English Dad In Moscow

Triggs, interesting comments thanks. I'd be in...

2012-02-19T14:21:48.042+03:00

Triggs, interesting comments thanks. I'd be interested to know your opinion of Moscow and of the increasing number of wealthy Russians and oligarchs.

Being a person who was born and raised in Moscow, ...

2012-02-19T10:58:39.037+03:00

Being a person who was born and raised in Moscow, I can tell you:

Russia is full of people that made quick big bucks on doing dirty pseudo-Capitalistic buisiness (using Western model and Soviet corrupt, low-moral values). I've lived in the same one room (not bedroom, just room) apartment since I was born 1982, my parents both had PhDs and got paid less than a janitor at my school.
People are taught that why bust your ass at school, then at work, when you can get money the easy way. Hard times during Communism and then Post-Communism made people go into the "survival" mode, so for women it was to have several boyfriends that would provide for them, and for men....anything to make their lives and screaming wives easier.

Good advice, it sounds like you have the system fi...

2012-02-16T16:22:34.481+03:00

Good advice, it sounds like you have the system figured out. Regarding dressing for the temperatures, it makes sense to protect little ones from the temperatures, but overdressing them can also be harmful. My son has always had a very warm head and body. If he overdresses, he is sweating in January in freezing weather. However, I notice in this country that it has become fashionable to try to wear shorts in freezing weather. That's fine if it is an adult choosing to do that, but when they don't dress their kids appropriately for the weather, that's abuse. Sometimes it is a judgment call and people here are less likely to put their nose in the business of others.

Ahhh I made sure I bought a Mountain Buggy Urban t...

2012-02-10T01:06:17.838+03:00

Ahhh I made sure I bought a Mountain Buggy Urban to get us through the Ukrainain footpaths and winter. Sure it was a hassle to get in and out of the flat, didn't fit in the lift, but you would never guess the hard life it had on the pavements - it's still perfect! My friends with Maclarens weren't so lucky.

Simple: Medical insurance!

2012-02-08T13:17:01.211+03:00

Simple: Medical insurance!

How on earth do you afford all this teaching Engli...

2012-02-07T22:39:01.284+03:00

How on earth do you afford all this teaching English? Could barely rub a brass bean together doing the same in Poland.

Dear olga my russian husband does not help at home...

2012-02-06T09:59:56.475+03:00

Dear olga my russian husband does not help at home or do any cooking what shall I do about it?

I teach one first then the other.

2012-02-05T07:37:41.137+03:00

I teach one first then the other.

Your experience seems to be a pretty positive one!...

2012-02-05T02:10:38.912+03:00

Your experience seems to be a pretty positive one! Not many people would take on that challenge abroad.

RJ Its not so bad in Moscow you get used to it. I ...

2012-02-03T20:36:17.934+03:00

RJ Its not so bad in Moscow you get used to it. I would rather be here than in London.

Congratulations on the birth of your second child!...

2012-02-03T18:56:31.018+03:00

Congratulations on the birth of your second child!

Congrats on the newbie. Sleepless nights, I rememb...

2012-02-03T17:00:20.751+03:00

Congrats on the newbie. Sleepless nights, I remember them well. I could cope with the baby more easily than I could cope with where you live. I don't know how you manage.

That loaded russian daddy with an uncontrolled dic...

2012-02-03T12:33:00.014+03:00

That loaded russian daddy with an uncontrolled dick certainly used to be a poor soviet citizen from rural area. Origin of his wealth is unclear but we don't care about it here yet. Indeed, it doesn't matter how they became rich - we want to know all about they boyarian style of living, like children at a zoo want to know all about pandas in a cage. Great stories you wrote, btw!

Yes I have Julia, see my Miss X and a gun post. Th...

2012-02-02T21:37:46.137+03:00

Yes I have Julia, see my Miss X and a gun post. That was a typical simple Moscow family.

I like to read you! Yoir opinion about us is so in...

2012-02-01T15:41:36.554+03:00

I like to read you! Yoir opinion about us is so interesting! But do you know any simple russian family? Write more.

Is it a coincidence that you teach only twins and ...

2012-01-30T13:41:37.857+03:00

Is it a coincidence that you teach only twins and two kids at a time?))) may be it's better to teach one person at once?
Oleg The Ubiquitous

Ritalin (Retalin) is a drug for treatment of hyper...

2012-01-29T04:54:12.239+03:00

Ritalin (Retalin) is a drug for treatment of hyperactive behavior. You'll find plenty of information about it on the web.

Wiffy Do you want to come to Russia and teach my ...

2012-01-28T15:11:04.768+03:00

Wiffy

Do you want to come to Russia and teach my twins? :-)

We play games do puzzles etc but its a tough lesson. ADD and ADHD are very common these days for many kids. If parents spot it early it will save huge issues later.

Duta what is Ritalin???

2012-01-28T15:05:35.760+03:00

Duta what is Ritalin???

Wfi, I agree with you but the kid clearly has beha...

2012-01-28T15:03:33.547+03:00

Wfi, I agree with you but the kid clearly has behavior issues. Sorry, but unless you met the kid English dad in Moscow teaches it may be hard for you to make a fair judgement. They probably don't just sit at the table that would be crazy. The mother wants the kid to be at the level of a 6 yr old NS in 5 months !! I like your spelling of spoilt (spoiled) is the US spelling do you teach the differences as an ESL teacher?

I teach ESL to kids from kindergarten to high scho...

2012-01-28T13:51:36.683+03:00

I teach ESL to kids from kindergarten to high school. Usually with younger children we don't expect them to sit at a table and learn words through flash card repetition. You will have more luck teaching them with total physical reaction, songs, rhymes and games. Also little children have a shorter attention span. Your student might have ADHD but really lots of little kids are hyper and have trouble paying attention. Contrary to what adults think, unless children are fully immersed in a language, they will learn much slower than adults. I once taught a six year old Russian girl whose parents had totally unrealistic expectations for how much language their daughter was going to learn. She was also a little spoiled.

The boy should be put on Ritalin. It's the onl...

2012-01-28T09:00:47.150+03:00

The boy should be put on Ritalin. It's the only practical solution for kids with his condition. The educational system (the teachers and pupils in the class) has a lot to suffer from these kids.

They are certainly interesting but not without bei...

2012-01-24T17:50:43.632+03:00

They are certainly interesting but not without being very strange. Often Strange badly behaved kids or crazy parents or both !!

You are funny as usual, "a coffee table the s...

2012-01-24T14:06:50.909+03:00

You are funny as usual, "a coffee table the size of my flat " "an uncontrollable penis that does not know loyalty", :)) I enjoy reading you, it must be interesting to meet all those people that I can only see in movies. :D

Oleg, You can never become rich by being a teacher...

2012-01-24T07:54:02.698+03:00

Oleg, You can never become rich by being a teacher.