A Typical American VS a Typical Russian: Where Does the Money Go? Posted by Jenya on Mar 18, 2014
When dealing with foreign culture, a lot us of frequently make the mistake of assuming that things are the same way there as they are in their own country. Even after years of living in US, I find myself falling into this trap time and time again. You won’t be able to completely escape…
University system in Russia Posted by Maria on Mar 13, 2014
Education is a funny subject to talk about. One the one hand, it’s one of the first things we learn about in our first year or so. On the other hand, because the emphasis is usually on talking about our experiences as a student, we may never learn much about the educational system of the…
Business trip to Russia: Vocabulary and Tips Posted by Jenya on Mar 12, 2014
Извините, я опаздываю. (Sorry, I am running late.) Давайте встретимся завтра в 10 утра. (Let’s meet tomorrow at 10 am.) Когда бы Вы хотели встретиться? (When would you like to meet?) Извините, Вы не подскажете, где ближайшая станция метро/стоянка такси? (Excuse me, could you tell me where the nearest subway station/place to get a cab…
Things to do/try when in Russia Posted by Jenya on Mar 11, 2014
So you made the decision to go to Russia or, perhaps, somebody made it for you. Either way, now is the perfect time to put some thought into what to do while you are there. There is no shortage of things you can do or see in Moscow or Saint Petersburg but if you find…
Yekaterinburg Rock – Melodic and Poetic Posted by Maria on Mar 10, 2014
Music is a great way to learn a language, but Russian rock music (русский рок) is not well known outside Russia and the surrounding area. People are more likely to know t.A.T.u. or opera singers. This blog has covered Russian rock music before, but there are so many bands (группы) worth checking out that we’ll…
Пирожки – Funny Internet Rhymes Posted by Maria on Mar 6, 2014
Continuing the topic of Russian humor, I would like to draw your attention to a humorous poetry form that emerged on the Russian Internet a few years back. You are probably familiar with limericks (лимерики), which have caught on in Russia(n), as well. However, there is a newer form that gained some popularity online. The…
How to Overcome The Language Barrier Posted by Jenya on Mar 5, 2014
When I came to the United States in the distant 2003, I was certain I had everything necessary to carry on a conversation beyond the the subjects of current weather and favorite things to eat. My arsenal consisted of mostly proper English language structures, a decent amount of polysyllabic adjectives, obsessive fixation on the English…