Job Discussion Forums

[crispintp]

Hi,

I am currently mulling over an offer to work for London School in Bishkek.

I have been interested in moving one of the southern former soviet republics for a while now, after hearing good things about the availability of work.

I have mostly been considering Almaty in Kazachstan, which I have heard is a very lively place. I have not heard the same things about Bishkek, although I had imagined it would be quite similar to Almaty.

Can anybody fill me in on the entertainment scene for life as a teacher in Bishkek? I have heard that the Kyrgyz are extremely hospitable. Do teachers often get invited out to local Kyrgyz events? Are there any ex-pat bars or an ex-pat scene there?

Also, if anybody has any knowledge of the London School and it's reputation, I would be very interested.

Thanks,

Crispin.

[fat_chris]

Is heroin big in the Stans at the moment?

[dreadnought]

Hi Chris,

i've been in Bishkek a couple of months now working as a teacher trainer for an NGO, so I can maybe answer a few of your questions, though perhaps not in that much that detail.

Bishkek seems a very lively place with plenty of bars and restaurants. There's a couple of well-known ex-pat hang-outs here though I don't know how many of the people there are teachers. Most of the foreigners seem to be working for a variety of NGOs, charitable organisations or are soldiers from the American airbase. As a foreigner you are unusual enough to be interesting, but not so unique as to encourage stares and pointing on the street.

Generally the Kyrygz people are very friendly, though I haven't really lived here long enough to experience the full 'weight' of their hospitality. I'm sure if you were working at a school you would have ample opportunity to mix with the locals and find out. People here are very keen to learn English, and I'm sure many locals would welcome the chance to mix with a native speaker.

Bishkek is a very relaxed place, big enough to maintain some anonymity but not so small as to feel claustrophobic. I'm thoroughly enjoying living and working here. Of the various 'stans, I gather Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are the most relaxed and liberal. I've got a friend in Almaty, and she says it's very similar to here, though slightly larger. I've heard that Kazakhstan has a few more problems with crime (muggings etc) than here, though this just may be hearsay.

I don't know much about the London school. I know it's the only private language school here that exclusively employs native speakers and so has a reasonable reputation as 'the' place to learn English (given people's odd notion that they can only learn English from natives). It's certainly very well known here.

Relaxed, friendly, excellent food, beautiful women. I would definitely recommend it.

Hope this helps.

[crispintp]

Many thanks Dreadnought.

Your comments were very helpful, as I have been finding information on Bishkek hard to come by. Even the Lonely Planet guide to Central Asia seems to have a rather uncomprehensive section on Bishkek.

My initial impressions of London School, through dealing with them are good, and it sounds, from what you say, to be a pretty respectable place.

Thanks again,

Crispin.

[rickandloraine]

Hi!
I'm wondering if the London School is hiring teachers and what the pay scale is.
Thanks.
Rick

[Tiger Beer]

[dreadnought]

[ecocks]

Hmmm, maybe he wants to hang out with them rather than avoid them. What are the expat joints in Bishkek?

[dreadnought]

[maruss]

If you look on the tel.com site,David Maytum at London School is recruiting now and his phone number is shown there so why not give him a ring?But I know nothing about him or his school,although I have never heard anything bad about it.If you are male and going there alone,there are plenty of available females who are not 'professionals' and this includes both local Asians with oriental features and Russian girls whose families stayed there after the Soviet Union broke up.However do bear in mind that Kyrgyzia is still a very poor and quite unstable country and opportunities for them to meet foreigners who might offer them a way to go abroad to a western country etc. are very few so I would bear this in mind before you get too involved with any of them as they have a habit of becoming very persistent!

[maruss]

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