FOOD AND CULTURE

Food and Culture An Assignment Submitted by Name of Student Name of Establishment Class XXXX, Section XXXX, Fall 2012

FOOD AND CULTURE Food and Culture A. is thirty-two and she claims to be Russian, although like numerous citizens of ex-Soviet Union she has mixed roots, Ukrainian, Chechen, Georgian and, certainly, pure Russian. She speaks three languages besides her native English, Ukrainian and a bit Spanish. She is a representative of the generation that might be regarded as somehow unique because these people have happened to live in two different states, which are distinguished not geographically but mentally, politically, socially and what is the most interesting- ideologically. On the one hand, she has some typical Russian features, which are widely known due to Dostoevsky and Tolstoys pieces of writing and Hollywood clichs. On the other hand, she is an embodiment of a new mode of contemporary Russians, who are more west-orientated than their predecessors. In fact, A. asserts that her generation has been long confused as these people were to choose between their parents ideology and customs and the conditions of the new epoch. On the one hand, A. and her peers were brought up in the atmosphere of defending egalitarianism. On the other hand, they have happily become the adepts of new for just-born country situation of free market and economic independence. In addition, this dissonance between past and present conditions is dramatically strengthened by typically Russian tradition to live within a large family consisting of a few generations and be supported by all its members (Russia Language, Customs, Culture and Etiquette). Unfortunately, not all the young people have such an opportunity and are forced to live together with their children, parents and grandparents. They say, Russian are very proud of their state and history but never can stop scolding it (Russia Language, Customs, Culture and Etiquette). As a matter of fact,

FOOD AND CULTURE A. is readily discusses her government and the situation of some absurd characterizing the state of economics and social life in her country but her proud of her co-citizens achievements is really great. What is more, A. calls the acceptance of current circumstances and endless efforts of overcoming challenges the national sport. She seems to be proud of her being a part of a great nation and to be very upset and sometimes a bit ashamed of the same belonging simultaneously. What is more, Russians are believed to be very religious people. Nevertheless, A. asserts that modern Russians follow traditions rather than do spiritual practice. She claims her peers to be the generation of atheists, although the vast majority of Russian children are baptized. Next interesting thing about A. is her typical pessimism. With the reference to US Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (2012), The unraveling of the Soviet state in its last decades and the physical and psychological traumas of transition during the 1990s resulted in a steady decline in the health of the Russian people. A. agrees with this fact but she adds that the following decades was not that easy anyway. She points out that the consequences of USSR collapse are still rather influential and will be visible a while. Actually, she does not believe the situation is about to change for better. A. does not feel like talking about famous Russian sportsmen or writers. She also notices that Russians do not like how they are shown in other countries literature and motion pictures. We do not drink vodka instead of morning coffee and evening tea like foreigners tend to describe us. Moreover, we like to take care of our health, which contradicts with constant drinking, doesnt it? , A. says. Indeed, alcoholism is supposed to be national Russian vice (Russian-American Cultural Contrasts). However, A. points

FOOD AND CULTURE out that this fact is true only for elder generations, not for young people, who tend to take sports and like healthy food. As far as national food and meals habits are concerned, A. tells that Russians appreciate their national cuisine. Nevertheless, they are fond of sushi and pizza even more than the Japanese and Italians are. Russian like experiments in food but their meals schedule is rather conservative: breakfast in the morning, dinner in the afternoon with obedient hot meal and soup, and supper in the evening. A. says that it is a true fact that any holiday in Russia is accompanied with special meals, and gathering together around a big dinner table is a normal thing for Russians to celebrate anything from someones birthday till so called professional holidays. She says, We like eating and we like cooking as well. Specific websites and blogs are very popular with Russians. We like taking photographs of our meals and sharing recipes with others. However, borsch, caviar and pancakes appear to be not so frequent in our kitchens that it might seem. To sum up, some facts about Russian culture are worth investigating. Some of them are truth, most of them are not false but they are slightly incorrect. New generation of Russians seems to be more America and Europe-orientated than their parents are. These people seek for personal independence from parental care, speak a few languages, take care of their health, travel a lot and seem not to adore national cuisine because of its specific abundance. However, these new Russians are still very proud of their national history and very sensitive about their ethnic identity. In addition, they are traditionally pessimistic and are prone to deep emotions.

FOOD AND CULTURE

References Background Note: Russia. (2012, March 19). In U.S. Department of State. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3183.htm#people. Curtis, G. E., ed. (1998) .Russia : a country study / Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. Washington, of DC State. :: Federal Research 4, Division, 2012, from

Library.. U.S.Department

Retrieved

October

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/rutoc.html. Russia Language, Customs, Culture and Etiquette. (n.d.). In Kwintessential. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-

etiquette/russia-country-profile.html Goehner, D., & Richmond, Y. (n.d.). Russian/American Cultural Contrasts. In Goeher.com. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from

http://www.goehner.com/russinfo.htm