From St Petersburg to France and beyond, Léna Alkchiminok has lived a life shaped by curiosity, resilience, and cultural fluency. Her journey reveals how languages, travel, and openness can transform a young girl into a truly global mind. Today she reflects on what shaped her, what guides her, and what she continues to discover.
Lena, your life has been connected to travel since childhood. A little girl leaves St Petersburg for France and learns two languages — English and French — within a year. Did you use any special system or method? How did the adaptation to a new culture and new people unfold? What was the most difficult part?
The most effective technique for learning languages is motivation and genuine curiosity. If you’re sitting at home and suddenly decide, “I want to learn English or French,” your brain will immediately ask, “Why?” Our brain is naturally lazy, and unless you can clearly answer that question, nothing will happen. If you want to study a language simply for the sake of studying, it will not work.
You must first understand why you need the language. If your goal is travel, that’s one strategy. If you want to work abroad, it’s another. And if your dream is to connect with people from another country — to make friends or find love — that requires a third strategy. The method depends largely on your purpose and inner motivation.
As for the process itself, watching series in English with subtitles in both languages helped me enormously. I often paused at the same place dozens of times, replayed a single phrase again and again, and it truly worked.
The second method is to learn the language directly in the country where it’s spoken. Either way, you must leave your comfort zone — and for that, you need to stay curious, motivated, and persistent.
There is a Latin saying, “Quot linguas calles, tot homines vales,” and its adapted version by Tomáš Masaryk: “As many languages you know, as many times you are a human being.” What does this mean to you?
Whenever I encountered new cultures and languages, I inevitably absorbed part of their mindset and way of living. Through my travels, I’ve seen so many different approaches to thinking, working, and building relationships — and I find that incredibly inspiring. It amazes me how adaptable a person can be, how quickly we adjust to a new environment when we are open and genuinely interested.
For example, in France I learned to appreciate the art of communication — how people savour dialogue, debate, and exchange opinions while respecting one another. I realised that conversation there is not just about information; it is an art form.
In Eastern Europe, I noticed more restraint and depth. People don’t open up immediately, but once they trust you, the relationships become sincere and strong. This taught me patience and respect for the inner world of others.
I understood that each language and culture teaches us something new about ourselves. When you learn a language, you don’t simply memorise words — you begin to feel differently, notice new emotional nuances, even think in a different way. Through languages and meeting people from various countries, I realised that there is no single “correct” way to live or think. This understanding made me more open, tolerant, and grateful.
How did the adaptation to a new culture and new people unfold? What was the most difficult part? How did that experience influence your core values? What do you value most in others — and in yourself?
Of course, it wasn’t easy to leave the familiar rhythm of home and find myself far from the small world I had always known. But I constantly reminded myself that this step was my own choice — so there was nothing to complain about. At one point, I felt a little lonely, detached from everything familiar, and that’s when I developed a sincere desire to connect with others, even if it required stepping out of my comfort zone. That’s how I made friends, built wonderful connections, and gained invaluable experiences for which I am genuinely grateful.
I try to see the value in every person — in their unique experiences, their ability to listen, empathise, and show respect. In others, I especially appreciate kindness, sincerity, and inner strength. And in myself, I value my willingness to grow, my openness to the world, and my ability to preserve warmth and humanity wherever I am.
Qualities that resonate with me include taking responsibility for my decisions, open-mindedness, and the ability to avoid judgment — everything in life has its reason and right to exist as long as it does not harm anyone. I also value optimism and, of course, a sense of humour — it helps overcome almost anything.
What do travels mean to you? When you explore new places, what do you discover within yourself?
Travelling for me is not simply changing scenery or visiting landmarks. Through meeting people from different cultures, I discovered how adaptable I truly am. I saw how quickly I can learn and evolve when I am motivated. I realised the importance of staying open to new impressions and maintaining a flexible mind: life is full of surprises, and nothing is impossible if you believe in the path you’re choosing.
What dream guides you now? Is there a new journey — inner or outer — that you are preparing for?
I want to continue growing and improving, strengthening my discipline and self-control. A few years ago, I began learning the piano, and although I am still at the beginning of this journey, I can already play quite complex pieces. For me, it is not only an art form, but also a way to cultivate patience, motivation, and inner stability.
I also try to be a source of support for my loved ones and help them grow alongside me. And I would love to inspire others — to motivate people who need encouragement not to fear new experiences and to pursue their goals.
My dream now is to continue this path of harmonious development: to learn new things, to open myself to the world, and to strengthen my skills and inner qualities. I see it as a kind of “inner journey,” one that requires consistent work and the ability to enjoy small victories along the way.
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