Miguel Almidon embarks on a journey from Peru to immerse in the traditional culture of the Yakutian people, residing in the northern regions.
Journey to the Land of Frost
We encountered Miguel in the dormitory of the North-Eastern Federal University. Currently, he's studying in the university's preparatory department, but Russian, being a tough nut to crack for the Peruvian, is posing a challenge. So, we had to bring in interpreter, Dmitry Osipov, to help out.
Miguel himself confesses that in Yakutsk, he's the only one who can speak Spanish. His fellow students, hailing from diverse backgrounds, use French, Chinese, and Mongolian, making speaking in Spanish a rare treat for Miguel.
The Peruvian narrated his long voyage to Russia. In the modern world, there are no direct flights leading to Moscow, so he first flew from Peru to the Dominican Republic, and from there to Germany. Upon arrival, the authorities quizzed him on his reasons for visiting Russia that he was going to meet their queries with his student visa in hand.
From Germany, he hopped aboard a bus and traveled through Poland, Lithuania, and finally reached Kaliningrad. In Kaliningrad, he boarded another flight, and in no time, he found himself in Moscow. His next stop was Barnaul. Arriving in Barnaul, he boarded a train, and after five grueling days, he finally touched down in Nizhny Bestyakh. He managed to get his bearings and called the NEFU to guide him to Yakutsk. That's how Miguel reached his destination. The entire adventure set him back $3500.
On the Path of Knowledge and Exploration
Miguel has long nursed a desire to visit Russia, going so far as to book a ticket in 2023, but unfortunately, he fell ill and missed it. Subsequently, he sought advice from the Russian Embassy in Peru. To his astonishment, the embassy extended him a scholarship to study in Russia. He spent three arduous months collecting the necessary documents, grappling with translation and paperwork hurdles all the while. In the end, he managed to submit his papers in January 2024 and was granted permission for his studies in June. Miguel arrived in Yakutsk on September 30, 2023, ready to begin his academic journey at the North-Eastern Federal University on October 1st.
In Yakutia, we study Russian language, graphics, informatics, physics, history, and the culture of Yakutia and Russia. Russian is not too hard to learn, but the Peruvian admits he has no one to practice with as all of his classmates hail from different countries. He finds himself surrounded by languages like English, French, Mongolian, and Chinese other than Russian. He acknowledges the diverse culture that enriches his experience, Lycreating.
Miguel confesses he struggles without Spanish speakers, not even in his phone’s translator. Besides, he studied American English, but in Yakutsk, he's confronted with British English.
To brush up on his Russian, he worked as a dishwasher in the "Orto Doidu" restaurant during the harsh Yakutian winter. "I secured the job, but I found out the restaurant is really far from Yakutsk!" - Miguel chuckles. But the job rewarded him in multiple ways, giving him a constant opportunity to improve his conversational skills, work experience, and earn some money.
A Citizen of the World
From our chat with Miguel, it's evident he's a globetrotter. He was born in the Andes in the Apurimac region of southern Peru, where he lived with his parents until he was 17. He has two brothers, two sisters, and interestingly, his grandfather was a traveler who visited numerous countries and made Peru his permanent home.
The young man left home early and managed to live in Lima, Ike, Piseco, Chile, Santiago, and Spanish Zaragoza. During his stint in Spain, he enrolled in a university located in the city of Huesca, 75 km from Zaragoza, and he commuted there daily for his studies.
In Peru, Miguel studied at a technological university, majoring in "accounting". In Spain, he pursued a profession related to agriculture. This was in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to return home.
Overall, Miguel is fond of agricultural topics. During his studies, he conducted research on them, focusing on desert vegetation, turning seawater into fresh water, and so on. In Peru, his family cultivates fruits, berries (like oranges, blueberries), runs a restaurant, and operates a trading business. Miguel aims to contribute to this family business after completing his education.
Over the course of our conversation, we asked our guest to share a little about Peru and what he's proud to call Peruvian. It turns out Peru has three cultures – coastal (Spanish), Andean (mountainous, Quechua speakers), and Amazonian ( with multiple indigenous languages). Miguel takes pride in Peru's mouthwatering cuisine and gastronomy. In 2023, a Peruvian restaurant earned the top spot as the best in the world, and Peruvian cuisine was voted as the best in South America. "Many top chefs worldwide study from us," he boasts with a grin.
"Learned about mammoths in school"
In Yakutia, Miguel acquainted himself with the regional dishes. He feels that the cuisine of the Andes and Yakutia share many similarities – they both appreciate raw fish and meat. There are also striking parallels in their festivals and attire.
The Peruvian is unfazed by the cold Yakutian winters, as he lived in Chile where winters can be cold and snowy. So, for a Peruvian, the Yakutian winter is nothing extraordinary, and he enjoys the chill.
Miguel dreams of visiting the Lena Pillars and touring Oymyakon – the Pole of Cold. He confesses he has heard about Yakutia. They studied mammoths and the traditional culture of the Evenks in school. When he lived in Spain, he remembers watching numerous documentaries about northern peoples on TV. Miguel recalls that the nature Yakutians call home is stunning, igniting his fascination, and leading him to make the long journey to this far northern corner of Russia.
Here, Miguel learned to play the khomus. For the first time, he and his fellow students, foreign students, performed at the "Youth" stadium during the Culture Festival. He explains that since then, they’ve taken part in multiple events, treating audiences to music on the Yakut national instrument.
Miguel harbors ambitions of becoming an entrepreneur, continuing the family business, and also delving into research. This summer, Miguel Almidon plans to enroll at AGATU, majoring in agronomy or forestry. We wish his dreams come true!
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- Despite being surrounded by diverse languages such as French, Chinese, and Mongolian, Miguel, a Peruvian student at the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, confesses that he misses speaking Spanish, as he is the only one who can do so.
- Saddened by missing his initial scheduled journey to Russia in 2023 due to illness, Miguel was granted a scholarship by the Russian Embassy in Peru for education and self-development which eventually led him to enroll in the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk.
- The Peruvian's lifestyle in Yakutsk showcases his adaptability as he works as a dishwasher at a local restaurant to improve his conversational Russian skills and earn money, despite finding the restaurant far from Yakutsk.
- Embarking on his academic journey in Russia, Miguel aspires to contribute to his family business back in Peru, specifically the agricultural sector, upon completion of his education, having previously studied 'accounting' in Peru and a profession related to agriculture in Spain.
