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.”

---

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 

Former Helsinki’s deputy mayor considers Petrozavodsk an ideal city for learning Russian

Ilkka-Christian about dramatic history  of Petrozavodsk and his learning Russian experience

As you probably know Petrozavodsk where you can learn Russian language is situated close to the European Union and Karelia has a common border with Finland. May be that’s why many of Enjoy Russian students come here to practice Russian from this county. This autumn we were happy to host very hardworking and loyal student (who has been studying with us several times) Ilkka-Christian. What makes students come to Enjoy Russian more than once? Here is the testimonial of our Finnish student and his impressions from city and the school both in Russian and Finnish languages:

Лично думаю, что каждому финну надо посетить Петрозаводск, по крайней мере один раз в жизни потому, что в этом городе мы сталкиваемся и со своей собственной (!) драматической, иногда у нас замолчанной историей – на берегу Онежского озера финские коммунистические лидеры верили, что построили там социалистический рай, и финские националисты на военной форме исполнили свою разрушительную утопию о ”Великой Финляндии”. Но, конечно, финнам сегодня, прежде всего, было бы интересно ездить в ПТЗ потому, что нынешний город – близкий, красивый и развитый город, который покажет то, что Россия – это не только Москва и Питер. С точки зрения изучения языка город просто идеальный – всё находится поблизости. Школу могу сердечно порекомендовать потому, что здесь  хорошие условия, отличные преподаватели, эффективная организация и вообще хорошее соотношение цены и качества.

Jokaisen suomalaisen pitäisi käydä Petroskoissa ainakin kerran elämässään. Senkin vuoksi, että törmäämme täällä myös oman historiamme dramaattisiin ja joskus vaiettuihin käänteisiin – Äänisen rannoilla ovat suomalaiset kommunistijohtajat uskoneet rakentavansa sosialistista paratiisia ja täällä ovat sotilaspukuiset suomalaiset ”aakooässät” toteuttaneet yhtä lailla tuhoisaa utopiaansa Suur-Suomesta. Mutta ennen muuta siksi, että nyky-Petroskoi on läheinen, kaunis ja kehittyvä kaupunki, joka osoittaa, että Venäjä on paljon muutakin kuin Moskova ja Pietari. Kieliopintojen kannalta kaupunki on ihanteellinen, kaikki on lähellä. Enjoy Russian -koulua voin kokemukseni perusteella lämpimästi suositella – ajanmukaiset puitteet, erinomaiset opettajat, toimivat järjestelyt ja hyvä hinta-laatu-suhde.

ANCIENT MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

Russian idiomatic expressions frequently used nowadays

While teaching Russian by Skype or in a classroom Enjoy Russian shool tutors are often asked by the students about some historical, cultural or scientific facts about Russia, Russian literature,  space industry etc. From time to time learners are interested in Russian measurement system people used especially when they talk about directions in Russian language. To be honest, not every Russian man is familiar with all the notions, but almost everyone uses some idiomatic expressions that contain one-two ancient measurement terms. Enjoy Russian school briefly tells you about the most frequently used notions.

5 common Russian expressions with measurement notions

1. Since ancient Rus’ and till the year 1925 Russian length measurement system included a number of units that grew out of use. For instance the one introduced by Peter the Great in 18 century was called It was equal to 21 English inches (or 71 cm). In modern days here in Russia we still use the expression:

Мерить всех на свой АРШИН. To measure everybody by one’s own ARSHIN – To judge people by yourself.

Another expression with the word:

Проглотить АРШИН. To swallow an ARSHIN – To stand very straight and still.

2. Another weight measurement unit is often used in everyday Russian (especially by teens) and can be viewed as Russian slang – pood – ПУД (that is about 16 kg or 36 lb). We use the following expression to say “something is going to happen 100%, most likely”.

Сто ПУДОВ (plural) – Hundred poods!

3. Another word is VERSTA – ВЕРСТА (which is about 1 km). The expression you may hear very often when in Russia is – Слышно ЗА ВЕРСТУ. This Russian expression means someone screams about something very loud and he/she can be heard everywhere (even 1 km away).
4. ЗОЛОТНИК (zolitnik – “golden one”) – about 4 grams of gold.

Мал ЗОЛОТНИК, да до́рог. A ZOLOTNIK is small, but expensive : when quality is more important than quantity.

5. МИЛЯ (milya) – mile basically, was equal to 7.4 km

Идти СЕМИМИЛЬНЫМИ шагами. To walk in 7-mile steps – To progress fast in something, to improve something quickly.

And if you want to progress fast in Russian (идти СЕМИМИЛЬНЫМИ шагами) join our Russian lessons by Skype or come to Petrozavodsk to Enjoy Russian language school! Choose a course here

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Landmarks and facts you may not now about October revolution of 1917

Learning Russian language in Petrozavodsk students of Enjoy Russian school do not narrow themselves with just Russian grammar exercises and phonetic drills. They talk about art, politics, and history with Russian teachers and each other to learn more about Russia and its society. On the 7th of November people in Russia are going to recall the events of the Great October revolution. In 1918 the Soviet Russia switched to new Gregorian calendar that is why starting with this year the anniversary of October Revolution falls on 7th of November.
Despite the fact the Revolution took place a century ago it remains one of the most discussed topics in modern politics and history. Its contradictive and complex nature with many questions unanswered and mysterious facts unrevealed gives rise to numerous disputes.

The October Revolution chronicle

In March 2017 the emperor Nicholas ll was deposed and the Provisional Government was formed to manage the political situation in the country. On the one hand the Russian monarchy was abolished but every significant change usually takes time. Living through the hard times people were not ready to wait. The army, workers and peasants were extremely dissatisfied with both domestic and foreign politics of the Provisional Government. At list the decision to continue participation in World War l drastically triggered the tidal wave.

At the same time more and more people supported self-formed non-governmental Soviet of Workers’ Deputies sticked up for the reforms and living standard improvement. The armed uprising willing to overthrow the Provisional Government broke out in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) on the night of 25th October. So the Soviet of Workers’ Deputies came into power. All significant city infrastructure objects were occupied. The Provisional Government did not expect that kind of move. By 2 am in the morning all of its members were arrested in the former Emperor’s Palace – Winter Palace.

In the evening of 26 of October the shift of power towards Soviets was proclaimed. Decree of Peace became the first official document of Soviet authorities and implied the start of negotiating process on bringing the War to the end. Vladimir Lenin became the head of the main governmental body, The Council of People’s Commissars.

Facts you may not know about the Russian Revolution

– Russian October Revolution became the first event in the history information about which was transmitting on the radio (Lenin’s address to the peoples of Russia on 26th of October)
– Right after the revolution Norway proposed to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Vladimir Lenin. It was written in the note to the Nobel Committee: “Lenin not only undertakes all possible measures to promote the peace but also takes concrete steps to achieve it.”
– Technically Russian Emperor was not overthrown by someone. He abdicated in favor of his son Alexey and then in favour of brother Michail. In his turn Michail supported the Provisional Government and refused the enthronement.

---

Every single historical event deserves hours of discussions simply because it is far more complex than we see it. To get to the crack of a matter one should talk to locals on what they think. To know Russian culture, history and people better seize an opportunity of coming to Petrozavodsk and take Russian lessons with native speaking tutors. Discuss the news, crucial events and interesting topics with volunteers, host family and in the language clubs. Sign up for a course here.