Fourth of July weekend we did dacha. I can’t say we went to dacha because that is like saying I went to the store. We did dacha. Some friends of ours temporarily moved out of their 22 story building to enjoy the Russian summer in the rustic country and invited us to join. We ate shashlik (meat on a stick) the first night with all kinds of Russian salads made mostly of beets, carrots, and mayonnaise. They just can’t get enough of their mayonnaise. We even drank Kvass which tastes like sour, liquid bread. It is, after all, made of yeast.
Then we did banya which is basically an outdoor sauna. You go in until you sweat a bit, exit, and either pour cold water over your head or jump in a lake, and then go back in and do it again. They believe it aids in circulation and general health.
My friend, also a mother-of-four, and I modestly wrapped ourselves in towels as we sweat. Then we sat in the “parlor” and drank water to cool off. It was relaxing and comfortable. The men…well…men are different.
My hubby, our friend, and a neighbor we just met, stripped down to their birthday suits, walked into 240 degree Fahrenheit steam, which was so hot it felt as if the hairs in their noses were burning. After three rounds, they finished off by smacking each other with sticks that makes hell-fire seem cool. Then, finally, cold water over the heads. They got dressed and came out. We are lucky we have friends. Many people have to pay for banya.
My least favorite part of the dacha was the outhouse. It is not a port-a-jon, it is a permanent building specifically used for decades of waste. I don’t think my vocabulary contains words for the general aroma amidst that side of the yard. The kids made a clubhouse right next to it. Needless to say, I’m sure they wouldn’t get any uninvited visitors.
The next day we celebrated July 4th in typical American style with too much food cooked over a grill, cake, and beer. In a gesture of good will among countries, we offered the neighbors some of our American cuisine like burgers, potato salad, and bean dip. They accepted. A few minutes later, the friendly neighbor brought over his version of good will. A CD of the famous Russian musician Vladimir Vysotsky. I’ve posted a link here for you to get a taste. He has a fabulous ability to roll his “Rs”, unlike me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBLWDk8q6Tc&feature=related
With our red, white, and blue banners amidst overgrown stinging nettles, we bopped our heads to this Russian masterpiece while naked little Russian boys ran around the neighborhood.
No comments:
Post a Comment