Off to Russia for a year...
Jan. 29th, 2007 09:04 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
kragoth.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
learn_russianI sent an application in back in November to Rotary, a group that sends American ambassadors to countries of their choice for an entire year to study abroad. I was accepted, and I am assigned to Russia (WOO!). I have to prepare a speech, very basic of course, to demonstrate basic knowledge of the language. I've been studying for two years solo, and of course my Russian is more intermediate than basic. However, I was wondering if my blurb below could be altered to sound "more Russian" and casual. It's meant to be casual because this is what I'll be telling my Russian class mates when I begin attending school there. :-))
Привет всем! Ок, сейчас представляю себя по-русски. Меня зовут Мэтью, и живу в Натионале-парке в (какой-то штате), и я здесь с моей матерей деббий и другом семьи. Тоже тут есть моя сестра кэльсей (Ей четырнадцать года), и моя младщая сестра шелбий (Ей тринадцать года). Я надеюсь же, что это проследный год будет прекрасный для меня и всех.
It sounds really bad to me for some reason. I have to state that I'll have a good exchange year, but I'm not sure how to say that. I'd like to add a few things to it to improv it, which I think I could do if I learned the word for Host Family and Exchange student. How do I express these? Any ideas on how to "spice" it up? It's very bland and boring...and It's got to be 30 seconds long. I don't know what else to say really.
Perhaps someone would also tell me how to handle questions about the war there? I don't want to start a debate on politics, but how would I state that I'm not allowed to discuss american politics while abroad? Would I say ,"Нельзя мне обсудить американские политики, когда я в россии"? Are there nicer ways of saying it?
Thank you.
Привет всем! Ок, сейчас представляю себя по-русски. Меня зовут Мэтью, и живу в Натионале-парке в (какой-то штате), и я здесь с моей матерей деббий и другом семьи. Тоже тут есть моя сестра кэльсей (Ей четырнадцать года), и моя младщая сестра шелбий (Ей тринадцать года). Я надеюсь же, что это проследный год будет прекрасный для меня и всех.
It sounds really bad to me for some reason. I have to state that I'll have a good exchange year, but I'm not sure how to say that. I'd like to add a few things to it to improv it, which I think I could do if I learned the word for Host Family and Exchange student. How do I express these? Any ideas on how to "spice" it up? It's very bland and boring...and It's got to be 30 seconds long. I don't know what else to say really.
Perhaps someone would also tell me how to handle questions about the war there? I don't want to start a debate on politics, but how would I state that I'm not allowed to discuss american politics while abroad? Would I say ,"Нельзя мне обсудить американские политики, когда я в россии"? Are there nicer ways of saying it?
Thank you.
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no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 02:26 am (UTC)As to your speech - well, it is not bad, and just relax - no one would expect perfect Russian from you at this stage of learning. However, some corrections.
Привет всем! Окей (if you really want to sound Russian, better omit "OK" altogether), сейчас
представляю себяя представлюсь по-русски. Меня зовут Мэтью, и я живу в Натионале-парке в (какой-то штате), и я здесь с моейматерей деббийматерью Дебби и другом семьи.Тоже тут естьЕще тут присутствует моя сестракэльсей(Ей четырнадцатьгодалет), и моя младщая сестрашелбийШелби (Ей тринадцатьгода). Я надеюсьже, чтоэто проследныйследующий год будет прекрасныйен для меня и для всех.no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 02:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 02:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 04:01 am (UTC)google doesn't help in finding a fixed variant in russian besides национальный парк, which is different, i guess.
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Date: 2007-01-30 04:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2007-01-30 02:26 am (UTC)---
Когда я буду за границей, мне лучше не обсуждать американскую политику.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 05:19 am (UTC)А ещё мне запрещено говорить за границей об американской политике.
Is it really forbidden to you to discuss USA politics, when abroad? To any American or only to participants of your program? By the government or some other authority? On what grounds? And what will the punishment be, should you disobey? What about the First Amendment?
no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 11:53 am (UTC)It's not really forbidden, but it's not recommended. I can be pulled home if I start conflict over American politics in Russia. I don't want to start conflicts in a language where I can't even defend myself in. Also, I honestly don't have a very good understanding of politics. It's best if I don't discuss them.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 07:55 pm (UTC)If nothing else, hear them out and then say, "Yes, this is a complicated issue...lots of different opinions on it," and then raise your glass to international friendship and start talking about music or soccer. :)
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Date: 2007-01-30 07:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 08:00 pm (UTC)Russian exchange students, amongst themselves, also use "хост-семья," "хост-мама," "хост-папа," and "моя американская семья" - but that I think that is only understandable in that context.
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Date: 2007-01-30 10:42 pm (UTC)Thank you. :-)
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Date: 2007-01-30 09:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 09:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 10:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 03:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2007-01-30 09:47 pm (UTC)I'm not sure I agree with that sentiment. But then, wasn't the Peace Corps kicked out of Russia? Rotary club may not want to follow them out.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 11:10 am (UTC)Привет всем! Представлюсь по-русски. Меня зовут Мэтью, я живу в Нэйшнл-парке (штат ...) вместе с моей матерью (мамой) Дэбби и другом семьи. С нами также живёт моя сестра Келси (ей четырнадцать лет) и моя младшая сестра Шелби (ей тринадцать лет). Я надеюсь, что этот год будем прекрасным для меня и всех остальных.
My congratulations on your upcoming year in Russia! I hope you'll like staying and studying here! Feel free to ask questions if you have any (you must have plenty though) :)))
no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 11:55 am (UTC)Why thank you. :-) I had questions on the education system there...but I don't know how to word them.
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Date: 2007-01-30 11:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 12:53 pm (UTC)my two cents
Date: 2007-01-30 02:13 pm (UTC)Maybe you could just say you prefer not to, or do not like to, talk about politics. If people ask why just say it does not interest you.
Re: my two cents
Date: 2007-01-30 10:39 pm (UTC)Is that an acceptable response?
Re: my two cents
From:American goes to Russia
Date: 2007-01-30 05:57 pm (UTC)I'm reminded of the old joke:
"I come from the freest country in the world. We can say anything we want about our president." states the American, chest swelling with pride.
"Really?" inquires the Russian, "Like what?"
"Like, B*SH is a jerk!" utters the American in a raised voice.
"We can do that, too", rejoins the Russian, nonchalantly.
"I don't believe you", says the American, surprised by the Russian's boldness.
"Yeah, well, B*SH is a jerk!" proclaims the Russian with a wry smile.
Re: American goes to Russia
Date: 2007-01-30 10:36 pm (UTC)Haha! :-))) That's hilarious!