S.

Last week-end we hosted what peopel called one of best @-trainess-related parties recently in the city - me, Su and Jem had house warming, and of course to make everything more excited, we decided to spice it up with a theme. Well, considering that lots of things in our house are actually red, we decided to declare the theme as The Red Party.

And I tell you, that was a success!..

we had about 60 people who showed up, and the evening was great - we had high-school and uni friends of Jem and Su, lots of AIESEC people including trainees, our other friends, some people from work. It was great!

Jem, me, Su



Well, of course that I'm Russian, we had some vodka shot competition - brave volunteers had to compete who drinks 5 shots faster (well, they were only 1/3 filled, i wasn't too hard on people :)



Was great to see some old friends, people I met over the ocean last year (Mills, Brett), and get to know new people too





I loved the evening, and so it seems the guests did even more :)

Labels: house warming, red

an interesting tool that I found on Marina's blog: a set of pictures that describes the personality.

Pretty presize actually, from what is given in an explanation - it is a digital book that you can flip, with photos clipped in - very cool, it's a great project!

here I am:



I like this thingie most of all other "personality-test-when-nothing-else-to-do", it actually tells more or less accurate things I think of myself, most of times. And even greater to see in pictures. Visual here are great...

Want to know why I'm an easy rider or a love bug? (oh, I am!..), or what I want to do now, or what is my freedom? - check the description at the bottom :)

Labels: me, personality, visual

This week is the mourning for Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia, and the man who was the face of USSR collapse, together with Gorbachev.

While it is almost always sad that a person passes away, and while acknowledging a significance of the role Yeltsin played in Russian and all other Soviet republics' history, I find it hard to agree with those rosy views of Western politicians on Yeltsin's years in power.

While the rest of the world was celebrating the death of the communistic beast country and cheering a new hopefully democracy, life of people inside the destroyed USSR empire was not that rosy at all. I remember years when I had to wake up early to go to the shop to stand in the queue to get milk, because it wouldn't be any later... I remember stories of ruined lives of engineers whose institutes and factories were sold for nothing to new oligarkhs (it was in Yelstin's time that corruption just skyrocketed in Russia), and how teachers had to be the tradesmen in the market selling cheap Turkish clothes because there was no other way to make a decent living for their families... And even if it was not as bad in Belarus, where privatization didn't happen, as it was in Russia, I know how my family in Russia - my grandparents and ants and uncles - lived. After some year people were not saluting "freedom and democracy" as much anymore, because this freedom and democracy and benefits of new life were true for people on the top, for people close to the power.

Yes, there were many good things, and I'm glad USSR doesn't exist anymore; otherwise I wouldn't be able to live the kind of life i live now; but I urge that people understand - it wasn't easy and great all the way at all.

In the morning when I read news about Yeltsin's death, there were only those"he-was-the-one who-built-better-future" responses, but then I found a couple of decent articles. Decent meaning that they are talking about both sides - good and bad - of Yeltsin's legacy, because this is how it really was.

This one - "Why Yeltsin's legacy is rosier in the West"

and this one -

Views on Mr Yeltsin's legacy differed sharply. His economic "shock therapy" cost millions of people their savings and his officials sold off state assets to politically connected businessmen for a fraction of their value.

"They say he gave people freedom but that is just not so," said Igor Smirnov, 30, a physicist who was passing the cathedral. "He gave freedom to steal, he gave freedom to anarchy, freedom to lawlessness."

In Chechnya, a southern Russian republic struggling to return to normal life after more than a decade of war, people have not forgotten Mr Yeltsin's 1994 order to send in troops.

"They also need to declare a day of mourning for those who have died at his hands, the Chechens and the Russians," Ruslan Mantsaev, 30, said in the Chechen capital Grozny.

And this article is even more radical - perhaps this is like most Russian think

At any rate, Yeltsin did play his role in our history, and respect to him for whatever positive he brought.

And talking about last 15 years in post-USSR history - any major transformation implicates tragedies happening in everyday life - because life changes dramatically, and fast change is one of those things that too many people are not good with...

Labels: opinion, Russia, Yeltsin

That day made me admire my company even more!

Last Friday, on 20th of April, I had a presentation of Belarus scheduled for one of our company-sponsored Friday Life lunches. I haven't expected such a great involvement from everyone! My team (of this Friday lunch) not only supported the idea of having the whole lunch Belarus-themed, but they did an awesome invitation, decorated the room, and we even ordered professional catering to cook Russian/Belarusian food!

Now, look at this:



This food - isn't it great??? Ohh I was SOOOO HAPPY!
Mashed potato "pure", meatballs "kotlety", meat pies (well, those were supposed to be dumplings "pelmeni", but they were bakes instead of boiling, so we've got pies, but great nevertheless :) , cabbage salad, even my favorite dressing of sour-cream with tomato sauce!.. You should have seen my excited face, i was just going around that food repeating "It's so cool, it's so cool!.."

And people actually liked the food! "Simple but tasty" - yes baby, that our food :) and that was cheap also :))) in comparing to waht we usually get..

Well, the best part of the Belarusian lunch was however a different thing - everyone had to come dressed as Belarusian/Russian style, as it's freezing or whatever else people think of Belarus. And people did get creative...

Those who did not have fur clothes (most of people actually - why would you have fur in AUS hehe), printed flags and stars and whaever else they fantasy was good for...


I was seriously impressed how everyone tried to do something, it's great to see how people did their best to make my country presentation more fun!

I had a ppt with some nice music - got emotional myself at the last slides, with images of Belarus fading... Applauses I heard were one of most sincere and warm I received :)

Some interesting facts: did you know for example:

• that Belarus ranks the 21st in the world with regards to representation of women in legislative bodies, ahead of Switzerland, UK, Australia, US and many other?..
• that 1/4 of Belrus population was killed in the II World War, and that 1/5 of the territory is forever damaged by Chernobyl nuclear explosion?..
• that Belarus as a stae dates back to X century?
• that Belarusian girl won the Supermodel of the World title in 2005?
• that Belarus is one of UN founding countries?

and many more interesting things I shared with people at Adshel about Belarus :)

we had a quiz about Belarus with 2 best winners awarded with (of course) small bottles of vodka, and dance competition - guys had to perform Kazachok, was interesting to see hehe :)


It was a great day - I've received so many positive words, it seems people loved the presentation and the whole Belarus-themed lunch!

And what's even more impressive - when I sent the link to presentation to the office for others who were not at the lunch, people actually went and saw the presentation by themselves, and then came to me and said it was great!!! Gosh, this doesn't happen even in AIESEC, I have never seen such a positive response to a country presentation! Felt really honored by all this...

Was really much more than I expected, and am so grateful to people at my work for making the day so special with their attention and interest of where I come from...

My company rocks, it rocks because of its people... My internship experience is just the way how it should be :)

If you want to know more about Belarus:

• Wikipedia (is actually the best source - more or less accurate and objective information i think)
• Belarus.by
• and you can always talk to me also! :)

Belarusian'ly yours and very inspired

Labels: Belarus

It began as an idea that would be great to see the sunrise in the ocean. And then, on Easter Monday early morning, we (me, Su and Jem) woke up at 4.30 and drove through the night Sydney to Watsons Bay cliffs to see the sunrise...

It was great - to witness how slowly colors change, and everything wakes up.
However the ocean never sleeps, its waves were like magic sound to my ears, I would sit there for ages and just looked at the ocean, I was leaning over the edge, couldn't stop looking at the ocean. It's incredible, how much power it has, the ocean is great, moving, endless, of a wonderful perfect sea color - marine-marine, changing from dark green-blue far away and becoming white as its waves are crushing the rocks...

It was incredible, i loved that morning - one of my Sydney experience highlights for sure.
One fo my dreams came true already :)

Labels: sunrise, sydney

All right, if I said I update blog more often than I write emails, I should do so.

Well, was anything exciting happening in the last couple of weeks with me?

Certainly yes :)

There was a long (4 days) easter break a couple of weeks ago, actually this was my first break longer that usual week-end since I arrived. What I did? Slept :)

And read the whole 6th book of Harry Potter in 1,5 days

And chilled, went to the seaside, and saw the sunrise in the ocean, but this story deserves a separate post :)

The biggest event that happened was exactly that Royal Easter Show. It's happening every year, and is one of biggest public celebrations. The show was on in Sydney Olympic park (so you get the scale) for 2 weeks. Hmm, how to describe…

Imagine a big open area which is Sydney Olympic park - with different pavilions, staduims, walkways etc. So at the Royal Easter Show it's all filled with different stands where you can buy anything and everything. There are stalls with food, with toys, there are pavilions with animals, mostly bulls and horses (initially royal easter show was a show-room and market place) - imagine cows beauty competition hehe (yes I saw it!). Food, music, rollercoasters, car races, circus performances, exhibitions of food and goods, shows (like this one - Diving Show, gorgeous people!)

Well, of course I couldn't just stand there, so I went to the most extreme rollercoaster! Imagine, it's an arm of 42 meters high, you sit in a kind of open capsule, and it spins you around, so at times I found that the sky is under my feet, or I'm falling, facing the ground, on a speed of approx 60 km/h. Was great :)))

Another signature thing of the Royal Easter Show is Showbags. It is actually a plastic bag filled with all crazy things kids like: lollypops, chweing gum, toys etc etc. There are literaklly hundreds of types of showbags - Princess for girls, M&M showbag, Original Idiot with all those things to scare people, Magic Tricks, Looney Tunes bag, Family Guy bag, Cadbury Schweppes bag and more and more and more…

Obviously you end up spending hips of money as everything is for sale, and almost nothing si free - but well, no one forces anyone, free market is here hehe :)

Actually the Royal Easter Show is THE thing for kids, all Sydney families take their children there, and people even come from other cities! All Sydney Australians I asked have been at the Royal Easter Show, and so did I, even though I am well out of being a kid (well, at times I doubt it :)

Labels: royal easter show, sydney

I was thinking recently, the last couple of weeks, on what's missing in my great lifestyle (no jokes, I do believe I'm living through great experiences).

May be it has to do something with adaptation period of the internship. First month of excitement has passed, I fall into the routine life of work-home-going out. But something else to feel complete?..

May be I need stronger bonds with people, to know that someone cares out there?
On some evenings I was thinking, the only thing I want now is to sit hugging one of my friends, and say nothing. I think I miss people dear to me more that I thought I would...

But well, as much as we miss old friends, there are new people entering our lives. I guess it's just I need some more time to open up myself. Oh, a great value of human touch and friendship, so easy to let go, so hard to acquire...

Hmm quite philosophical it was. Take is easy girl as one person would say :)

On "doing something" side I have options of charities I'd like to join, however nothing really clicks to be my passion. I do care about world issues and do my little everyday actions, but not a part of any group or organization on those matters. I know of some initiatives being run by trainees and @ and other people around here, but don't have a great desire to join either.
Sounds optimistic, isn't it :)

I guess after such a strong experience in AIESEC I need to have a feeling of belonging to some great idea; which one, is the question? (not that I'm Hamlet, but I'm Russian :) and therefore is troubled at times with questions of life and meaning, as many Russians are, should you've read Tolstoy or Dostoevsky etc. ; not sure if that's true about the whole nation though; but I like thinking that :)

Yes, it's about the time to discover my passion! Hey, anybody home, where are you, passion? :))) (well, may be it's about the time to stop pretending imitate aussie sense of humor also! hehe)

I want to create something with my mind and hands; I want to inspire people and make them smile. I wish I could paint, or be a sculpturer, or write music; apparently I don't have a talent for those, otherwise I'd have known by now :)))

I think I might stick to photography; what about a series of children's street portraits?
I've been yesterday at an open air circus performance, and it's so interesting and joyful to see kid's face changing expressions, being so lively and relieving so much of internal world at once.

Oh yes, and I want to drive to the outback and stare at starts at night; I want to sail to see the sunrise on water; I want to do paragliding to feel the sky...
Hehe I hear Tom saying pathetic :)
I'll do my best to do these things while I'm here in Australia, and who knows then I can well find my inspiration!

At any rate, all people are alloud to be melancholic at times, and my world is still a beautiful place :)

Labels: moon, night, sydney