Russians seem to avoid using N, S, E, W

[Psy Ling]

A Russian person came to me for a visit. She asked where is the subway. I said: 
"Exit the house, go to the West (to the right), then turn left (which will be 
South), go 700 meters and on the right hand (which is West) you will see the 
sign of a subway station. It is such and such"
She became really - really mad. "Do you think I am an idiot? Can you tell me in 
an easier way? Go right turn left and then you will see the  subway?"

The way most of the Russians explain how to get somewhere is "Go straight ahead 
and then you sill see it. It is not far", which makes me mad :-)


 Psy Ling



----- Original Message ----
> From: Josh Wilson <jwilson at SRAS.ORG>
> To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
> Sent: Fri, September 3, 2010 3:34:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Russians seem to avoid using N, S, E, W
> 
> Another interesting fact - my wife grew up in Ashgabat and Moscow. She  can
> generally navigate those cities with little effort, as though by  instinct.
> However, in other cities, and especially cities that are built on a  grid
> system, she very quickly becomes disoriented. She is amazed at the fact  that
> I can, however, having been raised in grid-system cities, can always  point
> to where we need to go... with a grid, I can easily carry the map in my  head
> and maintain my position within it. In Moscow, I generally navigate  by
> public transportation and a map in my hand. 
> 
> 

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