Job Discussion Forums

malcoml · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 215 Location: Australia

Thank you Maruss it was about time someone put the guys straight on this board. Are you kidding lol I cant wait to get over there.
I still remember my first Russian girlfriend. It was so romantic, we met in The library (In Australian) she was studying English and I Financial Planning. Our eyes met and that was it for weeks to come. Never far from each others side. Always talking I had almost forgotten she was Russian, until two days before she was due to depart. In that one day she asked me to marry her, told me she had been divorced and that she has a child waiting for her back in Russia. She then finished it by saying she was lucky to have met me as she thinks her English language has improved by speaking to me. (I was the free teacher)
I still took her to the airport, shocked thinking this can not be true. We kissed good bye and I was fighting hard to hold the emotion back. I looked at her face and it was emotionless. Only then did I understand the Russian person and I can say those Russians are tough.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

That blank. emotionless look in the Russian peoples eyes which you saw reminds me of the history described in books like 'Gulag' by Anne AppelBaum and Solzhenitsyns writings......'there were people who had been through so much that they stopped being people any more as we know them!'
I think that maybe your girlfriend did feel something for you, but also knew that she had to survive and when the crunch came, she knew you would probably not ask her to stay with you and get married etc!So she saw you like a book that's been read and finished,and knew that next day it would be home to mother Russia and reality etc!I have met and talked to many Russian girls and women, from Moscow hookers to simple village women who still don't have hot running water and wc's at home etc!I also know one very nice lady who never asked me for a penny and always offers me everyrhing she has whenever I can make it to Moscow.Admittedly,she realises I am married etc. and at 45 is no schoolkid, but she is charming, feminine, kind......and good at what guys like to do of course,If you asked me if I would trust her, the answer is yes and completely!!
I have also seen ravishing beauties who turn tricks for hundreds of bucks and think Iam just weird when I suggest it's not a decent way to make money etc!
Yet in Thailand, it's quite normal and we don't seem offended by it-I wonder why-maybe because those women are so cute and once they find a guy, are usually very faithful and loving??

Mideatoo

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

Oh dear,has it spread to the chinese girls too??Pity,because some of them seem so charming and have beautiful faces etc.

steven_gerrard · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 155

Like it was a big secret you could earn money in the Gulf. Happily, most of us value quality of life over money (not that $3000 a month is enough to wet your pants over). After all, no one is in EFL for the money, are they?

"If you're a real teacher, come and join th expats in the Gulf" Now that sounds like a tempting offer, doesn't it?

Mideatoo · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: That blank look.....

maruss
From what I have seen in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, Slaves women are gorgeous!

SandyM · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:53 pm Post subject:

Dear Mr Gerrard,

Sorry if you think I've been labouring the obvious. Only a pillock like you would have seen fit to 'put me right', though!

In fact, I know from experience that there are a lot of backpacking tefl-tourists, probably like yourself, who are ignorant of the scene in the Gulf. But I don't suppose you're one of the 'real teachers' I was thinking of, anyway, so it doesn't apply.

Enjoy Russia - I'm sure the quality of life there is far superior to the Gulf's!That was a joke, btw, just in case you missed it. Actually I've tried both, Russia and the Gulf, and do know what I'm talking about ~(unlike a certain SG).

Poka!!

fitzpatrick_thomas · Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 55

I had a bad time at a bad school in Russia (The infamous London School in Sochi) working for peanuts.
Like some others that posted replies I was interested in Russian culture
( language, philosophy )and thought that the Russians had a specially enlightened spiritual outlook.

All I found was lies and cheating. Now I am making loads off money and you can keep Russia for the " Big Boys " (as someone on this forum advised me to do.)

Best advice I ever got - thanks for that.
Go ahead stay in Russia delude yourself and work for peanuts while your boss gets fat.

steven_gerrard · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 155

Plenty of teachers earn very good money in Moscow. But we all have to do our time and pay our dues working for peanuts and learning our trade- you can't expect to go into EFL and start earning anything more than enough to live on straightaway.

As for SandyM- enjoy the Gulf -it's not for everyone (same as Russia) and although I like holidaying there, I couldn't live there full-time. Nice to see living in such a place has turned you into such a pleasant person. I enjoy living in Russia- no one is making me stay here and while I realise it doesn't appeal to everyone, most of us who are out here remain coz we like it a lot.

Oh, and you wouldn't see me with a backpack for any amount of money....

zaneth · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 11:52 am Post subject:

"specially enlightened spiritual outlook"and "Russians" in the same sentence.

Wow.

Katyusha · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 43 Location: UAE

Well said, comrades! I'm quite comfortable where I am. So, I'll drink to UAE!!! Laughing

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Efes is the biggest selling beer in Russia now. Obviously you didn't see the victorious front page headlines in the Turkish newspapers almost a year ago when the great news that a Turkish beer is the best selling beer in Russia. It is a great Turkish victory of course.

malcoml · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 215 Location: Australia

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The Gulf (including Saudi Arabia !) is one of the few places left on Planet Terra where you can still earn enough in EFL to support a family.

The first five years are the worst. After that you get used to it. Then, when the kids have left and the wife has taken off, you can look forward to returning to the Yookay on retirement and living on means-tested benefits. Dunno what those Yanks do though ! Skid Row ?

Next year I will be on my 132 pounds a week pension credit. Ain't life a bitch ?