Blogs - Russia Beyond The Headlines

Let´s read Marshak

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:44:00 +0400

Today we will be speaking about S. Y. Marshak, a famous Russian poet and translator (1887-1974). His poems are useful for foreigners who study the Russian language in terms of phonetics, grammar and vocabulary.

A night at The Human Library

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:08:00 +0400

In the wake of a legislative attack on the LGBT community in a number of Russian cities, “The Human Library,” an innovative project designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourage understanding, opened its doors in Moscow

Cultural exchange builds relationships

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:52:00 +0400

In April, I interviewed former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, who is now senior vice president of communications and government relations for Harrahs Hotels & Casinos, which has its own circus show on the Strip. Absinthe, a tent circus show

Michael McFaul: The first 100 days in Moscow as an ambassador

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:48:00 +0400

Several days ago, one of my Twitter followers pointed out that 100 days have passed since my family and I arrived in Moscow. I was quite surprised by that figure - glad someone is keeping track!

Is Russia’s capital flight problem all that bad?

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:46:00 +0400

Over the last year, money has been flowing out of Russia for the first time since the chaos of the 1990s. In 2011, a total of $80 billion left the country with another $35.1 billion departing in the first quarter of 2012

The Buranovo Grannies: Life after 70

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:01:00 +0400

Why is Russia’s Eurovision group so popular? Could it be because they show an aging world that all is not lost with time?

The good, and bad, of being a student in Russia

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:03:00 +0400

Cody compares student life in the U.S. with what he learned about the Russian system from his experience as a foreign exchange student in Moscow

Beginning a top-down attack on corruption

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:37:00 +0400

With the presidential elections over and Vladimir Putin due to return to his old job in May, the Kremlin has turned back to the task at hand: fixing Russia, Inc. At the top of the agenda is taking on corruption

Line. Home delivery. Photo.

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:27:00 +0400

Today we are going to speak about 3 new communicative situations: how we stand in line, buy things with home delivery and make official photos for documents.

What is Russian for ‘McDonald’s’?

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:54:00 +0400

In Moscow the world of fast food takes on an entirely different meaning

Live long and prosper

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:06:00 +0400

A Russian gerontologist is certain that the normal human life span is 110-120 years

Defined by global culture

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:33:00 +0400

The longstanding tradition of citizen diplomacy, once a popular means of improving relations between Moscow and Washington, has come back again

Once again, the question: “Who is Mr. Putin?”

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:18:00 +0400

Although the political Putin has been demonized in the Western press, Russians welcomed him

Russian comedy at its best: “KVN”

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:38:00 +0400

Why does it take some time to adjust to Russia humor?

Remembering a Master Comic

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:40:00 +0400

Yury Nikulin had the power to bring together some disparate figures – in the Soviet Union and the United States

In the bookshop

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:15:00 +0400

Hello! Today we´re going to speak about a new communicative situation, in the bookshop

Humanity at crossroads: technology explosion or a return to the Middle Ages

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:01:00 +0400

The Global Future 2045 Congress, a recent gathering in Moscow, brought together experts who started discussing the future direction of the human civilization

The power of time zones

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:31:00 +0400

Jennifer Eremeeva talks about the consequences of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's decision to cancel the winter time and reduce the number of time zones

Russian clowns

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:09:00 +0400

What was once known as the classical Russian circus has now become something more akin to characters you’ll find in a theater – odd, creative, esoteric even.

Spending New Year's Day in Moscow

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:08:00 +0400

I grew up in the American south. It never snowed. Therefore it must be absolutely fabulous to spend New Year’s Eve in Russia!

Cashdesk. Currency exchange

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:16:00 +0400

Today we will speak about two communicative situations: at the cashdesk and in a currency exchange

Russia’s fortunes rise as West sinks into despair

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:25:00 +0400

Ben Aris explains why despair in the West is now higher than in Russia

Tis the season to be jolly

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:34:00 +0400

Times may be tough, but I’m pleased to see that Russians are not skimping on an essential fixture of the corporate calendar: the New Year’s party

Just throwing some balls in the air?

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:45:00 +0400

Kim Palchikoff's recent post about a Russian talented juggler proves that juggling circus genre is pretty challenging

The kitchen debate

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:26:00 +0400

Jennifer Eremeeva talks about kitchen debates with her husband, transactions of moving money from big banks to smaller ones and solidarity with the Occupy Wall-Street movement

Make stereotypes work your favor

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:24:00 +0400

When you can’t fight stereotypes, you have to turn the situation upside down

Naryan-What?

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:24:00 +0400

The names of some Russia's cities sound weird and unfamiliar even for some native Russians. RBTH blogger Evy Hua describes her trip to Naryan-Mar, a unique Russian city which embodies traditional stereotypes

Taxi. Flowers. Hairdresser´s

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:02:00 +0400

Today we´ll speak about the taxi service, the purchase of flowers and the hairdresser´s

British expat arranges Tatarstan investment tour

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:48:00 +0400

What has Jonny been up to recently? Check out this news story from The Kazan Herald.

Running away from stereotypes

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:59:00 +0400

After many years spent trying to dispel others' views of Russia, it was time to put an end to some false perceptions of my own

Moscow never sleeps

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:28:00 +0400

Moscow will keep you partying all night long and, if you’re up to it, several days in a row

Nyet to the brown bag

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:18:00 +0400

Russians are too reluctant to bring lunchboxes to the office even though they may skip their lunch

At the post office

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:22:00 +0400

Hello! Today we´ll be speaking about some situations at the post office

Should Russia legalize guns?

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:16:00 +0400

Polls show that most Russians are against liberalizing gun laws, but proponents are gearing up for a long fight

Crisis looms, but Russia well prepared

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:03:00 +0400

Are we headed for the abyss? Certainly Russia is in a dangerous place, as confidence is fading fast

Clowns in the concerts

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:14:00 +0400

Circus performers don't limit themselves to specific venues - they often show off their talent in unexpected places

The bodies politic

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:31:00 +0400

Jennifer Eremeeva on the contrast between the United States and Russia gearing up for a presidential election in 2012

Buying souvenirs

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:38:00 +0400

Hello! Today we'll talk about a very important topic, how we buy souvenirs

From the trapeze to tae kwon do

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:42:00 +0400

The path of a circus performer does not always lead to an easy retirement

Foreign investment flowing back into Russia

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:49:00 +0400

In July, Russia took in $87.7 billion of fresh investment – triple the amount from last year

Non-smoking Russia?

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:40:00 +0400

New laws are supposed to ban smoking in public places, but the only realistic way to get Russians to smoke less is to raise the price of cigarettes

We still have nothing to fear but fear itself

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:50:00 +0400

By letting the events of Sept. 11 take over our lives, we are only letting the terrorists win

Ukraine's monopoly on European gas exports broken

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:29:00 +0400

Imagine this: The cash-strapped Ukrainian government realizes that it can't afford to buy oil at $100 a barrel so it starts lobbying Saudi Arabia to sell oil to Ukraine at $80 per barrel instead

The he, sh(e), it bag

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:01:00 +0400

We all know that Russian girls are the world's top slaves to fashion, but how fashion-conscious is the Russian man?

Welcome to the Comedy Pet Theater

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:56:00 +0400

What's better than people who can juggle? Animals that can juggle

In pursuit of quality

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:59:00 +0400

Why do Russians love to buy the best stuff in the world, but can’t produce it themselves?

The (second) first day of school

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:08:00 +0400

For bilingual children, the beginning of September means another year of balancing expectations and assignments

Curb your enthusiasm!

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:30:00 +0400

If, or indeed, when, Russia’s next revolution comes, it will most likely be nicknamed “The Curb Revolution”

Dear Jay Leno

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:15:00 +0400

Will America's late night king invite Russian circus performers to show their skills on his show?

The art of dressing well

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:30:00 +0400

Russian businessmen are learning how to choose suits that are both understated and expensive from the best the UK has to offer