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Get by on $2k, without question. Just as the much-derided MacSchools enable people to 'get by'.

Why come to another country and do this? Well, I guess there are as many reasons for working in other countries as there are other countries to work in. For me it was a decision to come to Russia because I wanted to be here. I realised it would mean some compromises compared with my standard of living in the UK but after more than two years I still believe the ups have compensated for the downs.

I changed career to do CELTA and get myself to Moscow. Had I simply stuck out a McContract and gone home this would have been a marginal financial investment at best - better to regard the experience as a slightly unusual holiday / personal growth experience than a period of gainful employment.

But, having come to Russia, I tried to push outside the TEFL world and have landed a rather better job in my first career. This has taken time and a certain amount of footslogging, but no more than it would have taken to establish an "empire" of private students. The upshot of it all is due to be a $3500 salary, realistic opportunities to continue freelance work worth about $1000 / month. Unless, of course, it all gets credit crunched in the next six weeks or so. Fingers crossed!

I could have looked for jobs in my original career from the UK, but it would have been almost impossible to find one that was realistic - I needed to be here, to add experience of Russia to my professional experience before I was a viable employee in my field. I'd guess our pro teachers (if we're sticking with the pro v backpacker labels) have similar choices: I assume there is potential to earn more and enjoy better quality of life back home, so it must have been another factor which brought you to Russia. You had to start somewhere, and so does any other new arrival. You made it, I hope I'm going to make - why assume that it's impossible for anyone else to do the same?