[paninaro]

(09-13-2013 01:46 PM)presidentcarter Wrote:  

Food wise...I'm sure "exotic" things like bananas are $$$ or impossible to find but hey, I heard you can buy a sack of potatoes for like $1 so I'll just carb load all the time.

I had a friend who lived in Moscow on a relatively low salary, and I lived in the former FSU (but not Russia) and in my early days, I was counting every penny. Here's some tips:
- Most cafes/bars will have a daily lunch special that is quite reasonable.
- In Russia, there are plenty of cafeterias/canteens for basic but hearty food, and it's cheap. The term is "stolovaya" if I remember correctly, and I usually found them in the basements of buildings.
- Alter your diet to take advantage of local foods, as they are cheaper. Start getting used to cabbage, potatoes, pork, etc and not tomatoes, oranges, etc. Those are all pricey since they are imported. If you get an urge to eat some greens, especially in winter, get the frozen stuff as the "fresh" stuff will be imported and pricey and probably already gone stale.
- Usually it's cheaper to buy local foods from the outdoor markets (stalls) instead of proper grocery stores.

Good luck! Sounds like a fun adventure!

[macDamon]

Welcome to Russia brother, I've recently moved to Saint Petersburg from Seattle, and I love it. A forest of sexy women in heels, eye contact, no bullshit games, etc. Last night I went out with three Russian women that were all vying for my attention, and ranged from six to twelve years younger (I'm 34)...something that never happened in America. Everything that has been written on this forum about EE/FSU is true...it is a Slavic paradise.

I like you am teaching English (or will be, already have job offers) and learning Russian at the language school Liden and Denz. Are you rolling with the new USA/Russia 3year tourist Visa? I have it, and supposedly it only requires a day abroad every six months; one of the benefits of choosing SPB over Moscow is that Helsinki is a stone's throw away for boarder hops...and the prices are cheaper here.

You will in no way regret your decision to move here...I wish I had done it ten years ago, at least I didnt wait ten more.

If you havent you should check out the blog English Perspective on Life in Moscow...I think I heard of it via RVF, the guy is a great writer and open to helping expat noobs in Moscow... But if your plans are not set in stone you may want to check out SPB first, everybody Ive talked said they like it better than Moscow. But Im sure thats like preferring French food over Italian...they are both fucking great.

[Vacancier Permanent]

All the best president! Yeah def you need to set up a blog once you get there! You may also want to get in touch with Camarade Vorkuta who I believe is also moving or already moved there. I'm getting seriously interested in Russia and will make it a priority for next year.

[rudebwoy]

VP - how you keeping comrade? Looks like I might have to join you on that trip as well, sounds very enticing.

Maybe a local Rooshite can rent out a room to fellow Rooshites!

[Turd Ferguson]

Congrats, presidentcarter! I'm jealous!

I'm considering moving there too, or somewhere in FSU. I'm spending next month in Kiev, since I had such a good time there earlier this year.

[elabayarde]

DAMN, you werent playing when you told me and Lothario that last time we met. Im impressed. Hats Off

[Christian McQueen]

Congrats Prez! Looking forward to your adventures and feel free to post pics of the girls there. Slubu showed me some pics this weekend of his conquests there and I was blown away.

[presidentcarter]

Hopefully this potential gov't shutdown doesn't affect my Visa application process. I'm waiting on my invite letter from Russia now then will apply for the work visa, not tourist, so I'll be 100% legal through my contract then I'll have to figure things out from there. I have to be there in about 3 weeks from today so everything is being expedited where possible.

[WanderingSoul]

Did you say you were teaching English? Are you an actual teacher back home, or did you do the TEFL thing? Is pay decent there?

[presidentcarter]

(09-19-2013 10:37 PM)RioNomad Wrote:  

Did you say you were teaching English? Are you an actual teacher back home, or did you do the TEFL thing? Is pay decent there?

Nope not a teacher. My background (degree and work) is in finance. I got tired of being a cube rat and wanted more life experience so I decided to pull the plug on that for a while and teaching English was the ticket. I got the CELTA to facilitate getting the job I wanted abroad (and I got the exact job I wanted). The business background does set me up pretty well for teaching Business English or ESP (English for special purposes ie 'finance') though.

I could do a whole thread on this and may in the future, but CELTA is the way to go if you're going to spend more than a year doing it and if you want a specific job (the school I wanted to start at bc of size, reputation, and location requires a CELTA so it was all I considered). If you're trying to go to South America or some parts of Asia on the other hand, you'll be fine with any of the TEFL certs, you could even get by with an online one, but I'd still make sure it included the standardized six hours of live teaching.

Money is shit...and by shit I mean shit considering what I was pulling at my last job, but that's only counting my contracted pay. It's pretty necessary (especially in a country like Russia) to start at a "McSchool" despite the shit pay bc they set you up with work visa, housing, 24 hour support, etc. I expect to pad my income with private lessons and I know that decent/good money ($3-5k/month) is achievable within a year or two of being there - I've spoken to people with experience about these figures, not just read online.

[presidentcarter]

(09-19-2013 10:37 PM)RioNomad Wrote:  

Did you say you were teaching English? Are you an actual teacher back home, or did you do the TEFL thing? Is pay decent there?

Nope not a teacher. My background (degree and work) is in finance. I got tired of being a cube rat and wanted more life experience so I decided to pull the plug on that for a while and teaching English was the ticket. I got the CELTA to facilitate getting the job I wanted abroad (and I got the exact job I wanted).

Money is shit...my contracted pay. But it's pretty necessary (especially in a country like Russia) to start at a "McSchool" despite the shit pay bc they set you up with work visa, housing, 24 hour support, etc. I expect to pad my income with private lessons and I know decent money ($3-5k/month) is achievable within a year or two of being there - I've spoken to people with experience on this, not just read online.

[presidentcarter]

I've been here three days and initial thoughts are...this place is awesome. Yes, beautiful women EVERYWHERE. Literally, EVERYWHERE. If you like petite, feminine women then this is the spot. I need to learn Russian though, that is for damn sure.

I'm still working out internet in my flat, so I'll add more info when I get that and also as I have more time here (so far I have just been working). One big negative I'll be dealing with is the fact that my flat is quite far away (last stop on one of the metro lines) and takes about 30 min from Tverskaya to reach. However, my line of work will put me in front of women routinely so it's not like I'll be limited to random street daygame or nightgame.

[Arg expert]

(10-25-2013 11:16 AM)presidentcarter Wrote:  

I've been here three days and initial thoughts are...this place is awesome. Yes, beautiful women EVERYWHERE. Literally, EVERYWHERE.

Sure, beautiful women everywhere, but what truly matters is, how many in your bed?

Cause, let's be honest here, who cares about seeing beautiful women all over the Moscow subway, selling flowers underground, walking in the snow, etc... only place you want to see them is in your bedroom, aint it so?

But anyway, even if you don't speak Russian, given that you are in Moscow (and not in another city), and teaching English at a private school, yes, I think that you will be successful with some cute slavic women, and have some great time! Enjoy God's best achievement, the Russian Dyev (women)! ..... Easy on the vodka, they can drink more than you can, even if they weight just 50 kilos.

[RexImperator]

Something like this appeals to me. I could use some adventure. Can you recommend any reputable companies? I realize you probably can't be too specific.

[rhino]

McSchools pay about $1k per month, and a small, basic studio apartment in Moscow boondocks alone costs that much. So the school will put him up in their flatshare with other teacher(s) as there's no way that he could afford else. Loses on privacy, gains maybe on busier social life.

He will meet lots of women in the course of a regular day. Some of them will be very available, but they'll be starter models, 5s, 6s and 7s (of which some will be visa groupies who'll try to snag him for LTR via acted romanticism, sex & domestic dishwashing route).

8s and above are out of his current status reach.

[Cattle Rustler]

I'm not sure about FSU but in Sea and east Asia the top echelon women won't date English teachers. Some of them state it in their profiles or in person.

[Arg expert]

Main problem will be, you cannot hide the fact that you came to Russia mainly for the pussy.

Sure, you came to Moscow in October for the pleasure of teaching English grammar, for the pleasure of freezing in the streets, for the excellent, fresh and cheap food (lol!)... sure. Unless you are (or will become, who knows) a spy, you did come for the pussy. A fact not lost on girls, there...

So, no hiding it : better to be frank and cool about it. Cooly admit you like gaming, but add that you are also genuinely interested in the Russian culture and History (yeah sure, but ok, 2% of the people will believe it )

Anyway, you still are very likely to have fun and interesting times with local women... just play it cool. And do learn something about Russian culture, please, before landing in Shere...

[Brodiaga]

(10-25-2013 05:41 PM)Arg expert Wrote:  

Main problem will be, you cannot hide the fact that you came to Russia mainly for the pussy.

Sure, you came to Moscow in October for the pleasure of teaching English grammar, for the pleasure of freezing in the streets, for the excellent, fresh and cheap food (lol!)... sure. Unless you are (or will become, who knows) a spy, you did come for the pussy. A fact not lost on girls, there...

So, no hiding it : better to be frank and cool about it. Cooly admit you like gaming, but add that you are also genuinely interested in the Russian culture and History (yeah sure, but ok, 2% of the people will believe it )

Anyway, you still are very likely to have fun and interesting times with local women... just play it cool. And do learn something about Russian culture, please, before landing in Shere...

As a Russian I would say you are over thinking it. American teachers taught me English in college in a Russian town, and it never occurred to me that they were there for the pussy. I thought those guys probably had their share of local pussy, but I never judged them and their choice to go abroad in a way a US feminist would.

People in Russia don't have stick up their asses when it comes to sex life and relationships. Even it's obvious you're there for the pussy, they'll probably laugh and joke about it, but they won't hate you in a way American feminists and white knights would.

[Brosemite]

(10-25-2013 03:34 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

I'm not sure about FSU but in Sea and east Asia the top echelon women won't date English teachers. Some of them state it in their profiles or in person.

I'm not sure if they avoid teachers for status reasons or because the westernized ones have killed it out there with their reputable notch counts.....

[carouge]

Ever notice how haters think ending posts as a well-wisher and on positive notes think that negates the first part of the post filled with negativity and hater remarks.Unfortunate for this place.

[Arg expert]

(10-25-2013 09:16 PM)carouge Wrote:  

Ever notice how haters think ending posts as a well-wisher and on positive notes think that negates the first part of the post filled with negativity and hater remarks. Unfortunate for this place.

Thing is, Carouge, I think this forum is for giving valuable info.

And the part I wrote about "not being able to hide the fact that you are here for the pussy", is quite valuable. Because it gives you the 'head up', it prepares you :

If you are clever, after reading this forum and my post and others, you will have a back-up story! You will research about Russian History and culture, learn some language, invent some personal link to Russia, etc, to counter, fight this feeling people will have, that you are here "only for the pussy"...

And what the Russian male poster just said, about my post not being very accurate, well, it is a Russian MALE speaking. Russian women would agree with me : They WILL think that you are here for the girls. And it WILL lead to some difficulties, flakiness and second-thoughts.

So, get prepared, is all I am saying, have a story made up. For the young teacher's sake, not for 'hating'. (Why would I 'hate' the guy, by the way? I myself did almost the same thing he's about to do, some years ago, teaching in Russia-Ukraine. And yes, girls were NOT stupid nor blind about why I was there. If you are stupid in Russia, you will not survive, so, few people are stupid in FSU.)

[rudebwoy]

Russian women will probably appreciate the fact he is there for the women, they will be flattered.

You don't need a back up story, you are there to teach english and the fact is you have always liked the culture. End of Story.

Learn the language, which I am sure you will and be prepared to have the time of your life.

Can't be any worse than North America.

[carouge]

You put it nicely Rudeboy.It's perfect,he is there to do a job.Has it made.Normally "back up stories" are for those just passing through for short periods of time if they feel the need to.

[WanderingSoul]

Prosal 2.0?

[Greek kamaki]

Russia is much more than pussy.It is the whole experience the slavic situation.It is the same in Poland,CR,Ukraine,Belarus.Either you like that or not.