When we were in Belaya Kalitva, we were interviewed for the local newspaper Perekrestok. Here is its text. There and about my wife and me and a little about the project «Russia in 365 days». In my opinion, it turned out quite interesting.
Interview to the newspaper Perekrestok
The content of the article
- one Around Russia - 365 days
- 2 Understanding Russia - Through the Province
- 3 Most of the difficulties are in our heads
Around Russia - 365 days
A small group of travelers from St. Petersburg and Moscow have embarked on a non-profit project, the name of which is in the title. They plan to travel all over the country in a year. The main goal is not just to overcome several tens of thousands of kilometers, but to revive patriotism through a close acquaintance with the provincial «one-story» Russia. The guys want to show the life of ordinary people without political slogans, hidden intrigues and special looking for negativity. Everything seen will be carefully recorded on a photo and video camera and in the future will serve as material for various exhibitions. By the way, there is already a preliminary agreement for holding such an exhibition with the administration of the city of Sochi. In addition, a detailed report on the project will be regularly posted on the Internet, since now, in any backwater, it is not a problem to go online..
Belaya Kalitva became one of the intermediate points of the journey. Travelers visited the editorial office «Crossroads» and gave a short collective interview.
Understanding Russia - Through the Province
So, meet: Muscovites Oleg and Daria Lazhechnikovs, Alexei Matveev and St. Petersburg Igor Koltsov. The average age is just under thirty. Igor travels by hitchhiking, the rest - by private vehicles. In some places of the route, such as in our city, their trajectories intersect. Movements are coordinated over the Internet.
- In general, the main participant and initiator of the project is Igor, - the Lazhechnikovs' spouses immediately place the correct accents. - He will hitchhike around the country throughout the year, and we only periodically go to him at some points of the route.
- Igor, through which cities did your path to our lands lay?
- I moved along the western perimeter of Russia: Kingisepp, Pskov, Lake Peipsi, Smolensk. Until Belgorod did not reach 20 kilometers and turned to Prokhorovka. There, during the Great Patriotic War, the famous tank battle took place. It is these places that will tell about the life of Russia much more than any major city. Here people sacrificed themselves for the sake of future generations, one can feel the viscous stream of history woven into the present. All this gives the seen a special meaning. After Prokhorovka there was Oryol, Voronezh and Rostov. From Rostov I had to return a little to the north: in your city, my friends and I had an appointment.
- Do you have a rigid route, or it adjusts freely as you go?
- Before the start of the trip, we posted on our blog an offer to every caring person who wants to tell something interesting about his small homeland. Many responded. Therefore, we move mainly along those points where they are already waiting for us. We don't need a lot of space - it would be where to put the tent. And if there is a couple of square meters on the floor to lay sleeping bags, we will also be happy. In your city, two responded at once - climber Alexander Zabrodin and blogger Vladimir. Alexander serves as a guide for us around Belaya Kalitva. We have already visited Karaul Mountain, Avilova and Popovskaya caves. Now we are going to a meeting with local historian Kolodkin, and then we will head to the Dyadin farm.
- Igor, how do you define the concept of your project?
- This is a community of people who want to change the life of our country in a positive way. In the West, schools have a special subject that, through acquaintance with photographs of different parts of the planet, shows the schoolchildren the diversity of our world. Shows that the world is not limited to the walls of your home. It makes people think bigger, develops personality. We set ourselves a similar goal on the scale of Russia. After all, it is no secret that now Russian schoolchildren mainly grow up on American, Western traditions and culture, and they know almost nothing about their country, Russia. At the end of the trip, a disc will be released, which we will offer to educational institutions. Let the schoolchildren understand what a multifaceted country our Russia is.
- This project, I emphasize, is completely non-commercial. - adds Oleg Lazhechnikov. - All participants invest their money in it and do not earn on it. On our own, we find and meet all over Russia with people who are trying to change the circumstances of life for the better, not only for ourselves, but also for the people living around them. We want to interest young people in the history of their country. We want to collect more information about the heroes of the Russian land and about the deeds that were performed for us who live now.
Interview to the newspaper Perekrestok
Most of the difficulties are in our heads
- It's clear with the project. But travel is probably expensive?
- Generally, traveling is not as expensive as it seems. - continues Oleg. - Especially if you are unpretentious in everyday life. We have a tent, sleeping bags and other simple equipment. For my wife and I, travel is not a hotel beach and beer in hand, but a road, views, communication with people. As for money: now for a competent specialist there is an opportunity to earn from a distance, through the Internet. We have created our own website, but by itself it brings very little and not basic money. This money is paid to us for advertising, which is placed on the pages of our blog. Plus, you have to write articles to order, sell photographs, teach English, draw ventilation and heating projects, and earn money somewhere else. When we are not on the road, the working day is 10-14 hours a day. And on the way you will not particularly relax: you constantly need to write and process photos, support Internet resources and virtually communicate with people. There is no time to rest. We spend most of the road in very Spartan conditions, often spending the night in the forest in tents. And all the money that we manage to earn, we are now sending to the Russia project in 365 days.
- Well, in Russia with a tent - it's clear. And abroad?
- In the same way - with a tent and a backpack - we traveled across Southeast Asia: Thailand, Laos, Malaysia. By the way, in half a year there we spent only 180 thousand rubles for two, including expenses for transport, travel across borders and renting housing.
- How did you come to the idea of travel?
- There was a crisis, I was fired from my job. And I realized that the moment has come when I can fulfill the dream of distant countries. After all, many people dream about it, but never move on to the embodiment of their ideas. But you just need to take and change your life in a positive way..
- Are there any difficulties and dangers on the way??
- In fact, all the difficulties in a person's head. Of course, we prepare carefully every time, studying all possible sources of information. But in order to do it, you must at least get up and start doing. As for the danger, in Thailand I had to wander with a rather expensive laptop through the darkest nooks. There have never been any unpleasant moments. In Russia, to be honest, we fear a little more, but we believe that to a person who bears goodness in his heart and everyone he meets will respond with good.
The author of the article is Vladimir Popryadukhin.
