Thursday 26 May 2011

Russia is... AUTUMN

To begin with ...and to be unusual... Russia is ... autumn. In Russian it is ОСЕНЬ (osen')

Sounds strange, n'est-ce pas? Let me explain.
Autumn is Russia is particularly beautiful. Not many countries are so lucky to feel all the beauty of this season. What is it for Russians?
1) it's a beautiful season. When the trees turn orange - оранжевый, yellow - желтый, red - красный. It is not so hot already, but not yet cold. Harvest, fresh air and blue sky of September, even rain of October. 'There is no bad weather, only bad clothes', this is what we use to say.


2) it helps us to feel the connection between nature and people. We use to say that the spring is the MORNING of our lives, summer is our DAY, autumn is our DUSK, winter is our EVENING.
And if you want to experience the feeling of 'waiting of spring' - you should spend winter in Russia. It's an incredible feeling, as happy as you when you were waiting for the presents in you childhood.

3) It is the muse to many Russian poets (autumn-poem), musicians, artists etc...

Sergey Esenin

The grove of golden trees has fallen silent,      Отговорила роща золотая
Shorn of its gay leaves, in mute silhouette,     Березовым, веселым языком,
And so the cranes in sad file past it flying       И журавли, печально пролетая,
Have no cause any more to feel regret.           
Уж не жалеют больше ни о ком.

For whom, for what? We are all rovers, starting  Кого жалеть? Ведь каждый в мире странник - 
Out, coming home awhile, then traveling on.      Пройдет, зайдет и вновь оставит дом.
The hemp field's dreaming of all who departed    Пройдет, зайдет и вновь оставит дом.
And there's a full moon gazing at the pond.        
С широким месяцем над голубым прудом.

I stand alone, the bare expanses viewing,         Стою один среди равнины голой,
While on the wind the cranes are borne away.   А журавлей относит ветер в даль,
Remembrance of my merry youth pursuing,      Я полон дум о юности веселой,
I find nothing I would relive today.                    
Но ничего в прошедшем мне не жаль.  more 


Alexander Pushkin

Октябрь уж наступил - уж роща отряхает    October has arrived - the woods have tossed
Последние листы с нагих своих ветвей;      
Their final leaves from naked branches;
Дохнул осенний хлад - дорога промерзает. 
A breath of autumn chill - the road begins to freeze,
Журча еще бежит за мельницу ручей,          The stream still murmurs as it passes by the mill,
Но пруд уже застыл; сосед мой поспешает The pond, however's frozen; and my neighbor hastens
В отъезжие поля с охотою своей,                 to his far-flung fields with all the members of his hunt.
И страждут озими от бешеной забавы,        The winter wheat will suffer from this wild fun,
И будит лай собак уснувшие дубравы.        And baying hounds awake the slumbering groves.

Emotionally about the stereotypes

We used to discuss the necessity of the stereotypes many times, it's funny of course, to read it or learn about it. Well, like all English drink tea at 5 o'clock, German are never late, French appreciate the wine, Italians are passionate etc ... ANd of course there are stereotypes about Russia. I wouldn't say 'many stereotypes' as when they speak about Russians, there are just few of them ... And they are very annoying! It is very very banal to think that Russia is ...
matryoshka balalaika vodka bear

Besides, in Russia we watch a lot of foreign series and films, Russians are interested in many other cultures and countries. And it might be funny sometimes when we see how do the foreign films introduce Russia. Of course, if they are more then 18 years old, you may understand why they do it in the following way. But what about the modern film?

Russia in MODERN films (after 2000):
red star, Stalin, GULAG, hat with ears, KGB, red star, red star and again red star

Is it possible that educated people or film directors or producers STILL do not know at least that the political system in RUssia has changed? That sounds strange.

But there is the thing that gives hope - there is still A LOT of people who is interested in the history of the world, who is broad-minded.

From now there would be a new tag in our blog: Russia is,.. where we will try to collect the things that are really worth appreciating about Russia. You may also participate and share you links and ideas.

Wednesday 25 May 2011

"The Legends of May" (LAST film): 'Scarlet Sails'

You still have a chance to get acquainted with Russian fairy tales and legends! 


The last week of May we watch the most ROMANTIC fairy tale, the LAST film of 'The Legends of May" in RLC.

Tuesday, 31 May, 7.30 pm - Scarlet Sails (‘Алые паруса’) 
All films run with English subtitles and start at 7.30 pm.
You are welcome to bring your children.
People of all languages and ages are welcome!
Scarlet Sails (‘Алые паруса’) is based on Alexander Grin's adventure novel.
The story is a romantic fantasy and is described as a "fairy tale", though it contains no overtly supernatural elements. The setting is a small fishing village. The former seaman Longren raises his daughter Assol alone after losing his beloved wife, making a meager living by selling the toy boats he carves from wood. As a child, Assol encounters an old man who claims to be a wizard and promises the girl that one day a prince will come on a ship with scarlet sails to carry her away. The villagers scoff but Assol believes her dream will come true one day.
Admission is free, however please write to us (2teacher@rlc.hk) or call us (2598 8389) to book a seat.

Friday 20 May 2011

'Ordinary Miracle' soundtrack

If you liked the film 'Ordinary miracle' from our 'Legends of May', you may download the soundtrack from this film and listen to the songs and music 


'Ordinary Miracle' soundtrack 



Cinema club, next film: 'Viy' ("Вий")

We are happy to invite you to the 4th film of "The Legends of May" in the Russian Language Center. Every Tuesday of the month you will watch one of the most famous and beloved Russian fairy tales and films.
All films run with English subtitles and start at 7.30 pm.
You are welcome to bring your children.
People of all languages and ages are welcome!
Next film: 24 May – 'Viy' \ “Вий”, 1967, 80 min (not recommended for children under 14)
Viy (Spirit of EvilВий) is a 1967 horror film produced by Mosfilm and based on the Nikolai Gogol story of the same name. This was officially the first Soviet-era horror film released in the USSR.

Plot

A seminary student must survive three nights in prayer guarding the deceased witch maiden while she, along with an army of hellish demons, try to lure him out of his Holy Ring of Chalk.
Однажды ночью главный герой, бурсак Хома Брут (Леонид Куравлёв), случайно убил ведьму. Вскоре его вызывают отпевать в течение трёх ночей молодую панночку (Наталья Варлей), которая оказывается той самой ведьмой, желающей теперь отомстить Хоме. Брут пытается сбежать, однако этому мешает отец панночки, пообещавший выполнить предсмертную просьбу дочери. Пан сотник ставит Хому перед выбором: если семинарист доведёт обряд до конца — его ожидает щедрая награда; если же Хома попытается увильнуть от отпевания — он, волею сотника, будет жестоко наказан. Реальность и воплощения народных верований переплетаются, когда Хоме предстоит молитвами три ночи обороняться против разной нечисти: покойной панночки-ведьмы, упырей, вурдалаков и, наконец, самого ужасного Вия…

Thursday 19 May 2011

The diary of a traveller, entry 13. Part 3 Lake Baikal


13. November

V. returned this morning. After breakfast I set off by myself on another little hike. Headed for the funicular – this is actually a chair-lift about 700m long running along what looks like it could be (and perhaps is) a really nice little ski slope. The chair lift wasn’t working so I had to take a winding walk through the woods following the car tracks to the top of the slope. It is a lot warmer today and the walk up was pretty heavy going. But the view at the top was more than worth it. I passed an old couple along the way but other than that there was no-one around. One of the highlights of my trip. Also made friends with a Siberian cat which had swimming pool blue eyes.

After this I walked back down to the apartment. V. has decided we should go and check out Port Baikal today. It is nearly 2pm so only a couple of hours of sunlight left.

The ferry over to Port Baikal from Listvyanka was a rickety hunk of iron. It runs 5 times a day and has space for 2 cars comfortably but the somehow managed to cram on 7! It was great to get onto the lake itself, although I half expected to sink at any moment. Port Baikal itself was charming – what I was hoping to find in Listvyanka but didn’t. A proper old village of about 300 residents which was a key stopping point for the old Circumbaikal railway. Wooden houses. No hotels or main roads (or cars for that matter). Situated on the bank of the lake a the foot of steep hills and woodland. Valerii took my on a hike up the hill which was virtually a sheer climb in places. Even though it seems I have knackered my knee now view from the top was well worth the effort! 

Whilst waiting for the return ferry in a small museum back in the village I made friends with 8 or 9 boys from Irkutsk who were on a school trip. They were all about 14 or 15 and were a great bunch! Instantly clocked me for a foreign tourist and came over to chat. At first we spoke in English but I’m happy to say that I spoke better Russian than they did English so we switched. Instantly thought I was American at first but I very firmly corrected them! They all wanted their photo taken with me and we had a good chat about football and movies etc. Were so excited when I showed them a $20 note (although I think that might have confused the issue of my nationality further). Don’t think any of them had been outside the former USSR before. 

Sunday 15 May 2011

Flying over Moscow

Novodevichiy monastery 
view to the Kremlin and Red Square, St.Basil's Cathedral is seen ahead 

click photo to see more 


and bonus! 3D Virtual Tour over Moscow 

Life of a word: Russian idioms containing the word 'NOSE'


Russian idioms containing the word 'nose'

водить за нос ( To lead someone by the nose. Mener qn par le bout du nez. ) - to pull the wool over smb.'s eyes. Means that you cheat someone. 

совать нос (в чужие дела) have one's nose in (someone's affairs), 伸头探脑Fourrez son nez. Means someone always tries to learn what is happening in the life of others, and he is doing it not in a polite and tactic way  

вешать нос (to hang the nose) - to be down in the mouth/dumps. Means that someone is very upset. If you want to cheer someone up, you should say 'don't hang your nose' - "не вешай нос!" 

клевать носом (to dab with your nose) - nod; be drowsy. Means that you are sleepy and your head i going lower and lower while you fall asleep. Usually it looks like your are dabbing the grain like a bird 


Cinema club, next film: 'Ordinary Miracle' (Обыкновенное чудо)


We are happy to invite you to the 3rd film of "The Legends of May" in the Russian Language Center. Every Tuesday of the month you will watch one of the most famous and beloved Russian fairy tales and films.
All films run with English subtitles and start at 7.30 pm.
You are welcome to bring your children.
People of all languages and ages are welcome!

An Ordinary Miracle (Обыкновенное чудо) is a Soviet 1978 musical film, a love story by Mark Zakharov based on a play by Yevgeni ShvartsLeonid Serebrennikov performed the main theme in the film ("Nelepo, smeshno, bezrassudno, bezumno, volshebno.."). Composer - Gennadi Gladkov. Lyrics by Yuli Kim.
Главный герой фильма Волшебник (Олег Янковский), который, чтобы развлечь себя и свою жену (Ирина Купченко), выдумывает сказки. Герои сказок оживают, приходят в его дом и начинают жить своей жизнью. Очередная сказка получалась очень грустной...


Tuesday 10 May 2011

The diary of a traveller, entry 12. Part 3 Lake Baikal


12. November

Weather has changed dramatically. Best part of a foot of snow must have fallen over night. Been left to my own devices today as V. has gone back to Irkutsk, returning tomorrow morning. First stop was the Baikal Museum which was just a stone’s throw from the apartment. Highlight was the aquarium and the two seals they have there! Mother and daughter pair apparently – mother was rescued by a boat injury and then subsequently gave birth to daughter apparently. They were very friendly (or as friendly as you can be if you’re a seal behind inch-thick glass). There were other species there from the lake like sturgeon and the famous omul – but these were less friendly.

After that I braved the elements and went off in search of a famous rock which had something to do with the history of how the lake was formed or so the legend says – Old Man Baikal threw it at his daughter for marrying the wrong river or something like that. 

Anyway, it was bloody cold and after 30mins or so of walking into the wind and snow I took a photo of the nearest rock which probably wasn’t the right one and then headed back to the apartment to get my scarf. Then walked all the way from the apartment to the village and back again which is a good hour each way. I’m not at all bowled over by Listvyanka as a village/town. It’s basically one long road and is the kind of place you’d want a car for sure. Although that said driving round here seems like a risky business judging by the number of crashes they have!

From the market I bought two large smoked omuls and a loaf of stale white bread – gonna enjoy this biblical dinner later. After that I had another good chat with an impudent young lad running the bar of a café I called into. To begin with he wanted to charge my 500 RUB for sitting down (in an empty café) for fear that I was about to eat my loaf and fish. But the matter was soon cleared up and I bought a coffee with milk and two glasses of aptly named ‘Baikal’ vodka which was very good. All for the reasonable price of £2.30! 

We chatted about Russia, England, how 25 cars fall into the frozen lake each year and how smoking is bad for you.
             
dinner

view to the Lake Baikal 
photos are taken from Richard's archiv


Monday 9 May 2011

Photo contest for the Russian Language Day

The Russian Language Center and the Orthodox Brotherhood of Apostles Saints Peter and Paul is pleased to host the 4th Russian Language Day on June 11, 2011. This year activities of Russian Language Day are dedicated to Russian fairy tales and legends. If you are interested in Russia and study Russian, we would like to invite you to participate in the following contests and activities announced in preparation for Russian Language Day.
Photography contest “Russian Trace in Hong Kong”


Requirements:
High resolution only, creativity without stereotypes.


More information on the web-site of the Russian Language Center 

The Victory Day chronicles, 2011

The PARADE on Red Square on the 9th of May 2011 celebrating 66 anniversary of the Victory. Click to see more 


And some unknown photos of the Great Patriotic War. Click to see more 


Traditional Victory Day fireworks or САЛЮТ. Click to see more  



Thursday 5 May 2011

Victory Day traditions

There is a number of traditions connected with the VICTORY DAY in Russia nowadays. Let me introduce some of them


1) The minute of silence
It happens every 9th of May at 7.00 pm sharp. Those who have chance come to the Alexander's garden near Kremlin in Moscow - to put the flowers to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (near the Eternal Flame). The others watch TV at this moment, as at 6.55 starts the ceremony, when we remember the significance of this Day, we remember our relatives who died defending our Motherland. 


At 7 it is said: 'The minute of silence' and we keep silence remembering those to who we will be grateful for ever. 


2) The Victory Parade
It happens in the morning of the 9th of May on Red Square. 


3) Wearing the Georgian Ribbon
Relatively new tradition which quickly became very popular. We put it to hair, jackets, bags to show that  'We remember, we are proud' 


4) The Victory fireworks
It happens at 9 in the evening of the Victory Day. 


5) Giving flowers to the veterans, making concerts for them, meeting the veterans
Usually inspired by the youth, such concerts and attention are very dear to all the participants. The veterans themselves have few places in different cities (like in Moscow it is the square neat the Bolshoi THeatre and the Gorky park) where they meet this Great Day. 


6) Watching the films about War on TV all day long.
The Soviet cinema and present day Russian cinema are rich in great patriotic films about the war. Each citizen has at least dozen favorite films which he knows from his childhood


Indeed there are many other traditions, if you know any - please share here! 
С Праздником!  

The Victory Day, some historical facts

The Victory Day (День Победы) or the 9th of May (Девятое мая) marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War (also known as the Great Patriotic War). It was first inaugurated in the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union, following the signing of the surrender document late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (9 May by Moscow Time).


The term Great Patriotic War (Вели́кая Оте́чественная война́) is used in Russia and some other states of the former Soviet Union to describe the World War II from June 22, 1941, to May 9, 1945, against Nazi Germany and its allies in the Eastern Front. It is a patriotic and symbolic term. During this period 6.8 million Soviet soldiers were killed and 4.4 million died in captivity. The Soviet Union lost 26.6 million men and women in total, more than any other country in human history


LAST DAYS OF THE WAR 


In april 1945 Soviet army was close to Berlin. The German army was preparing the defense and got ready to the street fight in the city. 
On the 29 of April the battle for Reichstag started. The defense of the building was around 1,000 people. After several attacks by  Soviet 171 and 150 RIFLE division, the Reichstag was captured already at night. Early in the morning on the 1st of May lieutenant Alexey Berest and sergeants Meliton Kantaria and Mikhail Egorov put the flag of 150 Rifle division over the Reichstag.


On the 7st of May in Reims the act of capitulation of Germany was signed. From Soviet part the act was signed by general Ivan Susloparov, who didn't get the approval from Moscow, that's why the next day there was so called 'ratification' which was approved by Soviet Union, it happened on the 8th of May at 22:43 or on the 9th of May at 0:43 (Moscow time). 

'We are grateful to you for one more spring... '

This great day is the 9th of May - the Victory Day, the greatest holiday in Russia.  66 years passed already, we lose our dearest veterans from year to year, but we still remember well, WHAT is the 9the of May for all people of the former Soviet Union and we are very grateful to those, who gave us a chance to live that days - many many years ago. 


Indeed, there is almost no families in former USSR, whose relatives - now these are not only grandfathers and grandmothers, but even grand-grand mothers and grand-grandfathers - did not participate in that Great Patriotic War. Many people grew up on the films about War, we all know the main dates and the main surnames which created the history in this way, still it was the Victory of ALL people of the country. 


As we say, it is a holidays 'with tears on eyes', as remembering the Victory, we as well remember those who gave their lives to defend these MOTHERLAND. 


'We are grateful to you for one more spring... ' 

The Legends of May



We are happy to invite you to a month of fairy tales at the Russian Language Center, or "The Legends of May". On every Tuesday of the month you will watch one of the most famous and beloved Russian fairy tales and films.


All films run with English subtitles and start at 7.30 pm.



You are welcome to bring your children. 



People of all languages and ages are welcome! 


More information about the program and films is found here www.rlc.hk/legends-of-may 

Admission is free, however please write to us (2teacher@rlc.hk) or call us (2598 8389) to book a seat.