Job Discussion Forums

[smithrn1983]

Having lived in Russia before, I'd say that most of maruss' postings are extremely accurate regarding the Russian mindset.

Russians are EXTREMELY patriotic, even borderline nationalistic. I had a number of conversations with Russians while I was there during which they insisted not only that Russia was the best country in the world, but that Russians were the most superior people in the world. This sort of thing simply does not happen in other Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, etc. However, I can see many of my fellow Americans sitting down and explaining American superiority to foreigners here. A lot of it, I think, is that both cultures are highly insulated from the rest of the world. Second languages are rarely learnt, and travel abroad is quite rare among both populations. Not to mention both cultures as a whole are largely geographically ignorant, and have little concept of how other cultures operate. It's easy to believe you're the best when you never see anything else.

As for the 'amnesia' about the Soviet past, I would describe it more as 'nostalgia'. Russians remain divided on Stalin's legacy, and the number of people wishing for a return to 'the good ol' days' is not small. Even people who are better off today that they were in the Soviet Union (almost everyone) still long for a return to communism. Part of it is longing to be a dominant world power again, and the other part seems to be that under communism you didn't have such a huge income disparity. In today's Russia you can see pensioners selling flowers on the street for kopecks while young entrepreneurs speed past in their new BMWs.

For newbies travelling to Russia, the most important aspect to keep in mind is probably the extent to which personal relationships matter. Nothing in Russia seems to work without them.

[Dalton]

These attitudes discussed in this forum, do they pertain mostly to life in Moscow or are these mentalities held across the majority of Russian cities and towns? I guess what I'm asking, as a typical wide-eyed newbie to EFL and Russia, is if there are more progressively minded locales to find oneself a teaching job. It'll be more than a year, maybe even close to two before I land there so I'm sponging up as much info as possible at the moment. Already the enormity of Moscow is out for me personally, but is one just the same as another? Will I run into the same mentalities in Novosibirsk or Ekaterinburg as in Moscow or SPB?

[VladJR87]

[Dalton]

I think you misunderstand me, sir. It's not different mentalities I'm wary of, it's mentalities that might make things difficult for a foreigner presuming to teach native Russians the English language and whether they're widespread or specific to certain cities.

[maruss]

In Moscow and to a lesser extent St Petes. you are most likely to meet foreigners and Russians who have travelled abroad widely and it is often said that in Moscow you can find all types of people and almost anything!It is also widely acknowledged that Moscow is like a separate island and not typical of Russia overall when compared to the rest of the country in many ways,especially regarding incomes and living standards and there are also extremes at both ends of the spectrum with a very uneven distribution of wealth.
In smaller towns you will experience Russia as the majority of people there do and be much less likely to meet foreigners.But to be able to cope you need at least a basic knowledge of the language,a great deal of tolerance and willingness to accept things as they come on a day-to day basis and perhaps above all, the ability to deal with loneliness and a sense of isolation from the surroundings and customs you are familiar with.Although Russians can be very hospitable and welcoming once you get to know them and,equally important,they feel they can trust you,Russia is not a place which is immediately inviting,Moscow even more so and many first-timers find it quite daunting and even seemingly hostile.
To understand this perhaps a brief read-up on their history since the early 20th century might explain why people are wary of trusting strangers and tend to mind their own business as a general rule in their daily lives?The general attitude is that life is often stressful enough already without becoming involved in other peoples problems....it is very hard to appreciate this unless you have experienced it yourself.

[maruss]

Recent developments in Russia with the Kodorkhovskiy case seem to indicate the direction the country is heading:i.e. Putin and the F.S.B. clique are still firmly in control and intend to make sure things stay that way!The outlook for people there is dubious at best with corruption and repression likely to get worse,rather than better.There are some good articles in the current on-line edition of the Economist with links to some excellent Moscow Times analysis of the prevailing situation.Before passing judgment on anything to do with Russia,it is worth reading them as they offer an insight into a reality which few foreigners are likely to encounter or understand unless they become involved with Russians on more than a casual basis.
Perhaps this is a good moment to revert to what I said in the opening posting that many people who go there are uninformed and unprepared for the reality of life in Russia:knowing more about it might help us to see things from a different perspective,especially the often seemingly inexplicable behaviour of people which we often find unacceptable by our standards and the baffling bureaucracy and unintelligable rules and regulations!When it all gets too much,as it sometimes does,we can then remember that we always have the choice to leave whenever we want,while many people there do not!
But overall,despite everything,Russia is an enigma which continues to lure and intrigue many people and this is unlikely to change....

[kazachka]

Good posts maruss-this is very accurate. Corruption will always be king here.It's just too deeply rooted in every aspect. You can bribe you way out of everything here. There is corruption in the US too, but I think it's just more frowned upon whereas in Russia it's the norm. Govt is corrupt, healthcare is corrupt,sport is corrupt, traffic police are corrupt, the court system is corrupt....the list is endless. Russia would cease to function without corruption it's so absurd.

[desertdawg]

Very interesting. I'm out of date. I studied America and CIS in 1991 and left Moscow in 1997.

My area of interest is in Constitutional Law. If you looked at the two before the breakup of the CIS there wasn't a lot of difference. I would argue now, practically, there still isn't.

I think the most illuminating data, as a previous poster has stated is about the passports. USA, USSR. Not much contrast. A diverse collection of states with very precarious governments at all levels.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

[Houston]

If you aren't willing to accept Russia for what it is, then don't teach here.

I'm an American, former soldier, who lived in the U.S. for 32 years. I look at political debates and media there, and all I see is corruption and distortion of real issues. I see two political parties, who have worked together to create $13 trillion of debt, working for the same monied elite while pretending to work for the common citizen. If that's not a failed system, I don't know what is.

Russia has problems, and I understand that. I get along okay here, although I haven't been here that long. The people who have been here for 3+ years though have all told me I have the right attitude for the long haul, because I accept things for what they are, not what I want them to be.

Let's also be realistic. Many English teachers in Russia couldn't make this much money or get this much positive female attention in their home country. Let's not bullshit and pretend that living here is just about teaching English. If Americans really have a problem with the way things are run here, they can always go teach in the Middle East, where they'll only have access to prostitutes, or Asia, where they'll only have access to women looking for green cards.

Not trying to pick a fight, just trying to keep it real.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Houston, good luck with your time in Russia. I look forward to hearing how things work out for you as time goes on.

[smithrn1983]

[jpvanderwerf2001]

It's also important to remember that Moscow/St Pete are NOT Russia. They are but two cities in one area of the biggest country in the world. While the hospitality and food are general truths, the fact is that public transportation outside of the Golden Ring is abysmal here. The same goes for the shopping.
Also, Moscow and Peter are no more "real Russia" than New York and Beverly Hills are "real America": Certainly parts of the fabric of the country, but by no means representative of the country as a whole.

[Houston]

I totally agree on warning newcomers, and I think that it is great that people who have been here awhile are sharing their personal experiences.
Maybe my first post was a bit overdone. I will reiterate though that nothing kills my mood here faster than listening to an expat teeing off on Russian culture and how ignorant the Russian people are.

I've found Russians to be very hospitable and friendly. I may just be lucky in that the Russians I keep meeting have been really nice to me for the most part. I've been diving headfirst into Moscow life though, and I don't mean the nightclub and bar life. I've set up language exchanges with a few Russians where I agree to help them with English in exchange for them helping me with Russian. It's something that I very much recommend, especially if you're a new teacher and you don't have the requisite experience to pull in good money from private lessons.

I've been eating healthier food here than I did in the U.S., because in the U.S. fresh food and vegetables get an 'organic' label slapped on them and the price is doubled. Russian food is pretty good, although there are a few dishes I simply won't touch. There's an outdoor market near my metro with a bunch of different fruit, vegetable, and meat vendors, and it's fantastic.

I lived in Alaska for 3.5 years, I don't have much of a desire to experience the isolated small town lifestyle again. Many Muscovites tell me that Moscow isn't like the rest of Russia, but that's sort of basic logic I think. Austin isn't like the rest of Texas, but living there doesn't mean you aren't experiencing Texas.

I think maybe one thing that has helped me is that I've resisted the urge to get drunk and then wander home alone. That seems to be a common theme among people who find themselves in bad situations here. Better to keep yourself level, enjoy a few drinks, and then head home with your wits about you. If you want to get wasted, host some friends and drink yourself into oblivion in the comfort of your own flat.

I may go back to America in a few years, but not unless I can confirm that there's a better life waiting for me there.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Sounds like you're on the right track, Houston. I hope things stay good and your luck holds out. But the right attitude and good work ethic make good luck, don't they?