About myself

Well, I’m here on business, you know. That was the good wind to bring me here. I should like to get acquainted more closely with the profession of an economist and the educational system which I have heard so much about. I’d love to get a better understanding of it. I’m going for my exam in English now.

First of all let me introduce myself. I’m called Nadezhda, my patronymic (middle name) is Alexeyevna, my surname (family name, second name) is Legostayeva. But I go by the name of Nadya. I am still in my teens, I’m 16 years of age and I have finished the eleventh form this summer. I was born on the 11^th of August, 1989. I should like to live to be old. But you see, a man is as old as he feels. And I guess I look my age. My birthplace is Yekaterinburg, Russia. So I belong here. I’m Russian by origin and I like my countrymen. My mother tongue is Russian, you can hear it from my accent. I was brought up in this city. Thus I can’t speak English with so much ease as I do Russian.

I am here with my parents though they are divorced. I descend from a teacher and an engineer family. My mother’s name is … . My father’s name is … . I have no elder or younger sisters or brothers, so you see my family is not quite a big one, not extended. I’m the only child in it. There are three of us. But I have some first and second cousins of course. I forgot to mention one more member of our household. It’s my cat Gracie. She is entirely black, with large green eyes and is very beautiful and funny like most pets. I dare say I appreciate my family cause it’s splendid. And, yes, it’s quite natural.

I’m an attractive, slender girl with blue eyes and waved silky long hair. I have an oval face with irregular features. Me smile is winning, the complexion is fair with delicate skin and I never fall into the way of curling my lips or pursing them. I have dimples in my cheeks and a vivid mouth. I’m middle-sized with soft hands and shapely legs, my eyebrows are penciled and a forehead is open. I have a little uneven white teeth and a round chin. My eyelashes are straight.

I can give you a touch on my character as well. I don’t want to paint it either in bright or dark colors. I would prefer the golden mean. I’m not a hard-hearted thing, not a shameless and not a false human being. I’m of a forgiving nature, rather reserved but not a bottled-up girl. I’m not a double-faced scoundrel and seldom try to pass for more than I’m worth. Sometimes I take things lightly, at times I am careless and easy-going. I’m not so trustful and not always cheerful. And I am of a gentle disposition, easily pleased and good-tempered. I can’t say I’m a girl of no character and I’m rarely cunning and dishonest. Nobody can call me a meek creature. I’m not of a somewhat romantic nature. I’m often jolly and happy and sincerely try to be modest.

I’m single and not engaged yet. I hope my marriage will be a love match, not the one of convenience. I’d love to be married both in a religious rite and in a civil form of marriage just like my parents were. I’m in the marring line. I can hardly say I’m a pet-model. No, far from it. My people have always been strict with me and so my grandparents. I simultaneously play several parts in my life, you see: I’m a daughter, a grandchild, a first and a second cousin, a niece, a stepsister and a goddaughter at the same time. My Mom is a teacher of English at the Urals center for foreign languages, my Dad is an engineer and he works for some power company. He is something in this enterprise. My parents are not big pots and they are neither place hunters nor job jumpers.

I was doing quite well at school and my family was proud of my marks. I went in for sports and ball dancing. I play badminton and I took part in different badminton and dancing competitions. Now I’m finishing school and have to decide what occupation to choose. I’ve been studying English for ten years at various courses and independently. I want to be an economist and an interpreter. My grandparents are already retired but some of them still work for the shortage of money. They have a part (short) time job and they are on half-pay.

I was one of those at the top of the class. I have a good head for Mathematics (Maths), Literature and the English language and I learned with ease. I am quick and I’d like to go a long way. I hunger for knowledge. But I feel sure that a success will never go to my head. I’ve got a good memory and I don’t seem to be able to recall the moment I gave myself airs. I am fond of books and spend a great deal of money on them. Books are a great delight to me. Reading is a great resource in my free time and illness. And I‘m particular to whom I give my books.

I’m out of job now and am not looking for it. I’m seeking admission to the University this year. I am in the know there’s going to be a stiff competition and I attended preparatory courses. I’m interested in economics. The lecturers simply carry away the audience. I like the way they delivered lectures. The exams are coming. One can’t help being excited. I’m reading up for examinations at present. I refused from the cribs at all and don’t intend to answer at random. I’d love to be sure of my answers. The questions are rather tough, I should say. Sometimes I fell somewhat tongue-tied. Our lecturers are well stored with knowledge and they are the persons of consequence here.

Here, my watch reminds me of the fact that I have already taken too much of your time. Allow me to thank you for your attention and it’s safe to say that any success is obtained only by hard work.

My address is Sinyaeva Street, Number 8, Flat 44. My telephone number is 2-46-03-79. My family lives in a two-room flat of a five-storyed block without a lift on the fifth floor. I have a room of my own without a balcony. It is my bedroom and my study. My room is clean and light, very cosy. My room has little furniture: a bed, a wardrobe, a desk with the computer, bookshelves and a chair. My room is a nice place for work and rest.

On weekdays I get up at seven o’clock. I go to the bathroom, clean my teeth and have a shower. Good health is better than wealth and I do my morning exercises. My mother cooks breakfast for us and I have a sandwich with cheese or sausage and a cup of hot tea. Then I say good-bye to my mother, took my schoolbag and went to school. I lived not far from school and I usually walked there whether the weather is good or bad and never took a bus or a trolley-bus cause my school was within only five minutes’ walk from my house. The lessons started at eight o’clock. The classes were over at 1 o’clock and I went home. I had dinner, fed my cat, wasedh up and did my homework. It took me from 3 to 4 hours to do my homework. Twice a week I went to the sport or dancing section. I like sport and dancing. In the evening I watch my favourite programmes on TV, read books and newspapers. My favourite TV programmes are … . I go to bed at 11 o’clock.

We had only one day off. It is Sunday. On Sunday I don’t have to hurry and I get up later, at 11 or 12 o’clock. I do my bed, wash myself. On Sunday my mother cooks something tasty, my favourite apple-pie for example. After breakfast I go to see my friends. We play cards or chess, walk about the city, go to the theatres or cinemas and go skating or skiing in winter. If the weather is bad, I stay at home, help my mother about the house, read books, watch TV, speak over the phone. Some of my friends can watch TV from morning till night. I like it as well.

A few words about my household duties. This year I worked hard to pass my exams, that’s why I couldn’t help my mother much. But I tried to do my best. I did my room, washed up dishes, and went shopping. I bought bread, cakes, milk, butter and other food. I am not a good cook but I can boil and fry eggs, cut a salad. I can fix some things in the house. I feed my cat.

I’ll tell you about my hobby, of course. Tastes differ. People like different things and have different hobbies. I went in for sport and ball dancing, I play badminton. (Здесь Topic 9)

Sport is a very important part of our life. I had been playing badminton for three years and I attended ball dances for ten years. I am sure that everyone should go in for this or that kind of sport. I do not understand people who say that they like sport, but they only watch sport on TV. If you go in for sport, you feel better, look better, sleep better. You will not often fall ill. A sound mind in sound body.

As for my holidays, most of all I like summer holiday. (Здесь Topic 3).

I spend my winter holiday in Yekaterinburg. It is not long, but merry. (Здесь Topic 13, New Year, Christmas ).

As for the future profession, I have made my choice.

The achievements of Russia

My favourite books