Adopted culture

[prodromos]

One of the problems with alcohol in Russia (and Georgia and a few other places) is the counterfeit products produced by the Russian mafia. You have to be really careful that what you are buying is the real deal because at best it'll just taste awful and at worst it could be fatal. Some friends were travelling in Russia some years back and had bought a bottle of vodka to drink on the train. They were just about to open the bottle and start drinking when a couple of young Russian men in their compartment frantically got them to stop, explaining that three people had died in the last week from drinking that particular brand.

 

[OnTheWay]

One of the problems with alcohol in Russia (and Georgia and a few other places) is the counterfeit products produced by the Russian mafia. You have to be really careful that what you are buying is the real deal because at best it'll just taste awful and at worst it could be fatal. Some friends were travelling in Russia some years back and had bought a bottle of vodka to drink on the train. They were just about to open the bottle and start drinking when a couple of young Russian men in their compartment frantically got them to stop, explaining that three people had died in the last week from drinking that particular brand.

On a vacation a few years back a friend of mine bought a bottle of "real Russian" vodka from a street vendor. I fairly certain the bottle contained fingernail polish remover.

 

[Nektaria]

On a vacation a few years back a friend of mine bought a bottle of "real Russian" vodka from a street vendor. I fairly certain the bottle contained fingernail polish remover.

I know that for moonshine they say to burn a bit of it...if it burns blue then it is safe to drink. However I don't think vodka is supposed to have a high enough alcohol content to burn.....

I also never knew that Stolichnaya vodka was marketed (in the US) by Pepsi...I guess it used to be that you couldn't take rubbles out of Russia, so they traded Pepsi for Stolis vodka...marketed it in the US and doubled their profits....or something to that effect.

 

[Prawnik]

Vodka will burn, just as brandy will.

OTW: what you were sold likely was samogon, samohonka in Ukrainian. You could say it is real Russian vodka, after a sort. Whole regions are devoted to making the stuff.

I've drunk samogon, and I do NOT recommend it unless you are one hardcore alky and desperate to get your drink on. Even then, I still do not recommend it. If you are considering doing so, it is a sign that you need to dry out.

In the US, I used to keep a bottle of samogon around as a conversation piece.

 

[Kolya]

I also never knew that Stolichnaya vodka was marketed (in the US) by Pepsi...I guess it used to be that you couldn't take rubbles out of Russia, so they traded Pepsi for Stolis vodka...marketed it in the US and doubled their profits....or something to that effect.

We have both Stolichnaya and Moskovye (Seemingly made by the same company in Russia) here in S Africa but they have no affiliation to Pepsi here. They are imported directly by somone who has obtained the sole rights.

Officially, Pepsi has no offices in our country. All Pepsi products are imported from either Maurtitius or Namibia, but are sold at the same price as Coke products.

We have Smirnoff manufactured under licence locally, (Very good stuff) and a host of cheap vodkas (US$3.85 a bottle) that I suspect are made from cane spirits. Cane Spirit (Clear color - not to be confused with Rum) is a big seller here and we have a major Sugar to Ethanol/ Methonol plant here as some of the stuff is added to our gas to keep gas prices down

Off topic - Gasoline. We have the largest Synthetic Fuel plant in the world where all kinds of petroleum products are made from coal. That supplies 40% of our local fuel needs. Then we have a very few off-shore crude wells that add another 10% to our local needs.
I have heard it said that our local gas at the pump consists of 60% imported refined gas, 30% of the coal-based gas and 10% methenol. So our cars really run on a strong cocktail.

Back to OP - or what's left of it.

 

[prodromos]

I have heard it said that our local gas at the pump consists of 60% imported refined gas, 30% of the coal-based gas and 10% methenol. So our cars really run on a strong cocktail.

There used to be a really cheap vegetable oil available in Greece, until the Government discovered that farmers were using it as a cheap alternative to diesel fuel in their vehicles.

 

[Nektaria]

Off topic - Gasoline. We have the largest Synthetic Fuel plant in the world where all kinds of petroleum products are made from coal. That supplies 40% of our local fuel needs. Then we have a very few off-shore crude wells that add another 10% to our local needs.
I have heard it said that our local gas at the pump consists of 60% imported refined gas, 30% of the coal-based gas and 10% methenol. So our cars really run on a strong cocktail.

Back to OP - or what's left of it.

Straying back off topic a second...is that a Shell (Chevron) plant? I know Shell has done some nasty things in Africa for the allmighty dollar...including murder. Here I found a link...it's in Nigeria. http://www.ratical.org/corporations/ShellNigeria.html

I watched a documentary which showed the environmental devestation these guys were fighting against...it's killing their families. When they protest against it they are tortured and killed...on man's 70 year old mother was even beaten because he spoke out. It's nasty stuff!

 

[rhyddid_rose]

To Life Immortal

Um, yeah I would have to say that I have adopted some parts of Russian/Greek culture.

*James Bond mode* The name is Pascha, Xara Eleni Rose Pascha.

When I visit a new church, people assume I'm not Orthodox until either they ask my name or see I'm following the DL very well. I speak Greek (yup a little, can read much better than I speak).

My new church is Russian and I haven't had much problems there. Every time you go to a new place, you get less nervous and self-conscious and notice how nice people are. I dont speak Russian well at all; I can read some of it. Working on changing that. (Languages is one of my hobbies). I like Russian culture and exploring the differences in people. When I worked at the uni computer lab, I met many Ukrainians and Russians there. They are nice people mostly and I've found that Russian history and African-American history have much in common. Any group of people who can make vodka and play great jazz cant be all bad.

Recently, I met some Romanians and one of my best online mates is learning the language. Decided to check it out for myself. Romanian is really a nice poetic language and I love the words to the Romanian national anthem. I like Romanian folk music, along with my reggae and heavy metal and jazz.

One of the great things about being Orthodox is learning about different cultures. It really drew me out of my shell and I learned that I do have the courage to meet others and not to believe all the stereotypes about people. I have been Orthodox only since February 2003, but I have really grown much in that short time.

Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations


Babochka the butterfly

 

[OnTheWay]

Vodka will burn, just as brandy will.

OTW: what you were sold likely was samogon, samohonka in Ukrainian. You could say it is real Russian vodka, after a sort. Whole regions are devoted to making the stuff.

I've drunk samogon, and I do NOT recommend it unless you are one hardcore alky and desperate to get your drink on. Even then, I still do not recommend it. If you are considering doing so, it is a sign that you need to dry out.

In the US, I used to keep a bottle of samogon around as a conversation piece.

I know what Samogon is. I had a friend at the UW put a sample of the "vodka" through gas chromatography. It was chemically nearly indentical to a number of cheap fingernail polish removers that are sold in Europe. Which is why I said fairly certain for lack of an exact match. Though it is likely the reason for this was an additive put in the nail polish remover to mask it.

 

[Maximus]

Although I would not say that I have adopted another culture, I live with a lot of Russian culture - and food and drink - in my daily life, since my wife is Russian.

Take Thanksgiving for example. We had the typical American fare supplemented by Russian dishes.

And we speak a mix of Russian and English in our home, which can be highly amusing, especially to observers.

When I lived in Russia I never encountered any dangerous imitation or knock-off vodka, I guess because I always drank the good stuff.

I used to love to buy those big cans of Otvertka (pronounced Otvyortka), which are huge, pre-mixed screwdrivers (vodka and orange juice).

I have walked through Red Square on many an evening nursing one of those.

Ah . . . the good old days!

 

[Melethiel]

And we speak a mix of Russian and English in our home, which can be highly amusing, especially to observers.

Indeed...listen to my mother and I argue sometimes. We'll switch languages halfway through a sentence.

 

[nicodemus]

My inlaws flip flop through three languages in conversation!

English, Hindi, Gujurati

I'm always incredibly lost.

 

[Wiffey]

In my family, depending on who comes to dinner, we might have a mix of Spanish, Taino, Yiddish, Hebrew, English, and American Sign Language. So accomodating the Greek in-laws? No big deal! We're our own mini- U.N.

 

[Wiffey]

M.I.L.:Pou einai to krasi?
Me: Mom, ella quiere el vino, is it en la nevera?
Mom: No se. Honey, where's the wine?
Dad: That meshuggeneh kitzel knocked it off the table.

 

[Greg the byzantine]

M.I.L.:Pou einai to krasi?
Me: Mom, ella quiere el vino, is it en la nevera?
Mom: No se. Honey, where's the wine?
Dad: That meshuggeneh kitzel knocked it off the table.

. That's cute. We speak Greeklish in our house.

 

[Melethiel]

. That's cute. We speak Greeklish in our house.

We speak Ukrainilish. Or something like that...with random Russian words thrown in if somebody's really mad and in a vulgar mood.

Mama, de ty poklala the salt and pepper? Seriously, I've said that.

 

[Maximus]

Ever eat prunes stuffed with cheese and garlic and other stuff I'm not sure of?

Sounds gross but tastes great.

We had them for Thanskgiving (with lots of other stuff).

My wife, whose grandmother was Jewish, said the stuffed prunes is a Jewish thing.

Anyone else eat them?

 

[Greg the byzantine]

Ever eat prunes stuffed with cheese and garlic and other stuff I'm not sure of?

Sounds gross but tastes great.

We had them for Thanskgiving (with lots of other stuff).

My wife, whose grandmother was Jewish, said the stuffed prunes is a Jewish thing.

Anyone else eat them?

No, but they sound delicious. Cheese, garlic, dried fruit, what's not to love.

 

[ufonium2]

My grandmother has an Arab first name, but being born and raised in Kentucky, she pronounces it in a manner only Kentuckians would think up. I'd love to name a daughter after her (but pronounce it correctly) but the whole family (including grandmother) think it's a stupid-sounding name, which it is if you pronounce it like they do. Stupid melting pot.

 

[Prawnik]

I am good for Polish and Russian, I ought to be able to speak Ukrainian, but I don't. Today the Priest gave the homily in (mostly) Ukrainian, I can understand only if I really concentrate.