Language

Durak, Pyanitsa, Loto: Games in Russian-Speaking Cultures

Games such as durak, pyanitsa, and loto are known to nearly everyone in Russian-speaking cultures. While these all have close analogues in many foreign cultures, participating in the games as a foreigner can be difficult as many have highly specific jargon associated with them. The language resource below will introduce you to these games, how […]

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Fitness and Health in the Russian Language

Halloween as a Case Study for Cultural Understanding

Recipes

Latvian Rye Bread Desserts: Rupjmaizes Kārtojums and Rupjmaizes Zupa

Rye has been grown in Latvia for more than 1200 years and rye bread (rudzu maize or rupjmaize) has been a staple of Latvian cuisine for nearly as long. The reason why is simple: rye grows well in moist soil and can be planted in spring and fall and is thus exceptionally well adapted to […]

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Pierogi: A Flavorful History of the Polish Dumpling

Lagman: The Noodles of the Silk Road

Student Observations

Notes From the Field: Life in a Evenki Reindeer Collective

The Evenki people are an indigenous group of eastern Siberia. They have a distinct language, which is part of the Tungusic language family, and their traditional lifestyle centers around reindeer herding and hunting. They are traditionally nomadic, taking their herds further north in the summer and returning to a more southern settlement in the winter. […]

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International Women’s Day: Local Culture and Celebrations

Ramadan and Eid in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Talking Phrasebooks

The Talking Uzbek Phrasebook

The Talking Phrasebook Series presents useful phrases and words in side-by-side translation and with audio files specifically geared to help students work on listening skills and pronunciation. Below, you will find several useful phrases and words. To the left is the English and to the far right is the Uzbek translation. Uzbek is currently transitioning […]

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The Talking Buryat Phrasebook

The Talking Kyrgyz Phrasebook