Peter and Nina speak Russian they learned from their grandparents. Nina, being the oldest child in the family, has always been considered to have the best Russian. Peter, having spent nearly every weekend among hunters growing up, has a certain, um, colorful edge to his Victorian Russian.
Nina has a friend here that she's been sort of dating. I love it that they use the Russian formal "you" with each other, they "vous" each other. However, after an evening having a very nice dinner in a fancy restaurant, when M. drove her home Nina said, "Boot me out on the corner."
Peter once told a driver to "Kick me out on the coals." (The word coal and corner, you can hardly hear the difference.) "Let me out on the corner," is new vocab for both of them.
Nina also told her friend that she was learning her way around the metro by telling him, "I'm starting to recognize the Metro." Oh! That's the metro! I know it now! That's not a grocery store! That's the metro!
Not knowing the word for a bunch of bananas, Peter has asked for both a branch of bananas and a pile (steaming implied.)
Also be very careful with the word "finish."
Russian bridal couple in a park in St. Petersburg.
LMAO!
People who only speak one language don't know joys and embarrassments of working your way through another language. Nothing like an innocent slip to get people chuckling and breaking the ice.
Great photo!
Posted by: Jim Madril | June 19, 2009 at 11:19 AM
When I first started reading the blog, I couldn't get the relationship to the bride and groom and found out at the end. What a pretty bride and beautiful gown with the white fur. I had a white fur muff for my wedding (December).
I bet their Russian vocab is growning by leaps and bounds now though.
Posted by: Tina | June 19, 2009 at 12:40 PM
What a gorgeous photo - and couple. I'll show this to my wedding-obsessed Nastya and she'll be enchanted. So much prettier than our naked American brides.
Posted by: annie | June 20, 2009 at 07:19 PM
I bet Peter's Russian has grown by leaps and bounds! And I'm also sure he can teach the locals a few choice "Victorian" Russian words.
Posted by: MamaLana | June 22, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Hmmm,,, until I can speak just one complete sentence in a language other than English, I'll just look on in awe.
Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia
Posted by: bitingmidge | June 23, 2009 at 06:28 AM