Russian in notes

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noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Sun, 8 Jul 2012 21:46:00 -0700

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Fun with Russian

What does friendship mean to a Russian?

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Fri, 28 May 2010 08:23:00 -0700

May, 27 2010
Svetlana Babaeva, special to Russia Now
http://rbth.ru/articles/2010/05/27/what_does_friendship_mean_to_a_russian.html

The American is used to smiling, friendly citizens, while Russians smile only to those they know very well. Since visitors in public places are not friends, there is no need to show attention to them or care. That surprises the American until he learns about Russians better.

“I never could grasp how Russians might be so different. They are so sincere and openhearted at a table or with friends and so aggressive and rude in public service offices,” said a U.S. diplomat who has been working for years in Russia, describing the typical Russian national feature.

Russians who live in the United States for decades and have an opportunity to compare national qualities say that most Americans understand the concept of friendship differently. “It is wise not to rely on your friends to help you to move and carry your furniture, while for Russians [it] is still quite natural to help this way,” said a former Soviet who has been living in the United States for three decades. He added that it is also a bad sign among Americans to present elegant and expensive gifts. Also, when an American says, “Let's get together,” he or she may or may not mean it; Russians only offer to meet when they are serious.

For an American, friendship primarily means having a nice time. It is not commonplace to complain to each other about how severe life is, as Russians do, or to rely on friends to help solve a person’s problems.

Friendship, especially in the Soviet times, was partly a substitute for dysfunctional institutions. In order to get qualified medical service, a person should have acquaintances in a good hospital; in order to get fresh fruits on a holiday table, one needs a friend in food distribution. If parents want to enroll children in a well-regarded school, they should be familiar with the director. Social networking was a crucial component for survival in the Soviet period. Doing and returning favors was one of the touchstones of the Soviet society suffering from a deficit of goods and services, even of fruit or meat.

Finding inside connections is still a vital way of dealing with life’s problems in Russia, because of the lack of both governmental efficiency and the lack of public services for all citizens. Individual Russians, and even companies, still overcome day-to-day headaches—speeding up a surgery date for a relative or paying a fine to police—with a little help from friends. A company may get better business conditions by having friends in the government agencies, while a worker may get a higher position if somebody asks on his behalf. This has little in common with the American system of writing reference letters, and reflects more the lack of functioning laws in Russian society as well as the disparity between wealthy and low-income social groups.

The Russian way does not fit well with the American credo, “The difficult we do at once; the impossible takes a little longer.” Russians often prefer tactics of circumventing the problem; they choose to pay rather than try to solve a problem they face.

Inability to solve problems makes people nervous and angry, and the level of mutual trust in the Russian society is extremely low. Yet according to surveys, Russians count on relatives, friends, the president and neighbors, which means that they do not rely on official institutions.

At the same time, Russians are used to forgiving mistakes and weakness of either friends or public institutions, and this quality reflects, ironically, a quite opposite feature of the Russian character, warmth and cordiality. Once a person has recognized another as a friend, he becomes reliable and candid for ages. They can exchange their deepest feelings and discuss all facets of their lives.

From time to time, Americans share with Russians who live in the United States their fears and concerns, not worrying about being judged as losers or wimps. Russians are used to relying on each other and see little problem if somebody shows weakness. Presumably, this stems in part from the fact that for much of its history, most of the Russian population had nothing at all, and no chance of appreciating any wealth.

American historians give one more explanation of such different understandings of friendship. In their short history, Americans have moved a lot and had little chance to establish long-lasting relationships with friends, colleagues or neighbors. They got by with having friends for fun or colleagues for work.

Finally, Russians love to talk and linger over meaningful, passionate conversation. Americans try to come across as if they are always busy, especially in East Coast cities. They spend 50 minutes at lunch and run back to their routine. Russians can spend hours having dinner if they run into an interesting conversation or company. No waiter will bring a check until he is asked. Cafes and restaurants in Russia are not only about eating; they are about having a cordial talk.

Presumably, our ability to linger over conversation compensates for a shortage of practical achievements.

Massive waves on huge road bridge send Volgograd drivers asphalt surfing

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:02:00 -0700

Russian folk dance

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:40:00 -0700

Differences and opposites in American and Russian cultures

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:57:00 -0700

I noticed some things are quite opposite in these cultures, like these:
1. if someone works at the same job for 15 years in Russia that means he is not able to find anything better, in America that he is a loyal worker
2. in America they eat cake with a fork, in Russia with a spoon
3. and an American soup spoon is round, a Russian one is oval
4. in America they count folding fingers out, in Russia folding in
5. in America Sundays are dead and in Russai it's a day when they have fun and stores close late and by the way an american week starts with Sunday, a Russian one with Monday.
6. in Russia they regard families with 3 and more children as a very large family and people look at them with disapproval
7 in Russia teachers and doctors are traditioanlly poor, although lately it's changing (for doctors, oh, and they are all women :)
8. in America New Year is a reason to get drunk, in Russia it's a family holiday
9. American doughnuts are good cold and Russians ONLY when they are hot

I am sure I will come up with more later :)

Bortsch

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Sat, 1 May 2010 21:40:00 -0700

Most likely you heard about bortsch, a beet soup. Maybe you even have tried it. You may like it or not, but if you don't like it, then you haven't found your bortsch yet :) as so many different kinds of it are out there. Here is mine:
You will need (the quantity of the ingredients is approximate):
4-6 potatoes, 2-3 beets, 2 tomatoes, 2 zucchini, a third of a cabbage head, 3 carrots, 1 onion, meat (a chunk of beef, better with a bone and some fat), garlic if you like it.
1. Put meat into a big pan with water and leave it on the oven until it boils, probably it will be after about 20 minutes. As soon as it boils make the heat less and take off all the foam with a spoon.
2. While you are waiting for the meat to boil, peel and cut potatoes, beets, tomatoes, zucchini, onions and shred carrots. But don’t mix it yet.
3. Fry onion, beet and carrots with salt, garlic, pepper. Don’t burn 
4. After you have taken the foam off, put into the soup potatoes and the mix of fried onion and carrots.
5. Then shred or cut into thin pieces cabbage. Add it to the soup.
6. Add tomatoes and zucchini. You may add some spices you like, but don’t go overboard with it.
7. When serve the soup add some sour cream, it’s not that fattening really, but it makes the soup taste much better.
Note: stick to the order how you put the vegetable, because potatoes and zucchini for example have different amount of time needed in order to be cooked.

Russian salad OLIV'E

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:19:00 -0800

There is a salad, that everybody who is interested in Russian culture must try. You might not like it, but you need to know what the fuss is about. Oliv'e is mandatory for New Year's parties. Here is how to make it:
You will need:
mayonnaise you may replace it with something similar to it if you don't like it)
1 can of peas
1 jar of pickles
4-5 potatoes
4-5 eggs
2 packs of ham
cooked chicken breast or just chicken or turkey ham (I prefer turkey ham just because it is so much easier to cook with)
You need to cut everything into pieces roughly of the same size. The main rule when you put together the ingredients is all ingredients should be in the same proportion. Right before you serve the salad, add mayonnaise or other dressing you use.

that's all what you need. Easy and cheap :). I like to use double quantity as the work will be almost the same and we will eat everything up anyway.

peas. Make sure you don't put much water from the can.

ham

and pickles.

Eggs and potatoes.

Now mix everything

and mix.

the salad :)

First Monolithic Dome Home in Russia

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:28:00 -0800

Workshop graduate builds a dome-home

Sviet Raikov, a native Russian, who attended a Monolithic Dome Workshop in 1994 and returned to Moscow with one of our Training Paks, reports the completion of a 36’ X 18’ dome home — the first of its kind in Russia!

According to Sviet, there are two bedrooms upstairs with built-in beds and desks. The staircase turns back in on itself; it uses less room than even a spiral staircase would. As one enters the home, the kitchen is on the right and the living room, with a fireplace, is on the left. To protect the home’s interior during cold winters, the entryway has a double door.

The dome is a 36’ hemisphere and is quite striking in a neighborhood of conventional homes. Its tiny United States flag on top attracts even more attention.
A new page

Sviet writes about his experiences: “You know, I had such a wonderful feeling when the Airform was inflated, it is like give birth to a baby. I know that today was open a new page of my life and lives of my friends. The couple we are making this building for said that there are a whole bunch of their friends who are excited to have domes constructed, so we are now like the concert performers playing in front of the big audience.”

“We spent a lot of time on the stairs. We had to come up with an inexpensive way to build it. Most troublesome was the railing because of the spiral form. But, as you can see we found the way and although it takes some handwork it looks beautiful and the material is not expensive.”

http://www.monolithic.com/stories/first-monolithic-dome-home-in-moscow-russia

more mushrooms

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:38:00 -0700

The picture says: "Son, that wasn't опята (agaric honey)". Certain mushrooms may cause hallucinations, like fly agaric is used for this purpose. You may read about it in the book „Generation «П»“ by Viktor Pelevin, a famous modern Russian writer. He describes experience of using wild mushrooms as a drug.

Russians and mushrooms

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:29:00 -0700

The other day I was walking in a park here and right on m path I saw 5 or 7 different mushrooms, of course nobody would think go "mushroom hunting" here, so these creatures (scientists argue that it's something in the middle of animals and plants) are allowed to grow freely.
That wouldn't happen in Russia - mushrooms have a big part in Russian culture, that is they hunt for mushrooms, cook them and eat and from time to time get sick :).
Every part of this (except for getting sick) is like a poem.
I'm talking about wild mushrooms - cep (or better white mushroom (белый гриб) how it's called in Russian, saffron milk cap (рыжик), chanterelle (лисичка), agaric honey (опята), russule (сыроежка) and so on. The mushroom you know it's champignon and it doesn't deserve a poem, it has no aroma, no character, no taste.
Picking up mushrooms is called "hunting". Families or friends get together and go hiking for the whole day. The prize is - the biggest white mushroom, which is supposed to be the best (it has more proteins than meat), or just any biggest mushroom. It is really captivating, as sometimes it's not that easy to notice a mushroom somewhere under leaves. But what a joy to run against a place where mushrooms sprang around within last several days (they grow VERY fast), then you will be done for the day!
They boil, fry, dry, salt, marinate mushrooms. There is a mushroom soup, a mushroom pie, fried mushrooms, marinated mushrooms and so on.
So, when you are in Russia go to mushroom hunting with your Russian friends, it will be an experience for you :).

Russian movies

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:00:00 -0700

I just watched an American movie White nights with Michkial Barishnikov, the movie, actually, is stupid, but I still like it, hard to explain, maybe because there was Barishnikov...

Anyway, the movie reminded me another movie - a Russian one - with more or less the same plot, but much much more closer to the reality and much smarter, East-West, a great movie! You just have to see it, although it's drama and the end is kinda not happy. The actors are great, if the name Oleg Menshokov says nothing to you, maybe you heard of the French actress Catherine Deneuve.

As I am speaking about Russian movies, I also want to recommend another Russian film - Heart of a dog (Собачье сердце) by Michkail Bulgakov. The book is a masterpiece and the movie is like the book. That rare happens when a movie is not worse then a book and here is the case.

And if you want to learn more about Russian revolution, watch the American movies the Reds, it's a true story about John Reed, an only American buried next to the Kremlin wall. Isn't it something?
All above-mentioned movies are about dark side of communism in Russsia, after having watched these movies you will learn a lot about Russia and its history, all these movies worth watching, probably just White nights is not the best.

Here you may read more about these movies and buy them if you want.

Russian superstitions

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:09:00 -0700

If you have a Russian friend, especially if it is woman, then you are aware that Russians can be very superstitious. I see superstitious as rituals that help people feel more confident in their sometimes not very cosy world. You can't attribute to ignorance or illiteracy as Russian in their majority are quite educated.

Russian superstitions are more like a conduct of behaviour when you pass to others that you know "the rules" and consequently there will be nothing unexpected.

Well, it's just my point of view... Anyway, you may find it useful to get familiar with some Russian superstitions:

Do not shake hands over the threshold.

Sit down for a minute before a journey.

If you return home because you have forgotten something, look into the mirror before leaving again.

Do not put keys on the table.

If you wipe breadcrumbs off the table with your hands, you’ll have no money.

Don’t put a ruler on the bed: it means death.

Put out a candle with two fingers; don’t blow it out.

Open scissors or an open safety pin means a quarrel.

Wipe the floor away from the threshold, not toward it.

When you can’t find something, tie a kerchief (preferably red) to the leg of the table and call the house spirit for help.

A broken mirror means disaster.

If you have itchy palms, it means money: if the right palm itches you will get money; the left palm means you will give money.

If you step on somebody’s foot, it means trouble. The person should step back on your foot to avoid it.

Only spit over your left shoulder. Over your right shoulder is your guardian angel.

To protect yourself from the “bad eye,” wear metal.

A thread on a girl’s dress means she will get married.

If a knife falls from the table, a man will come; if a fork falls, the guest is a woman.

If you don’t recognize somebody, he’ll be rich.

When giving an empty vessel (cup, bowl) as a gift, put a chocolate or a coin inside so as not to give something empty.

Always give an uneven number of flowers.

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:16:00 -0700

It was said a lot about Russian smile, its absence to be more exact. Maybe you heard the Russian proverb Смех без причины - признак дурачины (a laughter without reason is a sign of insanity).

Russians find American smile insincere, they can’t get used to it and because of that they don’t like it. They regard American smile artificial as Russian put a lot of meaning in their smiles. Satirist Zadornov called the American smile “chronic,” another satirist Zhvanetskiy described it as a person is plugged into an electrical outlet.

Russian don't realize that a smile for Americans is not only a showing of joy, but rather it can be a sign of politeness. It may sound strange for you, but in certain situations you'd better not smile in Russia, as you would be regarded not serious and it's a big flaw!

I, myself, don't like when a person smiles at me when I see he or she doesn't like me or doesn't care about me at all.

From another side I see nothing wrong in smiling when someone is trying just to be polite. What I really don't like it's to smile when I don't feel like it, I still smile as I am trying to be a polite person but it makes me feel uncomfortable.

Comedians

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Thu, 9 Jul 2009 22:44:00 -0700

Today first time in my life I went to a comedy show, it was interesting and funny, though a lot of jokes as they say in Russian ниже пояса (literally below the waist, that is crude). Well, such jokes easy to make. So I thought what about Russian comedians? Above you see my favorite guy Michkail Zadornov, he is pretty funny and his jokes are smart, and the guys you can see below are just hilarious - Yurii Stoyanov and Ilya Oleinikov, they created their own show Городок (Gorodok), which they have for a long time and it is still funny! Their show you may see with English subtitles in case you don't understand Russian.

Ice Sculpture festival in Novosibirsk.

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Thu, 9 Jul 2009 16:46:00 -0700

Travelling

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Thu, 9 Jul 2009 12:09:00 -0700

Soon I will go on a trip, I love travelling like all Russians. It's a usual question - Where are you going to spend your vacation this year? - in the first part of a year and Where have you spent your vacation? in the second part of a year.

Travelling became part of your image, if you spend your vacation at:

at home - everybody is speechless

dacha (country house) - you are too boring or too poor;

in the south of Russia or Ukraine - you are either very young or weird

in Turkey, Egypt - it's ok, but not more

Greece, Israel, European countries - you have been to Egypt and Turkey and now you may spend more money

United Arab Emirates, Malta, South or North America - you have money

India, Thailand - you are a little bit adventurous

So, those who have a lot of money, they have a hard time to think of a place to show their wealth, and those who don't have money have a hard time to hide it.

I heard there is such company that offers a very interesting kind of services - they would create a vacation for you. They will make photos of you sitting on a camel, standing next to a pyramid or whatever. They will tell you about this place and a hotel you "have lived" so you would feel like you were there! They even can fabricate курортный роман (a resort flirt). Wow. As they say in Russia - имидж всё (image is everything).

You know you have been in Russia too long when ...

noreply@blogger.com (Russian) — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 21:59:00 -0700

You save table scraps for the cat(s) living in the courtyard.

When crossing the street, you sprint.

In winter, you choose your route first by determining which icicles are least likely to impale you on the head.

You hear the radio say it is just at or below freezing outside and you think it might be nice day for a change.

You actually know and care who won the last Spartak soccer match.

You win a shoving match with an old Babushka for a place in line and you are proud of it.

You hesitate to put on your seat belt to avoid offending the taxi driver and the impending 5 minute conversation to explain why you are putting it on.

You look at people's shoes to determine where they are from.

You "automatically" hand in your pepper spray at the door before going through the metal detector.

You notice that Flathead's cell phone is smaller than yours and you're jealous.

Your day seems brighter after seeing that Goon's Mercedes run into by a pensioner's "Moskvich".

You are thrown off guard when the doorman at the nightclub is happy to see you.

Your not sure what to do you when the "Gai" only asks you to pay the official fine.

You wonder what the tax inspector really wants when she says everything is in order.

You give a 10% tip only if the waiter has been really exceptional.

You plan your vacation around those times of the year when they turn off the hot water.

You're offended when your American friend gives you a "dozen" roses.

You are relieved when the guy standing next to you on the bus actually uses Kleenex.

You are envious that your expat friend has smaller door keys than you.

You ask for no ice in your drink.

When you develop a liking for beets.

When you eat hot dogs for breakfast.

When you begin to socialize with your driver and/or your cleaning lady.

When you know what Dostoyevsky's favorite color was.

When you drink the brine from empty pickle jars.

When you start shopping for products by their country of production

When you go for a walk in the park, Baltika in hand, and its -8 and snowing.

When it doesn't seem strange to pay a the GAI of $2.25 for crossing the double line while making an illegal U-turn and $35 for a microwaved dish of frozen vegetables at a lousy restaurant.

When you start to "feel" public transport and bridge opening schedules.

When you know more than 60 Olgas (you know one at least - it's me :) )

When you give you business card to social acquaintances.

When you wear a wool hat in the sauna.

When you put the empty bottle of wine on the floor in a restaurant.

I found this on the site http://www.ahajokes.com/ , I think it's pretty funny, and it's true!!