Thread: Looking for language exchange

Originally Posted by kgcole

My friend is feminine and works as a long-distance truck driver. Is it really surprising?

It is surprising for me (or to me?). I have never saw or hear about a woman working as a long distance truck driver.

Originally Posted by kgcole

Do you recommend any book which you loved to read?

Well, I don’t read much, to be honest. The more I hardly ever read fiction at all. I love Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and his Resurrection, Goncharov’s Oblomov, Bulgakov’s Heart of a Dog, Somerset Maugham’s stories, all of them, all the stories by O’Henry, Heaven Has No Favorites by Remarque, Jack London’s Martin Eden, and many others, I guess. Yet I like opinion journalism not less. I also like more practical books like Dale Carnegie’s things and similar to those. I like books like The Amusing Bible by Léo Taxil, I don’t know of what genre it is.

Originally Posted by kgcole

In your opinion, how do English and Russian writer differ?

I don’t know. I doubt there can be any satisfactory answer to this question.

Originally Posted by kgcole

Do you think male and female writers differ?

Yes, I do. I think male writers are definitely brighter than female ones.

Ooh, it was a tough essey. I had to look up all those names and titles, and look for “opinion journalism”. I failed to find the translation of the word “публицистика” and “познавательный”.

It is surprising for me (to me). I have never saw (seen) or hear (heard) about a woman working as a long distance truck driver.


I’m going to look into some of those books you mentioned. Of course, these days I prefer to get e-books.

I suppose talking about differences between writers is a lengthy subject. You know, I have some friends that I read books with. We pick a book, and as we read it together we discuss it. It’s an interesting way to generate conversation and find out about a person.
You surprise me to say that you think male writers are better than female. I wonder why that may be?

I looked up “публицистика”, and it said that meant “social and political journalism”. “Познавательный” apparently means “cognitive”. Of course, I’m continually amazed at your English. You don’t seem to have much problem expressing yourself in writing, with just a few mistakes here or there and not knowing a proper word. Occasionally you’re not sure about a tense. I hope this continues to be a good source of practice for you. By writing to you about life in general I’m hoping to keep your interest alive. I wouldn’t want this to become a bore to you…lol.

Вообще-то, я вас также приглашу и мной делиться свою мысли. Это не только интересно, но вашего хорошее упражнение по-английски. Я найду эту перепалку стимулирующей и лучше для обучения. Скоро....вы не совершенный глагол используете для действия не уже начало?

Basically, I invite you to share your thoughts with me, too. Not only am I interested, but it would be good practice for you in English. I have found this exchange to be a challenge and a good learning tool. I have a quick question for you…do you use imperfective verbs for actions not yet begun?

Америка очень трудилось равенство вестй к рабочему месту. Можно женщина или мужчина работать в какой-нибудь работе если у них есть способности. А ешё есть дискриминация.

America has worked hard to bring equality to the workplace. Any job can be done by a man or woman, as long as they have the capability. There is still discrimination, though.

Ну, сегодня это воскресенье и я обычно не работаю. Это смешно какой мы сознаниями обыкновения. Некоторый из нас чувствуем своих как уютним с новим вешами, другие нет. Может быть это важно у нас есть равновесие. Много раз я чувствую себя также о большинства вещей. Я обычно не иду дальний левый или правый, но нахожу место в середине. Я всегда слушал, «В всех вещах, умеренность.»

Well, today is Sunday, and I don’t usually work. Isn’t it funny how we’re creatures of habit? Some people are comfortable with new things, others are not. Maybe it’s important to have a balance. I often feel that way about most things. I don’t usually go far left, or far right, but find somewhere in the middle to exist. I’ve always heard, “In all things, moderation.”

Вообще-то (omit, this word doesn’t make sense here), я вас также (тоже=too, while также=also, it means in addition) приглашу (приглашаю, continuous in an English sentense should be conveyed by imperfectives except the sentences like “I have known him for years”) и(omit) мной делиться свою мысли (делиться со мной своими мыслями).
Это не только будет (I would make it future) мне интересно, но вашего хорошее упражнение по-английски (you omitted both the subject and the predicate in this sentence after comma. There should be at least one principal part of the sentence. Это было бы для вас хорошей практикой в английском. Это – subject, i.e. делиться мыслями, было бы практикой – compound nominal predicate.)
Я найду (считаю, have found is the past time in fact being present in form, you shouldn’t convey it by the future, I rendered it by the present) эту перепалку (этот обмен) стимулирующей (хорошей задачей) и лучше для обучения (и хорошим инструментом для обучения).
Скоро - У меня к вам короткий вопрос.
Вы не совершенный глагол используете для действия не уже начало? - Вы используете совершенные глаголы для выражения действий, которые еще не начались?

Basically, I invite you to share your thoughts with me, too. Not only am I interested, but it would be good practice for you in English. I have found this exchange to be a challenge and a good learning tool. I have a quick question for you…do you use imperfective verbs for actions not yet begun?

Америка очень трудилось равенство вестй к рабочему месту. (Америка приложила много усилий для того, чтобы обеспечить равные условия труда для всех.)
Можно женщина или мужчина работать в какой-нибудь работе если у них есть способности. Мужчины и женщины могут выполнять любую работу, если у них есть к ней способности.
А ешё есть дискриминация. (Хотя все еще существует дискриминация.) Such abstract nouns as discrimination cannot be быть, they can существовать.)
America has worked hard to bring equality to the workplace. Any job can be done by a man or woman, as long as they have the capability. There is still discrimination, though.

Ну (omit) сегодня это (omit) воскресенье(,) и я обычно не работаю (в такие дни).
Это смешно (Разве не забавно, the original sentence is a question) (,) какой мы сознаниями обыкновения (насколько мы зависим от привычек, cannot be translated literally.)
Некоторый (некоторые) из нас чувствуем (чувствуют) своих (себя) как(omit) уютним (уютно) с новим вешами (с чем-то новым), (а) другие нет.
Может быть это важно у нас есть равновесие. Наверное (expresses a bigger degree of confidence) (,) действительно важно соблюдать равновесие.

Наш последний болшой праздник Thanksgiving. В те времени мы едим очень еды, которая ладно...ха ха. Что ваш любимый праздник?

Our next big holiday is Thanksgiving. During that we eat lots of food, which I don’t mind at all…lol. What is your favorite holiday?

У меня есть вопрос об исправления. В этом предложении, «...делиться со мной своими мыслями,» почему «своими мыслями» в творительном падеже? Я думал это было бы в винительном падеже...

I have a question about a correction. In the sentence, “…делиться со мной своими мыслями,” why is “ своими мыслями” in the instrumental case? I thought it would be in the accusative case…

Я был же сяду на подьезде с моей семей. У нас был огонь и мы разговариваем о вести. Моя любимая предмета наука. Мне нравится вести об електроникы или мироздания. Вы думали ли про клонирования? Пусть мне вас прошу: если у вас есть шанс, разрешите ли себя клонировать? Да, я было бы...ха ха

I was just sitting on the front porch with the family. We had a fire and talked about the news. One of my favorite subjects is science. I like news about electronics, or the universe. Have you ever thought about cloning? Let me ask you: if you had the chance, would you permit yourself to be cloned? I would…haha.

Я думал что я было бы здесь приложить свою картину. Это я у дома же думая. Я не сниму хорошую картину...ха ха.

I thought I would attach a picture of myself here. This is me at home just thinking. I don’t take very good pictures…haha.
Kevin.4.19.08.4-28-12-17-52-08.jpg

Мне нравится наш онлайн чат. Наверное вы хорошо печатать! Вы мне скажите о вашего слышную книги...я еще предпочту читать книгу, но я вижу как вами это хорошую практику. Я желал что я мог бы печатал с русским, но я было бы слишком медленно.

I enjoyed our chat online. You certainly type well! You mentioned your audio book you were listening to…I still prefer to read a book, but I see how it’s good practice for you. I wish I could have typed in Russian during our chat, but I would have been too slow.

Итак я буду это провожу и поставить в утром. Завтра у меня есть немножко работа...пока пока

Well, I’ll translate this and post it in the morning. I only have a little work to do tomorrow. Talk to you later…

What??? You don’t look like Johnny Depp?
You can’t imagine how deeply-deeply-deeply I am disappointed. I am just pissed off.
Don’t write to me anymore.

Originally Posted by Helenej

What??? You don’t look like Johnny Depp?
You can’t imagine how deeply-deeply-deeply I am disappointed. I am just pissed off.
Don’t write to me anymore.

LOL...now that's what I call American humor...haha See, I knew you had it in ya!

Originally Posted by kgcole

LOL...now that's what I call American humor...haha See, I knew you had it in ya!

American? Hmm… Perhaps I should ask my mom if she sinned with a Yankee.

I hope you guessed that I was joking. Actually I think you look great, Kevin.
If I were at least 15 years younger I would definitely break off with my present boy-friend and fly to Florida.

Originally Posted by Helenej

I hope you guessed that I was joking. Actually I think you look great, Kevin.
If I were at least 15 years younger I would definitely break off with my present boy-friend and fly to Florida.

ha ha....you're too kind, Lena...lol

Well, back to our studies. Where were we?

Originally Posted by kgcole

I have a question about a correction. In the sentence, “…делиться со мной своими мыслями,” why is “ своими мыслями” in the instrumental case? I thought it would be in the accusative case…

The direct object denotes smb or smth directly affected by the action of the verb. In the sentence “I am writing a letter” the word letter is the direct object of the verb to write. It is expressed by the noun or pronoun in the accusative case (in some cases in the genitive).


Verbs ending in the postsuffix –ся(сь) are called reflexive verbs (except those which denote passive voice).
They have the following two meanings:
1) reflexive itself – the action is performed over the object which is the subject of the action: умываться, одеваться, купаться.
2) mutually reflexive – the action is performed by several subjects, each of them being the object of the action: целоваться, судиться, ссориться.
There are four more meanings of the reflexive verb very similar to these two mentioned.


The postfix –ся(сь) is a contraction of the word себя which means himself, herself, myself, yourselves etc.
Thus, reflexive verbs themselves denote the direct object which is implied to be: himself, herself, myself, yourselves etc.
Therefore reflexive verbs do not require the direct object, which is expressed by the noun or pronoun in the accusative case as was said above.

Делиться means делить себя in some sense (though I think it can only be felt rather than comprehended). It doesn’t mean делить like in Я поделил пирог на четыре части.

I don’t know why we use the instrumental here. Maybe because the rest of the cases make lesser sense.
It cannot be the nominative because it denotes the subject alone.
It cannot be the genitive because it denotes smb or smth from which smth derives or comes from or is taken from.
It cannot be the dative because it denotes smb or smth to which the action is addressed.
It cannot be accusative as it was explained above.
It cannot be prepositional for there is no preposition.

Sadly, my answer is “I don’t know”. Maybe you should forget what I wrote above.

Наш последний (следующий) болшой (большой) праздник это Thanksgiving (день благодарения).
В те времени (в этот день) мы едим очень еды (мы очень много едим, because едим and еда are cognate words), которая ладно (и я совсем не против этого, though my version sounds dull, it could be a я совсем не против вкусно поесть or а я люблю вкусно поесть).
Что (какой) ваш любимый праздник?

Our next big holiday is Thanksgiving. During that we eat lots of food, which I don’t mind at all. What is your favorite holiday?

У меня есть вопрос об исправления (об одном вашем исправлении, if you say about a correction I don’t quite understand what you mean).
В этом (omit because you quote it) предложении , (omit) «...делиться со мной своими мыслями», почему «своими мыслями» (стоит. I insert the predicate стоит because there is neither subject nor predicate in your question. Even в творительном падеже is not a part of the predicate, it’s an adverbial modifier) в творительном падеже?
Я думал(,) это было бы в винительном падеже...(что это должен быть винительный падеж. I would use this instead of your subjunctive, it sounds more natural).

I have a question about a correction. In the sentence, “…делиться со мной своими мыслями,” why is “ своими мыслями” in the instrumental case? I thought it would be in the accusative case…

Я был же сяду (сидел. I once mentioned that your continuous tenses should be rendered by imperfects only in Russian, unless it is your Present Perfect Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous like in I have been sitting) на подьезде (на веранде) с моей (со своей. The subject is “I” and the family is yours, then you should say “своей”. You do not point out that the family is yours and not, let’s say, his. You are just constanting the fact.) семей (семьей).
У нас был огонь (Мы сидели у костра) и мы (omit as I have already inserted мы) разговариваем (говорили) о вести (новостях) (or обсуждали новости, it’s better).
Моя любимая предмета (Одна из моих любимых тем. Тема is a subject of a talk or an article or a book. Still we can say предмет разговора, but it sounds either formal or out-to-date) это наука. Мне нравится вести (мне нравится узнавать новое) об електроникы (электронике) или мироздания (вселенной).
Вы (Вы когда-нибудь) думали ли(omit. If you would go with this word order Думали ли вы когда-нибудь it would be ok. But I wouldn’t say the latter. It’s a bit bookish or olf-fashioned) про клонирования (клонирование, accusative)?
Пусть мне вас прошу (Можно вас спросить. Давайте я вас спрошу sounds awquard), (comma) если у вас есть шанс (если бы у вас была такая возможность. It’s subjunctive), разрешите ли бы вы (вы бы разрешили, subjunctive) себя клонировать?
Да, я было бы (Я бы разрешил. You should add разрешил, otherwise the sentence is incomplete).

I was just sitting on the front porch with the family. We had a fire and talked about the news. One of my favorite subjects is science. I like news about electronics, or the universe. Have you ever thought about cloning? Let me ask you: if you had the chance, would you permit yourself to be cloned? I would…

Я думал что я было бы здесь приложить свою картину. (Я решил прикрепить сюда свое фото. Or фотографию, maybe even фотокарточку, but never картину. I would say фото).

I thought I would attach a picture of myself here/ This is me at home just thinking. I don’t take very good pictures…haha.

Мне нравится (понравился) наш онлайн чат. Наверное вы хорошо печатать! (Безусловно, вы хорошо печатаете). Вы мне скажите о вашего слышную книги... (Вы рассказывали про аудиокнигу, которую вы слушали). я еще предпочту читать книгу (Я все еще предпочитаю читать книгу), но я вижу, как вами это хорошую практику (что это для вас хорошая практика). Я желал что я мог бы печатал с русским, (Жаль, что я не мог печатать по-русски в чате), но я было бы слишком медленно (но это было бы слишком медленно).

I enjoyed our chat online. You certainly type well! You mentioned your audio book you were listening to…I still prefer to read a book, but I see how it’s good practice for you. I wish I could have typed in Russian during our chat, but I would have been too slow.

Итак я буду это провожу и поставить в утром. (Я переведу и отправлю это утром). Завтра у меня есть немножко работа. (Завтра у меня совсем немного работы). пока пока (I don’t say пока-пока. It sounds childish for me. I’d just say Пока. Or До встречи or Увидимся if we are supposed to see each other. Or Счастливо)

Well, I’ll translate this and post it in the morning. I only have a little work to do tomorrow. Talk to you later…

Originally Posted by Helenej

Well, back to our studies. Where were we?

I don’t know why we use the instrumental here. Maybe because the rest of the cases make lesser sense.
It cannot be the nominative because it denotes the subject alone.
It cannot be the genitive because it denotes smb or smth from which smth derives or comes from or is taken from.
It cannot be the dative because it denotes smb or smth to which the action is addressed.
It cannot be accusative as it was explained above.
It cannot be prepositional for there is no preposition.

Sadly, my answer is “I don’t know”. Maybe you should forget what I wrote above.

Sounds like I may have to remember that just as I do the oddities of certain prepositions....like "у" or "в" not really corresponding literally to the English understanding. Could be as you say, none of the other cases make sense to use....lol

Originally Posted by kgcole

Sounds like I may have to remember that just as I do the oddities of certain prepositions....like "у" or "в" not really corresponding literally to the English understanding. Could be as you say, none of the other cases make sense to use....lol

There are four other functions of the instrumental case along with its main function of denoting the instrument. Still none of them describes that of “поделиться мыслями”. Yet it is certainly used correctly in this example. Поделиться хлебом, радостью, идеями, соображениями, мнениями, знаниями. That’s for sure.

Instrumental case - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Can you explain or rephrase your expression "to do the oddities", please? To except the oddities?

Originally Posted by kgcole

If you had the chance, would you permit yourself to be cloned?

Of course I would. I think that all notable people should be cloned.

Originally Posted by kgcole

What is your favorite holiday?

My favourite holiday? It’s a tough question.

Well, it is certainly none of the political holidays such as Independence day or Constitution day. The more I can hardly understand the difference between them. What’s the use of independence without the constitution? The opposite makes even lesser sense to me. I have never celebrated them in any way and I even don’t know for sure when they are marked. For me, they are simply extra days off somewhere in summer. Perhaps I would honour them more if anybody could tell me by whom we were occupied before becoming independent. Who were those enemies? Were they the rulers of the USSR? But now we have our own rulers very similar to them. They only care about getting richer and, as it was mentioned at the Election thread today, to get re-elected. My attitude may sounds synical. Actually I myself would like to stop feeling like that. I would like to be proud not only with the beauty of Ukraine’s nature, but also with her economy and high living standards, while now we can only boast with taking the 90th place in the world by GDP per capita. I would also like to be proud by her constitution existing not only on the paper. I would like not to be ashamed for the bribery blossoming through all the institutions, beginning with maternity hospitals and ending with cemeteries.

I am also sceptical about Victory day. Perhaps I could be proud about our victory if the USSR were a merely victim of the war. Yet I know how meanly the Soviet Union and Germany, pretending to be friends, devided Poland. And besides, can a sober-minded person, having beaten up his neighbour even for a bad dead, keep celebrating his victory every year? Would you do that? I wouldn’t.

Well, let’s see if there is any other eye-candy in the calendar. Do I feel happy on Valentine’s day or on Women’s day? No. It would be demeaning to me if the man, who loves me, remembered about his love out of necessity, just because he is supposed to. Besides, I’ve always felt pity for the men puzzling over their Women’s day presents that they have to give to many women at one day.

Religious holidays? I’m not religious. Besides seeing other people’s intercourse with their heavenly father only on previously determined days reminds me their visiting a doctor or a beautician. Their eating special food at some particular time of the day only out of fear to be punished doesn’t make me respect them.

New Year’s Day? Well, maybe it’s really the most joyful holiday. A new page of life, summing up the last year’s results, making plans and cherishing hopes for the next one. Yes, I think I like it most of all. I only wish that the fireworks didn’t last non-stop from the 30th of December through the 2nd of January, day and night.

-------------------------------------------------
I guess there are lots of mistakes in my essay. Let alone it being overloaded with too-long sentences.
Don’t call my parents to school, please.

It’s good that you asked me no questions about electronics. I've been puzzled about the trigger since the university.
So I would have to insert the manual to my hair-drier into my post instead.

Originally Posted by Helenej

My favourite holiday? It’s a tough question.

My favourite holiday? It’s a tough question.

Well, it is certainly not any of the political holidays such as Independence day or Constitution day. The more (omit The more) I can hardly understand the difference between them. What’s the use of independence without (a) constitution? The opposite makes even lesser(less) sense to me. I have never celebrated them in any way and I even don’t know for sure when they are marked. For me, they are simply extra days off somewhere in summer. Perhaps I would honour them more if anybody (someone) could tell me by whom we were occupied before becoming independent. Who were those enemies? Were they the rulers of the USSR? But now we have our own rulers very similar to them. They only care about getting richer and, as it was mentioned at the Election thread today, to get re-elected. My attitude may sounds synical (sound cynical). Actually I myself would like to stop feeling like that. I would like to be proud not only with the beauty of Ukraine’s nature, but also with her economy and high living standards(.) while(omit) now(Now) we can only boast with taking the 90th place in the world by GDP per capita. I would also like to be proud by her(of our) constitution existing not only on the(omit) paper. I would like not to be ashamed for the bribery blossoming through all the institutions, beginning with maternity hospitals and ending with cemeteries.

I am also skeptical (skeptical) about Victory day. Perhaps I could be proud about our victory if the USSR were a (omit) merely (a) victim of the war. Yet I know how meanly(cruelly) the Soviet Union and Germany, pretending to be friends, devided (divided) Poland. And besides, can a sober-minded person, having beaten up his neighbor(neighbor) even for a bad dead (deal), keep celebrating his victory every year? Would you do that? I wouldn’t.

Well, let’s see if there is any other eye-candy in the calendar. Do I feel happy on Valentine’s day or on Women’s day? No. It would be demeaning to me if the man(omit ,) who loves me (omit ,) remembered about his love (only) out of necessity (omit ,) just because he is supposed to. Besides, I’ve always felt pity for the men puzzling over their Women’s day presents that they have to give to many women at (on) one day.

Religious holidays? I’m not religious. Besides(,) seeing other people’s intercourse with their heavenly father only on previously determined days reminds me (of) their visiting a doctor or a beautician.(, or their) Their(omit) eating special food at some particular time of the day only out of fear to be punished (only out of fear of being punished.) (It) doesn’t make me respect them.

New Year’s Day? Well, maybe it’s really the most joyful holiday. A new page of life, summing up the last year’s results, making plans and cherishing hopes for the next one. Yes, I think I like it most of all. I only wish that the fireworks didn’t last non-stop from the 30th of December through the 2nd of January, day and night.

-------------------------------------------------
I guess there are lots of mistakes in my essay. Let alone it being overloaded with too-long sentences.
Don’t call my parents to school, please. (I won’t call your parents, but you could shorten your sentences a bit…ha ha)

Я догадаюсь вы слышали что Obama выигривал выбор вечера вечером. Он не безупречный, но лучше, чем альтернатива. У 2014 годы, он будит переставать эту воину в Афганистан, которое мне было бы нравится. Большой проблем, наш национального долга, который нужен исправить.

So I guess you’ve heard Obama won last night. He’s not perfect, but he was better than the alternative. He’ll stop the war in Afghanistan by 2014, which would please me. Our national debt is a big problem that needs to be solved.

---Давайте я вас спрошу sounds awquard (awkward).----

Сюда сейчас красивая осеная погода. Мой брат будит путешествовать в Disneyworld с своими семьей на отдых. Я помнаю там ездил когда моложее. Это дорогой, но такое волшебное место для ребёнка.

It’s beautiful fall weather here now. My brother is going to take a vacation and go with his family to Disneyworld. I remember going there when I was young. It’s expensive, but such a magical place for a child.

Есть ли, по-вашему, больше действия на форум в последнее время? Если больше человеков используют веб-сайт, это будит хорошее. Как мы скажем по-английски, “The more the merrier.” Конечно скажите мне если тебе нужен, что я вполне обяснить что я пишу. Можно меня иногда принимать на веру, что вы мне понимаете.

There has been more activity on the forum lately, hasn’t there? It would be a good thing if there were lots more people to get involved with the site. The more the merrier, as we say in English Be sure and tell me if I ever need to explain more thoroughly something that I write. I may take it for granted sometimes that you do understand me.

Нет ли хорошее работали для того, что мы разберём языковой барьер? Я обязательно думал про своего язык и почему мы говорим как делаем. Один раз кто-то мне сказал, что это не нужин думать по-русски. Я не согласен. Наверное, это некого способ думать, который разный. Вы также чувствуете себя об ангийскем?

I think we’ve done a good job of breaking down the language barrier, haven’t we? It really has made me think about my own language, why we say things the way we do. Someone told me once that I didn’t really have to think Russian, but I don’t agree. It really is a certain way of thinking that is different. Do you feel that way about English?

Originally Posted by kgcole

My favourite holiday? It’s a tough question.

Лена, я считаю ваш ответа о празники интересно. Ваш идеи очень забавная. У вас есть в украине специальная условия, которая наверное любопитный способ жить. Я понимаю сравнение старого советского управления с вашей современним жизнью. Вы правильно об политике, даже мотивы на то, что не обычно. У нас есть в Америке все так же но то, что у большинство граждан достаточно независимость и веши для того, чтобы их довольное. Независимость самая важно. Вы хорошо изображаете ваш жизни. В каком способ я для вас печально. Я знаю вы хотела бы лучше жизнью.

I found your answer about holidays very interesting, Lena. Your ideas were very entertaining. You have a special situation there in the Ukraine, which I’m sure must be a curious way to live. I understand your comparison of old Soviet rule with what you have now. You’re right about politicians and their motives, but that’s not unusual. We have the same thing here, except that most citizens have enough freedom and possessions to keep them happy. The freedom is the most important thing. You describe your life well. In some ways I’m sad for you. I know you would like your life to be better.

Ваш изображения Дня Победы любопитно. Иногда я считаю Европейские политики удивительный. Может быть Америка в каком способе не отличит, но я чувствую себя нам важно независимость отличающий от европейского странов. Это мотив для наш действий и я чувствую себя мы искаем этого сокранять. Я любопытно для того, чтоб слышать ваш мысли на это тем.

Your description of Victory day is curious. Sometimes European politics amazes me. Maybe America is not different in some respects, but I feel we value freedom in a different way than European countries. It drives what we do, and we seek to preserve it, I feel. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on this.

Религия странный тема. Много люди чувствуют себя так же как вы. Америка имеет это проблем, потому что много люди страстный об их веры. Это причина для мира и волнения. Живут вместе и представляют проблема для некоторые людей. У меня был своего сопротивления и приём религия.

Religion is a strange subject. Many people feel the way you do. Religion is also one problem that America has, because so many people are zealous about their faith. It is a cause for peace, as well as a cause for trouble. Both live side by side, and presents a difficult problem for some people. I have had my own resistance, as well as acceptance of religion.

Да, Новый год прятный праздник. Обычно я соблюдаю Новый год и Рождество как один протянутый праздник. Потому что его называет конец года, я вижу его мне как самый важно и вероятно своя любимая время годы. Это время когда всего семьи собирает. Мы обсуждаем наш жизней и вновь подтверждать наш связ. Иногда обязательно я думаю но то, что любил.

Yes, New Year’s day is a pleasant holiday. I usually see that and Christmas as one extended holiday. Since it marks the end of the year, I see those times as the most important to me, and probably my own favorite time of the year. It’s the time when the whole family comes together from wherever they are. We discuss our lives, and reaffirm our ties. Sometimes it can be obligatory, but it should be enjoyed, I think.

Originally Posted by kgcole

It is surprising for me (to me). I have never saw (seen) or hear (heard) about a woman working as a long distance truck driver.

When I saw your “seen” and “heard” I started laughing nervously. I even couldn’t believe my eyes. I’d known that for years, yet I put it that way. This is how things are about learning a language with some individuals.

Originally Posted by kgcole

You surprise me to say that you think male writers are better than female. I wonder why that may be?

Just because I think that an average man is cleverer than an average woman. Didn’t you know?
The great majority of the scientists and writers have been males, btw.

Originally Posted by kgcole

I looked up “публицистика”, and it said that meant “social and political journalism”. “Познавательный” apparently means “cognitive”.

It seems to me that cognitive goes with such words as abilities, when we speak about conscious intellectual activity. I'm afraid I cannot say a cognitive book.

Originally Posted by kgcole

Of course, I’m continually amazed at your English. You don’t seem to have much problem expressing yourself in writing, with just a few mistakes here or there and not knowing a proper word. Occasionally you’re not sure about a tense.

But along with this I can hardly speak. It takes me a huge amount of time to find the proper word. I'm continuously like, "Umm... Ehh ... Umm" The speaking part of my brain must be turned off, I guess