Job Discussion Forums

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

A British friend of mine who has been working in Moscow teaching from September to May since 2006,called me yesterday sounding very despondent.......after successfully building up contacts from several sources which allowed him to make enough money to make it worthwhile enduring the winters there etc. he arrived back last week expecting to occupy a rather nice and comfortable appartment in Strogino which he was given by the 'New Russian' owners wife free in return for teaching their children English on two afternoons per week(and getting paid for it too!).They have several luxury cars,including a Bentley and had even given him the key to the flat when he left for his summer holiday,ready for his return this autumn and were aware of his impending arrival as he called them recently.Surprise,surprise when he got there quite late at night he could not unlock the door and realising that the lock had been changed he finally managed to call the owners wife.....rather than apologising she told him to get a taxi to their appartment nearby where on arrival she casually remarked that she had decided to rent out the appartment and as she she planned to go into hospital for medical treatment very soon she no longer needed him to teach English either for the time being and would call him 'if and when' etc!As it was already very late by then and there were no hotels nearby she said he had better sleep at their appartment for the night......
Next day he called the boss of another firm who he also works for and had no alternative but to go and stay with the owner and her two adult children in a remote satellite suburb south of the MKAD!He had tried this arrangement previously in exchange for buying the family groceries but had ruled it out this time, not just for the inconvenience but also because both of the children are totally hostile and refuse to even speak to him!!
So he is also now stuck with only 20 academic hours per week,some of which are in Svenigorod of all places,meaning he has a 5 a.m start on that day!
Like so many people who go to Russia and get blase when everything seems hunk-dory and the money rolls in,I warned him that the golden rule there is NEVER to take anything for granted in Russia because nothing is permanent and things can change without warning,as he found out only too well!I had a similar experience myself,albeit under different conditions....

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 1:49 pm Post subject:

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is... I don't think Russia is unique in this regard.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

With a nice,rent-free 3 roomed modern appartment to himself in Strogino and making around $4000 per month before I suppose anyone would think they were onto a good thing!O.K. some people would say Strogino is way-out and just another high-rise suburb but it is reputably 'cleaner' than many other parts of Moscow.
He will have to fork out at least a $1000 per month for a much worse appartment now AND try to find extra hours which pay decently AND which he can fit into his schedule,so I think he has come down to earth with a bump!Nothing lasts for ever and 'New Russians' are notoriously fickle,knowing they can afford to be!But going to Svenigorod one day per week??
Probably as a result of their history,Russians seem to behave as if people they have power over are expendable and this is just another example of that!
All in all though,I think my friend had a good run for his money for quite a long time there and I did constantly warn him not to get over-confident:of course he wouldn't lsten and couldn't resist the temptation to try it 'just one more time!!'.

Nexus · Joined: 08 Mar 2004 Posts: 189 Location: Moscow

If he's looking for some extra hours, I think BKC are recruiting.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

The guy is a friend of mine and I think he needs the suggestion to work for an outfit like that less than he needs a smack in the mouth right now!
Seriously though,I have told him to be patient as there are decent firms around that need experienced freelance staff like him but he will have to be flexible with his work schedules....
But no way will he get the kind of money he was making before,or a decent free appartment.His main reason for returning was because he was saving money which he had other plans to use in future, so it raises the question of whether it is worth staying with the way things have turned out?