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Anyway, why in the hell would you want to live in Russia? Because your money goes further? It does not go too much further at all, it can be quite expensive to live there. If you do not know the language, have connections, etc, all you will end up doing is falling in with some expat community and some dopey Russians that hang with them, then wake up one day wondering what in the hell are you even doing there with your life.
Unless someone has an actual objective reason(s) for such things, chances are high it will be a miserable time.
Rent in America where I currently live is probably 700 dollars a month for a tiny studio. Plus, you need a car to get around here. I'm young, my car insurance costs over $250. In Russia, I don't need to pay for gas, a car, or car insurance, as I can just take the Metro.
In Russia, you can rent an apartment for 15,000 rubles a month (correct me if I'm wrong)...that's just $233. That's only 16% of my income. That's well within livable ranges.
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Originally Posted by Zimogor
I think what it's not a good idea. Why? You need live in Russia at least 5 years and understand what you can live here, and you are satisfied with our way of life and it does not cause you discomfort. Believe me, we have many things in our life which seems to foreigners very strangers and incomprehensible. And not all take this. Here you can live just with a residence permit.
I don't know why some people are assuming the OP doesn't speak Russian. He said he's learned some, and plans to take classes prior to making his move, and would undoubtedly get more classes when he enrolls in a university program there. Also, he says he has Russian ancestry, so he wants to check the country out. He may not last as long there, as he thinks he will, but there's nothing wrong with getting to know Russia. OK, a romantic notion perhaps, and "boxus" raises some good points.
Actually, what I found concerning, was the fact that the OP said he didn't have any higher education. If that's true, I think he should work on that, before he goes. With at least a BA, say--in English, or Teaching English as a Foreign Language, he might be able to score a translation job (assuming he gets his Russian up to speed), and might fit into society better. He'd have a niche.
OP, what's the story on your education? Any prospects for college?
My Russian skills suck, but I can read the letters fine. I can have very basic conversations. I need to learn way more though.
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Originally Posted by M3 Mitch
I'd like to challenge that statement - you have never taught anybody to do anything in your entire life? Really? Unless you have been living in the woods like a hermit, you almost can't avoid teaching something to somebody. As several others have posted, it's not necessary to have teaching credentials, to do the job or to get hired (and sometimes doing the job and getting hired are almost two separate hurdles).
I've definitely taught people things, just not in any professional sort of sense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Mitch
Most foreign language speakers, me included are much better translating into their native language from the target language. Fortunately, I think this is what's more in demand in Russia. Most educated Russians of my acquaintance can read at least some English. So they could in principle do E->R translations.
People who don't speak a second language don't usually realize that reading, writing, listening, and speaking are somewhat discrete skills. Usually, and this is true of me, reading is stronger than writing, and listening is stronger than speaking. (Maybe this is why I generally get along quite well with Russians who have little English capability - I am forced to listen intently, and not talk too much!)
Keeping in mind that translation (written) and interpretation (spoken) are related but separate skills. Many do both, but not all. Interpretation requires a mental quickness that not just anybody can come up with. While translation, if you are slow but accurate, you will always have work, but you won't make much money till your speed comes up (which it generally will with experience).
A comment on COL in Russia - if you make like a bug and head for the bright lights, the big outfits where there is a lot of English speaking help, certainly Moscow is an expensive place. But if you speak the language well enough, and "go native", even Moscow is not too bad.
Another general comment - when I went there frequently, dealing with various nuclear institutes, particularly Kurchatov - I made a point of always clearly NOT being any sort of spy or intel gatherer. I made it a point to stay with my escort, to participate in the legitimate work we were doing together, and not go "off topic". That's not to say I didn't hunt like Daniel Boone for new business, but I kept my nose out of any sensitive topic. I didn't bring home as much information as I could have - I debriefed truthfully, but I didn't make an effort to paint a picture with extraordinary detail. That kind of thing goes back and forth. With the way things are now, you can do that, and you will still be watched hard. The Russian intelligence services are always suspicious of Americans, we have had some bad actors who have given them reason to be suspicious. You as an American wanting to maybe even emigrate to Russia - well, there are not that many Americans who want to emigrate, period, and damn few to Russia, so, yeah, one reasonable explanation is that you are some sort of intelligence agent. So they are going to "go there", be ready for it.
What does this entail. I've obviously never been investigated by any sort of intelligence agency...Well, unless you discount Frank from the FBI. He sees everything I type.
Quote:
Originally Posted by erasure
I second that.
If he'd have enough of Russian under his belt to communicate effectively, he'd be able to give at least private lessons. Plenty of Russians ( particularly not in Moscow) would prefer to hire a native speaker to learn English/teach their kids.
Most foreign language speakers, me included are much better translating into their native language from the target language. Fortunately, I think this is what's more in demand in Russia. Most educated Russians of my acquaintance can read at least some English. So they could in principle do E->R translations.
People who don't speak a second language don't usually realize that reading, writing, listening, and speaking are somewhat discrete skills. Usually, and this is true of me, reading is stronger than writing, and listening is stronger than speaking. (Maybe this is why I generally get along quite well with Russians who have little English capability - I am forced to listen intently, and not talk too much!)
Keeping in mind that translation (written) and interpretation (spoken) are related but separate skills. Many do both, but not all. Interpretation requires a mental quickness that not just anybody can come up with. While translation, if you are slow but accurate, you will always have work, but you won't make much money till your speed comes up (which it generally will with experience).
A comment on COL in Russia - if you make like a bug and head for the bright lights, the big outfits where there is a lot of English speaking help, certainly Moscow is an expensive place. But if you speak the language well enough, and "go native", even Moscow is not too bad.
And then there is a "simultaneous translation" which is in the league of its own.
You have to have certain kind of brains I guess to let that foreign language into your head and to then to produce immediate translation at the same time, word by word, sentence by sentence.
I would think that people with strong ENT in their personalities can do that, otherwise this particular skill is beyond my comprehension)))
P.S. According to FSI Institute, ( Foreign Service Institute,) for English speakers, Russian language belongs to category IV ( category V being Arabic and Chinese/Japanese.)
So it's not really an "easy-peasy" language, even though it might give this false impression by the straightforwardness of the reading rules.
Quote:
Another general comment - when I went there frequently, dealing with various nuclear institutes, particularly Kurchatov - I made a point of always clearly NOT being any sort of spy or intel gatherer. I made it a point to stay with my escort, to participate in the legitimate work we were doing together, and not go "off topic". That's not to say I didn't hunt like Daniel Boone for new business, but I kept my nose out of any sensitive topic. I didn't bring home as much information as I could have - I debriefed truthfully, but I didn't make an effort to paint a picture with extraordinary detail. That kind of thing goes back and forth. With the way things are now, you can do that, and you will still be watched hard. The Russian intelligence services are always suspicious of Americans, we have had some bad actors who have given them reason to be suspicious. You as an American wanting to maybe even emigrate to Russia - well, there are not that many Americans who want to emigrate, period, and damn few to Russia, so, yeah, one reasonable explanation is that you are some sort of intelligence agent. So they are going to "go there", be ready for it.
Not only that, Russian gov. looks at Americans with suspicion period.
That's why even the innocent organizations are shut down, for the possible "behind the scene" liaisons that they might create.
And then there is a "simultaneous translation" which is in the league of its own.
You have to have certain kind of brains I guess to let that foreign language into your head and to then to produce immediate translation at the same time, word by word, sentence by sentence.
I would think that people with strong ENT in their personalities can do that, otherwise this particular skill is beyond my comprehension)))
P.S. According to FSI Institute, ( Foreign Service Institute,) for English speakers, Russian language belongs to category IV ( category V being Arabic and Chinese/Japanese.)
So it's not really an "easy-peasy" language, even though it might give this false impression by the straightforwardness of the reading rules.
Not only that, Russian gov. looks at Americans with suspicion period.
That's why even the innocent organizations are shut down, for the possible "behind the scene" liaisons that they might create.
The funny thing is...I ****ing know quite a bit of Hebrew, and I can read it/write it fine. It wouldn't shock me if Hebrew is up there with Arabic.
I also know quite a bit of French as I took it for 3 years. I even took a year of French ;D
While I'm pretty clueless about the topic at hand, the English teaching route is certainly very popular globally. A Russian guy told me last year that many Russians struggle with English due to the fact that the language has a very different structure to Russian, which is very much on point.
I know that personally, I would never be able to offer language courses since I'd be terrible at explaining different tenses.
On another note, and this goes for any place you travel to (not just Russia), avoid engaging in political discussions with locals or strangers. Some may try to pick your brains out, but the best way to sidestep the issue is to either politely decline or state that you're not interested in the matter.
While I'm pretty clueless about the topic at hand, the English teaching route is certainly very popular globally. A Russian guy told me last year that many Russians struggle with English due to the fact that the language has a very different structure to Russian, which is very much on point.
Yes.
English language has tendency to "cluster," where Russian tends to specify every little thing.
In a way Russian is closer to German ( or even Latin languages) in this respect, just not English.
Quote:
I know that personally, I would never be able to offer language courses since I'd be terrible at explaining different tenses.
The funny thing is...I ****ing know quite a bit of Hebrew, and I can read it/write it fine. It wouldn't shock me if Hebrew is up there with Arabic.
I also know quite a bit of French as I took it for 3 years. I even took a year of French ;D
I went to Russia 3 to 5 times a year from 1994 until 2008. I learned a lot of Russian but for me the key part I missed was total immersion in the language. I spoke good enough to fool non Russian speakers and me and the ex would often play "tupoy Russkiy tyrist" just for the fun of it. She was Russian. I also learned to curse really well in Russian as the guys in the rail yards had about half their vocabulary consisted of cursing.
If you live there you will have the chance to totally immerse yourself in the language. That's when you will learn very quickly.
I'd also like to take exception to what M3Mitch said about being watched and some Russian behaviors.
When I first started going there I (and my cohorts) had "minders". They were people who worked for the Moscow Metro and the tour agency that made sure we didn't get into trouble, lost or any other bad situations. I didn't speak anything but the extreme basics then. They got us to the hotel, to the meetings with the metro people and other stuff. They were interpreters too.
They were needed. I got lost numerous times on my own trying to find my way around on my own. I even had a run in with the police in Belgorod after I sat down in front of the local court house that had some problems in the recent past with the mob. It wasn't smart sitting down in front of the place and reading a map I guess. Long story short I called Irina who was responsible for me and she solved the whole thing in a few sentences and scolded me for wandering out of sight of the hotel. She was pissed.
I was never "followed" by shadowy people. I WAS watched by the people I worked with, I couldn't read Russian. I didn't know what the Russian word for danger was at first ffs. I'd walk right over tracks the had carriage wheels running down it and do it because the sign forbidding it was written in Russian. I didn't know the words for their chemicals. We got the basics inthe form of a booklet but admittedly I never read it. This practice of having guides with us stopped eventually because everyone figured our team didn't need it after awhile.
When out in public I wasn't followed, robbed, beaten, flogged or spit on. I ran onto a cab driver with a rotten attitude that spoke english and I was tempted to knock him out but didn't. My experience may be different than others. i'm a large guy and somewhat threatening in other than broad daylight. My wife said I look completely Russian and would have no problem passing as Russian until I open my mouth. I wandered the streets of Moscow for many miles at all hours and NEVER had an issue. I was only asked for my documents on the street once which seems to be something they do randomly.
Most Russians I met personally were above all curious. They loooove to party and don't even think you can keep up with them.
Rent in America where I currently live is probably 700 dollars a month for a tiny studio. Plus, you need a car to get around here. I'm young, my car insurance costs over $250. In Russia, I don't need to pay for gas, a car, or car insurance, as I can just take the Metro.
In Russia, you can rent an apartment for 15,000 rubles a month (correct me if I'm wrong)...that's just $233. That's only 16% of my income. That's well within livable ranges.
My opinion this is a ridiculous reason.
You can find that amount in cities aside from Moscow and St. Petersburg, and for those cities, only if you are very lucky and it will be a bit of a distance from the actual city. Then you have the issue if you would really want to live in such an area, just as people in the US does not want to live in a high crime area.
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