Job Discussion Forums

[canucktechie]

[Seeker of truth]

[jackintokyo]

Hi JP,
I live quite close across the water in Tokyo and have been teaching there for ten years. I am married to a Japanese woman. (Undoubtedly Japanese women are the best females in the world - this a closely held secret).
I am English,from Newcastle, although I am domiciled in Melbourne where I have a house. Every year I escape the unbearable summer in Tokyo - to stay with my grown up children in Australia.
I learned Russian when I was in England - admittedly only HSC level - but I always have had a hankering to visit Russia. As Vlad is only a stone's throw away do you think there might be a possibility of my teaching for a few weeks during August and September? I could make my own way there. I have had stacks of experience teaching at all levels and I have a M.Ed(TESOL) and a CELTA.
I have enjoyed reading your postings and - DOSVEEDANYA

Jack Curran

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Hi jack,
I'm afraid August is a very bad time to try to pick up part-time work as there are very few students. Nearly the entire country of Russia goes on vacation during the month of August. However, if you're interested in coming in September I might be able to sniff out a few hours for you! Let me know via PM if that sounds doable for you.

Seeker,
I just saw this thread again, so I didn't thank you some months back for the congratulations! Anyway, I would be happy to show you pictures of the wedding and our subsequent baby boy I'm proud like that!

Generally, not much has changed in the Vladivostok teaching market. EF is the only English school of note; although I hear of smaller schools starting (though I've never actually seen any of them nor have I met anyone who teaches or studies at them--ah, save one).

Rents are still dear. My wife and I have bought a flat, so I don't currently rent, but I would still quote around 10K for a bare-bones, out of the center accommodation. 15K+ anywhere near the center.

As with the rest of Russia, inflation has skyrocketed prices, especially on dairy products, and imports. A kilo of cheese (well, decent cheese--I require good cheese ) will set you back 450rbls+ minimum.

Long and short, Vladivostok is not a budget posting. A teacher coming in must make 30,0000rbls/month at the very least to get by.

If anyone has questions about Vlad I'd be more than happy to answer them!

Cheers, everyone! And let's get this EFL teachers' association thing going, eh?

[Seeker of truth]

What difficulties do you see in terms of starting a business in Valdiv? Anything from a pizzeria to a winery to an English school? How favorable would you rate the business climate there? What is the tax structure like?

Assuming you got a business up and running, would you have to reckon with the mafia demanding a cut "for protection"?

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Business climate for a foreigner trying to start a business in Vladivostok without very connected local support (scale: Absolute Zero - 100): Absolute Zero minus 34.
As you can tell by my witty little scale there, starting a business as a foreigner without loads of local "roofs" is nearly impossible. In fact, I've never heard of it happening in Vladivostok.
The tax structure is INSANE. My wife is an accountant, and she told that if a business actually paid all the taxes they were supposed to, they would pay out more in taxes than their net income.

[Seeker of truth]

Anything new going on these days in Vladivostok? Just curious.

[maruss]

Read Jonathan Dimbleby's impressions about it at the end of his latest travelogue about Russia: nice people and an interesting place with a different,more friendly atmosphere than other Russian cities,but unfortunately just as corrupt and decrepid in many ways as most of them....

[jpvanderwerf2001]

If anyone is really interested in Vladivostok (for instance, work/living possibilities), please PM!