Whenever someone asks about my
Isinfatuation™, I always trot out the excuse that it's helping me to learn Russian. It's kind of BS, but I really am making some pretty fair progress with the language. I can often read two or three sentences now before I have to whip out my Russian-English dictionary. :D
Anyhow, lately there's been a surge in Russian language traffic through
Isi's guestbook, and I've translated them for my own amusement. But I thought maybe somebody else might enjoy seeing them too. Of course I haven't actually asked any of the folks who've left Russian messages if it's alright for me to translate their words and re-post them, and it's certainly possible that my translations might subtly skew their messages in ways that they wouldn't appreciate. But with any kind of luck, they'll never find out. ;)
I guess if Becca feels that my sharing these here is inappropriate, she can always nuke the post.
BTW, the company that administers Isi's website had a bit of a false start with their support for Cyrillic guestbook entries. Perhaps Russian-speaking web techs are hard to find in Monaco. The fans could leave messages in Russian right from the start, but when Yelena replied in Russian, somewhere between her writing them and them getting pasted onto the website, her messages were being corrupted and all of the Cyrillic characters were being replaced by question marks. I suspect that she herself was falling victim to a brain-dead Microsoftism, but by mid-to-late April they managed to get things sorted out. So while she
tried to respond in a timely fashion to the Russian messages left prior to that time, none of the replies that I've translated below actually showed up on the site in a readable form until late April. This probably accounts for the two month gap, and the currently ongoing surge.
On 2 March Артём (Artem) wrote:rp
Hi! It's me, Artem from Donetsk :-) How's life? How are you feeling? I got my license, so I will be prepared for work, when I have money for a car. BIG HELLO FROM EVERYONE!!!
In reply, Yelena wrote:Hi Artem! Congratulations for your license, well done! Everything is fine with me, satisfactory health, preparing for the summer season. Say hello to everyone from me. My answer was late, since there were problems with the computer. How is your progress?
On 11 March albert wrote:albert
Congratulations on victory over the world.
In reply, Yelena wrote:many thanks!
On 28 March Dr3-11 wrote:...
I randomly visited here, but I cannot pass by)) But what to say I don't know))) Hey, this is what I will say: gladden your admirers not only by good jumps to 5 meters, but also by your beauty! ;-) That's right!))
In reply, Yelena wrote::)
Okay, some translations are more difficult than others.
On 2 April Вика (Vika) wrote:Hello!
Hello Yelena! I am crazy about your leaps, attitude, and competitive skill. You are one of my idols (second is Tatiana Lebedeva). I am involved with light athletics and want to dedicate my life to this matter! Thank you for everything that you do and for inspiring the junior generation of athletes like me. :) I have big problems with my competitive attitude, always very nervous and this interferes :( ! How did you handle this matter in the beginning of your long journey??? Thanks in advance. You are the best!!!
In reply, Yelena wrote:Hello Vika! You must leave to all of your starts as if to a holiday, with complete internal confidence in yourself, always disposed for a tough fight. Dedicate each of your competitions to someone; this will give you extra incentive! All the best!!!
On 8 April Сидор(Аладин) (Sidor(Aladin)) wrote:To Yelena
Hi beautiful Yelena. I've been pole vaulting for 6 years already, but in no way can I jump 4-70. I decided to give up the sport. Please advise me, what should I do? I can't do without sports, so my parents advise me to take up the bobsled, since I run fast and am quite healthy, and really very strong. Matiyelo and Denis even call me ROBOCOP! With respect, your SID/AL
In reply, Yelena wrote:Hi Sidor! I want you absolutely under no circumstances to give up sports, and in particular pole vaulting. We can't stop if something doesn't turn out. Only through labor and faith in yourself will you achieve results. Not relenting, but striving to achieve your goal. Good luck!!!
On 13 April Вика (Vika) wrote:Hello!
Hello Yelena! It's a shame that you don't answer in the Russian language. But you are the best all the same!
In reply, Yelena wrote:Thank you Vika! There were small problems with the computer, but now I can also answer in Russian! Good luck!
On 14 April Лиза (Liza) wrote:HI
Hello, Lena!!! How is your progress??? How is your preparation for Paris in July??? I have faith in your victory!!! Good luck
In reply, Yelena wrote:Many thanks Liza, for the warm words and wishes. They are very pleasant for me! My preparation goes well. I will try!
On 17 June Валерия (Valeria) wrote:Yes
Hello Yelena! My name is Lera, I am 11 years old, and I live in Rostov on Don. I'm involved in light athletics too. I want to reach the same high results in sport as you have. I wish you success in life and high achievements in sport!
In reply, Yelena wrote:Hello Valeria! Thank you very much for your pleasant wishes to me! You're an umnitsa for striving to achieve something in sports. I wish you good luck and great success!
Okay, my Russian-English dictionary says "umnitsa" (умница) means "good girl" or "clever person", but I felt "You're a good girl for striving ..." sounded too patronizing, and I couldn't think of a similar colloquialism in English. The best I could come up with off the top of my head was "You're a peach for striving ...", but that's not really right either. So I've just left it as "umnitsa".
On 18 June Андрей (Andrey) wrote:Plans
Lena, good day! My name is Andrey, I'm your long time admirer. :) Tell me please, will your starts in Yokohama and Daegu be your last of this season? Did you also receive an invitation to participate in the Moscow "Russian Challenge" tournament, where you participated last year? Thanks. Smile! Andrey
In reply, Yelena wrote:Hello Andrey! Yes these starts will the last in my summer season. This year I have a little different competition schedule, therefore I'm not able to participate in the Moscow Challenge! Thanks! All the best!
On 21 June Марат (Marat) wrote:greetings
Hello, Yelena! I don't know whether my first message reached you, but I decided to write to you without waiting for an answer, since my nephews, after learning that I wrote a note to you, asked me to write another with the request to permit them to create your fan club. And of course they asked me to again congratulate you on your birthday, which I do with pleasure. You are a good example for the children of steel, many thanks to you for this. And don't forget that the children of the entire world who dream to become like you, watch any of your appearances and pray for you. P.S. I am often in the village of Chuvek and see your relatives. If it interests you, I can tell you the news of the village and help you to keep a connection with your kinfolk.
In reply, Yelena wrote:Hello Marat! Thanks for the congratulation! I'm very pleased that I've become an example for the kids. Please write in more detail what it means to create my fan-club. I maintain the connection with my relatives through my dad, thanks. But nevertheless, send them my regards the next time you see them. Also a big hi to your kids! All the best!!!
I assume that "children of steel" really means "children of Stalingrad", since Volgograd used to be Stalingrad.
On 21 June Ольга (Olga) wrote:visits home
Hello, Lenochka! Everyone in Volgograd supports and cheers for you. And, of course, await your visits home. But when will we be able to see you here? Success to you at all of your forthcoming starts! And new records without fail!
In reply, Yelena wrote:Hello Olga! Thank you very much for the support and warm words! I greatly love our city and will try to make all my fans happy with my performances. Soon already I will begin to compete, so you hold fists! All the best!
I
believe that "hold fists" more or less means "keep your fingers crossed".
On 22 June Ольга (Olga) wrote:pole
Good evening, Lena! You've said several times that you would like to switch to longer and more rigid poles. Will you jump with the new poles in Paris or not yet?
In reply, Yelena wrote:Good evening Olya! Everything will depend upon my condition. So far I've been jumping with the same poles as earlier. But I have the new poles already.
Edit on 26 June to add a couple new entries. --BFOn 24 June Марат (Marat) wrote:hi.
Hello, Yelena! Here in Dagestan you are much loved, especially by the young people. But the rural kids (I mean specifically the young people in Chuvek and the nearby villiages) are unable to visit this site. Therefore even though a fan club is established in Makhachkala, it is called upon to satisfy the needs of the rural youth, including through renovation and expansion of the display dedicated to you, which hangs in the Chuvek school. I hope you will not be against the use of materials from this site for these purposes. Also I would like you to permit some verses, which will appear soon from me, dedicated to you, into your collection. Tell me where I should send these verses so that you can see them and give your appraisal. S/u and wishing you all the best, Marat Agayev al Farouk. I wish you successful appearances, we are rooting for you.
In reply, Yelena wrote:Hello Marat! Certainly you can use materials from my site. It is intended for this. You can direct the verses to my e-mail
yelena@yelenaisinbaeva.com. I will read them with pleasure. Thanks! Regards to all!!!
Makhachkala is the capital of
Dagestan, which is the provence (semi-autonomous region) where Isi's father was born. I assume that "S/u" is a Russian abbreviation for some friendly words of parting, but I'm not sure exactly what.
On 25 June Ольга (Olga) wrote:weather
Hello Lena! In Volgograd it's now terribly hot, as always at this time of year. And how is the weather there in Italy? Do you like it?
In reply, Yelena wrote:Hello Olya! In Italy now it's also hot. I like it very much here. In the evening it's nice and cool. And I know Volgograd heat :)
Boo! Hiss! 
I demand a recount! 
