Posts from ‘April, 2006’

Toasting is a big part of any party or special occasion to Russians. Every shot of Vodka drunk must be preceded by a toast. It is a way of congratulating and wishing good luck. It is a tradition that goes way way back (not sure how long, but a long time).
As far as I can [...]

What is comfort? Well, I have been standing outside in the cold this morning and that is definitely not it.
On the other hand, comfort is extremely important to a Russian woman. She wants to feel loved, secure, cared for and comfortable all at the same time.
But, let’s talk about creature comforts. The little things we [...]

Humor is a big part of our everyday lives. Where would we be without a good laugh at least once a day?
Something I have learned is that all humor is not created equal.
Even for Americans, something that I might regard as so funny that I end up rolling on the floor and my gut hurts [...]

Russians have lots and lots of superstitions (in my opinion anyway). I never realized there were so many until Lena came to me when we were married. It seems though, that not all superstitions are recognized by all Russians.
Let’s talk about a few.
Whistling indoors: This brings bad luck. Apparently you will lose all of your [...]

Well, after 5 years of marriage, I have to say our communication skills are pretty good.
In the beginning, I spoke no Russian and after 5 years I only know a few words. Some would say that is a bit selfish. Sometimes I feel this way. I have tried on several occasions to learn phrases and [...]