Archive for the year 2009
Russian food: «Белые грибы со сметаной» [‘White Mushrooms’ with Smetana] Posted by josefina on Mar 12, 2009
This is no secret ad for Lay’s – just a humble declaration of appreciation (and deep love!) for one of their products: «Чипсыизнатуральногокартофелясовкусомбелыхгрибовсосметаной» [chips made from natural potatoes with the taste of ‘white mushrooms’ with smetana]. Ever since I first saw this baby in the store last year I knew it was meant for me…
Russian Holiday: «С международным женским днём!» [Happy International Women’s Day!] Posted by josefina on Mar 8, 2009
On this beautifulholiday, alsocalled«праздниквесны»[‘spring holiday’] in Russia, there are two ways you could congratulate the fairer sex: «Поздравляемвсехженщинс 8 (восьмым) марта!» [(We) congratulate all women with the 8th of March!] or «Смеждународнымженскимднёмвас/тебя!» [Happy International Women’s day to you!]. Once again it is that time of the year in Russia – the time to give flowers…
Word of the Week: «Скользко!» Posted by josefina on Mar 2, 2009
Now that I’ve scared up everyone with my previous post about stray dogs in Russia, it’s time to set the record straight and raise awareness on another large problem in Russian society today – slippery sidewalks. The problem with stray dogs in Russia is, just as the problem with slippery sidewalks, nothing that someone should…
«Что делать с бездомными собаками?» [What to do with the stray dogs?] Posted by josefina on Feb 27, 2009
«Бездомнаясобаканаулице – обычноеявлениепочтивовсехбольшихгородахРоссии»[a stray (homeless) dog on the street – an ordinary occurrence almost in all big Russian cities]. To me Russia is not best symbolized by «борщ» [borscht] or «Краснаяплощадь» [The Red Square] or «матрёшки» [‘matryoshki’; sets of nesting dolls] or «ушанки» [caps with earflaps] or «Гагарин» [Gagarin; first man in space], not even…
С днём защитника Отечества! [Happy Defender of the Fatherland Day!] Posted by josefina on Feb 23, 2009
It is THE holiday season in Russia right now: On the 14th of February it’s«Деньвсехвлюблённых» [The Day of Everybody in Love], then on the 23rd it’s «ДеньзащитникаОтечества» [Defender of the Fatherland Day], wrapping up on the 8th of March with «Международныйженскийдень» [International Women’s Day]. Out of these three holidays – on all of which it…
Word of the Week: «Ли» Posted by josefina on Feb 22, 2009
«Поздравляем сильную половину человечества с Днём защитника Отечества!» [(We) congratulate the strong half of humanity with Defender of the Fatherland Day!]. Coming across this home-made poster on the first floor of my dormitory, I could have used the marvelous little word «ли» to pose a direct question like: «Являются ли мужчины сильной половиной человечества?» [Are…
Reading Russian literature: А. П. Чехов «Человек в футляре» Posted by josefina on Feb 18, 2009
Today is the day I share with you – long overdue, of which I am aware – my post on how to read a Russian short story in the original. For a long time I pondered on exactly what short story to choose for today’s post, as there is an abundance of great short stories…