DST Episode 35: Through the Fog and White Nights: Russia and Britain. What do a samovar and Five o’clock Tea have in common?

Russian and British cultures, for all their outward dissimilarity, are in fact much more closely intertwined than it is commonly believed. What brings us together is a deep respect for literature, a sense of irony that permeates both everyday speech and art, and a careful attitude to traditions that, despite the zeitgeist of the times, continue to live on. And though our peoples have different historical paths and realities, the threads of cultural kinship - from Shakespeare to Dostoevsky, from tea at five to samovar - make this kinship undeniable. Behind the external differences lies a surprising consonance, which is increasingly discovered by those who look a little deeper. Russia and England are like the banks of the same river, different in terrain, but nourished by similar source: respect for literature, love of theater, adherence to tradition and, of course, a special sense of humor. The Soviet Sherlock Holmes, with whom more than one generation grew up, has become a bridge to the classics of English literature, and the drawbridges of St. Petersburg unexpectedly rhyme with the architectural spirit of old British cities. Today, the dialog between cultures is increasingly conducted in digital format. But even through the screen, views, worldviews, and sometimes even souls continue to intertwine. Modern technologies do not cancel the depth of human contact. Moreover, they push the boundaries of what is possible, allowing stories to be told, observations to be shared, and understanding to be improved. Language is one of the main tools of this understanding. Interest in the Russian language among English-speaking audiences persists despite the difficult political moment. Not least because there is a huge layer of culture behind it, from Dostoevsky’s novels to Pasternak’s lyrics. But even outside the academic context, the Russian language continues to be a source of inspiration, paradoxes and discoveries. Studying Russian is like a journey: fascinating, sometimes difficult, but always full of meaning. On the other hand, Great Britain itself remains an attraction for those who seek to learn. Its rural landscapes, coastlines and Gothic towns shrouded in fog become not just a setting, but part of the cultural code. And no matter how much the world changes, the traditions and ways of British life retain their charm. It is a world where tea drinking remains a ritual, the garden a personal fortress and a sense of proportion is a national trait. Yet it is the clash of our cultures that sometimes gives birth to a new quality - an expanded worldview. When a person brought up in one system of values begins to perceive the other not as an opposite but as an opportunity, a special view of the surrounding reality emerges. Not only the attitude to the familiar changes, but also the very structure of thinking. Eastern openness meets Western restraint, the straightforwardness of the Russian word echoes English irony, and soulfulness finds a lively response even in the driest formulations. This is especially noticeable in language, cinema, literature - in those spheres where it is important not just to convey information, but to express emotion. For example, the adaptation of Sherlock Holmes in the Soviet Union was, in fact, something more than just an adaptation - it was a gesture of cultural respect, an attempt to feel the British reality through the prism of Russian tradition. And as practice has shown, such efforts do not go in vain: bridges between cultures can be built even through epochs. St. Petersburg and London, the Thames and the Neva, the fogs of Albion and the white nights of the northern capital - all these are symbols that speak not so much about differences as about the subtle intertwining of meanings. And even though the path to mutual understanding is not easy, it is important to keep moving: step by step, word by word, glance by glance. After all, it is through such dialogues that the very space where not only cultures but also hearts meet is formed. Guest: Craig Ashton - a blogger, writer and teacher #england #britain #russia #culture #history #russianliterature #britishculture #languagelearning #tradition #interview #podcast #culturalexchange