Income Disparity: Alive and Well in Russia Posted by Jenya on Jul 8, 2015
Recently I came across an article in Forbes magazine ranking the wealthiest people in the world. It is always interesting to compare myself to them – I mean, after all, I write a blog that pays me pretty well. It is always with great surprise that I read this annual list and cannot count myself among…
Russian Vocabulary: Finding and Getting Places in Russia Posted by Jenya on Jul 1, 2015
Any new place is not easy to navigate, let alone a place where a different language is spoken. In an attempt to help people who are traveling or relocating to Russia, I put together a list of questions along with some explanations that should make the…
A Whole Lot of Nothing: Sayings with Ничего in Russian Posted by Maria on Jun 29, 2015
Ничего́ (nothing) one of these seemingly basic words that you learn in the first months of learning Russian. However, it is also one that appears in a number of idioms and expressions that are not immediately obvious to the learner. 1. Ничего for doing well Ничего is a popular response to the question “Как…
Social Networking in Russia Posted by Jenya on Jun 24, 2015
The age of the “Social Network” is upon us. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others, have popped up over the last ten years or so and dramatically changed our lives. These sites have greatly impacted our lives and they have been responsible for many things such as: increase in narcissistic behavior (i.e. selfies), entertainment…
Does Learning Russian Endorse Oppression? Posted by Maria on Jun 22, 2015
I was once talking to a young American teacher, who told me he had started learning Russian but gave it up in protest of LGTB rights violations in Russia. It is, indeed, not hard to be discouraged from learning Russian when Russian governments and people, past and present, commit offenses against principles one holds dear…
In Russia Philosophy is not Just for Plato Posted by Jenya on Jun 17, 2015
It was once said by the great Dostoevsky that “all real Russians are philosophers.” While philosophy, and discussions about it, has a place in most cultures and countries, its place in Russia, both during Soviet times and now, cannot be understated – especially while conversing with friends and family. Many of us take this deep…
Three Ways the USSR Was Unintentionally Environmentally Friendly Posted by Maria on Jun 15, 2015
When people think of the soviet Union or present-day Russia, environmental protection is not the first thing that comes to mind. After all, in its quest for rapid industrialization, the USSR wrecked the environment in many ways, from air and water pollution to deforestation to desertification to nuclear meltdowns. At the same time, when…