When I used to think of Russia earlier, I used to think of cold weather, beautiful architecture and great writers. Today, I think of it in much more vivid terms. Orenburg shawls. Imperial porcelain. Valenki and samovars. Podstakanniks. Ah! The list is too long.
I was facing a roadblock in studying my grammar textbook. The first (and really long!) chapter was all about pronunciation and I was spending mindless hours poring over details I don’t even remember. It was hard. I get that I should know what palatalisation is before beginning with Russian grammar but guess what, I don’t.
Therefore, I went ahead and began with the next chapter it offered. The humble ‘Noun’ that wasn’t quite hospitable but we plan to mend things up next week. For explaining every little rule, there are like fifteen new words and my mind fights a battle with itself whether I should prioritise learning the word or the rule first. I know the right answer but the heart wants what the heart wants or in this case, the head. I mean, here’s an example:
As of now, I am learning how to use prefixes and suffixes to modify nouns and/or create new words. My speed of reading Russian script is pretty slow, as I look at words and slowly pronounce them, syllable by syllable. Yet again, ‘Culture Shock! Russia’ came to my rescue in my moments of despair with this amazing quote by Ivan Turgenev:
“In these days of doubt, in these days of painful brooding over the fate of my country, thou alone art my rod and my staff, O great, mighty, true and free Russian language! If it were not for thee, how could one keep from despairing at the sight of what is going on at home? But it is inconceivable that such a language should not belong to a great people.”
Hope I can ever move from loving this quote to actually relating to it soon enough. Till then, saying ‘Bye bye’ to you all in Russian should suffice. пока пока!
Week 9-10 Update
Why am I learning Russian?
August 5, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Hats off to you ……… I am so bad at languages
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 1:55 pm
I am struggling too, trust me 😀 😀
LikeLike
August 5, 2018 at 1:58 pm
To struggle with it also you need passion ….so hats off for that…….and all the best …..hope you sail through smoothly
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Thank you for your wishes, Sakshi. I hope so too ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 2:36 pm
Awesome! I learned a word in Russian today! Thank you. While in college I made the top 2% in Spanish gaining me a place in the National Honor Society. I still have the pen stored away in my jewelry box. I’ve gone from fluent to barely keeping a conversation with the crew who does our lawn service. Like they say, “You’ll lose it if you don’t use it.” I hope you are smarter than I was and continue to use your new language with pride.
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Thank you for your wishes, Phyllis. I hope I get there soon, just as I wish you gain your fluency back soon enough 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 4:49 pm
All credit to you for trying. 🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 4:59 pm
Thanks Elaine. I hope I get through all of it ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 5:21 pm
You go girl. Great job
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 11:18 pm
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 11:45 pm
😊🌸
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 7:10 pm
You are doing wonderful job Neha!! Happy friendship day dear! 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 11:20 pm
Thanks a lot, Kranti. Happy Friendship Day to you too ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 11:21 pm
Thank you dear! 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 11:23 pm
❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 10:57 pm
Wonderful Turgenev quote, one of my favourite authors ❤️❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 5, 2018 at 11:22 pm
Thank you, Elisabeth! ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 2:00 am
Your patience and dedication is commendable 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 9:19 am
Thank you, Abhinav. So kind of you to say 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 10:37 am
Good on you – a great Australian expression! We have a couple of friends who have dedicated themselves to learning Russian and it seem it’s very hard to learn but very rewarding as your fluency progresses. Keep up the great work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 2:44 pm
Thank you for your encouraging words, Karen! I really hope I make it to the other side 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 7, 2018 at 11:40 am
You will!
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 7, 2018 at 1:08 pm
🙂
LikeLike
August 6, 2018 at 12:17 pm
I am inspired to learn Russian!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 6, 2018 at 2:46 pm
Oh yes! Let’s do this together then. I have a little bit of existing framework to get you started too 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 6, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Great!! A new language. Yippie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 6, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Wait! Are you serious? I mean I am glad if you are but don’t back out later 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 6, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Oh yes. I’m absolutely serious. I’ll be able to read all the Russian novels sans translation. I had always wanted to learn a foreign language.
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 6, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Haha that’s awesome. Drop your email or any other contact detail in the comment and let me ping you personally then 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 6, 2018 at 2:59 pm
That sounds fun. [email protected]
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Check your email 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 3:51 pm
An admirable project.
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 6:06 pm
This is awesome, truly amazing. And i mean it👍 bravo!!☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 6:19 pm
Thanks for such a kind comment 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 9:59 pm
Great determination and progress, much is lost in translation..I couldn’t agree more. But then, once you learn the language and read the Russian originals you would translate them too 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 6, 2018 at 10:10 pm
Haha I wish I ever become that skilled at it 🙂
LikeLike
August 7, 2018 at 2:18 am
Bravo to you. Not everyone can do this successfully
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 7, 2018 at 9:07 am
Thanks for your kind words, Andrew. I hope I see it all the way through 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 7, 2018 at 5:11 pm
I see your determination. I believe you will.
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 7, 2018 at 5:12 pm
🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 7, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Nothing more to say than giving you a BIG SALUTE for your determination 💜
& May I know where you are from 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 7, 2018 at 2:14 pm
Thank you for your encouragement. I am from Delhi 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 9, 2018 at 3:24 am
Oh wow!!! You’re learning Russian?! Fascinating!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 9, 2018 at 3:25 am
Thank you! Here’s the reason why I am learning it 🙂
https://literarylemonades.com/2018/05/19/prochnost-a-tribute/
LikeLike
August 12, 2018 at 7:13 am
Здраствуй, Здравей. Neha, if you learned Russian you almost know Bulgarian as well 😉 Slavic languages.
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 12, 2018 at 11:30 am
Haha! You know what, you wouldn’t believe just how many times I have read that. In the first couple of weeks, I almost used the picture of a Bulgarian textbook as the cover picture for my ‘Prochnost’ updates, until a Russian friend of mine made it clear it’s Bulgarian 😀
I hope to learn Russian soon because I have recently come to know that Slavic languages have very similar roots. Hope I do Russian right and who knows! Maybe we can chat in Bulgarian some day 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person