Monday, February 13, 2006

My Life with bad English: Episode 1

My Life with bad English: Episode 1


Everything has a beginning, a place and time that is often looked at with a nostalgic feeling. Here’s my beginning, both as a videoblogger and an American.

posted by Andrei at 1:00 AM

31 Comments:

  • It is always nice to know someone out in the blogosphere is seeing what you created. I just wanted to let you know that I love your blog and will definately be back.

    By Blogger Jessica Johannesen, at 2/16/2006 8:41 PM  

  • the walking is better for your health than driving.

    did you ever find a decent t-shirt?

    chris weagel
    www.human-dog.com

    By Blogger chris weagel, at 2/19/2006 12:57 AM  

  • Thank you so much for all your comments. There's more stuff on the way, so please check back in a couple of days.

    Andrei

    PS. No, I did not find a decent shirt. I walked out of that place quickly and went to a store next door to hide. I wonder if that woman still remembers me...

    By Blogger Andrei, at 2/23/2006 3:22 PM  

  • i love your stories
    please post more!
    how did you discover videoblogging?

    By Blogger ryanne, at 2/24/2006 12:08 PM  

  • Ryanne,

    Thanks for the comment. As you can see, I am pretty bad not only at speaking English, but also at replying promptly. However, the good old "better late than never" is quite handy here :-)

    Believe it or not, videoblogging for me was a dark forest that I did not know existed. In early January my friend Bethany and I were talking about plans for the upcoming semester. She said that she signed up for the videoblogging and podcasting class and suggested I do the same. Although I was very skeptical about the usefulness of this class in my future career, I went ahead and took her advice. It is always nice to go to class with someone you know, plus it fit exceptionally well in my weekly schedule. And oh my God, I had no idea what I was missing! I am addicted to it. (Thanks Bethany!) What a perfect way to hear and be heard. I only hope that it doesn't get ruined by the big brothers...

    Andrei

    By Blogger Andrei, at 3/02/2006 11:27 AM  

  • What a great story! I can't wait to hear more. You're a natural story-teller even in your second language. Keep it up!
    -serra

    By Blogger Mike Machenry, at 3/09/2006 1:11 PM  

  • Your English is actually really, really good! Not a lot of American English speakesr can use "neither" and "nor" properly. Seriously.

    That story was delightful!

    Looking forward to hearing many more!

    (ps: I didn't even notice the missing pixel until you pointed it out!)

    By Blogger missbhavens, at 3/09/2006 5:19 PM  

  • Funny. I would know you had an accent but I would never have guessed it was a Russian accent.

    Glad you like the USA and am especially happy that you have decided to share those special little stories about life as a new immigrant.

    Before retirement, I ran a business and I can tell you that immigrants like yourself will be what saves this country from itself.

    You appreciate freedom. You are willing to work hard for a good life. Most Americans take their country for granted. Most Americans are spoiled and lazy and are afraid of hard work...especially if it involves any hard physical labor.

    Vlog on!

    By Blogger Randolfe Wicker, at 3/15/2006 10:39 PM  

  • How can I begin to say THANK YOU for all you comments... You guys are so kind and wonderful. It is very comforting to read your comments and realize that there are people out there who don’t mind re-living some of the most interesting moments of my life together with me. Thank you all so much.

    Andrei

    By Blogger Andrei, at 3/20/2006 4:48 PM  

  • Andrei, I really loved your first post. You cracked me up, especially about your comment on your problems with the fucking english. Your story was great and you do have a great way of telling a story. Keep it up! I'll be back.

    By Blogger CT, at 4/04/2006 1:51 AM  

  • This is awesome! I just found your vlog tonight, though somehow, not through Bethany, who's also one of my favorite vloggers. Such a strange, small world!

    Andrei, your English is great. I have a Turkish roommate - his third language is English - and you two sound remarkably similar. He refuses to be on camera, but maybe I can show him this and inspire him. You're a natural at this!

    I'm probably going to be up all night watching your videos now. I'm so glad you're doing this. Great first entry!

    By Blogger B, at 5/16/2006 11:55 PM  

  • It´s a very intererasting videoblog. I´ve enjoyed listening your stories although my skills in English aren´t so good as yours.
    Good luck in your new life there. Think you positevely.

    By Blogger _azul, at 5/24/2006 3:43 PM  

  • Wow, you have amazing English! You even picked up on all the slang and such! I've been speaking French for about 5 years and I admire foreigners, American and non, who speak more than one language fluently because it is extremely difficult! You are awesome!

    Love,
    XT

    By Blogger Christy, at 5/24/2006 4:09 PM  

  • hi! you have the most comments in your blog. Congrats.

    By Blogger Just About Anything and Anyone, at 5/25/2006 2:17 AM  

  • Heehee. I understand your obsession with the Latin alphabet. In my youth, I was a hockey fan. In those days, the Russian hockey players were our Gods. So we had these sow-on stickers in Red and White that said "CCCP" and we thought we were so cool.

    One day, a Russian team came to play in our city (we lived in Germany), I think it was ZSKA Moscow. So the hockey club asked one of the fan clubs if they could help with the organization, you know, taking care of the guests and stuff. My best friend was a member of that fan club and she was selected to do some minor tasks, like bringing some towels into the Russian team's room. She asked somebody (apparently the wrong person) what she should say when she entered the room. So she went in there and said "Kak savut Ellie" which was supposed to mean "My name is Ellie". Apparently it doesn't since the whole team thought she was hilarious. Imagine an 18-year old girl in the middle of a hockey team's room, some towels in her hands and the rest of the room is filled with Russian hockey players howling with laughter. She must've been mortified. But I don't want to give a wrong impression. She said the players were really very sweet. They just couldn't communicate with each other since the Russians didn't speak German and she didn't speak Russian . . . I guess everybody has to tell some embarrassing story about some kind of language problem (only mine isn't half as entertaining, so I chose to tell my friend's instead).

    By Blogger Morgenstern, at 5/25/2006 11:38 AM  

  • pretty cool idea !!!

    By Blogger Stella Noir, at 5/26/2006 12:46 AM  

  • Super nice story !
    I hope for that I'll speak English as well as you... one day next!

    By Blogger deligne, at 5/26/2006 9:54 AM  

  • Hey, awesome place, I just found it (probably like most everyone else from Blogger's Blogs of Note). Just wanted to say "great story", I almost died laughing at the end.

    Thanks!
    ~Steve

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/26/2006 5:15 PM  

  • hey.
    just blog-hopping yet i'm glad i found this blog. i only wanted to let you kno i'v come to enjoy your blog 'n the idea of videoblogging. for sure i'l b back for more.

    heh heh.

    oRight. take care. =)

    By Blogger hani, at 5/28/2006 7:24 AM  

  • I visited the Soviet Union in 1990 and have always wanted to return. I'm so glad to hear your stories!

    By Blogger LSL, at 5/28/2006 8:19 AM  

  • Andrei,
    have jsut stumbled over this, so have only watched the first and last (latest?) episodes, but really, your English is very good! I have been learning Italian for some years and I don't think I could talk in Italian to a camera without having spent several days preparing a script beforehand.

    I really enjoy making these connections over the web, my only concern is someday we might all just live in out little bubbles, communicating via the web and we all lose the ability to talk to each other face to face through terrible shyness...

    By Blogger Nic, at 5/28/2006 8:29 AM  

  • aaaaaaaw !

    i loved the video, i loved the view
    its beautiful :)
    I'm really happy for you, wish you'll get the best grade.

    any ways just wanted to say that, your English isn't bad, its sooooooo cute ;)
    and ur accent is ...! i just loved it.

    any ways i don't want this to be your last post, hope ill see more of u soon :D
    take care.

    By Blogger No3iK, at 5/30/2006 3:44 AM  

  • Hi Andrei,

    Awesome video blog! Maybe I should do one on my blog site about my life with bad Spanish! I moved to Mexico two years ago and just picked up Spanish from the community.

    Your site is terrific! Keep us all informed! And your English is better than my Spanish will probably ever be!

    http://www.trianastreasure.blogspot.com/

    By Blogger Triana Elan, at 5/31/2006 2:05 PM  

  • Brilliant. Poignant and funny. Excellent.

    By Blogger Dale, at 5/31/2006 8:19 PM  

  • oh my god! you are so cute and let me tell you something i can complete understand you i'm from chilli and my language is the spanish for how can you see y speak and read and writh and everithing bad in inglish jajaja is so much fun your video tape, and you are so nice really like me i have 18 years old a little child still jajaja but what a fuck jajaja the pixel is nice too jajaja and the history is complete great just amazing ^^ pass for my blog and if you don't understand nothing just add me to your meil zaida-aracelly@hotmail.com just for talk a few things and know new people ^^

    Zaidita.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/03/2006 10:01 PM  

  • hey, do you know how to include flash movie clips in a blog?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/04/2006 11:50 PM  

  • the dry cleaning story was hilarious! thanks for the laugh. keep on blogging! DO NOT STOP. Your English is PERFECT. I love how you mastered the F word! Too funny.

    By Blogger *Tanyetta*, at 6/08/2006 2:31 AM  

  • omg what cain the people you're so suscefull ^^ that great ^^

    Zaidita.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/15/2006 1:17 AM  

  • I just found your video blog. After watching this post I think I will enjoy it a great deal.

    By Blogger Lan Bui (of The Bui Brothers), at 8/12/2006 6:02 AM  

  • Many people have trouble when moving to a new country, English is a difficult language but it is same when English speakers move to another country they have the same problems, I moved to Italy the Calabria region and I knew no Italian at all and struggled for quite a while. We all have this problem when relocating.

    By Blogger markali52, at 3/05/2008 6:39 AM  

  • Great story with the dry cleaners, I travelled through Europe (well part of it) and left a suit at a dry cleaners in a town in France, a few days later I had to use the halfords sat nav to find it and when I asked in broken english and french for my cleaning giving them the ticket, they handed me a blue summer dress, as a large man you could imagine my reaction, it took almost two hours to find my clothes.

    By Blogger petetow, at 6/14/2008 9:40 AM  

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