Thread: FOR RUSSIANS: ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION

Originally Posted by tdk2fe

When I travelled to russia and stayed with a host family, the thing I missed most was my personal freedom when it came to eating. Every morning was the same routine - I try to explain that I never eat breakfast, because i'm not hungry and it makes me sick. And every morning the family I was with would prepare massive amounts of food and expect me to eat every last bite, because if I didn't i would not be healthy or something like that. And when I couldn't finish all the food, its like they would get mad at me or something. I hated that part.

tdk

You weren't staying with my mother-in-law, were you?

I swear to God that woman thinks my natural weight should be about 21 stone.

American foods I miss =
p-nut butter; available in Moscow but too expensive at $6 a jar, I always ask friends coming from America to bring me a jar then I hide it from my husband (he loves the stuff)
thick juicy steak; no such animal as a Black Angus in Russia
Dr. Pepper
Mexican food
Chinese food
fresh ocean fish (tastes different than fresh water fish)

I love Russian soup but I don't miss it in America because I make it whereever I live

Originally Posted by JB

When in America I miss everything Russian (food, customs, my home, etc.) and when in Russia I miss everything American. Living in two cultures is not so easy .

Yep, me also, living as an expatriot in Spain...oh how I miss the simple things, like White Castle burgers, Kansas City BBQ, pork sausage patties, real American pizza, etc.

I always seem to miss food the most!

I've travelled to most countries, and I can tell you, the best herring can only be found in Russia. Everywhere else it tastes like shit. I miss it so much I have to have it helicoptered or jumbo jetted in directly from my own fish processing plant - but what would a poor bloke do?

Originally Posted by VendingMachine

- but what would a poor bloke do?

He would get a job flying your helecopter.

Originally Posted by VendingMachine

I miss it so much I have to have it helicoptered or jumbo jetted in directly from my own fish processing plant - but what would a poor bloke do?

Life's rough, eh?

Hey VM, can you have that jumbo jet stop by Texas and pick me up some BBQ?

When I have traveled to Eastern Europe (Russia included) I miss Discount super stores, like Wal Mart. It does not seem to be a place where I can get anything I want, at a price I can afford and 24 hours a day (Super Wal-Mart).

Originally Posted by leslie_

When I have traveled to Eastern Europe (Russia included) I miss Discount super stores, like Wal Mart. It does not seem to be a place where I can get anything I want, at a price I can afford and 24 hours a day (Super Wal-Mart).

Yep... there're little 24 hour mini-marts in the cities, but nothing like a 24 hr. Super Walmart...there's a chain of similar stores in Petersburg, but I can't remember the name...and they're not 24 hrs.

Well, if you live in some sh**y countries, when you go to a normal country like Russia, you miss nothing. Actually, sometimes when I am very hungry I may have a dream of some decadent fast food, but it goes away...
When I went to Canada last summer for a whole month, I only had fast food on a few occasions, and only pizza and wings. The only burgers I like are the home cooked ones.
I think the longer we travel, the less we miss.
I found that we can get used to any living conditions. Russia especially has everything one may want.
My opinion...
Bob

tdk,

Did you have these pancakes with молоко in the morning?
I had these more often than not in St-Petersburg last month, and I took two kilos in two weeks. I am going again next week, but I will definitely stay away from them.
I also agree with you that the women like to feed us a lot. If this is a sign of affection, then two of them are in love with me...

Bob

Well, "technically", I have been away from Russia for almost 6 years (with 2 brief visits in that time span)

Honestly, I missed Russian cartoons the most.

I was able to obtain Cheburashka on DVD and several "Masters of Russian Animation" DVD editions.

But, boy, oh boy, do I miss other old cartoons I grew up with.

One of the most important things that I ever missed, and sometimes still do, is the sense of humour of my folk. But as travels progressed my sense of humour adapted to the place I was in. It's perhaps comparable to macaroni and cheese. All over the world it's great but never quite like what mothers used to make.

2 cdnexpat:

Thats strange... the woman who fell in love with me (my girflriend) didn't feed me anything... I had to buy all of our food

tdk

everything.. =)

even air. hell, in a few months it'll be 12 years since last time I breathed Russian air.

i guess its different for people.. but for me - I miss everything.. except, may be, potholes on the roads. i can live without those.

Originally Posted by tdk2fe

When I travelled to russia and stayed with a host family, the thing I missed most was my personal freedom when it came to eating. Every morning was the same routine - I try to explain that I never eat breakfast, because i'm not hungry and it makes me sick. And every morning the family I was with would prepare massive amounts of food and expect me to eat every last bite, because if I didn't i would not be healthy or something like that. And when I couldn't finish all the food, its like they would get mad at me or something. I hated that part.

tdk

I had the same problem.

[After I've eaten 3/4 of a massive bowl of pasta and inch thick chease]

"It is delicious but I can't eat any more, I am full"
"Just have a bit more"
"I am really full, I will be sick"
"You don't like my food! I am such a terrible cook. etc."

Russian women are not just like that in Russia. My boyfriend's mother is the same way with me..... I don't think it has to do with love, it's just hospitality. She makes me borsh, kutleti, rice.. then asks if I want cheese, bread, some fresh veggies, fruit. My boyfriend has to eventually tell her to stop asking and that there's enough to eat. When he leaves the room, she'll ask if i want anything else.

It's a cultural distinction I think.

- Are you hungry?
- No, thank you

"No" is "no" for Americans and "Ask me twice" for Russains. That is, the Russian hostess expects that you will refuse even if you're hungry.

I miss my friends and family - that's when I'm away from Russia - like always...
I miss my husband and kids - that's when I'm traveling now and away from my new home country (second motherland )
Food - no - every country has great food if your mind is open
Customs - may be. But just some of them - like coming to your brother's house without calling - just out of a blue - without setting a date and time for dinner two weeks ahead
And New Year celebration "Russian style"! With Ded Moroz, Snegurochka, huge bag of gifts, lots of drunkards on the streets etc.