Sometimes during winter people in Russia look like this. Not all of them, though!
Reuters What if Russia has it’s eyes on America? Fears of A Russian Invasion. Fears have long abounded in certain U.S. Circles dating back to the Cold War of ominous threats coming from the U.S.S.R., and some of those circles include the Pentagon, more familiar with extensive KGB spying in the U.S. Than the average American who probably thinks that the spy-threat is only a real threat in a James. Many people may see Russia as a tough place to live but you have no problems living there. You wouldn't just survive in Russia, you'd thrive. You'd know exactly what to do to live a comfortable life in Russia. You'd last quite a few years in Russia. You don't see it as the cold wasteland like many stereotype it as.
The country’s winter can be incredibly harsh, especially in places like Siberia. Even this year’s summer was overshadowed by rain (and some snow), so you should be prepared. Russia Beyond is on hand with some vital tips to help you through the cold, dark months. Don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom.
A popular joke about foreigners’ attitude towards Russia’s climate goes like this: A student studying in Russia is writing a letter to his relatives: “During ‘green winter’ it was more or less OK, but when the white one started, things got really hard…”
Of course, it doesn’t mean that in Russia you’ll freeze to death 365 days a year. The weather heavily depends on what region you’re in. For instance, in Sochi (1,600 km south of Moscow), even in February the average temperature rarely falls below -6°C.
Nevertheless, if you find yourself in a place like Yakutsk (8,300 km east of Moscow) where the climate is far more severe, expect to face temperatures as low as -33°C in February. But fret not – even places where it’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey can be fun to visit. You just need to be prepared.
1. Dress up really warm
“Wow, thanks, Sherlock – I would not have thought of this.” Well, it’s not rocket science but first things first: To fight the cold you must keep yourself warm, especially if you come from a country where people aren’t accustomed to Father Frost.
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If it’s freezing outside, consider wearing several layers: A T-shirt, shirt, sweater, and finally a winter jacket. And don’t forget a hat, scarf, and gloves (or mittens – they are even warmer).
Even Father Frost in his prime can't prevent Russians from having a good time out. Cycling, for instance.
Kirill Zykov / Moskva Agency At the same time, always dress according to your plans. If you’re just going to the theater and don’t plan to stay outside for more than five minutes, sporting thermal underwear probably isn’t the best idea – you’ll sweat like a pig. Be sensible.
2. Buy boots with a good tread
Obviously, you’ll need warm, waterproof shoes if you’re going to brave Russia’s winter. The sole should also have a good grip, as slipping on ice is an all too often occurrence in the country – you can do some real damage to yourself. Tread carefully!
3. Use skin cream
If it’s -30°C outside and you dress properly, your face will probably be the only part of your body exposed to the cold – so it needs protection. Bitter winds can damage your skin so you can buy special cream to act as a barrier against the elements. Those with an oily base are best for winter – if you choose a water-based cream it can only make things worse!
4. Mind the icicles
Lifehack: If you see icicles like that, it's probably the best to stay away from them.
Alexei Danichev/RIA Novosti 5. Eat well
When less sunlight hits your body it works harder to maintain equilibrium and burns more calories: “Winter is a bad time for strict diets,” Marina Demina, a Russian nutritionist, told the Argumenti I Fakty newspaper.
Not eating enough can be a seriously bad idea during the winter. At the same time, it doesn’t mean you should go hard on candy, fatty meat, and other types of unhealthy food. The best decision, according to Demina, is to eat hot vegetable soups, dried fruits, and honey (in case it’s difficult to find fresh vegetables and fruits) and take cod liver oil from time to time.
6. Drink tea (not vodka)
Hot drinks can be a great help during the cold winter.
Global Look Press Even if some Russians advise you to knock back a few vodka shots from time to time to keep warm, they’re mistaken. Alcohol does give you a feeling of warmth but it can be dangerous: When flushed with spirit, people can fail to notice the cold – which can lead to frostbite. Homeless people sometimes even die because of this, so it’s far better to drink tea or other hot non-alcoholic drinks.
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The Internet Age is your friend.
Beyond offering you access to news, entertainment and pizza on demand without having to speak to a real person, the modern era has also made learning the Russian language much easier.
Yes, nowadays you can watch Russian learning videos, enjoy Russian TV, read Russian learning books, follow Russian blogs and listen to Russian podcasts all from the comfort of your nearest Internet-enabled mobile device.
Bet your grandma couldn’t learn Russian like that!
No, seriously. Even if she had era-inappropriate technology, she totally would have been accused of being a communist. In those days, people feared communists like escaped zoo hippopotami with a taste for blood and vengeance.
Now things are different. Now you can learn Russian with fear of nothing but the case system; you can learn it on your own terms.
But what happens when “your own terms” involve learning Russian while waiting in line, riding the bus/subway or just lounging on the couch? That is when you whip out your favorite handy dandy Russian learning app, and boy are there some good ones!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Why Use Russian Apps?
You can use Russian apps on the go. There is nothing more convenient than having all the learning materials you need on your phone or tablet. It makes it easy to squeeze your Russian learning into any time you have available.
They offer a wide variety of approaches, so there is something for everyone. Don’t like one app? Try another! You will find one that suits your needs and interests.
There is an app for any level of Russian learner. Not only can you jump in at whatever level you are at now, you can also grow into the higher levels of the learning app as you learn. It is like leveling up in the game of learning.
Multi-level
FluentU
Available: iOS | Android
FluentU’s language learning app is a great weapon to have in your arsenal!
FluentU uses real-life videos with interactive captions to help you learn. With its Russian program, you’ll be able to see the language in action—and you can tap or hover your cursor over any unknown words to see a thorough definition, audio pronunciation and in-context usage examples on-screen.
Plus, the videos are all naturally entertaining since they come from the shows, movies and clips that Russian natives enjoy on the regular. They are all fun and easy to watch. You can watch music videos, movie trailers, documentary footage, news and more all while learning the Russian language!
Take a quick look at what FluentU has on offer for yourself:
Didn’t catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? FluentU makes native Russian videos approachable through interactive captions. Tap or click on any word to see a definition, in-context usage examples, audio pronunciation, helpful images and more.
Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab. Easily review words and phrases with audio under Vocab.
Don’t stop there, though. Use FluentU’s quizzes to actively practice all the vocabulary in any video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.
And FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.
Start using FluentU on the website, or better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store.
Russian by Living Language by Random House LLC
Available: iOS
Russian by Living Language offers several purchase options. You can buy just one level (essential, intermediate or advanced) or you can buy the whole set at once at a discount. Before you commit, try some lessons for free to see if you like the format.
Russian by Living Language offers a nice array of different activities and lessons. There are games, exercises, quizzes, dialogues, flashcards and grammar notes. This variety will make it easy to stay focused on the material for whatever amount of time you have available.
This is a well-rated app from the well-respected company Random House, so it is an excellent choice for any Russian learner.
Learn Russian Words Free by Language Course S.L.
Available: Android
Learn Russian Words Free is designed to take learners from beginning level to advanced level, so it is great for all levels of learner.
Learn Russian Words Free has a plethora of features including a 10,000-word flashcard set, focused courses to help you learn specific sets of vocabulary (pick-up lines, slang, business Russian, etc.), quizzes and the option to create your own vocabulary lists.
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Additionally, it offers the unique feature of having a listening mode. This way, you can continue to use the app while driving, exercising or any other activity in which you can’t be fiddling on your mobile device. You can also adjust the learning speed to meet your needs and learning style.
Plus, Learn Russian Words Free is, in fact, completely free, so this is a great introductory app for anyone looking to see if they enjoy learning Russian via an app.
Beginner
Learn Russian. Speak Russian. by Mondly/ATi Studios
Available: iOS | Android
This app focuses on helping beginners learn words and form sentences quickly. To do this, the app focuses on speech repetition and conversation.
But it offers more than that! When a verb appears, you can click it to see its meaning and a full list of conjugations. There are also games, and you can even compete with friends. Plus, it has a speech recognition feature to help you improve your pronunciation.
The app is free to download with purchases available in-app, so this is a great way to test if you like it before you commit to paying.
Learn Russian by Greg Vick
Available: iOS
Learn Russian aims to help beginners learn many common Russian words in a week. Through flashcards, exercises, games and audio recordings by native speakers, the app will help you learn the basics of the language.
What’s more, vocabulary is broken down into helpful categories so that you can choose what sorts of words you want to learn. Categories include travel, directions, shopping, etc.
Downloading the app is free, so this is a great app to experiment with.
Learn Russian with Babbel – Practice Speaking, Vocabulary and Grammar by Lesson Nine GmbH
Available: iOS | Android
Learn Russian with Babbel offers 10- to 15-minute lessons, so they are easy to jam into even the tightest schedule. The course aims at helping users learn practical conversation skills.
Learn Russian with Babbel offers exercises to improve your listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. There is a speech recognition feature here that you can use to help you boost your pronunciation. Additionally, the focus on both grammar and vocabulary will give you a well-rounded Russian education.
You can try the first lesson for free. This is a great way to see if you like the format before spending money on a paid subscription to the app.
Intermediate
Learn Russian 6,000 Words by Fun Easy Learn
Available: iOS | Android
Designed for both adults and children, Learn Russian 6,000 Words by Fun Easy Learn uses flashcards along with a nice selection of games to help learners pick up new vocabulary.
Since the focus is entirely on vocabulary, this is a great tool for intermediate level learners who already know the grammar basics but are looking to be able to discuss a wider array of topics.
Vocabulary is grouped thematically, making it easy to select an area where you need growth and get to work.
Plus, the app is free, so it is a great way to augment any Russian learning program or self-study plan!
Russian Intermediate for iPad by Innovative Language Learning, LLC
Available: iOS
Russian Intermediate for iPad offers a textbook-like experience for iPad users.
It offers chapters with text designed to help improve your learning. There are also useful vocabulary lists and grammar lessons staggered throughout, so this is a great app to get a fairly traditional education in the Russian language from the comfort of your iPad.
Advanced
Advanced Russian for iPad by Innovative Language Learning, LLC
Available: iOS
Like the intermediate-level course from Innovative Language Learning, LLC, the advanced-level course offers a text reading with corresponding vocabulary lists and grammar lessons.
It is much like the sort of education you would get in a standard Russian course, so it is perfect for anyone who wants a traditional education in a more convenient format.
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U-Learn Advanced Russian by Ectaco-LingvoSoft
Available: Android
U-Learn Advanced Russian offers a nice selection of features to help you perfect your Russian.
With over 20 hours of narrated content, there is plenty of opportunity to learn new vocabulary and improve your listening skills. Speech recognition helps you perfect your pronunciation. Content is grouped thematically to help you pick and choose what you learn.
Additionally, U-Learn Advanced Russian offers sleep mode. In this setting, you will still hear material to help you learn vocabulary, but you do not speak back—perfect for not being awkward in the gym, on a bus or on the subway.
With so many great apps to help you learn Russian, the only thing that could possibly stand in your way of learning Russian is running low on data.
So, hop on to your favorite free Wi-Fi and start learning!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn Russian with real-world videos.