What are the Tajiks and Uzbeks complaining about in Moscow?

What do Tajiks and Uzbeks complain about in Moscow?

Uzbeks and Tajiks are perhaps the most numerous Moscow diasporas: according to unofficial data, about 3 million immigrants from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan live in the capital. At the same time, a few years ago, they considered loneliness to be their main problem in big cities: according to the results of opinion polls, three-quarters of respondents were worried about it, and only in second and third place were troubles with migration services and lack of money. What do visitors from Central Asia complain about today and how do they see Moscow? “Subtleties” counted six points.

1. Huge distances

Even Tashkent and Dushanbe are 7 and 12 times smaller than Moscow, respectively, and most Uzbeks and Tajiks come to Russia not from capitals, but from small towns and villages. Moscow distances and difficult routes become a real test for them, especially at first. “Looking back, I remember my first day in Moscow. It’s probably the same for everyone: you’re standing in the subway and don’t know how to get to the right station,” says Nushin, a journalist from Tajikistan. “Moscow is just huge. It's even scary sometimes.”

Looking back, I remember my first day in Moscow. It's probably the same for everyone: you're standing in the subway and don't know how to get to the desired station.

2. Crazy Speed

At home, Eastern people are in no hurry, and getting used to the frantic pace of life in a giant metropolis is not easy for them: hundreds of people are running somewhere, in a hurry and still do not have time. “I felt like a small snail, which was constantly overtaken by herds of people passing by,” says a resident of Tajikistan. Moscow traffic is a separate story: guests of the capital do not understand why Muscovites who are always in a hurry prefer to drive cars with which the city is overloaded, because of which they have to stand in traffic jams for hours, wasting time.

3. Fresh food

Many Uzbeks and Tajiks do not like the way they cook in inexpensive Moscow cafes. “Once I went to Mumu for lunch. Soup is like water! The potatoes are hard. There is no fat, a lot of salt,” says Karim from Tajikistan. Anvar from Uzbekistan lacks the usual spices: cumin, coriander, barberry, saffron: “The locals use mostly black pepper and salt, but for me these are not spices, but something that can only slightly emphasize the taste of the dish.” However, people from Central Asia solved this problem very quickly: now, even in the center of Moscow, it is not difficult to find an Uzbek teahouse or buy samsa from tandoor, and settlers miss home cooking less.

4. Urban Views

Visitors from the Asian republics are amazed by the beauty of the main Moscow sights – for example, Red Square, the Kremlin and large temples. But they don’t really like residential development: “In Moscow, houses have no owner, they are useless, large and ugly. We have mountains and rivers, it’s beautiful here,” Tajiks say.

“In Moscow, houses have no owner, they are useless, large and ugly. We have mountains and rivers, it's beautiful here,” Tajiks say.

5. Unfriendly residents

Many Muscovites seem gloomy, unfriendly and closed to Uzbeks and Tajiks – especially in comparison with the inhabitants of their native countries, who are always ready to keep up a conversation even with a stranger. “No, Muscovites don’t offend me,” says Mirza from Tajikistan. “But here you are going to work, it seems that the day has not yet begun, and the morning is good, kind, and people are already some kind of hostile, angry, excited.”

“In Tashkent, people are more open, kind, smiling. In Moscow, you go into the entrance, greet your neighbor, and he looks at you and thinks: “Who are you? And why are you greeting me?” an entrepreneur from the Uzbek capital shares his impressions.

What else to read on the topic

  • 9 unexpected facts about Tajikistan and Tajiks
  • What do Uzbeks think about Russians? 8 unexpected facts
  • “Spit in your mouth”, “revive an old woman” and 3 more amazing Kazakh traditions

6. Bad weather

Rare sun, gray skies, low clouds and severe frosts — it is also not easy for people from the hot southern republics to adapt to such a climate. “I just couldn’t imagine how cold I would be. It was cold everywhere – the nose, palms, feet, knees froze, ”recalls Tajik Nushin.

But the Uzbek Anvar is philosophical about the Moscow weather: “No matter how cold it is in Moscow, you create a sunny mood for yourself. Each person can create warmth in his soul. Therefore, take care of the warmth in your hearts and accept even cold weather with joy.

“No matter how cold it is in Moscow, you create a sunny mood for yourself. Each person can create warmth in his soul,” they say.

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