Fake traditions It was a real story that a scientist who study folklore spent a few hours writing fairy tales that he considered as a folk ancient stories. An old man in a wooden house in an almost abandoned village have dictated the stories to the scientist. Everything have seemed fine until the old man said: 'now I'm tired, come here a week later so I can compose some new stories for you'. The disappointing truth is that most of the so called national traditions are invented not very long ago. Some of them are invented by accident, some by not very pedantic scientists, some by nationalistic politicians, but most of them, I'm afraid, are simply made for tourists by smart marketologists. Anyway you are always welcome in Russia to drink vodka, play balalaika, ride troyka, and (which is more important) to buy as much matryoshka as you can carry.

So controversial liver Sometimes I start to learn farsi. About twice a month I open a book "Farsi for begginers" and read the first chapter. Then I close it without any doubt that I will continue the next day. But some interesting facts about Iranian culture and language have managed to survive in my head. The phrase جیگر منه which is literally translated as "you are my liver" is one of it. In russian as in the most european languages you usually say "you are my heart" when you want to say that a person is extremely valuable to you. But about someone very annoying we say "he is in my liver". Afterall now I know how to adress to my wife and little doughters at the moments when it seems too difficult to me to love them all: you are my lovely livers!

A car accident My job is in the five minutes of slow walking from my home so I have no need to use my car to get to it. But leaving a car in a yard doesn't prevent one from troubles. My daily work was interrupted by a telephone call from traffic police. They informed me that my car was damaged by another one on the parcikng near my home. When I came to the "crime scene" I beheld that a back of my car is crashed by a very old and shabby car, owned by... let's call them "a guest of our country from somewhere in the South". It's worth to mention that the parking was covered by snow and ice but guilty's car was with summer tires. Fortunatly my new friend had all needed documents including liability insurance. Then I spent about an hour in the office of the insurance company, and a week later a got an insurance payment.

Birch-bark letters What to use for writing letters and documents when paper isn't invented yet and parchment is too expensive for day-to-day writings? Birch-bark! It's cheap, easy to get, soft and flexible. And what is more important for contemporary historians - it can survive for hundred years in wet soil. That's why we - contemporary Russians - can read private letters, business correspondence and even school exerсises of our predecessors. The first Russian birch-bark letter was found in Novgorod on July, 26 1951: it was a revenue register of 14th century. Now it's more then 1000 birch-bark manuscripts dated from 11th till 15th centuries that have been found in Novgorod soil. Among them are love-letters, bills of debt, judicial orders etc. One of the most significant note is a birch-bark with school exerсises and drawings by a boy who lived in Novgorod in approximatly 13th century. We even know his name - Onfim.

Imaginary travelling I invented a game for my children: we choose a country on a map of the world and prepare an imaginary jorney to it. First of all my wife and I consider which dish from a national cuisine of the country we can cook using goods from the nearest food shop. Then I start serfing the Web to find pictures of the sights, music and interesting facts connected with the country. And the final touch is a small vocabulary: three sheets of paper, which I attach to a wall, with three words - "hello", "thank you" and "good by" on the language of the country of our "journey". In the evening (Friday as usual) we draw around the table, switch on a laptop to listen to the national music, to watch pictures of the sights and eat a special national dish. We have already "visited" Norway, Canada and Italy in such way. Of course there are a lot of stereotypes in my web-researches, dishes we cook are not authentic, but it makes our family dinners more interesting and nevertheless educative. P.S.: The next country to "visit" is Iran. Any tips are welcome. :))

Could someone please explain me the meaning of the word "swing (swung)" in this context: "...against a woman who has often benefited from rivals who swung too hard"

A little drama A friend of mine has broken his leg. A lot of people of various ages and ideologies breake their legs. But in this case things are much worse than in others. My friend is a land surveyor (geodesist). It means that he spend his working hours in fields and forests with complicated equipment, making maps and plans for new buildings and constructions. It means independance and resposibility at the same time. It needs phisical and mental efforts. This job is for strong and smart people. He loves it. And now he have to give up his work because of the risk of a sequela of the fracture. I'm sure that he will find a well-paid job in an office, but it will never be his passion as the previous was.

Real challenge for advanced learners of Russian language It's difficult to understand what little children say even for native speakers. And it's a "mission impossible" for foreigners. Am I right? Let's check it. Can someone understand what my 3 y.o. doughter have said: Я - слемная. The winner of this quiz will get a prize: a free excursion in Novgorod Velikiy :)))

My new apartment My new apartment in Novgorod has a symbolic location. From a southern window one can see a Catholic church. A northern window overlooks Orthodox cupolas. Every morning starts with a competition between two bell-ringers. It’s not so loud to get one’s nerves, but I can hear in my room every sound. Two styles of ringing, two religious, two world views: a laconic and measured from the one window and a polyphonic and emotional from another one. I bought a good apartment! I live in a great country! :P