Canadian newcomer “Salavat” spoke about helping foreigners to adapt

Salavat Yulaev defender Ryan Murphy told how he helps the team’s foreign teammates adapt.

— I try to tell Sasha Khmelevsky and Josh Ho-Seng somewhere, but Sasha speaks excellent Russian, and rather, he helps us (laughs). Go to the bank or the store, with such things. Well, every city is still different, it’s my first time in Ufa, and in the KHL I’m also a newcomer, I played less than 70 matches here. So I rely on partners, on Sasha, who translates everything for us.

He helps us, tells us how to do it, how not to do it, his rules of conduct in Russia were taught in the family. For example? For me, the main thing was the obligatory handshakes at the meeting. At home, we either wave to each other when we meet, or beat off fists, but here everyone shakes hands.

Yes, I learned this back in Nizhnekamsk, but I did not know that this is how it is done throughout Russia. And Sasha also said that you don’t have to say goodbye to a person if you see him again later. He also teaches the language, I always said “good things”, and today he corrected me: “Good morning”. So I’m learning something every day, – Murphy is quoted by “Championship”.

The 29-year-old Canadian joined the Ufa club in June.