Thoughts are Russian Through My Head
Okay, so fairly, some of you have pointed out that my last post didn't so much of tell how cool Russia is as it did point out how not entirely it sucks. So this post is all about how freakin' awesome Russia is. Period. Exclamation point. Asterisk. Question mark.
Awesome Thing about Russia #1: Sweet holidays.
Russia has much better holidays than America, possibly better than any other country. For example, not only do they celebrate International Women's Day (March 8th) with gifts and flowers, but they also celebrate Army Day (which is technically Defender of the Fatherland day, which is essentially Men's Day, since Russia has mandatory conscription) on February 23--mark your calendar! Men get gifts, too, and lots of guy movies come out in theaters on this day.
They also celebrate Knowledge Day, which is Sept. 1st. This day not only does the whole country celebrate lifelong learning, but all the schools in the country start. The first day is laid-back; everyone gets tea and cake and listens to a speech by the principals and other special guests. And everyone dresses up and gives the teacher flowers.
I definately think we should add these holidays to our calendar.
Awesome Thing about Russian #2:
Shirtless presidents.
Awesome Thing about Russia #3: Cultured Folk
Everyone in Russia is cultured. Everyone. It's weird. The poorest people on the street, they can all quote Pushkin. The test that you have to take to go to college, the equivolent of our SATs, you have to memorize several nationally-significant poems. People go to the ballet and opera. Chess is a spectator sport.
Awesome Thing about Russia #4: Good Eatin'
Not all Russian food is my fav, but there's lots that is truly yummy. For example: Piroshki.
Ingredients:
Canisters of ready-to-bake biscuits
Savory filling:
One small head of cabbage
One small onion
½ clove garlic (or to taste)
1 tsp dill
Salt and Pepper to taste
Dice the onion. Sauté with garlic in butter or oil until clear. Meanwhile, slice cabbage and boil until soft. Drain cabbage, add onion, garlic and seasonings. When cool, spoon a tablespoon of the mixture into the center of a squished-down biscuit. Fold the edges of the biscuit in half and seal shut.
Bake at 350° F until golden brown.
Note:
There are a lot of variations you can make on these pirgori pockets: rice and hamburger, mashed potatoes and mushrooms, or, if you have a sweet tooth, maybe jam, sliced apples with cinnamon or strawberry and rhubarb. Experiment—these always taste good!
Awesome Thing about Russia #1: Sweet holidays.
Russia has much better holidays than America, possibly better than any other country. For example, not only do they celebrate International Women's Day (March 8th) with gifts and flowers, but they also celebrate Army Day (which is technically Defender of the Fatherland day, which is essentially Men's Day, since Russia has mandatory conscription) on February 23--mark your calendar! Men get gifts, too, and lots of guy movies come out in theaters on this day.
They also celebrate Knowledge Day, which is Sept. 1st. This day not only does the whole country celebrate lifelong learning, but all the schools in the country start. The first day is laid-back; everyone gets tea and cake and listens to a speech by the principals and other special guests. And everyone dresses up and gives the teacher flowers.
I definately think we should add these holidays to our calendar.
Awesome Thing about Russian #2:
Shirtless presidents.
Awesome Thing about Russia #3: Cultured Folk
Everyone in Russia is cultured. Everyone. It's weird. The poorest people on the street, they can all quote Pushkin. The test that you have to take to go to college, the equivolent of our SATs, you have to memorize several nationally-significant poems. People go to the ballet and opera. Chess is a spectator sport.
Awesome Thing about Russia #4: Good Eatin'
Not all Russian food is my fav, but there's lots that is truly yummy. For example: Piroshki.
Ingredients:
Canisters of ready-to-bake biscuits
Savory filling:
One small head of cabbage
One small onion
½ clove garlic (or to taste)
1 tsp dill
Salt and Pepper to taste
Dice the onion. Sauté with garlic in butter or oil until clear. Meanwhile, slice cabbage and boil until soft. Drain cabbage, add onion, garlic and seasonings. When cool, spoon a tablespoon of the mixture into the center of a squished-down biscuit. Fold the edges of the biscuit in half and seal shut.
Bake at 350° F until golden brown.
Note:
There are a lot of variations you can make on these pirgori pockets: rice and hamburger, mashed potatoes and mushrooms, or, if you have a sweet tooth, maybe jam, sliced apples with cinnamon or strawberry and rhubarb. Experiment—these always taste good!
Comments
However, perhaps because I'm feeling slightly argumentative today, I thought I would point a few things out.
Our shirtless president has a better build than their shirtless president. See this website:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12232008/news/politics/o__my_bod__its_beach_barack_145540.htm
America could (and should) do a much better job than we do when it comes to being cultured. But might I point out that in some areas of some cities, chess is also (on some scale) a spectator sport. See "Searching for Bobby Fisher" and "Knights of the South Bronx." :)
And food? Well, I definitely like food from other countries (with exceptions of course), just like I like the food at home. But at the end of the day, McDonalds started in America, and their french fries (which are not French) are unbeatable, therefore, we win. :)
But Mary, now that I've teased you about all four of your main points... I think Russia never sounds more interesting than when it shows up as a subject on your blog. :)