Job Discussion Forums

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

Have offer to relocate from Vietnam to KRASNODAR near the Black Sea. Any comments? What is the place like? Cost of living? Is $1600 month OK for a 24 hr week? (Married with new baby).
Anyone heard of ENGLISH CLUB School opening there- They have a few in satellites near Moscow. If so, comments please.
Any comments much appreciated.

gibronii · Joined: 04 Feb 2009 Posts: 40

I'd go, why not!? beach in summer, skiing in winter:) especially if the $1600 is in ur pocket, that's v good money for russia. although if u need to pay for a flat, bills, insurance, internet, taxes, kindergarten, visa etc. maybe it'd be wise to look into those costs and work out how much you'd actually be left with at the end of the day. My guess is that you'll have enough, you'll spend what u earn but have little left over for the pension fund. depends on ur lifestyle and rent really- 20,000 roubles give or take per month for a respectable flat in a central location??? also food and clothes (n.b. winter clothes!) arent cheap here. a bicycle or a nice new watch could send u into the red but thats the nature of our game, well it is in my case anyway

kazachka · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 220 Location: Moscow and Alaska

I miss Krasnodar. I haven't got around to visiting since 98:( Anyhow, I would really like to take a trip down there just to see how things have changed. I did part of my sophomore yr of HS there in 1990 and my jr yr of college as well. I also returned to visit friends every summer from 92-5. I spent tons of time living there off and on between 90-95. Be forewarned, it is VERY HOT there from May-October! Winters are fairly mild but MUDDY. Good boots are in order to get through the muck season. You will be a 90 min drive from the Black Sea. This will become your escape on hot, humid days. You will also have access to great produce pretty much year round and the best persimmons I have ever tasted in my life!
When it's hot, be very careful though when buying meat/ fish at the market. Bad fish (well that's what the doc suspected) gave me dysentary when I was 18. I lost 20%of my body weight and that alone could have killed me-being 40kg and 176 cm tall just isn't cool. This was in 93 and I needed to go to the hospital for IV fluids but declined since I feared the possibility those needles may be dirty. This was an issue in the early 90s but things are ok now in that respect.
Let us know if you take the job. I'm curious as to how things are in Krasnodar now. Many of my friends from there are here in Moscow now.

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

Thanks for the info- I have viewed several videos etc of the area and gotten some info from a Russian friend too.
It looks a good place- but I wanted to get a few extra views.
Today the school will skype me and I will ask about apartment etc.
Just now I am in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, and hot doesnt bother me, as every day here is above 35 degrees, winter and summer, and I've lived through it for nearly 10 years now. A cool change would be welcome.

I will get some boots before I leave here- They are cheap here.
My major challenge is that my wife is Vietnamese, and she is struggling with English, she is overwhelmed by the prospect of having to learn some Russian!.
I will let you know what I decide

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Suggestion: limit your aim temporarily to getting her to learn to read. This doesn't take long (just do the print version of the alphabet, she won't need the squiggles for a while and they might only confuse her). Once she is capable of reading a sign and using a dictionary, she'll have some sense of achievement and the chance to improve later.

Given that there probably aren't going to be any of her compatriots where you're going, I would suggest buying any Vietnamese textbooks on Russian before you go (splash out on Abebooks or Amazon or whatever), so that she can at least get started on the first few chapters (on things like pronouncing the letters and basic grammar).

wilco · Joined: 22 Jan 2009 Posts: 39

Anyone got any up to date info on Krasnodar or the English Club there? I'm in discussion with them over work too.

Wilco

wilco · Joined: 22 Jan 2009 Posts: 39

Just been offered a job there, can anyone give me up to date info about the school, pse?

Cheers

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

the Black Sea is not too far away and the Caucasus are also accessible.For example the spa town of Goryachiy Kluch is a nice day out and of course the climate much warmer than in the north of Russia,but you can still get snow in winter!

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

So unless you are lucky and there is a posting from someone who has worked there,best bet is usually to try to contact one of their ex-pat staff and get as much info. as you can.
I know the town well from many previous visits when I used to represent a tourist firm from there here in Cyprus, and although it is not remarkable,the surrounding area is lovely and has some of the nicest scenery in Russia.Definitely worth a try!

broedel · Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Posts: 1 Location: Tallahassee FL USA

It has been a while since I have been there but I communicate with people there quite a bit. At Kuban State University there is an English Club and they have an on-line group on vkontakte.ru . There are several companies there in the city that teach English. Many college-age people in Krasnodar are on Facebook also. I live in Tallahassee and we have a sister city relationship with Krasnodar. I have been involved with that since it was started.

wilco · Joined: 22 Jan 2009 Posts: 39

With an apartment covered, $1500 salary, can a couple live comfortably (eating out once a week, no booze or fags, clubbing once a fortnight) and still save $500?