July 2013
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Russian Grammar Made Easy Through Patterns
Category : Speak RussianI get asked this question a lot: “Mark, What’s the best way to learn Russian grammar?” The answer is simple. You should be learning the patterns behind all Russian grammar. Period. Do that and you’ll be light-years ahead of everybody who still struggles with it. Watch this video to see how it works. If you…
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How is local law enforcement in Ukraine?
Category : Questions to an American Living in UkraineQuestion: How is local law enforcement in Ukraine? I honestly can’t say. I’ve never had any issue. Sevastopol in particular is a very safe city because of the presence of the Russian Navy. The constant presence of soldiers in uniform (even though they have no jurisdiction there), tends to keep people well behaved. And they…
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What’s Russian humor like?
Category : Questions to an American Living in UkraineQuestion: What’s Russian humor like? We all know English spelling is ridiculous. I mean, how you get the sound “Farve” out of the name “Favre” is unfathomable. Why is ‘Kansas’ pronounced “can-zas” but ‘Arkansas’ is pronounced “ar-can-saw”?? Anyway, Russians have a joke about our bizarre spelling rules: If it’s spelled “Manchester” it’s pronounced “Liverpool”. Here…
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What should I consider before planning a move to Russia or Ukraine?
Category : Questions to an American Living in UkraineQuestion: What should I consider before planning a move to Russia or Ukraine? Pack lightly. Moving is a pain, and if life here doesn’t suit you, it becomes twice as painful having to then move it all back. Double-check with the IRS of course, but be aware that if you open a bank account overseas…
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Any suggestions for someone considering a move to Ukraine?
Category : Questions to an American Living in UkraineQuestion: Any suggestions for someone considering a move to Ukraine? Many guys are curious about how they’d occupy their time. I’d put language lessons (as in, learning to speak the language as fluently as possible) high on your list. It’ll make your time there increasingly enjoyable, and it’s apparently one of the best things you…
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Is the Ukrainian government Stable?
Category : Questions to an American Living in UkraineQuestion: Is the Ukrainian government Stable? It seems so. Ukrainians will tell you “everyone is corrupt” or even that “the elections were rigged” and so on. It’s hard to know the truth. But it’s not like there’s a coup d’etat every week or anything. How about local schools? (I’m thinking: What if I lived in…
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What’s the cost of living like in Russia or Ukraine?
Category : Questions to an American Living in UkraineQuestion: What’s the cost of living like in Russia or Ukraine? You can buy a nice, two-room apartment in Sevastopol for under $50,000. (And under $40,000 in most other Ukrainian cities, except Kiev.) I’ve never owned a car here. Never had a need, because we lived in the center. That is, we could (and did)…
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What do you eat on a regular basis in Ukraine?
Category : Questions to an American Living in UkraineQuestion: What do you eat on a regular basis in Ukraine? For breakfast I either cook kasha, which is buckwheat porridge. It tastes decent enough, especially once you add some fruit. And I also like Muslix cereal. The other meals vary. Nearly every day I have a salad, often Greek Salad, which is delicious and…
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What is the phone system like in Russia or Ukraine?
Category : Questions to an American Living in UkraineQuestion: What is the phone system like in Russia or Ukraine? The phone situation here is bizarre. At least five competing cell phone providers. It’s free to call people on the same network, but prices between networks vary wildly. And you pay up front for the minutes you use. You go to these kiosks, buy…
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What are some differences between Americans and Russians or Ukrainians?
Category : Questions to an American Living in UkraineQuestion: What are some differences between Americans and Russians or Ukrainians? There’s a subtle difference between Americans and Ukrainians which I’ve only just recently noticed: Ukrainians don’t eat. Well, you don’t ever see them eating, is what I’m getting at. No one eats on the street, or in the mall, or on the bus. They…