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jasonr37
Joined: 08 Jul 2007
Posts: 16
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 Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 2:50 am Post subject: Teaching in St Petersburg? |
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I have just finished a 100 hour TESL course and am very excited about going to St Petersburg. I Would really appreciate if anyone has any information they think would be usefull for me. Especially since i have absolutely no experience and have never left the USA. Info pertaing to the costs of living compared to your wages? would be really nice. Anything.. Thank You  |
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rusmeister
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Posts: 867
Location: Russia
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jasonr37
Joined: 08 Jul 2007
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:41 am Post subject: St Petersburgh |
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| 700$ a month isnt that much. However I was wondering if anyone has any experience living with roomates.And if so how thjey felt about doing it. What I would really like to do is live with a native family. I did find a website for finding roomates ( flatmatesru.com) but I have not seen any info on living with a family. Anything that anyone has on St Petersburgh would be much appreciated. And thanks Russ for that feedback |
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Aussie Chick
Joined: 17 May 2007
Posts: 104
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:43 am Post subject: |
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Things will be different - very very different - to life in the USA, or any Western country, for that matter. Accept that you will be living in a 3rd world country and that democracy and commercialism is still a concept very new to many Russians. I would suggest you read as much as you can find about life in Russia. Read the experiences of expats living there to get a feel for what you should expect.
Can you wash your own clothes in a bath tub? I have read that many Russian flats (especially cheap ones) don't have washing machines, so be prepared to do your own washing. Between now and when you leave, start doing your own washing. Don't leave it up to Mum to do it anymore 
Of course, I could go on with all the other "learn to do yourself" things that you probably don't have experience in if you haven't lived away from home....
As far as sharing a unit with someone else, just be flexible and accept that living together isn't necessarily the same as it's portrayed on "Friends" - you will argue, disagree and have to put up with very annoying habits. Don't expect your flatmate to be your bestest friend - but having another person whose native tongue is also English can help when you're living in an alien culture.
But if you embark on your journey with an open mind and positive attitude, then it will be an adventure of a lifetime!  |
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mdk
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
Posts: 425
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Can you wash your own clothes in a bath tub? |
It is untrue and unfair to call Russia a third world country. It is especially untrue of Saint Petersburg which has always been the most westernized place in Russia. I speak as the man who lived in Siberia and came to Saint Petersburg for a winter vacation. It's a great place.
The word for "laundry" is "Prachichiniya" and a dry cleaner is a "Khimchista". They will wash your bed linen, but you are on your own with your socks and underwear. I personally brought back synthetic stuff that could be washed in a sink easily. You can get them from a travel store.
The single most important question is do you (or are you willing to learn to speak) Russian? A 200 word vocabulary coupled with the ability to read and sound out Cyrillic words will do for a start. If you aren't willing to attempt to speak their language, how polite is that?
As to a family stay the agency will keep at least 50% of the fee. My suggestion is to find a congenial person and live with them. It is not hard to do. You must exercise a bit of prudence, but if you pick one who doesn't speak English in the house, you will be speaking passable Russian in a few months.
Hey! you want to see my pics from Saint Petersburg? Have a look at
www.flick.com/martinthek/ or maybe its www.flickr.com/martingthek/photos/
You can check out Moscow, Tomsk and Spain too. Even the Russian fort in California.
If my shot of the Admirilaty garden in the snow doesn't give you a frisson, you better stay home.
P.S. the school will carefully pay you just enough to survive on in Saint Petersburg. I suggest you have an equal amount in savings. If you spend that prudently, you will have enough to enjoy your stay. |
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jasonr37
Joined: 08 Jul 2007
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:02 am Post subject: |
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| I really appreciate the feedback I am receiving. MDK{Those Links didn't work} I would like to see your pictures and I think I might take your advice on finding a congenial person to live with. I am trying to learn russian as quickly as I can through Rosetta Stone. However I dont have anyone to practice it with so I feel like Im forgeting the things i have learned when I want to recall them offhand. I am a very independent individual. and Have been doing my laundry in a tub. I work hard and try to spend very little. I have been getting by on 7.50 an hr for a couple of years. I hope that these traits will benefit me in Russia. I still worry a bit about wages to cost of living. does anyone know were i can find more info on expats living in russia. Thanks |
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ColdRodear
Joined: 28 Aug 2006
Posts: 36
Location: St Petersburg
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mdk
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
Posts: 425
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:04 am Post subject: |
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Dear Jason,
I just checked the link for the pics. It is actually ..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinthek/
From what you are saying, I think you should be OK. Bring a few hundred in your grouch bag for an emergency and of course having some savings back home (which I could get thru the ATM) came in very well when I broke a tooth.
Stop worrying and go enjoy yourself. Walk down Nevsky Prospekt and have a good time. Try reading up on St. Petersburg in the Lonely Planet Guide. |
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Aussie Chick
Joined: 17 May 2007
Posts: 104
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| mdk wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Can you wash your own clothes in a bath tub? |
It is untrue and unfair to call Russia a third world country. It is especially untrue of Saint Petersburg which has always been the most westernized place in Russia. |
I was describing it as it would appear to a young American guy who has never travelled overseas before. Despite its claims for being "Westernised" it is still a primitive country in many aspects.
| Quote: |
| I speak as the man who lived in Siberia and came to Saint Petersburg for a winter vacation. It's a great place. |
Compared to Siberia, anywhere would be favorable for a winter vacation  |
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rusmeister
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Posts: 867
Location: Russia
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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The truth, as always, is more complex.
You're both right.
We would consider some conditions in many places to be quite primitive.
But the people cannot be described as primitive anymore than our people can be. They have both bluetooth and backward babushkas, filthy holes for toilets and VW Passats (with all the options). They have combo washers and dryers and old-fashioned wringers. Some old folks still listen to LPs and the kids walk around with mp3 players and cell phones with internet connection. The nastiest roads you ever saw and some fairly modern highways with full-service stops.
On this I do agree with Aussie Chick - it is something of a hardship post if you're here for any serious length of time (over 3 months). |
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mdk
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
Posts: 425
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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And I have read "In a sunburned country" by Mr. Bill Bryson about his travels in Australia. It sounds like a nice country, but it can have its moments.
As for the US, I once spent six months working in Gallup, New Mexico. I think you would consider that or maybe Tuba City, Arizona to be hardship posts. They were certainly more backward than Tomsk. I once went to Albuquerque after spending 2 months in Gallup and had a case of culture shock in the mall.
So, I would not be afraid of severe privation in Saint Petersburg -- just don't drink the water. |
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jasonr37
Joined: 08 Jul 2007
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:03 am Post subject: |
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I think I must agree with Russ on the topic of calling Russia a 3rd world country. It would seem that no matter what country you travel to if you are looking for 3rd world aspects you will find them. And vice versa.
Those pictures are great. I had to stop looking. I am one of those people that does things and doesnt watch other people do them. Don't tell me the movie before I see it.HaHa They did cause me to feel even more excited than I already am. My mother sent me a Lonely Planet guide in the mail right away when i told her i wanted to go to Russia. So ive been Reading it throughly. I was wondering though besides breaking your tooth did you ever have the need to dip in to your savings back home. It is likely that i'll be about broke upon arriving in Russia. Maybe 500$ to my name.
Of all the places to travel in The USA. New Mexico? I think i drove through their once. didn't like it much. In my Opinion the Appalacian territories are home to some of the most peacefull and beautifull styles of living. Of course my experience here on the west coast is very limited. |
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mdk
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
Posts: 425
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:54 am Post subject: |
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$500 in the old grouch bag is pretty slim. I ended up getting a cap at the American Dental Center in Moscow and it ran about $900 all told. I hope you have some good relatives.
Come to think of it when a friend had a molar blow up in Tomsk, she got a "root canal" for $35 at the local dentist. He stank of cigarette smoke and didn't put a cap on the tooth, but at least it didn't hhurt anymore. If the tooth isn't capped it is liable to break easily down the road.
I took the job in Gallup after my divorce. It seemed easier than the foreign legion.
Gallup was an armpit, but the surrounding desert and the New Mexico Rockies were quite beautiful. |
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