Semyon Varlamov, fresh off his 20-save night in Columbus, has just blogged another bloggy blog. In today’s installment, the Varlamonster discusses assimilating to the USA, his new English-language chops, fan enthusiasm, and the KHL.

Enjoy!

Hi everybody!

Thanks for the questions and kind wishes. I’ll answer some on here now.

I like living in the USA. I feel more and more comfortable each year because now I understand and speak English better. If you’re not pretty good in the language, it can be hard. You can’t talk to the teammates, answer questions, or find solutions for problems. In general, you feel some discomfort. I felt it for two years. But now my English is getting better, and I don’t feel that way anymore.

You know that people in Canada are hockey geeks. Everybody knows the players, every taxi driver. People in USA love hockey, too.  Our fans are awesome and we sell out every game. But I think hockey is the number four sport in popularity after baseball, football, and basketball. People don’t recognize me on the streets, and crazy fans don’t pursue me [Ed. note - We're not sure how to translate smiley face emoticons from Russian, but there was one here]. Unlike Sasha Ovechkin or Sasha Semin. If they played for a Canadian team, fans on the street wouldn’t let up. When we go there for  road games, people are just going crazy.  Everybody tries to get an autograph.

I don’t follow the KHL closely; I just don’t have the time. But a lot of my friends are playing there. And it’s interesting for me to see how are they doing. I look at the box scores and read articles about the games.  It’s interesting to follow the goalies who come from the North America – Nabokov, Danis, Caron. It’s clear they’re still adapting to the new rinks. It can be really difficult. Especially knowing that the hockey is different there, too. They need some time to adapt.

Semyon Varlamov’s LiveJournal is a curious little gem.  Started at the end of August, the Russian-language blog toiled in neglect, threatening to become like a million other abandoned bloggy homes on the blogscape.  But today, Varly posted his second entry!

Discussing his pre-season workout routine (a trend started, perhaps, by Andrew Gordon?), Varlamov tells us of his return to the states and how he filled his August.   The post, titled “Getting Ready for the Season”, is basically Varly’s How I Spent my Summer Vacation.  It goes a little something like this:

I came to the USA on August 1st. I need to be ready for this season more than usual, so I decided to start work with a trainer early. In the last month and a half I’ve gotten in good shape. I think coming was worth it.

I only started training on the ice August 15th.  Before that, I was training in a gym, on the ground, and on the soccer field. I had various training: individual and group. I like very much the training I’ve had in the last three months.

In August I trained practically alone, I was the first to arrive out of the whole team.  There wasn’t anyone from the coaching staff here, except for the physical training specialist.   Training camp time is coming; it’ll start on September 17th. Now, one week before the start of the camp, almost the whole team is here together.

Here in Washington there has been great weather during August.  On weekdays I practiced, but every weekend I tried to go to the beach, to swim, to tan. It is just three hours of ride from DC. The Atlantic Ocean turned out to be very warm. It was a very pleasant surprise for me. Physically and morally, it was a very good rest for me.

P.S. Thanks everybody for the comments and interesting questions!

Varly’s return to DC last year was marred by a lack of mental toughness (apologies for linking to Bleacher Report, won’t happen again) and the groinpocalypse.  We are heartened that Varly is primed for the upcoming season.

But where the heck was he going on the weekends?  What beach is three hours away from D.C.?  It’s gotta be Ocean City. Was Varly cruising the boardwalk, chowing down at Phillips’, and throwing back rum runners at Seacrets?  If so, why the heck didn’t anyone tell us???

Editor’s note:  Thanks to Oksana Zolotar for help with the translation!

Today, Semyon Varlamov started his own blog in the Russian language. It’s based off of LifeJournal technology and is a part of the blogging network in one of the biggest Russian sports sites – Championat.ru. Varly’s blog is entitled “The Last Stronghold of Capitalists.” Take a look here.

Below the fold is the English translation of his first post:

Hi everybody!

Today I, Semyon Varlamov, open my blog on “Championat.ru”. Living in another country, it’s very difficult to keep a connection with our hockey fans. So, please come here and comment. I’ll be very happy to answer you back.

In my first entry I want to tell you how I am doing this summer. After the World Championships (honestly, I was very disappointed with silver) I was in Spain with some friends for a week, then I had a little vacation in Turkey. Sea, sand, sun… and yeah, I didn’t forget to come home. In America I missed my friends and family a lot. So, when I have an opportunity, I try to come over, meet everyone, and get filled with positive emotions.

At the beginning of July I started my independent training, went to the gym, & ran on the hippodrome (when there were no horses, for sure). We have a great hippodrome in our city, I recommend it to all of my fellow-townsmen.

When August started, I flew back to Washington. I’m training here now, and continue to get ready for the season. It’ll be pretty difficult one for sure. The Capitals are planning to place their bet on young goalies. And who will become the starting goalie depends on how me and Michal Neuvirth show ourselves. Maybe, we’ll start off playing in a rotation and then we’ll see… I’ll do my best to become the starter!

I recently leased an apartment in Washington. It is a 10 minute walk from our training facility, so now it is time to decorate. My mom is helping me, and she flew over to help me adjust with my new life and help give moral support. I have an Internet connection, so I’ll be around often. Please write to me.