Unity in Faces: A Student of the Faculty of Counseling and Clinical Psychology Talks About Life in Karachay-Cherkessia

MSUPE students share stories about their small homelands, their uniqueness and beauty. Today, Karina Shakhbazova, a student at the Faculty of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, MSUPE, talks about the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

*I have lived in the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia for all of my 18 years. When we talk about the Caucasus, the first association is mountains. From childhood, I watched the beautiful ridges from my window, breathing in that fresh mountain air. I feel I cannot find such clean air anywhere else. (It's not for nothing they sell it in packets and jars to tourists, but that's another story...)*

Speaking of mountains, besides the air, ski resorts come to mind – Arkhyz and Dombay. Every time I go there, I simply exhale from the constant hustle and chase for some ideals, especially in areas farther from the hotels. By the way, I don't know how to ski at all. I also want to mention the Honey Waterfalls, another incredible place where you can listen to the sound of water and cool off. And of course, the thing to do is buy a papakha (sheepskin hat) or have your photo taken in one – they won't let you leave the Republic without a picture.

Don't miss the food. Can you really talk about the Caucasus without mentioning the fatty, rich food in the traditional diet? Folks, if you need to gain weight, come to the Caucasus! Seriously, it's super easy to do there. Shashlik is the king of dishes; it's almost everywhere, even in some coffee shops (coffee with shashlik is unbeatable). Also, in our republic, there are special flatbreads with fillings – khychyns. They are brushed with butter. One khychyn will fill you up physically, but you'll want another, that's for sure. You might also be lucky enough to make friends among the native Karachays or Circassians who will treat you to meat and goodies all through the holidays...

National clothing looks just as mesmerizing as the dances of the peoples. Hearing a lezginka in broad daylight is a common thing in the Caucasus. I'll tell you more: you can go to any wedding anywhere, and you won't be thrown out. That's the mentality of the Caucasus: any guest must be welcomed, fed, and put to bed.

My favorite place in my region is the city of Teberda. I spent about 5 years there, and there my first friendship began (we are still friends 14 years later). There was nothing there: no shopping malls, no regular stores, no internet. Just wilderness and a village. But life there was so good! I still love driving through those places, just admiring the mountains and nature.

It's worth coming to Karachay-Cherkessia to truly relax. If you are tired of the hustle and bustle, of constant pressure – come!

"Unity in Faces" is a section in the Telegram channel "Extracurricular Life of MSUPE" where every student can share their love for their small homeland, talk about its features, and discover new unique characteristics of every corner of Russia!

Want to be part of the project? Write to @ylia_kupriyanova and tell about your desire to share the story of your city. Don't miss your chance to become the voice of your city and talk about its uniqueness and beauty!