Tag Archives: Russians abroad
Who Gets Called “Russian”? Posted by Maria on Feb 5, 2018
How often have you heard the phrase “So-and-so is Russian”? What was meant by “Russian” in that case? Was the person a citizen of the Russian Federation? Did they live in any of the neighbo(u)ring countries? Did they speak Russian? This post will examine the many ways “Russian” (русский and other related words) is used…
3 Myths Most Russians Have Heard About Themselves Posted by Maria on Dec 19, 2017
There are certain things you hear a lot as a Russian traveling or visiting abroad. Of course, this list is a generalization and summarizes the experience of an average Russian. It does not reflect every person’s experience and is meant to be taken in good fun. 1. “You must be used to the cold” Russia…
5 Homes of Famous Russians Around The World Posted by Maria on Dec 14, 2017
If you have been to Russia, you might have visited the homes of famous Russian writers, composers, artists, and politicians. But did you know there are places outside Russia where famous Russians stayed or lived permanently? Inclusion of a person in this post is not meant to endorse their views, policies, or work. Dostoevsky Museum…
3 Incorrect Assumptions about Native Russian Speakers Posted by Maria on Oct 10, 2017
I sometimes hear statements about fluent Russian speakers abroad that are based on certain incorrect assumptions. Some of our readers know better, but others may discover something new from this post. Because this post touches upon deeply personal aspects of identity, language, ancestry, and political affiliation, it is quite natural that people will have different…
What Does A Russian Miss Abroad? Posted by Maria on Sep 21, 2017
Naturally, the answer to this question will vary depending on the person, their preferences, and the destination of their travel. However, I can think of several things that are likely to be missed by many Russians abroad and perhaps by some people from the neighboring countries, too. Tea Kettle As we mentioned on this blog…
Russian Tour Operators Going Out Of Business Posted by Maria on Sep 15, 2014
Those of you who follow Russian news might have heard that several travel agencies (туроператоры, турагентства) have gone out of business (разорились). A few have gone bankrupt (объявили о банкротстве) while others have suspended operations (приостановили деятельность). As you know from a previous post, Russian tourists love traveling abroad, so people who had paid the…
Celebrities who speak Russian Posted by Maria on Jul 3, 2014
You might have read my previous post about famous foreigners who learned Russian. A reader commented that these people moved to Russia (or what is now Russia) and had plenty of opportunities to master the language. Today I’d like to talk about some celebrities living outside Russia who can speak Russian. Luckily, they are all…