(This is just my experience teaching. If you want how to, go to the Workingman's Wisdom section)

When I first began, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I had never thought an actual class before back in the US, let alone another country, and my first class was to be just a week after I landed. I had no idea if my student's would listen or understand. I did not know how their comprehension of English would be, I didn't know if I would be able to keep control of the class, and I had no clue whether it would be enjoyable or a disaster. It seemed almost too much to take in, and it was hard to get the thought of "what am I doing here?" out of my head.

That was two years ago. It was not a disaster. And looking back, I realize that working in Russia as a teacher (first with kids aged 9-18 and later with adults) has had a substantial effect on my time in the country, and myself overall as a person. It's hard to summarize all the classes and all the experiences into a few concise paragraphs and then draw out meaningful conclusions for you the reader, but here goes!

I spent the entire first year working for the company English First at a kids school on the outskirts of the city. My classes differed in ages from 9 to 18, and, along with my first instruction being to only speak English, it wasn't without its stresses, and I have since come to realize that nothing makes you want to hit your head on a wall more than trying to discipline a group of a dozen nine-year olds. But, that said, with every stress, there were at least two joyful, rewarding moments that made me genuinely happy with my decision to take the job in the first place. Honestly, had it not been for the school's administration, I would have gladly stayed a second year (but that's another story)

The first thing that struck me was just how intellectually curious some of my students were. For example, I had a class of twelve and thirteen year olds who were so interested to to learn about the American educational system, about who I was as a person, and my perceptions of life in Russia. I went in expecting just to teach the language, and ended up involving myself in culture sharing discussions, which helped us bond in ways I know would have been impossible had I stayed in the US. It kind of broke down the barrier between teacher and student and I actually got to learn a little about who they were as people, which made the act of teaching infinitely more fun.

As the year went on, I began including more and more open discussions and, I don't mean to sound cheesy here, were among the most rewarding parts of the whole job. I mean, I got to moderate a debate between groups of seventeens as they went back and forth over the benefits and drawbacks of globalization, and I got to listen to a twelve year old explain, in perfect English, how she hoped to work as a clothing designer for homeless and poor people with the hope of improving their livelihood as much as possible. I even enjoyed working on Saturdays (yes, I had to work Saturdays. Damn management!) for these kids. It turned out my two favorite classes were Saturday morning and no matter how hungover or how bad of a mood I was going into work, they would always put a smile on my face and have me laughing within five minutes.

Unfortunately, all good things had to come to an end, and I had no idea how sad it was going to be to say goodbye. But on my exit, I promised to return, which I did during the winter of the following year.I would describe the occasion, but the pictures below show how that went better than words.

This was right when I entered the door, Hence the coat.