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“ The Soviet government also distributed plots of land to their citizens,
in return for various merits. However, in the Soviet era, they were
tiny pieces of land (600 square metres, or 6,500 square feet) and
people called such plots “six hundredths.” On a plot of "six
hundredths," the dacha owner built a small house and used the
remaining land for subsistence agriculture. In addition, the house
was a haven for private life – an island of internal exile in the Soviet
Union.
In approximately this form, the dacha culture has passed on into
modern Russia, in fact becoming a national pastime.
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“ Dachas usually don’t have central heating, so people mostly live in
their country houses during the summer. As the first warm days hit
the city, people flock en masse to the shire to open the dacha season.
But there’s work to do: Dust, dead flies, and unmelted snow all needs
to cleaned.
After everything is finally looking tidy, it’s time to get gardening. Of
course, modern Russians are not so obsessed with planting
vegetables, but every babushka has their gryadki [garden beds] with
strawberries and parnik [a greenhouse] with tomatoes.
There’s always something to do at the dacha, but there’s a secret way
to put your feet up.
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“ Once you finished cleaning up, had your cold beer, and taken out a
deck chair, you’ll probably only have five minutes to rest. Most likely
your relatives will ask you to help clean up last year’s leaves, burn
waste or repair something. (Why does everything break at the
dacha?) There’s always much to do, and even if they don’t ask you to
help, you’ll feel guilty laying about when everyone else is working.
“Would you like to gather berries?” If you hear mom ask this, be
certain it's not a question! Rather, this is a call for action. And if you
don't want to gather the berries, then you’ll certainly hear, “Why am I
planting everything if you don't need it?” Really, why?
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“ Whatever the dacha is like – large or small,
luxurious or most unpretentious, one's own or
a friend's – it occupies a very important place
in the life of Russians. People in Asia get some
relaxation to be able to work better. In Russia,
people work to be able to get some relaxation at
a dacha.
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“ What does grilling mean for Russians? Much preparation! You
need to buy meat and choose the best piece to avoid being cheated
at the store. Then cut it into pieces and marinate. Next, start a fire
in the mangal and tend to it. When hot enough, put the meat on
skewers or directly on the grate. Cook but take care that it doesn't
burn, all to the constant refrain of your guests, “When will it be
ready?”
After that, clean the dishes and grill. Be ready, usually there’s no
hot water at the dacha. Better to come with plastic plates!
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“ Still, many people do think of dacha as place to have fun. These
people mow their lawns and plant flowers, so they still have to do
their share of field work to make their dacha look presentable. But
instead of spending all time in the garden, they invite friends and
entertain them, grill meat, eat strawberries sitting in gazebos, play
sports and enjoy other recreational activities. Hopefully this will
become a mass trend and more people will enjoy resting at dacha
rather than working there!
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