Modern Souvenirs To Wear From Russia

Problem
What are Free Sights Selling?
Language lessons on the internet are often free, but surely they will try to sell something sometime. You can't begrudge them that. They have to make a living. Eventually, they hope to sell you an advanced course, or run advertising, or capture the data.

You have probably heard sayings about business, and marketing, and everything: if you are not with us you are against us; if you are not moving forwards you are moving backwards. If you are not making money, you are losing money.

This language learning website is no longer selling just language items, but now items from the country or about it, for enthusiasts.

My free Russian course just sent me a link to their Russian souvenirs page. Of course, I was curious to take a look. Why not!

In general, I like to buy traditional items, not kitchen tee-shirts and mugs with puns. However, I just loved their website. I don't know why it's so funny to see keep calm and learn Russian written in Russian. It's a double joke.

First, it was originally a WWII government slogan.

Secondly, the Russian language is a challenge, but if you can read the tee-shirt, at least you are making some progress, and seeing the Russian on the tee-shirt is a remember of the alphabet. I thought their souvenirs were great fun.

And the mug which says in Russian, I am a Russian spy - why is that funny? Again it makes me laugh on so many levels. He is using Russian as a code. Only people who bother to learn Russian or are born in Russia and are Russian speaking are likely to be spies. But if you can read the words on the mug - maybe you are also a spy, at very least pro-Russian.

Years ago a spy stayed a spy, hidden.  Only after he or she died did the rumours start. Now we have spies all over the newspapers. This ex-spy accuses that ex-spy. You wonder whether spying is one of the courses offered at uni, perhaps in the careers advice leaflets.

Finally, would you drink coffee prepared by somebody who claims to be a Russian spy, admittedly as a joke.

I love it, love it, love it.

I also liked the Moscow skyline pillow and the balalaika mug.

Useful Websites
https://funrussianstore.com/?utm_campaign=Conversational+Russian+Video+Course&utm_content=Announcement%3A+It%27s+finally+here%21&utm_medium=Announcement%3A+It%27s+finally+here%21&utm_source=getresponse
https://funrussianstore.com/collections/pillows

Who Cares About Disasters Overseas? France? Russia? Why? Why Not?

Some body on Facebook asked why atrocities in Paris, France attracted more attention and supposedly more sympathy than events in St Petersburg.

Every country reports on its own nationals first. News filters through slowly. But I am more affected if an incident affects somebody I know, or associated with a place near where I live.

I can't speak for anybody else. However, I believe we do care. However, people generally feel more upset about nearby places they have been to whose language they speak.

I am sure that countries which speak Russian, have borders with Russia, or large numbers of tourists going there will feel and say and do more. Any Russian language publication will carry more news reports and arouse more reaction.

More people on an English language site have to change travel plans or call friends and family when an incident happens in Paris than in far away St Petersburg.

Places You Know In Russia
I have been to St Petersburg but could not even place it accurately on a map. It has changed its name which contuses me. I recall as a student standing with others reading world famous Volgograd. We all looked puzzled until somebody realised and explained, We're in St Petersburg!

St Petersburg has changed its name which confuses me.

Places You Know In France
I speak French. The trains from London go through France or Paris. Ferries from Britain go to France. So I care about France, Paris, and travelling to or through Paris and France. I can name several places in Paris, Notre Dame cathedral, the Eiffel Tower.

Songs
The words France and Paris immediately evoke English language songs such as I Love Paris in the Springtime. I can't name a song about St Petersburg.

Change of Travel Plans
More people on an English language site are in the UK or the USA and have to change travel plans or call friends and family when an incident happens in Paris than in far away St Petersburg.

St Petersburg is known for its heroic defence against the invaders in WWII. (I may add more later. Now I must go back to work.)

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Russian and Russians in the Czech Republic

ProblemS
Why are there so many Russian dolls in the shop windows in the old town of Prague? Is it because Russia is nearby?

Answer
Just ask a local person and all will be revealed.

Story
Over lunch a Czech friend told me:

"I learned Russian at school. We had to, in the Russian and Communist era. I wanted to learn another language but I had to do Russian as well, right through secondary school and university. I nearly failed my University degree because I could not pass the Tussian exams. The teachers were all Russians, so you had to get it right, no leeway. Eventually, thank goodness, I made it.

"At first Russian seems very easy. It follows rules but there aren't many rules. However, there are exceptions to the rules. Ans exceptions to the exceptions. After you've learned one lot of exceptions, you find another lot of exceptions.

"I still can't speak Russian fluently or well. I've forgotten it. I'm not confident. I can read it. And understand it.

"But this proved an advantage in business. I went to Russian and the people I was dealing with could see I could hardly say a word in Russian. So they assumed I could not understand anything. But I could understand everything they were saying. So when they were discussing a business deal they voiced their opinions and strategy clearly in front of me. That worked to my advantage."

I asked, "Is Russian still useful to you in daily life? Are there lots of Russians here? I've seen Russian dolls in the shops in the old town. Is that to sell to the Russians? Or because it's cheap to buy Russian dolls?"

"It's not because of the shops' customers. It's because of the shops' owners. The Russian dolls are in the shops because the shops are owned by Russians. After the Communist regime ended, the Russians bought up property very cheaply in the Old Town. Many Russians were business minded. The leaders were managing big companies for the state and could see that when it was privatised they could be making money for themselves.

"The children of the rich were used to the idea of having money and running businesses. So the movement for the end of Communism came from within. The next generation, the children of the former leaders, thought they would benefit.

"The Czechs also thought they would gain. The people who had had land or property or shops before WWII, they saw they would get their old property back. So everybody was very happy and enthusiastic and supported the change."

I now look at the Russian dolls with new eyes, new insight. Not just craftsmanship, and geography, but business and history unfold before me. The little dolls are silent witnesses, symbols. of the Russian influence.

My friend continues, "The Russians like to visit the Czech Republic. We were 'a former colony' if you like. So they feel at home."

Ah, like the Brits visiting America, Australia and South Africa, the Commonwealth countries. They speak our language, English, and share our history which we learned at school.

Now you know why the signs outside the restaurants in the Czech Republic are in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Russian.

I sigh, "So Russian is a challenge. I have started learning Russian on Duolingo. The internet is really good for starting new languages, for free."

He smiles, "Yes, it's amazing. You can translate anything into any language. I even did business in China, holding conversation without speaking a word, just typing in Czech and showing the Chinese the translation. We managed quite well."

For the traveller, and the linguist, and the non-linguist, we are living in the golden era.

Tips
Use Duolingo to learn languages for free.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Teacher and tutor of English, languages and public speaking.
Follow me on Facebook. Link to me on LinkedIn. I am also on Twitter and Instagram. See me perform poetry and speeches and give guides to spelling and grammar on YouTUbe.
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