Transcript Why Learn about Russia?

Why Learn about Russia?
By Diana Kleban 02/05/2013
Reasons to Learn about Russia
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Russian Coworkers, friends, or relatives ?
Plan to visit Russia as a tourist ?
Russian Language is beautiful ?
Interested in Russian History ?
Love Russian food ?
Interested in Russian traditions, culture and
superstitions ?
• Are Russia and Russians very mysterious?
• Tell me more?
Popular Russian Names:
Women:
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Anna, Yulia,
Natalya, Olga,
Svetlana, Marina,
Elena/Lena, Katya,
Irina, Oksana
Men:
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Alexander, Alexei,
Andrey, Boris,
Ivan (Vanya), Mikhail,
Sergei, Dima
Vladimir, Igor
Russian Holidays
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Dec 31 - New Year – Noviy God
Jan 7 – Christmas (since 1991)
Feb 23 – Defender of Motherland (1918)
March 8 – International Women Day
May 9 – Victory Day (firework/parade)
Russian Attributes
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What is the largest & coldest country in the world?
What two largest countries with the same flag colors?
What is the most popular drink in Russia?
What is the name of the metal container for boiling water,
originally heated with coal?
What are the traditional national winter footwear made of
wool felt?
What is the famous folk Russian string instrument, that
resembles a guitar (3 strings only)?
What is one of Russians’ favorite animal, the hero of many
legends and fairytales?
Most famous wooden handcrafted nested Souvenir?
What is most famous Russian poet?
What is most famous and popular tree in Russia?
Russian Attributes
Matreshka
Balalayka
Beryeza (Birch)
Ushanka
A.C. Pushkin
Blini (Pancakes)
Mishka
Samovar - Chai
Valenki
Russian Glory
Bolshoy (Big) Theater, Moscow
Mausoleum
Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow
St. Basil’s Cathedral
Russian Attractions
Moscow Subway
Revolution Squire
GUM Shopping Mall
Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
Russian Attractions
Tretyakov Galery, Moscow
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow
Russian Etiquette
• Men and women greet each other with “Privet”,
a handshake or a node. A hug or kiss – only if very close.
• Can you come to visit friends or family unexpectedly and
without invitation? How do you greet the hostess?
• As a party guest, don’t forget flowers, cake, cookies, and a
bottle of alcohol. Flowers for women, bottles for men.
• Take your shoes off at home and change into slippers.
• Never drink from the bottle and always take a bite between
shots. Long and meaningful toasts are always anticipated.
• It is ok to ask such questions as salary, age, family life or other
personal nature questions.
• It is acceptable practice to have public transportation
gallantry - give up seats to elders and pregnant women.
• It is normal for men to pay for women in restaurants, open
doors for them and help off the busses.
Leisure Activities
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Bath Houses (Banya)
Boating/River Cruises
Parks and Gardens
Cross Country Skiing
Ice-Skating
Berry/Mushroom picking
Billiard
Bowling
Chess
Tea Parties
Arbat Street, Moscow
What are the most popular American activities?
Popular Russian Food - Breakfast
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Kasha - Porridge
Pancakes – Bliny
Egg Omelet
Dumplings - Vareniki
Cottage Cheese pancakes – Syrniki
Dumplings - Vareniki
Bliny - Pancakes
Syrniki (with cheese)
Popular Russian Food – Lunch/Dinner
Salads:
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Salad “Oliver” (potato salad)
Beet Salad
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Mixed Veggie Salad
Salad “Oliver”
Soup:
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BORSH – Beet soup
Chicken Soup – Bullion
Shi - Cabbage soup
Mushroom soup
BORSH
Cabbage soup
Popular Russian Food – Lunch/Dinner
Main Dishes:
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Cutlets
Meat balls
Plov (rice/meat dish) - Rice Pilaf
Beef and potatoes - Beef Stew
Chicken dishes
Side dishes:
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Mashed potatoes
Fried potatoes
Rice
Buckwheat Kasha
Plov
Cutlets
Popular Russian Food – Lunch/Dinner
Desserts:
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Apple pie
Chocolate cake
Pirozki & Pirogi
Pancakes
Jams and Preserves
Baranki (round cookies)
Bubliki (donuts with a hole)
Beverages:
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Tea with lemon, honey, sugar
Coffee
Juices – apple, orange (never diluted)
Champaign / Wine / Beer / Vodka
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Superstitions
Don’t show a newborn baby for 40 days
Don’t buy things for a newborn before the birth
Don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day.
Look in the mirror if you forgot something at home and
returned to the house.
Don’t sit in the corner of the table, if you want to get married.
Don’t dry hands with someone else with the same towel if you
don’t want conflicts.
Don’t spill salt to avoid conflicts
Don’t share a happy event until it happens
Don’t shake hands or give something through a threshold
Don’t eat from a knife if you don’t want to be angry
Don’t wear clothes upside down, if you don’t want to be
beaten
If someone sneezes around you, it means it is the truth and etc.
Cultural Differences and Similarities
Life style
• What will you hear back if you say “Hello, how are you?”
• Are people in your country emotional, sentimental and/or
open with strangers, friends, relatives?
• Who is bringing cake for your birthday at work?
• Do people live mostly in houses or apartment buildings?
• Can you wear sneakers with the fancy dress?
• Can you wear the same clothes for several days in a row?
• Do you like to drive fast on roads?
• Do you patiently stand and wait in line?
• What country has fire drills & very powerful AC (even in the winter?)
Cultural Differences and Similarities
Education
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Do kids play together and go to the same school on your street?
Do your children get praised a lot?
Are multiple choice test popular in schools?
Is “bulling” addressed seriously in America?
Medicine
• Can you survive without “bribing rewards”?
• How strong is the diagnostic and cure services in America?
Patriotism
• Are Americans patriots of their country?
• Do Americans have true “inclusion and diversity”?
Sport
• What is the most popular sport in your country?
• Do Americans walk a lot? Walking and not Moving (puzzle)
Cultural Differences and Similarities
Home Décor
• Do you prefer wall paper to paint , curtains to blinds,
carpets to wood floors, ceiling lamps to standing lamps?
Nature/Animals
• Does your country love and take care of nature and/or animals?
Relationships:
• How valuable is friendship in your country?
• Is family considered to be the most important part of life?
• Do children live together with parents for a long time?
Families
• Are we all human Beings who live on the same planet – Earth?
• Do we all have similar goals, desires and wishes for our families,
relatives, and friends?
Simple Russian
Hi – Pri-Vy-Et (privet)
YES – DA
NO – NYET
How are you? – Kak di-la?
Good – Kha-ra-sho
Thank you – Spa-si-ba
What is your name? – Kak Bas Za-Vut
My name is - Mi-Nya Za-Vut…Diana
Good Bye – Da-Svi-Da-Ni-Ya
Bye – Pa-ka