Это Я

[peacetraveler22]

In the virtual world it's easy to transform into an entirely different creature. With the click of a few keys and photo processing people instantly become more beautiful, braver and smarter. I think this is most apparent if you've ever played the online dating game. You exchange messages with someone, a few photos, and then when the time comes you meet a person entirely different from the prince you created in your head. Maybe their voice isn't what you expected, or their mannerisms or body language throw you off. It's a strange social experiment to be part of this scene. I tried it for a few months last year, but it doesn't work for me. Almost all of my past relationships started first as friendships and then progressed into something more. I still believe it's the most solid foundation for any relationship.

In my blog, I try to show you the true me. If you read me consistently it should be easy to understand my basic personality traits. The bloggers I enjoy reading most on LJ are the ones who do the same. They write with some sense of emotion and personal insight, rather than objectively. I've met two popular LJ bloggers during their visits to America. One personality was exactly as I expected, the other completely different. And when one of my readers visited DC, I shared a lovely evening with him and his wife. Wonderful, intelligent and interesting people. Exactly as I imagined from this reader's comments.

So today I show you something new about me. Recently one of my Russian friends celebrated a birthday. It's tradition for me to send foreign friends video greetings on special occasions, and in this one you can hear me speak a few Russian words. :) Yes, we all live and die by email and other forms of electronic communication. It's the way of the world but to me it sometimes grows stale and impersonal. Always better to see some animation in the face, some type of expression such that kind words and thoughts are adequately expressed and felt.

Can you understand my Russian in the video? The Russian phrase for "Happy Birthday" is very difficult for an English speaker to pronounce! Maybe I'll try a new experiment and record a short video greeting for you each month in Russian. It will motivate me to study and practice my Russian speech. Or maybe you will grow tired of seeing me? :) At least for today you can see me in motion and hear my voice. Это Я!

Comments

[ss-sulaco.livejournal.com]

I could't have said it better :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, you could! :)

[atlantis555.livejournal.com]

>Can you understand my Russian in the video?
Of course )

>Maybe I'll try a new experiment and record a short video greeting for you each month in Russian
Yes, it'll be interesting. It's always interesting to hear foreigners speak Russian )

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Okay, I will try to practice and make Russian videos every once in a while. But they will be very short.

[weary-cynic.livejournal.com]

'iz americA' must be 'iz americE' (Russian И not A in the end)

Everything else is very good

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I pronounced it the English way.

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

Very soft.

U need more "R" and words must be harder.

Not Priv'et. Just PriVet :)

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

Foreigners hardly understand how to pronounce soft consonants.
Almost always it sounds like "привьет".
Or "привЭт" :))

But Chinese language is much harder in this part... :)

[278200.livejournal.com]

i think u had prononced it very well!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I need a lot of practice!

[wonder1ng.livejournal.com]

pretty woman!)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Спасибо!

[demonfrost.livejournal.com]

I think you performed it almost perfectly, being an English speaker. Adding to some little corrections expressed above, please try not to make such pause between "С" and "Днем", rather speak it as a whole: "[zdnyom]".

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's necessary for me to speak in slow motion, otherwise I can't pronounce the words. :)

[real-marsel.livejournal.com]

I adore your pronounciation! It's marvelous!

[real-marsel.livejournal.com]

It's music for my ears.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And your English pronunciation is good?

[nar-row.livejournal.com]

That is good enough to understand. :)

By the way, in Russian language pronoun "я" must be the lowercase letter, if a sentence does not start with it.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I didn't know this, thanks. I also notice sometimes that country names aren't capitalized in Russian. Should they always be lower-case also?

[joshslokam.livejournal.com]

слово "ПОКА" очень хорошо получилось :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Formal and informal "bye" I can say (до свидания и Пока). However, the formal version of "hello" (Здравствуйте) - I can't pronounce this!! Too difficult.

[mujlan01.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful face, and nice smile! As one friend of mine says: If I was not married ..:))
I understand both sides of your message/// Your Russian is good!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your kind compliments! I'm not too smiley for a Russian? :))

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

Very well understandable!

But did you notice that body language, facial expressions and usage of voice are different for different nations?

For example, the high voice you used ... in Russia it is normally used only when you want to warn somebody (for example, a child) about their behaviour.
So it sounds a little bit like if you are not happy.
If you are happy the voice will be lower like coming more from the heart, not from the head.

This is probably one of the reasons why Russians think that Americans are always teaching them something :))

Here:
ottenki-serogo. livejournal. com/299971.html
many readers solved the puzzle where this new office is located as early as at picture 6, finding that these are _our_ girls :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

My voice is high? Hmm, usually people tell me it's low. :) Maybe because I was nervous and concentrating on the Russian words too much. But my smile should indicate level of happiness!

[sergechel.livejournal.com]

Correct ending - iz Ameriki, not iz Amerika

[inamora.livejournal.com]

Зануда.

[fesma94.livejournal.com]

Or maybe you will grow tired of seeing me? :) (c)
Tired?! :-) I want more posts from you , smart and engaging woman

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I have a big break in travels, so not much to write about recently. :( Hopefully a new adventure is on its way.

[mybathroom.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to see you, Shannon!
Your Russian is great!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Denis!

[wojzeh.livejournal.com]

красотка!

всякого русского можно поздравить вот этой песней:

http://lyricstranslate.com/ru/ya-igrayu-na-garmoshke-ya-igrayu-na-garmoshke-i-play-accordion.html

this is the 'happy-bithday-to-you' russian song.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This is the common "happy birthday" song for Russians? It doesn't seem very cheerful. :)

[inamora.livejournal.com]

Your Russian is great!
I told you already ))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thank you! But I need confirmation from others. Men are more opinionated, and most of my comments are from male readers. You see, they are already correcting me! :)) Btw, have you ever tried online dating?

[modest-so-zvezd.livejournal.com]

in life you're different than the photo))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

In real life, I'm a plain and low-maintenance woman. I wear very little make-up or none at all. In my current LJ photo, I have a lot of make-up on for a photo shoot. :)

[vladshatilov.livejournal.com]

Американца выдает не сколько ошибка в конце слова "АмерикА", сколько неумение произнести слитно слог "ве", вместо этого говорят "вье". Отчасти это происходит из-за неумения смягчать согласные перед гласной.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, in English we aren't used to these hard/soft sounds. We don't emphasize certain letters in words, but I know in Russian it makes a big difference. It can change the meaning of the word.

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

Your Russian better then my English:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No way! You are more proficient in English for sure! I can't communicate with Russians in their language, but you communicate with me fine. :)

[whiteeye.livejournal.com]

So cute:))) Please, continue such video messages, you are very open and sunny person, speaking Russian so cute and English with pure American accent:))
And really great greeting "card" :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Okay, I will try to make another one in a few weeks. :))

[rider3099.livejournal.com]

I like your english accent when you speak russian. It's so soft and nice!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Olga, and do people notice your Russian accent when you speak English?

[dubai100.livejournal.com]

Big deal video, much more impressions, nice and positiv!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'll try to make others in the future, hopefully in Russian.

[efeiya-grassie.livejournal.com]

You're so warm. Thank you :) Your phrases in Russian are perfect. Don't worry - your friend will understand you and appreciate your efforts.

"Almost all of my past relationships started first as friendships and then progressed into something more". (C)

I totally agree. Romantic dating is merely a scenario we use like the actors of some well-known play.

We try to show each other the better versions of us. It doesn't work. There's the end of the show. I faced it several times.

Even if you show your own photos - it doesn't matter. You pretend to be someone else.


For a couple of colleagues or college mates it's different. They just live their lives close to each other. They are what they are.

No princes, no fairies. Just two persons who can stand each other. And that's wonderful.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Yes, initial lust dies after time. Most important thing is to find someone who understands you and accepts every part of you, including imperfections. We all have them.