Comments on: It’s That Time of the Year Again: «Сезон гриппа» [Flu Season]

By: Mohamed

Mohamed — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:29:18 +0000

Vous êtes très généreux, et j’espère qu’on vous le rendra bien. Quand je saurai mieux écrire en russe, je trouverai les mots pour remercier.
Mohamed, Genève

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:35:00 +0000

Fascinating to discover that Russian babushkas behave the same way as German Omas do. When we lived in Berlin, we were used to elderly ladies poking their noses into our lives and telling us what, or what not, to do with our child. Many Germans also believe that you catch a cold or the flu by being exposed to drafts, and continually used to ask us to close windows and doors to prevent a draft causing illness. The same used to go for ice in drinks by the way, or drinks being consumed straight out of the refrigerator; they were considered unhealthy. The younger generation fortunately don’t seem to share this phobia!

By: Josefina

Josefina — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:16:17 +0000

Kari, I think you might be onto something really good and useful! How about a post named “How To Let Russians Know When Something Is None of Their Business” Actually, I have to tell you that if those ‘babushkas’ keep getting in your face and telling you how to take care of your child, then you have no other choice but to forget all about politeness and tell them to off. It’s as simple as that. I know that there’s no other way out of it. Unless you let them know – in a clear, perhaps even loud voice – that they have no right what so ever to invade on your private space in this way, you’ll never get them to stop. Because Russians think everything from a simple running nose to cancer is caused by “draft”. And nothing we say can ever convince them that it’s germs. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way – whenever they come around with their advice, I just smile and ignore them silently. And sometimes I add that I’ve lived here for over five years and as of yet I’ve never had a “draft” to anything to me… I hope this was helpful! But yes, a post would be best for all the expats out there!

By: kari

kari — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:51:37 +0000

With the coming flu season and cold weather, I sure would love and greatly appreciate a post that deals with how to politely and effectively fight off the babushkas that invade my private space with their concern over my daughter’s warmth! I tell my husband that just ONE more comment that I am (a bad mom) not dressing my child more enough from Russians in the city and I just may explode! Please help…give some insight and advice on how to handle this diplomatically and patiently. It might make me feel better to just tell them that I believe that germs make us sick and not cold weather.

By: Colin

Colin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:54:49 +0000

And again! Your blog is a fascinating source of information on contemporary Russian life and absolutely invaluable to those of who struggle to speak the language well. Your English is also of a consistently high standard; many native speakers would make more embarrassing mistakes if they were to write regular blogs