thinking recently

several thoughts, in no particular order, that occupied my mind recently

I've just finished a book, The Kite Runner - one of most powerful and moving books I've ever read. I could even sleep one night, after getting through the first third of the book, co-living those emotions. The book is about life of a family in Afghanistan, starting in 1970s and finishing in 2002. This is how I best take in the history and point of views - not through publicists' articles but through stories of people.
The thought is going through my mind after reading this book, which is about dramatic life of an Afghani boy - I'm so lucky, among may be several percent of the world's population. I was never starving (even there were times when the food was basic, oh those 1990s in post-USSR), I was living in a safe place (Belarus isn't the most exciting place but it's safe), i haven't had major tragedies around me. I have never experienced war, I have higher education, my parents are great support and I even have never even heard them swearing (but did my father keep the discipline, yes he did :) I can travel, don't have liabilities, not abused and I am not discriminated (if you don't count visa processes).
How much depends on the place you are born in, your skin colour, your sex, your parents. All the things you don't have control of...


I was thinking to write recently a blog post, about inspiration at my work. It is even saved as a draft in the blog. It was about how great my work is - I work in marketing communications, managing projects with suppliers and internal stakeholders, working with creative agencies. I design stands and invitations, release corporate brochures and multimedia promotions, manage online space of my company. I put together presentations and strategies and post-implementation reports (yes, i actually enjoy it :) I go to cultural events because my company sponsors many arts organizations and I manage events & promotions.
But then, when I was about to write that - my manager (great person, one of best and most positive people I've ever met) said she is going to the UK with her partner and is leaving. And later, when the new manager started, my boss, marketing director, announced he is also going to Europe with his partner and would be leaving in several months.
It made me very sad - the environment I enjoyed at work was one of main reasons I decided to stay with the company. It's like my family - I associate my life in Australia with my marketing team, as they were the people I spent most of my day (working 8hrs), and it's a good part of the day. So seeing them go is like seeing my life here changing to be something different... (which is philosophically isn't a bad thing). But fair enough, the main reason I stayed with the company is the experience I'm getting there - the new job role is great and gets me towards where I want to go in my marketing career, I'll be working on very exciting (and challenging, which is always good) projects.
And with the changing team, changing role - it's indeed a new start. It's a more mature attitude towards the job, when I want to develop particular skills while still being passionate about what I do, it's about getting out of the comfort zone to be a better professional and, well, person. Just need to keep this all in mind while getting my teeth into the business of tasks to do :)



I'm so lucky to live in Australia, this country rocks. It's not only well and has high living standards. It's safe, I feel more so than Europe; people are friendly - a surfer on the beach helped us to put a kayak on top of the car easily mastering the knots; when someone exits the lift you are entering, and your eyes cross - the person would usually smile. Australians are not only well-mannered (mostly) but are humourous (oh, famous Australian humor!), welcoming and enjoy their life and usually let others do the same (I found Europeans colder and more pessimistic - oh opposite chaotic if you think south of Europe :)
And the place itself - there is everything here, mountains with snow and beaches with great water and sand; palm trees and pines. In one day, you can go from the seaside into the wine hills. Sun is out most of days, the sky is blue, and it's great climate.
And Sydney... I travel across the bridge to work every day, and still can't get enough of the beautiful Sydney Harbour. There is something magical in those glowing with lights skyscrapers of city centre reflecting in the harbour waters. Sandstone historical buildings (well, architectural history goes like 100 years back at most), modern building, futuristic and classic street sculptures. Busy crossroads and parks, and quite alleyways. Music festivals and open air cinemas, endless cafes and restaurants, and great food. There is something for everyone here, and I must say, Sydney came the closest to my favorite place of all the cities I've been to.

what's going on

Well, to keep it nice and short (and yes, this is a post about what's happening in my life recently)

- I turned 25 two weeks ago; first life crisis doesn't seem to happen - lived through it with my friends, most of whom are already beyond that line :) As one of them very wisely put - 25 is an age, when you know that you are still young and life has lots of great things in store in your future, but you also already have some past, and some things will never happen again.

- I'm staying in Australia for at least another year. Yes, I've planned initially to stay for year-year and a half, but falling in love changes plans so much :)

- Karan and I celebrated our half a year together, and all is great and wonderful. it's destiny i think

- I got a promotion at work, and while staying with the same position name (marketing executive), I'm taking on more responsibilities in managing brands and having end to end responsibility etc etc. satisfied :)

- going to Brussles-Amsterdam-home in 3 weeks' time, for a couple of weeks. To see the family and for the AI reunion and to see my friends. hate bureaucracy with visas and the expensiveness of tickets, but am getting excited about the trip! would be two years since i saw all my european friends, and my parents have 30th wedding anniversary. I'm so looking forward!

will be back on air soon...

Impressions of the World Press Photo Exhibition

The exhibition is here in Sydney - which is always a great opportunity to get some inspiration and thinking.

www.worldpressphoto.org

As I like the photography, I was admiring once again how one visual can induce lots of emotions and remind about the state of the world we are living in. Several thoughts struck me:

- how lucky I am to be born and live in a safe country, where I wasn't forced to become a refugee because of the war (images of Darfur and Afghan people), I have education (pictures of girls in regional Turkey luckily getting into a school), I had a safe childhood (abused children in Spain), and many more...

- it was surreal being a visitor in a gallery in Sydney looking at pictures taken in Ukraine and Russia... I saw scenes photographed (teenagers in a little town, pensioners walking together), i saw that in real life and it was my life. I grew upin a little town and as much charm it had, like close to nature, walking everywhere, there is also a sense of desperation every time i come home, how far that life is from the kind of life i live now. And today I stand and look at that at the exhibition in Australia... (and feel quite happy to, it seems)

- turned around the corner and saw a giant portrait of Putin - it won the first prise for portraits, take for Times when Putin was on the cover as the person of the year. Quite a good portrait actually. Coincidence Russia got a new president last week, but with Putin continuing as prime minister. Bring on the change...

- another thought - I would never be able to be a war/news photographer. Imagine seeing a wounded man on the streets of Nairobi, and going around trying to capture better angle while he's bleeding... But i am grateful to photographers nevertheless for showing images to the world - how they say, one picture is worth a thousand words...

Go and visit the World Press Photo Exhibition if it's around your city
www.worldpressphoto.org/

Sydney in Autumn

Just a couple of snapshots from recent weekends in the city:

Newtown at night

and last weekend, Sunday afternoon Newtown - great chilled out atmosphere

Glebe on Saturday morning - at Saphos

George street - Town Hall


In the City

Afternoon coffee at Mecca [cafe]

Don't you just love Sydney :)

Australia 2020

Last weekend Australia had 2020 Summit, when they brought together 1,000 people to think of ideas to make Australia a better place by 2020.

I personally find it very inspiring, that the country, the government call for such an action. For me, coming from environment that everything is pretty much regulated and in Belarus they are back to working on industrial plans more or less in some areas, to see that the government basically asks their people, what do they want their country to be, is a truly inspiring act.

MORE INFO HERE
www.australia2020.gov.au

(and guess what? a couple of Sydney AIESECers were participants of youth part of the summit)

There were facilitators form all over the country, and a thousand people selected via essays or through their vocation, who worked in various groups over 2 days, defining their ambition and ideas for

• Productivity
• Economy
• Environment
• Family&Community
• Indigenous
• Creative Australia
• Rural
• Health
• Governance
• Security

For example, Economy ambition:

"Australia should be the best place in the world to live and do business. This will require urgent action to increase economic capacity through the creation of a truly national, efficient, sustainable and inclusive economy, supported by seamless regulation"

Environment:

"Our aspiration is that by 2020 Australia is the world's leading green and sustainable economy. That we will set time-bound targets and be on track to dramatically decrease our ecological footprint while continuing to grow our economy and improve our quality of life"

Ideas such as sustainable cities program, digital art, australian republic, government levels roles review were brought up and will be distilled to make up an action plan for the government.
Yes, not all was ideal - new tax or tax review is a funding strategy for most ideas; the summit is seen by opposition as kevinism; not all ideas are captured, and those that are, are generic etc.

But the whole idea that this kind of event and bringing together minds of people can happen in a country is a great one. I think it's a kind of thing that happens when a country at a particular state of development, and as per the pyramid of needs, after security, food and certain standard of living is secured, the next level is self realisation. Can you imagine Russia, or China, or Japan, or Egypt, running this kind of summit?..

This is an advantage of the country with no pressure of tradition (yes, I think there are some good things in not having a long history).

Feels great living in the country and under the government capable of such an initiative. I like Australia more and more :)

On Wednesday I had the best medical system experience of my life!

and believe it or not, it was Australia's Health Service, that runs medical checks for people applying for AUS visas.

Apart from the waiting in the line (which is expectable), all the rest was great. The guy accepting my papers was interested where Belarus is and got an atlas out to check it :) Welcome, please come through, smiles and being professional, thank you etc etc - you feel like a decent person being treated there! Official people - smiling at you!!

It may sound strange for many, but being treated in such a way is something unusual coming from Belarussian background. If you were to apply for similar stuff in Belarus, you'd feel like a criminal not deserving effort. Our officials almost never look at you, never smile, almost never say please and thank you.

Needless to say I'm very impressed and appreciate once again the comfort of living in the great country of Oz :)