Middle Blue

[icedink.livejournal.com]

Talking with another American living in Russia, she commented that many people react negatively to the word голубой, something which I hadn't noticed myself -- but remarking about a boy's "light-blue" sweater, for instance, would not be well-received.

The other day, I was substituting as an English language teacher for a 3rd-grade class: They'd been practicing their "question" words, and I'd received instructions that I should encourage them to ask questions about me. When I replied that my favorite color was "blue", there was a fair amount of snickering -- although I am female, the only thing which I can attribute this reaction to is the association with "голубой."

Question is this: Does anyone think that  the meaning of "goluboj" as a color might eventually have the same fate as the way of  "gay" meaning " (or whatever it meant.) Is the rising generation reluctant to use this word?

Will there no longer be a designation between light and dark blues, eliminating the "Is that голубой or синний" quandry for all of us foreigners...?

Or is this just a case of kids being kids, being uncomfortable with lots of facts of life? What does the adult population currently think?

A similar Russian phrase??

[msmiss.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone (again)!

I was told a Russian phrase/expression that is a little similar in meaning to telling someone that "Shit happens" or "Thing's happen", but I kind of forgot it. I just remember that when my friend was telling me the meaning of the expression, the closest translation she could come up with was "shit happens." I'm pretty sure it's not offensive (while the American one, "shit happens", could be depending on who you're talking to) and is only 1-3 words long.

I'm probably confusing many people, so what I am looking for is an expression you use when you want to tell someone who is feeling bad about something they have done (i.e. was late to arrive, and therefore caused everyone waiting to miss the [insert event], and now feels very guilty ), and the other party, being forgiving, brushes it of by saying something like, "Hey, don't worry because things happen which are out of our control."

Sorry for the long post; I wanted to be clear. Thanks in advance to any or all advice given! :))))