RUSSIAN GRAMMAR IN AN EASY WAY

Enjoy Russian school knows how to learn Russian fast! The crack of a matter is in choosing the right strategy to remember some difficult topics. Check out the examples concerning Russian conjunctions ТАК and ТОГДА and try to practice right away!

Russian ТАК

1. Это правда:
– Двор сеял у самой реки, и по веснам, когда спадала полая вода, он был усеян щепой и ракушками, а иногда и другими, куда более интересными вещами. Так, однажды мы нашли туго набитую письмами сумку, а потом вода принесла и осторожно положила на берег я самого почтальона.– Вы видели его вчера в 17:00, так? – Да. Это так.

2. Именно таким образом, не как-нибудь иначе. В таком виде, состоянии, как есть:
– Вы видели его вчера в 17:00, так? – Да. Это так.

3. Очень, настолько:
– Это было так интересно, что старухи, ходившие к Сковородникову играть в “козла”, бросали карты и присоединялись к нам.
– Страшно было только по вечерам: так тихо, что слышен, кажется, даже мягкий стук падающего снега, и в такой тишине вдруг начинал выть в трубе ветер.

CONTINUE READING

FIFA WORLD CUP: THE FACTS WHICH ARE NOT COMMONLY KNOWN

• The FIFA World Cup is the tournament held every 4 years for men’s teams of member associations of FIFA. The 21st edition is being held this year in Russia.
• There are two teams that have qualified for the first time- Iceland and Panama.
• Zabivka, a wolf is the mascot for the World Cup.
• The oracle for this world cup is Achilles who lives at the world famous Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.
• The official song is called “Live it up” with vocals by Will Smith, Nicky Jam and Era Istrefi.
• This is the first World Cup VAR (video assistant referees) are being used.
• The winners of the World Cup from 1930-1970 won the Jules Rimet Trophy (named after the FIFA President).
• After 1970, the trophy was changed to the Fifa World Cup Trophy.

Read the whole interview with Nick - https://enjoyrussian.com/mundial2018/

7 Facts about Everyday Life in the USSR

Welcome to MATRYOSHKA’S DIARY, the weekly column about Russia, its history and people. Today our author Elena Kiliakova tells us about some amazing and even shocking facts about everyday life in the Soviet Union. If you want to know more about pioneers, Artek and unbelievably huge lines in front of the shops in the USSR just keep reading!

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1. People in the Soviet Union took recycling seriously.

Back then we had no options other than to be environmentally friendly. Dairy products (such as milk, sour cream, and other traditional Russian dairy products were packed in glass bottles of different shapes and forms). We never threw them away, but reused! Another mainstream thing was a net tote bag – even though I was born one year before the USSR collapsed I still remember my grandparents using them. These days it is a must-have for those caring for the environment.

2. Did I mention that we took recycling seriously?

Back then we had special competitions – people who collected a set amount of paper (magazines, newspapers and old books) got a very special prize for reaching the goal. What was the award? Those who won the competition were granted an opportunity to purchase a book or a towel or something that was next to impossible to buy in the shops. My mum told me a story how she got a set of towels.

3.Food stamps

It is probably different to imagine it now, but back then we did get food stamps or vouchers which could be exchanged for a set amount of food/goods. Back then you could not just go to the supermarket and buy anything you like from any country you can think of. We had stamps for groceries which were allocated at work (everyone back then had a job). Everyone was given a set amount of goods (groceries)– so the stamps were used to buy some necessities. Some real numbers to get a feeling what was it was like to live in the USSR: one got food stamps that were sufficient to buy one kilo of sausages a month (among other groceries).

4. A legendary Artek camp

In the Soviet era, Artek was a landmark of the USSR. Located in Crimea, the camp was the first resort for young pioneers — the Soviet equivalent of Boy or Girl Scouts. Unlike other recreational facilities for children and youth, Artek was (and still is) open not only in summer, but all year round. The camp attracted children from the USSR (and all over the world really), and was visited by internationally recognized people, like Indira Gandhi.

 5.The 15 sisters

During the Soviet era, the 15 member states had strong ties and economic relationships. The states of the USSR were called 15 sisters. You can experience the special connection which existed back then if you visit the VDNKh or the Exhibition of achievement of the national economy in Moscow. There is a pavilion for each of the member states showcasing the best of what the member state (or I should say an ex-member) had to offer. Some of the main features include the Friendship of Nations fountain and the Cosmonauts’ alley.

6.Take me to…

We had a strong social welfare system which was funded by government. A special feature of it was resorts. Back then a concept of unemployment did not really exist – everyone wanted to work (and was given an opportunity to work) and contribute to the economy. This meant that if you were a member of a union, you could get a heavily subsidised or a free holiday package for yourself and your family members. What a luxury!

7. The Pioneer movement

The Pioneer movement was an equivalent of the Scout movement in western countries. Children and youth were accepted to the organization based on academic merit and other achievements. There were three stages depending on the age:
– Octyabryata– from year 1 to4(Primary School) – were given a pin-shaped like a star with a portrait of Lenin.
– Pioneers – from 5 to year 8(Secondary School) had distinguishable red neckties.
– Komsomoltsy– from year 8 to 10 (High School).
During the existence of the Soviet Union, thousands of camps and palaces (an alternative of a community youth centre) for members were built. These were exclusive only for Young Pioneers/Octyabryata/Komsomoltsy, which were free of charge, sponsored by the government and trade unions

Check out other posts here and follow the news! Some other facts are coming soon:)
And if you want to learn Russian and ask more info about the Soviet era, best teachers are here to teach you by Skype!

“В РОССИИ ЖИЛИ И ЖИВУТ ИНТЕРЕСНЫЕ И ВЕЛИКИЕ ЛИЧНОСТИ”

Russian journalist you would be pleased to meet

We’ve already shared with you some stories of the candidates to learn Russian for free competition. Anastasia Romanova, singer Nargiz, Russian sportsmen turned out to be of high interest for Russian leaners all over the world. The topic for the essays was pretty easy – Russian people I’d like to meet. But the essays were so creative! This time we post here an essay of Noemi from Italy. She is writing about Vladimir Pozner.

Noemi from Italy and her essay for the Russian course scholarship contest

Менязовут Ноэми. Мне 21 год. Я студентка из Италии. Я учусь в университете и там я изучаю русский язык. Мне очень нравится русский язык и культура России. Я знаю, что в России жили и живут интересные и великие личности. С одной из таких личностей, я бы хотела встретиться. Это Владимир Владимирович Познер. Он журналист, общественный деятель и просто интересный человек.

Я бы хотела встретиться с этим человеком, потому что он очень умный и интеллигентный человек, он ведет интересную программу на русском телевидении, куда приходят разные знаменитости, политики и другие важные персоны. Он ведет интервью на свободном русском языке, его словарный запас очень велик, несмотря на то, что русский язык не является его родным. Мне бы хотелось изучить русский язык так же хорошо, как он, ведь русский язык богатый и очень красивый. Также Владимир Владимирович Познер иногда ведет лекции в университете для будущих журналистов. Его лекции очень интересны для студентов, потому что он профессионал своего дела.

Мне бы очень хотелось изучить русский язык, чтобы свободно на нем общаться. Надеюсь, когда-нибудь у меня это получится, и я даже смогу встретиться с Познером.

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Well done, Noemi! And your Russian is brilliant by the way! Come to Petrozavodsk to continue learning and meet Vladimir Pozner:)

Take part in the ongoing Scholarship contest and learn Russian for free!

REAL RUSSIA: HOW IS IT LIKE?

“I had never expected to fall so much in love with Russia and its people”

This is what Enjoy Russian Scholarship contest’s participants say. Those of them who have already been to Russia and is able to understand the language. Our students come to Petrozavodsk to see the real Russia, to experience people’s hospitality and start speaking Russian of course. British traveler and blogger Katherine has written a great story about her Russian trip. Read and think for yourself if you want to learn about Russians from media or come to actually explore it.

Katherine about her trip to Russia

Будь здорова! cried a chorus of voices when I sneezed enormously on my midnight flight to Moscow. This was the first time I’d been surrounded by Russian speakers and the first time I’d ever traveled to Russia. On my way off the plane, a man lifted my suitcase out of the over-head compartment for me. My taxi driver shared his bag of pumpkin seeds with me. A woman offered to take my photo after seeing me struggling to take a selfie – two minutes later she was flat on her back in the middle of red square determined to get both me and St Basil’s in the picture. I was at the ballet when I felt a tap on my arm as a girl offered me some of her chocolate.

The hospitality and kindness of Russians is overwhelming. I was only in Russia for four days in order to run the Moscow Marathon. I had never expected to fall so much in love with a country and its people. Ultimately I want to learn Russian to be able to understand the country more completely as it is so often misrepresented in the West. Russia through the eyes of a Westener is frankly a shock – it exceeds all expectations! I had no idea it would be so full of sunshine, with so much energy and be so well-organised! I promised myself, as I ran around the city, that I would find a way back to Russia, to travel to its far corners, documenting the people I meet and the beautiful landscapes. I blog about my travels and want to be able to present the real Russia, not the repressed version our media feeds us. If it’s only greeting “privet” to your neighbours, chatting to the person next to you at the bus stop, laughing with the lady at the supermarket, or trying to coax a smile out of the man behind the bar; energy is exchanged. Small points of understanding are reached. Misconceptions are broken down. Even at beginner level, it is still possible to change the way people think. It is still possible to have a powerful impact on their day. In this way I would hope to break down some of the walls dividing west and east and show the world Russia through my eyes.

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Come to Petrozavodsk to be fully immersed in the culture and history and start speaking Russian in 6 weeks. Choose a course here

AND DON’T FORGET TO SPIT 3 TIMES!

Superstitions in Russia

What superstitious rituals you will see your Russian friends follow? Every culture has its own superstitions and beliefs and Russia of course is no exception. We do not even realize how superstitious we are. Some think that avoiding a black cat crossing your way is common for both Eastern and Western countries but we actually found out that our international friends have different reactions to some of Russian superstitions. To prepare yourself for Russian language course in Petrozavodsk read about these 5 most common superstitions.

5  most common Russian superstitions

1. Sitting down before going on a long trip. Russians usually sit for a while somewhere near the door inside their home before going to holidays or a business trip. Even if just one person is traveling from a family the whole group will sit down for couple minutes. It’s actually important to sit quietly! This is supposed to ensure the successful trip or rather prevent the disastrous trip.
2. Knocking on wood. When someone says something they hope will remain that way (for example “I’m healthy”) they will knock on wood. We perform knocking action and then spit 3 times over the left shoulder. However, we do not spit actually we just make the motion and the sound. It is supposed to symbolize spitting on the devil.
3. Stepping on someone’s foot. If a person accidentally steps on someone’s foot in Russia it is common for another person to “return step” and step slightly to first person’s foot. This is the way to prevent the fight between each other.
4. Don’t step over people! If someone staying somewhere on the ground you are not supposed to step over them or any part of their body. This is because they stop growing if someone stepped over them. But if this happened accidentally you should step backward over them to lift the “curse”.
5. Friends and couples should not go on different sides of the road. Otherwise, it means your relationship will soon be over!

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To find out more about Russian lifestyle and traditions check out other posts.  But it’s better to see once than to hear a thousand! So come to live with Russian host family and learn the language with us!

PROMINENT FIGURES IN RUSSIAN HISTORY…

… and the history of Petrozavodsk

What are the most recognizable names in Russian history? Here in Petrozavodsk where students from all over the world learn Russian language, we have a monument to Peter the Great. Even those who are not familiar with the historical background of Karelia may guess that the name Petrozavodsk is connected with famous Russian tsar. Firstly it was the settlement of Petrovskaya Sloboda which turned into the largest city in Karelia. Many Enjoy Russian school students try to reveal as much information as they can about the city and devote their final projects in the Russian language to Peter the Great.

Christophe from Germany about Peter the Great

“Russia is in no way inclined to produce personalities of lower interest to an international society than any other nation. In both the troubled and the safe times of Russian history, there have been some remarkable characters that either influenced internal of international politics to such a degree, that our contemporary world couldn’t be imagined without them. One who strikes me personally as exceptionally fascinating would be Peter the Great (Пётр I Алексе́евич).

I’d argue that few Russians have achieved a lasting impression on Russian society to such an extent as Pjotr I has. Little was the former Moscovite Empire known to Western kingdoms before his appearance, little was it developed and little was it willing to change its perspective.

Before his rulership, Pjotr traveled the major European capitals incognito (anonymous in a relative way) to discover their scientific progress and learn from their ways of dealing with state affairs. Of special significance was Germany, from which he imported many philosophers and scientists and who’d later influence the Russian army. To this day, Germany is still a role model, when it comes to economics and had many of its people living in Russia for many generations (even though their Russian was in many cases bad or non-existent, thus also the name Немецкий or „mute“).

With the great number of bureaucratic, military and aristocratic changes that he introduced, the Russian zone of influence had extended. This set in motion a wave of intellectual thinking that would reach its peak with Ekatarina the Great but never lost its momentum until today. Also, the new military strength allowed Russia to extend into new territories and claim it as their own, helping the country giving it its well-known shape.

From this point on, the “enlightened” movement wasn’t stoppable anymore. His often radical reforms – including the forceful cutting of beards! – were often accompanied by opposition from the ruling elite. They, however, found their value, as they offered a way for every one of climbing the career ladder, not regarding their background or their hierarchy. A beautiful example would be the Tsaritsa Ekaratina, who had been a German princess but had become one of the most famous personalities herself.

Of course, Pjotr the Great may be remembered by many for even other achievements. It is worth mentioning that he strengthened the Russian predilection for two exquisite beverages: coffee and vodka. Both he consumed on a regular basis with great vigour, for which he’s also remembered. Few would object that vodka has a very special and important place in Russian soul and Russia is famous worldwide for this drink that the tsars themselves appreciated (for this reason it’s even more striking that the Russian president Vladimir Vladmirovitch Putin fully denies himself alcohol).

For the reasons above, I choose Pjotr I. as one of the most important people in Russian history and, even though he’s been dead for many centuries now, his influence can still be felt throughout this enormous North-eastern country. Unfortunately, none of us will be able to meet him again, but his spirit and soul can be embraced when one travels to the Sankt Petersburg – the city that was founded by Tsar Pjotr I. in 1703 – and enjoy a glass of vodka. He might be dead, but his legacy lives on – the Russian band Leningrad rightfully sings: “в питере – пить.”

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And who is your Russian hero?  Come to Petrozavodsk to be fully immersed in the culture and history and start speaking Russian in 6 weeks. Choose a course here 

ONE STATE, MANY COUNTRIES

5 reasons Russian trip might be equal to world cruise

Russia stretches over Europe and Asia. East-to-west distance is about 10 000 km. That is why its nature and climate so diverse from one region to another that taking a trip here may be equal to a world cruise. Here travelers and Russian language learners may find deep lakes and endless deserts, high mountains and naturally born caves, tranquil meadows and rapid rivers.  People from different countries say Russia has at least one feature similar to the place they come from. Here are 5 reasons depicting that Russia has it all.

1. Russian Iceland – Kamchatka

This is one of the most impressive places in the whole world. 20 huge geysers and thousands of hot springs make you believe you are in Iceland. Locals say it is similar to 20 roaring bears that ignore your presence. Everything around you is bubbling and smoking. Definitely worth visiting!

2. Russian Scotland – Komi Republic

The weathering pillars in Komi Republic is another great natural sight. That is hard to believe but 200 million years ago these 6 giant stones with the height up to 42 m were just ordinary mountains. It goes without saying that we see a masterpiece here with strong wind as the main artist.

3. Russian Switzerland – Altai

Altai Republic is located in the South-Central Siberia. The Altai Mountains cover the large part of the Republic and become a place with the most spectacular views.

4. Russian Arab Emirates – Chara Sands in Zabaykalsky region

Have you ever seen a  desert hidden in between taiga forests? Come to Zabaykalsky region. Standing in the middle of famous Chara Sands you may see mountains tops and mountain lakes and feel like in Arab Emirates desert.

5. Russian Finland – Karelia

The closest region if you head to Russia from Europe. The republic  is located right  next to Finland and has a common  border with the European Union. The land of lakes, stones and rivers attracts thousands of tourists each year.  This is a homeland for Enjoy Russian language school. So if you want to learn Russian and enjoy the unique nature you better choose Petrozavodsk in Karelia.

To visit 5 countries in a one trip come to Enjoy Russian school and make Karelia your first stop! Choose a course here!

THE MOST TASTY RUSSIAN LANGUAGE LEARNING MATERIALS!

How to serve Russian dumplings and cook raspberry buns?

Welcome to Enjoy Russian language school blog! One of the categories here is devoted to learning materials for you to simplify your Russian language exciting journey. But today’s post is a bit special. It’s not only about Russian grammar and the way Russians live. It’s about diverse and unique Russian cuisine. Some say it’s a mix of different cultures’ cooking traditions – Eastern European, Caucasian, Central Asian, Siberian, and East Asia. So grab a snack not to get hungry and make your recipe  book ready to Russian Cyrillic alphabet! Let’s go!

How to cook and serve Russian food?

What do Russians miss when they live abroad? The whole variety of products! ? Listen to the most tasty Russian podcast to find out!
1:58 – Bliny – what to serve with?
3:45 – Cottage cheese: rich in calcium
4:40 – Pelmeni or Russian dumplings – the origin
6:50 – Vareniki – sweet or salted?
8:00 – Pirog – big layered Russian pie
8:45 – Russian soups – borsch and okroshka
12:10 – Vinegret
13:20 – Meet jelly
14:00 – Russian traditional drinks

https://soundcloud.com/enjoyrussianschool/what-flavor-does-russia-have-russian-cuisine

Russian raspberry buns recipe

For those who wants not only learn something about Russian food but also to put knowledge into practice we suggest baking delicious and easy-to-cook Russian raspberry buns

• Put 1/4 cup of warm milk in a small bowl. Add 1 teaspoon flour and 1,5 teaspoon sugar and stir to dissolve. Let it stand about 5 minutes.
• Mix 1 cup of flour and 1/4 cup warm milk in a bowl. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix it. Cover the bowl with a towel. Let the dough rise in a warm place (for about two hours)
• Mix butter, 1 egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of sugar about 3 minutes. Add it to the dough; add in 1 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Preheat oven to 175 degrees C
• Cut the dough into 8 pieces and make 8 balls.
• Press down the center of each bun and fill the hollows with raspberry jam.
• Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
• Enjoy!

Follow our news and see you soon in Russia! Choose a course here

DON’T GO BACK HOME IF YOU FORGOT SOMETHING!

Russians are really superstitious, they believe in lots of different signs, and omens. Today, we’ll tell you one.

Why you shouldn’t turn back if you are halfway there

All Russians know since childhood that if on your way somewhere you realize that you’ve forgotten something at home, you shouldn’t go back. If you do, bad things will happen.

What’s the origin of this superstition?

Since long ago, crossing a threshold of a house was considered a sacred act, because people used to bury their ancestors’ ashes under the threshold of their house. When a person crosses the border between his home, and “strange”, not a home space, he/she is looses protection of his ancestors’ spirits. Also a threshold is a border between world, a doorway through some evil spirits might come into our world.

The spirits might get angry if you cross the threshold without fulfilling your plans. If so, they will confuse all your thoughts, and interfere negatively in the upcoming affairs. In addition, the guardian angel after returning can stay at home and not go with you on a second journey.

What to do?

Many people believe that it is possible to neutralize the effect of the omen if you look in a mirror or sit for a while, when you return home. They say that when you leave the house you are always “blessed” by a brownie (house spirit), and he does it only if you sit down before leaving. As for the mirror, looking at it, you “reflect” the evil spirits standing behind you, and at the same time multiplying your strength and energy.

But speaking the truth, not so many people believe in this omen, because is you forget something it only means that you are absent-minded:)

Learn Russian language and culture in Petrozavodsk! Enroll for a language course here

RUSSIAN GRAVITY FALLS

Vottovaara mountain in Karelia 

On September 3 Enjoy Russian language school starts a group course for people who wants to start speaking Russian in a short time (you may enroll here). We usually offer diverse cultural program to our students but sometimes they choose the places to visit in Karelia by themselves and this autumn we highly recommend you checking out some mystic places in Russian North. Why? Because here in Karelia we have it all: mountain idols, ancient petroglyphs, stone labyrinths and one more place – Vottovaara mountain. It can be compared to Gravity Falls  from the famous Disney series and here’s why.

A healthy habit to explore: what is Vottovaara mountain famous for?

They say one may find mystic spots almost in every Russian region. Near Chelyabinsk, lake Baikal,  Chukotka or even in Moscow (famous Patricarch’s  Ponds described by M. Bulgakov in his novel). The Republic of Karelia is not an exсeption.

People say Russian North is a place of energy and inner strength and that a trip around all the “unordinary” spots in Karelia may take 1 month. Vottovaara mountain (470 m) is a place that the locals are always asked about. The mountain was discovered about 30 years ago and still catches everyone’s attention. It is situated in the Central Karelia not  far from Segozero lake. Some ppeople are ready to take travelers there while others strictly say NO. Let us clarify what’s wrong with this place and why everyone should see this.

1. You may fall asleep in a second. That happened many times with travelers. May be because of ancient Saami people’s rituals or because of the placebo effect. Anyways, you should come to try.
2. Stones are everywhere. Almost 1500 stones that are called “seidy”. They look like absolutely typical stoenes but there is one tiny moment here. They are extremely heavy but when you get closer to one of them you notice that it stands on several stones that are extremely small in comparison with this big one. How did they get under? No one knows.
3. Spectacular view of the whole Karelia and even Finland. Even though it is not that high, you may see beautiful lakes and forests of Karelia and even a part of neighbouring country.
4. Go here if you are a UFO hunter. The locals say you may see here aliens from time to time.
5. The most tranquil place in Karelia and maybe in the Russian North. Not a single bird, fly or ant. Just you and the energy of mysterious Karelia.

YOU STILL DON’T KNOW YOUR RUSSIAN LEVEL? TRY OUT OUR NEW TEST!

Russian language learning at “Enjoy Russian Language School” is organized according to Russian language testing system (TORFL) supervised by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. According to this system,

There are six levels of the Russian language proficiency:

A1 (Элементарный – Elementary) – You start from complete 0 (from the alphabet) and reach a survival level. It takes 6 weeks (120 hours) to achieve Elementary level if you are a complete beginner.

A2 (Базовый – Basic) – You extend your vocabulary and learn how to freely speak about simple topics. It takes 6 weeks (120 hours) to achieve Basic level if you approved the Elementary one.

B1 (ТРКИ-1 – Первый сертификационный уровень – The first certificate level) – You are able to talk about politics, economics, social problems and other serious topics). It takes 6 weeks (120 hours) to achieve First Certificate level if you approved the Basic one.

B2 (ТРКИ-2 – Второй сертификационный уровень – The second certificate level) – You understand the difference between the colloquial and written Russian, can use slang and read newspapers and magazines. It takes 12 weeks (240 hours) to achieve Second Certificate level if you approved the First Certificate one.

C1 (ТРКИ-3 – Третий сертификационный уровень – The third certificate level) – You can do researches in different branches of science, using the Russian language, use very specific vocabulary.

C2 (ТРКИ-4 – Четвёртый сертификационный уровень – The fourth certificate level) – You are like a native Russian speaker! Congratulations!

We run courses for foreign students of different levels (from A0 to B2/C1)

To make sure every student receives the best education, takes off from where he/she is at the moment, and improves quickly, we created a module system that establishes clear and realistic language learning objectives. Every level course consists of 1-week modules, so a “module” is a portion of a language curriculum that is taught for one week. Every module content is describes in details here.

To find out your level of Russian proficiency you can take our test for free right here. Our test was designed in accordance with the module system, and while doing it you can literally see what language material (vocabulary and grammar) you can learn in each module. You can even use the test as a way to find out your errors in Russian, and understand what things you need to go back to, and review again.

You shouldn’t spend more than an hour on this test, shouldn’t guess the answers, but respond according to what you know. You should stop doing the test as soon as you meet a few questions with unfamiliar grammar, and vocabulary. It means, that you’ve reached your level.

It’s also important for us to determine you level that you write 5-10 sentences about yourself. Multiple choice tests can not always fully reflect a person’s level. But your own sentences sometimes show us your level even better than the test.

The results of the test will be carefully checked by our education coordinator, and the respond with your level will be sent to you within 24 working hours. Good luck!

WHAT IDS DO RUSSIANS HAVE?

As great Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov wrote in his most famous novel “The Master and Margarita”, “НЕТ ДОКУМЕНТА, НЕТ И ЧЕЛОВЕКА” (No document – no man). He was absolutely right. We can’t go anywhere without taking our documents with us.

What are the most important documents in Russia?

Свидетельство о рождении (Birth certificate)

After a baby is born, its parents receive the birth certificate at a registry office, and it’s considered to be the baby’s official document until it is 14 years old.

Russian Паспорт (Passport)

It’s a suprising fact for many foreigners that Russians don’t have ID cards. We have internal Russian passports instead. The Internal Russian passport is a mandatory identity document for all Russian citizens residing in Russia who are aged 14 or over.

The Internal Russian passport is an Internal passport used for travel and identification purposes within Russia, which is distinct from

the International Russian passport (МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫЙ ПАСПОРТ) used by Russian citizens to travel in and out of Russian borders

 When people get married they receive a marriage certificate (СВИДЕТЕЛЬСТВО О БРАКЕ)

When a person starts working, he/she gets an employment record book (ТРУДОВАЯ КНИЖКА)

An employment record book is an official personal document recording the employment status of its owner over time. Usually, the work record is kept by the human resources department of a person’s current employer until he or she resigns from that company.

15 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT RUSSIA

In this article, learn more about one of the most amazing countries in the world

1. Russia is the largest country in the world.
2. The deepest lake on Earth Baikal is located in Russia.
3. The oldest mountains on the planet, the Urals, are also in Russia.
4. The deepest subway in the world is in St. Petersburg, its depth is more than a hundred meters.
5. St. Petersburg is the most northern metropolis in the world.
6. The territory of ​​Siberia is about nine percent of the total land area of ​​the Earth.
7. Russia borders on 16 countries.
8. The distance between the borders of Russia and the United States in the north is only 4 kilometers.
9.  There are almost ten thousand trains in the Moscow subway.
10. The most visited McDonald’s in the world is in Moscow on Pushkin Square.
11. Sushi are more popular in Russia than in Japan.
12. The world’s highest university is located in Moscow, it’s Moscow State University.
13. The world’s largest tram network is in St. Petersburg.
14. The Siberian taiga is the largest forest massif in the world.
15. The longest continuous land border in the world is the border between Russia and Kazakhstan.

If you want to learn Russian, and explore Russia, come to “Enjoy Russian Language School”! Sing up for a language course here

TREKKING IN KARELIA NEAR THE WATERFALLS AND VOLCANOES

Top 3 Russian North Hiking Trails

Russian North attracts travelers not only from the very heart of Russia. Every year thousands of nomads seeking extreme experience and new emotions come to enjoy Karelian wild nature: touch the stones that are thousands years old, feel the energy of Russian forests, get inspired by the Northern lights, White nights… If you believe that to start speaking Russian you need only to bone up on the grammar you probably haven’t seen the way Enjoy Russian students live in Karelia. We travel all over the Russian North and practice Russian language with the locals! If you feel like making Russian learning special, take a look at the best hiking routes in Karelia and come!

Learn Russian and stop the time

When a bus takes you to the start of your route you really think that the time stops. No any irritating apps notifications, endless flow of tasks from your boss or thoughts about what to put into the kids lunch boxes. It’s only you and the Nature. Wild, Russian and Nordic. Depending on your vacation you may choose 3-4-day route or enjoy the real journey for 2 weeks. Professional local guides will show you the hidden places and teach how to get lost in the atmosphere (not physically but mentally).

Route 1. To the volcano

Karelia is a land of tranquility and piece. Never ever had anyone witnessed here earthquakes or storms. But ancient volcano Girvas that is 3 billion years old definitely deserves mentioning. This is the oldest sightseeing attraction in Karelia and a place of interest for many archeologists. Solidified lava, earth materials, multicolored stones will catch your attention from the very beginning. Even though the volcanic neck is hardly distinguishable you will feel the uniqueness of the place. When on a track your guide takes you to the highest viewpoints and shows steep cliffs and rocks.

Route 2. Red stones and waterfall in the National Park of Karelia

Trekking in Paanajarvi park is a great opportunity to follow the  traces of an earthquake that occurred here many years ago. Here between the rocks you may find the deepest lake in whole Scandinavia and Kola Peninsula. Get ready to the breathtaking views of deep canyons, fast rivers and singing waterfalls. Even locals will tell you that taking this route is a good way to get familiar with Karelian flora and fauna and to hear the call of the wild. Usually guides are happy to stop a group and take a break with Russian banya and traditional dinner and to share some stories about mysterious Karelian lands.

Route 3. The lake of mountain spirits

According to the Saami people legends, lake Seydozero has always been a sacred place where everyone could meet mountain spirits. That is the place where the oldest mankind civilization’s evidence was found – ancient fortifications, sanctuaries and astronomical objects. Nowadays the trekking path goes through the famous large meadow under which scientists and archeologist dedicatedly try to find the cave. Some say it was clearly seen on one picture taken in 1920-s. Since then no one actually knows if this fact is true. Come to Karelia and try to find out!

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Join Enjoy Russian school this summer and travel Russian North! Choose a course here