Superstitions

[baron555 934]

the rocks are interesting. We DO have a lot of rocks placed around the house, I thought they were just pretty rocks Alla found at the lake. Hmmmm. I have a stone with a hole in it on a leather string around my neck which I found at the Sea of Azov, Alla says it is good luck.

Now that you guys are mentioning this, I have to say Anna adorned my bathroom with rocks when she was here. Nothing like having good luck in the latrine I guess.

Alla is bringing her mineral collection with her; so she can give me the special stone massage

[Dave-n-Oksana 49]

Rocks are for good luck??? I thought it was just so Oksana would have something to hit me in the head with when I did or said something stupid

[Martyshk 137]

Natasha tells me it is considered improper to give a watch as a gift, particularly to someone you care about, as this indicates a separation is impending. Of course, you don't whistle inside a home or this invites financial ruin. I've also been told that fashion (particularly for women) trumps all, so no how uncomfortable those tall spiky heeled shoes are you walk as though on clouds and then soak your feet in the privacy of your home. Not really a superstition, I suppose, but there you have it.

You can give watch as a gift, even to someone you care about, as long as that person gives you some sort of money for it (even a penny would do).

Same goes with knives.

As those things are considered to not be gifts or they will bring bad luck.

At least that's the way I remember things

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Rocks are for good luck??? I thought it was just so Oksana would have something to hit me in the head with when I did or said something stupid

And the point is? She will bash you in the head and think "Lucky me, I had this rock handy"

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Rocks are for good luck??? I thought it was just so Oksana would have something to hit me in the head with when I did or said something stupid

I know you are being funny, but did you ever read Russian Fairy tales? OMG! I think every one of them has the woman beating the man with a pot or broom, or the man beating the woman. I cannot tell you how many end with the man beating the woman and then she is a "good wife" happily ever after.

The rest are full of bears or wolves eating people. No wonder Alla has bad dreams andis afraid of bears!

[ZorValachan 0]

have a stone with a hole in it on a leather string around my neck which I found at the Sea of Azov, Alla says it is good luck.

wearing the rock with a hole in it (natural hole of course)

'keeps away bad faeries'

it's also an Irish thing

Money with the wallet, heard that one too.

You must be given a tarot deck (you can't buy it yourself)

When you buy a motorcycle, someone must give you a bell to put on it (usually on the bottom) to ward off gremlins.

I'll have to not mention it and see if rocks start accumulating.

[BluesTraveler 0]

Alla has bad dreams andis afraid of bears!

Remember pandas are bears too!!!!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Alla has bad dreams andis afraid of bears!

Remember pandas are bears too!!!!

Actually, they aren't. They are in a separate family of animals, Pandas, which includes the Giant Panda, the Red panda and (of all things) raccoons. Alla is afraid of raccoons also.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

It could be worse. Vike eats lemons (skin and all) when she feels bad. But she believes antibiotics will just make her more sick.

Sveta does it too. Helps with her sore throat. How? I don't know, I guess the influx of vitamin C. Although she makes the cutest face when she eats the lemon.

Vika says that her stomach "needs sour from lemon". I don't get it either.

If you haven't taken Vika to the doctor yet, you're in for a treat! Nothing like explaining how co-pays and office visit fees, prescriptions, etc. work and then hearing her say, "American doctors so stupid."

Yep. Nothing like spending several hundred bucks on "nothing."

In my town I found a woman Russian doctor. So, I am hoping that will ease the pain of trying to explain Western medicine compared to Voodoo.

We found a Russian female MD here too. Apparently most of her practice is women from Eastern Europe. Pretty good deal, as my Russian vocabulary doesn't even come close to helping. There is also a Russian accountant, and several Russian bankers, all of whom have the same FSU niche. I can't turn a doorknob without hearing about some Russian guy who paints, mows, fixes, or installs for less than licensed and bonded American companies.

Hey Brad, I have been drinking lemon juice for upset stomach for years! My Dad taught me that and he was WAY not Russian. It works!

[Brad and Vika 129]

It could be worse. Vike eats lemons (skin and all) when she feels bad. But she believes antibiotics will just make her more sick.

Sveta does it too. Helps with her sore throat. How? I don't know, I guess the influx of vitamin C. Although she makes the cutest face when she eats the lemon.

Vika says that her stomach "needs sour from lemon". I don't get it either.

If you haven't taken Vika to the doctor yet, you're in for a treat! Nothing like explaining how co-pays and office visit fees, prescriptions, etc. work and then hearing her say, "American doctors so stupid."

Yep. Nothing like spending several hundred bucks on "nothing."

In my town I found a woman Russian doctor. So, I am hoping that will ease the pain of trying to explain Western medicine compared to Voodoo.

We found a Russian female MD here too. Apparently most of her practice is women from Eastern Europe. Pretty good deal, as my Russian vocabulary doesn't even come close to helping. There is also a Russian accountant, and several Russian bankers, all of whom have the same FSU niche. I can't turn a doorknob without hearing about some Russian guy who paints, mows, fixes, or installs for less than licensed and bonded American companies.

Hey Brad, I have been drinking lemon juice for upset stomach for years! My Dad taught me that and he was WAY not Russian. It works!

Just remember that American lemons aren't as good for that

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Na...the better answer is.... that she is afraid of the 10" python in your pants.

He must have held that up to the moon too.

well, i whistled in the house today. i got "don't do it. it means...no money." guess i forgot about this thread. also, his mother said we have to marry when the moon is waxing for luck in marriage.

on a side note, he brought me some f*d up belorussian flu. his remedies include the regular gargling of salt water and drinking warm lemon water. in addition, he made me wrap a vodka-soaked towel around my neck to ease muscle soreness. i look like an accident victim. this is fun.

It could be worse. Vike eats lemons (skin and all) when she feels bad. But she believes antibiotics will just make her more sick.

OH NO! I just drink lemon Juice...reconstituted. Yes, Alla eats the lemons, skin and all, and also oranges. When she eats an apple there is nothing left but the seeds! Yet she insisted on peeling potatoes and nearly flipped when I first cooked potatoes with the skins on! (This was while we were in Ukraine, before she came here) She will eat them that way, but my MIL absolutely will not!

And yes, we have been through the doctor scene and she feels the same way about "stupid American Doctors" why does she have to go to different ones for different things, why all the "blah, blah, blah" just do ALL the test for EVERYthing all at once and be done with it!

Alla will not take "chemical pills" for almost anything. Headache? Excedrin? NO WAY!

[BluesTraveler 0]

Alla has bad dreams andis afraid of bears!

Remember pandas are bears too!!!!

Actually, they aren't. They are in a separate family of animals, Pandas, which includes the Giant Panda, the Red panda and (of all things) raccoons. Alla is afraid of raccoons also.

Pandas ARE bears!

The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, literally meaning "cat-foot black-and-white") is a mammal native to central-western and south western China. The Giant Panda is a member of the Ursidae (bear) family.

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Alla has bad dreams andis afraid of bears!

Remember pandas are bears too!!!!

Actually, they aren't. They are in a separate family of animals, Pandas, which includes the Giant Panda, the Red panda and (of all things) raccoons. Alla is afraid of raccoons also.

Pandas ARE bears!

The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, literally meaning "cat-foot black-and-white") is a mammal native to central-western and south western China. The Giant Panda is a member of the Ursidae (bear) family.

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae.

Hmmm. Not what I have read, but OK. Alla would still be afraid of them.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Recently I was scolded because I pointed towards an area of my arm to show where a friend had developed a skin disease ... "never point diseases on yourself or herself."

[AKguy 1]

Anna last week decided to talk to her Astrologer/Numerology/Psychic/Gypsy person to see if we were meant to be together. I said, "isn't it a little late to be asking this? What if she says we're not meant to be?" to which she replied, "I understand why you worried this and you should worry". <long pause> And then she giggled. "no matter what she say won't change me, grandma told me go".

I lucked out, Nutjob psychic said we will be good together.