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Since this is a big undertaking to expect myself to speak fluently at this point given my other tasks in life, I am going to maintain the knowledge I do have not only by listening to the podcast, but also working on memorizing a few Russian poems. I found a great site that translates them into English and also has the audio files. http://max.mmlc.northwestern.edu/~mdenner/Demo/endtobegin.htm

I may also make a nice book so I can practice my Cyrillic cursive.

Here is the first one I wish to memorize:

Птичка/Little Bird by A.S. Pushkin

В чужбине свято наблюдаю
Родной обычай старины:
На волю птичку выпускаю
При светлом празднике весны.

Я стал доступен утешенью;
За что на бога мне роптать,
Когда хоть одному творенью
Я мог свободу даровать!

In a foreign land I faithfully observe
A native rite of olden times:
I liberate a little bird
During the shining fete of spring.

My heart is filled with consolation,
How can I grumble at God’s will
If to but one of his creations
I can bestow sweet liberty!

I need to listen to the Russian Lessons downloaded on my Ipod on a regular basis- this will help with my goal. The hardest part is the lost accent. The second hardest part is remembering the verb structures!