На даче | Visiting a Dacha – A2

The narrator introduces their summer dacha and grandmother, Claudia Petrovna, to their friend John, who is visiting Russia for the second time. The grandmother is initially concerned about John being a foreigner and the need for translation, but John reassures her he understands Russian. The narrator explains their small house and garden, clarifying that they only come to the dacha in warm seasons, while the rest of the year is spent in an apartment in Moscow. They talk about their lack of farm animals at the dacha, contrasting it with village life, and then introduce their pet, Vasya. John expresses curiosity about the cherry tree, linking it to Chekhov's famous play 'The Cherry Orchard'. The conversation shifts to relaxing in the garden and mushroom picking, with John admitting he’s not passionate about mushrooms. The narrator insists on teaching John about mushroom picking, a tradition in Russia, but acknowledges that the current weather conditions aren’t right for finding mushrooms, suggesting a visit during autumn instead.