Current Events: An Impromptu Meeting

Two days after the terrorist attacks in Paris, world leaders met in Turkey for the Group of 20 Summit. During the proceedings, President Obama and Russian President Putin had an informal meeting

The meeting was closed to the press, but Pete Souza, the White House's official photographer, posted a photo of the world leaders, flanked by National Security Adviser Susan Rice and a Russian aide, leaning into the discussion.

American and Russian officials say President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin traded views on Syria's civil war and broached the tense topic of Ukraine during the impromptu sit-down Sunday. The U.S. also says Obama and Putin agreed that Syria needs a political transition led by Syrians, preceded by negotiations mediated by the United Nations and a cease-fire. Obama and Putin have long been at odds about whether Assad can maintain a role following that transition.

The meeting may signal new developments between U.S. and Russian relationships and may lead to greater degree of cooperation between the two nations.

Links
Obama And Putin Have Impromptu G20 Meeting
Presidents Obama & Putin Have Impromptu Talk

Balalaika Unit 4

The balalaika is a Russian three stringed instrument with a triangular body shape. The origin of it is unknown, but the first documentation of it was back in 1688 where a guard wrote in his log book about stopping someone from playing drunk. Some speculations of it include the three strings representing the trinity. One of the most famous to play the balalaika is Alexey Arkhipovsky. Take a look at the video to see him play.

I love listening to music in other languages and since beginning Russian I have been on the hunt for cool Russian music. Here are some of the artists that I have found so far.


время и стекло
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6DdeqvIfYu3sH02gdavOu2

макс корж
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4YrYDHV6blcx9YKqAPyvzh

ярмак
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oHyOQzDKjW5JVf347hue4

Mc Doni
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5nQ1vFlfbt6yX5hnnF4cj3


*These links will open spotify*

Architecture Through The Ages

As somehow who holds great appreciation for the beauty of architecture, I found the difference between the architecture of the various eras of Russia to be very interesting.

First was a period from roughly 1000-1250 BCE, under the state of Kievan Rus'. This state was the predecessor of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, and served as the foundation for the cultures of these areas. The architecture of this era strongly resembles that of the Byzantine empire, with thick walls and helmeted cupolas.

Palace of the Patriarch of Moscow, with the Church of the Twelve Apostles (1653)

Throughout the Early, Middle, and Late Muscovite periods (roughly 1250-1700), there is a transition from the Byzantine-like architecture to that of Imperial Russia, with arches being used as a design element, and tented roofs gaining in popularity.

In Imperial Russia, trends turned towards European styles. Peter I favored Petrine Baroque, whereas Catherine the Great brought in neoclassical architects to create the projects she favored. Elements like many windows and long palaces were favored in this period, such as is evidenced in the Winter Palace, built from 1762-1796.

The Post-Revolution and Post-Soviet Union eras of architecture very much reflect the times, with stark, clean, lines, and many columns. Rounded buildings were also favored in some areas, like as with the Melnikov House. Currently in Russia, Stalinist designs are favored, though there have been shifts to architecture which matches the grand skyscraper designs found in large cities across the world.

Medovukha

Medovukha is an alcoholic, honey-based drink, and has also been known as “mead.” This drink was originally popular with royalty, as the honey took from five to twenty years to ferment under traditional conditions, making it very expensive. Medovukha became more popular in ordinary society when faster and more effective ways of fermentation were developed, making the drink cheaper and easier to access for everyone. Medovukha was first stumbled upon by the Old Slavs, who always looked for ways in which the forest could provide for their dietary needs. They found that honey was a good food source, and noticed that it would ferment on the surface after some time had passed. After drinking this liquid and finding it delectable, the Slavs began to produce medovukha from there on out.

Жаркое - Russian Stew

Жаркое is a hearty meat stew made with any type of meat and root vegetables and baked slowly in a clay pot. Since we did not have a clay pot, we had to use a dutch oven for this recipe.

Ingredients
- 20 baby potatoes  (quartered)
- 2 1/4 lbs pork tenderloin  (cut into 1 inch cubes)
- 6 carrots (cubed)
- 2 large onions (chopped)
- 2 cups of chicken stock
- salt and pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried coriander
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
Recipe 
Preheat oven to 325 Fº. In dutch oven, heat oil over med-high and sauté carrots and onions for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and sweat for additional 15 minutes. Salt and pepper the pork cubes and vegetables. Scoot the vegetables to the edges and up the sides of the dutch oven, turn the heat back up to med-high, then add the pork. Brown for about 5 minutes, stirring the entire time. Turn off the heat and add the potatoes, chicken stock, and spices, cover with lid, and bake for 50 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes, then serve.

After trying this dish, I thought that it was somewhat lacking in flavor. However, I did appreciate the practicality and nutritional value of the dish. The problem of the lack of flavor could be solved by adding more or different spices or meats. This is a fairly basic dish that could allow for a lot of potential to see what works and what doesn't. It was also incredibly filling.

Peter the Great

Peter the Great is easily my favorite Russian Tsar, and is arguably one of the most influential. He towered above his peers at about six feet, (which was abnormally tall at the time) and was rather intimidating and ferocious. His hobbies included horseback riding, sword-fighting, beard burnings, and stretchings (the latter two are forms of torture, which he was rather fond of as a whole). After a trip to Europe where he met different European rulers and learned of western customs, he decided to bring what he loved about the west to Russia. He required nobles to wear European style clothes and to trim their long beards. Peter also famously started a war in order to gain territory at a warm water port, where he later built St. Petersburg, his new capital. He made St Petersburg the center of new European inspired intellectual thought.

Russian Flag

This flag is the official flag of Russia since 1993. It is not completely sure where it comes from and what the colors exactly mean. It has also been the Russian flag from 1699-1858, 1883-1914 and from 1917-1918. The tricolor flag got probably invented by Tsar Peter the Great. He used the Dutch flag as an example and changed the order of the colors. These colors (red, blue, white) are now the colors of the Pan-Slavism and also seen in the Slovakian and Slovenian flag.

Original meaning of the colors:

            White -> freedom

            Blue -> Mary (mother of Jesus)

            Red -> power of the Tsar

Actual meaning of the colors:

            White -> belief and generosity

            Blue -> hope and honesty

            Red -> love, courage and bravery

 

           

Elementary Russian: Сегодня на уроке... в лингафонном кабинете! 11/XI/2015 Unit 4 Week 3

Не волнуйтесь! Don't worry, be happy!

Во-первых! Take your quiz. Напишите контрольную! (If you're in Dr. Denner's class.)

Потом... Listen to the recorded letter and answer the following questions on the back of your quiz (or on a spare sheet of paper, листок бумаги.)

Sasha's family lives in a city named Иркутск, located on Lake Baikal in Siberia. Read a little about the city here before you begin.

1. What does Sasha's mother teach? 
2. What does the father do? 
3. What класс (grade) is the sister in? What grade is the brother in? Are they good students? 
4. What's the speaker's major? What year is he in? Does he like his major? 
5. Where does he live? Is he happy there? 
6. Does Sasha know English? 
7. List 4 questions he asks at the end of the letter. 

Now, listen to the числительные (numerals) from 100 to 1000. You should listen to them three times. It only takes a second! 

Now, on the back of your контрольная, write down the telephone numbers you hear in this exercise. (Just do the first eight, through Боря.) Listen to the recording 3 times, no more! 

We have a little work at the tables, too. Присоединитесь к нам! Join us!

Russian Tea Cakes

Ingredients 

• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup finely chopped nuts
• powdered sugar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Beat butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon.
3. Stir in flour and salt.
4. Stir in nuts.
5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
6. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until set but not brown.
8. Immediately remove from cookie sheet; roll in powdered sugar.
9. Cool completely on wire rack.
10. Roll in powdered sugar again.(food.com)