Background: I host a monthly Russian Language Dinner as a volunteer for a local nonprofit. A couple of weeks ago, I sent out invitations to a potluck dinner to all my “regulars” for this Saturday evening. I have been running around like a maniac trying to clean up my apartment, plan the menu, and figure out what (and how much of it) I need to buy and/or cook in preparation. This has been a long-anticipated event; a number of my regulars have been asking for many months when I was going to host something on the weekend, so they could bring their Russian-speaking friends/S.O.s and be able to kick back and relax, rather than having a rushed restaurant dinner and all-too-short chat at our usual monthly dinners, which take place on weeknights.
There were 62 people on the guest list. How many have indicated whether they are coming? A whopping 25%! I may have ten people in my apartment on Saturday, or I may have more than 50! What is wrong with these people? I mean come on, I know a potluck isn’t exactly a wedding, but the darn invitation was an Evite, so how long does it take to respond? A whole 30 seconds? Were these people raised by wolves or something? And how am I supposed to know how much to cook? Maybe only people who RSVPd will be allowed to eat, unless they bring a dish to share…
This used to happen to me with my kids’ birthday parties all the time! Now, when I send out the invite, I list the date and time but not the location. If they want to come, they have to call. Of course, this won’t work if they already know they’re going to your place.
I vill be coming Comrade Eva, but vot is this ‘pot luck’ you speak ? This is American tradition. Do not worry about food, I never ate for five years under that bzdenok Stalin. What a mudack govn’uk. He can pososi moyu konfetku.
You make me want to drochit. Naughty Eva. Is meatloaf singing food ? You have everything in America!#
Pososi tvoyu konfetku? That’s a new one, even for me. I take it you don’t mean that literally.
P.S. About half of the invitees are American-born, and most of the rest have been here long enough that they should know what a potluck is. In any case, even if they weren’t familiar with the concept, they are all fluent enough in English to understand that they were receiving an invitation which requested a response.
Actually, I just put ‘Russian slang’ into Google and it came up with several options. If memory serves, doesn’t * Pososi tvoyu konfetku?* mean ‘suck my dick’ ? Which, you’re quire correct, I don’t mean literally.
You presumably know that had you included the words ‘vodka’ all 62 would be banging down your door already – it’s a cliche but i’ve never met a Russian who wouldn’t walk over hot coals for a vodka session, at any hour of the day.
Fwiw and with regard your invitations, the general rule down my way is to assume about a 50% attrition rate. Russians might be different . . . no idea.
French - the phrase translates as “please reply.” As in, if you can make it - call. If you CAN’T make it, call.
As the mother of young kids, I am absolutely amazed when a birthday invitee’s parent calls and explains that they can’t make it - because I am so used to hearing nothing.
If taken literally, it would mean “suck my little candy.”
My knowledge of slang of that type pretty much sucks, and I’m not sure which of my Saturday guests would be inclined to provide a translation, nor am I inclined to find out who might take my question the wrong way (and how many ways it could be taken the wrong way)…although my first respondee is someone on whom I could probably develop a pretty big crush. He’s been hinting for months that he wants to see my new place. Could be an interesting evening, even if only the 10 show up…although I don’t know about photos!
If only ten people have said they are coming, plan your party assuming they will be the only people attending. Position snipers on your roof to take care of any attendees who did not RSVP.
…and possibly even “as I would be mortified if you turned up and I couldn’t feed you as I thought you weren’t coming.”
OK, maybe not. But regardless of the fact that people should know what RSVP means, many don’t, or at least don’t take it seriously. (For a friendly invitation, I have been known to be lax in responding myself, especially if I can’t make it.) I think it only makes sense to say specifically what you want them to do; possibly even specifying a date.
