how long to adjust to life in us?

[myrddin]

Had? No longer? "Unlimited bread" or grissini (bread sticks) is standard in our restaurants, you can empty the first basket and ask for another without problems, it's included in the coperto (cover charge).

Had, alas.  They changed their policy (for the third basket and beyond  ), but worse they went out of business a few months later.  There are many Italian restaurants in the area, but none near me are as consistently good. 

What exactly is the deal with the Russian bread? ... perhaps I'm not enough of a bread connoisseur to be able to distinguish the rich bouquet and other subtleties of the palate. 

Maybe it's just too late for you to develop an appreciation!  Do you least have an appreciation for the vodka? 

I look forward to those little differences. I expect them. I know when I lived in Australia I referred back to my experiences back home. Some of the things different I liked and some I did not like. So bread will now be added to the list as I am sure will be many other things. and Dave, I am not much of bread connoisseur myself so I hear ya, but yes it does seem to be more dense. I'll have to look to see if there is a Russian market nearby here. I know there is a restaurant that is owned by a Ukrainian couple, perhaps they know where I can get some.

I'd think it's a good idea to look for R/U restaurants, markets, stores, and I'm taking notes on suggestions in this thread.  Also check out meetup.com for Russian language and culture groups.

Keeping in mind that I'm speaking from a position of almost complete ignorance about helping a new immigrant adapt  , but I've heard some people express concern about the risk of backsliding into all that stuff.  I know a couple people who came here from Ukraine over 10 years ago and have never been back.  Having such things available to maintain cultural and family connections is good, but too much and it might slow down learning the language and customs of her new country.

Except of course for bread, that's all good  - in whatever quantities you can handle! 

[Misha]

now there's an idea, instead of her throwing monopoly pieces at me we can knead bread 

You are not married yet from what I gather. Trust me, a guy has got to do what he can to keep his sanity as he is doing his best to be patient while supporting his wife through culture shock  Some guys drink, I knead bread  Much healthier LOL.

[SANDRO43]

Kneading is a good way to vent frustration

When you knead dough for bread, you're also supposed to thump the lump energetically .

[groovlstk]

now there's an idea, instead of her throwing monopoly pieces at me we can knead bread  On the bright side we will have lots of bread  on the not so bright side it might not taste very good because i don't know how to make it 

Actually, if throwing Monopoly pieces is your fiancee's most extreme act of frustration during her adjustment, I'd say you're getting off extremely lucky. 

[remiel6]

No, am not married yet. We are getting married here after she arrives, which is what prompted this thread. I submitted the application in the beginning of July and now am playing the waiting game. First marriage for both of us. I suppose it could be said of me not only did I take the road less traveled, I missed the road all together  . I knew that GPS would've come in handy  

[Misha]

When you knead dough for bread, you're also supposed to thump the lump energetically .

And if kneaded properly the lump will rise 

[Turboguy]

Bread was not a problem for us. We got a breadmaking machine, downloaded the recepie for Russian black bread and we were set to go. 5 minutes to dump in the stuff and a few hours later you have a loaf of authentic tasting black bread.