Moscow is an absolutely enormous city - the sixth largest in the world, in fact - and almost the most northerly major conurbation, though by no means the coldest, although the winters can be challenging to say the least, with five months of the year when the temperatures are likely to remain below freezing every day. That said, of course, the infrastructure of the city allows for the conditions, so you won't find everything grinding to a halt because of a bit of snow, as is often the case in London. Moscow probably has some of the most instantly recognizable landmark buildings in the world, many of them gathered around the edges of Red Square. St Basil's Cathedral rises like some mad cake, with domes and turrets of every size, shape and colour and the Kremlin is so enormous it takes over an hour to walk at a briskish pace around its perimeter. Foreign teachers in Moscow are most frequently teachers of English as a foreign language. Muscovites are increasingly international in their outlook and with more billionaires in the city these days than there are in New York, there is an emphasis on foreign trade which is relatively new to the country. There are positions in schools, but also many businesses have their own language teachers in house. Living in the centre of the city is likely to be prohibitively expensive, but the underground is extensive and although very busy at rush hour times you won't take too long to get from A to B. Shopping is easier and more pleasant in Moscow than you might expect. The mighty GUM department store on Red Square has always been the home of luxury in Moscow, even when the grip of the Communist regime was very tight, but since the late eighties goods have become more affordable and you will find literally anything you can imagine inside. Think Harrods, but really really big. Living in Moscow - and therefore shopping - is not cheap. The city ranked as the most expensive in the world for many of the early years of this century, with apartments hard to find and pricey when you do. That said, many employers will probably be able to help you with somewhere to live. The nightlife in Moscow might surprise you, with many enormous and very exclusive clubs, restaurants and bars. With so many seriously rich people living in the city and demanding the very best in entertainment there is no shortage of places to go for that special celebration, but there are plenty of mid-price range venues as well. The entertainment side of things is still very much a growing industry in Moscow, so watch out for new places opening all the time - it is certainly worth keeping an eye out as the grand openings are usually very spectacular events. The popular misconception that Russians are not very friendly is certainly not true in Moscow. The locals are always ready to help a stranger and you will quickly make some new friends.