Sergei says that traditionally Kalmyk children wore only long shirts until the age of 7. Usually it was the only clothing that they had. Children were kept close to their homes and were not allowed to play on the other side of the village. Sergei himself grew up in the village of Mogata. The village is named Mogata, or ‘With Snakes’, because there were many snakes around. Sergei’s mother was originally from the village of Gakhata which was situated in a place with reeds. Wild boars ate the reed – hence the village was named Gakhata, meaning ‘With Pigs’. In times of famine people also ate reed roots. After the Kalmyks returned to Kalmykia from exile, Sergei went away to study. During vacations, he spent a couple of days with his mother before going fishing with his friend who was from the village of Basta. The village of Basta was tiny and had several houses only. The old villagers spoke perfect Kalmyk and chewed tobacco.