learn and enjoy

Your new hobby, learning Russian

noreply@blogger.com (Irinako) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 08:26:00 +0000

The beginning of the year is auspicious for making good resolutions. Why not to decide to something really new and maybe even unexpected, something that will be not only diverting but will also enrich your experience brigning you new knowledge about this world?

I suggest learning a new language: Russian. That is good to do it with a native of Russia and it is possible without going far from your PC. Using Skype for the lessons and e-mail for getting hometasks you will acquire at least basic notions of that difficult language. Sometimes the game is worth the candle. You will discover if not the country or its litterature, but the little linguistic pleasures - for sure - when learning the similarities and differencies between two languages, getting to know if the jokes of your country and the Russian ones are the same. You will be able to find new friends. To learn Russian, that is possible!

If you are decided to profit my offer, do not hesitate to contact me via C-box chat. Please insert your name and e-mail, your address will not be visible, but I will be able to send you an e-mail clicking on your name.
Best wishes and good luck whatever you do,
Irene

My Trip to Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Irinako) — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 08:42:00 +0000

I was in Australia three times during the years 2005-2007 and despite it was so long ago I keep the most vivid memories of my trips.

I liked the sun of this country which I discovered after the frost of Russian winter: I left in the middle of January and arrived in the middle of summer there! When I first went out I did not follow the good advice to apply cream to all the open parts of my body and was burnt badly having my face turned scarlet. But the following days with cream it went better. I like dry heat and it was the case in this part of Australia where I stayed during 3 months allowed by tourist visa each visit, New South Wales. In Russia I live on the Volga river and summers are more humid here. Albury where I stayed is situated on the Murray river, the biggest of the country but it is not so large in comparison to Russian rivers. It makes incredible bends turning round the hills in which the territory abounds. The banks are covered with eucaliptus and some shrubs that I do not know the name and the numerous canoeists find sometimes their trunks on the way.

The Aussies seem to be more patriotic than the Europeans. The state flags are not so rare on their houses. And of course there are a lot of zoos only having local animals. I visited many of thems. The koalas are very funny, you will not see them moving until feeding hours. The kangaroos often live outside enclosures and you can feed them. The cockatoos can ask you your name but do not wait for them to remember it! The dingoes are often fearful but once there was a whole pack of them and they gave me challenging looks staying close to the barriers. The wombat, the biggest Australien rodent who they say may dint your car if you drive into him, is mainly a night animal and he ran away of my camera very fast so that I never could get a good picture of it.

The Aussies are very friendly people. They will show you your way, explain it in great detail, ask you about yourself...In small cities and towns the unknown people will greet you in the mornings when the streets are still desert. And they smile a lot at you what is not the case with the Russians.

I went for long walks in the different parts of Victoria and New South Wales, icluding the seashore of those states. My friend and I, we followed tourist paths of 5 and more kms going through different landskapes, all very scenic. I loved this country and even thought of settling there but the circumstances prevent me from it what I sometimes regret up till now.

The feasts go on!

noreply@blogger.com (Irinako) — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 11:00:00 +0000

According to Russian tradition Santa Claus, named Ded Moroz (Father the Frost) does not come alone but with his daughter, sometimes considered as his grand daughter, Snegourochka (a girl of snow). She helps him to entertain children and to give out the presents.

One more character often appears on the post cards - a boy New Year who often wears the costume of a cosmonaut.

More and more often they celebrate catholic Cristhmas in Russia, but the orthodox Christmas comes at the night from 6 to 7 January. That is to say that the holidays go on!

Once, in the kindergarten, I was Snegourotchka myself! But that was a long time ago.

So, Happy New Year and merry Christmas to everybody!