by Laura Negraeff

WHO: Vladimir Yatsina, Student. WHERE: Upper Place Riel, U of S. CLOTHES: Blue t-shirt with black silk screened print, $20, Le Chateau (The Midtown Plaza); black Parasuco jeans, $25 (Calgary). FOOTWEAR: White Adidas shoes with black stripes, $60, Adidas Retail Outlet (170-3011 Clarence Ave S). ACCESSORIES: Black fingerless bike glove, $10, Canadian Tire (1731 Preston Ave N); denim ball cap with pirate design and nylon mesh back, $35 (Cyprus, Italy); white Dolce & Gabbana glasses, $200 (Cyprus, Italy); silver watch, $400, Sunglass Hut International (Midtown Plaza); black bandana, $5, Michael’s (1723 Preston Ave N).

Vladimir is a self-proclaimed nomad. One of his most recent excursions was a month long trip to Cyprus, Italy where he did some catching up with friends and family. Originally from the Ukraine, Vladimir often chooses a sunny locale to reunite with loved ones from his homeland. His passion for traveling developed as a youngster — in 1993, his parents moved the family from the Ukraine to South Africa, then to Canada in 2000. Since then he’s continued to wander the globe, and says he has no intentions of settling down in one place. For the time being, however, he’s got his feet planted in Saskatoon — where he’s into his fourth year of studies at the U of S.

I understand you’re a traveling man; where do you want to go next?
Next year I’m planning a trip to bike across Japan. It’s still in the planning stages — I’ve got a friend over there and we’re planning on meeting up.

What inspired you to plan this trip?
I just think it would be an interesting country to see — [and] eventually, I’d like to go everywhere. Also, some of my friends here are really into cycling. One of my friends biked to San Francisco last summer; I didn’t get to go along though because I had to work.

What are you studying in school?
I’m an anatomy and cell biology major — yeah, another pre-meddie. I love it.

What’s your favourite thing about school?
Meeting all the other foreigners — I like to connect with people like myself who are from all over the world. I like people with different interests too, like break dancers — you get to meet a real variety of people that way.

How did you get into break dancing?
I get easily inspired. I liked break dancing so I decided to learn — I didn’t really know anyone that did it, I just sort of picked it up. Then once you meet one person that break dances you get to know more of the community — now I know so many B-Boys in Saskatoon.