Thread: Translation Please!!

Hello all! My mother is adopting a 15yr old boy from Russia, and my family & I live in a different state than her but would like to videotape us giving him a welcome message since we won't meet him in person for a while. This is what we had in mind to be translated:

Hello Alexey. My name is Elisha and I am your new sister. This is my husband, Bruce, and our kids, Austin, Amanda and Madisyn. And this is our little dog, Stitch. We live in Texas, which is two states east of Arizona where you now live. We just wanted to welcome you into our family and let you know how happy we are that you are with us. We hope to meet you soon, and we hope your transition into your new environment is a pleasant one. Welcome!

I've searched all over the internet and got MANY typed translations, but am unable to read the Russian characters. Will somebody be so kind as to translate this for me phonetically so that I may say it on tape for my new little brother Alexey? If this isn't possible I will understand...maybe I can just hold up a posterboard with the written Russian words and us in the background! Any help would be very much appreciated!!! Thank you so much!

Dear Elisha,

It would take a couple weeks to a couple months for you to understandably read such a welcome message aloud. Why don't you just say something in English and include a letter in Russian? Does he really understand no English?

If he is fifteen years old in Russia being adopted now I think he wouldn't know any English, Pravit. And Elisha I would agree with Pravit, if we were to write it phonetically the translation, to speak it is different. Does he read Russian?

No, he doesn't know any English that we're aware of. He's been in the orpanage since he was 2. But he does read Russian. Maybe we'll take your suggestion, Pravit, and say it in English and just include a letter written in Russian. I just initially wanted to help him feel more at home. Thank you for your help, it was very much appreciated!

When he comes to America, will you call him Алёша or his full name? I am sure his orphanage caretakers, nurses, didn't call him Алексей.

I asked my mother about that and she plans on leaving it up to him as to what he would prefer to be called. Chances are, we'll probably call him Alexey at first. But if later he prefers to become more "Americanized" he may want to be called Alex. Whatever he wants to be called would be fine though. What do those two names you mentioned translate to?

He probly wont want to be americanized. Maybe if he moved here when he was a little kid he would, but i bet he goes back to russia at one point in his life.

You're probably right, Dogboy. He does have an older sister that has a family of her own that he may go back to be with when he's an adult. Unfortunately, for economic reasons she wasn't able to adopt him herself.

At least you guys can help him have a somewhat good time in america, and when he is old enough, he'll have to choose for himself. Just do all you can for him, and that's all you can do.

There will be a lot to adjust to. Elisha, it would be good if he didn't forget his Russian. Though chances are, when he comes, he may not want to speak it. I don't know though, he is older.