I searched for interesting English channels for quite a long time but found almost nothing, so I decided to create my own. Yes, with blackjack and everything. Nobody can censor me here, and I won’t censor anyone else either. If someone finds the channel interesting, that’s great; if not, at least I’ll get to practise my English.
I’m a Russian engineer living in New Zealand. I prefer a rational approach to life (which is why I’m in NZ). I plan to write about the similarities and differences between Russia and New Zealand, often using numbers, and share my opinions on various topics, even those not related to these countries.
(Russian version)
I’m a Russian engineer living in New Zealand. I prefer a rational approach to life (which is why I’m in NZ). I plan to write about the similarities and differences between Russia and New Zealand, often using numbers, and share my opinions on various topics, even those not related to these countries.
(Russian version)
🫡17👍15🔥8❤1
How to pick the best country?
Russia is the country of my birth. Neither the worst nor the best place to be born. New Zealand is the country of my choice, which I selected thoughtfully by comparing all available countries based on a set of my personal preferences. Below, I will explain how I made my choice.
I began by identifying countries where English is the primary language, as studying a third language would be too burdensome. Additionally, English-speaking countries are usually more prosperous and freer than others. As a result, I shortlisted the following countries: Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
I had to exclude the USA because...
(Continued in comments)
Russia is the country of my birth. Neither the worst nor the best place to be born. New Zealand is the country of my choice, which I selected thoughtfully by comparing all available countries based on a set of my personal preferences. Below, I will explain how I made my choice.
I began by identifying countries where English is the primary language, as studying a third language would be too burdensome. Additionally, English-speaking countries are usually more prosperous and freer than others. As a result, I shortlisted the following countries: Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
I had to exclude the USA because...
(Continued in comments)
1👍43❤18🔥13
Telegram built-in translation.
As you may have noticed, this channel is in English. I am Russian, so some comments may be in other languages. It might seem like an issue at first, but it’s not.
Telegram has a built-in translator. To enable it:
1. Go to Settings - Language
2. Enable Show Translate Button
That’s it! Now, by long-pressing (or right-clicking on a PC) any message, you can select Translate. Use the button next to the translated text to choose a different language if needed.
(Russian)
As you may have noticed, this channel is in English. I am Russian, so some comments may be in other languages. It might seem like an issue at first, but it’s not.
Telegram has a built-in translator. To enable it:
1. Go to Settings - Language
2. Enable Show Translate Button
That’s it! Now, by long-pressing (or right-clicking on a PC) any message, you can select Translate. Use the button next to the translated text to choose a different language if needed.
(Russian)
👍19🔥9🫡3
RU vs EN
In Russia, there’s a stereotype that Russian is the greatest language. Turgenev, a classic writer, called it “great and mighty”, and most Russians have that phrase stuck in their minds.
I don’t think that’s correct. Russian is flexible and can completely change meanings by rearranging and transforming words. Its strength lies in this complexity and variability.
But at the same time, Russian lacks vocabulary. It’s so limited that you often end up using more words or whole sentences to describe something. Russian tends to be 1.5 to 2 times wordier than English.
English has three times more words, with many synonyms for any single Russian word. It allows nearly everything to be named with one word. You can be concise and convey layers of meaning in short sentences.
To support this, here’s a quote from a list of dictionaries:
- 5th place, English: 780k words.
- 30th+ place, Russian: 220k words.
PS: Of course, I’m far from conveying layers of meaning in English, but I'm working on it.
(Russian)
In Russia, there’s a stereotype that Russian is the greatest language. Turgenev, a classic writer, called it “great and mighty”, and most Russians have that phrase stuck in their minds.
I don’t think that’s correct. Russian is flexible and can completely change meanings by rearranging and transforming words. Its strength lies in this complexity and variability.
But at the same time, Russian lacks vocabulary. It’s so limited that you often end up using more words or whole sentences to describe something. Russian tends to be 1.5 to 2 times wordier than English.
English has three times more words, with many synonyms for any single Russian word. It allows nearly everything to be named with one word. You can be concise and convey layers of meaning in short sentences.
To support this, here’s a quote from a list of dictionaries:
- 5th place, English: 780k words.
- 30th+ place, Russian: 220k words.
PS: Of course, I’m far from conveying layers of meaning in English, but I'm working on it.
(Russian)
👍21🔥3🤔2🤯1
Embassy of Russia
In the picture, you can see the roof of the Russian Embassy in New Zealand (Wellington), the Russian flag on the left, and a breathtaking New Zealand landscape on the horizon.
The embassy staff likely have a few windows offering this stunning view. Perhaps that’s why everyone I met at the embassy were the friendliest, most polite, and most helpful Russian government workers I’ve ever encountered.
New Zealand changes people.
(Russian)
In the picture, you can see the roof of the Russian Embassy in New Zealand (Wellington), the Russian flag on the left, and a breathtaking New Zealand landscape on the horizon.
The embassy staff likely have a few windows offering this stunning view. Perhaps that’s why everyone I met at the embassy were the friendliest, most polite, and most helpful Russian government workers I’ve ever encountered.
New Zealand changes people.
(Russian)
👍27❤5🤩4😇3🔥2
YouTube
L.A.B. - 'In The Air' live at Roundhead Studios
NZ supergroup L.A.B. are about to release their third album in three years. We were lucky enough to record a special live session with them at Auckland's Roundhead Studios, where they performed this awesome version of the record's second single, 'In the Air'.…
L.A.B. - In The Air
A well-known NZ band, popular overseas too. Music like this is popular here - reggae or light rock/pop just fits the local vibe perfectly.
A significant part of my playlist used to consist of darker and heavier music: trip-hop, experimental jazz, psychedelic stoner rock, doom metal, hardcore rap, techno, and drum’n’bass. But these genres here feel wrong. It’s like trying to shoot a horror movie on a sunny tropical island - quite challenging.
So, I'm adapting. Lighter music like this is sneaking into my playlist.
Immigration isn’t all fun. There are sacrifices too!
(Russian)
A well-known NZ band, popular overseas too. Music like this is popular here - reggae or light rock/pop just fits the local vibe perfectly.
A significant part of my playlist used to consist of darker and heavier music: trip-hop, experimental jazz, psychedelic stoner rock, doom metal, hardcore rap, techno, and drum’n’bass. But these genres here feel wrong. It’s like trying to shoot a horror movie on a sunny tropical island - quite challenging.
So, I'm adapting. Lighter music like this is sneaking into my playlist.
Immigration isn’t all fun. There are sacrifices too!
(Russian)
👍11🔥5😁3❤2
NZ is not a tropical country
Many people don’t know that New Zealand’s climate isn’t tropical. In Auckland, summers are 15-25°C (Dec-Feb) and winters are 10-15°C (Jun-Aug). Not too hot and not too cold - a hoodie works most of the year, with a T-shirt in peak summer and a jacket in winter.
This mild climate means cooler water temperatures, making the seas less ideal for swimming. Even in summer, the water feels more like Moscow’s rivers or lakes - not very inviting. Activity-focused people, like surfers, work around this by wearing wetsuits in winter and sometimes in summer. They enjoy countless beaches, varied wave types, and low crowds.
As a result, Auckland is great for living, hiking, and outdoor sports, but only decent for swimming. In hotter climates, it’s the opposite: great for swimming, but uncomfortably hot on land.
I spend most of my time on land, so I prefer New Zealand’s climate. There are also no annoying insects or dangerous animals - those prefer warmer places like Australia.
(Russian)
Many people don’t know that New Zealand’s climate isn’t tropical. In Auckland, summers are 15-25°C (Dec-Feb) and winters are 10-15°C (Jun-Aug). Not too hot and not too cold - a hoodie works most of the year, with a T-shirt in peak summer and a jacket in winter.
This mild climate means cooler water temperatures, making the seas less ideal for swimming. Even in summer, the water feels more like Moscow’s rivers or lakes - not very inviting. Activity-focused people, like surfers, work around this by wearing wetsuits in winter and sometimes in summer. They enjoy countless beaches, varied wave types, and low crowds.
As a result, Auckland is great for living, hiking, and outdoor sports, but only decent for swimming. In hotter climates, it’s the opposite: great for swimming, but uncomfortably hot on land.
I spend most of my time on land, so I prefer New Zealand’s climate. There are also no annoying insects or dangerous animals - those prefer warmer places like Australia.
(Russian)
❤16👍10🔥2😎1
Why people leave NZ?
When choosing the best country, I specifically focused on the reasoning of people who decided to leave NZ. In my opinion, this is the most important information – positive reports are usually too emotional (excluding mine, of course), while negative ones are detailed, concrete, and well thought-out.
I watched all such reports on YouTube in English and Russian and analysed if their reasons for leaving apply to me.
You can apply them to you as well. Here is a shortlist of the reasons why people leave NZ: ...
(Continued in comments)
When choosing the best country, I specifically focused on the reasoning of people who decided to leave NZ. In my opinion, this is the most important information – positive reports are usually too emotional (excluding mine, of course), while negative ones are detailed, concrete, and well thought-out.
I watched all such reports on YouTube in English and Russian and analysed if their reasons for leaving apply to me.
You can apply them to you as well. Here is a shortlist of the reasons why people leave NZ: ...
(Continued in comments)
👍10✍3🔥3👏2