Quote Originally Posted by nweissma
greetings.

notwithstanding that i live proximate to brighton beach, brooklyn, new york city -- a main russian enclave, fyi -- the fact is that i, a native english speaker attempting to learn russian independently, cannot find a native russian in the community who will assist me with difficult russian pronunciation ["water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink"!]

any suggestions?
Run an ad requesting a tutor once a week ...? Or try a Russian bookstore and ask them if they know of anybody who does such things? Post questions at this forum for free? Take a university course? Become a maid for a Russian family? Join the Russian mafia? Marry a Russian? Go to a bar and ply a Russian with alcohol?