Book Talk: Soviet Culture Replaced

This book was so interesting! But I didn't have time to finish it. Sometimes the due dates for library books go by so fast, and this book was a thick one. Maybe I will pick it up again to read through more of this author's adventures. 

She goes through the various countries in Central Asia who used to be under the rule of Soviet Communism which also means the influence of the Russian language She visits these countries such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and many more to see their change of government, nationalism, culture and language and the differences from how it once was. I thought it was so fascinating!

Russian Cursive

 There are still many things that I do not know about Russian. For one, I have yet to learn and understand the cursive writing. Russian has complexities, and cursive writing is one of them. 

I think it would be important to learn since native Russian speakers use it all the time. It looks confusing though, but I feel that I'm usually up for the challenge! I recall there are a lot of loops and ways of writing the letters that don't look like anything that the original looks like. But I like cursive, as Arabic is full of 'cursive' writing and the letters connect (though from right to left). I will keep you posted!

Daily Russian Study

 This past summer, my sister had the idea of a language challenge. We were chatting about language learning and studying, and she thought instead of paying for an expensive 3-month language challenge, to study every day on our own for free! And it would be a great opportunity to keep us accountable and inspired.

We didn't commit to 3 months but instead to 1 month, in August. I realized that my schedule would change drastically, and I wouldn't have nearly as much time or energy to commit to this challenge that was supposed to be lighthearted and fun. And it was fun, I mean learning and reviewing Russian everyday had something special and unique about it. I never really studied a language every day, so this was different but definitely rewarding. 

I realized that I didn't want to miss it and looked forward to it, usually at the end of the day. I also realized that I mostly studied at home. I have a nice big whiteboard so that was easy to use and write on, and I didn't always need the ambiance, though nice, of a coffee shop to motivate me on some of those days. 

I feel that I didn't necessarily end strong as I became super busy, but I still learned! I learned about habits, and motivation, and getting better at Russian. I also learned that self-study via notes, workbooks and textbooks are more useful and productive than viewing Russian language videos online.

 I felt like I was creating my own relationship in how I viewed language learning and Russian, and it was refreshing and enjoyable! How long it had been since I dedicated to daily language study. Maybe at some point I will continue on a daily basis! 

My Russian Background

 Russian. The language that can provide it with the joke of 'russian to get somewhere', as well as the language that is also known as the hardest to learn. I guess I have humor and a challenge on my side. I'm not sure where it begins, or where to start. But I remember meeting friends from school who knew Russian or had a background in it. It wasn't then when I was interested or necessarily intrigued to learn but later on. 

I start with my friend whom I met in Junior College. She wasn't Russian by blood but would call it like her native tongue and her culture because she had lived in Russia when she was younger and for the longest amount of time. When we would hang out, I would often hear Russian spoken either from her, a family member or be introduced to songs in Russian~ Russian songs when she would be driving and learn some of the lyrics and meaning. When I first met her after one of my classes, we took the bus, and she would tell me about stories and her time in Russia. It was all so interesting; it was so different than my upbringing. 

It would be a few years after that time that I was becoming more interested in a language like Russian. I think I mostly liked the sound, and the challenge. I was studying Chinese in school, but I wanted to learn something on the side too. That was my first delving into the language, which didn't last too long until I decided to pick it up again later that same year.

I know there are a lot of politics, especially right now when it comes to Russia and Russian's president, Putin. And with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, it can feel like 'Russian' is the enemy. But as I've heard before, a language can't be blamed or put into the equation of what is happening to a country, to innocent people. Just like German with the Nazis or Arabic with Isis for example. If anything, Russian can seem like not important, but actually it is. Where Ukrainians are fleeing, Russians are also trying to find a way to escape, and most don't agree with their government's evil decisions and motives. 

If anything, we need to pray for Russia and the conversion it so desperately needs in times of war and destruction. That's what Our Lady of Fatima declared back in 1917. There has been a lot of evil because of Russia and its communist ways. I can think of another example, with Fr. Walter Cizek and his imprisonment in Soviet prisons for roughly 23 years. But his story moves mountains in his faith, and all that he suffered and endured. He learned Russian, and he prayed for his enemies. 

I hope this blog can be a creative outlet, to share, write, record of related topics to Russia, Russian language and my studies and continue to stay inspired!

xoxo