VIEW RUSSIA

Russian Currency

2012-10-15T02:02:00.000-07:00

The “ruble” (рубль) is an official symbol of Russian Currency. The first letter "p" is spelled as letter “r” in Russian. The coin unit under 1 ruble is called “kopek” and has the symbol “k” (100 kopecks are 1 ruble).

Above pictures are coinages using in Russia. There are one, five, ten and fifty kopecks. Next are one, two, five and ten rubles respectively. Moreover, there are some different bank notes and degrees.

Light green = 10 ruble notes

Blue = 50 ruble notes

Brown = 100 ruble notes

Purple = 500 ruble notes

Green = 1,000 ruble notes

Red = 5000 ruble notes

Russia is not a member of European Union, so they still use their own currency. If you plan to travel to Russia, you should prepare some cash in advance for any expense. In case you don’t have, at airport, there are several exchange booths provided and different ATM providers. If you’re in the city, you can also exchange it at the banks or exchange booths with better rates. They mainly accept standard currencies like dollar and Euro in general. (1 USD = 31.1670 RUB / 1 EUR = 40.0508 RUB approximately). Don’t forget to present your passport to the officer.

See how prices are written in Russian.

5,521.50 Ruble = 5,521,20p/ 5,521p20k

14,827.30 Ruble = 14,827,30p / 14,827p30k

1,792,045.75 Ruble = 1,792,045,75p/ 1,792,045p75k

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Counting Number

2012-10-04T07:06:00.001-07:00

Learning how to count Russian numbers is helpful for you when go shopping, talking about prices with seller, paying bills or doing business with Russian. It’s similar to English style of counting you only need to memorize each form of units. Let’s have a look.

First set of numbers 1-10.
1   один Adeen
2   два Dva
3   три Tri
4   четыре Chye-tir-ye
5   пять Pyat
6   шесть Shest
7   семь Syem
8   восемь Vo-syem
9   девять    Dyev-yat
10 десять    Dyes-yat

Counting Numbers 11-19 is easily by adding the word “надцать” (nadtsat) as “teen” in English after numbers.
11 одиннадцать - Adeennadtsat
12 двенадцать - Dvyenadtsat (the sound “Dva” changed to “Dvaye”)
13 тринадцать - Trinadtsat
14 четырнадцать - Chyetiryenadtsat
15 пятнадцать - Pyatnadtsat
16 шестнадцать - Shestnadtsat
17 семнадцать - Syemnadtsat
18 восемьнадцать - Vosyemnadtsat
19 девятнадцать- Dyevyatnadtsa t( the sound “Dyesyat” changed to = “Dyevyat”)

To count numbers 20-29 by adding the word “двадцать” (Dvadtsat)as “twenty” in English at the front of numbers. For example:
20 двадцать - Dvadtsat
21 двадцать один -Dvadtsat Adeen
25 двадцать пять - Dvadtstat Pyat

To count the rest of numbers also follow the same rule by adding numbers after the unit.
30 тридцать - Tridtsat
40 сорок - Sorok
50 пятьдесят - Pyatdyesyat
60 шестьдесят - Shestdyesyat
70 семьдесят - Syemdesyat
80 восемьдесят - Vosyemdesyat
90 девяносто - Dyevyanosto
100 сто - Sto ***Example: 147 сто сорок семь
200 двести - Dvesti
300 триста - Treesta
400 четыреста - Chetyresta
500 пятьсот - Pyatsot
600 шестьсот - Shestsot
700 семьсот - Syemsot
800 восемьсот - Vosyemsot
900 девятьсот - Dyevyatsot
1000 тысяча - Tysyacha
2000 две тысячи - Dve tysyachi
3000 три тысячи - Tri tysyachi
5000 пять тысяч - Pyat tysyach
6000 шесть тысяч - Shest tysyach
9000 девять тысяч - Dyevyat tysyach
16,000 шестнадцать тысяч - Shesnadtsat tysyach
21,000 двадцать одна тысяча - Dvadtsat Adna tysyacha
22,000 двадцать две тысячи - Dvadtsat Dve tysyachi
100,000 сто тысяч - Sto tysyach
200,000 двести тыся - Dvesti tysyach
1,000,000 миллион - Million
1,000,000,000 миллиард - Milliard

Let’s practice some.
300,825 = триста тысячь восемьсот двадцать пять
Trista tysyach vosyemsot dvadtsat pyat
1,987,654 = ???
3,210,521 = ???
5,989,146,023 = ???
*** Number “0” in Russian is “нуль” – null. It’s not pronounced in the number as in English.

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August-September 2012

2012-09-29T10:02:00.001-07:00

Soon after the summer has gone here comes the autumn season in town. Possibly too early than other cities in Russia or even Europe at this time. First there is rain. Just small drop of rain not very heavy like the tropical rain. But it rains, rains and rains for almost everyday. Less sun shine then the leaves turn to yellow and start falling.

In a day can be very gloomy, rainy and shiny. Temperature can be high up to 27 or drops to 5 degrees and not stable each day.

The winter clothes and accessories are back in the market and stores in the city. People are back to wear jacket, scarf and boots again. Even it’s cold but it doesn’t stop them to enjoy their holiday.

oK that’s all for today. Keep warm and take care

The Colors of Summer

2012-07-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

In summer, everything seems to be more lively more beautiful and very colorful. Love this beautiful beach at Kama river.

Russian favorite activity in summer-sunbathing

Some people go for camping in the forest.

Nice clear sky

Everywhere colorful flowers and the green grass

Last light of the day still beautiful

Vocabulary: Fruits

2012-07-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

To continue from previous post about grocery products vegetables and spices in Russian language , today I’ve listed more vocabularies about fruits. The word “Fruit” in Russian is called Фрукты (Fruki). See what they’re.

Banana - Банан - Banan

Grape - Виноград - Vinograd

Orange - Апельсин - Apelsin

Berry - Ягода - Yagoda

Cranberry - Клюква - Klyookva

Blueberry - Черника - Chernika

Blackberry – Ежевика - Ezhevika

Cherry - Вишня - Vishnya

Strawberry - Клубника - Klubnika

Watermelon - Арбуз - Arbooz

Melon - Дыня – dinya

Avocado - Авокадо - Avokado
Kiwi - Киви - Kivi

Blackcurrant - Чёрная смородина – cheranya Smorodina

Guava – Гуава - Guyava

Prune - Сократить - Sokratiti

Plum - Слива - Sliva

Olive - Оливки - Olivkovki

Coconut - Кокос - Kokos

Mango - Манго - Mango

Pineapple - Ананас - Ananas

Apple - Яблоко - Yabloko

Corn - Кукуруза - Kookoorooza

Vocabulary: Vegetables and Spices

2012-07-07T03:10:00.000-07:00

Last week I wrote about expressions: To go shopping in Russian language . Today I’d like to add more about grocery stuff mainly on vegetable and spice terms.

Cucumber – Огурец - Ogurets

Tomato – Помидор - Pomidor

Carrot - Морковь - Morkov

Potatoes – Картофель - Kartofel

Cabbage – Капуста - Kapusta

Bean – Фасоль - Fasol

Bell Pepper - Сладкий Перец – Sladki Perets

Chinese Cabbage - Китайская Капуста – Kitaiskaya Kapusta

Eggplant – Ваклажан - Baklazhan

Cauliflower - Цветная Капуста – Tsvetnaya Kapusta

Mushroom – Гриб - Grib

Yard Long Beans - Длинные Бобы – Dlinniye Bobyi

Onion – Лук – Look

Green Onion - Зелёный Лук – Zelyoniy Look

Garlic – Чеснок – Chesnok

Lemon – Лимон - Limon

Lime – Лайм - Laim

Celery – Сельдерей - Selderey

Ginger – Имбирь - Imbir

Red Pepper - Красный перец - Krasniy perets

Turmeric – Куркума - Kurkuma

Cumin – Тмин - Tmin

Oregano – Орегано - Oregano

Parsley – Петрушка - Petrushka

Chives - Зеленый Лук – Zeleniy Look

Cardamom – Кардамон - Kardamon

Bay Leaf - Лавровый Лист – Lavroviy List

Black Pepper - Черный Перец – Cherniy Perets

White Pepper - Белый перец – Beliy Perets
Green Pepper - Зеленый Перец – Zeleniy Perets

Russian Architecture

2012-07-01T21:42:00.002-07:00

When I have free time, I like to check out new places and walk in different streets to get to know where I live.

Just apart from the main street in the city, I found this nice and cozy street hidden from the crowd.

There are many old buildings around. Looks like the state preserves it as it is. These buildings probably built since the soviet union period. It looks classic and charming which make this area very amazing.

Unlike Moscow, Perm city is a well reflection of Russia as a country with old and new in between. Where I can find modern boutiques comply with classic housing perfectly.

Cute little church, the inside was very nice but not allowed to take photo.

Last photo of the day with this beautiful flower. Good day!

Expression: To go shopping

2012-06-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

On weekend, before I go relaxing somewhere, I like to go shopping in the market to buy necessary stuff. Mainly to fill up my empty fridge for food. I normally buy meat and vegetable from this fresh market but other stuff I’ll buy from supermarket near my place.

Fresh market where I can find everything for my food.

Cheap, clean and good materials. I like it here.

Russian convenient store--there are a lot of this small shop everywhere on the street.
I came here when really lazy to go to market.

This Торгаровый Supermarket looks just like Carrefour and Tesco Lotus:)

Expressions when buying things in Russian:

Excuse me, how much does it(product) cost?

Извините, сколько это (продукт) стоит?

Isvinitye, skolko eto (prodookt) stoit?

How much does all this cost?

Сколько это всё стоит?

Skolko eto vsyo stoit?

It’s five hundred Ruble.

Это пятьсот рублей.

Eto pyatsot rublei.

Do you take credit card?

Вы принимаете кредитные карты?

Vi prinimayete kreditniye karti?

Sorry, we don’t take credit card only cash.

Извините, мы не принимаем кредитные карты.

Isvinite, mi nye prinimayem kreditniye karti.

Do you need pocket?

Вам нужен пакет?

Vam noozhen paket?

Do you have member card?

У вас есть членская карта?

Oo vas est chlenskaya karta?

Do you have change?

У вас есть сдача?

Oo vas est sdacha?

Thank you.

Спасибо.

Spasibo

You’re welcome.

Пожалуйста.

Pazhalooista.

Important vocabularies you should know:

Market - Рынок – Rinok

Shop – Магазин – Magazin

Supermarket – Супермаркет - supermarket

Product – Продукт - Prodookt

Bread – Хлеб - Khleb

Rice – Рис - Ris

Vegetable – Овощ – Ovoshch

Meat – Мясо - Myaso

Beef – Говядина - Govyadina

Pork – Свинина - Svinina

Chicken – Курица – Kooritsa

Fish – рыба - riba

Lamb – Баранина - Baranina

Seafood – Морепродукты - Moryeprodukti

Flour – Мука - Mooka

Sugar – Сахар - Sakhar

Salt – Соль - Sol

Coffee – Кофе - Kofe

Tea – Чай - Chai

Juice – Сок - Sok

Refreshment – Отдых - Otdikh

Bakery – Булочная - Boolochnaya

Sausage – Колбаса - Kolbasa

Price tag – Ценник - Tsennik

Discount – Скидка – Skidka

See more how to pronounce Russian Alphabets if you’re new to my blog. Later I’ll list more names of necessary vocabularies about food. It seems a lot already today, bye:)

What it feels like to live in Russia

2012-06-23T12:12:00.001-07:00

Now I rent an apartment in Perm city by the help of a house agent. It’s 50 Sq., 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1 living room, 1 kitchen and fully furnished. The rental fee is quite high for an average middle class like me and Russians. But I’m satisfied with the garden view and fresh air from my window.

It’s easy access to downtown. Supermarkets, parks, school, theaters are just in walking distance. For your information about residence in Russia, see what I like and don’t.

Like:

1. There are no common area expense.

2. Always find playground and recreation area nearby.

3. Free Parking Lot.

4. Easily find big units in downtown area in affordable rent.

Don't Like:

1. Most of Buildings are old (for rent) including furniture and elevators.

2. No parking area provided, if there are they are very limited. So people need to park the cars on side road or at the entrance of the buildings. It becomes problem once it gets to winter. So they need to rent or build the parking spaces somewhere else.

3. As I mentioned the rent is expensive comparing with Russian cost of living especially in real estate.

See typical Russian housing.

There are also nice and new buildings to rent but the fee is amazingly high like double.

Since Russian economy is growing, constructions are everywhere. And that makes me worry about the nice living space of what Russian have today. That’s all for today:)

Hello, I Need Help!

2012-06-19T10:29:00.002-07:00

Another very important expressions to make you survive in Russia that is how to ask people for help. There can always have any accidents or confusing happen for tourists when traveling in Russia. Because most of the guideposts are written in Russian language. Not a big problem if you are traveling in Moscow and you can use English. You can easily find people who can speak English especially students or youth. But once you travel somewhere else in other cities which is not the tourist spot. It’s quite rare to find one. Here are useful Russian expressions for you.

Excuse me, сan you help me?

Izvinite, nye mogli bi vi mne pomoch?

Извините, не могли бы вы мне помочь?

I’m lost. Where am I now?

Ya poteryalsya. Gde ya sichas?

Я потерялся. Где я сейчас?

You’re welcome.

Dobro pozhalovat.

Добро пожаловать.

You’re now at…..street.

Vi sichas na…..oolitse.

Вы сейчас на …. улице.

I’m going to (place) airport. How can I get there?

Mne nado v (mesto) aeroport. kak mne tuda popast?

Мне надо в (место) аэропорт. Как мне туда попасть?

Do you know where the police station is?

Vi znayete, gde nakhoditsa otdeleniye polutsii

Вы знаете, где находится отделение полиции?

Do you know where the bus station is?

Vi znayete, gde avtobusnaya ostanovka?

Вы знаете, где автобусная остановка?

Do you know where the hospital is?

Vi znayete, gde bolnitsa?

Вы знаете, где больница?

Do you know where is this hotel located?

Vi znayete, gde nakhoditsa gostinitsa?

Вы знаете, где находится гостиница?

You have to take the bus number….

Vam nado na avtabus….

Вам надо на автобус….

You have to get the metro line…..

Vam nado na metro linii.

Вам надо на метро линии….

From here you have to turn left, then turn right, go straight, and then you will see the metro station is across the street.

zdes vam nado povernut nalevo, zatem napravo, idite pryamo i vi oovidite cherez dorogu stantsiyoo metro.

Здесь вам надо повернуть налево, затем направо, идите прямо и вы увидите через дорогу станцию метро.

Asking about the way is most often found from tourists. If you need to know more topics, please let me know. Enjoy!

Introducing Yourself or People

2012-06-12T09:07:00.001-07:00

For anyone living aboard or new to another society, introducing yourself to other must to be the first conversation one should know. It probably was the first expression I knew and helped me survive here in Russia. I’ve listed some necessary expressions. Let see!

Hello, my name is… – zdravstvuite, minya zavut… – Здравствуйте, меня зовут...

What’s your name? – kak vas zavut? - Как вас зовут?

Nice to meet you. My name is… – ochin priyatna. minya zavut…- Очень приятно. Меня зовут…

Where are you form? – vi atkooda? - Вы откуда?

I’m from Spain. (country name) – ispaniy – Испания

What do you do for a living? – chem vi zanimayetes? - Чем вы занимаетесь?

I’m a business man. (career) – ya biznesmen. - Я бизнесмен.

How long have you been living in Russia? kak dolgo vi v Rossii? Как долго вы в России?

Where do you live? - gde vi zhivyote? - Где вы живёте?

I live in Moscow. / (City name) - ya zhivu v Moskve. - Я живу в Москве.

How old are you? - skolko vam let? - Сколько вам лет?

I’d like to introduce my friend. ya khachu predstavit moyego druga.

- Я хочу представить моего друга.

This is Anna. - eta Anna. - Это Анна.

Anna, this is… - anna, eta… - Анна, это …

Sorry, I need to leave. - izvenite, mne nado idti. - Извените, мне надо идти.

Nice to see you. - rad vas videt. - Рад вас видеть.

Hope to see you again. - nadeyus oovidet vas snova - Надеюсь увидеть вас снова.

Good bye. da svidaniya. До свидания.

See if you want to know how to say greeting in Russian. Hope it helps. Good day!

Greeting expressions

2012-06-10T01:58:00.001-07:00

You know already how to say “Привет”, "Здравствуй", "Здравствуйте" together with some conversations and how to use it. I’d like to give more expressions to say greeting. There’re many ways to say it in various cases. Here they’re.

Good morning – dobraye ootra - Доброе утро!

Good afternoon – dobriy den - Добрый день!

Good evening - dobriy vecher - Добрый вечер!

Good Night – spakoynoy nochi - Спокойной ночи!

How’s things? – kak dela? - Как дела?

How’re you? (with an acquaintance/same age/junior) – kak pazhivayesh? - Как поживаешь?

How’re you? (many people/senior/an unacquaintance) – kak pahzhivayetye? - Как поживаете?

How to reply:

Fine, Good, Great, Terrific, It’s ok - kharasho- Хорошо

Wonderful – zdorova - Здорово

so so – nichyego - Ничего

Not bad – nyeplakho - Неплохо

Not very good – ne ochen kharosho - Не очень хорошо

See you later – oovidemsya pozzhe - Увидемся позже

Nice to see you - rad tebya videt - Рад тебя видеть

Thank you (very much) – spasiba (bolshoye) – Спасибо (Большое)

Bye, Good Bye – paka, da svidaniya – Пока, До свидания

That’s all necessary expressions in greeting. Enjoy!

How to say "Hello"

2012-06-07T12:46:00.001-07:00

Previously, I wrote about how to greeting people with those you have close relationship with. You’ve learned to say “Привет” Now in formal form, there’re 2 words to be used.

1. здравствуй – to use with a person and only with an acquaintance, same age.
Example: I meet a colleague somewhere, and I want to say greeting to him.

Hello Ivan!
zdrфvstvui, Ivan
Здравствуй, Иван!

Hello Tran! How’re you?
zdravstvui, kak pahzhivayesh?
Здравствуй Тран! Как поживаешь?

I’m fine. Thank you.
Oo menya kharasho. spasiba.
У меня хорошо. Спасибо.

2. здравствуйте – to use with many people/ with a person who is senior than you / with an unacquaintance.
Example: I meet my teacher from high school. I’m glad and I want say greeting to her.

Hello, Irina Ivanovna.
zdravstvuite! Irina Ivanovna
Здравствуйте! Ирина Ивановна

Hello, Tran. How’re you?
zdravstvuite, Tran. kak pahzhivayetye?
Здравствуйте, Тран. Как поживаете?

I’m fine. Thank you.
oo menya kharasho. spasibo.
У Меня хорошо. Спасибо.

That’s some easy form use of how to say greeting. You can already say Hello to Russian. I hope you try:)

How to say "Hi"

2012-06-06T11:03:00.001-07:00

I’d like to make my blog more useful for anyone who has the interest to speak Russian language. Basically based on situations in my daily life. I try to make it precisely and easily to understand. I also provide Russian text together with English. So that you can practice reading in the same time.
My situation is I met my friend Natalia by chance yesterday. Here what I said!

Hi, Natalia!
privet, Nataliya!
Привет, Наталия!

Hi, Tran! How're things?
privet, Tran! kak dela?
Привет, Тран! kак дела?

I’m fine. Thank you, and you?
oo menya kharasho. spasiba. ah oo tebiy?
У меня хорошо. cпасибо. a у тебя?

Note: This conversation is an informal form. Normally use with people you’re close with like family or friend. You might want to say something else like:

How have you been up to?
chto ti delayesh?
Что ты делаешь?

I’m studying Indian language.
ya oochoo indianskiy yask.
Я учу индийский язык.

I changed my job.
ya pamenyal svayoo rabotoo.
Я поменял свою работу.

How’s your work?
kak tvoya rabota?
Как твоя работа?

I just had promotion.
oo menya vot povyisheniye.
У меня вот повышение.

Nice to see you.
rad tebya videt.
Рад тебя видеть.

See you again later, take care.
oovidemsya skoro opyat.
Увидемся скоро опять.

Bye.
poka.
Пока.

Hope you’re enjoy practicing, Пока!

Art and Culture: White Night

2012-06-04T08:55:00.001-07:00

The handmade Matroska doll

This weekend I had the chance to visit “White Night Festival” in Perm city. It’s annual event held in June every year. The name “white night” in Russia is well-known as the period of time between June-August which is summer time. The day time is longer than night such other cities as St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk or Murmansk. At this period in Perm city, the day time is last until 10 pm. It is typical phenomenon in northern countries which located near the north pole.

So people have more time to enjoy their activities, so do I!

The “White Night Festival” has the aim to promote city tourism. Focusing on art, creativity and culture. Where you can find wood carving sculptures, handmade products, contemporary arts, paintings, shows and good music.

The highlight of the event is the sand sculpting exhibition. There are more than 20 giant sculptures shown along the area. It’s crazy beautiful!

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Russian Recipe: Борщ (Soup Borshch)

2012-06-02T03:15:00.001-07:00

Soup Borshch as I’ve mentioned earlier is another traditional and popular soup among Russian. Nothing is better than hot soup in the cold winter. It’s also good for health. If you’re looking for diet food. It’s your choice. If you’re vegetarian just don’t add meat. Easy cooking, you probably find necessary materials in your fridge.

Ingredients: (for serving 3-4 people)
2 medium boiled beetroots, cut into 1 inch thick
1 large onion, medium dice
1/2 pounds of beef, cut into 1/2 x 1 inch thick
1 cup diced carrot
2 cups sliced cabbage
1/2 can black beans, rinsed (optional)
2 boiled tomatoes/ canned tomatoes, peeled and diced
2 medium tomatoes, medium dice
6 cups of water
1 1/2 tbsp. vinegar/ juice of 1 lime, or to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 bay leaf
1/2 tea spoon black pepper (optional)
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. salt to taste
1 tbsp. sugar to taste
1/2 cup drill
1/2 cup parsley, slightly dice
1/4 cup sour cream

How to cook:
1. To prepare the beef broth, boil the water ( I use soup pot) then put the meat, onion, dill, bay leafs, black pepper and boil it into medium heat.
2. When it simmers, turn the heat down to low, let it boiled about 1½ hrs.
3. While waiting, cook beetroots, tomatoes in frying pan with vegetable oil. Add water, vinegar/lemon juice and mix it well. let it simmers then turn to low heat. Stir it occasionally and wait for about 1 hr.
4. When the beef broth almost ready, in another pan,
fry garlic, cabbage, potatoes and sautéd it until tender (add some water if needed)
5. Put the cooked cabbage and potatoes to the broth, wait for another 15 min.
6. Lastly, add the cooked beetroot&tomato to the pot, season it with salt and pepper, mix it well and it’s done!.

When serving, garnished the soup with sour cream, add the parsley/dill/chives on top. Serve together with original Russian black beard or any beard you prefer. Enjoy!

Russian Recipe: Beef Stroganoff

2012-05-31T11:28:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in the previous post (Russian Cuisine). I’d like to show my favorite menu. And here it is, beef stroganoff!

It’s one of a traditional Russian food. Main ingredients are meat and mushroom. It tastes fantastic and smells really good. See ingredients and how to cook here.

Ingredients:
2 pound of beef
8 ounces sliced mushroom
1/2 onion sliced/diced
1 1/2 table spoons all-purpose flour
2 cups beef broth
1-2 cups sour cream
2 cloves garlic
1 table spoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup butter/margarine
salt/pepper to taste
1 table spoon sliced chives
1 cup white wine (optional but recommended >.<)

How to cook:
1. Cut beef into pieces about 1 1/2 inches thick
2. Salt&pepper it.
3. Pour vegetable oil in a pan and cook meat with the high heat until brown.
4. Take off meat and reserve in a plate.
5. Turn the heat down into medium then cook mushroom, garlic, sliced onion in butter.
6. Once those are tender put garlic and flour, stir it and mix it well.
7. Put white wine and beef broth then mix it.
8. Put back the meat to the pan and stir it.
9. Put salt& paper to taste
10. When it simmers, turn the heat down to low and wait for 40 min.-1 hr.
11. Put the sour cream and mix it well.
12. Serve it with mashed potatoes as traditional or with noodle/ rice as you prefer and a little of sour cream on top with chives then you’re done.

Let’s try and you’ll like it I bet.

Cuisine

2012-05-30T10:14:00.001-07:00

     Russian food and general materials in cooking are the same as other European recipes. Mainly are soup, stew and bake. Here is some traditional soup very popular among Russian - Борщ (Soup Borshch).



     Very interesting that russian likes to eat preserved food a lot! That’s because of long winter, farmers can produce and sell fresh food only in a very short period. You can easily find tasty homemade food like pickled vegetable or jam in every local market.

Homemade jams:

      In supermarket also you’ll see a lot of canned food on shelves. If you look for seafood or fish, they’re mostly in frozen food in packs. Some fresh food also imported from china and aboard in winter.

Pickled mushroom:

     Actually I’ve 1 favorite recipe I’d like to show. It tastes really good. I’ll cook and will show you all necessary ingredients in next post. Bye for now. Enjoy your dinner.

Vowel, Stress Mark, Sound Change

2012-05-29T05:11:00.001-07:00

Vowel plays an important role in pronouncing. There will always have a stressed syllable in a word (with more than 1 syllable). You’ll pronounce it strong and clear than others. This is interesting because.

Example:

“ДОМА” read “DOMA” has the stressed mark at the first syllable, means “at home”

While this same word with different stressed mark, gives a different meaning.

“ДОМА” read “DAMA” , means “many houses”

The place where stressed vowel appears also causes sound change.

For example, vowel “E” (ye) pronounces as vowel “Э” (eh) in this word “ГАЗЕТА”,

where the stressed vowel appears in the middle syllable.

And, If there is the unstressed vowel appears no matter how many syllables, sound(s) will be changed or reduced automatically. See Russian vowels/ consonant / marks and pronouncing.

Here’s the table in brief.

*Firt Syl. = Fisrt Syllable

*Middle Syl. = Middle Syllable

*Last Syl. = Last Syllable

*After Vo. = After Vowel

*After Co. = After Consonant

Russian alphabets and sounds

2012-05-28T07:37:00.001-07:00

Russian is my third language. First came here, I was like a dumb. I couldn't speak Russian at all. And Russian people, they generally don’t speak English or other foreign’ languages. So it was quite a difficult time for me in the 1st year. Some backgrounds of why Russian do not speak English probably because:

Its biggggggggg country and long borders which made Russia very isolated from other part of the world! Imagine it must not be easy for people to travel across the country to another. No doubt If they do not know other languages. Among Russian people in each part also speak different accents. Not only that, there are over a hundred dialects used in tribes and minority. While the west mainly Englishmen have travelled around the world for trading, brought English language to everywhere.

Another important reason is that, Russian, they have their own dependence. I mean they do not rely on foreign cultures. Considering Russia is another super power back in history. Russia have been respected in trade, wealth, culture, knowledge (science&technology) and its abundant natural resources. So, there are no forces no desire for most Russian to speak English. Mainly those who work related with foreigners.

So If I want to live here I MUST speak Russia. Ok, get back to my post………. today I’d like to share a little bit about Russian alphabet and how to pronounce it. (sound like a useful and serious post this time haaaaaaa)

There are 33 alphabets, consists of 21 consonants, 10 vowels and 2 marks. Here they are.

Consonants

Letter	Sound	Sample	Pronouncing
Б , б	b	bee
B, в	v	vet
Ф, ф	f	fan
Г, г	g	gun
К, к	k	king, queen
Х, х	kh	no english eqivalent	strong “h”
Д, д	d	dog
T, т	t	ton
Ж, ж	zh,	pleasure
З, з	z	zebra
C, с	s	sing
Ц, ц	ts	that’s
Ч, ч	ch	change
Ш, ш	sh	shirt	tongue roll back inside
Щ, щ	shch	no enlish eqivalent but close to “Ш”	tongue roll more in the front and high
Л, л	l	love
М, м	m	man
Н, н	n	nut
П, п	p	apple	voiced
P, р	r	red	more strong and clear
Й, й	y	yellow	short sound

Vowels

Please note that a vowel can be changed and sound reduced upon its position and stress.

Letter	Sound	Stressed	Unstressed
А, а	ah	ah (papa)	a (papa)
И, и	ee	ee (seed)	i (sit)
О,о	au	au (door)	a (papa)
Ы, ы (no english eqivalent)	close to i(h) (teeth close)	er (umm…) when use thinking	-
У, у	oo	oo (food)	u (foot)
Э, э	eh	eh (yellow)	-
E, е	ye	ye (yeah)	ee (seed)
Ё, ё	yo	yo (yoga) always stress	-
Я, я	ya	ya (yard)	-
Ю, ю	yoo	yoo (universe)	-

Marks

Letter	Name	Example	Pronouncing
Ъ, ъ	твёрдый знак	объявление = announcement	to indicate its previous consonant in hard tone
Ь, ь	мягкий знак	счастье = happiness	to indicate its previous consonant in soft tone

Alright, seems a lot for today. Hope it’s useful for anyone who like to learn Russian language. Bye for now:)

Spring season in Russia

2012-05-25T00:32:00.001-07:00

It’s spring now since a long long gloomy winter had past. Time for me to go outside having some outdoor activities. I was amazed to see packed of people in this Park or river shore you may say. Many came to swim, some had sunbath, played volleyball. This river you're watching is Volga. It's a wonderful place for relaxing.

Oh for you info the Volga river is a largest and longest river in Russia even in Europe. It lines along 20 cities including Moscow, considering as a national river of Russia. Here are some beach+park photos in Perm city. You can see how people come to spend their time on holiday.

There was also mini concert near the park. Love it!

Also one favorite activity for Russian is kayaking. People like to go in group, take 1 day trip, it can be a week or more to travel along nice river. I’d love to go kayaking some day. At least I need to get used to with cold weather at night in Russia first>.< Here are some photos of my relative’s trip in Samara City.

Amazing isn’t it. Let’s go out and enjoy your spring time. Have a nice trip^^

City Transportation

2012-05-21T13:44:00.001-07:00

About a year, I moved from my country (Thailand) to Russia with family for work. Before I’ve lived in a city names Nizhniy Novgorod lately we moved to a another city, names Perm. It’s such a nice city with wonderful natural sights. I found that one good way to explore through any city is to travel by bicycle. It’s easy to watch, to park, to reach many places, save energy and also very good exercising.

Talking about transportation, I don’t have a car here. So if i need to go somewhere in town, public transports are my choices. It’s very convenient and incredibly cheap.

Type/Starting Fare:

(1 RUB = app. 0.0321 USD)

Buss: 12-18 RUB

Tramway: 12 RUB

No tramway service in my country , recalled me the first time on board was so excited! It’s cute, unique and very classic vehicle. (in my opinion).

Train(City Line): 15 RUB

Mainly transports people living from suburb or vicinity to town.

Taxi: 200 RUB(cross the town)

Not like in Moscow, some taxi driver can be anyone with no uniform with no specific sign like a yellow cab you’ve seen anywhere. So you must notice. If you see car parking in the side road, they can be a taxi or may be not. Just go and ask. There are no meter and no specific price up to negotiation. Please don’t be surprised if they drive so fast and do the drip turn like an actor from a movie names Taxi. It’s the unique style here;)

Ok, That’s all for today. Have good day/ good night:)

Russia in brief

2012-05-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

Russia…

- is the world largest country with its total land area about 17 million sq km., located in the northern part of Europe, shares borders with Norway and Finland in the northwest; Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania in the west; Georgia and Azerbaijan in the southwest; and Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and North Korea along the southern border.

- has largest forest reserves and its lakes contain approximately one-quarter of the world's fresh water.

- has numerous natural resources that makes Russia a leading exporter of gas and oil in global market.

- is ranking the 8th most population but less density only 8.3/km2.

- is supportive its people in knowledge. Every citizen has the right for free education. Literacy rate is at 99.4%.

Other general information:

Capital City: Moscow

Climate: Northern Continental

Population (2012 app.): 143,030,106

President (2012): Vladimir Putin

Prime Minister(2012): Dmitry Medvedev

Currency: Russian ruble (RUR)

Ethnic(s): Russian, Tatar, Ukrainian, Bashkir, Chuvash, and others

Language(s): Russian (official); more than 140 other languages and dialects.

Credits: Wikipedia.org/Infoplease.com

Great Russia in my little world

2012-05-15T23:01:00.002-07:00

This blog is more like a view or a discover of my personal life as a person newly living here in Russia. You can find some knowledge or general information needed like, Russian language communication, interesting issues and so on.

In the same time, you may find my blog more of "my story", so it can be a diary or it can be a useful sources of learning and exploring Russia (which I hope).

Please leave me some comment or particular issue you would like me to find for you. Thanks in advance for visiting my blog. Have a nice day!