Our in the USA: how Russian lives in Alaska

Photos from the personal archive of Ira Dudina

Ira Dudina arrived in Alaska in her student years, not intending to stay there for a long time. But she fell in love with this region, and for years 8 has been living in the most non-American state of the USA.

On the peculiarities of life in Alaska, she told the publication Billboard Daily.

I was born in the Jewish Autonomous Region - this is a very Far East. When it came time to choose a university, there was only one option - the Far Eastern Railway University in Khabarovsk, aka Zhelezka. The university was home to the Russian-American program — my dad found out about it and decided to send me to study in the USA: it was possible after two years of study at Zhelezka. I don’t remember how we discussed it, but obviously I agreed.

In the 2006 year, when I just started my studies, Dad lost his job, and we decided that his plans for my studies had collapsed. But he did not lose his head and quickly opened a small consulting company in Birobidzhan, gaining a bunch of credits, which he paid off only at the beginning of this year. So in the 2008 year, I still set sail to Alaska for the city of Anchorage. When we left, the coordinator told us a phrase that I remembered for the rest of my life: “Alaska delays — if you live there more than you need, you will never leave there.”

For many of us, 18-year-old girls and boys, these words meant nothing. Then Anchorage seemed to us the starting point, and we dreamed of Los Angeles or New York.

At first, we broke off the chain: a new country, new emotions, we got involved in adventures, got to know the Americans. At first, we disliked Alaska because we saw many minuses in it: we missed the house, we didn’t have enough Russian food, because of our age we couldn’t go to the bars and buy alcohol, 40 went to school in the dark because nobody had cars.

The climate was also a big minus for me at the beginning. In the Far East, we still have 4 seasons - yes, a very severe winter, but also a hot summer, and a beautiful autumn and spring. In Alaska, there is winter, which lasts from October to March, and the second season is something between spring and autumn, but definitely not summer. The winters are very long, dark - the sun will come out a little, wait an hour and, without climbing up, leave again. You wake up - it's dark, you come home - it's dark.

But in Alaska, as in St. Petersburg, there are white nights - for some reason no one knows about it. It never gets dark there in the summer, and this is probably my favorite time. Many people here cannot sleep because of this, but I generally get high - you can ride a bike at night, run or walk with friends in the center.

My acquaintances not from Alaska are surprised by the fact that I live there. Many say that in Anchorage bears walk the streets and that it is very cold there. As you can see, nothing new. When they find out that I am from Russia, they say: “Ah, well, then you don’t make a difference.” People often ask how I got here and why I chose Alaska. In fact, even some Americans do not know that this is their state, because it is very far from the rest.

In Alaska, people are not used to dress nicely - they always wear jeans and a sweater there. But all those whom I happened to meet are very kind, sympathetic, hospitable people. Still there are no heaps of bars, and those that are, are very local, authentic. There are, of course, and institutions of a higher level, where you need to dress up, but they are few. And the average is not given.

Photos from the personal archive of Ira Dudina

In our student years in Alaska, we walked a lot - literally from Thursday to Sunday. But they also studied in good faith. I always worked a lot - first I worked in the university canteen, and then in the office of one of the lecturers. There were a lot of activities on campus, and now I regret that I was not strongly involved in student life, that I never became a cheerleader.

In Alaska, I got married. Federico is half Venezuelan, half Italian, and he is also crazy about Anchorage and the surrounding area. He was transferred here for work from Milan, for which he was very pleased. I remember very well how we met. My friend and I were standing near a local bar, I saw him crossing the street, ran up and blurted out: "I want to tell you two things: first, you will go home with me today, and second, you will go with me to Russia."

But that night nothing happened: I lost my bag - and our communication was interrupted. But I left him a phone number. The next day he wrote to me, and we went on the first date to the restaurant. Then I fulfilled my second promise and took him to the Far East.

We decided to play the wedding in Alaska, although we thought about both Madrid and Italy, but then we realized that we should get married where we met, where our home and loved ones are. The wedding took place on June 21, the longest day of the year. It was a celebration of the merging of cultures - Russian, American, Italian and Venezuelan, a mix of culinary traditions.

With Federico, I learned Alaska closer and realized that I wanted to stay here. We rode snowboarding together, went hiking, conquered the mountains. In Alaska, they love to invite each other to visit - for dinner or drink. There are many other charity events here, especially in winter. At that time, my husband was constantly invited to such events, because he worked in the oil sector, and he took me with him.

After university, I quickly found a job, even two - I was taken immediately to a communication agency and an investment company. I thought for a long time and finally chose the latter - probably due to the prestige of the industry. To be honest, it was difficult for me: the work started at 7 in the morning, I also had to constantly deal with numbers, and I hate it. I was lucky that the company agreed to finance a work visa, but at that moment I was glad and not happy about it, because I didn’t like what I was doing, I didn’t see myself in this area. I wanted to be at the level where the uncle at the age of 40 – 50 went around the world and attracted business investment, but I understood that I could not get there. I like to communicate with people, but not to receive complex mathematical certificates. At the very same moment when my work visa was under consideration, there was a change in our relationship with Federico: he was sent to Madrid for a year. The question was whether I should go with him. In the end, I took the visa ready in Vladivostok, returned to the United States and wrote a letter of resignation. There were problems - I had to pay penalties, because the company invested a lot of money in me, and my care was not very beautiful. In general, my visa went then down the drain - and I flew to Madrid for a year.

While I was studying, I really missed Russia, and even now I miss it too. I would go home at least every six months, but I have such a desire, because I know that I will return back to Anchorage. In Alaska, I already have my nest, and I always pulls back. Although the house, I think, wherever there is something expensive.

I have never encountered a negative attitude towards my nationality, I always proudly tell you where I'm from. My husband loves Russia, especially because of our connection with Italy - we constantly have Italian concerts, and Toto Cutugno comes. I try not to interfere in talking about politics, because I do not really follow this topic. But I am constantly asked how I feel about Putin, what Russians think about Trump. Another joke about hackers. I try not to understand, but if they say something bad, it is unpleasant. I watched the debate, and Trump was more sympathetic to me, because Hillary, I think, at every opportunity spoke badly about Russia, accused us of everything. My dad is an oppositionist, but here I know many people who really appreciate Putin. When there was the Olympics in Sochi, it was discussed in Alaska.

Photos from the personal archive of Ira Dudina

A year ago we returned to Alaska, and it’s hard for me to even describe the feelings that filled me when the plane landed at the Anchorage airport, I went outside and the cold air blew right in my face. It's a thrill. I'm home again. I've lived in Alaska for almost 8 years, but there are still so many places I haven't been. Here you always experience a very pleasant feeling - you know that you are free.

Now her husband was temporarily transferred to the state of Texas, the city of Houston, but we will definitely return to Alaska. So far, we go there at any opportunity. It was there that I learned to look differently at things, to notice the little things, the beauty and simplicity of nature. I would love to raise children in Alaska. The main thing is that they do not study here at the university, better in some place more globally - New York or Madrid. But for children it is an ideal place, sport is developed here and there are plenty to choose from - swimming, snowboarding, baseball. Alaska is definitely not for everyone, but if you make an effort to get to know it, you never want to leave, and if you leave you will always return.

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