Thoughts from Yaroslavl
-I realized the other day several things about my Russian language lessons.
*Language is hard for me. I think my brain is more programmed to the studies of math and science than it is to arts and creativity.
*The amount of concentration required for a two hour, one on one language lesson, is more intense than anything I have every done. I am getting into better "shape", but for the first several weeks I was exhausted after each lesson and not a fun person to be around.
*Irina is a excellent teacher, knowing just the right moments to push harder and knowing when to ease off a bit. Her energy and enthusiasm for the language is contagious. I am lucky that she has the patience to put up with me.
*I have started doing a one hour Russian only session with Nadia and Liza and it is really helping.
*Learning to speak Russian is slow for me but learning to hear it is even harder. Many of the words and phrases that I can speak (slowly), I still have trouble hearing them in day to day speech.
-I had forgotten some things about Yaroslavl.
*During warm weather the city is bustling with pedestrian traffic.
*How many places along the street sell flowers. Either Russian men are very romantic or they get into trouble a lot at home.
*The country is gorgeous and when you are gardening you can easily forget what country you are in. The smell of freshly tilled soil, the springs first flowers, the singing of the birds in spring and the first few warm days of each year----these are universal pleasures enjoyed by everyone.
*More people smile and laugh on beautiful spring days especially when it should still be winter.
-several tidbits
* I got my one year letter on invitation last week which is good starting July 15th when my current visa runs out. I will still have to leave the country and get a visa but it was a big relief since they are getting harder to get.
* I have my international drivers licence and can now drive in Russia (if I am brave enough:)).
* My apartment faces south and gets sun all day. Last week I planted a lot of flower seeds so that we would have flowers for the dacha. The plant emerged from the soil yesterday. How exciting.
*Language is hard for me. I think my brain is more programmed to the studies of math and science than it is to arts and creativity.
*The amount of concentration required for a two hour, one on one language lesson, is more intense than anything I have every done. I am getting into better "shape", but for the first several weeks I was exhausted after each lesson and not a fun person to be around.
*Irina is a excellent teacher, knowing just the right moments to push harder and knowing when to ease off a bit. Her energy and enthusiasm for the language is contagious. I am lucky that she has the patience to put up with me.
*I have started doing a one hour Russian only session with Nadia and Liza and it is really helping.
*Learning to speak Russian is slow for me but learning to hear it is even harder. Many of the words and phrases that I can speak (slowly), I still have trouble hearing them in day to day speech.
-I had forgotten some things about Yaroslavl.
*During warm weather the city is bustling with pedestrian traffic.
*How many places along the street sell flowers. Either Russian men are very romantic or they get into trouble a lot at home.
*The country is gorgeous and when you are gardening you can easily forget what country you are in. The smell of freshly tilled soil, the springs first flowers, the singing of the birds in spring and the first few warm days of each year----these are universal pleasures enjoyed by everyone.
*More people smile and laugh on beautiful spring days especially when it should still be winter.
-several tidbits
* I got my one year letter on invitation last week which is good starting July 15th when my current visa runs out. I will still have to leave the country and get a visa but it was a big relief since they are getting harder to get.
* I have my international drivers licence and can now drive in Russia (if I am brave enough:)).
* My apartment faces south and gets sun all day. Last week I planted a lot of flower seeds so that we would have flowers for the dacha. The plant emerged from the soil yesterday. How exciting.
posted by Bryan at 2:31 AM
