Forums | MacLife

Mustapha Mond · 2003-07-30 8:41 am

I'm thinking of spending a year or so in Moscow, teaching and stuff, finding a Russian bride, maybe joining the mob, and I'm looking for info on the cost of living over there. I haven't had much luck with Google -- I'm not sure I'm asking it the right quesions -- so I was wondering if anyone here knew of some good resources. I'm trying to find out stuff like, what does it cost to rent an apartment for a month? And what might one expect to spend on groceries? And is the exchange still $1 = 23 Roubles? Thanks.

Tallgeese · 2003-07-30 8:43 am

Groceries are dirt cheap. Stuff like clothing, though, is pretty expensive. Public transportation is amazing - you'll never need a car. You can find the exchange rates in the Wall Street Journal every day.

PuddleMonkey · 2003-07-30 12:54 pm

Teaching what?

Mustapha Mond · 2003-07-30 5:58 pm

Teaching what?

I'm looking into teaching ESL over there, or possibly English Lit (or both). I have a few loose contacts here in the states who might be able to hook me up. We'll see what happens. I think it'd be cool.

Mustapha Mond · 2003-07-30 5:59 pm

Groceries are dirt cheap. Stuff like clothing, though, is pretty expensive. Public transportation is amazing - you'll never need a car. You can find the exchange rates in the Wall Street Journal every day.

Hey, thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, how did you find this out? Have you ever lived there?

PuddleMonkey · 2003-07-30 6:10 pm

Teaching what?
I'm looking into teaching ESL over there, or possibly English Lit (or both). I have a few loose contacts here in the states who might be able to hook me up. We'll see what happens. I think it'd be cool.

Are you currently teaching? Just curious. I taught college English for six years.

Back in the late 80s my brother's best friend traveled to Moscow. He reported to us that people approached him no matter where he was to ask if they could buy his jeans, Levis.

Mustapha Mond · 2003-07-30 6:18 pm

Teaching what?
I'm looking into teaching ESL over there, or possibly English Lit (or both). I have a few loose contacts here in the states who might be able to hook me up. We'll see what happens. I think it'd be cool.
Are you currently teaching? Just curious. I taught college English for six years.

Back in the late 80s my brother's best friend traveled to Moscow. He reported to us that people approached him no matter where he was to ask if they could buy his jeans, Levis.

I stopped teaching last semester, after about two years, so I could make some better cash. But I miss the classroom and I feel like having an overseas adventure.

I wonder if they're still crazy for American culture in Russia, or they've managed to sate that desire over the past few years.

Tallgeese · 2003-07-30 6:23 pm

Groceries are dirt cheap. Stuff like clothing, though, is pretty expensive. Public transportation is amazing - you'll never need a car. You can find the exchange rates in the Wall Street Journal every day.
Hey, thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, how did you find this out? Have you ever lived there?

I was there for a month. Absolutely loved it. Oh, and the Levi's thing is not true at all anymore. Hasn't been since the mid to late 80s.

iHate You · 2003-07-30 7:11 pm

I think you can legally engage in intercourse with younger ladies there. Just make sure none of them are your students.

benightedbastard · 2003-07-31 1:48 am

Worst. Police Adacemy. Ever.

Zetetic Apparatchik · 2003-07-31 5:00 am

I think you can legally engage in intercourse with younger ladies there. Just make sure none of them are your students.

You can it most countries. Or maybe your parents just wanted you to go out with older women...

(I understand you meant a lower Age of Consent.)

Mustapha Mond · 2003-07-31 7:31 am

Just make sure none of them are your students.

But that's never stopped me before. confused

W2ttsy · 2003-07-31 7:44 am

I wanna hit up moscow for the riding. Norco just sponsered the construction of a North Shore style riding coourse at one of the mountain biking parks in Moscow, so that would be sick!!! twisted big_smile

but for the currency, just type currency converter in google and choose your site from there.
you should be able to find out about living arrangements by ringing the Russian or American consulates.

I dunno. big bike + armour connotes danger. so i think that the locals may not try to jump me and my friend..... wink

W2ttsy

Mustapha Mond · 2003-07-31 8:39 pm

Groceries are dirt cheap. Stuff like clothing, though, is pretty expensive. Public transportation is amazing - you'll never need a car. You can find the exchange rates in the Wall Street Journal every day.
Hey, thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, how did you find this out? Have you ever lived there?
I was there for a month. Absolutely loved it. Oh, and the Levi's thing is not true at all anymore. Hasn't been since the mid to late 80s.

Do you speak Russian? If not, was it easy to get by not knowing the language?

I spent a little more than a month in Germany and learned a lot of German very quickly, but in reality I didn't need a word of it -- everyone spoke decent English.

Anyway, if I do make it to Russia, I'll probably take a language course, but I'd like to be able to survive on just English if needs be.

Tallgeese · 2003-07-31 9:08 pm

I speak Russian, but English will get you by okay. Well, not totally. If you can't read Cyrillic, you're smurfed.

Mustapha Mond · 2003-07-31 9:59 pm

If you can't read Cyrillic, you're exalted.

Yikes. That's not encouraging. Is it enough to learn the alphabet and punch words into an electronic disctionary? I basically lived off of my electronic dictionary all through Germany, but their alphabet isn't much different from hours.

Z · 2003-07-31 10:33 pm

If you can't read Cyrillic, you're exalted.
Yikes. That's not encouraging. Is it enough to learn the alphabet and punch words into an electronic disctionary? I basically lived off of my electronic dictionary all through Germany, but their alphabet isn't much different from hours.

Cyrillic's not too bad. It helps if you know the Greek alphabet, as that'll give you a few more letters that you'll already recognize. I don't use electronic dictionaries much, so I have no idea whether it'll help or not. Learning to read the alphabet doesn't take too much extra practice, and it makes finding cognates easier.

Tallgeese · 2003-07-31 10:57 pm

If you can't read Cyrillic, you're exalted.
Yikes. That's not encouraging. Is it enough to learn the alphabet and punch words into an electronic disctionary? I basically lived off of my electronic dictionary all through Germany, but their alphabet isn't much different from hours.

You'll need to be able to read things like maps and street signs and recognize the names.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2003-07-30 8:41 am

Mission to Moscow

#2 2003-07-30 8:43 am

Re: Mission to Moscow

#3 2003-07-30 12:54 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#4 2003-07-30 5:58 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#5 2003-07-30 5:59 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#6 2003-07-30 6:10 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#7 2003-07-30 6:18 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#8 2003-07-30 6:23 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#9 2003-07-30 7:11 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#10 2003-07-31 1:48 am

Re: Mission to Moscow

#11 2003-07-31 5:00 am

Re: Mission to Moscow

#12 2003-07-31 7:31 am

Re: Mission to Moscow

#13 2003-07-31 7:44 am

Re: Mission to Moscow

#14 2003-07-31 8:39 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#15 2003-07-31 9:08 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#16 2003-07-31 9:59 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#17 2003-07-31 10:33 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

#18 2003-07-31 10:57 pm

Re: Mission to Moscow

Board footer