM you will be expecting that other person to be very far away from you.... Well, that doesn't happen.  They will be maybe 3 feet away from you.  That doesn't mean that they want to do something to you or that they want to see your PIN number.  It is just our culture.  But, make sure to cover your PIN number information with your hand just in case.  *  Another great tips that BankRate.com describe is:  "Do not wear expensive jewelry or take other valuables to the ATM.  This is added incentive to the assailant." * Don't count cash at public places.  Wait until you are in secure place. Credit Cards: * many places in small towns do not accept credit cards or Debit cards.  * I will suggest not to even bring to Ecuador a Debit Card.  With credit cards, you have the chance to complain if somebody has stolen it or make fraudulent charges.  With your Debit Card it is more difficult.

Public Transportation *  There are many ways to travel in Ecuador. And mostly all are safe (depending on the area where yo are traveling).    Pickpockets and other petty thieves are everywhere.  The pickpockets or the “snatch and grabs” is the most common problem.  Purses, laptop bags, handbags, are the easiest targets. * We recommend that you do not store your passport in your luggage, or purse.  The best way is to keep it in a “Passport Holder Neck Wallet” between your sweater and your shirt.  Also, make a photocopy of your passport and keep it with you somewhere else, so if something happens to your passport, you will have a backup.  And leave a scan version of your passport with a family member so, if you need it, he/she will be able to send you the information by email. "Don't take any belongings to Ecuador that you are not prepared to lose (just in case)" *  Please use only the “taxi amigo” Taxi service.  It is better to call that company and ask for a pick up.  Rather than pick up any taxi on the street.  Traffic accidents!- "Travel during the day.  Highways are under construction and signaling is very bad"

 

"Hi5, Facebook, Twitter, Sonico are not always your friends" - Be Careful

"Information on-line can be viewed by TOO many people.

Facebook and Release of Information *  If you use facebook or any public Internet site to tell others about your adventures. Please, don’t give them your itinerary.   You can tell them that you will be in Quito & Cotopaxi area - Ecuador, but keep everything very general.  Don't give dates or specific places.   *  In Ecuador, kidnapping is not as usual thing as in other parts of South America.  But, as Charlie Devereux described in his blog, in Caracas, Venezuela, robbers are using facebook to rob, fraud or kidnap their "virtual friends".   Before kidnappers had to study you and spend months learning your habits.  Now, they only have to become your virtual friend, and you will be giving them all the information needed to do you harm.

Demonstration and Strikes Strikes and demonstrations are part of our culture.  If we don't have at least 1 at month, is because there is something wrong. So Ecuadorians have learned to live with them.  But, we try not to be part of them.  Most of them are peaceful but causes traffic problems.  Others start peaceful and end up violent. *So, please don't join demonstrations or strikes.  (Even if you fell that is necessary) *  Some of the demonstrations become very violent and remember that even though our constitution does not say this, police base their decision by:  "You are guilty until proven innocent".
"Don't join strikes or Political demonstrations"		You are guilty until proven innocent

We are not qualified to give medical advice.  Please consult with your doctors.  Check out the information on immunization - "Click here"

Health Issues - consult with your doctor. The usual problems in this type of trips are:  a) Altitud sickness, b) back problems, and c) stomach problems. Altitud sickness -  Give this chart to your doctor.   Let him/her tell you if you are healthy enough to avoid altitud sickness Quito ------ 2811 meters - 9,222 ft Latacunga -- 2785 meters - 9,137 ft Cotopaxi --- 1st refuge - 4800 meters -15,748 ft Cotopaxi --- Highest point - 5897 meters - 19,347 ft What is altitud sickness?  According to www.FamilyDoctor.org, the higher you are, the less oxygen there is in the air.  And if you are used to living in lower altituds, then your body is not used to work on so little oxygen.  The key to avoid altitud sickness is to take it easy one, two or three days before you start your volunteering.  The lenght of time depends on your body.  Ecuador has a lots of hills....  so, just going down the street can cause you altitud sickness because of the hills.  Home-made remedies: - Rest - Do nothing at all - Don't do too much walking - try to use other types of transportation. - Candy, chocolates, - "coca-leaves", "Coca-te".  Some restaurants in Quito sale them.  I have never try them, but they say it works for "altitud sickness". - for bad cases, we will need to take you to get oxigen at a Hospital.  "key to avoid it":  "Plan your trip with time", "allow your body to get used to the altitud". Back problems - The small roads are very jumpy.  There are tons of holes.  So, you will be like a pop-corn.  So, make sure to let us know that you have this type of problems, so the driver can go slower.    Stomach problems - Water all over the world have bacteria.  Your body are used to them by now.  But, when you go to a different country, you may have the same amount of bacteria that you are used to ingest.  But in this case, is a little different types of bacterias.  Therefore, your body rejects them, and then is when you start having stomach aches. *  Only drink "bottle water", sodas, or juices from places that you know they use "purified water" to make them.  * "ICE" - everybody forgets that ice is made of water.  And since you don't know if the iced has been made from "purified water", then it is best not get it at all. *  Eat food from "good restaurants".  Don't eat foods from carts in the street.  (I know... the food smell so good, but you don't know how clean things are).  *  Don't brush your teeth, with the water from the faucet.  Use bottle water.  * Make sure the food is fully cooked.     Hospitals / clinics / Doctors We will be volunteering close enough to all three options.  So, if there is a problem, we can not handle with "Home made Remedies".  Then, we will transfer you to a Doctor.

 Please, let me know if there are some issues
I have forgotten to mentioned. 
Volunteer Coordinator
www.HotelCotopaxiEcuador.com

Thanks so much