Heather's Harmony

My life without Television...

This week on BootsnAll Indie Travel Challenge they are discussing budget. My life drastically changed four years ago and one of these changes was getting rid of public television, it can save someone up to over $100 a month depending on the service you subscribe to but what about your time? How much is that worth to you? Imagine, rather then spending your time on something that will (most likely) not come back to you, what if you spent it with your family? cooking? reading? chores, living healthier, getting to know your neighbors better?

What about all the lost potential that your TV is taking from you without you ever even noticing it?

I have a TV but I don’t get any channels on it and only watch movies. It started somewhat as an experiment to see what my life would be like without spending so much time watching public television and has since turned out to be an interesting & permanent change in my life.

The single largest difference that I have noticed, is in conversation with family, friends and co-workers when they discuss the latest show or story they saw on TV. I simply respond that I don’t have TV and don’t know what they are talking about, I get some shocked reactions and a few that ask what its like or state that they themselves could never live without TV.

Flashback to Heather in 2008. I was even more over weight and wasn’t in the best of spirits. I would go to work like everyone else but at the end of the day I would usually pick up food on my way home, change into pajamas and remain in front of my television the rest of the night then go to bed and repeat day after day. I wouldn’t make plans during my favorite TV shows, I seldom enjoyed anything that wasn't television. I was living vicariously through the characters on the screen. It wasn’t healthy and I wasn’t happy.

Four years later I can say that not having television has impacted my life so much that I don’t even notice it anymore. I would never want TV in my house again, mostly because I know I’ve been addicted to it previously but also because I don’t know where I would find the time to watch it, even if I did have it.

When I watch it now at others houses, waiting rooms ect. it upsets me how media so deeply influences our daily lives, watching commercials while they can be humorous it sickens me to think how bombarded most people are with unnecessary 'things'. No wonder we always want more, we are completely surrounded with brand new products and inventions that there is no way we can keep up, we're already set up for failure. It makes me wish more people would try getting rid of television even just for a certain amount of time, just to open their eyes and see what it does for them.

I will admit TV has some truly amazing and positive effects, but for me those benefits have not out weighed the negativity it brings into my life.

My life without Television...

This week on BootsnAll Indie Travel Challenge they are discussing budget. My life drastically changed four years ago and one of these changes was getting rid of public television, it can save someone up to over $100 a month depending on the service you subscribe to but what about your time? How much is that worth to you? Imagine, rather then spending your time on something that will (most likely) not come back to you, what if you spent it with your family? cooking? reading? chores, living healthier, getting to know your neighbors better?

What about all the lost potential that your TV is taking from you without you ever even noticing it?

I have a TV but I don’t get any channels on it and only watch movies. It started somewhat as an experiment to see what my life would be like without spending so much time watching public television and has since turned out to be an interesting & permanent change in my life.

The single largest difference that I have noticed, is in conversation with family, friends and co-workers when they discuss the latest show or story they saw on TV. I simply respond that I don’t have TV and don’t know what they are talking about, I get some shocked reactions and a few that ask what its like or state that they themselves could never live without TV.

Flashback to Heather in 2008. I was even more over weight and wasn’t in the best of spirits. I would go to work like everyone else but at the end of the day I would usually pick up food on my way home, change into pajamas and remain in front of my television the rest of the night then go to bed and repeat day after day. I wouldn’t make plans during my favorite TV shows, I seldom enjoyed anything that wasn't television. I was living vicariously through the characters on the screen. It wasn’t healthy and I wasn’t happy.

Four years later I can say that not having television has impacted my life so much that I don’t even notice it anymore. I would never want TV in my house again, mostly because I know I’ve been addicted to it previously but also because I don’t know where I would find the time to watch it, even if I did have it.

When I watch it now at others houses, waiting rooms ect. it upsets me how media so deeply influences our daily lives, watching commercials while they can be humorous it sickens me to think how bombarded most people are with unnecessary 'things'. No wonder we always want more, we are completely surrounded with brand new products and inventions that there is no way we can keep up, we're already set up for failure. It makes me wish more people would try getting rid of television even just for a certain amount of time, just to open their eyes and see what it does for them.

I will admit TV has some truly amazing and positive effects, but for me those benefits have not out weighed the negativity it brings into my life.

Is moving to South Korea to teach english right for me?

(click on ITC logo for more information on the 2012 Challenge)

The closest I've been to Asia is Israel and Russia and since I think it would be rare for me to want to settle in an Asian country for an extended amount of time, Asia took #1 spot on places I would like to teach english & travel to first.

When I started playing with the idea of moving out of the U.S. there were a lot of factors effecting where I would go, why and for how long. As certain aspects have resolved themselves its likely that I will be leaving with little money for traveling saved up, however I am thrilled to say that I have my savings account for bills & student loans while I am away in great shape! As my last few months pass I am aggressively paying hospital bills and dental bills, which will be paid off before I leave which leaves little money left to save for traveling.

So I need to plan a way to make & save money to travel. In 2005 I volunteered to teach English in Russia and found it extremely challenging and even more rewarding and would love to take another opportunity to teach, and this time I’ll be making money too!

Through a bit of research and talking to friends who have taught outside of the US recently it turns out that Asia is one of the best places to teach right now with building economies and the desire for a good hold on the English language, the real question is which country to teach in.

In September 2011 I posted about where I would like to travel next saying that South Korea was at the top of my list and the best fit for me to teach & save money. I've heard mixed reviews about using a recruiting company and have decided I would like to use one and so far have decided to go with http://morganrecruiters.com/ although that could change if I find someone who can convince me otherwise. (I’d love any insight you can provide!)

 

I don't want to live in a huge city like Seoul, I'd like a more rural experience. I've got my eye on a more southwest location, better climate there too!

 

So why is South Korea appealing to me?

1) It's a gorgeous country and has a coastline, I get butterflies just thinking of being able to visit the beach without having to travel over 700+ miles!

2) There is a large buddhist influence there and I'd love the opportunity to learn more about it while I am there and to visit several Buddhist temples.

3) It is a quick boat trip or flight to China and Japan and only a little further to several other Asian countries. How great it will be to take my vacations to other Asian countries!

4) North Korea and the de-militarized zone (DMZ). To most this would be a very negative aspect of moving to South Korea but I am seriously excited to research it more while I am there. It will make a great research topic for me.

5) Money. This is a large factor that originally drew me to South Korea with great salaries, low cost of living, incentives, bonuses, insurance and flight reimbursement just to name a few examples.                                                       

What do you think? Have you ever taught English in another country? Any tips or advice?

Here is some basic information from Morgan Recruiters website about teaching in South Korea:

Working Conditions

All standard contracts in Korea will contain provisions for the conditions detailed below. If you have any questions regarding any of these conditions, please ask one of our recruiters or the director of your school.

1. Contract length: One year (12 months). Contracts are renewable if agreed upon by both the teacher and the school.
2. Working hours: Standard contracts call for 25-30 hours per week, averaging 100-120 hours per month from Monday to Friday. A few schools have Saturday classes and some schools, particularly those with adult classes, have split shifts. In your online application you should specify if you are willing to take Saturday classes.
3. Salary: Salaries normally fall between 2 million and 2.5 million won/month depending on experience and qualifications.
4. Class size: Most class sizes are quite small, usually between 7-12 students.
5. Student ages: Most schools have a variety of ages. Most have some kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school classes.
6. Housing: Housing is provided free of charge either in a single studio apartment or in shared housing with other teachers. You should specify on your application which type of housing you desire. Shared housing is more common in the big cities (Seoul, Busan) where housing prices are higher. In the case of shared housing, each teacher will have their own bedroom and the living room/kitchen area will be shared. The apartment will be fully furnished for the teacher and furnishings provided include bed, TV, microwave, wardrobe, table and chairs, kitchenware, gas range and washing machine. While the apartment is provided free of charge, the teacher is responsible for utilities (gas, cable) and phone charges.
7. Cost of living: In general about 500,000-700,000 won/month will cover a teacher’s entire living expenses for one month including utilities.
8. Airfare: The school agrees to purchase a one-way ticket for teachers from the closest international airport in their home country to their location in Korea. After completing the one-year contract, the teacher will be provided a return ticket back to their point of origin or a ticket of similar value so that they can travel elsewhere. In the event that the teacher quits before completing their contract, the teacher agrees to reimburse the employer the cost of the paid airfare. Your airline ticket will be reserved by Morgan Recruiting once you submit your paperwork for your teaching visa to the Korean consulate in your home country. The airline ticket will be sent to you either as an electronic ticket to your email or as a paper ticket to your home address.
   Note: Many schools prepay the teacher’s airfare to Korea in advance but some schools will request that the teacher purchase their own airline ticket and then be reimbursed for the airfare upon arrival to Korea. In the event that schools ask teachers to purchase the ticket themselves and be reimbursed upon arrival, Morgan Recruiting Services will purchase the ticket for the teacher on their behalf and will be reimbursed by the school instead of the teacher.
9. Paid vacations and holidays: Most schools offer 10 days paid vacation. This is usually one week vacation in the summer and one week in the winter. In addition, the teacher will receive off all Korean national holidays, usually between 9-14 days per year.
10. Overtime: Overtime varies from school to school but usually falls between 18,000-25,000 won per hour ($18-25).
11. Severance Pay: Upon completion of the contract teachers will receive a one month severance bonus (one month extra pay). This one-month bonus, paid in the last month, is standard with all contracts and is legally required from all schools under Korean law. The school is not required to pay this bonus if the teacher terminates their contract prematurely.
12. Tax rates: Income tax rates are extremely low in Korea. For many teachers the rate is around 3%. To check out the amount of income tax you would pay, visit the National Tax Service website in English at: http://www.nts.go.kr/eng/
13. Health insurance: Korean employers are obligated to provide their teachers with health care insurance and most schools choose to go with the National Health Insurance Plan. The cost of the medical insurance will be split 50-50 between the school and the teacher. The amount that the teacher would pay amounts to 2.59% of their monthly salary. This insurance is not effective until your residency in Korea has been provided (when you receive your Alien Registration Card), which is usually around 2-4 weeks after arrival to Korea. It is advised that all teachers buy travel insurance with medical coverage for 30-45 days following arrival in Korea. To get more information about the Health Plan, please visit the National Health Insurance website at: http://www.nhic.or.kr/eng
14. Sick leave: Most contracts do have provisions for 3-4 sick days with a doctor’s note. However, it is important that teachers use these sparingly as other teachers will be the recipient of your classes in case you need to miss. Emergency leave of up to one week can normally be provided in the case of serious family emergency.
15. Pension Plan: Teachers pay 4.5% of their monthly salary which is fully matched by the employer who also pays 4.5% (so a total of 9% is stored in the national pension). Paying into this pension is legally required in Korea. The teacher will receive their full pension refund (both their contribution and their employer’s contribution) when they leave Korea. This can add up to almost an extra month’s pay for the teacher at the end of the year. This full refund only applies to teachers from Canada, the U.S. or Australia. Currently, teachers from other countries are unable to get this refund as their government has no reciprocal agreement with the Korean government. For more information about the National Pension Plan, please visit their homepage in English at: http://www.nps.or.kr/jsppage/english/main.jsp

Why Teach in Korea

Why Korea? It’s a question that I’ve been asked again and again. Quite simply Korea offers some great teaching opportunities with terrific benefits. With benefits that include free housing, free airfare, good starting salaries, a one-month salary bonus at the end of your contract, medical insurance, low taxes and two-weeks paid vacation, the rewards to come and teach in Korea are very high. If you are a university graduate looking for an opportunity to experience a new culture while saving money, teaching English in Korea may be a good fit for you.

The benefits of coming to teach in Korea include:

Experiencing a new culture: Korea offers some great opportunities to immerse yourself in a new culture. With its beautiful beaches, breathtaking mountains, historical temples, bustling cities and delicious food, Korea has something to offer everyone.

Saving money: Many teachers who come to Korea are able to save two-thirds of their salary while still living well. This is mainly due to the fact that most of your major expenses are paid as the housing is provided free and taxes in Korea are very low (around 3%). Furthermore, the low cost of living in Korea with food and transportation being quite inexpensive makes for great savings potential. This gives you the opportunity to save money for the future, pay off student loans, invest or travel.

Great compensation packages: All teaching positions in Korea come with excellent compensation packages which include:

• free return airfare from your country to your location in Korea
• free housing in a single or shared apartment
• one month’s bonus salary at the end of the contract
• medical insurance, half paid by the school
• renewable 12 month contracts with the school
• two weeks paid vacation in addition to all Korean holidays

Gaining valuable experience: Teaching overseas not only provides opportunities to save for the future, but it also provides valuable overseas experience that looks good on your resume to prospective employers. Furthermore, some teachers discover that they love teaching and end up making a career out of it.

Traveling: Korea is perfectly located for inexpensive travel to many great places in Asia including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia. Many teachers choose to travel during their paid vacation. Other teachers take extended vacations at the end of their contract when they receive their one-month bonus.

Basic Qualifications to Teach in Korea

In order to obtain an E-2 teaching visa for Korea, you must satisfy the following requirements:

1. You must be a native English speaker. Teaching experience is not necessary, although it is an asset.
2. You must be a citizen of one of these seven countries: Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa. Under Korean law only citizens of these countries are eligible for the E-2 teaching visa.
3. You must hold a valid passport from one of the above-mentioned countries with at least six months validity remaining on it from the time of your departure. We recommend having at least 12 months however, as it can be difficult to renew your passport in Korea.
4. You must have a 3-4 year Bachelor’s degree in any major from an accredited university. 2 year associate degree holders are not eligible to obtain an E-2 teaching visa even if they hold a TESOL certificate.
5. You must not have a criminal record.

Is moving to South Korea to teach english right for me?

(click on ITC logo for more information on the 2012 Challenge)

The closest I've been to Asia is Israel and Russia and since I think it would be rare for me to want to settle in an Asian country for an extended amount of time, Asia took #1 spot on places I would like to teach english & travel to first.

When I started playing with the idea of moving out of the U.S. there were a lot of factors effecting where I would go, why and for how long. As certain aspects have resolved themselves its likely that I will be leaving with little money for traveling saved up, however I am thrilled to say that I have my savings account for bills & student loans while I am away in great shape! As my last few months pass I am aggressively paying hospital bills and dental bills, which will be paid off before I leave which leaves little money left to save for traveling.

So I need to plan a way to make & save money to travel. In 2005 I volunteered to teach English in Russia and found it extremely challenging and even more rewarding and would love to take another opportunity to teach, and this time I’ll be making money too!

Through a bit of research and talking to friends who have taught outside of the US recently it turns out that Asia is one of the best places to teach right now with building economies and the desire for a good hold on the English language, the real question is which country to teach in.

In September 2011 I posted about where I would like to travel next saying that South Korea was at the top of my list and the best fit for me to teach & save money. I've heard mixed reviews about using a recruiting company and have decided I would like to use one and so far have decided to go with http://morganrecruiters.com/ although that could change if I find someone who can convince me otherwise. (I’d love any insight you can provide!)

 

I don't want to live in a huge city like Seoul, I'd like a more rural experience. I've got my eye on a more southwest location, better climate there too!

 

So why is South Korea appealing to me?

1) It's a gorgeous country and has a coastline, I get butterflies just thinking of being able to visit the beach without having to travel over 700+ miles!

2) There is a large buddhist influence there and I'd love the opportunity to learn more about it while I am there and to visit several Buddhist temples.

3) It is a quick boat trip or flight to China and Japan and only a little further to several other Asian countries. How great it will be to take my vacations to other Asian countries!

4) North Korea and the de-militarized zone (DMZ). To most this would be a very negative aspect of moving to South Korea but I am seriously excited to research it more while I am there. It will make a great research topic for me.

5) Money. This is a large factor that originally drew me to South Korea with great salaries, low cost of living, incentives, bonuses, insurance and flight reimbursement just to name a few examples.                                                       

What do you think? Have you ever taught English in another country? Any tips or advice?

Here is some basic information from Morgan Recruiters website about teaching in South Korea:

Working Conditions

All standard contracts in Korea will contain provisions for the conditions detailed below. If you have any questions regarding any of these conditions, please ask one of our recruiters or the director of your school.

1. Contract length: One year (12 months). Contracts are renewable if agreed upon by both the teacher and the school.
2. Working hours: Standard contracts call for 25-30 hours per week, averaging 100-120 hours per month from Monday to Friday. A few schools have Saturday classes and some schools, particularly those with adult classes, have split shifts. In your online application you should specify if you are willing to take Saturday classes.
3. Salary: Salaries normally fall between 2 million and 2.5 million won/month depending on experience and qualifications.
4. Class size: Most class sizes are quite small, usually between 7-12 students.
5. Student ages: Most schools have a variety of ages. Most have some kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school classes.
6. Housing: Housing is provided free of charge either in a single studio apartment or in shared housing with other teachers. You should specify on your application which type of housing you desire. Shared housing is more common in the big cities (Seoul, Busan) where housing prices are higher. In the case of shared housing, each teacher will have their own bedroom and the living room/kitchen area will be shared. The apartment will be fully furnished for the teacher and furnishings provided include bed, TV, microwave, wardrobe, table and chairs, kitchenware, gas range and washing machine. While the apartment is provided free of charge, the teacher is responsible for utilities (gas, cable) and phone charges.
7. Cost of living: In general about 500,000-700,000 won/month will cover a teacher’s entire living expenses for one month including utilities.
8. Airfare: The school agrees to purchase a one-way ticket for teachers from the closest international airport in their home country to their location in Korea. After completing the one-year contract, the teacher will be provided a return ticket back to their point of origin or a ticket of similar value so that they can travel elsewhere. In the event that the teacher quits before completing their contract, the teacher agrees to reimburse the employer the cost of the paid airfare. Your airline ticket will be reserved by Morgan Recruiting once you submit your paperwork for your teaching visa to the Korean consulate in your home country. The airline ticket will be sent to you either as an electronic ticket to your email or as a paper ticket to your home address.
   Note: Many schools prepay the teacher’s airfare to Korea in advance but some schools will request that the teacher purchase their own airline ticket and then be reimbursed for the airfare upon arrival to Korea. In the event that schools ask teachers to purchase the ticket themselves and be reimbursed upon arrival, Morgan Recruiting Services will purchase the ticket for the teacher on their behalf and will be reimbursed by the school instead of the teacher.
9. Paid vacations and holidays: Most schools offer 10 days paid vacation. This is usually one week vacation in the summer and one week in the winter. In addition, the teacher will receive off all Korean national holidays, usually between 9-14 days per year.
10. Overtime: Overtime varies from school to school but usually falls between 18,000-25,000 won per hour ($18-25).
11. Severance Pay: Upon completion of the contract teachers will receive a one month severance bonus (one month extra pay). This one-month bonus, paid in the last month, is standard with all contracts and is legally required from all schools under Korean law. The school is not required to pay this bonus if the teacher terminates their contract prematurely.
12. Tax rates: Income tax rates are extremely low in Korea. For many teachers the rate is around 3%. To check out the amount of income tax you would pay, visit the National Tax Service website in English at: http://www.nts.go.kr/eng/
13. Health insurance: Korean employers are obligated to provide their teachers with health care insurance and most schools choose to go with the National Health Insurance Plan. The cost of the medical insurance will be split 50-50 between the school and the teacher. The amount that the teacher would pay amounts to 2.59% of their monthly salary. This insurance is not effective until your residency in Korea has been provided (when you receive your Alien Registration Card), which is usually around 2-4 weeks after arrival to Korea. It is advised that all teachers buy travel insurance with medical coverage for 30-45 days following arrival in Korea. To get more information about the Health Plan, please visit the National Health Insurance website at: http://www.nhic.or.kr/eng
14. Sick leave: Most contracts do have provisions for 3-4 sick days with a doctor’s note. However, it is important that teachers use these sparingly as other teachers will be the recipient of your classes in case you need to miss. Emergency leave of up to one week can normally be provided in the case of serious family emergency.
15. Pension Plan: Teachers pay 4.5% of their monthly salary which is fully matched by the employer who also pays 4.5% (so a total of 9% is stored in the national pension). Paying into this pension is legally required in Korea. The teacher will receive their full pension refund (both their contribution and their employer’s contribution) when they leave Korea. This can add up to almost an extra month’s pay for the teacher at the end of the year. This full refund only applies to teachers from Canada, the U.S. or Australia. Currently, teachers from other countries are unable to get this refund as their government has no reciprocal agreement with the Korean government. For more information about the National Pension Plan, please visit their homepage in English at: http://www.nps.or.kr/jsppage/english/main.jsp

Why Teach in Korea

Why Korea? It’s a question that I’ve been asked again and again. Quite simply Korea offers some great teaching opportunities with terrific benefits. With benefits that include free housing, free airfare, good starting salaries, a one-month salary bonus at the end of your contract, medical insurance, low taxes and two-weeks paid vacation, the rewards to come and teach in Korea are very high. If you are a university graduate looking for an opportunity to experience a new culture while saving money, teaching English in Korea may be a good fit for you.

The benefits of coming to teach in Korea include:

Experiencing a new culture: Korea offers some great opportunities to immerse yourself in a new culture. With its beautiful beaches, breathtaking mountains, historical temples, bustling cities and delicious food, Korea has something to offer everyone.

Saving money: Many teachers who come to Korea are able to save two-thirds of their salary while still living well. This is mainly due to the fact that most of your major expenses are paid as the housing is provided free and taxes in Korea are very low (around 3%). Furthermore, the low cost of living in Korea with food and transportation being quite inexpensive makes for great savings potential. This gives you the opportunity to save money for the future, pay off student loans, invest or travel.

Great compensation packages: All teaching positions in Korea come with excellent compensation packages which include:

• free return airfare from your country to your location in Korea
• free housing in a single or shared apartment
• one month’s bonus salary at the end of the contract
• medical insurance, half paid by the school
• renewable 12 month contracts with the school
• two weeks paid vacation in addition to all Korean holidays

Gaining valuable experience: Teaching overseas not only provides opportunities to save for the future, but it also provides valuable overseas experience that looks good on your resume to prospective employers. Furthermore, some teachers discover that they love teaching and end up making a career out of it.

Traveling: Korea is perfectly located for inexpensive travel to many great places in Asia including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia. Many teachers choose to travel during their paid vacation. Other teachers take extended vacations at the end of their contract when they receive their one-month bonus.

Basic Qualifications to Teach in Korea

In order to obtain an E-2 teaching visa for Korea, you must satisfy the following requirements:

1. You must be a native English speaker. Teaching experience is not necessary, although it is an asset.
2. You must be a citizen of one of these seven countries: Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa. Under Korean law only citizens of these countries are eligible for the E-2 teaching visa.
3. You must hold a valid passport from one of the above-mentioned countries with at least six months validity remaining on it from the time of your departure. We recommend having at least 12 months however, as it can be difficult to renew your passport in Korea.
4. You must have a 3-4 year Bachelor’s degree in any major from an accredited university. 2 year associate degree holders are not eligible to obtain an E-2 teaching visa even if they hold a TESOL certificate.
5. You must not have a criminal record.

How to Survive Winter in Russia

Week 4 on the Indie Travel Challenge is about winter travel, so I have decided to write about Winter in Russia. (click on logo above for more info)

When I announced I was moving to Russia for 6 months the first response was almost always “bring a coat”, “man you’re going to freeze, dress warm!” or “better pack lots of warm clothes!”

I did just that, nearly every shirt I brought was long sleeved; I had long skirts, boots, sweaters, jackets, coats, gloves, hats, scarves and an abundance of socks!

I was ready for my winter in Russia, being from Utah “the best snow on earth” I think I’m knowledgeable about what winter is. Not the case!

Utah is a dry cold, and I quickly learned the less humid a place is, the less ‘cold’ a place is. The more humid it is the more ‘bone chilling’ the cold is. In Utah gloves, hats, scarves are really more of an accessory the cold doesn’t chill you to your very core. In Russia these are all considered necessary at all times.

 

 

 

Tips for Surviving a Russian Winter

-          Where the necessities, always.

        If you go out without all the necessities you will get yelled at, mostly but the elderly women (babushkas), I got yelled at frequently. It’s the culture to respect your elders and unlike in America the elderly are an active part in society, sweeping fallen leaves, mending broken fences, lecture about bad behavior and enforcing winter dress code. Take it for the good hearted worry that it is, don’t get upset or resentful and indulge their concern.

-         Footwear.

         I brought the boots I currently owned, figuring if they were good enough for the ‘best snow’ then they would be good enough for Russia’s snow. I was lucky and fell a handful of times while there, it wasn’t unusual to see people biff it, you get used to it and in fear of sounding rude, we developed skills in hiding our laughter until we were at a safe distance. However some shoes are better than others, a fellow teacher brought uggs; they’re warm, why not? Because they have NO traction, you will fall, a lot. The vast majority of Russians where shoes with heels that will act as a pick to provide a sturdier step. Women often where boots with a stiletto heel for this very reason, seemed counter intuitive before I saw how effective it was.

-          Layers.

        On an average day I would wear, short socks, tall socks, high ankle boots, leggings, jeans, a long undershirt, shirt, sweater or jacket, coat with a hood, gloves, hat, and scarf. I usually kept an extra pair of gloves, socks, and an umbrella. I was toasty warm and often would walk 20 minutes to school to avoid the bus. I was fortunate to have a beautiful path to my school; I loved my walks listening to the traffic, my music or my thoughts. Not to mention the street vendors with yummy pastries and breakfast foods.

-          The Bus.

The worse the weather the harder it is to get on the bus. If you haven’t ridden a bus out of the US you may not know what I mean but I’ll try to paint a picture. Russian busses are smaller, the barely fit two to a seat and when you’re all bundled up its even trickier. They will push you literally into and onto the bus. No seats? No problem! If the line for your bus is long they shove into every last space possible, you may be sitting on laps, shoved up right next to a grumpy commuter, nearly falling onto a babushka and since you’ve got dozens of Russians in winter wear in a confined space it can get hot… and smelly. Watch out that when you get shoved, you avoid the smelly riders.  

How to Survive Winter in Russia

Week 4 on the Indie Travel Challenge is about winter travel, so I have decided to write about Winter in Russia. (click on logo above for more info)

When I announced I was moving to Russia for 6 months the first response was almost always “bring a coat”, “man you’re going to freeze, dress warm!” or “better pack lots of warm clothes!”

I did just that, nearly every shirt I brought was long sleeved; I had long skirts, boots, sweaters, jackets, coats, gloves, hats, scarves and an abundance of socks!

I was ready for my winter in Russia, being from Utah “the best snow on earth” I think I’m knowledgeable about what winter is. Not the case!

Utah is a dry cold, and I quickly learned the less humid a place is, the less ‘cold’ a place is. The more humid it is the more ‘bone chilling’ the cold is. In Utah gloves, hats, scarves are really more of an accessory the cold doesn’t chill you to your very core. In Russia these are all considered necessary at all times.

 

 

 

Tips for Surviving a Russian Winter

-          Where the necessities, always.

        If you go out without all the necessities you will get yelled at, mostly but the elderly women (babushkas), I got yelled at frequently. It’s the culture to respect your elders and unlike in America the elderly are an active part in society, sweeping fallen leaves, mending broken fences, lecture about bad behavior and enforcing winter dress code. Take it for the good hearted worry that it is, don’t get upset or resentful and indulge their concern.

-         Footwear.

         I brought the boots I currently owned, figuring if they were good enough for the ‘best snow’ then they would be good enough for Russia’s snow. I was lucky and fell a handful of times while there, it wasn’t unusual to see people biff it, you get used to it and in fear of sounding rude, we developed skills in hiding our laughter until we were at a safe distance. However some shoes are better than others, a fellow teacher brought uggs; they’re warm, why not? Because they have NO traction, you will fall, a lot. The vast majority of Russians where shoes with heels that will act as a pick to provide a sturdier step. Women often where boots with a stiletto heel for this very reason, seemed counter intuitive before I saw how effective it was.

-          Layers.

        On an average day I would wear, short socks, tall socks, high ankle boots, leggings, jeans, a long undershirt, shirt, sweater or jacket, coat with a hood, gloves, hat, and scarf. I usually kept an extra pair of gloves, socks, and an umbrella. I was toasty warm and often would walk 20 minutes to school to avoid the bus. I was fortunate to have a beautiful path to my school; I loved my walks listening to the traffic, my music or my thoughts. Not to mention the street vendors with yummy pastries and breakfast foods.

-          The Bus.

The worse the weather the harder it is to get on the bus. If you haven’t ridden a bus out of the US you may not know what I mean but I’ll try to paint a picture. Russian busses are smaller, the barely fit two to a seat and when you’re all bundled up its even trickier. They will push you literally into and onto the bus. No seats? No problem! If the line for your bus is long they shove into every last space possible, you may be sitting on laps, shoved up right next to a grumpy commuter, nearly falling onto a babushka and since you’ve got dozens of Russians in winter wear in a confined space it can get hot… and smelly. Watch out that when you get shoved, you avoid the smelly riders.  

geeking out at the archives at the USHMM

 

 Week 3 on BootsnAll's travel challenge is about studying and learning abroad. Its a braod question that to answer completely would require you to tell you to read my blog, afterall thats what its all about, what travel has taught me, how its effected my life.

Although I will tell you I have been on a couple trips that were more for research than to vacation or to be a tourist in both Washington DC & Israel but I am going to focus on my trip to the United States Holocaust Museum.

This trip may have never been possible without a little educational intuition and I can't imagine who I would be if I hadn't taken my History of Genocide course at UVU. I was given the opportunity along with several other classmates to spend our spring break traveling to Washington DC to research at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. How could drinking on a beach somewhere compare right?

Now doesn't that picture make you feel great about our generation? Wrapped around a conference table, searching and searching for the documentation each of us spent the week looking for to support our final reseach papers due at the end of the semester.

 

Okay, so I am totally going to geek out in this post, but seriously would you take a look at these bookshelves? We actually had to be instructed on how to use them since they move, usually you'd have to crank each different row by hand but these were fairly new and if you weren't careful you'd smoosh someone in them, luckily they also have sensors so you couldn't accidentally hurt someone. 

Room after room, row after row, shelf after shelf and book after book. Magical. For anyone who knows me well I used to work for a paper company and LOVE the smell of freshly printed paper, book stores, and the inside of antique books. weird right? They just have this one of a kind smell and it causes instand happy nostalgia in my brain... good old olfactory system!

Beautiful! The archives of the USHMM aren't seen too often by the public, not that they are overly restricted but it would have never occured to me to ask for a visit to the archives while wandering through the exhibits...

Lucky me, even luckier that I loved the experience!

What do you geek out about?

geeking out at the archives at the USHMM

 

 Week 3 on BootsnAll's travel challenge is about studying and learning abroad. Its a braod question that to answer completely would require you to tell you to read my blog, afterall thats what its all about, what travel has taught me, how its effected my life.

Although I will tell you I have been on a couple trips that were more for research than to vacation or to be a tourist in both Washington DC & Israel but I am going to focus on my trip to the United States Holocaust Museum.

This trip may have never been possible without a little educational intuition and I can't imagine who I would be if I hadn't taken my History of Genocide course at UVU. I was given the opportunity along with several other classmates to spend our spring break traveling to Washington DC to research at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. How could drinking on a beach somewhere compare right?

Now doesn't that picture make you feel great about our generation? Wrapped around a conference table, searching and searching for the documentation each of us spent the week looking for to support our final reseach papers due at the end of the semester.

 

Okay, so I am totally going to geek out in this post, but seriously would you take a look at these bookshelves? We actually had to be instructed on how to use them since they move, usually you'd have to crank each different row by hand but these were fairly new and if you weren't careful you'd smoosh someone in them, luckily they also have sensors so you couldn't accidentally hurt someone. 

Room after room, row after row, shelf after shelf and book after book. Magical. For anyone who knows me well I used to work for a paper company and LOVE the smell of freshly printed paper, book stores, and the inside of antique books. weird right? They just have this one of a kind smell and it causes instand happy nostalgia in my brain... good old olfactory system!

Beautiful! The archives of the USHMM aren't seen too often by the public, not that they are overly restricted but it would have never occured to me to ask for a visit to the archives while wandering through the exhibits...

Lucky me, even luckier that I loved the experience!

What do you geek out about?

Am I an Indie Traveler?

 Click on the banner above for more information about the 2012 Indie Travel Challenge

What does being indie mean? I myself had to do a little google research before I formed an opinion on the term & found a pretty good article by CNN titled If it’s cool, creative and different, it’s indie. if I’m indie then I take that as a compliment!

The term "indie" traditionally refers to independent art -- music, film, literature or anything that fits under the broad banner of culture -- created outside of the mainstream and without corporate financing.

The term, from what I can tell comes from the word independent, a common trend in definition is that indie IS NOT mainstream.

Is leaving a location dependent life for the life of an expat not the mainstream?

expatriate/expat is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing. The word comes from the Latin terms ex ("out of") and patria ("country, fatherland") wikipedia

I would say it isn't mainstream to the general public, but is it main stream in travel culture? probably

I don't personally know anyone else who has or is planning on uprooting their life to travel. Sure, I meet people all the time that say they want to and wish they could, but I haven't  run into someone who has done it or is actively planning to become an expat. (keep in mind that I won't be leaving for another 4-5 months so I'm not surrounded by the traveling community like I will be once I'm an expat myself)

So, am I an indie traveler? I'm not just passionate about traveling, with a dream list of places to go but I am leaving the conventional way of life (generally speaking of course) without a plan, without knowing where I'll end up, how long I'll be gone or if I'll ever return to my home country.  I dare say yes I am an indie traveler! 

What do you think? Am I just flattering myself?

Some fellow 2012 Indie Travel Challege Bloggers

A World Wanderer                Gallivanting Greg

 

Am I an Indie Traveler?

 Click on the banner above for more information about the 2012 Indie Travel Challenge

What does being indie mean? I myself had to do a little google research before I formed an opinion on the term & found a pretty good article by CNN titled If it’s cool, creative and different, it’s indie. if I’m indie then I take that as a compliment!

The term "indie" traditionally refers to independent art -- music, film, literature or anything that fits under the broad banner of culture -- created outside of the mainstream and without corporate financing.

The term, from what I can tell comes from the word independent, a common trend in definition is that indie IS NOT mainstream.

Is leaving a location dependent life for the life of an expat not the mainstream?

expatriate/expat is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing. The word comes from the Latin terms ex ("out of") and patria ("country, fatherland") wikipedia

I would say it isn't mainstream to the general public, but is it main stream in travel culture? probably

I don't personally know anyone else who has or is planning on uprooting their life to travel. Sure, I meet people all the time that say they want to and wish they could, but I haven't  run into someone who has done it or is actively planning to become an expat. (keep in mind that I won't be leaving for another 4-5 months so I'm not surrounded by the traveling community like I will be once I'm an expat myself)

So, am I an indie traveler? I'm not just passionate about traveling, with a dream list of places to go but I am leaving the conventional way of life (generally speaking of course) without a plan, without knowing where I'll end up, how long I'll be gone or if I'll ever return to my home country.  I dare say yes I am an indie traveler! 

What do you think? Am I just flattering myself?

Some fellow 2012 Indie Travel Challege Bloggers

A World Wanderer                Gallivanting Greg