I'm losing my Russian skills. I simply don't speak it anymore. No need at work (most of the time) and no socializing with Russian speakers these days. (Apologies to my friends Ben & Natasha, who I hope to see sometime before their kid graduates from college!) So, I've started watching the Russian news shows on local cable to try to keep my ear.
Sometimes, I talk back to the TV. It's so sad.
I have some friends who are born linguists - people who can grab another language and get in the swing of things very quickly. I'm envious of them, I must admit. For me, it's not quite that easy. But, after years of living in Russia, my language skills really were good. Super solid. Secretly, I was proud of all the times that people would ask me "Nu, kogda vy immigririvali?" ("So, when did you immigrate?") I liked the fact that my Russian was good enough to be thought native.
But that time is past. I have an American accent again. I have to think much harder to be able to hold higher level conversations - something I didn't give a second thought to 15 years ago. At least my Cyrillic penmanship is still nice.
It would be nice to be able to speak Russian well again. I know there are native speakers at my office. Maybe I need to see if any of them would like to get together for lunch po russki once in a while.
I'll add that to my list of things I need to do, right after go to the gym, win the lottery, and finish the book.
For now, I think I just need a glass of milk and a mud mask, not necessarily in that order.
1 comment:
I know what you mean. My German has suffered immeasurably for lack of proper application. I'm thinking a refresher course at the Goethe Institut might be in order. (Along with going to the gym, winning the lottery, and taking a cooking class.)
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