My poor “LANGUAGE” !!!

So, over the past couple of years I think my Russian language skills have improved slightly.  I recognize a small number of words and can create a monologue in my mind.  Weather I actually know what is being said is rather irrelevant at this point.  Suffice to say, I am creating a soap opera in my mind and find it mildly entertaining when I have no idea what is being said around me.

Here in Moscow, I am totally derailing my brain.  If you want to pronounce an English “V” in Russian, the English letter “B” replaces it.   Similarly “C” is not a “C” but it’s an “S” with some exceptions (I think).  “N” is written “H”, “H” is “X”, to pronounce the English “R” it is written, as “P” and Ivanov is Иванов.  You get the picture.

The afore-mentioned description confused the hell out of Evgueni, so I think he might sympathize with me a bit more?!? Can you guess what this says: “PECTOPAH”? Once I think I’ve got some of these letter switches memorized, suddenly, the letters are flipped upside and backwards.  Sometimes the letters even look stylized (with a little tail or something) but it actually changes the letter entirely! 

Ouch my aching brain!