{"id":1275,"date":"2010-08-20T08:00:45","date_gmt":"2010-08-20T08:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=1275"},"modified":"2014-07-17T13:30:49","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T13:30:49","slug":"learning-russian-for-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/learning-russian-for-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning Russian for Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n

So far summer 2010 hasn’t been the best for travel to Russia. In addition to the usual visa-related headache,\u00a0we have a\u00a0heat wave, drought, wildfires, hurricane-force winds,\u00a0and low air quality because of all the fires.\u00a0\u00ab\u0422\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0435 \u0432\u043e\u0442 \u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u0444\u0438\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0435.\u00bb <\/strong>[Such rubbish summer.] A once-popular and often-cited line from an old song –\u00a0\u00ab\u0443 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044b \u043d\u0435\u0442 \u043f\u043b\u043e\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [nature doesn’t have bad weather] – might finally be put to rest.<\/p>\n

While we hope and pray that this\u00a0unfortunate streak stops soon and Russians get some much-needed\u00a0\u00ab\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044b<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430\u00bb <\/strong>[respite], we the tourists-to-be and the learners of Russian, have been given more time to learn at least some travel Russian. Today’s guest blogger did not have any extra time though and had to travel to Ukraine on a short notice. Ukraine, by the way, is one of the countries where knowledge of Russian can be especially handy.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a>Mark Resnicoff is a freelance writer and photographer <\/a>living in a small city northwest of Detroit, Michigan. He traveled to Ukraine in 2006 to visit Kiev and Chernobyl, which is his obsession. Mark provides updated information about Chernobyl in his website\/blog <\/a>and will visit the area again in October to work on a personal project. This is his story (and pictures).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Have you ever traveled to a foreign country and couldn\u2019t speak their language (or very little of it)? The last time I did this was \u00ab\u0447\u0435\u0442\u044b<\/span>\u0440\u0435 \u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0430 \u043d\u0430\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u00bb<\/strong> [four years ago] when I took a short trip to Ukraine. The main purpose of this trip was to visit \u00ab\u0427\u0435\u0440\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u044b\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [Chernobyl] (a subject for a future post), but I also wanted to see \u00ab\u041a\u0438<\/span>\u0435\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [Kiev] because \u00ab\u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u044f<\/span> \u043c\u043e\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/span> \u043e\u0442\u0446\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [my father\u2019s family] came from there.<\/p>\n

I find it fascinating how the Russian and Ukrainian languages are uniquely intermingled in Kiev. This is not only because Kiev was \u00ab\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0446<\/strong>\u0430 \u0431\u044b<\/span>\u0432\u0448\u0435\u0439 \u0441\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u0440\u0435\u0441\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0431\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [the capital of a former Soviet republic], but also due to \u00ab\u0440\u0430\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [the city\u2019s location] along a divide between the country\u2019s Ukrainian-centric west and it\u2019s more Russian-dominant east and south.<\/p>\n

My trip was planned hastily, so I didn\u2019t have much time to learn a language. I had previously tinkered with Russian since it can be used in many countries, but never seriously studied the language. The best I could do before my trip was learn \u00ab\u043a\u0438\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u043b\u0438\u0446<\/strong>\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [the Cyrillic alphabet] and a few key \u00ab\u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432<\/strong>\u0430<\/span> \u0438 \u0444\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0437<\/strong>\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [words and phrases].<\/p>\n

My adventure really began after getting through customs \u00ab\u0432 \u043c\u0435\u0436\u0434\u0443\u043d\u0430\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e\u043c \u0430\u044d\u0440\u043e\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0442\u0443<\/span> \u041a\u0438<\/span>\u0435\u0432\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [at Kiev\u2019s international airport]. Since I couldn\u2019t speak Russian or Ukrainian, I arranged with my hotel to have a driver meet me at the airport. That was smart because I was able to ignore the throngs of obnoxious cab drivers throwing themselves at all the unsuspecting tourists.<\/p>\n

Behind the exuberant crush of humanity, I spotted a heavy-set man holding a sign with my name. I quickly discovered that my driver, as well as most people in Kiev, did not speak English. Therefore, we had \u00ab\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0445<\/strong>\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0434\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0432 \u0446\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0440 \u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [a very quiet ride into the city center]. I felt myself \u00ab\u043d\u0435\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [awkward], but at least I knew he would get me to my hotel.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to know another language to enjoy a good \u00ab\u043f\u0430\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u00bb<\/strong> [parade]. Central Kiev\u2019s Khreschatik Street is closed to automobile traffic on most weekends. I did not know it at the time, but this parade of high school students was part of the city\u2019s \u00ab\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0415\u0432\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043f\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [Day of Europe] and \u00ab\u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0437\u0430\u0449\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044b \u0434\u0435\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [Day of Protection of Children] celebrations.<\/em><\/p>\n

Due to spending time in Chernobyl, I only spent one full day in Kiev, but made the most of my time by seeing as many sights as possible, including Khreschatik Street, St. Michael\u2019s Monastery, St. Catherine\u2019s Cathedral, St. Andrew\u2019s Church and several public squares.\u00a0 However, it was difficult not being able to speak with people.<\/p>\n

Yes, I was able to read some signs and buy a few things in the shops, but it was awkward at best, and to be honest, somewhat \u00ab\u0437\u0430\u0442\u0440\u0443\u0434\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d<\/strong>\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [embarrassing].\u00a0 Overall, I had a good time, but the experience taught me that \u00ab\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e, \u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> \u043b\u0443<\/span>\u0447\u0448\u0435 \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043d\u043e\u043c \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a\u0435<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0435\u0449\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0438 \u0438\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0433\u043e\u0441\u0443\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [of course, it is always better to speak the native language when visiting a foreign country].<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0411\u0435\u0441\u0441\u0430\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0431\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u0440\u044b<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [Bessarabsky Market] in central Kiev. Everything looked so good. I remember seeing the meat counter, but didn\u2019t know it was \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0430\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [lamb]. I was able to sound out the word on the sign, but did not have a \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [dictionary] with me.<\/em><\/p>\n

I will be returning to Kiev and Chernobyl this October for a longer visit. I can only imagine how being able to interact with people will make this trip so much better and completely different than the last one. \u00ab\u042f \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u043e\u0433\u0443<\/span> \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043e\u0432<\/strong>\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0438<\/strong>\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0430 \u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043c \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [I may not be fluent in Russian], but at least this time I will be better prepared.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00ab\u0410\u043d\u0434\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0435\u0432\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0441\u043f\u0443\u0441\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [Andrew\u2019s Descent], also known as Andriivsky Uzviz, is one of the oldest streets in Kiev and a great place \u00ab\u043a\u0443\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u0441\u0443\u0432\u0435\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [to buy souvenirs] from local artists that line \u00ab\u0431\u0443\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [the cobblestone road]. As I walked down this street toward \u00ab\u041f\u043e\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u043b \u0440\u0430\u0439\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [the Podil district], I wondered if I was tracing the steps \u00ab\u043c\u043e\u0438<\/span>\u0445 \u043f\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [of my ancestors]. I must remember to stop by \u00ab\u0434\u043e\u043c \u041c\u0438\u0445\u0430\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0430 \u0411\u0443\u043b\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u043a\u043e\u0432\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [the Mikhail Bulgakov house] (now a museum) located on this street when I am in Kiev this October.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

So far summer 2010 hasn’t been the best for travel to Russia. In addition to the usual visa-related headache,\u00a0we have a\u00a0heat wave, drought, wildfires, hurricane-force winds,\u00a0and low air quality because of all the fires.\u00a0\u00ab\u0422\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u0432\u043e\u0442 \u043b\u0435\u0442\u043e \u0444\u0438\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0435.\u00bb [Such rubbish summer.] A once-popular and often-cited line from an old song –\u00a0\u00ab\u0443 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0434\u044b \u043d\u0435\u0442 \u043f\u043b\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0434\u044b\u00bb [nature…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":1282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[7828],"tags":[10802,1131,1211,1248,10800,10801,7604],"class_list":["post-1275","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-for-beginners","tag-kiev","tag-learning-russian","tag-russia","tag-russian-language","tag-travel-to-russia","tag-travel-to-ukraine","tag-ukraine"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1275"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6195,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1275\/revisions\/6195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}