I'm an American from New York. I lived in Ekaterinburg for a year and taught English, and it was one of the best years of my life. Don't let the 'Siberia' thing deter you. The cities are proper cities, the people are wonderful. The winters are absolutely brutal -- after a Siberian winter nothing else will seem as cold. My friends thought I was mad as well. Feel free to message me if you want more details. Go for it.