Did you consider living in Russia?

[eekee 182]

There's already imported peanut butter.

[AKguy 1]

How about hot sauces? I couldn't find anything good when I was there.

[Tnic 5]

Sounds like a niche market is developing here.

What about popcorn (NOT the nuked stuff)?

A big bowl of hot buttered corn a Baltika 6 and my sweetie beside me on the divan, nothing better than that.

[johnj 0]

There's already imported peanut butter.

We could not find it in Siberia or Eastern Russia; most we spoke with never tasted it but loved it.

[PJB 0]

There's already imported peanut butter.

We could not find it in Siberia or Eastern Russia; most we spoke with never tasted it but loved it.

You don't have to import it, I used to make my own. P-nut butter in and around Moscow was about $6 a jar for Skippy (Stockman's grocery) and $4-5 a jar for some funky tiny jar of "American Brand". I got tired of using up my luggage weight allowance to bring in stashes of the stuff so I started making my own. A 2 cup bag of salted peanuts is cheap over there, buzz them in the coffee grinder then add a few drops of sunflower oil. Presto! Fresh and chemical free natural p-nut butter.

But if you don't want to go into the food business (a lot of hassel bribing all the local thugs and government officials) Americans can make a good living teaching English. That's what I did for 5 years.

[PJB 0]

I guess, more importantly, my question is how are you going to pay for going back and forth between the two and changing countries every six months? How do you maintain more than one household? I understand it's possible to rent the property while you're gone, but assuming you kick out the tennants when you return, where does the income come from?

We own our homes free and clear, we have retirement savings, we both are pretty lucky at getting quick jobs in either country, we are used to living well on very little and we have Aeroflot Bonus program in which we earn lots of discounts and free airfare.

[slim 1,533]

But, she has never had fresh Papaya; they do not have it in Russia at all. Ask your wife if she agrees.

Slim, maybe you and I could start a fresh Papaya importing and marketing business?

I'll ask. Sounds like we could be on to something here!

No, No, import Peanut Butter. They do not see it in Russia and everyone that tasted mine wanted some. I brought a case with me one trip; it was loved. It could be sold as a vendor or as import business to stores

Possibly. My wife tasted it here (I believe for the first time) and her reaction was "FOOOOOOooooooo. Greasy, nasty $#!t."

How about hot sauces? I couldn't find anything good when I was there.

I was good with the Mexikanski kechup. It's not hot sauce, but it'll do in a pinch.

Sounds like a niche market is developing here.

What about popcorn (NOT the nuked stuff)?

A big bowl of hot buttered corn a Baltika 6 and my sweetie beside me on the divan, nothing better than that.

So we're going to have a papaya, peanutbutter, hot sauce, popcorn stand. And since it's Russia, we'll have to sell Baltika (so we can get free signs and furniture!) and bootleg DVDs. Plus plane tickets, batteries, maps, etc. We'll also offer guided tours in English, apartment rentals, and have cab drivers on speed-dial. While we're at it, might as well offer VIP service at all the nightclubs. Man, this really could work!

But if you don't want to go into the food business (a lot of hassel bribing all the local thugs and government officials)

AHA! So that's why I don't have my "all-in-one" kiosk already set up. I guess I'll try teaching some English. Do I need a degree for that?

[Tnic 5]

So we're going to have a papaya, peanutbutter, hot sauce, popcorn stand. And since it's Russia, we'll have to sell Baltika (so we can get free signs and furniture!) and bootleg DVDs. Plus plane tickets, batteries, maps, etc. We'll also offer guided tours in English, apartment rentals, and have cab drivers on speed-dial. While we're at it, might as well offer VIP service at all the nightclubs. Man, this really could work!

We should set up close the Kvas stands. When we explain how thirsty people will get from the popcorn and peanut butter they'll jump on board fast.

[AKguy 1]

AHA! So that's why I don't have my "all-in-one" kiosk already set up. I guess I'll try teaching some English. Do I need a degree for that?

According to Anna's parents, when I "dress up" and have a clean shave on the head, I look like someone in Russian mafia.

So with that in mind, we all could set up the stand and I could come by once a day to extort us, in plain view, maybe make a scene or something, throw some maps on the ground and then take the money. If we're lucky they will think I have the kiosk covered and doubling up on extortion is bad for business

On a serious note, you don't need a degree to teach English, you don't even need to know Russian.

[eekee 182]

^Actually often they'll want someone with a BA.

[AKguy 1]

^Actually often they'll want someone with a BA.

Ok, I was just going off a website I read awhile back. And the more I think about it the more I seem to remember they prefer or require at least some type of degree.

[Tnic 5]

I thought I posted this earlier today, but don't see it now.

A friend of mine from RMP is teaching english there now. Here's what he told me when I asked about it.

There are many different courses you can take. I took a TESOL course, it is about 120 or so hours, not long. The school I work for also offers a course and then the first year you would be an intern. I think it is best to get a course from some where local and then get a job.

What area is you lady in? Language Link has many schools through out Russia. Here is the web site, http://jobs.languagelink.ru/

I'm actually thinking of doing a little private teaching if there are any people interested while we're there for the Summers.

[eekee 182]

I've taught at a few schools. You don't really need a certificate--although if you don't have a college degree, it could possibly serve as a substitute and would be a big help. I don't know anyone who has actually taken a teaching course and obtained a certificate. The only person I know who has a certificate needed it for a pretty elite job and found a place to get a fake one made.

Language Link does not pay as well as other schools. They're a good option if you want to get over there and need a visa and stuff before you get there, but I think that most people here would have better options.

Basically, you need to ask yourself if you consider yourself ready to sit there for two hours and field questions on the semantics and nuances of English grammar. Private English classes are expensive. You're going to be dealing with young professionals with high expectations as your students, not babushkas who are looking for a new hobby. They're studying English to further their careers. Native English speakers don't teach beginners, either. You would teach intermediate and up. Your students won't want to you how to say "Hi, how are you?"; they're going to be asking complicated questions. So again, if you're not all that confident about being able to explain complicated theoretical stuff about the English language, a ESL teaching course would help you understand what you're supposed to be teaching.

Knowing Russian helps, because knowing another's language's grammar and how it works helps you to understand your own. Plus, while there are some schools run by Americans or British people or whatever, most of them are run and owned by Russians. I never spoke in English to any of my bosses or people who worked in the offices. You're generally not supposed to use Russian with your students, but it's pretty essential for the non-teaching parts of the job. And it will help you understand how to explain stuff to the students, even if you're not speaking Russian to them, because you'll understand how the parallel construction works in Russian.

Edited June 12, 2009 by eekee

[PJB 0]

^Actually often they'll want someone with a BA.

I found that the jobs that required a BA and a "certificate" paid the worst and worked the teachers to death. I did private classes in my home and taught at a preschool for super rich kids. Although my degree is not in teaching, Russians hire nurses and psychologists all the time for teaching children. I also have the benefit of years of experience teaching kids in various American programs which really helped me in creating lesson plans. But teaching English requires more than just teaching phrases and quickie tourist conversations. It is essential that you have a good understanding of grammer and know enough Russian to be able to translate words and concepts correctly.

[AKguy 1]

I find the more I talk with Russians who speak English well that they understand the concepts better than most native English speakers... like myself.