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V1.RU: "We Didn't Even Know What Cold Was." Foreigners Share How They Saw Snow and Black Ice for the First Time in Volgograd
22.01.2026
For many residents of Volgograd, a cold winter has become a rarity, with New Year often met in mud and autumn jackets worn in January. So, when a sudden cold snap hit, it was a shock even for locals. But how do foreigners, especially those planning to stay long-term, cope? We spoke with students about their first Russian winter.
Abdulhamid from Iraq: "We didn't understand what 'cold' meant"
Abdulhamid first studied in Samara in 2014 and is now finishing his postgraduate studies at Volgograd State Technical University (VSTU). The most surprising thing for him was the snow.
"I didn't even know at first that you needed to buy special, very warm clothes for winter in Volgograd. I thought all jackets were the same — the ones you wear in autumn and in winter. At first, I couldn't understand how people here walk outside in such frost: they are absolutely comfortable, while the wind chills me to the bone."
He also notes the difference in mentality, finding Volgograd residents sterner than people in his native Iraq. "Here on the streets, people almost never smile, everyone walks around looking gloomy," he shares.
Muhammad Hawwa from Guinea: "The first thing they ask is if I'm Russian"
Muhammad Hawwa, 22 years old, from Guinea, studies chemical technology at VSTU. The hardest thing for him, like for others from equatorial countries, was adjusting to the frost.
"In Guinea, we don't really have winter. There are only two seasons: the rainy season, when it's at least +20°C, and the dry season, with an average of around +40°C. I didn't even have a proper jacket."
During a run to the university, he personally discovered what black ice is. "We had no snow or ice, so I didn't even know the streets could be slippery. I fell hard the first time."
What surprised him most about Russia was its multi-ethnicity, a contrast to his homeland. He likes Russia and has found friends but is saddened by one thing: "It's very difficult for a foreigner to find a part-time job here. They don't want to hire you because you're a foreigner. The first thing they ask is if I'm Russian. Only once was I hired to wash cars at a car wash."
