Dear Russian language learners!

Here is a list of phrases you will might need when you go to a cafe or a restaurant in Russia. It includes not only a request for a check/a bill but also some phrases that you need when you want to share a bill among the participants of the dinner (go dutch) or you feel you would like to pay for the whole dinner yourself.

Ваш преподаватель и любительница русских ресторанов,
Елена

1-minute Survival Russian for Travelling (A1-A2)

Как оплачивать счёт в ресторане/How to pay a bill in a restaurant

** This story contains graphic and explicit material it is not recommended for children. For mature audiences only. ** 18+
The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig from Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris Illustrations by Ian Falconer
Read by me Teacher Alyse. Listen and follow along.
Send me a message me for your free pdf copy of this book.

The way the pig is labeled based on his Vietnamese heritage, despite being born in the U.S., mirrors the real-world experiences of many immigrants and their descendants. Even when someone identifies as fully American, they can still be seen as "other" because of their background. The parrot's insistence on framing the pig's identity through an ethnic lens—rather than his actual achievements—reflects how media narratives and public discourse can shape (and sometimes distort) the way individuals are perceived.
This is especially important now, given the ongoing discussions about immigration in the U.S. Many immigrants and first-generation Americans face similar struggles with identity, belonging, and how they're portrayed in society. The story also highlights how insecurities—whether about identity, appearance, or status—can be exacerbated by external judgments.
Themes and Interpretation
•	Identity and Stereotyping: The pig’s frustration highlights how labels—whether about ethnicity or body image—can shape and limit a person’s self-perception.
•	Media Manipulation: The parrot, representing a journalist, distorts facts for a sensationalized story, raising questions about bias and ethics in reporting.
•	Self-Perception and Insecurity: The pig’s struggles with his body image illustrate how external judgments can create deep-seated insecurities.
•	Cultural Commentary: The story subtly critiques societal assumptions about identity and heritage, showing how people (or animals) can be boxed in by others’ perceptions.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk and other stories from David Sedaris ( Adult 18+) 

The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig

В этом выпуске мы начнем читать стихотворение Самуила Яковлевича  Маршака  "Рассеянный с улицы Бассейной"  
После прослушанного материала, вам будет предложено ответить на вопросы.

Russfriend  (all about russia) 

"Рассеянный с улицы Бассейной" часть 1

第六颗行星则要大十倍。
The sixth planet was ten times larger than the last one.
上面住着一位老先生，他在写作大部头的书。
It was inhabited by an old gentleman who wrote voluminous books.
“瞧！来了一位探险家。”老先生看到小王子时，叫了起来。
"Oh, look! Here is an explorer!" he exclaimed to himself when he saw the little prince coming.
小王子在桌旁坐下，有点气喘吁吁。
The little prince sat down on the table and panted a little.
他跑了多少路啊！
He had already traveled so much and so far!
“你从哪里来的呀？”老先生问小王子。
"Where do you come from?" the old gentleman said to him.
“这一大本是什么书？你在这里干什么？”小王子问道。
"What is that big book?" said the little prince. "What are you doing?"
“我是地理学家。”老先生答道。
"I am a geographer," the old gentleman said to him.
“什么是地理学家？”小王子问。
"What is a geographer?" asked the little prince.
地理学家，就是一种学者，他知道哪里有海洋，哪里有江河、城市、山脉、沙漠。
A geographer is a scholar who knows the location of all the seas, rivers,towns, mountains, and deserts.
“这倒挺有意思。”小王子说。“这才是一种真正的行当。”
"That is very interesting," said the little prince. "Here at last is a man who has a real profession!"
他朝四周围看了看这位地理学家的星球。
And he cast a look around him at the planet of the geographer.
他还从来没有见过一颗如此壮观的行星。
It was the most magnificent and stately planet that he had ever seen.
“您的星球真美呀。上面有海洋吗？”他说。
"Your planet is very beautiful," he said. "Has it any oceans?"
“这我没法知道。”地理学家说。

"I couldn't tell you," said the geographer.
“啊！”小王子大失所望。“那么，山脉呢？”
"Ah!" The little prince was disappointed. "Has it any mountains?"
“这，我没法知道。”地理学家说。
"I couldn't tell you," said the geographer.
“那么，有城市、河流、沙漠吗？”
"And towns, and rivers, and deserts?"
这，我也没法知道。
I couldn't tell you that, either.
可您还是地理学家呢！
But you are a geographer!
“一点不错，”地理学家说，
"Exactly," the geographer said.
但是我不是探察家。我手下一个探察家都没有。
But I am not an explorer. I haven't a single explorer on my planet.
地理学家是不去计算城市、河流、山脉、海洋、沙漠的。
It is not the geographer who goes out to count the towns, the rivers, the mountains, the seas, the oceans, and the deserts.
地理学家很重要，不能到处跑。
The geographer is much too important to go loafing about.
他不能离开他的办公室。
He does not leave his desk
但他可以在办公室里接见探察家

小王子-The Little Prince-Read in Chinese

小王子第36章：有趣的地理学家

La resiliencia es la cualidad que nos ayuda a hacer frente a los obstáculos o a las decepciones sin desanimarnos. Esta cualidad se adquiere mediante la experiencia. Igual que un niño no aprenderá a caminar sin tropezar alguna vez, tampoco aprenderá a salir adelante en la vida sin sufrir algún tropiezo

Cuentos breves de motivación.

La resiliencia

Рассказываю про традиции русского праздника Пасхи, и как она отличается от католической и простестантской. Кроме этого, расскажу об интересных фактах, связанных с этим праздником.

Россия по-русски

Русская Пасха


Mǎ 	Lì: 	Nǐ 	hǎo. 	Wǒ 	yào 	mǎi 	shū. 	Zěnme 
玛 	丽： 	你 	好。 	我 	要 	买 	书。 	怎么 
fùqián 	ne? 
付钱 	呢？ 
Gōnɡzuò 	rényuán: 	Kěyǐ 	dào 	yóujú 	huìkuǎn, 
工作 	人员： 	可以 	到 	邮局 	汇款， 
yě 	kěyǐ 	huò 	dào 	fùkuǎn. 
也 	可以 	货 	到 	付款。 
Mǎ 	Lì: 	Háishi 	huò 	dào 	fùkuǎn 	zuì 	fānɡbiàn. 
玛 	丽： 	还是 	货 	到 	付款 	最 	方便。 
Wǒ 	hái 	yǒu 	yí 	ɡe 	wèntí. 
我 	还 	有 	一 	个 	问题。 
Bù 	héshì 	nénɡ 	bu 	nénɡ 	tuìhuàn? 
不 	合适 	能 	不 	能 	退换？ 
Gōnɡzuò 	rényuán: 	Nénɡ. 	Qǐnɡ 	wèn 	shū 	sònɡ 	dào 
工作 	人员： 	能。 	请 	问 	书 	送 	到 
nǎr? 
哪儿？ 
Mǎ 	Lì: 	Qǐnɡ 	sònɡ 	dào 	Běijīnɡ 	Dàxué 	xīmén 	bɑ. 
玛 	丽： 	请 	送 	到 	北京 	大学 	西门 	吧。 
Gōnɡzuò 	rényuán: 	Hǎo. 	Dàole 	zài 	ɡěi 	nín 	dǎ 
工作 	人员： 	好。 	到了 	再 	给 	您 	打 
diànhuà. 
电话。 


日常用语

电话购物

El Hombre Caimán es una leyenda que se desarrolla en la población ribereña de Plato, Magdalena, en la Costa Caribe de Colombia

Colombian Legends

El hombre Caimán

In this episode you will learn HSK2 lesson 9 Text 3