It’s almost fall and I’m super excited! Here’s my tentative plan for the season:

1. There will be long rainy days.
2. On some of those long rainy days I will stay home and study Russian.

Is this realistic?

Don’t know.

But it sounds pretty awesome.

What’s your September – October – November plan like?

On to the roundup!

Willy Melnikov

This summer I read an article about the artist and (maybe?) polyglot Вилли Мельников. It was an old textbook article in Russian and I swear he attributed his multilingual skills to his parents. I tossed the article, though, so let’s go instead with what the internet says about him: he’s Russian, 54 years old, and is said to speak over 100 languages. This ability happened after he received a concussion while fighting in Afghanistan. The “100+ language” claim has come under a lot of scrutiny, of course. Take a listen for yourself. Here he is:

Honestly, he reminds me a little of this interpreter, over-exaggeration and all.

But now another brain injury has happened, and this one has produced a less pleasant result. 🙁 His friends are currently organizing an art event in Moscow to raise funds for his care. If you’re near Moscow, maybe you can check it out. <3

Have you ever heard of Willy Melnikov? Do you think a person can really speak 100 languages?

August’s videos

I watched a bunch of silly things this month, like How to Squat Like Slav…

…and Участницы Дом 2: До и После Пластических Операций. I’ll do you a favor and not link it here, haha. But this meme pretty much sums it up:

If you want something cute, try this short video:

August’s articles

What was on my reading list this month-

• Как мотивировать себя
• 20 котов, которые забыли, как быть котами
• Один день, когда я ездила в Пасанаури есть хинкали
• In Russia, watch what you eat
• How different countries see Russia
• Here’s a post I wrote on old currencies in Ukraine

What kinds of things were you reading / watching / learning this August? Leave me your best links below! 🙂

PS: And since this is the end of summer in the western hemisphere, you’ve got to see this imgur photo really quick- could it be The Best Russian Summer Marshrutka Photo Ever?