Job Discussion Forums

[bejarano]

Hello All,

I have read most of the posts on here and I haven't seen
any posts covering this paticular subject, so here it goes.

I fancy working in Moscow next year and I fancy working
in a small town. I think the benefits of my own flat and
at the end of it all being fluent (ish) in Russian.

I like the sound of Klin, can anyone furnish me with any positives
or negatives about working and living in Klin ? (or somewhere similar)

Cheers in advance.

[rusmeister]

You are being unclear.

[bejarano]

Sorry if I wasn't being clear enough, what I meant was
that I will be working in Moscow but in one of its satellite towns.
So I will be working in Moscow, just not in the city, but in one of
the outer suburbs. (if I'm not mistaken it is a 2 hour bus ride
from Klin to Moscow city centre)

I'm not going to Russia looking to make good money as such, I'm a novice
EFL teacher thus I don't experct big bucks for my efforts as I'm there
to learn the ropes in a place I have been to before and have wanted to go back to since and where there is a big demand for native speakers. (so I have been told)

Thanks for the reply though Rusmeister, how would my presence
put me at risk? law enforcment agencies? skinheads? (I have a Hispanic
parent) cheers in advance for any replies!

[canucktechie]

As it happens I have met a guy who had worked for BKC in Klin.

Big minus for him was that he was the only native English speaker in town! However this may be a plus for you if you want to speak Russian.

Didn't hear of any hassles in particular.

BKC pays the same in the outer locations as it does in Moscow.

I'm not sure if Klin is in Moscow region or not, but it's far enough out to be noticeably poorer than Moscow - just another medium size Russian city really. But this may be better for your ego than Moscow, since you will be earning more money than most people.

[bejarano]

Cheers Canucktechie,

The fact that the cost of living will be more cheaper for me
in Klin is a big factor also, I won't be going around town stuffing
waiters and shop assistants pockets full of roubles, slapping them
on the cheek in lieu of a nice tip so I will keep my ego in check as in regards of being better paid than most.

I think being the only English speaker in town is a big advantage
in regards my Russian will improve leaps and bounds, I can't see
any downsides unless there are psychotic skinheads/cops milling
around.

[rusmeister]

One big warning - if you are darker-skinned (as in Mexican/Hispanic) you may experience the problem of being taken for someone from the Caucus mountains (Georgian, Azerbaijanian, Armenian) - there's a lot of popular resentment against those people due to a perceived moving in on Russian society, refusing to assimilate and dominating certain economic spheres (fruit and vegetable markets are a typical example). Also, darker-skinned peoples tend to get stopped more frequently by the police (militsiya) for document checks and harassed (terrorists in Russia, incl. Chechnya, tend to come from the darker-skinned Islamic countries). I'm by no means condoning any of that, but some darker-skinned Americans and others have reported experiencing grief on numerous occasions.

[quietguy]

I've not been to Klin, but I hear it's OK. I'm currently working for BKC in Zelenograd, and I know the (one and only native speaking) teacher in Klin. She's getting on just fine, it sounds, but she does get a bit bored out there. She spends the weekend here in Zelenograd. Last year's native speaking teacher in Klin now works with me here in Zelenograd. Anyway...Klin would be a bit lonely for my tastes, but I wouldn't want to be in the city either. Teachers in the city often have split shifts and have to commute between schools. Here in Zelenograd, my classes are blocked together...heck, I've even got my own classroom. Let me know if I can answer any specific questions for you.

[maruss]

This is an average small russian town which employs many of it's inhabitants at a chemical factory nearby but don't let that put you off as it also has the Tchaikovsky museum in the house where he spent some of his life.Like Solnechnogorsk further south,the advantage is that some really pleasant forest and countryside lie immediately outside it and the air is a million times healthier than in Moscow!The disadvantages for someone foreign,especially if they don't know russian either could be loneliness and boredom, especially as the local people in such places are usually quite reserved with strangers and you would need to invest time and goodwill to get to know them,although the school will be a definite ice-breaker.Of course I know nothing about the salary and accomodation and would strongly recommend you clarify all this beforehand-make sure your appartment will be for your use only and that it is fully equipped with a washing machine and TV. etc. There will no laundries in such a place,only a 'babushka' to do your washing-if you can find one!Above all, never forget that wherever you go,it is still Russia and that means using your common sense about security and dealing with the police and authorities etc!

[maruss]

As for Zelenograd, sorry but I think it's an awful place, just a few miles of ugly high-rises like most suburbs of Moscow, except surrounded by some open countryside.I did visit it two or three times to give the place a fair chance, but unfortunately my opinion was not swayed!

[IvanGrozny]

maruss
Are you saying that you don't like Soviet "Architecture"? The movie "Sloki Parum", With Light Steam", and the cartoon that always starts it parody the cookie cutter Soviet building style. Oddly in Cherepovets in 2002 I watched them building new apartment blocks on the same pattern as the old. Aint broke don't fix it? The film is actually very good and one of the few that has english subtitles on the dvd version, and features vocals by Alla Pugachova when she was young. And for the single men. If you want to instantly win the heart of a russian woman start to sing the song "Gde Maya Lubimaya" from the movie. If that doesn't work you'll need a blowtorch to defrost her and best move on.

Ya spracil u yacenya, gde maya lubimaya?
Yaccen ne otvetil mne, ostala golovoi.
.......

[rusmeister]

[quietguy]

Yeah, Zelenograd is pretty ugly, but what I was getting at is that the situation is better (more support, other native speaking teachers, etc.).

[maruss]

I would agree with both points!Even though I speak the language passably well and have been there a lot of times previously,I still felt lonely at times, even thoughI had friends etc.For a first-timer in a small town where there are unlikely to be any other foreigners, this could be a real problem,especially in Russia.

[cheekygal]

Actually, it depends on a town. Some places are VERY nice for a foreigner to be as people are hospitable and are eager to make friends with an outsider. I wouldn't vouch for Zelenograd neither Klin. The only thing though: being a Russian myself, a friendly warning - be careful with the cash you carry around and be nice. Russians would accept you as one of their own if you truly make an effort to blend in. If you come there and act like a big-shot from a highly-developed society and act like everything and everyone else is below you: good luck and God bless; and don't complain later You will definitely experience a culture shock (minor or major).
Due to the nature of the Russian language itself you might find yourself thinking that everyone is rude and fights a lot. It isn't really the case though Russian men do come out looking like mean-machines and Russian girls - as arrogant *beeps*.
I'll second the "dark-skinned comment": unfortunately, it is true. But if you are in Moscow - it is much much MUCH worse. On the other hand - it is easier to be a "star" in a smaller town