From INDIA in search of.....

[TempName]

Hi all!

Im swaminathan from South INDIA. I came to know abt this forum from one of my Russian friends. I start this thread to more about you all. I will start a topic to which i hope many will respond to it.

Before that let me introduce my self,

I'm Swaminathan doing Research in Spacecraft Mission Analysis & Dynamics Control. I already worked for the clients Compaq & HP.

Here it goes to the topic.....

I was brought up as a pure vegetarian and i don't like to drink, smoke, tobacco, coffee & non-vegetarian. But i heard that if i arrive in Russia and if I'm invited to a dinner in Russia, i was supposed to taste everything which might include the above banned items and failing to do so is considered as a disrespect.

is it so?

Thank you
Swaminathan

[Mir]

I am sure they will not be that unhappy of you don't eat all items of food but they can get rather nasty if you refuse to drink with them
I am joking, you will be OK as long as you explain to them the reasons for your abstinence.

[BillyB]

I was brought up as a pure vegetarian and i don't like to drink, smoke, tobacco, coffee & non-vegetarian. But i heard that if i arrive in Russia and if I'm invited to a dinner in Russia, i was supposed to taste everything which might include the above banned items and failing to do so is considered as a disrespect.

Welcome Swaminathan,

It can be disrespectful. But do yourself a favor and thouroughly communicate with the RW who you are and your way of life so there are no surprises. If a RW respects you and likes you, she should relay the info about you to her family if she wants to introduce you to them. If a man asks you to drink with him, don't turn him down but be truthful that you will not drink alcohol for whatever is your reason. Tell him you will drink juice, water, soda, or something else.

[jb]

Just what exactly are you searching for?   Are you looking for information about Russian dinner invitations,,, or are you here because you are thinking about a Russian woman for a wife? 

If you are just going to visit Russia and someone invites you to a meal, you will find Russians among the most hospitable people in the world.  If they know about your food prejudices and you social habits in advance, they will probably cater to your needs for that meal.   If on the other hand you are thinking about a RW for marriage, then you should be advised that your dietary and social habits will seem out of place in Russia.  Are these stipulations you mention imposed by your religion, or by your personal choice? 

Probably 99% of all Russians eat meat in some form, either daily or at least weekly.  Probably 90+% of all Russians take alcohol in some form socially at one time of the year or another.  Tobacco usage is also prevalent in the FSU. 

While you didn't state your reasons for asking, the implication of being on this board indicates you may be looking for a wife.  If that's the case I'd say your chances of meeting a marriage minded Russian woman are slim to none unless you are willing to make big compromises on most of those issues. 

[Christian]

Hi all!

Im swaminathan from South INDIA. I came to know abt this forum from one of my Russian friends. I start this thread to more about you all. I will start a topic to which i hope many will respond to it.

Before that let me introduce my self,

I'm Swaminathan doing Research in Spacecraft Mission Analysis & Dynamics Control. I already worked for the clients Compaq & HP.

Here it goes to the topic.....

I was brought up as a pure vegetarian and i don't like to drink, smoke, tobacco, coffee & non-vegetarian. But i heard that if i arrive in Russia and if I'm invited to a dinner in Russia, i was supposed to taste everything which might include the above banned items and failing to do so is considered as a disrespect.

is it so?

Thank you
Swaminathan

Greetings and welcome to the forum.

What perplexes me about your post is "how you were raised" in south India.  I have an acquaintance here in America who eats meat (on occasion), gets drunk on his A double S and can't get up, speaks garbled English, and hates to work.  He is a practising Hindu.  Where do you figure into all this "touch not, taste not, handle not"?

Christian

[WmGO]

Swami,

I agree with the comments that most FSUW would
have no interest in Hindu men from India. Also, be aware that
most Russians and Ukrainians are racially prejudiced against dark skinned peoples.

Just FYI FWIW.

Good luck.

[ScottinCrimea]

I have friends in Ukraine who are vegetarians, non-smokers, non-drinkers, etc. and I haven't seen anyone be offended if they state this upfront, and they adjust to accommodate their guests.  I do agree with Billy that rather than refuse to drink with someone, just let them know that you don't drink alcohol and substitute something like juice, etc. and they will usually be fine with this.

Now as to the ability to find a RW who would be willing to make these adjustments on a longterm basis, particularly the dietary restrictions, you would have a problem.  Anything that is outside the general range of "normal' in the FSU makes the search more difficult, so if you are dark skinned, an Indian, a Hindu and a strict vegetarian, all of those things complicate the search greatly.

The above is not meant as a personal judgement of any race, religion, or nationality, just what I have observed.

[acrzybear]

Not smoking cigarettes-no big deal
Not eating meat (especially in Texas) -couldn't do it
Not drinking-not going to happen


  I don't drink or smoke often, but there is nothing more relaxing then eating a good grilled steak, sitting on the patio overlooking the lake while smoking a good cigar and sipping some single barrel Jack Daniels (neat) and watching the sunset.

[TempName]

Hi All
     Thanks for the reply and comments. 1^st i would like to confirm....

          # I'm not here to find any Russian partner for life.
          # I don't have any dinner invitations
          # I'm basically here to observe things and take part in discussions.


Its hard to believe that Indians are not well considered here especially when HINDU is ignored, is there any particular reason.

I do agree with Billy that rather than refuse to drink with someone, just let them know that you don't drink alcohol and substitute something like juice, etc. and they will usually be fine with this.

That's good.

FSUW would
have no interest in Hindu men from India.

why is it particular group targeted. I know several Indians are murdered in a medical institute situated in St.Petersburg. I really wondered how such a nation still practices racism.

Where do you figure into all this "touch not, taste not, handle not"?

The person who you are referring to might be a exception. My eating habits are to me and they are personal and i don't prefer someone to force me to alter this. On the same even i don't enter in to others privacy. See i heard that vegetarian in Russian women is gaining momentum nowadays. what ever i practices so far is comfortable to me and i feel its a must to me and to me only....even during my dinner invitations i will attach a note about my preferences and i don't even bother if its served in dinner, not to me but to others.

If you are just going to visit Russia and someone invites you to a meal, you will find Russians among the most hospitable people in the world.

ya you are right, even my Russian friend convey the same thing.

[Lily]

I was brought up as a pure vegetarian and i don't like to drink, smoke, tobacco, coffee & non-vegetarian. But i heard that if i arrive in Russia and if I'm invited to a dinner in Russia, i was supposed to taste everything which might include the above banned items and failing to do so is considered as a disrespect.

is it so?

Thank you
Swaminathan

it looks like this thread has been moved here, or?

If you are invoted to dinner, it make sense to inform straight away that you are vegetarian. If the family is really happy about your visit, they will consider this and will not ask you to taste everything that is on the table.

There are a number families who may behave in the way that the whole worlds should eat meat and vodka in great quantities. However, hope that they will not be among your friends 

[TempName]

Hi lily

Thanks for your reply. I got it.

In the mean time i need your assistance with respect to my account settings, i need to change my display name, accidentally i put my real name and im getting some probs, is there any way i can delete my account. Reply back to mitavionics-valour[at]yeh00[dot]co[dot]uk

Thanks in advance

[Misha]

If you are invited to dinner, it make sense to inform straight away that you are vegetarian.

And of course, make sure to define what this means. For some, it might mean eggs and milk are acceptable, while for vegans this is a no-no. Also, even if a dish does not have any meat, it might still have been prepared with some animal or dairy products. 

[groovlstk]

This reminds me of the scene in Everything Is Illuminated where the American guy tells his Ukrainian tour guides that he's a vegetarian, and the old dude asks "what is wrong with you?" Eventually the old dude asks their host for a single, boiled potato.

[ScottinCrimea]

Its hard to believe that Indians are not well considered here especially when HINDU is ignored, is there any particular reason.
That's good.
 why is it particular group targeted. I know several Indians are murdered in a medical institute situated in St.Petersburg. I really wondered how such a nation still practices racism.

It's not that Indians are not well considered, and it's not about a particular religion.  It more has to do with the different behaviors, etc. that may relate to that particular culture or religion that make a person stand out and may make it more difficult to relate to them.  For example, my religion is different than the vast majority of Russians, but there is not anything very noticeable in my general actions or dress that makes me stand out or that requires them to make adjustments to accommodate me.

It's not a particular group that is targeted.  Just like in any country, those who stand out as being different due to color, dress, mannerisms, etc. will be noticed and often stereotyped.  There will also always be some people in any country who will dislike anyone who is different, sometimes perceiving them as a threat.  to ask how "such a nation practices racism" is unfair and over general.  the nation doesn't practice racism, only some of the people do, just like anywhere.  Those that don't, you will find to be among the most friendly, accepting people anywhere.

[BillyB]

BSW,

Some RW state in their profiles they are vegetarian such as this one if you someday choose to find a compatible RW.

http://bride.ru/ph/htcgi/ladies/642/642292P1.html

[Lily]

Hi lily

Thanks for your reply. I got it.

In the mean time i need your assistance with respect to my account settings, i need to change my display name, accidentally i put my real name and im getting some probs, is there any way i can delete my account. Reply back to mitavionics-valour[at]yeh00[dot]co[dot]uk

Thanks in advance

This is beyond my capabilities on the forum. I am only moderating the content of this part. Suggest for you to address Admin.

[Gator]

groovlstk,

This reminds me of the scene in Everything Is Illuminated where the American guy tells his Ukrainian tour guides that he's a vegetarian, and the old dude asks "what is wrong with you?" Eventually the old dude asks their host for a single, boiled potato.

Fantastic scene, especially the waitress who surely came from some backwater town in Ukraine.  She said they did not sell potato by itself.  He eventually got his potato, then dropped it on the floor,  and the grandfather picked it up and quartered it.  But Sammy Davis Jr (the crazed seeing eye dog) did not eat his quarter.

One could learn something about Ukrainian culture from watching the first half of this film.

[Gator]

TempName,

From the little that I know about you, I would encourage you to try even though the already difficult road will be even more difficult for you. 

I met a vegetarian RW there.  My Moscow woman is into holistic healing and natural medicines, and I went with her to such a clinic.  Not only was it big, it was packed with patients.  Russia is huge; you can find almost anything there.

Ukraine is perhaps even more difficult because they consume much animal fat in their diet.