And tell me, Sveta, do you like to go to the ballet?

Learning Russian is really fun.  I listen to audio clips on my ipod when I walk to and from work, and repeat words and sentences when I'm getting ready in the morning.

My boss is Russian.  She met her American husband in Russian, so she'll usually speak to him in Russian on the phone at work.  

She knows that I'm learning Russian, but I doubt either of us imagined I'd ever be able to understand her.  

Nothing juicy, mind you, but today there was a conversation about buying tickets (a parent-child-package) for 3 ballet concerts.  The tickets were cheap.  She will buy them.  Listen, this is what I will do.  We will go to the ballet.  Let's do it. Listen. The daughter will like them. No, I have to go.  I have a lot of work to do.  Etc.  I got the gist of the conversation, which was very exciting.  

As long as a Russian conversation has to do with meals/food, getting-to-know you, simple occupations, family and the home, or getting around town, I can recognize enough to know the general discussion topic.

On the other hand, were I to overhear a conversation discussing illness, for example, then whether I'm eavesdropping on someone's bout with flu or a broken leg, then, well, your guess is as good as mine.  Baby steps though, baby steps.

Come Visit us in Vermont!

Though I should be packing to go to Vermont, I'm doing the next best thing and writing about it!  We'll drive up from Serge's house tonight (it should take almost 7 hours!)

Funny thing too, because I've been listening to several different Russian language tapes and podcasts, and they all mention Vermont in the dialogues and vocabulary lists.  

For example, Christy tells Alseski that she is from Vermont.  She was born there and her family lives in Vermont.  She then goes on to say that her family has a house in the country (but not a dacha), but that she lives in an apartment.

Aleski asks Christy, "Does your apartment have all the modern conveniences?"  

"Yes," she says, "We have hot water, a bathroom and a toilet in our apartment!"  

"How interesting!" says Aleski.

"Come visit us in Vermont!"

Birthday candles, Korean Saunas, Chinese Food, Superbowl, and Russian friends

After our day at the Korean Sauna, we were all just far too relaxed

We also worked up an appetite for Chinese food at a buffet in Queens

It was actually an Asian Fusion buffet

They offered fresh sushi too

And just in case anyone left the all-you-can-eat buffet still hungry, we had a birthday cake for Sergey afterwards back in Brooklyn while we watched the Superbowl

Cheat Sheet

Granted I have my own personal Russian teacher--the best one could hope for--but Russian grammar is pretty complicated.  I needed backup.  

The Cherry Orchard at BAM

The performance yesterday was wonderful... intense but very moving.   Good thing I stashed tissues in my purse

Brooklyn Academy of Music.  I think this style is called "Warehouse Chic"

Talk about a multi-purpose kitchen

Believe it or not, this is my refrigerator.  On the right is a series of "humorous" postcards from the CFA institute that are supposed to help keep a light perspective about the amount of time you must commit to studying.

A New York City map (House Number and Transit Guide) of Manhattan circa 1942.

My house is covered in post-it labels.  At the bottom are the days of the week.

For those wondering, we are in the "kitchen" and now I know how to count to 10.

Yummy.

Brought to you by the letters "Ya" and "Deh"

You wouldn't believe how much I'm learning from my Russian Language podcasts (thanks to i-tunes) through these little dialogs between  Natalia Petrovna and Sergei Ivanovich (formal!) or Sveta and Boris (informal!)

New Year's Party

Just look at the expressions on the two faces.  

See the scarf? We WILL finish it soon!

Compared to another scarf.  Must be long enough to complete the "European Scarf Knot"

It needs to be just a little longer, maybe another 8-10 inches.  Then I will add the fringe.  

While I'm knitting, I like to listen to my "learn Russian podcasts."  The pattern for this scarf is super simple- cast on 40 stitches and knit two, purl two.  If you look really closely, you can see a few little places where I seem to be more successful repeating Russian words than counting my stitches.

Note, however, that success is relative, and multi-colored yarn just hides a multitude of sins. 

 До скорой встречи

Bust a move... in detail

A step-by-step visual manuel to this dance move by Serge.  Note the strong backup support here.  

The Russian Christmas Party. Too many good things going on here to count

No caption could do this picture justice.  Sergey, yellow jacket busts a move, while Serge (white shirt) cuts a rug.  I'm in the background just kind of bopping.  

This looks like a very deep moment.  Either these 2 people are plotting something sinister and scandalous, or one is learning the Russian word for "tea"

"Now... don't get too excited just yet. Wait until you see the next picture."

The fish that Serge caught was much bigger than the fish that I caught.  My fish also had leopard spots, somehow

And finally, one picture where we both look normal.

From Russia with Love

Serge got back this week from Russia... 

Date night was cooking dinner together and then to a movie

 

He brought me back a beautiful tray from Moscow in a traditional Russian style.  I love the colors!!!  Note how well it goes with the vase he got me for Christmas.

I already had the Nesting Dolls, but Serge thought they all needed some fresh air.  Look at how tiny the littlest one is- probably half the size of a baby tooth.