Job Discussion Forums

[coledavis]

Read Maruss' last message, Expat...

[BELS]

Back to topic. If you are serious about living in Moscow a sensible income would be �500 per week, about $4,000 a week. And that's what the Russians say. Otherwise you won't be able to afford your car or travel, your holiday and basic living requirements and keeping a family. If you are being payed less you are being ripped off in any job. I made a survey with my Russian students and they say the same. When I told them what an employed EFL teacher earned they were shocked and wondered whether they would get quality of service if they studied at a school that pays such money to their teachers.

[rusmeister]

I think a frugal person could make it work at $2,000/month, but the main reason for that is inflation. used to be that inflation didn't touch us, because the dollar continued to 'rise' with the inflation. Last several years have been different. the dollar is frozen at 25-26 rubles, but prices keep going up and up. You now need to make significantly more money in dollars/Euros than you did 3 years ago to stay level. A pound of Russian cheese costs from $6-10 bucks a kilo. A used imported car (after customs) costs $4-8,000. Apartments in Moscow nearly all cost over $100,000. The avg Joe(Ivan) forks out $75-150 for utilities (I pay more than even that).
This is no longer a paradise of cheap living, so anyone hoping to make/save money here has to make a western salary hands down.

[LIVERPOOL1]

I feel deflated now. I have just been offered a job by BKC, yes a McSchool, in one of the towns outside Moscow. Yet reading all of this is quite depressing. Their site says $950-$1250 per month with of course shared flat. l take it that l will struggle to live on that wage? Two points that l want to make though. Firstly, l understand the criticism of schools like BKC and the fact that we are fodder for their mills but, for many its the easiest way to "break" into a country, by going to one of these chains. Secondly, one or two people have spoken as professionals, o.k in that case we need to stop equating backpacking with efl teaching. On this forum alone l see that one individual has even titled her topic BACKPACKING OR ESL TEACHING, basically asking for help with her decision. Do you not think that this mentality also keep wages down?. Now come on be honest is it worth me going to my small town or not?

[maruss]

There are 'very nasty' and 'not-quite so-nasty' small towns outside Moscow to work in...I personally avoid Zelenograd because I find it to be frankly awful-just masses of soulless and monotonous high-rises,although it is quite close to Moscow and Zhelezhnodorozhny and Balashika because they are both depressing and non-descript satellite towns,like many which were built in the Soviet era and nowadays serve largely as commuter bases for the capital.Equally nasty is Lyubertsi and Korolyev is only a little better than all the others.Forget Chimki and Mitischi too.Which one did you opt for-I hope it was not mentioned above?

All the best!

[bejarano]

[coledavis]

er, wouldn't it be nice for a request for elucidation to be unaccompanied by an insult?

[expatella_girl]

[bejarano]

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

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[maruss]

Contrary to the above rather negative postings,it is possible to earn a reasonable salary for this job,even in Russia,especially in Moscow.Of course the secret is to do your homework first and be prepared.Just like anything else worthwhile,it needs time and money to be invested in it.The time will be spent searching for an employer who pays you a decent hourly rate on time and has regular work with decent students who genuinely want to learn and appreciate your efforts.The cash will spent on your airline ticket,visa invitation and visa and most important, accomodation.If you surmount these hurdles and use your common sense you should succeed.Above all be flexible, ready to accept change and challenges and above all, remember you are not going to a European country with a democratic government or western institutions.

[rusmeister]

[blackcorsair]

$950-$1250 is enough to get by on in a Moscow Region town, no worries. If you're a single guy or gal and you're not paying rent, you'll be fine. Don't be put off going by qualms about whether you have money for this, or money for that. Go for the experience of it. Sure, the schools rip you off - but you might find the experience of being there outweighs the subsistence salary. If you don't like what you've got yourself into - get the hell out. Moscow and the outlying towns beat Krasnoyarsk any day (where I had the misfortune of spending a year). If you're a guy you'll find the provincial girls less snooty and more curious than in Moscow. I worked in Moscow but all the charming girls I ever met came from towns in the suburbs. The sweetest girl I ever met came from Podolsk to the south of the city. What a chick... But I wax lyrical. Anyway, you won't be living hand-to-mouth, you'll just have to be economical. Just like the majority of local people you meet are. Ordinary working-class people who will do anything to see their children get on in life. For me the Moscow Region is the soul of Russia.

The travel prospects are good, too. When the weather's nice you can also explore all the little towns and villages on the elektrichka. And train journeys in Russia are an adventure in themselves with hawkers, punch ups, musicians, mushroom pickers, warbling drunks and gypsies all sparkling gold jangles and crafty patter. Nothing like the soul-destroying criminally over-priced purgatory that is commuting into London on a daily basis...

Don't let the way you worry about money back home contaminate your thinking when living and working overseas.

[coledavis]

Not sure I hold with the relativistic view. We may be dissatisfied with our democracies, but the rule of law tends to work reasonably well over high and low in Britain.

[BELS]