Life in Yakutia

Kirill Petrov's Daily Routine

Morning:
- Kirill heats the house using a wood-burning stove to combat the severe climate.
- Heating required non-stop for 9 months.
Water Source:
- Villagers use river ice for drinking water due to a lack of water treatment facilities.

Breakfast Traditions:
- Kirill’s wife, Lyubov, prepares kurchakh (whipped cream with strawberry jam).
- Fruits and vegetables are rare; dairy foods are common in desserts.
School Routine:
- Aryan, the 9-year-old son, attends primary school when temperature is above -54°C.
- Children must wear multiple layers and fully cover exposed skin to prevent frostbite.
- Aryan studies math, literature, art, geography, history, and languages (Russian, English, Sakha).

Clothing:
- Importance of wearing insulated clothing to survive extreme winters.
School Schedule:
- Schools are attended when temperatures are reasonably "warm" (-40°C considered warm).

Community:
- Close-knit village with about 800 residents.
- Houses made of wood, using over 60 cubic meters of wood each winter.
Wildlife:
- Yakutian horses, adapted to extreme cold, forage for food under snow.

Craftsmanship:
- Kirill is a renowned craftsman, making traditional Yakut knives.
- Aryan learns traditional crafts from his father.

Household Duties:
- Aryan helps his father with chopping firewood and other necessary tasks.
- Fishing is vital for food; Aryan enjoys fishing with his father.

Toilets:
- Outdoor toilets are necessary due to freezing pipes.
Lifestyle:
- Fishing and hunting are crucial for survival.
- Community embraces extreme weather as part of life, finding beauty and balance with nature.

Language and Education:
- Importance of learning Russian for daily life and work, alongside native Sakha language.
Food Traditions:
- Frozen fish and meat are staples.
- Traditional ice fishing begins in early March.