Zinaida A. Breschinsky’s

favorite…

courses to teach: Russian 101, as well as Russian 281 (“Post Soviet Experience”) and Russian 330 (“Russian and East European Cinema”).

Russian novel: Nikolai V.  Gogol’s Dead Souls, because of its Odyssey-like quality and memorable gallery of Russian character types.

piece of Russian music: “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Modest Moussorgsky—actually, all of Moussorgsky’s compositions.

contemporary Russian author: Tatyana Tolstaya, because of her sublime prose replete with literary allusions and wit.

Russian city: St. Petersburg during the White Nights—the awe-inspiring splendor of its architectural facades, granite embankments, and majestic squares is unrivaled.

Russian movie: Burnt by the Sun by Nikita Mikhalkov.

Russian actor: Vladimir Menshikov and Evgenii Mironov.

Russian dishes: Beef Stroganoff, beet salad, bliny, black bread, borscht—and that’s counting only dishes that start with a “b.”

pastime: Reading, canoeing, scuba diving, and conversing with friends.

Russian leader: Vladimir V. Putin for leading Russia out of the chaos of the post-Communist deconstruction.

Russian expression: Лучше поздно, чем никогда.

restaurant in Russia: Detinets in the Novgorod Kremlin, which features distinctive Russian cuisine, including bliny and medovukha.

Purdue landmark: the bell tower, which I can admire from my office window.

Go Back To the Russian Home Page

Walking in the rain with roommate in Russia, Maymester 2006.