>>>>>>>>>>>>>Mike got me interested in The Big Chill so I watched it and have to say that while it was entertaining, it won't make my top 10 list.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Here's my personal top 10.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>You are American, I presume.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Yes, Dragan.
>>>>>>>>>>>In case Donald Trump is looking, I have a birth certificate that says Brooklyn, NY.
>>>>>>>>>>>Hamilton, NJ is definitely in the USA.
>>>>>>>>>>>It's one of the older towns and it's a few miles from the site where Washington made his Christmas eve crossing to turn the tide of the revolution.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Once, if you have too much time on your hands, consider the possibility that the rest of the world is also making movies. And what you may have missed.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I am curious; what non-american movies would you recommend for Bill (and maybe others) to see?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Moskva slizam ne verit! Loved it...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>It turned out that I never before saw this movie but only heard the name. Watched it last night. Brought about a lot of memories of the soviet era realities (especially manufacturing plant since my one and only job in USSR was a foreman at a manufacturing plant; I lived in dormitory, crammed with furniture apartments, drinking etc. etc.). Thank you for recommending the movie.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>It was one of the first films I watched in Russian..... I'll have to watch it gain soon...
>>>>>
>>>>>Do you mean to say that you understand Russian? Than I am absolutely amazedI
>>>>
>>>>I was an interpreter in the military. Speak 5 languages... Russian is really rusty, no one to speak it with...
>>>
>>>Interesting. The only foreigners that I ever saw speaking and understanding Russian well were those who studied in Russian colleges. I went to institute (college) where a fairly large percent of students were foreign (relative to other schools). And they - the foreign students - had to study (first year) only Russian. I don't know how and what methodology was used but it was very impressive that after that one year they were fairly fluent in Russian. I lived in dormitory with many of them (from african countries, arab countries, east european countries) and I was always amazed at their knowledge of Russian.
>>>If you ever want to practice Russian, I will give you my phone number :)
>>
>>I spent about a year in Moldavia (Moldova ?) and am ashamed to admit how little Russian I learnt. Counting, ordering a meal, some computer terminology and the Russian chess terms were about it (but at least my chess improved a lot).
>>
>>The project co-ordinator was a former military attache at the U.K. Moscow embassy and spoke perfect Russian - to the point where Russians on-site thought he *was* Russian. I think he made a *lot* of money as the USSR opened up to foreign investment :-{
>
>I think that your problem was that you were in Moldavia (and not your lack of effort or talent) :) (To explain; moldova people were butt of many jokes in the former USSR (and maybe even know) as not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier (just my way of putting it) :)

I know (but don't agree :-} ). But a significant percentage of the population *were* Russian - especially the computer types I worked with. IIRC there was a definite drive to move native Russians into the satellite countries but many have now returned (not being exactly popular in their new abodes)


>IMHO, Russian is probably one of the most difficult languages to speak (but easy to read). So any english speaking person who learns it well deserves great deal of credit.

Easy to read ?? Once you have mastered a different alphabet maybe - especially since many characters have the same appearance but are pronounced completely differently :-{