Good day

I'm not so sure...

In fact, only a few of us will be able to go to the Sovetskaya Square. As well as foreigners. But, if I was a foreigner, I'd rather prefer to see something else, that our Goverment. There are a lot of places of interest here. But thу fact is that not all of them will be ready by September. As for me, I'll try to stay away from this town on its annivesary celebrations. And visit it after all the celebrations are done. That'll make me more comfortable visiting this city

Absolutely agree with the idea to go away. There never was anything interesting on such celebrations, so it is a good cause to spend time out of the city with friends in more civilized way. Where will you go, if it is not a secret?

"We are preparing good image of the country", yeah, I'm not sure too. It should have been written in quotes. ))

I can't go away. Cause my wife will be working these days. But, if I had a choice, I'd prefer to go to my wifes country house. That's a place to visit. But, I'm afraid, I'll have to stay at home and watch all the events on TV.
In fact, I wanna see some action on our annivesary, but not everything and last thing I want is go home late in the evening. It won't be safe at all. It doesn't mean that I'm afraid of something, but sh!t happens, you know...
What are your plans

Yeah, it happens. In fact, it was the only one "Day of the city" I was planning to see with my own eyes. Usually they don't inspire me at all. And how I was disappointed when I knew that the only way to see it is to watch on tv. In this case the risk to go to the center is not justifying itself.
So better to go to some other city, for example Shinnik is playing in Belgorod on September, 11. Quite nice option for me.

Perhaps!
By the way DJ Tiesto will be playing in Novgorod on September, 12... That's gonna be a great show!! I wonder, if this Day of the city is made for ordinary citizens or for the Govement... It's a pity, that being a citizen of Yaroslavl doesn't give me simple rights to be where I wanna be and see what I want to see...
So, you are a football fan? That's great. But Shinnik is dissappointing me... I'm not a fan, but I do feel proud for them, when they win. But I never visit any matches, except watching World Championships on TV...
Where did you learn english so well?

I'm going on the football matches once in a while. As soon as Shinnik is not so good and their opponents are not better, I feel like I overpay for the tickets. Actually, I prefer to watch Spanish league, and so I do. And of course I can't disregard World and Euro Championships on TV. I have two balls, but I barely play football recently.
I love volleyball more than football and attend every game, that they have in Yaroslavl. It's a pity that work doesn't allow me to go with them to the other cities. They usually play not on weekends.

English was with me since kindergarten. A school where I was studying was specialized in this language, and then I was in university (there was business English). But of course all of this is not the main reason why I know English so well It is just because I like it. So I watch movies in original language and read books. That's simply makes me happy and I have extra practice. And of course talking with foreigners has its value. And you, what's your history of "friendship with the language"?

I like playing volley and football as well. Unfortunately, I don't have time either.
My "friendship with the English language" began since I was a child. I should thank my Dad for that. He knows English as well as an Englishman. And he started teaching English language me, as well as my sister and my brother. We spoke English up to 18 years old. Not a single word on Russian. And of course, we travelled a lot. Mostly in Asian countries. But, since we stopped speaking English with my Dad, I started to forget it and make silly mistakes. That is why I'm in this topic and enjoy speaking to you. That helps me to remember something... I do have a few foreign friends, but we don't meet so often. Don't have time you know. But I'm eager to refresh all my knowledge here and this is a good practice for me. What school did you graduate from? It must be either school #4 or 37. Am I right? I used to study in both of them. But as I travelled a lot, I never had a chance to catch up with my classmates in all subjects, except for English. That made me a poor student and I had to catch up with the school program in a short period. But that took a bit more time, than it should have. So I had some trouble studying. Of course I succeeded. But everything in my school life was ruined. What is that University you told me about? I mean, where you used to study business English?

Это сообщение отредактировал FryDay - 27.08.2010 - 11:16

It was school #80. The director of the school was also an English teacher and was always travelling to US to her friends. So all the classmates had a feeling that she is perfect in language. And as soon as she was always paying the attantion on how to pronounce everything right, she definitely became the example of good English. Well, recently I was watching our graduation, when she was speaking in English (of course!)...even for parents who doesn't understand anything And this ideal image was ruined. Well, she was good in grammar, but the way she pronounced everything was sooooo weird. I bet the worst accent in the world. It happens when you are trying to imitate the accent of native speakers and it merges with your own. Anyways, I'm glad that she was teaching us. Grammar is the skeleton of the language, so everything else was made by the foreigners that were studying in the school. We had also two subjects in English that was country-specific studies - all about English-Speaking countries (You know, "London is the capital of Great Britain" lol) and somewhat that was calling business-english, but was looking just like ordinary one.
University I was studying in was Yaroslavl branch of Moscow uni of Economics, Statistics and Informatics (ЯФ МЭСИ). But I was lucky to have a good teacher there. There are a lot of them and I think that mine was the strongest. I've heard that she is not working there anymore.
That's really good when you have Dad as a teacher, who teaches you from the childhood. It is more interesting and practical. My father knew English too, but now his knowledge leaves much to be desired. No practice made him forget almost everything. Having this example in front of me, I'm trying to have as much practice as I can, because I don't really want to end like this )) How your father managed to learn English so well? And was your travellings just the way to spend holidays? It doesn't seem so. Holidays that are taking schooltime are too long

My father studied English on his own. He read lots of books, he has tons of dictionaries and he is always practicing. Since 1983 or something, he didn't live in Russia for a long time. Usually, he worked in foreign countries. By the way he is arriving to Russia in a couple of days. I haven't seen him for 2 years already.
Right now he works as an interpreter in Myanmar. They are building a steel-plant there, using Russian specialists. The procedure of builind a steel-plant take a long time, we had to go with him, wherever he went. Otherwise, we would have lived without him in for 10 or more years. For example, he worked in India for 12 years. And it would have been difficult for us to live without him. So, we desided to go with him wherever he went. So those were not holidays. I had to study in an english speaking school, but the program was so poor, that we desided to back to Russia. How do you practice English these days?

I practice English mostly on my own by reading books like your father and watching movies. There are a lot of good movies in English now, so I can spend time both practicing and having fun. Also my wife knows English, so we watch together. I have some friends who are native speakers, but I communicate with them rarely. Mostly wife does this for both of us, as far as my friends are her friends too. It's good idea to speak English at home, but we usually do so when are walking in the center of the city. That's a bit funny, 'cause some people still didn't got used to foreigners around them.
Being mostly all of the life abroad makes you nearly native speaker. Were you missing Russia during that time when were in all of that countries? And do you want to work like your father? It seems interesting, but emotionally very hard. I would prefer to stay in one country and travel somewhere else only on holidays. But still you were in their culture for a long time, so know a lot of Asian tranditions from inside. That's awesome.

Yeah. I also felt a bit weird when I spoke English with my father and everybody knew that I'm a russian-speaking man. I have no idea how he managed to overcome a negative from our party. But I wish I could do the same thing with my children. That's great. But I don't know how to start and I'm afraid to look weird in the eyes of my friends and my child friends.
I could not miss Russia, cause up to 14 years I lived in Russia for not more than 3-4 years at the age of 6 and up to 9. I knew nothing about Russia. I had no friends whom I could miss. So I didn't bother about Russia. And I didn't have any emotional trouble. They began, when I came back... That was truly difficult. I wouldn't wish this would happen to anybody. I was lagged behind life. My development stopped in 1991 and restarted in 1999, but in 1999 I was a child from 1991.
I do know some traditions from Asia. I continue eating only spicy food But not more than that. Of course, I know a bit more about Asia than an ordinary russian guy. But that doesn't help me in my life you know...
My holy wish is the United States of America. California.... But I can't go there. My wife won't go with me. That dumps all my dreams. And if I get divorced I'll break her life. So I wish that someone would dissuade me from going to the US. Are you planning to stay in Russia? What are your plans for the future? Where do you wanna live?

Это сообщение отредактировал FryDay - 31.08.2010 - 14:56

American life, California...well-well, I guess I'm not the one who will help you to forget your dream. I'm for getting what you want. When I was child I was crazy about US, but never California, I don't know why. My dream place there was Boston. Why your wife won't go with you? It seems so strange. If it is only about "I don't know the language" or "I have here my friends and family" or work, or anything like this - I don't understand that point. She is just afraid in this case. And I guess it is up to your fantasy to describe for her that there is nothing scaring in this: she will have you (I wonder why she needs anyone else if she has her husband), she will make new friends, she will be able to talk/visit/invite her old friends and family on holidays (they will be very happy!!! lol), and other stuff. Haha, don't forget about how California is great and her favorite actor from Hollywood will be near . You say that you will ruin her life if you'll get divorced, but if you stay it will be the opposite way. I think if you are made for each other she will understand you. By the way, how will you break her life? If she doesn't believe that you can succeed in US, maybe you can just go there alone without divorce and prove her.

Actually, I'm not planning to stay in Russia, too. I guess we will meet each over in US someday I like European countries especially Spain, but US is the country where people can really live. And Europe is like a big attractions park to spend holidays.

You are totally right. And that puts me in a difficult situation.

Everything is very complicated. I can't tell you that here. All I can say is that if I leave Russia my wife will have to quit. But she'll stay in Russia. That'll ruin her life. She'll have to look for a new job. On the other hand, I have my own life to live. Being a proper man, I can't just leave... My wife will never go with me. This is a dead-end... So, leaving Russia is only my dream... For now... Frankly speaking, I don't really care where to go, either Europe or the US, but I just need to leave Russia. But the US is where I will go, whatever it takes....
About 8 years ago I had an invitation from Boston to work in some kind of an oil company or something. I don't really remember. But I was young. I got frightened. And I think I wasn't ready. I didn't even had money to buy a one way ticket. But all I know, one day I'll have my American dream come true! Hope, we'll meet in the US and we'll drink whiskey in one of their bars
And the flip side of a medal is that the economical situation in the US is now very stable now, and the last thing I want is to get deeper is sh!t than I am now... I have a few friends in NY, Atlanta and LA. They don't recommend me going there for a couple of years. But sometimes, when I sleep, I can see me walking on the west coast...
Do you make any attempts to leave Russia or are you passive in that? Do you have anybody in the US to give you hand? Or will it be like starting your life from the very beginning?

It will be a very beginning in US, but not beginning of my life, you know. So I want to continue my business in there. But 1st I need to "grow enough" to do that. And business is rising with all the desire to conquer US market too I think 2-3 years and I'll be able to go. I have distant relatives in US, but will be on my own. I don't want to be told that I made everything only because of their help. Some people around me could say this, even if it really sounds weird. I don't care, but it would bother my wife.
Well, for me wanting to leave Russia and staying passive about that are two things that can't go together. I can't understand such people who think that everything that they want will just come to them without any actions from their side. The power of dream is strong, but it is only a dream, when you are not trying to do something to make it real.
You know, when I dream at night, that I am in US, I am usually in California. Guess it is just because it is the most popular place and the most known.

What kind of business do you have? Having your own business in Russia will make the procedure of making visa much easier.
Maybe you are right about California. But it could be Florida, or NY or Washington D.C. They are popular too.
I also don't like when somebody helps me. I have the same opinion as you do
How do you plan getting visa?