Life of a Mixed-Culture Family in Algeria

Linda, an Algerian-Russian, reflects on her dual culture upbringing and the challenges of mixed marriages in Algeria.

### Linda's Story: Growing Up in Algeria with a Russian Mother
* 🌊 Linda enjoys going to the sea and **swimming** when she visits Algeria.
* 👗 Due to the demand for custom-made clothes in Algeria, especially for weddings, Linda's mother taught herself how to sew and **made clothes for Linda when she was little**.
* 🐓 After retiring, Linda's mother keeps herself busy by **growing fruits in the garden**, **raising chickens**, and **making coffee in a cezve every day**.
* 👨 In mixed marriages like Linda's parents (a Russian mother and an Algerian father), **cultural, ideological, and language differences** can lead to **misunderstandings and challenges**.
* 💣 Linda's school was bombed during the unstable period in Algeria in the 1990s, which was especially unsafe for foreigners due to **terrorism**.
* 🇩🇿🇷🇺 When moving to another country, everyone faces difficulties and goes through a period of adaptation. Linda mentions that initially, there was a **desire to return home**, but over time, with **patience and understanding**, one gets used to things in a **different way**.
* 👨 Linda notes that many mixed marriages like her parents' faced challenges, and some of their Russian friends in similar marriages decided to **return to Russia due to safety concerns**.

Sitting in the car, observing the sun and the sea, I was reflecting on how time can change a lot and also preserve many things. This lighthouse was built in 1868. If it could speak, it might tell us many stories. At the foot of this lighthouse, there are stories. Today, I will tell you one of them. It's a story about relationships between people. Hello, my name is Linda. As a person born in Algeria but living in Russia, when I arrive in Algeria, the first thing I think about is enjoying the weather here. If you are not familiar with Algeria, you can watch my previous videos. When I come here, the first thing I want to do is go to the sea and swim. I come to sunbathe and also swim; I really like swimming. We usually come with the family in the morning, around 8 or 9 am, because there are fewer people at that time. I love this beach.

The landscape here is very beautiful. There is the sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and mountains. I can also go to the park for cheap ice cream. Can you imagine? How much does this ice cream cost? 50 dinars for one ice cream, 50 dinars, which is 1.5 yuan. It's so cheap. Also, there is my cousin here, we are walking around the area now. At the end of the day, many families are waiting for this time to go out for a walk because the weather is very suitable for it now. We see that many people are having a good time here. You can see many boats here because in the evening many fishermen return from the sea. They park their boats here. Here we can also see street snacks. I think it should be delicious. The most famous snack in Algeria is mhadjeb (Algerian pancakes), many people go crazy for this snack. We have another snack here. It's called Beignet donut. It is a French dessert.

If you have a chance to come to Algeria, you can try this. Here I spent my childhood. But unlike most people, I grew up in the culture of two countries from childhood. My father went to the Soviet Union to study when he was young because at that time the two countries had very good relations. Many Algerians went to study in the Soviet Union, and many Russians worked in Algeria. My parents met in Leningrad, which is now St. Petersburg, then moved to Algeria. My brother and I were born and raised in Algeria. We grew up and were raised in the culture of two countries from childhood. Although my mother is an engineer, it was difficult for foreigners to find work in Algeria, especially women. Therefore, she taught herself how to sew. She is very capable and talented. Besides sewing for others on request, I remember all the clothes I wore when I was little.

My mother used to sew clothes for me herself. There is a high demand for custom-made clothes here, especially for weddings. According to tradition, the bride at a wedding should change outfits four to five times. That's why there is a high demand for wedding attire. That's why you can see sewing shops everywhere selling everything needed for sewing because custom-made clothing is usually considered to have better quality than store-bought, and sometimes even cheaper. Custom-made clothes in Algeria can be afforded not only by wealthy people. It's sometimes not easy for my mom to live abroad, but she has learned to adapt. After retiring, my mom doesn't like to be idle. In our garden, she grows all kinds of fruits that she loves and she enjoys animals. That's why we always have cats at home. Also, last year we got some chickens, so now there is almost no need to buy fruits and eggs.

And of course, she loves coffee. She loves espresso. That's why she makes coffee in a cezve herself every day. Mom is busy with chores every day, and life is measured and calm. But such calmness was not always present in life. Mixed marriages are not easy - cultural differences, ideological differences, language barrier, work, life, money. Certainly, there will be all sorts of contradictions. For example, between Russian relatives and close ones. They maintain a certain distance, but here, this distance is almost nonexistent. In other words, your relatives, a family of four, can suddenly come to visit you and stay with you for a few days or weeks. And you take on the responsibility of providing them with all their daily needs. In particular, mom is responsible for cooking and cleaning the house. So, because of this cultural difference, misunderstandings may arise with my parents. Of course, this is just one example.

There is still a security issue, although Algeria is relatively safe at the moment, but in the 1990s, there was disorder here. It was especially unsafe for foreigners. The worst part was terrorism. Even my school was bombed. I will never forget that day. The sound of the bomb explosion is still in my head. There definitely were, I think, when moving to another country, everyone faces these difficulties and goes through a period of adaptation. Well, everyone surely has their own experience. Probably, the women who moved here and immediately found a job had an easier time during this period. For others, it might be a bit more difficult. It happened, but in the end, we all still adapted, merged into this life, and gradually got used to it. Of course, at first, all of this was somehow irritating. We compared, got upset, something somewhere really didn't like, but we got used to it.

Was there a desire to leave? I think the desire to leave arose in everyone, especially in the first year, the second year. When getting used to this country passed, is there still this desire now? No, now it doesn't arise at all, there is no desire to move anywhere anymore. But in the beginning, probably wanted to return home, I think, it was pulling back, not to another country, but back home. But in the end, it passed, it passed. Those who wanted to leave, they left, they left more in the 90s. When this difficult period was in the 90s, what advice can be given to those who moved and are going through a period of adaptation and difficulties? Probably, make a certain decision right away or live and go through all the stages of difficulty, or probably decide then and eventually leave. Because there should be no doubts, I think so. Well, there are difficulties, of course, but a person adapts quickly to everything, it may be painful at first, but it passes.

So, you just need time, as time will solve everything, and over the years, you get used to things in a different way. So, patience, patience, understanding will probably come somewhere. Everything will come. Everything will be restored. When I look at my parents today, everything is fine with them. But their path was not easy; they both overcame difficulties together. Each of them faced certain pressure and stress, each sacrificed a lot. In fact, there are many such marriages here. The other day we went to visit the friends of my parents, Tatyana and Irina, they are all Russian. Married to an Algerian. Some stayed here, some decided to return to Russia. Today they all gathered here. Due to safety concerns, Aunt Irina and her family returned to Russia long ago. In the last 27 years, she returned to Algeria for the first time, to the house where they lived 27 years ago.

Here they are remembering the past together. This is Aunt Tanya. She is from St. Petersburg. Together with her family, they decided to live in Algeria. St. Petersburg is a cultural center of Russia. That's why Aunt Tanya loves art very much. And not only her. Her son also loves art. He graduated from the Algerian Academy of Fine Arts. He is starting his own business making ceramic tiles. They had such a fun time together that day. Opportunities to gather together are not so many.

从极度失望到不想离开，经历35年跨国婚姻，给移民者忠告

我是琳达，来自俄罗斯圣彼得堡，跟着我了解俄罗斯吧
工作邮箱：lyndarussia@gmail.com


小琳的俄罗斯

Linda, a Russian resident born in Algeria, shares her love for the country's weather and beautiful landscape.

She enjoys swimming in the Mediterranean Sea and cherishes the time with her family at the beach.

Linda also highlights the affordable and delicious local snacks, such as mhadjeb and Beignet donuts, while observing the evening activities of fishermen and families taking a walk.

Growing Up in a Bicultural Environment: A Personal Story

The unique childhood of growing up in both Algerian and Russian cultures is a result of the strong historical relations between the two countries.

The challenging employment environment led to the narrator's mother becoming a self-taught seamstress, meeting the high demand for custom-made clothes, especially for weddings.

The story also highlights the narrator's mother's adaptability and active lifestyle, from gardening to raising animals in her retirement.

Challenges and Adaptation in a Mixed Marriage

Adapting to cultural differences and hosting relatives from Russia can lead to misunderstandings and challenges in daily life.

The narrator also faced security issues, including terrorism, when living in Algeria during the 1990s.

Despite the difficulties, the process of adaptation and merging into a new life was eventually successful for the narrator and their family.

The desire to leave the country was strong in the 90s during a difficult period, but has since decreased over the years.

Those going through adaptation and difficulties in a new country are advised to make a clear decision to stay or leave, as time and patience are key for adaptation.

Many Russian marriages with Algerians faced pressure, with some choosing to return to Russia due to safety concerns, while others stayed.

Aunt Tanya's Love for Art and Family Adventures

Petersburg, moved to Algeria with her family, where her son pursued a career in art and started a business making ceramic tiles.

Both Aunt Tanya and her son share a deep love for art, stemming from St.

Despite the limited opportunities to gather, they had a memorable time together.