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Our compatriots who moved to the United States told what surprised them in the life of overseas housewives.
There is little to surprise the modern hostess. She owns kitchen gadgets for literally all occasions at the “God” level. But at the same time he remembers very well the Soviet cooking devices. Shock and surprise come when you suddenly find yourself in a kitchen in another country and even on another continent.
Three of our compatriots who live in the United States told us what things we are used to you will not find in the kitchen of American housewives.
Washing machine
Of course, in Russia, they try, whenever possible, to install this unit that makes life easier for the hostess in the bathroom or even in a separate laundry room, if space permits. And yet, a washing machine in the kitchen will not surprise any Russian housewife. Whether it is an American woman.
“In principle, there are no washing machines in kitchens in the United States,” says Nadezhda, who moved to California a few years ago. “They’re either in the house – in a utility room, basement or even a garage, or in public laundries.” And a resident of Philadelphia, Julia, clarifies that laundries are rather the prerogative of either single people or those who live in a small apartment or rented apartment. “Usually, apartment complexes have a public washer and dryer,” she adds.
Водонагреватель
In the days of Khrushchev, Soviet cities were massively built up with houses in which a gas boiler was installed in already tiny kitchenettes. In the United States, a water heater is usually installed in a basement. There are exceptions, though.
“I live in an apartment, and I have a water heater in my bedroom in the closet. But this is a strange layout. Realistically, he has a place at least in the corridor, ”says Yulia.
Батареи
Decentralized heating is more popular in the USA. Most often – air, when the air is heated with gas or electricity, and is already distributed throughout the premises using air ducts. The heater itself can be in a closet, in a garage or in a basement of a house. District heating, and with it batteries, are extremely rare – in some areas of a number of large cities.
“But there will be no heating radiators in the kitchen, even in those houses that are heated by batteries,” says Nadezhda.
Door
The kitchen in an American home is not just a kitchen. As a rule, it forms a single space with the living room, dining room, and sometimes with the hall. At best, all these zones will be separated from each other by arches and shelves, and the kitchen from the dining room will be separated by a bar counter. Yes, even if a gas stove is installed, there will be no door in the kitchen! Our gas workers would be horrified, but for the Americans this is the norm.
Curtains
They can be in the bedroom or living room. The maximum that an American hostess will allow herself in the kitchen is decorative curtains, often short. Or just blinds.
Drainer
An absolutely unnecessary thing in the American economy. If you are a wealthy American, the dishwasher will not only wash the dishes for you, but also dry them. If the dishwasher has not been earned, the moisture remaining on the plates and cups is fought in the old fashioned way – with the help of a towel. Such scenes can often be seen in American films: an evening, a family or romantic dinner has just ended, someone stands at the sink and washes the mountains of dishes left after the feast, and someone, after a pleasant conversation, carefully wipes the already washed kitchen utensils.
Electric kettle
In principle, in America, if you wish, you can buy everything. And the electric kettle too. “But why?” – a typical resident of the USA will be sincerely surprised. After all, water can be heated … in the microwave! Or pour it from a cooler, if there is one on the farm. You can also install an Instant hot water dispenser – a dispenser with constant hot water supply. A very convenient device that is also used for brewing tea (mainly from a bag, although loose tea can be found in expensive stores and large supermarkets). The temperature of the water in the dispenser can be adjusted at your own discretion.
“There is a tap on the sink – you press it, boiling water is poured into the mug from there,” says Nadezhda. – But in the microwave, water was heated only in a hotel in Mexico. I have never heard of such a practice in America. “
There is another reason why electric kettles are not popular in the States. Modern electrical appliances operate on a 220 volt network, while in the USA the maximum voltage is 110. A conventional electric kettle with such a voltage will not work. If you buy a gadget with a lower power supply, the water in it will heat up two to three times longer. And electricity in America is not a cheap pleasure.
Teapot
Milk, juice, beer, soda can always be found in the refrigerator of Americans. And in the United States, there is practically a cult of coffee: every second house has a coffee machine. But tea is already some kind of delicacy. However, if you feel like it, the French press is your assistant.
Oilcloth on the dining table
At best, Americans will cover the table with a tablecloth on the occasion of a big holiday. In everyday life, they do not worry at all about the fact that “the hot mug will leave a stain”, they will put the dishes right on the countertop. Even if it’s made of wood. And the oilcloth is some kind of atavism, moreover, from Soviet, and not American life.
Water filter jug
“There is a filter jug for water, perhaps, only in our house,” laughs Nadezhda. “Usually in American homes, filters are installed under the sink, and filtered water is already flowing from the tap.” Often, Americans take drinking water directly from the tap, and also buy bottled water in huge packages.
Plants on the windowsill
Even in Russia, not every plant lover will put roses or succulents on the windowsill in the kitchen. But there is always a place for all sorts of home-grown herbs-spices, dill or onions with green “feathers” on the kitchen windowsill. An American woman, perhaps, would also have adopted such a method. But as such, there are no window sills in American houses – the walls of the buildings are too thin, so instead of window sills there are narrow ledges five centimeters wide. You can, of course, place seedlings. But is it worth the candle? However, there are exceptions, especially when it comes to our former compatriots.
“My Ukrainian friend has salad and greens in the kitchen – they are standing in some super-modern box, as if from the future,” Nadezhda smiles. “And this is the only time I’ve seen plants on a kitchen windowsill in America.”
Breadbasket
Bread in the USA is preferred special, for sandwiches, it is produced in a square shape – this is very convenient to store on a shelf in a kitchen cabinet.
“I don’t buy this, but I keep ordinary bread in a container in the refrigerator or even a freezer,” says Yulia. “If someone has a breadbasket in their kitchen, it’s only among people from the former USSR.”
“But it seems to me that now in Russia they have long since given up using breadbaskets,” retorts Marina. She herself lives in St. Petersburg, but her daughter moved to the States a few years ago, lived first in San Francisco, then moved to Washington. So Marina has seen enough of American cuisines over the years. “And I have not seen in any breadbasket,” says Marina.
multivarka
Surprising but true. In the USA, where, as one of the residents of the country rightly noted, “every sneeze has its own gadget,” this unit, popular among Russian women, did not take root.
“In English, by the way, there is no word for it,” says Yulia. – Rather, there is a simple rice cooker without any programs, with two buttons: “on” and “off”. But slow cookers are very popular – slowcooker. Very convenient: in the morning I threw in the ingredients, came home from work, and everything is ready. Most often it is used for cooking meat – it is believed that in 12 hours it releases all the necessary juices. “
Measuring cups with milliliters
“This is really what I missed after moving to the USA,” Yulia admits. – It was impossible to use any recipe. Because in our recipes, the amount of ingredients is measured in milliliters or grams, and in American recipes – in spoons or glasses, and special ones. Without them, nothing worked at all. “
Buckwheat and cereals in general
One of the few products our people in Hollywood miss so much. You can buy your favorite groats – you can find them in Russian stores. In American – too, but only specialized and only green. It is taken mostly by healthy lifestyle adherents or vegan fans. And they certainly don’t put them in jars in the kitchen.
“But they don’t even know a word like that – buckwheat (buckwheat). There is no word “porridge” either. For example, I cannot say that my son and I eat porridge for breakfast. Unless it’s oatmeal, – says Julia. – Theoretically, it is possible to explain what semolina is, – it is called farina, as a rule, it stands in the hot sereal departments. It is prepared mainly for kids, and then only retrogrades. But my child adores her, oddly enough. “
Jar with Kombucha
In fact, this superfood of our grandmothers has long come to the taste of US residents. A sweet and sour, fermented, yellowish carbonated beverage can be found in almost any major store. True, it is called the buzzword “kombucha” and costs a lot of money. But American women will definitely not grow this “monster” in their own kitchen.