Well, I'm starting to get ready to go, including setting up this blog. This is not how it will end up looking; I'm going to make a new header as soon as I get a working copy of photoshop. It really hasn't sunk in that I'm going to be in Russia in less than a month. Right now I'm working on getting my visa, and let me tell you, getting a work visa to Russia is a pain in the ass. You need to fill out an application, have an official letter of invitation, get an HIV test (with a negative result, obviously), photos, etc. etc. And some questions that they ask you on the application are kind of ridiculous. Like, list everywhere you've ever worked. List all professional, civil, or charity organizations you are involved in. Oh, and also, are you a drug addict? Does anyone actually answer yes to that question?
Anyhow, I'll be working in Moscow, but I'm not sure where exactly in the city I'll be living or working. The company pays my rent and utilities, which is pretty sweet. I will have a roommate who is also an employee. I'm a little worried because Moscow's supposed to be such an expensive city, but with rent out of the way I think it will be totally doable. I'll be working 30 hours a week, and teaching for I think 24 of those? I'll be teaching mostly older teenagers, college-aged kids, and young professionals, but they also have some classes for very young kids and various businesses hire teachers to come to their companies, so really I could be teaching all ages. They'll pay 50% of the cost for Russian lessons, too, which is cool. It really is a sweet gig. Most of my coworkers will be British, and I'll be teaching British English, so that will be interesting. Oh, and I get 25 paid vacation days, so everyone is going to come visit me and travel around Russia with me, right? Right?
