Question by Jessica G: What is the food situation at Russian Universities?
I am planning to study abroad for a semester next year in Russia. I am also a vegetarian and am quite anxious that I will have enough to eat. So, at Russian Universities, are there cafeterias? What are they like? Are there lots of options? Are there kitchens in the dorms? Thanks for any insight you might have.
Answers and Views:
Answer by Slava T
Ну, ты посмотри! Совсем охренели… То тебе про очереди за хлебом, то про нацистов, то про капусту… Что же им там впаривают?
Jessica, darling, don’t worry. You’ll be ok with your veg stuff.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Dmitry says
Russian vegetarian food differs from the western.
It is less than tofu, it is more than mushrooms.
Instead of a tofu and a soya mushrooms and cabbage are used.
For example: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/11/15/the-s…
Сеня says
There are normally kitchens in the dorms for students to use. From my experience students usually survive on very cheap basic food like noodles. It is still rare to find vegetarians in Russia. In Russia they love animals but meat is important, they also wear a lot of fur. I have one Russian friend who is vegetarian and his mother still tries to force him to eat meat, she just doesn't get it. There are only a few vegetarian restaurants in Moscow and if you are going to a smaller town or city I doubt there will be any. It will also be much more difficult to find soya and tofu products like you can in the West.
Chris says
Don't worry about this – cold war is over. You'll find there the same food as you find at your home.
.:Nellie:. says
Since all the Russian students are pretty much alive, and no one ever passed away because of the food or starvation I can assure you, that u'll survive and be able to find anything you need…
Slava T, жжешь!!!
Daria says
if you're going to a big city, like moscow, i wouldn't worry about it, there are plenty of little caffes everywhere. be careful though, you could go broke quickly if you eat out a lot. and i'm not sure if there'd be a lot of vegetarian choices, so just read the ingredients or ask if a dish you want traditionally has meat. you'd be safe with some salads, side dishes, and there's always tea!
im sure there'd be kitchens in the dorms, probably not a private kitchen though but it should do.
Also, I'm positive your classmates would have you over for dinners and such at their appartments/houses. just be sure to tell them in advance that you're vegetarian.
Good luck! hope you enjoy your semester.