Moscow

[Iceberg27]

Iceberg, I doubt if anyone has the discipline, diligence and determination to duplicate Yummy's success. All we can do is stand in awe.

I am more like you; I like to sit in the strip club, play the lazy boy and grab ass as it walks by.

What is your plan? Just to sit in strip clubs and play the lazy boy? I can't believe you Strav. Just go to a house and I hope they give you the room on roof and enjoy fucking a Russian villager girl under snow sight looking from window. By the way the strip clubs are enjoyable. I have unforgettable times in the one (I guess it's Golden Dolls) on Nevsky Prospekt just next to one of Rick's apartment.

[Stravinsky]

Of course I care you come to Russia or not because I am curious you will repeat Yummy's great success or not. (I like to motivate mongerers)

Iceberg, I doubt if anyone has the discipline, diligence and determination to duplicate Yummy's success. All we can do is stand in awe.

I am more like you; I like to sit in the strip club, play the lazy boy and grab ass as it walks by.

[Stravinsky]

I am back in the USA for a few weeks and am wondering if the situation will deteriorate to the point where I might not be able to get back in!

I hope you make it back, Jake. If the IRS finds out you overstayed your 2 week limit, VVP will be the least of your worries.

BTW--you did remember to include a "force majeure" clause in your apartment lease, right?

[YummyPL]

Dude, don't hold your breath. I am back in the USA for a few weeks and am wondering if the situation will deteriorate to the point where I might not be able to get back in! I can't believe I just said that!

Please don't say that Jake. I already have my tickets and have paid for my apartment.

[Iceberg27]

Why Iceberg, I didn't know you cared! .

Translate this and you will have your answer.

&1050; &1086; &1075; &1076; &1072; &1074; &1099; &1084; &1086; &1078; &1077; &1090; &1077; &1087; &1088; &1077; &1082; &1088; &1072; &1089; &1085; &1086; &1075; &1086; &1074; &1086; &1088; &1080; &1090; &1087; &1086; . &1088; &1091; &1089; &1089; &1082; &1080; &1081; , &1089; &1085; &1086; &1074; &1072; &1103; &1074; &1086; &1079; &1074; &1088; &1072; &1097; &1091; &1074; &1056; &1086; &1089; &1089; &1080; &1102; ,

&1077; &1089; &1083; &1080; &1042; &1083; &1072; &1076; &1080; &1084; &1080; &1088; &1042; &1083; &1072; &1076; &1080; &1084; &1080; &1088; &1086; &1074; &1080; &1095; &1085; &1077; &1087; &1088; &1086; &1090; &1080; &1074; . .

Of course I care you come to Russia or not because I am curious you will repeat Yummy's great success or not. (I like to motivate mongerers)

I am not sure Putin cares or not but he can't stop you my friend! Go on. Good luck.

Note:Bad guy definitely works in Russia. I agree with you.

Yummy,

19 May is a national holiday here so if I can catch an economical ticket why not? I can be there for 17-18.

Regards.

[Jake993]

You want to empirically test this? In any social situation with Russians, introduce the Ukrainians speaking Russian or Belorussians speaking Russian topic. Watch the evening take a hilarious, if arrogant, turn. Russians LOVE making fun of the way Ukrainians and Belorussians speak Russian: their accents, all. And it ain't just fun. It's Russian superiority vis a vis "others" inferiority. Now, given that Ukrainians and Belorussians speak Russian fluently, and Russians can certainly understand them, just imagine what Russians think of Europeans and Americans who butcher Russian?

I agree with you but only to a point. IMHO your Belarus, Ukraine example is closer to the British English, American English, Australian English "thing" than anything else. Each of these forms of English is peppered with local words and accents. And the ones who are closest to the origin of the language like to "bust" on everyone else for the funny way they talk.

In my experience, Russians usually appreciate your effort for trying to learn their language. However, when you DO get ridiculed for trying to learn and use learn and use the Russian language, you are probably dealing with someone who feels threatened by your attempt to penetrate their impervious Russian barrier. For some, the very idea of you communicating with them in their native tongue is threatening and offensive. It's ok for them to learn English,"but don't you DARE sully the melodious language of Pushkin". It's not so different from the snotty upper crust English aristocrat who speaks the "Queens English" and pretends to not understand what "a good old boy" from Texas is saying with his drawl."How DARE he attempt to sully the words of Shakespeare and Chaucer with his brutish use of our sacred English language".

IMHO, when Russians ridicule (rather then help) an English speaker for their attempt for using English, it's usually because they are impatient and rude. And when a girl finds your attempt to speak Russian with her offensive rather than charming, it usual means that she just not "into you". But that's just my opinion.

[Jake993]

Why Iceberg, I didn't know you cared! .

Translate this and you will have your answer.

&1050; &1086; &1075; &1076; &1072; &1074; &1099; &1084; &1086; &1078; &1077; &1090; &1077; &1087; &1088; &1077; &1082; &1088; &1072; &1089; &1085; &1086; &1075; &1086; &1074; &1086; &1088; &1080; &1090; &1087; &1086; . &1088; &1091; &1089; &1089; &1082; &1080; &1081; , &1089; &1085; &1086; &1074; &1072; &1103; &1074; &1086; &1079; &1074; &1088; &1072; &1097; &1091; &1074; &1056; &1086; &1089; &1089; &1080; &1102; ,

&1077; &1089; &1083; &1080; &1042; &1083; &1072; &1076; &1080; &1084; &1080; &1088; &1042; &1083; &1072; &1076; &1080; &1084; &1080; &1088; &1086; &1074; &1080; &1095; &1085; &1077; &1087; &1088; &1086; &1090; &1080; &1074; . .

Dude, don't hold your breath. I am back in the USA for a few weeks and am wondering if the situation will deteriorate to the point where I might not be able to get back in! I can't believe I just said that!

[Jake993]

Jake, what you say is surprising to me, but I have no doubt that you spoke to Russian and Ukrainian girls in Palace. They are probably drawn to you like a magnet. A hushed murmur spreads through the club 'This American guy can speak Russian! ' I would think it would almost be a thrill for them. Or maybe our eye gets drawn to what we like so we talk to the girls we are interested in and you like the look of the northern-Slavic girls so you get lucky.

Fuck! I am such an easy mark! Ha ha ha! Next time I will keep my big mouth shut! No need to do the Coal / Newcastle thing.

[Questner]

Take it easy, Skwiskwis. English accent is never ridiculed. To tell the truth this is often the case with German (sounds harsh) or Finnish (sounds slow). As for competition don't compete with yourself. If you are not genuine or a cheapskate within your means you don't stand the chance.

[Skwiskwis]

Ok it's 03. 00 and I'm sitting in an apartment in Piter jet lagged out the gazoo and counting down the days until I have to go to the purgatory that is Moscow, so I'll weight in on this "speakin a little Russian" issue. Again.

You want to empirically test this? In any social situation with Russians, introduce the Ukrainians speaking Russian or Belorussians speaking Russian topic. Watch the evening take a hilarious, if arrogant, turn. Russians LOVE making fun of the way Ukrainians and Belorussians speak Russian: their accents, all. And it ain't just fun. It's Russian superiority vis a vis "others" inferiority. Now, given that Ukrainians and Belorussians speak Russian fluently, and Russians can certainly understand them, just imagine what Russians think of Europeans and Americans who butcher Russian?

Or, if you want the conversation to take a serious and racist turn, introduce the topic of Caucuses peoples and the way they "barely" speak Russian at all. How do Russians know the inferiority of them? Look at how poorly they speak Russian.

Russians are Ethnocentric in an extreme way. More so than the French, though about the same as Parisians, in my opinion (don't get me started on the way the French make fun of Canadian and Louisiana French speakers). And if we generally agree on this, that Russians are ethnocentric, then we must also understand that Ethnocentrism begins and ends with language and the superiority and PURITY of one's own language over others. To put it another way, the mispronunciation of Russian words by Belorussians and Ukrainians and foreigners OFFENDS Russians. It angers them.

Russian for them is SACRED. It is the language of great art and literature, and, similar to the French, if you can't speak it well, don't speak it at all. They have many different words and expressions, every educated Russian knows and can quote from Pushkin, they have and use about a million profane words, and their conversations are rich and complex and full of linguistic subtleties. They can tell your class and educational level in a nanosecond based on the way you speak. And yeah, learn to say "hi" and "goodbye" in Russian and they will smile and be amused, and inwardly snicker at the fact that you can't even pronounce "privet" correctly.

Moreover, any Russian who speaks any English at all would rather butcher English and try and communicate and learn English from you, than have you butcher Russian.

Now, of course, I mean really, if your alone and visiting Russia and working / living in Russia you do what you do. And if trying to find someplace means speaking bad Russian then by all means do so. And if the girl you are with is complementing you on your Russian and your Russian friends and colleagues are complementing you, then that's the game yes? We play them and they play us and as long as we all end the day satisfied what 's the harm?

And now for something completely different. (and yes I can "speak" some Russian and it's most useful to overhear what people say when they think I can't understand what they are saying). Was in one of the big mega malls here in Piter today. At the entrance was a drop dead gorgeous girl handing out fliers. I sat and ate some pizza and just watched her. I counted 5 Russian guys attempting to hit on her. Three of them were obviously upper middle class / upper class, designer clothes, full Armani / whatever regalia, and led with presents (single red rose, ice cream, stuffed animal). One of them I overheard saying "I'll wait for you and give you a ride home in my new black BMW X6" or something or other." And that, for me, is the biggest difference now in Russia. Domestic competition has the gestures AND money AND can court them in Russian and speak all those niceties Russia girls just love to hear. Although, near as I can tell, she shot all of them down. Oddly enough, the guy she seemed most friendly with was a grungy one with no presents and lots of tattoos. Go figure. The 'bad boy' works in Russia.

[YellowPaul]

I'll be there again 9-18 May if you want to come up.

Bother I'm working on my Russia visa.

I hope combine Russia, Ukraine and maybe Poland one trip this Summer.

[Stravinsky]

Ok my friend just cut the chase and being the Russian teacher of the high school and tell us when are you coming to Russia? The weather is quite good enough and you can't make excuses. Bring some action man!

Why Iceberg, I didn't know you cared!

Translate this and you will have your answer.

Когда вы можете прекрасно говорит по-русский, снова я возвращу в Россию,

если Владимир Владимирович не против.

[YummyPL]

Ok my friend just cut the chase and being the Russian teacher of the high school and tell us when are you coming to Russia? The weather is quite good enough and you can't make excuses. Bring some action man!

I'll be there again 9-18 May if you want to come up.

[Iceberg27]

Interesting. I have had many conversations with Russians, here in the USA and also in Russia, but have never encountered this particular type of reaction. And my Russian is most certainly laughable. But then, I have always valued pronunciation over grammar and strive to make what little Russian I speak sound "just like a Russian".

Is it possible that this is some new trend in Russian society? A kind of phonological jingoism born of rising nationalism in Russia? My experience has been that most people in the world, not only Russia, are so amazed to meet an American who speaks any language other Than English that it becomes an almost endearing quality. No matter how simple or poor is the expression. The only exception to that rule would be the French-one bobbled vowel, one missed apostrophe and they look at you as if you had just insulted the memory of their dead grandmother.

My advice would be, don't try to show how cool you are by using the translator on your phone, learn some Russian and speak directly to the girl. Whether she laughs with you, or at you, what's the diff? They will always appreciate the effort and you at least have her attention and remember, a pie in the face comes with the job.

Ok my friend just cut the chase and being the Russian teacher of the high school and tell us when are you coming to Russia? The weather is quite good enough and you can't make excuses. Bring some action man!

[Stravinsky]

Learning Russian? Forget it, unless your living / working in Russia. Russians HATE foreign accents. You want to be the butt of jokes? Learn a little Russian and try and pass yourself off as learning the language. Your girl and her friend are laughing hysterically? They are laughing at you and the way you try and speak Russian.

Just use a translator on your phone and don't try and show how cool you are by learning a few phrases in Russian.

Interesting... I have had many conversations with Russians, here in the U.S. and also in Russia, but have never encountered this particular type of reaction. And my Russian is most certainly laughable. But then, I have always valued pronunciation over grammar and strive to make what little Russian I speak sound "just like a Russian".

Is it possible that this is some new trend in Russian society? A kind of phonological jingoism born of rising nationalism in Russia? My experience has been that most people in the world, not only Russia, are so amazed to meet an American who speaks any language other than English that it becomes an almost endearing quality. No matter how simple or poor is the expression. The only exception to that rule would be the French--one bobbled vowel, one missed apostrophe and they look at you as if you had just insulted the memory of their dead grandmother.

My advice would be, don't try to show how cool you are by using the translator on your phone, learn some Russian and speak directly to the girl. Whether she laughs with you, or at you, what's the diff? They will always appreciate the effort and you at least have her attention and remember, a pie in the face comes with the job.