Wolverines, Elks and Amur Tigers Posted by yelena on Jan 27, 2012
This post was going to be about Russian grammar. However, after having our regular чаепитие (tea time) with моя хорошая подруга (my good friend) earlier today, I radically changed my mind for two reasons: She shared three beautiful LiveJournal blogs with me by Russian фотографы-натуралисты (nature photographers) and I want to share those with you…
Russian Wedding – Part 2 Posted by yelena on Jan 24, 2012
Let’s talk some more about Russian weddings. I left off on the part where новобрачные (the newlyweds) leave the ЗАГС (registry office). In case you missed the first part, it is here. Somehow I completely forgot to mention обмен кольцами (exchanging the rings) that happens during the ceremony. Wedding bands in Russia are called обручальные кольца and…
Reading the News – In Russian Posted by Natalie on Jan 23, 2012
«Добрый вечер, дорогие читатели!» [Good evening, dear readers!] Today I want to share with you a technique I have used for learning Russian that has helped me immensely: reading the news. «Я люблю читать новости и по-английски, и по-русски» [I love reading the news in both English and Russian]. It is always interesting to…
How to Celebrate a Wedding по-русски Posted by yelena on Jan 18, 2012
Doesn’t look like much, does it? Yet this fairly unassuming doorway, with a four-letter acronym ЗАГС, leads to a life of (hopefully) married bliss. This particular door is for the ЗАГС is in my hometown of Volgograd. I walked by it countless times as a child and was inside the office only twice, at a…
Out With the New, In With the Old Posted by yelena on Jan 13, 2012
What are your plans for tomorrow, Saturday the 14th of January? Better cancel them and instead celebrate старый Новый год (the old New Year). Today, January the 13th is yet another the New Year’s Eve. Yes, it’s another chance to finish last year’s unfinished business, to set goals and make promises, and to start afresh…
What Your Russian Spouse Calls You (When You Are Not Listening) Posted by yelena on Jan 12, 2012
Ever wonder what your Russian spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend is talking about on the phone? Are they talking about you? First of all, it’s safe to assume that a phone call you have overheard is not all about you. The only exception is if it’s your Russian wife calling her лучшая подруга (best friend) or…
При чём тут arrow in the knee? Posted by yelena on Jan 9, 2012
Do you play видеоигры (video games)? Turns out, they can provide a whole new dimension to language-learning. And it goes beyond Russian language интерфейс (interface) and ability to follow instructions in Russian. Playing games, or at least following friends who play, can give you a glimpse into культура современного общества (society’s contemporary culture) in a…