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Moscow State University (MSU) is one of the top-ranked universities in Russia, and admission is highly competitive. To be considered for admission to MSU, students must first pass the Unified State Exam (USE), which is essentially Russia’s SATs, but then also pass MSU’s specific entrance exams, which are subject-specific exams in the field of study […]
High school graduation (выпускной) in Russia – and most of the former Soviet states – is a grand affair. In addition to a ceremony in which they are given diplomas, graduates have formal dinners, black-tie balls, and all night parties with concerts and fireworks. Olga Dmitraschenko graduated in Moscow in 2006, after completing her high […]
The exit exams that Russian students take to exit high school are known as the Unified State Exam (USE), also known as the “EGE” (ЕГЭ – Единый государственный экзамен) in Russian. The USE to replace the previous system of entrance exams for higher education institutions and was intended to work like the SATs in the […]
Eksternat (rus: Экстернат) is a form of distance learning in the public education system of many post-Soviet countries. It allows students to study at their own pace and to pursue other interests while in secondary school. Olga Dmitraschenko, for instance, opted into the system in order to graduate a year early and pursue an internship […]
Orthodox Easter is by far the most important religious holiday in most Slavic lands and is the busiest day at most Russian Orthodox churches across the globe. The holiday is steeped in history and mystic symbolism. The following is a dual-language article meant to teach you about history and culture of Orthodox Easter while allowing […]
Kulich (Кулич) is a lightly sweet, yeast-risen bread baked with considerable amounts of egg and butter. It may also contain raisins, almonds, candied or dried fruit, lemon zest, and various spices including cardamom and even saffron depending on the recipe and personal preferences. It is a tall, cylindrical-shaped bread with a rounded top, and it […]
What created Armenian national identity? This is a complex question and one that is personal for each Armenian person. This resource will focus on presenting one element of this identity – the Armenian national narrative. Who are the national heroes and what are the pivotal events that they learned about in school? What are the […]
Kattama is a traditional Turkic pastry. It is buttery, flaky, layered and fried or baked to perfection! The dough is rolled thin, slathered in butter and other filling, and then layered and folded, creating beautiful flaky layers that are both crisp and soft. It can be found throughout Mongol and Turkic cultures in various forms. […]
Chuchvara is a dumping staple dish in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Middle East. Originally introduced there under the Persian Empire, they are today most associated in Central Asia with Uzbek tradition. However, they are also considered a local national dish throughout the countries of the region. Chuchvara contrast with manti, the other […]
Manti (манты) are steamed dumplings consisting of ground meat and spices in an unleavened pastry shell. Manti are a popular dish across Central Asia, Pakistan, Northern China, Turkey, and Russia. They are considered native to Central Asia and are now thought to perhaps be the world’s first dumpling. How Manti Got Their Name (Почему они […]
Kuurdak (куурдак) is a traditional Kyrgyz dish and one of the oldest recipes found in Central Asia. It is eaten throughout Central Asia and particularly beloved as a national dish in Kyrgyzstan. This stewed meat dish is one of the easiest and simplest recipes to make. Traditionally, the meat used is mutton (lamb), horse, and/or […]
Medovukha (медовуха) is a Slavic honey-based alcoholic beverage. It is one of the most recent and perhaps the best known iteration of a long evolutionary tree of Russian honey-based beverages that can be traced all the way back to the Old Slavs. In Russia today, some argue that a return to these honey drinks, which […]