Saturday evening in Taskent. Alex rides his new scooter outside our local theatre

Fortress Ruins around Ancient Khorezm

Historic Khiva

Russian Lessons

Some of the first things you learn in Russian are the letters.  Some examples follow:

Π is P

P is R

Х is kh, like you are clearing your throat after a shot of vodka

Γ is g

Д is d

Ж is s like in pleasure

Л is L

Ф is f

Ю is you

Н is N

Ш is sh

As it has turned out, the letters are one of the easiest parts of learning Russian.

Want to say hello?  All you have to say is ЭДРАВСТВУЙ (pronounced z-drah-stvoo-hy).  A four syllable word that would probably score you 100 in a game of Scrabble.

ПОЖАЛУЙСТА (po-shal-oo-ysta) is Please.

And my favourite: Я HE  ПOHИМАЮ (ya ne po-nee-maf) is I don’t understand.

Yes, learning Russian is not easy.  Especially since the time I have spent writing the first part of this story is equal to the amount of non-class study time I’ve had in the past month.

Thipp and I are taking our languages classes together.  At first it was three times a week and then in an attempt to slow the pace I changed it to twice a week.  My attendance record hasn’t been great due to trips to Tajikistan and often being too busy with work.  Thipp has yet to miss a class.

In addition to a better attendance record, Thipp has the advantages of more free time to study (yes, I am well aware that being a homemaker is a full time job, even with a housecleaner visiting our apartment twice per week), as well as the reality that she just simply likes to talk more than I do.  After being away for a while I return to class to listen to Thipp merrily recite what sounds to be Russian Shakespeare.  Then it’s my turn to read a few sentences and I come to understand what it must be like to be dyslexic.

It has certainly brought back memories of past life experiences where others in a language class would seem to understand what was happening and I felt like I was in the wrong room.  Flashbacks of trying to learn French and Fortran come to mind.  As the instructor speaks I don't fully listen and wonder to myself whether I should just drop this “f”-ing course.  However, my instructor is understanding of my reasons for not doing my homework and also likely doesn’t want to lose an easy gig.  I leave the class determined to put more study time in, but long workdays and a little boy get in the way of good intentions.

When I lived in Kenya ten years ago I worked hard at learning Swahili (“Nina sema Kiswahili kidogo sana” – I speak a little Swahili; “Si lipa bei muzungo” – I won’t pay the white person’s price), so I know that with enough time and effort I have some capabilities.  However, my reality in Uzbekistan is that I won’t have the time.  Still, learning a little is better than nothing at all.  I may never be able to recite Russian Shakespeare, but hopefully one day I’ll be able to say that I speak a little Russian.