Today is Old Russian New Year. 
One more opportunity to make New Year resolution, make a wish and watch “Goluboi Ogonek”, and everyone’s favorite ” Irony of Fortune”, if you miss any of that at the New Year. Happy Old Russian New Year!
Tag: cultural differencies
Happy Halloween!
I like Halloween. I like it for orangy, spicy, colorful attitude, fun preparations and sweets generously distributed at any corner. It also gives me an excuse not to clean the spider web above my front door for two weeks or so. That’s a real perk. Despite the tradition, I don’t Continue reading “Happy Halloween!”
What Russians do this week?
My dear readers, I did not abandon my blog. We were traveling to Jamaica (the report is coming) plus we have an exchange girl from Russia living with us now. Plus it is cold in Atlanta and schools are closed which means my time is not mine anymore, but kids’. However, this week is special and I couldn’t miss it. Some have Mardi Gras, some celebrate Chinese New Year, but Slavics have Maslenitsa! Maslenitsa is Continue reading “What Russians do this week?”
SNOW in Atlanta!!! Everyone panic!
Yesterday, after my class, a lady from my neighborhood who is nice enough to drive me home told me decisively and little bit nervously: “Let’s go to buy some food-who knows what would happen tomorrow!” I was surprised: “And what will happen tomorrow?”- I asked innocently. “Tomorrow we’ll have snow! You haven’t heard that yet?!!!”. “Snow,-I repeated quietly, looking through a car window on + 18 C streets. -“ Are you sure? And what? Do you want to buy a sled? “ She says: “What do you mean-and what? We’ll be stuck inside until the weather will warm up, nothing will work! We have to buy FOOD!!!”
Well, I decided not to tell her that Russians live the most of the year in snow, and it is not a big deal at all. I nodded and we went to the store. “Look at the people!”- she told me-“such a line!” -pointing at 5 women peacefully stayed in line. “ It’s good we came so early, you can’t even imagine what will happen after 5PM.” Again, I didn’t tell her that she can’t imagine how is a big line in the store looks like, but I nodded again. I followed her while she packed shopping bag with food items. And I grab a gallon of milk myself…
…That was yesterday. Today Continue reading “SNOW in Atlanta!!! Everyone panic!”
Holiday Anti-Stress Release
Since late October, there have been plenty of articles on internet and newspapers under the major themes of Christmas and New Year: How to avoid stress during holiday season, Tips to handle holidays, Best Christmas gifts for her/him/kids, Tips to help to keep your budget under control, Easy holiday dishes, etc… I was quite irritated with that. I felt that stressful situation was heavily exaggerated. Really-it’s a nice holiday, plus it’s family time. Why shall it be stressful and all printing magazines prepare us for that?!! Just relax and enjoy.
Well, I ignored all these messages and I didn’t educate myself with all those helpful anti-stress tips. During one of those weekends we (my husband, son and me) decided to go and buy a Christmas tree. It was supposed to be as simple as can be. We went to Continue reading “Holiday Anti-Stress Release”
Friendship
Once, my good friend told me: I like America, because it’s so easy to make friends there”. Yesterday, my neighbor told me:”Yulia, it shouldn’t be hard for you to make friends here-you are very communicative”. Well, I thought about these two statements and I was wonder why it is not that easy for me at all?
It’s pretty common for all cultures that after the family, friends come next. This friends circle is important. I always thought that friendship is like a little love. You never know when and why it started, you can just guess. Is it that easy to make friends even if you are very communicative, have a lot of people? How huge is the difference Continue reading “Friendship”
The most often said phrase when people are married
There is one unquestionably good thing when you marry a foreigner, that you got an amazing excuse on your hands: “It is cultural!” Basically, from now on you can do what you want (or even what you don’t want) and use this wonderful reason. You can apply “It’s cultural” to anything you do. You may be loud, quite, shy or bold. You may want to party till 2PM, or like to travel every 2 month, or don’t wait for Friday night to have a night out “It is cultural”. It simply is. Anything works. Continue reading “The most often said phrase when people are married”
Marriage With A Foreign Accent 