Peace Corps in Russia

[Jerry Ervin]

Colleagues,

An AATSEEL member who is presently a Peace Corps volunteer in Russia has sent
this note, suggesting that we share it.  Your students may find it offers some
possibilities:

"To my Russian-speaking friends:  given the employment opportunities for
Slavists in the US, may I recommend the Peace Corps to you.  I have suggested to
Peace Corps administration here that perhaps they should do some heavy
advertising around universities with strong Slavic departments.  Perqs:  the
$300 per month 'posobie' is adequate; in addition $200 per month is going into a
fund available upon separation from the Corps; $24 per month leave allowance;
allowance for a private tutor . . .; preferred hiring in some governmental
positions after separation from the Corps; and some fellowships especially for
former Peace Corps volunteers.  I'm sure there are other things that I have come
to take for granted. . . .  Of course, you don't have to know Russian to be an
English teacher here, but it is an excellent survival skill.  Some of the new
trainees, for example, knew not one word of Russian when they came here (in
fact, still know little), but come January they are going out into the real
world and fend for themselves.  I truly admire their courage and spunk.  Twenty
of the 26 are young women, and most have no teaching experience."

Thanks to this AATSEEL member for sharing these observations.

--Jerry Ervin

*  *  *  *  *
Gerard L. Ervin
Executive Director, AATSEEL
1933 N. Fountain Park Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85715 USA
phone/fax:  520/885-2663
email:  76703.2063 at compuserve.com