How to Survive a Siberian Winter with No Home
2020-02-24
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Alexei Vergunov is a homeless man living in Omsk, Siberia, in northern Russia.
2He survives freezing nighttime temperatures of minus-30 degrees Celsius by sleeping under an industrial heating pipe for warmth.
3It is a dangerous way to live.
4If he is too far from the pipe, he could die from the cold.
5If he is too close, he could get severe burns without knowing it.
6The 46-year-old Vergunov has lived like this for more than 11 years.
7He says, "You sleep at night with your eyes closed but your ears open."
8He used to desire for a chance to rebuild his life.
9But his partner Alyonka died of liver cancer two years ago.
10Since then, he has lost the will to change his life.
11The couple had lived together near the city's train station.
12Vergunov says, "I get through the day and that's it. If I found a woman like her, I could stop and try to return to society, but I can't find anyone like her."
13Vergunov likes to call himself Lyokha the Beard.
14He is one of 3,500 homeless people officially living in the city of Omsk.
15But the real number of homeless is likely higher.
16He is one of the few who stop to talk and laugh with those who live in homes.
17He likes to joke with them, saying, "It's you that's going to freeze in your apartment with three blankets, not me between the pipes."
18His favorite time is night.
19The city is quiet, and he is free to search through waste areas for glass bottles and other objects.
20He can then exchange what he finds for a small amount of money at a recycling center.
21Omsk does have a night shelter for the homeless.
22But it is in a distant part of town. Vergunov does not sleep there.
23The local homeless people in that area will not let him earn money at the nearby waste area.
24They see the area as their personal territory.
25An aid group called Caritas gives out food and clothes to help the city's homeless.
26But Vergunov has also learned to be on the lookout for people who may be a threat.
27He once saved the life of his friend, Alexander, after a group of teenagers set him on fire.
28Sometimes bad experiences and pain can push Omsk's homeless toward trying to return to society.
29Lyusya Stepanova has spent more than 27 years on the streets.
30The 44-year-old was in the hospital for three weeks in January with serious burns across her body.
31She fell asleep too close to the pipes where she was sheltering.
32Stepanova is now in a recovery center 30 kilometers away from Omsk.
33She says, "I plan to go home, to mother. My childhood dreams were noble, but it's too late now, that boat has already sailed."
34I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Alexei Vergunov is a homeless man living in Omsk, Siberia, in northern Russia. He survives freezing nighttime temperatures of minus-30 degrees Celsius by sleeping under an industrial heating pipe for warmth. 2It is a dangerous way to live. If he is too far from the pipe, he could die from the cold. If he is too close, he could get severe burns without knowing it. 3The 46-year-old Vergunov has lived like this for more than 11 years. 4He says, "You sleep at night with your eyes closed but your ears open." 5He used to desire for a chance to rebuild his life. But his partner Alyonka died of liver cancer two years ago. Since then, he has lost the will to change his life. The couple had lived together near the city's train station. 6Vergunov says, "I get through the day and that's it. If I found a woman like her, I could stop and try to return to society, but I can't find anyone like her." 7Vergunov likes to call himself Lyokha the Beard. He is one of 3,500 homeless people officially living in the city of Omsk. But the real number of homeless is likely higher. He is one of the few who stop to talk and laugh with those who live in homes. 8He likes to joke with them, saying, "It's you that's going to freeze in your apartment with three blankets, not me between the pipes." 9His favorite time is night. The city is quiet, and he is free to search through waste areas for glass bottles and other objects. He can then exchange what he finds for a small amount of money at a recycling center. 10Omsk does have a night shelter for the homeless. But it is in a distant part of town. Vergunov does not sleep there. The local homeless people in that area will not let him earn money at the nearby waste area. They see the area as their personal territory. 11An aid group called Caritas gives out food and clothes to help the city's homeless. But Vergunov has also learned to be on the lookout for people who may be a threat. He once saved the life of his friend, Alexander, after a group of teenagers set him on fire. 12Sometimes bad experiences and pain can push Omsk's homeless toward trying to return to society. 13Lyusya Stepanova has spent more than 27 years on the streets. The 44-year-old was in the hospital for three weeks in January with serious burns across her body. She fell asleep too close to the pipes where she was sheltering. 14Stepanova is now in a recovery center 30 kilometers away from Omsk. 15She says, "I plan to go home, to mother. My childhood dreams were noble, but it's too late now, that boat has already sailed." 16I'm Jonathan Evans. 17Alexey Malgavko reported this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 18_______________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20minus - adj. having a value that is below zero 21blanket - n. a covering made of cloth that is used especially on a bed to keep you warm 22recycling - adj. having to do with the processing of paper, glass, cans, etc. in order to regain or reuse materials 23society - n. people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values 24noble - adj. having, showing, or coming from personal qualities that people admire such as honesty, generosity, courage, etc.