Ah, summer, prime vacation season not just in Russia, but in many other countries as well. Я жду не дождусь (I can’t wait) for my vacation that’s just a few days away. I can’t even remember the last time я была в отпуске (I was on vacation). How about you?

If you are an американец (American male) or американка (American female), then я готова поспорить (I am ready to wager a bet) that you do not get enough time off from work. Все знают, что американцы – трудоголики (Everyone knows that Americans are workaholics). Besides, American отпуск (vacation) is just two weeks long. This is not nearly enough time to хорошо отдохнуть (rest well).

Still, we use what we can, утешая себя мыслью о пенсии (consoling ourselves with thoughts of retirement). But you are probably not so interested in my views on vacation policies. Instead, you might be wondering where am I going this year.

Before I start answering this question, let’s review two words that Russians use when they talk about vacations. The first word is каникулы (school break). These are taken by students and politicians and occur several times throughout the year. Of course, летние каникулы (summer break) is the longest and most anticipated.

The second word is отпуск. Отпуск is a vacation taken by people who work, including teachers. It comes from the verb отпускать (to let go). By the way, Russian Трудовой Кодекс (Labor Code) specifies the length of ежегодные оплачиваемые отпуска (annual paid vacations) at двадцать восемь календарных дней (twenty eight calendar days).

And now, while those of us who live in the US, are sighing wistfully, let’s review some helpful vacation-related phrases and, along the way, find out where I am going in just a few days. I am also including lots of questions for you (you can share your answers in the comments, if you’d like)

Куда вы едете этим летом? – Where are you going (to travel) this summer?
Этим летом я собираюсь поехать в Нью-Йорк и во Флориду – This summer I am going to New York and Florida.
А куда вы поедете этим летом? – And where will you be going this summer?

Когда вы поедете во Флориду? – When are you going to Florida?
Я еду во Флориду на следующей неделе – I am going to Florida next week
Когда вы поедете в отпуск? – When will you be going on vacation?

Как долго вы будете во Флориде? – How long will you be in Florida?
Я проведу во Флориде всего пять дней – I will spend just five days in Florida.
Как долго продлится ваш отпуск (или ваша поездка)? – How long is your vacation (or your trip)?

Что вы планируете делать во Флориде? – What are you going to do while in Floriday?
Я думаю поехать на Мыс Канаверал, в Леголанд, встретиться с друзьями – I am thinking about visiting Cape Canaveral, Legoland, and seeing friends.
Что вы планируете делать на отдыхе? – What are you going to do on your vacation?

Вы поедете на машине или полетите на самолёте? – Will you be driving or flying?
Я поеду на машине, так как хочу остановиться в Саванне, штат Джорджия – I will be driving because I want to make a stop in Savannah, Georgia.
А вы поедете или полетите? – And are you driving or flying?

Когда же вы поедете в Нью-Йорк? – When will you be travelling to New York?
Я поеду в Нью-Йорк ближе к осени, но это будет рабочий отдых – I will be going to New York later this summer (lit: closer to Fall), but it will be a working vacation.

Зарплата (paycheck) that you get for the time you are on vacation is called отпускные (vacation pay). Unlike in the US, in Russia отпускные are paid before you go on vacation. I think it’s very thoughtful since you need деньги (money) to забронировать гостиницу (make hotel reservations), купить билеты (buy tickets), and, unless you are at a пансионат (all-inclusive resort), pay for еда (food), развлечения (entertainment), экскурсии (tours). But even with an all-inclusive deal, you need money to buy сувениры (souvenirs).

But what if you don’t plan on travelling anywhere for your vacation this year? If you are staycationing, then you can just say я проведу отпуск дома (I am spending my vacation at home). Which sounds pretty boring, so you need to emphasize all the cool things you’re going to do:

Я собираюсь провести весь отпуск дома. Буду ходить в бассейн с детьми, в кино. Каждый выходной буду на даче, шашлыки жарить, в озере купаться. Обязательно на рыбалку съезжу и в лес, за ягодами. По дому дела сделаю, в гостиной побелю и новые обои наклею.

I am going to spend vacation at home. I will go to the pool with the kids, to the movies. Every weekend I will be at my dacha, grilling, swimming in the lake. Definitely will go fishing and berry picking in the woods. I’ll get a few things done around the house, whitewash and wallpaper the living room.

А как вы обычно проводите отпуск? (How do you usually spend your vacations?) Whatever you do, хорошего вам отдыха (have a great vacation!)