Сегодня я получила такой подарок – посылку из США от очень доброй и замечательной девушки Келси.

Today's Treasures

Мы познакомились два года назад здесь, в России. Келси приезжала в русско-американский студенческий лагерь по обмену «культурным опытом». Как только я увидела эту девушку, то поняла, что нужно скорее бежать знакомиться с ней.

Келси, как и я, работает учителем и мечтает стать писателем. На мой взгляд, она уже замечательный писатель – и у нас будет возможность в этом убедиться. Потому что Келси согласилась быть соавтором этого блога!

Впереди нас ждет множество интересных постов, написанных Келси и переведенных мной, о культуре ее страны и о всяческих языковых вкусностях и полезностях.

A key to my heart

That's my cup of tea

«Aunt Clare always has exellent tea», went on Charlotte,»stacks of butter and raspberry jam and Eccles cakes and all the ginger scones you can eat. My mother has never understood the importance of a good tea.» (c) Eva Rice, The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets.

На балконе наконец-то можно собирать урожаи мяты, поэтому я решила возобновить традицию чаепития по-английски.

В 4 часа вечера англичане традиционно пьют «afternoon tea». Впрочем, не столько даже пьют, сколько запивают им всяческие вкусности. Традицию пить чай в 4 часа ввели в начале 19го века богатые дамы, которые приглашали в свои салоны посетителей к этому времени и, чтоб перерыв между обедом и ужином не слишком затягивался, распоряжались подать чай – с бутербродами, если по-нашему.

Однако не всем было по карману распивать чаи посреди рабочего дня. Среди тех, для кого 4 часа  – это разгар работы, укоренилась другая традиция. «High tea» – это плотный ужин, который обычно имел место в 6 часов вечера. Сейчас этот прием пищи называют ужином (supper). А еще – обедом(dinner). Как же у них все сложно.

Делая выводы об английской диете, мы имеем:

• завтрак
• ланч
• обед
• afternoon tea
• ужин

(если речь идет о состоятельных людях)

• завтрак
• ланч
• high tea (он же обед, он же ужин)

(для ребят попроще)

Думается мне, наши русские традиции чаепития ничуть не хуже английских: у самовара, с баранками и вареньем, потягивать крепкий ароматный чай из блюдечек. Так мы делаем на даче

А как вы пьете чай?

I was talking to Ivan Urghant on ICQ, as if he were a good friend of mine. I asked him to come to Ivanovo in June to join our university leaving celebration. He agreed. He said he’d settle everything with his wife and come.

I woke up with the feeling of what a nice friend he is. And for several minutes I was sure that we were really aquainted.

I even had the opportunity to study human behaviour at the dentist’s. As far as it was a children dental surgery, it was interesting to make some observations about children and their parents there.

For example, the fact that people are afraid of dentists seems to have its roots in the following situation:

There is a queue of children near the surgery, some of them are nervous, some are rather cheerful and calm. But suddenly a horrible scream comes from behind the door. Someone is crying. Why? They do something horrible to him! Mum, I’m afraid, I don’t want to go there!!

But there behind the door nothing happens. The boy who is shouting doesn’t let the dentist to do anything. He is just screaming, sitting on the chair. His mother is shouting at him. He is crying and going into hysteric. But it has nothing to do with pain.

A funny situation:

A boy has just had his tooth pulled out. His mouth is in blood, his eyes are full of tears. Guess what his mother tells him:

-None of this would have happened if you cleaned you teeth.

The very words he needed, I suppose.

I spent all the evening shooting the video, but the result is very poor. I don’t know what to do, because my camera on the mobile phone doesn’t manage to create good videos. I think that the only way out is to create some presentation using pictures and sound.

And how are you going on with this task?

But it is very hard on our faculty to receive even a bit of pure happiness, without being hurt or humiliated. I don’t know why the majority of people working there envy happy students so much that they desire to do them harm.

Remember my words – I would never miss this place, no matter how hard my life will be. Because it’s hard to miss the place where all the good things are fake.

No, not all. The best thing I’ve received in the university is friendship. Valusik, and all the «diaspora» girls, if you’re reading me – I love you! Thank you for this day, which we’ve passed together!

A lot of things can help me: a good meal or a good tea, a good conversation or a good hour in silence meditation, a good book or a good song. For example, this song helps me rather often:

And the singer – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – is great…

First I heard that song in «50 Dates» movie, in the very end of it. But of course I had to hear it in «Meet Joe Black» – but I really don’t remember it from there. Though I love the movie.

Her name was Adel. She was born in a rich family, her father was a duke. But when Adel was a child, she met a horrible witch, who cursed her because of her beauty. The witch said: «In your future you will be in need, but no one will help you and no one will marry you.» When Adel’s father heard that curse he fell sick, because he had a dream of all his life to marry his daughter to the King. Adel was so upset that decided to leave her father’s house. She went away, wandered and was sheltered by a poor old woman.

After the dog’s story the boy was thinking for a long time. At last he exclaimed: » Why, but I am no one! I can help her! «

They are: 2 books by my beloved Eva Rice (don’t try to recognize the name, it is unknown) and Alice in Wonderland.

I’m so happy to get them at last! And even more happy that I expected, because one of Eva Rice’s books is a guide to Enyd Blyton’s stories, who is said to be one of the favourite story-writers in England. So now I have 7 books ahead to read.

And – just look at it – what a magic Alice in Wonderland I have! It’s much better than the movie!!!

What do you think of it? Do you have the opportunity to join us? (Do you have skype? Can you download it?) When to your mind it’s better to organize the conference?