Job Discussion Forums

[gugelhupf]

I can't be alone in my curiosity about those mysterious lands around the old silk route. I must confess my school geography breaks down in that region - it was all "USSR" in my schooldays, and not really on the syllabus - but I am intrigued. I've also noticed the odd TEFL job advert.

My plans for the next couple of years are fairly definite, but thereafter I might consider something new.

The questions I ask myself: Am I intrigued by the romantic mystery of it all? Of Marco Polo and Genghis Khan? Would I therefore find the reality of central Asia something of an anticlimax? Is it basically dust, flies and grinding poverty?

If anyone can shed some light on this for me I'd be very grateful.

[Kurochan]

This isn't a very substantial answer, but I met this American woman who taught for QSI (I think), in Almaty (a.k.a. Alma-Ata) in Khazakstan, and said she loved it. She enjoyed the city, and said it was really livable. I just got to talk to her for a minute, so I didn't get much information other than that. Actually, I've been interested in that city, because that's where a lotof Soviet films, like Ivan the Terrible, were shot. I wonder if the studios are still there?

[lostinparis]

Mongolia is FANTASTIC..... in the summer (was there for 3 months in summer 2002). Haven't braved a Mongolian winter yet, so don't know what it's like.

But in general, the people are fantastic and the culture is really interesting, especially now that the country is dealing with post-communism, pre-capitalist growing pains. Traditional food is not much to write home about (think mutton, mutton, and more mutton)... but there are some really good restaurants these days in UB and markets have a good selection of European chocolate, cheeses, breads,and things like Coke and juice. (This is all in UB)

I met lots of smart, interesting people there and have been dying to get back. I'm actually trying to plan a trip on the trans-siberian to visit good mongolian friends this summer.

I would highly recommend Mongolia to anyone looking for something off the beaten path. Although, I try not to recommend it too often.... Mongolia is special because it hasn't been invaded yet by foreigners and tourism is pretty small. I think Mongolia is also unique in that you can be a foreigner and people won't even give you a second glance in the city. Even in the small settlements I visited in Mongolia, we were welcomed and treated with hospitality. And although we got looks from the locals, they were curious and friendly looks and we were always treated like family(no joke!) no matter where we were.

I hope you have a chance to experience Central Asia for yourself. No matter where I end up traveling and teaching, Mongolia will always be a very special place for me.

[Roger]

I would in general share the upbeat descriptions of Central Asian nations, though I did see more than just a hint of a shadow over all of them.
I transited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan a couple of times. First thing that struck me was the desolation of these countries - vast steppes, with villages dotting the landscape, few towns.
The big towns have a mystical past - think of Bukhara carpets, Samarkand medresses and, yes: Korean restaurants in Almaty...
In the whole world, you will find few more cosmopolitan places - such an ethnic diversity! When I was the guest of a Russian family in Samarkand, I was taken to a Jewish interment, two Muslim marriages (between members of different ethnic groups), and I was shown Armenians, CHerkesses, Mongolians, Uigurs... it was fantastic.
Yet, the desolation of the landscape combined with a melancholy left behind by the withdrawn Soviets: scarcity of basic things, poor economic performance, and a market already dominated by Chinese smugglers.
Also very evident were vodka and the after-effects on people who overindulge.
Bureaucracy is still unbelievably resistant, and "business ideas" thought up by locals often border on the daft and scurrilous. I was approacvhed by travel agents who thought I could incite Westerners to flock to Uzbekistan to ski and to fly helicopters even though Uzbekistan had at that time no diplomatic mission to most western countries... and there was no banking link either.

[YakTamer]

lostinparis, thanks for the fascinating info on Mongolia, a country I would also love to visit, though my planned travelling stint is already too full to accommodate the delights of Ulaan Bator and Tana Tuva.

I wouldn't worry too much about recommending it. From experience I've found that most people are not into anything like as 'exotic' as what the EFL crowd would consider. For instance, I've raved over the Baltic States like Estonia but the most common response I get is people reacting as if I've asked them to take a trip to Mars. Mongolia is in a different league to Estonia so I can't see the tourist 'hordes' beating a path to it anytime soon.

[Teacher in Rome]

I once taught a man from Almaty. He was absolutely lovely - funny, keen to improve his English, obviously very intelligent. But he would never return to his country as the economy was in such bad shape. He'd worked for the state oil company but never got paid adequately enough to feed and clothe his family. He then worked for a private company and got shipped out, which was one of the best things to happen to him. I had the impression that people are well educated, but with few opportunities.

[Steiner]

Back in 1998 I taught in Karaganda, KZ. People were fleeing then. No jobs. EVERYONE had friends or relatives living in Germany, Turkey, or Israel. Most of those of Russian ancestry were trying to go back to Russia. The only ones staying were the Kazaks.

No one viewed himself as Kazakhstani. Everyone was either a Russian or a Kazak. Odd, I thought, but then it had only been a nation for seven or eight years. The people were great. The zoo was a nightmare. There's nothing to do and nowhere to go if you're not in Almaty. I loved the place.

[Tiger Beer]

Are people quite a bit different between Almaty, Tashkent and Bishkek?

It seems like all three cities have some heavy Russian populations mixed in.

[maccamlc]

I met an Australian teacher, who was in Tashkent for a year. Seemed like he absolutely loved the place, and has convinced me to try and visit, or work, 1 day