|
|
|
 Ralf
Language Coach
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1564
Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)
|
|
 #3 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:40 am JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
It rocks !
Well, to be completely honest, sometimes it stinks, and it might be so that it stinks more than it rocks, and that "more" is a mighty "more", but I don't want to be sent up to prison for slander, so I say a politically-correct "it rocks" |
|
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
|
 |
| #4 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:43 am JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
Azerbaijan - oil and conflict :-)
(Oil - because we are living through oil boom for this country, and conflict - because we are still in a state of war with Armenia over our occupied territories, which make 20 per cent of the country)
Even with these two definitions of my country, I love it very much, like any sane person here...
_________________
Learning is a sacred engagement. |
|
Ahmadov
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 312
Location: Azerbaijan
|
|
| #5 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:47 am JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
| aydincelenk wrote: |
As a Turkish citizen, I would choose "BRIDGE" and "MOSAIC";
Bridge; because my country is just like a bridge between Asia and Europe
Mosaic; because people living in my country is just like a mosaic. There are many different cultures, beliefs, ethnicity. |
Let me disagree with you - I would put "Frindship" instead of "Mosaic" because people's friendliness and strong friendship between them can be seen more openly than diverse cultures in Turkey...
_________________
Learning is a sacred engagement. |
|
Ahmadov
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 312
Location: Azerbaijan
|
|
| #6 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:05 am JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
| lost_soul wrote: |
It rocks !
Well, to be completely honest, sometimes it stinks, and it might be so that it stinks more than it rocks, and that "more" is a mighty "more", but I don't want to be sent up to prison for slander, so I say a politically-correct "it rocks" |
Are you talking about Russia or the USA?
_________________
Learning is a sacred engagement. |
|
Ahmadov
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 312
Location: Azerbaijan
|
|
| #7 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:26 am JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
| Ahmadov wrote: |
| lost_soul wrote: |
It rocks !
Well, to be completely honest, sometimes it stinks, and it might be so that it stinks more than it rocks, and that "more" is a mighty "more", but I don't want to be sent up to prison for slander, so I say a politically-correct "it rocks" |
Are you talking about Russia or the USA? |
Russia, of course.
The USA rocks without doubt :D)
For example, as many of you probably know, on March 2nd the president election was held and every citizen in the country (except for incredibly dumb ones) had known who would be elected, so the voting was in vain, even more it was a fraud. Doesn't it stink ? What's the point of voting then? |
|
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
|
|
| #8 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:55 am JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
| lost_soul wrote: |
| Ahmadov wrote: |
| lost_soul wrote: |
It rocks !
Well, to be completely honest, sometimes it stinks, and it might be so that it stinks more than it rocks, and that "more" is a mighty "more", but I don't want to be sent up to prison for slander, so I say a politically-correct "it rocks" |
Are you talking about Russia or the USA? |
Russia, of course.
The USA rocks without doubt :D)
For example, as many of you probably know, on March 2nd the president election was held and every citizen in the country (except for incredibly dumb ones) had known who would be elected, so the voting was in vain, even more it was a fraud. Doesn't it stink ? What's the point of voting then? |
Hi Alex,
I can understand your dissatisfaction with voting or democracy in general in your country. It's frustrating to see that thing's don't seem to be coming off the ground.
And you said that the US rocks - what exactly do you mean (apart from American rock'n'roll and democracy, of course).
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher |
|
Ralf
Language Coach
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1564
Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)
|
|
| #9 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:04 pm JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
You know, the reason why I'm asking is that there seems to be some kind of ubiquitous but permutable idea of the American Dream (we've discussed this in a different thread) that people have; particularly those who have never been there.
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher |
|
Ralf
Language Coach
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1564
Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)
|
|
| #10 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:19 pm JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
In Russia there's a saying: "the conditions of living are better there where we do not live", the gist of which is that people find a pleasure in ideolazing places where they do not live.
But I have other reasons to think that the USA rocks. Particulary I like the idea that the law actually works there. You can rarely stumble upon a cop who you can bribe so he won't punish you for speeding, here I doubt you can ever find a cop who will NOT accept your bribe. There're other things, such as the standart of living and such. |
|
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
|
|
| #11 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:34 pm JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
| lost_soul wrote: |
| In Russia there's a saying: "the conditions of living are better there where we do not live", the gist of which is that people find a pleasure in ideolazing places where they do not live. |
:wink:
| lost_soul wrote: |
| But I have other reasons to think that the USA rocks. Particulary I like the idea that the law actually works there. You can rarely stumble upon a cop who you can bribe so he won't punish you for speeding, here I doubt you can ever find a cop who will NOT accept your bribe. There're other things, such as the standart of living and such. |
That's understandable. But why doesn't Switzerland do the trick?
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher |
|
Ralf
Language Coach
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1564
Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)
|
|
| #12 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:51 pm JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
| lost_soul wrote: |
| In Russia there's a saying: "the conditions of living are better there where we do not live", the gist of which is that people find a pleasure in ideolazing places where they do not live. |
This reminds me the well-known saying in English: Grass is greener outside the fence...
_________________
Learning is a sacred engagement. |
|
Ahmadov
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 312
Location: Azerbaijan
|
|
| #13 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:58 pm JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
| Ahmadov wrote: |
| lost_soul wrote: |
| In Russia there's a saying: "the conditions of living are better there where we do not live", the gist of which is that people find a pleasure in ideolazing places where they do not live. |
This reminds me the well-known saying in English: Grass is greener outside the fence... |
The grass is always greener on the other side
You're mate's seeing this new bird that you wanna ride
Cos all you wanna feel is just that bit of life
You don't seem to be getting from your nine to fife
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher |
|
Ralf
Language Coach
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1564
Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)
|
|
| #14 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 13:43 pm JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
| lost_soul wrote: |
It rocks !
Well, to be completely honest, sometimes it stinks, and it might be so that it stinks more than it rocks, and that "more" is a mighty "more", but I don't want to be sent up to prison for slander, so I say a politically-correct "it rocks" |
Hi Alex,
Democracy is a relatively new concept to Russians, many Russians associate democracy with corruption, social insecurity and general lawlessness. It will take several generations for Russia to truly embrace democracy. However, the situation has already improved dramatically. In the Soviet era you would never have been able to communicate with foreigners as you are doing now. Also, you now are pretty free to travel to any country and experience life there. More and more Russians can afford a decent life style so for many Russians the standard of living has improved. Democracy can only thrive if it is embraced by a large number of citizens. Don't expect the government or authorities to create democratic structures. This can only come from the people themselves.
If I compare Russia to East Germany I must say that your country has made a major leap forward. You didn't have a rich and strong western "brother" to reunite with -- on the contrary, your country more or less fell apart. Still, when you compare what life in Russia was like 15 to 20 years ago, you are far better off today.
TOEIC listening, question-response: How close are you to completing the paperwork? |
|
Torsten
Learning Coach
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 14494
Location: EU
|
|
| #15 (permalink) Wed Mar 05, 2008 14:48 pm JUST "TWO WORDS" to describe your country! |
|
|
At least 13 reporters with independent mindset were killed during Putin's presidency, which means Russia is not a safe place to live in... However, this does not mean I want to say my country or any other CIS country is better than Russia...
_________________
Learning is a sacred engagement. |
|
Ahmadov
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 312
Location: Azerbaijan
|
|
|
| Taiwan's musical garbage trucks | The Voice Anchor of the BBC had to be an Irishman |
