Looking for penpal

Hello,

I am 27 years old and live in Baltimore, Maryland. My Grandparents and father were both native of Odessa, Russia. The 3 of them passed away one after another all before I reached 3 years old and I never had the opportunity to learn Russian langauge and customs of it's people.

The older I get, the more I want to learn about my heritage.

Please understand that I cannot speak or read Russian at this time, and am pretty well overwhelmed by all of this new material. It is my wish to learn and someday visit Russia.

I am looking for a patient Russian penpal, whom does not regard my interest as a joke, and not treat it as such.

My screen name is indeed my last name.

Can anyone help?

Thanks

Hellow, Tomchuk! My name is Vladimir. I am 31 years old and live in Ekaterinburg, Russia. I am an electronic engeneer, and I am learning English. I want to have an English-speaking penpal, but I'm afraid my English is not very good now. I think, we can help to each other. I can write to you in Russian, and you will answer me in English, for example. Or, maybe, I will write in English, and couple sentenses in Russian, and you will try write in Russian, and ask me some questions (about grammar, words etc) in English. My interests (except professional ones) is music, movies and books.

Best wishes!

Vladimir.
e-mail: arktur04@list.ru

Вдали туманы за рекой
Покрылись синевой
Стоит у моря золотой
Одесса, город мой
Он песнею встречает
Он песней провожает
Одесса-мама, город мой родной

Ах, Одесса, жемчужина у моря
Ах, Одесса, ты знала много горя
Ах, Одесса, любимый южный край
Цвети моя Одесса,
Цвети и расцветай!

На свете есть такой народ -
В Одессе он живет.
И где не встретишь тот народ -
Он весело поет.
Кого вы не спросите
Ответят одесситы:
Такими уж нас мама родила!

Когда по Пушкинской с тобой
Вдвоем гулять пойдем
Зайдем мы в садик городской
На пляжик золотой
Одесские каштаны прикроют наши раны
Тогда с тобой мы песенку споем

В Одессе есть такой маяк,
Он светит всем всегда
Он говорит: "Постой моряк,
Зайди ко мне сюда.
Здесь двери всем открыты,
Бокалы всем налиты.
И женщины танцуют до утра."

Ах, Одесса, не город, а невеста!
Ах, Одесса, нет в мире лучше места
Ах, Одесса, любимый южный край,
Цвети моя Одесса,
Цвети и расцветай!

Эх-х-х Nostalgy однако.

Hi Tomchuk and welcome to the board hang around for a while and I'm sure you'll find who you need..

PS The above is the song about Odessa stating that it's the best place on Earth :) Kinda "Sweet home Alabama .." but without politics.

Thanks to those whom have responded.

Aleph, that was very thoughtful of you to post that song of Odessa, and also it's comparison to "Sweet Home Alabama" of Southern Rock fame helps to put it in perspective.

Now, if I only knew what the song says?