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starryeyed346
Frequent Guest
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Posts: 25
Location: Michigan
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 Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:43 am Post subject: american girl-russian boy |
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I only have a few questions... but ill give a brief intro because im new
To start... ill be 19 in feb.. im a classic american girl from a small town. I am totally head-over-heals for a russian boy i met randomly at a night club. He is 20, named egor. sweetest boy ever. ive never been happier or more comfortable with another human being in my entire life.
okay.... first question is this: i was invited to stay with him over new years. To me, its just new years. but to him and his parents, isnt it much bigger, like their christmas? I would like to bring something to give to his parents. a nice gesture of some sort, but i dont know where to start. Im 18- cant bring wine... i would really like some suggestions.
also.. i feel terrible that im struggling learning russian. Here he is, speaking english and russian, and knowing spanish too. and then theres me. Im really good with english, struggling with spanish, and really really REALLY struggling with russian. We've dated for about 4 months and hes tried SO hard to teach me. hes so good and patient, but im just.. not getting it. i can say i love you, tea, banana, hello, goodbye.... and thats about it. may i please have suggestions to help me learn? maybe like a tape or a book or something that made learning a little easier for the impared like me?
lets see... oh! one more. Im also struggling with a bit of a communication barrier with his parents. I was pretty much the only girl hes brought home and i had dinner with his parents, they are very nice... but there is so much silence. I jump at any opportunity to fill the space and say something kind or polite or interesting, but they dont seem to want to try that much. When they talk to eachother, its in russian, and i feel very out of the loop. I feel very awkward and uncomfortable in their home. I get the feeling that even though his parents dont dislike me... they dont like the fact that im "taking" their only son "away". I would really appreciate some advice of some sort, or maybe someone could shed some light or give me some honest criticism?
thank you very much. im just looking for information
happy holidays! |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 11:07 am Post subject: |
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Don't worry too much, give it time, lots of effort and love love love, as you would do in any relationship!
Gifts--it is customary to bring chocolate/sweets and wine when visiting a Russian home, so bring either one. Bring flowers for his mum. I don't know what might make a great New Years' gift... what would your parents like to receive for Christmas? Well, get them that.
Language--it is important that you can communicate with each other, but invest in some textbooks and tapes. Check out Amazon.com. The best is to get a set of book/s and tapes. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 11:36 am Post subject: |
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| Yes bring flowers for his Mom! |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: american girl-russian boy |
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| starryeyed346 wrote: | I only have a few questions... but ill give a brief intro because im new
To start... ill be 19 in feb.. im a classic american girl from a small town. I am totally head-over-heals for a russian boy i met randomly at a night club. He is 20, named egor. sweetest boy ever. ive never been happier or more comfortable with another human being in my entire life.
okay.... first question is this: i was invited to stay with him over new years. To me, its just new years. but to him and his parents, isnt it much bigger, like their christmas? I would like to bring something to give to his parents. a nice gesture of some sort, but i dont know where to start. Im 18- cant bring wine... i would really like some suggestions.
also.. i feel terrible that im struggling learning russian. Here he is, speaking english and russian, and knowing spanish too. and then theres me. Im really good with english, struggling with spanish, and really really REALLY struggling with russian. We've dated for about 4 months and hes tried SO hard to teach me. hes so good and patient, but im just.. not getting it. i can say i love you, tea, banana, hello, goodbye.... and thats about it. may i please have suggestions to help me learn? maybe like a tape or a book or something that made learning a little easier for the impared like me?
lets see... oh! one more. Im also struggling with a bit of a communication barrier with his parents. I was pretty much the only girl hes brought home and i had dinner with his parents, they are very nice... but there is so much silence. I jump at any opportunity to fill the space and say something kind or polite or interesting, but they dont seem to want to try that much. When they talk to eachother, its in russian, and i feel very out of the loop. I feel very awkward and uncomfortable in their home. I get the feeling that even though his parents dont dislike me... they dont like the fact that im "taking" their only son "away". I would really appreciate some advice of some sort, or maybe someone could shed some light or give me some honest criticism?
thank you very much. im just looking for information
happy holidays! |
I checked out a phrase book from my local library and it came with tapes to listen to...it is just a basic phamphlet....check your local library...also...if you bring flowers make sure you give uneven number of flowers...I have heard this several times don't bring even number of flowers, such as roses....bring her 11 roses instead of 12....hope that helps you....  |
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SPQR
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 135
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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Don't be too hard on yourself if you're finding Russian tough, because it is a very difficult language. The grammar is very complicated and it has a number of concepts that don't exist in English.
The Australian Foreign Affairs Department has a 5-level scale of how difficult a language is to learn from the perspective of a native English-speaker. Level 1 is the easiest while Level 5 is the hardest. Russian is classed as Level 4, just below Arabic and Mandarian in difficulty.
So it's tough, but don't let yourself get discouraged! It will come with work and time and practice! |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| SPQR wrote: | Don't be too hard on yourself if you're finding Russian tough, because it is a very difficult language. The grammar is very complicated and it has a number of concepts that don't exist in English.
The Australian Foreign Affairs Department has a 5-level scale of how difficult a language is to learn from the perspective of a native English-speaker. Level 1 is the easiest while Level 5 is the hardest. Russian is classed as Level 4, just below Arabic and Mandarian in difficulty.
So it's tough, but don't let yourself get discouraged! It will come with work and time and practice! |
your right on the concepts, it is hard for me to get this sometimes...even though I find the language facinating..it is a hard language to get down in such a short time... |
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SPQR
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 135
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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I know exactly what you mean... 
The first time my Russian teacher told me the difference between the perfective and imperfective forms of verbs he received a very puzzled blink in reply...   |
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starryeyed346
Frequent Guest
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Posts: 25
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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im 18... so bringing wine a little bit illegal. but i can do flowers and chocolates. what sort of flowers would you suggest? Im used to roses being such a romantic/formal gift... arent there other pretty flowers in season?
oh hehe! egor brings me flowers too... and he wanted to surprise me and bring me roses, but according to him, they didnt really have roses where he went, and so he saw this "pretty red plant" and he brought it to me. He bought me a poinsettia and his eyes were just sparkling with pride! He had no idea what it was! oh my, such a cutie! I had it in my dorm room until break and then i brought it home. my family just adores him. I really want his parents to like me too.
I think im going to go to a craft store and get like... a pretty gift basket and fill it decoratively with goodies, like chocolates and maybe tea cookies or something.
and thank you so much for all the input. ill probably mosey my way to the book store and check out the audio tapes and guides to russian |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:28 am Post subject: |
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| And teas would be good too. If you have any nice photos that you took of thier son that could be good also...even if it's a small one...just frame it and put it in the basket |
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starryeyed346
Frequent Guest
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Posts: 25
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 2:39 am Post subject: |
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| i have tooons of pictures of us, i have a lot of just him too. He carved his first halloween pumpkin with me! i have pictures of that, and pictures of him when we played catch and stuff. Picking out an appropriate photo wouldnt be hard. What size frame do you suggest? like should i make it a 4x7 or should i make it a bit smaller just to tuck in? |
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Kaltmann89
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 Dec 2006
Posts: 26
Location: Russia, Kazan city
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| Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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To the author:
What about you and your boy friend?  |
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Kesha
Talk Show Host
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 258
Location: Terrapin Station
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:33 am Post subject: |
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It's my understanding that poinsettias are very, very expensive in Russia.
Is this true? |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| starryeyed346 wrote: | im 18... so bringing wine a little bit illegal. but i can do flowers and chocolates. what sort of flowers would you suggest? Im used to roses being such a romantic/formal gift... arent there other pretty flowers in season?
and thank you so much for all the input. ill probably mosey my way to the book store and check out the audio tapes and guides to russian |
I don't remember anyone bringing flowers for the New Year's in Russian either. I don't know who came up with this stuff. Now it's too late anyway, but a box of good chocolates (Goodiva/Belgian/Russian) would do just fine. |
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starryeyed346
Frequent Guest
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Posts: 25
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:32 am Post subject: |
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thanks for all the input everyone! it was greatly helpful!
egor helped me pick out things his parents would like, i put together a gift basket of flavored tea and coffee and many types of chocolate. it was all from a cute little shop in my home town, all home-made and the coffee beans were ground in front of us. they really seemed to like it-all of it.
i tried caviar for the first time.... and cow tongue!! *insert face of terror!*
lol
i think im getting along better with his parents. its so hard to tell, because i dont understand them most of the time, but i did talk more with his mom.
more work, but its good. Lovely lovely.
 )
p.s. im not sure if poinsettia is expensive in russia or not. *shrug* he didnt know what it was, he just thought it was pretty and bought it for me- such a cutie. |
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Rick
Moderator
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Касабланка
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| Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Cow tongue is nice, save some for me.. |
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