If you know anything about life in Russia, you must be familiar with the type of accommodation most of Russian people possess, which are not very spacious flats. Very often in the flats there is no a special place, where a family can spend time together, sipping Russian tea and talking. Therefore, it turned into tradition to spend a lot of time in a kitchen, rather than in lounge rooms, for example. 

When guests come over, they are usually escorted to kitchen. Anyway, it doesn’t matter a guest it is or family circle, Russians like discussing sophisticated topics in a kitchen. And everyone does it according to one’s lights, which depend on social status, education. More intelligent people discuss ideas and problems, rather than persons, while less intelligent ones complain and often like proving their point with Russian swear words. There is a range of things to complain about, but one of the most popular topics is politics and Government decisions. 

Small salaries, poor medical service, low level of education, bad roads, etc. – are the things that follow not very forward-looking government decisions, as residents suggest. Usually politicians are the bad guys, as they are involved in budget allocation and enactments. Isn’t it logical? 

I believe, complaining about the government in Russian society is as old as the hills, as I cannot remember a period in Russian history, which could be called a golden age. Over the course of history, the majority of the population was oppressed. In 1897 77% of population were peasants, living in poorest conditions and serving noblemen. Today in our country 90% of revenue are possessed by 15% of people. This is outrageous inequality. So we have something to discuss.

Back on topic of discussing things in a kitchen, it’s worth mentioning, that conversations go with feast or tea (or vodka drinking). So we can spend hours, eating, drinking and speaking. It is a kind of evening leisure, which is unarguably one the things Russian like.