
I have been watching a quite fascinating series of YouTube documentaries on the “Free Documentary” channel. One particular playlist – “Most Dangerous Ways To School” follows the lives of young children travelling to local schools in the most dangerous regions/countries on the planet.
There’s around 13 of these school docs in the playlist and I’ve seen only around 5 so far. However, I have to say what a mammoth eye-opener they have been!
For example, there’s one set in Yakutia, which is part of the Russian republic 5000 kms east of Moscow.. It is officially the coldest inhabited town on the planet with average temperatures of around -40C (yes, that’s minus) and wintry temperatures touching -70C!!
Following on from that there’s one set in Tunkhel, Northern Mongolia, where temperatures are relatively mild in comparison – a mere -30C average, but the area has far more hostile weather conditions compared to Yakutia.
And yet people still go about their business, including school kids walking to school. And when I say walking, I mean walking several kilometres in thick snow, blizzards and early morning temperatures somewhere between -40C and -55C.
Other kids might be lucky and ride similar distances on horses and/or their dad’s motorbike, but still face the same rugged and downright inhospitable conditions, including crossing ice covered rivers and navigating around deep snow drifts.
And then once they’ve spent a few hours at school the kids have to fight their way back home in the same way they arrived. And once home they have to spend a few hours helping their parents with housekeeping and looking after the farm.
Compare and contrast to kids over here in the West. Not wishing to make generalisations but right now as soon as we have a few flakes of snow or some freezing temperatures (-5C) and all of a sudden schools close and/or parents decide it is too risky to take their kids to school in the car or by foot.
On top of that the whole country seems to grind to a halt, especially on the roads and train networks after a couple of cold nights and a centimetre or two of snow.
Far Eastern Russians and Mongolians may look like they’re still stuck in the Stone Age, but fucking hell they’re hardy bastards compared to the snowflakes scared of a few snowflakes over here!
YouTube Link.
https://www.yakutiatravel.com/facts-about-yakutia/history
(Additional link provided by our travel correspondent, Night Admin – NA)
Nominated by : Technocunt