Archive for 'Russian life'
Russian Outdoor Games for Kids Posted by Maria on Sep 3, 2019
Have you ever wondered what kind of outdoor activities Russian children engage in? The games (и́гры) in this post are not unique to Russia and are known in the entire post-Soviet area—and beyond. Кла́ссики This one’s a classic (pun intended)! Кла́ссики is the Russian name for hopscotch. I imagine most people are familiar with it…
Life in Russia Through 3 Vlogs Posted by Maria on Oct 4, 2018
If you haven’t had a chance to visit Russia or another country where Russian is spoken, or if it’s been a while since your visit, video blogs, or vlogs, are an excellent way to catch a glimpse of someone daily life. This post will feature three such videos and highlight certain vocabulary and cultural tidbits…
What Are Russian Parents Like? Posted by Maria on Jul 6, 2017
Culture encompasses all sorts of attitudes and conventions, and one important part of culture is parenting. While everyone’s family is different, there are some common themes you may see in many Russian families. Reluctant To Praise Their Children Russian parents are as proud of their children’s achievements as anyone else. However, they are less likely…
5 Songs To Play At A Russian Wedding Posted by Maria on Jun 7, 2017
Does your country have a list of songs that get (over)played at every wedding? This is also the case in Russia. While this list will vary from wedding to wedding, here are five songs you’re likely to hear. Муслим Магомаев, “Свадьба” We have featured Soviet crooner Muslim Magomaev (Муслим Магомаев) on this blog. This Soviet-era classic is…
What Do Russians Like Doing? Posted by Maria on Apr 27, 2017
There may be some (or extensive) coverage of Russian politics, society, and economy in the media, but what do ordinary Russians like doing for fun? Does anything bring joy to their lives, or is it all drudgery, as one may think after reading the grim coverage? Naturally, every Russian would have a slightly different answer…
5 Things You Should Know About Renting Apartments In Russia Posted by Maria on Apr 6, 2017
If you are planning an extended trip to Russia, renting a place is one of the things to arrange for your stay. Here are five things you should keep in mind about property rentals in Russia. 1. Few(er) People Live In Rented Apartments Before 1991, most Russians technically rented (снимали) their apartments from the government…
Six Quintessentially Russian Concepts – Part II Posted by Maria on Jun 22, 2016
We are continuing from last week’s post on certain Russian expressions and underlying concepts that are specific to Russian reality. Нормально Нормальный as an adjective means “normal,” but it’s used in some unique ways. First, нормально is a common response to “Как дела?” (“How are you?”) Second, нормальный is used to express covert approval of…