Any of you work/ed for a Russian family?

[lop37]

How have you found it? I am just wondering if there are any big differences, or expectations I should know about? Please share your experiences with me, have an interview next week!

No, but spent time in Moscow. Very broad generalisation here......

Culturally, they can be quite different. I'm quite a smiley person, and the Admin person at the Uni thought I was making a joke of things which were very serious because I was smiling and was very miffed with me, while I thought she was blaming me for something which was completely out of my control because she was so serious and stern looking (a visa error, department had typed the wrong digit so I was short 10 days on my visa). Their facial expressions can be quite serious, and it can be hard not to take it personally. (Was very awkward when guys thought I was trying to pick them up simply because I smiled at them!!!!!)

I also have a couple of Russian friends who have lived here about 5 years, but drive me crazy with their arrogance when we are out - but they are very nice to me. They are rude to staff, no Ps and Qs, etc. Out of the group of Russians who get together fequently, the majority are like this (though not all). But they don't think they are being rude, and don't intend to be.

Thanks for that chit chat, so maybe I need to be less smiley at interview? Mm, tricky for me as I, too, am quite a smiley person!! I wouldn't be working in Russia, I would be working in another European country, but would be travelling with the family to Russia regularly. Just wondered what was expected of the Nanny, as the salary is exceptionally high!!

I was a governess for a Russian family for almost two years and was based all over the world by way of super yachts and privates jets.
Basically their expectation of very high. The high salary means they own your soul in their eyes and my gosh do you work for it. Mine were not demanding in terms of wanting me to do all manner of things but I was expected to be on call 24/7 regardless of what the contract says. Chances are you will not be the only nanny - there are often a few Russian nannies who work on a rota which can make developing the relationship with the children that bit more difficult and they do do everything. IME with my family and with seeing others the oligarchs children can at best be described as pampered, spoilt and thoroughly overindulged. I am very much a traditional English style nanny and I think mine found it hard at first until they became accustomed to the manner. if your role is to prep the children to enter English boarding schools to prep them for the public school system then the expectations are higher as they want results and your job is to get them. Their children are groomed within an inch of their lives and you ferry them constantly from this and that. This is done with drivers and armed bodyguards when in Russia and drivers and unarmed body guards (you hope) when they're not. They own super yachts, super cars and they want super children regardless or not of whether the child can meet these expectations.
The language can be hard to learn. I understand far more than I speak.
Do not underestimate how lonely a life it can be even though it sounds very glamorous. You have to work alongside teams of other staff in the fully staffed households all over the world, liase in four or five languages none of which you speak fluently except English. The staff are often of the ilk the children should be pampered and treated like little Gods which can make your role ten times harder. They hire and fire on a whim and if you haven't worked in one before then working in a fully staffed household is not unlike surviving Henry VIII court.
Having said all that I would not have traded the two years I spent doing it for anything. I had some amazing experiences and opportunities through the family and in return I hope I gave them the service they wanted and the children are all very happy and doing fantastically well at their English schools.

Good luck with it.

Really would have helped if I'd put that in proper paragraphs!
Was in a rush. Sorry.

WOW!! Thank you for that Octavia! That has really given me something to think about!!

Glad it helped.
Amazed you could read it. re -read it to myself and I really should proof read before clicking post.
Good luck with the interview and don't be put off. It's a very surreal world you'll be entering where it can be hard to keep a grip on reality but it's doable and your bank balance looks well after it if nothing else.

If you get the job do it really well. Russians who are very well off pay a lot of attention to detail and your work will be observed and evaluated constantly. Even the very wealthy can cook and clean and have definite ideas about raising children, plus there is often a granny off to one side monitoring things and issuing advice. Families are close and the older generation plays an important role.

They are very hands-on parents in their own way. They do not have the British 'leave it to Nanny' attitude and they are never surprised by evaluations at parent teacher meetings because they keep track of their children's progress very diligently. They pay nannies well because they value their children's development very highly, and they will pay a close interest in how things are going. My Russian friends (two sisters) shared a nanny between them and paid a hefty amount to her to stay with 'the family' even when one sister's youngest went to school and the other sister's baby didn't need a nanny yet. The nanny had about 6 months pay for doing nothing but promising to be available when the baby needed her. But they liked the nanny and she spoke Russian even though she was Ukrainian.

They believe that you get what you pay for. The 'grand manner' in restaurants, etc. (mentioned by ChitChat) is not intended to be rude -- it's more of an old fashioned understanding of the restaurant transaction where paying for a meal includes paying someone to be at your beck and call. Smiling too much means you are potentially dishonest or two faced in some way. Humour tends to be in the form of clever comments and wordplay, and not anecdotes with a punchline. There is more of a twinkle in the eye than a loud laugh. Part of the attraction of Russian humour imo is that you have to listen closely for it.

They like to see the children socialising with people of all ages, speaking up clearly to adults and engaging with adults in conversation. There is not a lot of segregation of children and adults into separate groups. Children's opinions are canvassed and accepted by adults. Children are allowed to disagree and to say no, even to say it forcefully. They are not taught 'their place' -- there really is no concept of this with Russian families in my experience. Their 'place' is right up there with everyone else really. They are very fond of children and have a sentimental view of childhood to age 7 or so, but while behaviour that would raise an eyebrow or be labelled as spoiled in Britain is acceptable, the children nevertheless have to perform. Once past the age of 7 academic discipline, music or sports are all pushed and pushed hard and parents put in a lot of work (and money) to find the talent a child may have and to nurture it. Coming in second is not considered ok.

I'm considering my first Governess position with a Russian family and i have no idea what to expect. The child is nursery school age, and the expectations of the parent sounds very relaxed, is that usual? I will be expected be available at short notice, which I'm ok with.. Is that how Russian families are? I look forward to your advice