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A few qeusitons about russia Goto page 1, 2  Next

Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian Contexts, Myths and Truths

Author	Message
baumjoe Just Starting Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Location: USA california	Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 1:46 pm    Post subject: A few qeusitons about russia So ever since the book trilogy night watch, day watch, and dusk watch came to the states I have been really interested in learning more about its culture and hopefully being able to come visit Russia at some point. So one of the questions I have is what is traditionally had with Russian vodka? Also do you recommend learning to speak a decent amount of Russian before going? or can I get by with out it? Ok this question is for people who's first language is not Russian. Do you think it was harder to learn than say other languages like Spanish? And what would be the best way to go about learning it. thanks in advance.
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Generation-P WayToRussified Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 316 Location: SHE WENT TO BARCELONA!	Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:04 pm    Post subject: Have you checked the food section already? There are some good appetizers to go with vodka http://www.waytorussia.net/WhatIsRussia/RussianFood/Appetizers.html Learning decent amount of Russian is what I'd recommend. You'll get much more from your trip if you learn the alphabet. If you have time you should also try to learn handwriting, not just capital letters. Ni pukha, ni pera!
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jo-jo-7 Just Starting Joined: 16 Mar 2010 Posts: 6	Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:32 pm    Post subject: Generation P wrote: Have you checked the food section already? There are some good appetizers to go with vodka http://www.waytorussia.net/WhatIsRussia/RussianFood/Appetizers.html Learning decent amount of Russian is what I'd recommend. You'll get much more from your trip if you learn the alphabet. If you have time you should also try to learn handwriting, not just capital letters. Ni pukha, ni pera! I could do most of it except the tongue and the herring, which is probably the most popular among the Russians. I eat pickles all the time. Love them. I could do that with the Russians. Got a question, does the women drink with the men too or do they drink with other Russian women only? If you are invited over to someones home for dinner, would it be an insult not to eat something I didn't like that was served, such as the herring?
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gomer WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 445	Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:41 pm    Post subject: Re: A few qeusitons about russia baumjoe wrote: Also do you recommend learning to speak a decent amount of Russian before going? or can I get by with out it? Yes and yes. The trip will be more enjoyable if you learn some Russian but you can survive with a good dictionary or phrasebook.
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karnot Frequent Guest Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 10	Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:52 pm    Post subject: These days you can probably find some english speaker on the streets rather easily, if you REALLY need something.
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Daria Lounge Wizard Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 1146 Location: Canada	Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:23 pm    Post subject: karnot wrote: These days you can probably find some english speaker on the streets rather easily, if you REALLY need something. The last time I was in Moscow, I got lost in Metro. I was standing there, soooo lost and confused, I didn't know where to go or what to do....And I'm Russian russian. I was born in Russia. Anyway, so I'm standing there, the next thing is there is an old old man in front of me, asking me IN ENGLISH!!!! " Do you speak Endlish?? Are you lost ??" I answered in ENGLISH, " Yes I speak English, I'm looking for a station so and so.." The old man pushed me towards the train, then to the cross walk, next train, stairs, train, walk...etc. It took a second for him to get me where I needed to go. While "walking" me, the old man was reading Russian poems in English. I recognized Pushkin and others.... Gosh. So, as soon as we reached my station, he looked at me and said, " Here you are, this is your station, exit is there FIVE HUNDRED RUBLES PLEASE!!!. Hey, dedyshka, spasibo ( thanks), hear is a "hundred", nice work.
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Generation-P WayToRussified Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 316 Location: SHE WENT TO BARCELONA!	Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:33 am    Post subject: jo jo 7 wrote: I could do most of it except the tongue and the herring, which is probably the most popular among the Russians. I eat pickles all the time. Love them. I could do that with the Russians. Got a question, does the women drink with the men too or do they drink with other Russian women only? If you are invited over to someones home for dinner, would it be an insult not to eat something I didn't like that was served, such as the herring? Vodka is usually mostly consumed by men. Women usually drink wine, red, white or sparkling. I don't think that it would be heavy insult if you wouldn't eat something. Here the age of your host might be a big role, what elder your host is, the more sad she gets if you don't eat everything possible till you burst. Russians usually show their feeling and emotions very open, don't argue heavily with them, it'll go by. I still remember when after eating ONLY two full bowls of borshch, I got complaints about not eating enough and very upset whispers "nu tebe nadoelo"...
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surfguy Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6979	Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:37 am    Post subject: all the women I was with all drank cognac...lots of it...and whiskey with tea
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Generation-P WayToRussified Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 316 Location: SHE WENT TO BARCELONA!	Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:53 am    Post subject: yeps, surfguy, those drinks are to... drink!! Also whiskey or rum with tea are good. I know one Russian girl who is so obsessed with Martini, but they are both good company, so I have no reason to complain
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nikir Frequent Guest Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Posts: 54	Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:53 am    Post subject: jo jo 7 wrote: I could do most of it except the tongue and the herring, which is probably the most popular among the Russians. Tongue is a delicacy, and in my family it is unthinkable to drink vodka without herring. Salted herring with onion, egg, mayonnaise and black bread.
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jo-jo-7 Just Starting Joined: 16 Mar 2010 Posts: 6	Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:40 am    Post subject: nikir wrote: jo jo 7 wrote: I could do most of it except the tongue and the herring, which is probably the most popular among the Russians. Tongue is a delicacy, and in my family it is unthinkable to drink vodka without herring. Salted herring with onion, egg, mayonnaise and black bread. What does herring taste like? Is it similar to salmon? I am afraid that I might insult someone if I don't eat all my food. I am not a big eater. A friend of mine in NY invited me to their home for Christmas because I could not leave my demanding job for one day and they are 100% Italian. I have never seen so much food. Her father put 5 big tiger shrimp (the size of my hand) on my plate and he sat next to me watching me eat them. I only ate 2 because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat dinner if I ate the rest, well he looked at me with this evil eye and I got a little scared so I finished my shrimp, he said GOOD, and he put more on my plate.. . I have never ever ate that much food in my LIFE! I had to force my dinner down my throat, chasing it with wine. Afterwards, I got so tired from all the food that I fell asleep in one of their chairs in the living room. Besides everything, I had a great time.
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surfguy Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6979	Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:48 am    Post subject: Generation P wrote: yeps, surfguy, those drinks are to... drink!! Also whiskey or rum with tea are good. I know one Russian girl who is so obsessed with Martini, but they are both good company, so I have no reason to complain I like Martinis...and most Vodka drinks...I tell you the russian girls could drink...but as I mentioned before...the Tequila put everyone down for the count...they weren't used to that...and the other Russian guy...he was so tore up...totally funny!
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Generation-P WayToRussified Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 316 Location: SHE WENT TO BARCELONA!	Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:33 pm    Post subject: Oh, Jo Jo, it is not that serious. Russians may complain out loud, and then forget it. No worries but remember to make compliments about the food! If you're among young people you don't have to eat that much, young Russian girls live on salad. (Young men survive with beer, sukhariki and dried fish)
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jo-jo-7 Just Starting Joined: 16 Mar 2010 Posts: 6	Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:08 am    Post subject: I have a new question, today I met a guy from Kiev (Sasha ). What is the difference in Ukrainian and Russian language, they are the same, correct? He told me he was from the Ukraine and spoke Russian but it seemed different. When my friend speaks Russian to her mother it has a slight difference in sound compared with this guy I spoke with. I know this is crazy but I am curious, maybe it was just my imagination...
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vox16 Just Starting Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 5	Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:47 am    Post subject: jo jo 7 wrote: I have a new question, today I met a guy from Kiev (Sasha ). What is the difference in Ukrainian and Russian language, they are the same, correct? He told me he was from the Ukraine and spoke Russian but it seemed different. When my friend speaks Russian to her mother it has a slight difference in sound compared with this guy I spoke with. No they are not the same because they are different. If he speaks Russian it can be percepted differently due to regional accent or even because of individual traits of voice. Well... unless you have a strong ground to suspect that guy intentionally spoke Ukrainian to you.
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	Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian Contexts, Myths and Truths	All times are GMT + 3 Hours Goto page 1, 2  Next
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