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Krasnodar

General Information General Information The Krasnodar Krai is one of the regions of Russia. With the territory of 76,000 km² (Russia’s only 45th largest regions), it is the third most populous area. About the size of Ireland, the region is home to some 5 million people, seven times Russia’s average density at 67 people per square km, half urban and half rural. Krasnodar Krai borders Ukraine - from which it is separated by the Strait of Kerch and the Sea of Azov, Russia’s Rostov Oblast, Stavropol Krai, Karachayevo-Cherkessia, and Republic of Abkhazia. The Krai territory includes the republic of Adygeya. Its administrative center is the city of Krasnodar and other major cities include Sochi (pop. 328,800), Novorossiysk (pop. 231,900) and Armavir (pop. 193,900). Krasnodar has a population of about 638,000 people and stands on the Kuban River in the southern part of European Russia. A river port and railroad junction, it has petroleum refineries and machinery, metalworking, textile, chemical, and food-processing plants. Distance from Moscow: 1,500 kilometers. from Rostov-on-Don: 270 kilometers from Black Sea coast: 110 kilometers History Krasnodar was founded in 1794 by Zaporozhye (Black Sea) Cossacks following the order of Catherine II. The settlement was organized as their administrative center and called Yekaterinodar (Catherine’s gift). It served as a military center protecting Russia’s Caucasian frontier. In 1918 it became the capital of the Kuban-Black Sea Soviet Republic and was renamed Krasnodar (Reds’ gift) in 1920. Now most of the population is concentrated in the Kuban River drainage basin which used to be traditional Cossack land. Kuban Cossacks are generally considered to be ethnic Russians now; notable ethnic groups in the area include Armenians who have been settling here since at least the XVIII century. Economy Krasnodar Region holds tenth place in Russia in terms of gross regional product among the 89 regions. More than 93,000 enterprises operate in the Krasnodar Krai, 539 of them employ more than 100 workers. More than 43 percent of the Russian food-processing industry is located in Krasnodar. Oil, gas, manganese ores, zeolite, phosphorus-containing raw materials, rock salt, mercury, underground drinking water, thermal and mineral waters, raw resources for construction materials production are found in the region. Oil extraction/transport, petrochemicals, tourism, woodworking/furniture, construction, and light manufacturing also contribute to regional output. Tourism makes a major contribution to the local economy. The Krai’s Black Sea coast has often been referred to as the "Russian Riviera." Visitors, including 200,000 foreigners a year, come to Sochi for recreation as well as for medical treatment. The proximity to the Caucasus Mountains provides the opportunity to experience the seashore and downhill skiing within a short distance of each other. Krasnodar is the centre of a highly fertile agricultural region. Agriculture is the most important sector of the city’s economy. Krasnodar bestrides Russia’s “Black Earth” soil belt, boasting a favorable climate and over 100 different crops, as well as orchards, vineyards, tea plantations, citrus trees, rice, sunflowers, and a developed network of processing, storage, and trade facilities. It remains part of the “breadbasket” of the nation. The region produces 10 percent of grain, 30 percent of fruit, 60 percent of oilseed, and 90 percent of rice grown in Russia. Multinational companies in the region include Cargill, Nestle, Chevron, Petrak, ConAgra, Monsanto, Tetra-Pak, Danone, Pepsi-Cola, Philip Morris, Troy, Bouyges, Radisson, and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. Climate Geographically, the area of Krasnodar region consists of two parts. The southern third lying within the European-Mediterranean is the mixed forests area with Mediterranean or, in the south-east, subtropical climate. The northern two-thirds are a steppe and fertile Black Earth zone with the continental climate. As the region enjoys a near-Mediterranean climate, it has long summers and short winters. The average temperature in July is +29C. The average temperature in January is -4C. Krasnodar also has several natural mineral springs. Getting to and Arriving in Krasnodar If you arrive by plane, you will be arriving at the regional airport, located 20 minutes from centre of Krasnodar. There are daily flights to Moscow -- the flight time is about one hour and forty minutes. The train ride to Krasnodar from Moscow takes about 36 hours, but is quite comfortable and is a great way to see some of the country and meet some of its citizens. You will arrive at Krasnodar's huge and modern new train station near the center. Accommodation All teachers currently have flats of their own, but due to rapidly-rising costs of rental apartments, teachers might share a flat with another teacher. You will have a room of your own and share a kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Telephones, Internet and Postal Services Rates for international calls vary — direct-dialed calls can be pricey, but there are some different «IP card» calling plans that are cheap. The school has a computer with Internet and teachers are permitted to use it as much and whenever they wish (within reason!). Krasnodar's central post office and branches provides Internet and postal services. If you wish to bring a notebook computer and have Internet installed in your home, typical rates for connection are about 50 cents. Mobile phone providers in Krasnodar include MTS, Beeline, Megafon and Smarts, all of which offer GSM services. Rates vary, usually about 3 rubles (12 cents) a minute. Services are quite reliable. Family and friends can dial Krasnodar from abroad using the international code (7) and the local code (861). Electricity Electricity is 220 volts/50 hz. Plugs are of the two-pin type (as in continental Europe) so you will need adapters if you are bringing electrical appliances from home. These are available in Krasnodar, but you might want to bring some with you. Electricity is reliable and power cuts are extremely rare. A torch (flashlight) might be advisable, as some streets are not well lit. Water It is not advisable to drink water from the tap. Water can be boiled and left to cool, but unless your taste buds and vision are already impaired, it is better to buy inexpensive bottled water. Hot water is reliable in the winter months, but is occasionally disconnected during the spring, summer or autumn for a few days at a time. Heating water on the stove is one solution to this problem. Occasionally the cold water will be turned off, leaving nothing but hot — when this happens, you'll have to fill your bathtub several hours before, let it cool, then add more hot water when you want to bathe. Otherwise you'll be scalded! Laundry/Dry cleaning Unfortunately, you will not be provided with a washing machine. There are a number of laundry services in Krasnodar. Washing your clothes yourself in the bathtub may sound horrible, but with only a little practice you'll find it takes no longer than a trip to a laundry service and isn't really that much more effort. Money and Financial Arrangements Krasnodar School salaries are set in US$, but are payable only in roubles (in accordance with Russian law). The rouble has remained relatively stable against the US$ (26 roubles) and the GBP (52 roubles) in 2007. Euros, US Dollars and travel checks like American Express at the exchange offices which are numerous in the city, but GB Pounds are less easily exchanged outside Moscow. Roubles cannot be taken out of Russia at the time of writing and are therefore not readily available for exchange outside the country. Besides that there are also the ATM machines mostly in banks' offices that accept credit cards of Visa and MasterCard. Getting Around Krasnodar is a fairly spread-out city, but it isn't particularly difficult to get around, as most points of interest lie along a few main roads. There is an extensive network of buses, trolleybuses, and trams which are often full of passengers. Fare is 9 rubles (33 cents) but no transfer are permitted. There is also a good system of taxis and mini-vans which can take around ten passengers. These are much faster than regular buses, and cost 10 — 12 rubles (33 — 40 cents). There is a huge number of taxi cars that can take you anywhere in the city. Prices vary according to location and time of day. A typical 10- or 15-minute ride might cost 60 rubles, 100 at night. Agreeing on a price before you get in is a good idea. If you want to travel somewhere far out of Krasnodar, for instance, to visit the resort towns like Sochi or Gelendzik, you can take a train or a land cruiser bus. The taxi may be too expensive for long trips, although it is up to you. Food and Drink Krasnodar's restaurant scene is ever-growing. In addition to a number of excellent traditional Russian restaurants and cafes, there are many good Georgian, Caucasian and Uzbek restaurants. Asian foods are well-represented, with several Chinese restaurants, a Korean cafe, and even two Japanese sushi restaurants. There are several German and Czech restaurants. Prices vary, but a very good meal with drinks can easily be had for less than $30. There are a number of bars and cafes. Most of them offer televised sports, inexpensive drinks, and a good selection of American-style food. Clothes Teachers should try to look presentable, but there is no strict dress code at the school. In the winter, you will need a very warm coat — down or fur — and a hat, scarf and gloves. Good boots are essential — the snow is thick and the streets can get pretty messy. You probably won't regret bringing sweaters, warm socks and long underwear. Health Krasnodar is generally a healthy place, as long as you take the standard precautions — be careful with meat purchased off the street, wash fruits and vegetables well, and don't drink too much vodka. Chemists are everywhere in Krasnodar and are very well-stocked. It's unlikely that they would not have a particular medicine, but if you have special needs you should check before you arrive or make sure to bring some with you. Medical care is widely available and of good quality — Krasnodar School will help you find good care if you have a problem. Dental care is also good quality and much cheaper than in Europe or America. Hospitality The people of Krasnodar are very friendly, and foreigners are still something of a novelty here, so you can expect to be invited to someone's home. Don't forget to remove your shoes when you enter. It's traditional to bring your host chocolate or a cake. Russian meals are leisurely affairs, with many courses and often a lot of alcohol. If you don't want to drink, don't feel pressured — but make sure that you take part in the toasts in some way, even if only with a glass of juice or water. About Krasnodar School of Foreign Languages Aims: We strive to provide quality English and other modern languages tuition and test preparation. Location: Krasnodar's school and office in Krasnodar is located in a recently-refurbished wood and brick building about ten minutes from the city center. The school is located near Krasnodar's main thoroughfare, Severnaya Street, and if thus easy to reach by bus, trolleybus, or marshootni share taxi, It's about a five minute walk from the stop to the school. The address is 164 Sedina Street, Krasnodar, Russia 350015 The office telephone and fax number is +7 (861) 259 24 70 We can be contacted by email at school@krasnodarschool.ru. The office is staffed from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday thru Friday, and on Saturdays and Sundays as necessary, usually from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Facilities: The school currently has seven classrooms, all of which are modern and outfitted with cassette and CD players, whiteboards, and comfortable seating. Most of the rooms have water coolers with hot and cold water, also. There is an administrative office, a small staff room with two computers with Internet, one photocopier, and a rather good-sized library of reference and resource books. Staff: Krasnodar School currently has a staff of five people. English Language Courses and Examinations: We offer five levels of general English instruction in classes, for adults and teenagers. We also have classes providing preparation for exams such as the TOEFL, FCE, CAE, and CPE. In addition we provide in-company classes and private instruction, both at Krasnodar School and in student's homes. Things to do in Krasnodar Places To See The collection of churches, classic buildings and monuments is the main attraction of Krasnodar. There are three beautiful main churches in the center of the city. Monuments can be found in every district. For example, there is the Great Patriotic War (WWII) Monument in a park along Krasnaja str. Furthermore this street offers a nice variety in architecture. Krasnodar has the historical museum that offers interesting collections of art and local history artifacts. The Krasnodar Regional Art Museum houses the paintings of Malevich, Kandinsky, Exter, Popova and others Russian avant-garde painters. This collection is dated 1920th. Krasnodar has one of the largest art collections in Russia. There are five large libraries in the city. Just one of them, the Krasnodar Regional Library named in honor of A.S.Pushkin has about 1.5 million books in stock. Three theatres, including Drama, Musical and Puppet theatres, are at the disposal of dwellers and guests of the city as well as the Philharmonic Theatre, Organ Hall and the Circus. Entertainment places A lot of restaurants with friendly climate, night clubs, bowling clubs, dancing clubs, cinemas, entertainment centers, parks with side-shows, etc … Apply Online N.B. Please be sure to place 'Krasnodar' in the space allotted for 'Preferred Posting (first choice)'.