Job Discussion Forums

[civi1968]

I am considering a career change and would like everyone's opinion.
I am 40 years old. I have a good state government job with a pension. Next year, I will be retiring from the air force national guard. That would allow me to teach English in fall 2009.
My experience with russia has been traveling (7 times, mostly to ukraine but I have been to st.pete) using dating services. But I am not interested in bringing a woman home that I hardly know and then being obligated to provide for her even after a divorce. My interest is not only teaching english and experiencing a different lifestyle but having more dating opportunities. The number of men teaching english leads me to believe there are similar motivations. I also know some russian and study regularly. Not enough to be fluent but a starting point.
My big decision is whether I should give up a $60,000 job with a pension at age 50 of 60% of my salary for a reduced pension of 50% if I left early. (that would give me a cushion of about $1000 a month at 50 vs $2600 if I work 10 more years) I would have healthcare from the military at age 60. I also have significant savings. Experiences are more important to me than material things so I don't need a lot.
My concern is trading all of these things for a job that sometimes seems to be about being a slave to split shifts, worries about healthcare, and being at the mercy of ruble/dollar exchange rates. Am I just considering a fantasy of an interesting job, travel experiences, and the ocasional girlfriend I might have there? My other option would be to wait another 10 years and retire with an income and then do it. Thanks. mike

[spiral78]

You will only be eligible for newbie-level positions, unless and until you have time, money, and energy to invest in both direct teaching experience and training. Newbie jobs pay subsistence wages and are not particularly prestigious. English teachers wouldn't be at the forefront of the minds of educated, professional Russian women as ideal partners. The women you'd attract would more likely be at the lower end of the educational/career/social spectrum. This may be what you want, of course, but just to be aware...

Moscow and St. Pete are expensive cities to live in. If you really aspire to date Russian women, you may very well find yourself spending more than you are making.

You didn't specify, but I assume from your post that you're a US citizen. Studying Russian is a very useful first step, and I realize that you've visited the country. But actually relocating is a different story. It's not just the pretty tourist areas...

[neil1979]

A middle-aged English teacher on a fairly low salary will not find too many women in Moscow or Petersburg these days. I knew a guy in exactly the same position who complained that after six months he hadn't had a single date.
There are many young, good-looking, rich Russian men who are far more preferable to Russian women.
You will either have to go to the provinces or be resigned to the fact that a young Russian woman who wants to marry a middle-aged American is only looking for a passport to the US and will divorce after a while. Which, after all, is only fair . . . if a man can't find the required bride in the US and goes to a poorer country to look for one, he can only expect to be treated with the same mercenary attitude . . .
If you bear all that in mind and still want to go, you will doubtless have interesting experiences.
Best of luck

[civi1968]

I would be staying within my age range for dating. I don't chase the young women like many men I have seen. I just wouldn't want to live in a country making a lower salary than at home and have no social life. If this is the case, then many of the men teaching english in russia must be living a lonely life. And the middle aged women as well.
Relationships are an important part of life so this area needs to be considered as well as any other rewards. But as I read more on this board, teaching english seems to be a stressful job with long hours and low pay that makes me ask, "Why would anyone do it?" Particularly if Russians are becoming more like americans when it comes to focusing on work and money.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

As the previous posters indicated, I'd keep out of Moscow and St. Petersburg for dating. Siberia is the place to meet women for sure. Look into jobs in Novosibirsk, Samara, etc.
Good luck.
P.S. I have no idea whether you should leave your job or not.

[spiral78]

civil1968, we aren't ALL paid at the low end of the scale. The keys include experience + higher qualifications. People who start out with a four-year degree in something unrelated and a certification that took 30 days to earn are obviously at the bottom of the salary range.

This is where you would need to start, short of your spending years and dollars taking an MA and getting significant experience somewhere.

I made excellent money on short stints in Moscow, but I have specialist qualifications (language for oil and gas industry + MA + 10 years in field + local contacts). No long hours or low pay.

So, those of us who want to make a career out of teaching are in something of a different category - there are very good reasons why we want to teach English!!

[maruss]

Under present circumstances,especially with the way the Putin regime is behaving, I would not advise anyone to go to Russia for more than a short time, let alone settle there!Apart from the economy, which they keep on boasting is 'booming' due mostly to revenues from oil and gas,there are far too many uncertainties about other things such as inflation,as well as major concerns about human rights and press freedoms etc.Whether things will improve or deteriorate when the new president takes over in a couple of months remains to be seen!
As far as women are concerned,I agree with the above postings from personal experience,especially in Moscow and your decision to stick to older ones is very sensible.....but also bear in mind that there are many women there over about 35 who have few prospects of meeting a decent,single Russian guy and who will often take any option to avoid loneliness etc.Of course people are individuals and vary accordingly,but would you really want someone to use you in that way?The fact that you know the language is a definite bonus in such a situation but never forget that they can be very devious when they are desperate enough!On the other hand,I would certainly prefer to meet someone myself rather than via an agency.The Golden rule is to meet women via Russian friends who know their background,where they come from and live etc. and also what their motives are in dating you!
If you want more info. please p.m. me.

[neil1979]

Also need to be careful what you eat. New report says that up to 50% of Russian food products are not fit for consumption - contents and sell-by dates are regularly falsified, especially on dairy and meat products . . .

I lived in Russia for nearly two years and enjoyed it, but sometimes I'm really glad to be out of there . . .

[George1983]

civi1968,

just to be clear, your original post says you'll be retiring from the national guard next year. so is there another job that you would be carrying on in the US if you didnt get into teaching?
if not, the way you've written it makes it sound like you've already made up your mind.

As for the rest, I'd agree with a lot of what's already been posted. Please bear in mind though, that lots of people teach for a living because they like it as a job. Yes, people moan about it, but largely that's because people like a bit of a moan. The genuine horror stories are fairly few and far between if you have reasonable expections going into it.

Yes, you would start as a newbie, paid and treated as one. (as spiral78 says, if you stick with it then you get more money, influence and everything else, just like any other job.) BUT, crucially, and here is where you have an advantage over lots of other people doing it, you'd have a regular western level pension coming in AS WELL.

If I have it right then if you retire early you'll be getting 1000 a month instantly (as opposed to, say, first payment when you're 60), and that will go a lot further where cost of living is less. So I'd agree to stay out of Moscow and St. P's. But here's a thought. 1000 a month would nearly pay for a flat and full time Russian lessons at the university of St Pete's. That's without earning anything while you're there and in the second most expensive city. Plus, if you want to meet someone who's not just after your wallet and citizenship then better language skills can only be a good thing. Or save the Russian tuition money and volunteer somewhere. I'd agree that smaller towns and Siberian towns are probably good options. If you teach then you wouldn't have to be [a slave to split shifts] etc because you'd have your pension topping you up.

I'd say it's entirely possibe if you want to do it. You could of course wait for ten years, but if think your best chance at happiness is in Eastern Europe, then why be miserable for 10 years? All you would have then is more money. You'd be in more of a rush and effectively buying a bride, which probably isn't quite what you had in mind!

HOWEVER, whilst I've been quite positive about the idea, moving abroad to hope to date might be extreme, and you give the impression that if you did find someone you might be happier with them in the U.S. in which case, an you get a sabbatical or something? 2 year delay? go learn Russian in Russia, socialise while you're there, spend 18 months with someone and take them back to America after a 2 year adventure?

Just a thought (and lots of opinion based on time in Russia) so I dont know if it helps!!

George

Oh, and about the older women, there's a bit of a stigma of women being old and single in Russia. My friends believe the cutoff for an 'old maid' is 24!! This means that lots are already snapped up realtively young. (I don't know if this affects the mentality of older women there - e.g. more willing to marry? I was too busy snapping!)

[civi1968]

Everyone,

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately, I wouldn't get my pension until I am 50.

[BELS]

[BELS]

[BELS]

I will go off topic slightly. As I'm sure you will agree on a forum we are providing info for many, not just the thred writer.

THe thread writer stated career, as we all know income for newbies into Russia is garbage, especially for a man who wants to keep a woman, with perhaps a baby on the way, like me.

But, for those seriously settled in Russia, and who have a desire to do it in their own. Income is now very good for those, with the going rate now being 2,000 rublees (�40) per academic hour. This whether it be the totak for teaching a typical group of 9 or whether it be for one who desires one to one. That's the going rate now.

I'm not saying that every student will agree with this figure, but that's the price you can now eventually develop.

I love it when teachers state I have too many students , that I don't know what to do. But how much are you charging 600 rublees an hour ( �12)

[BELS]

Maruss?? Where are you at the moment? Cyprus, London? or Moscow ?

[maruss]

Cyprus,where its unseasonably warm but also very dusty due to a strong wind from the Sahara!However,after Fridays summit meeting between our new President and the Turkish Cypriot leader,we are cautiously hopeful that negotiations for a solution of our long outstanding division are back on track....
As you know,I can't come to Russia again for indefinite future and I don't think even Medvedevs election will change that for me!
In England,where my son is studying and my parents live,snow is forecast for their Easter tomorrow!
Cheers for now!