Living abroad is ... exciting - bewildering - fascinating - confusing - eye-opening - infuriating - self-confidence-building - self-confidence-destroying ...

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Post Report of the Day

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Very few people speak English. Turkmen is becoming more and more necessary, but Russian is still prevelant too.
What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Everyone either worked at the Embassy (limited options) or at the school. Some spouses did not have teaching backgrounds, but were highly sought after for preschool teachers.

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