Russian language speaking community in the Tri-Cities. (Seattle, Kennewick: costs, moving)

[teachercrowbird]

Hello everyone my wife is an Uzbek woman from Kazakhstan but her native language is Russian (she speaks Uzbek, Kazakh, English fluently and she can speak Spanish at an intermediate level.) She was wondering are there any organizations or groups that get together in the Tri-Cities that are oriented towards Russian language speakers? We have encountered quite a few Russian speakers in the Tri-Cities but she is shy to approach them and speak to them (fun fact: the goodwill near Fred Myers in Richland is a hot spot for Russian speakers based on the people she overheard speaking in Russian.) She wants to meet more Russian speakers since she misses talking to people in Russian (in person since she often video calls relatives in Kazakhstan.) Thank you guys for your time.

[grega94]

I’ve never been to Tri-Cities. But the best place to start is probably a Russian market/deli/bakery. In the Seattle area they typically branded as “European” to get more American customers, but make no mistake it’s catered to post soviet immigrant communities. I did a quick search and found a couple in Kennewick

European desserts & appetizers by Nena
(509) 948-3323
https://goo.gl/maps/x6u9fTwt8oSxPaav8

Euro Market
(509) 735-9190
https://maps.google.com?q=Euro%20Mar...s&lucs=s2se,a2

European Delights
(509) 736-1105
https://goo.gl/maps/7dFEp7T2eXtgtfKi9

As well as one in Pasco

Aliona's Euro Bake
(509) 492-0740
https://maps.google.com?q=Aliona&#39...s&lucs=s2se,a2

[grega94]

Also I don’t know about your wife’s religious beliefs but there is a Russian Orthodox Church in Kennewick.

St. John Orthodox Church
(509) 301-1691
https://goo.gl/maps/GWU3EfZoZbMQk83h9

That being said from my personal experience most Russian speakers in the US that I’ve come across are either Baptists, Pentecostals or irreligious. And most of those churches will have “Slavic” in their names, but I couldn’t find any in Tri-Cities, so maybe most of them are indeed Orthodox in the Tri-Cities?

[teachercrowbird]

Originally Posted by grega94

I’ve never been to Tri-Cities. But the best place to start is probably a Russian market/deli/bakery. In the Seattle area they typically branded as “European” to get more American customers, but make no mistake it’s catered to post soviet immigrant communities. I did a quick search and found a couple in Kennewick

European desserts & appetizers by Nena
(509) 948-3323
https://goo.gl/maps/x6u9fTwt8oSxPaav8

Euro Market
(509) 735-9190
https://maps.google.com?q=Euro%20Mar...s&lucs=s2se,a2

European Delights
(509) 736-1105
https://goo.gl/maps/7dFEp7T2eXtgtfKi9

As well as one in Pasco

Aliona's Euro Bake
(509) 492-0740
https://maps.google.com?q=Aliona&#39...s&lucs=s2se,a2

Thanks a ton. We will check those places out.

[pnwguy2]

Tri-Cities is a welcoming community in an otherwise unwelcoming part of the State. By that, I mean many in Eastern Washington here look down upon anyone moving from Seattle or Portland. But the Tri is more diverse and tends to be more open to folk who may have come from foreign countries. I think the fact that this is a scientific community plays a big part. Housing costs are rising, but still pale to Seattle or Portland.