«Утро вечера мудренее»

6.29.2010

Russians have a love affair with food. If you sit down at the table, even if your purpose is just to talk, food is offered and even forced upon you. Russian’s take great pride in being good hosts and they often take it to the extreme.

Both my host mother here, in Ufa, and my host mother from Petersburg, seem to have the same desire to fatten me up. Tatyana, in Petersburg, once told me that women should have a big bust, big hips and a big butt. Irina, my host mother here, has woken me up, after I have fallen asleep, to make me eat.

Today, we went to the house of writer, Aksakov, a contemporary of Gogol. After touring the house we listened to the works of modern poets and writers from Ufa. The tour, I completely understood, the poems were difficult to comprehend. Afterwards we went to walk on a bridge where many newlyweds place pad locks inscribed with their names on to the railings of the bridge, in hopes of a long and happy marriage. They do the same in Petersburg, where, when found, they are quickly cut off.

«Утро вечера мудренее» This is one of my favorite Russian sayings. Morning is wiser than evening. It comes from a Russian fairy-tale where a young girl with the help of her doll must outwit the witch, Baba Yaga. Russian fairytales are much like our own, there is always some lesson to be learned at the end of each tale. Just like in life, there is always a lesson to be learned, at the end of the day. I am off to bed now, because morning is wiser than evening.

Disclaimer: These are not the views of CLS, American Councils, or the State Department

While Driving, Russians have the Self-Preservation Instincts of Lemmings

6/25/2010

It’s hard to believe, I’m a fourth of the way through my time here, and it been a whirlwind. Classes have proven to be difficult but also sufficiently interesting. I’ve learned that there is a difference between Л and Ль. There is a very big difference and it requires me to perform intricate maneuvers with my tongue. I also just spent the evening reading a Russian fairytale out loud to my host family and being corrected at every turn. It’s nice to know they care that I get it right.

Now, I’m going to act like the man on the Starburst commercial, and spot a contradiction. Politeness dictates that when you walk in to a Russian house, you take off your shoes and they present you with slippers of some form. They are very fastidious about the cleanliness of their feet. My host mother made me wash mine last night before bed. Now the contradiction, public toilets are the things out of my worst nightmare. I won’t describe what I have seen, but needless to say I won’t miss it.

Now, to explain the title of my post. If you have been fortunate enough not to experience Russian driving, you are very lucky. I was in the back seat of a car that was very nearly in three accidents in the space of about five minutes. I listened to my host sister curse out the driver of the bus that decided to switch lanes while we were cruising along next to it. By the end of the drive, I was quite literally scared stiff.

This weekend will be spent studying, though I’m sure between my group and my host family, I will have some social life. I promise.

PS: What does one get, when a very tall Russian man sits in a very small Russian car?

One, very squished, Oleg Alexandrovich.

Disclaimer: These are not the views of CLS, American Councils, or the State Department

Ufa, Our Home Away From Home

6/13/2010

After a ten hour, overnight, flight from DC to Moscow, a seven hour layover in Moscow and a two hour flight on s7 airlines (Siberia Airlines), we finally arrived in Ufa, Russia. Even at eleven P.M. the sun was shining like it was noon. We were quickly put in to taxis and sent off to meet our host families. My Russian family is made up of Irina, her husband Valeree, their daughter Inna and Inna’s boyfriend Atem. They have quickly welcomed me into their home.

Yesterday, after a very good night of sleep, I spent several hours at our new campus along with the other CLS participants. There we were bombarded by information in Russian about classes, safety, and cell phones. Our language contract outlines that, we must speak Russian on all campuses, with our host family and on CLS sponsored excursions. We were also promised that we would be so mentally exhausted at the end of the day; sleep would not be a problem. What wasn’t mentioned was that even as I lay in my bed preparing for sleep my thoughts are a jumbled mess of Russian and English.

It is funny how much Russian I’ve lost since I left St. Petersburg in December and how quickly it is coming back. A word will be said around me and I suddenly remember I know that word.

Wish me luck, classes start tomorrow.

6/15/2010

The last two days have been a whirlwind. We have four classes, two per day. On Monday it was video, film, and media and Russian language. Today was phonetics (read, unlearn your bad habits in the Russian language) and grammar. I find it slightly disconcerting when, I believe that grammar will be the class I worry the least about. Thank you, Nina. This program is not designed to change the Russian teaching style to fit American standards, we have to adapt to their way of teaching. It takes some getting use to.

6/18/2010

Wednesday, we were introduced to the Russian interpretation of mini-golf. Mini-golf: small greens and impossible holes. Yesterday, Friday, we went to the theater where we watched Перебор, a play where everyone is cheating on everyone. Though some of the jokes were colloquial, most could be understood, even by us. Today, Erika, Tom and I roamed the city. We discovered this tiny Orthodox Church, which is currently under restoration. Some of the old frescos were still visible, but unfortunately time and lack of care under the Soviet Government has left them in bad shape. Hopefully given time and money, the church will be restored.

Disclaimer: These are not the views of CLS, American Councils, or the State Department

There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

The Critical Language Scholarship is a US State Department and American Councils collaboration that sends university students for an eight week intensive language program in a host country. I will be in Ufa, Russia. Ufa... somewhere west of the Urals, east of the Volga... Siberia.

Yesterday, I flew from Tampa into Washington DC for a meet and greet and orientation. This morning's talks began at 8:30 am and ended over twelve hours later. Over sixty students were taking part in the pre-departure orientation, some of us are studying in Ufa, others Kazan and a brave few are heading to Baku, Azerbaijan.

During this orientation we signed a form pledging to speak Russian exclusively, on campus, with our host families, with our peer tutors and on CLS sponsored functions. We were also assured that this endeavor would leave us exhaust at the end of every day.

Tomorrow we leave DC around 4:00 pm and land in Moscow about 10 am Friday morning. After a seven hour layover in Moscow we will continue our journey on Siberia Airlines, and arrive in Ufa about 9:30 pm.

I wish the best of luck to all students participating in the CLS scholarship programs in all languages. I especially send my best wishes to those students traveling to Kazan and Baku, who I have gotten to know over the past twenty-four hours.