Kiun B's YouTube videos are mini-documentaries about his life and the lives of the 800 people who live in his hometown of Yakutia, Siberia, also known as the coldest city on Earth. The creator, who narrates the videos, says that she and her community are native to the region. The charming minidocs show their customs, culture and daily life, which looks quite different when it's 95 degrees Fahrenheit below zero outside.
This installment follows a family through their day, including waking up before the sun to fuel the boiler fire and melt ice for drinking water. They put on layers and layers of insulating clothing only to walk short distances outdoors, or long distances, in the case of schoolchildren who bundle up every day to go to class. The stories are heartwarming, especially when you sit in your cozy home and watch Yakutians do such hard, backbreaking work just to keep their homes running during the winter. (Don't worry, it's hot in summer, and there's a video about that too!)
This documentary has that easy, informative Nat Geo vibe that makes it an easy option to watch with the family during the holidays, for example. But the fact that the creator and narrator is from Yakutia gives it a more grounded tone and, of course, a better insight into life in the city.
While it's never a good idea to attribute an entire culture to a single YouTube channel, I knew nothing about Yakutia or the contemporary life of Siberia's indigenous people before watching these videos, and they exposed me to something I could have known. I never knew anything any other way. And who hasn't wondered how people living in the harsh climate of Siberia make it all work? Having that question answered, and learning how those people thrive on a cold I can't even conceive, is a great way to spend 20 minutes.