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<TABLE id=msgUN border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top> Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Police'll remind SG 2 use condom at nite</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>2:03 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 3) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>32973.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>May 11, 2010
From Russia, with love and understanding
Growing Russian community leads to more cultural events, a language centre and even a magazine to foster relations
<!-- by line -->By Melissa Sim
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_525004.html
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Russians holding lamps during a minute of silence at their embassy to commemorate Victory Day, marking the end of World War II. The Russian community in Singapore, numbering just 1,000 barely three years ago, has since doubled. -- ST PHOTO: RAJ NADARAJAN
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THE end of World War II is usually marked in Singapore by a sombre ceremony in mid-September, but last weekend, a celebration of similar significance took place.
About 100 people gathered for songs, dances and some nibbles at the Russian Embassy to commemorate the end of the war in Russia on May 9, also known as Victory Day or V Day.
The children of Russian expatriates here were the star attraction, with the boys - dressed in military uniform - singing war songs and the girls dancing to folk tunes.
More than just marking the end of World War II, the scale of the celebration was a sign of the growing Russian community here, and its desire to play a bigger part in Singapore.
Already, a small Russian language enrichment school is being planned, and there is even a locally published magazine that aims to tell other Russians about living in Singapore.
Not bad for a community that numbered just 1,000 barely three years ago. It has since doubled.
Dr Sergey Lizogub, First Secretary and head of the consular section at the Russian Embassy, said Sunday's event marked the first time V Day was held at the embassy.
In previous years, there were so few Russians here that it was marked at community clubs or just among smaller groups.
Dr Lizogub said that more Russian events, such as the first day of school and New Year's Day, could be held here in the future.
Mr Alexander Blinov, president of the Russian Club, a society formed about two years ago, said the number of Russians in Singapore has grown sharply in recent years, and they work in fields such as information technology, trading and academia.
Dr Lizogub added that the increasing numbers are also reflected in the number of Russians registering their marriages at the embassy. There were nine last year, and six in just the first four months of this year.
The community is growing so quickly that Russian teacher Natalya Osokina is opening a language centre to teach Russian to young children.
The 32-year-old, from Perm in west Russia, said her school will open in Bugis next month. She has about 50 students and charges them about $20 to $30 per class.
Said Ms Osokina, who married a Singaporean and moved here seven years ago: 'Many parents want their children to keep in touch with the language, so I started by teaching my children's friends. Now my house is not big enough.'
Besides being active in the community, some Russians are also trying to promote understanding between Russians and Singaporeans.
Ms Julia Sherstyuk, 34, who has been living in Singapore for nearly nine years, said she started a Russian-English magazine because she wanted to tell more people about Russia and Singapore.
Said Ms Sherstyuk: 'I have read stupid things about Singapore; for example, if you have two kids, the police will call at night to remind you to use contraception.
'There are all these urban myths that are just not true.'
Her year-old magazine covers topics such as business, leisure, history and current affairs, and is distributed in France, India, Indonesia, Russia and Singapore.
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From Russia, with love and understanding
Growing Russian community leads to more cultural events, a language centre and even a magazine to foster relations
<!-- by line -->By Melissa Sim
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_525004.html
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
<!-- story content : start -->
THE end of World War II is usually marked in Singapore by a sombre ceremony in mid-September, but last weekend, a celebration of similar significance took place.
About 100 people gathered for songs, dances and some nibbles at the Russian Embassy to commemorate the end of the war in Russia on May 9, also known as Victory Day or V Day.
The children of Russian expatriates here were the star attraction, with the boys - dressed in military uniform - singing war songs and the girls dancing to folk tunes.
More than just marking the end of World War II, the scale of the celebration was a sign of the growing Russian community here, and its desire to play a bigger part in Singapore.
Already, a small Russian language enrichment school is being planned, and there is even a locally published magazine that aims to tell other Russians about living in Singapore.
Not bad for a community that numbered just 1,000 barely three years ago. It has since doubled.
Dr Sergey Lizogub, First Secretary and head of the consular section at the Russian Embassy, said Sunday's event marked the first time V Day was held at the embassy.
In previous years, there were so few Russians here that it was marked at community clubs or just among smaller groups.
Dr Lizogub said that more Russian events, such as the first day of school and New Year's Day, could be held here in the future.
Mr Alexander Blinov, president of the Russian Club, a society formed about two years ago, said the number of Russians in Singapore has grown sharply in recent years, and they work in fields such as information technology, trading and academia.
Dr Lizogub added that the increasing numbers are also reflected in the number of Russians registering their marriages at the embassy. There were nine last year, and six in just the first four months of this year.
The community is growing so quickly that Russian teacher Natalya Osokina is opening a language centre to teach Russian to young children.
The 32-year-old, from Perm in west Russia, said her school will open in Bugis next month. She has about 50 students and charges them about $20 to $30 per class.
Said Ms Osokina, who married a Singaporean and moved here seven years ago: 'Many parents want their children to keep in touch with the language, so I started by teaching my children's friends. Now my house is not big enough.'
Besides being active in the community, some Russians are also trying to promote understanding between Russians and Singaporeans.
Ms Julia Sherstyuk, 34, who has been living in Singapore for nearly nine years, said she started a Russian-English magazine because she wanted to tell more people about Russia and Singapore.
Said Ms Sherstyuk: 'I have read stupid things about Singapore; for example, if you have two kids, the police will call at night to remind you to use contraception.
'There are all these urban myths that are just not true.'
Her year-old magazine covers topics such as business, leisure, history and current affairs, and is distributed in France, India, Indonesia, Russia and Singapore.
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