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To Bathe or Not to Bathe
September 01, 2005

To Bathe or Not to Bathe

Our neighbor Kalkan has probably been clean and sober only a dozen times in his life. The last time he bathed in a barrel of water warmed in a wood stove he came down with a bad cold and vowed never to do it again.

When P.R. Sounds Like Samovar
July 01, 2005

When P.R. Sounds Like Samovar

Many English words and phrases have wedged their way into the Russian vernacular, and not all with benign effect. Witness the effect of P.R...

The Defense of Sevastopol
July 01, 2005

The Defense of Sevastopol

Russian soldiers held off the French at Malakhov Kurgan for 349 days, before it fell, 150 years ago this month. The end of this battle brought an end to the Crimean War.

War with Japan
July 01, 2005

War with Japan

The last thing Russians wanted after finishing the war with Hitler was another war. But three months later, in August 1945, they got one anyway, when Stalin joined the war against Japan, taking the Kuriles and Sakhalin as spoils.

Train Fare
July 01, 2005

Train Fare

A short look at the history of fare aboard the Trans-Siberian railway, with a recipe for pelmeny you can prepare between stops...

Ski Story
July 01, 2005

Ski Story

A few years ago, I went to buy a new pair of cross-country skis at a little shop in East Montpelier (pop. 2,600). When I learned that one pair (brand name “Maverick”) was made in Russia, that was all I needed to hear.

Back in the USSR
July 01, 2005

Back in the USSR

Eastern Moldova - also known as the Transdniester Republic - remains wedded to its Soviet past.

Saving the Desman
July 01, 2005

Saving the Desman

For 30 million years, the desman and its ancestors have lived in remote Russian lakes. But in the last few decades, its numbers have dwindled by half.

Unusual Imports
July 01, 2005

Unusual Imports

Oil, aluminum, precious metals and other natural resources are commonly-known U.S. imports from Russia. We went in search of lesser-known consumer imports and found some surprising items.

Riding the TransSib
July 01, 2005

Riding the TransSib

Photographer Mike Buscher spent two months riding the Trans-Siberian railway and brings us this photo essay.

The Unhappiest Country
July 01, 2005

The Unhappiest Country

Some say that Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union, is the unhappiest place on Earth. Or is it?

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Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

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