About myself
I like to listen to people's stories, their reflections.
I love music that enables me learn a new language. Music and art open the door to a new culture.
I have many hobbies. I've been playing the violin since I was four, started with classical music. Having stoppedperforming classics, I began to improvise, play folk, bluegrass. Bluegrass is a genre stemming from Irish, Scottish and English traditional music. I am inspired by this genre, it’s traditional and modern.
I like to dance, especially swing dance, when a lot of people dance to jazz. This kind of dance was popular in the 20-30's. This style includes different dance directions, for example, lindy-hop. The dance is popular among the Scandinavian countries, I saw once it was performed in Russia, but so far I have not seen it in Kazakhstan.
I like to ride a bicycle whenever I can. I like to drive along the waterfront, as there are no cars and you can enjoy the weather.
I prefer reading scientific literature to artistic. I liked the biography of Nobel laureate and physicist Richard Feynman, who wrote his own life stories.
Earlier, I was addicted to the stories of Sherlock Holmes. Reading them, I was transferred to another country and period. Now I like books about India and Pakistan, for example, "White Tiger" by Aravind Adig.
Learning Russian, I read Dostoyevsky's “Crime and Punishment”. I imagined book scenes: St.Petersburg view and characters’ appearance. Books help to know better a new culture and mentality. I like Leo Tolstoy’s works, the way he describes in details, for example, in “Anna Karenina”.
I cannot read in a hurry, I need to deep into every word. My aim for now is to read "The Master and Margarita" in Russian, since I read it a couple of times in English.
Don’t be too serious. I turned 30 years old recently and realized that becoming more mature, you should not forget about fun. It's never too late to get pleasure from dancing, singing, playing with children. Can you remember the freedom we had when we were children? Growing up, adults try to limit themselves, do what is considered to be appropriate. Don’t lose an inner child and stay creative.
My main life principle is to be kind. No one can live in isolation, I believe in the symbiosis between people all over the world. People can find a way out of any situation just by communicating with each other.
About Astana
I moved to Astana only a month ago. I am a press attaché at the American Embassy in Kazakhstan; here I inform people about American politics through the media, social networks and help journalists of your country improve their qualifications.
Having arrived in Astana and got home, I walked around the city and a few minutes later saw a beautiful embankment. I like your hospitability, warmness. There’re many parks and alleys. That is great.
I haven’t found my favorite place in the city yet, but I like places where people are welcomed to show their creativity. I like to visit bookstores as well. I admire vacant city places with no buildings, there you can see the open space. I like infrastructure here; I saw the "Baiterek" monument, "Khan Shatyr" Mall, the National Museum. I divide city locations into those that were created for people and those where people can gather, communicate, perform and create something new.
I haven’t been outside the city, haven’t seen the steppe. But in the parks I get a small portion of peace and tranquility.
I’ve been to the culture festival held in Almaty. It was held in the authentic style: yurts, dombra and kobyz sounds. There I saw the culture of Kazakhstan. I’m learning to play the kobyz. It's hard, because its sound is not as clean as a violin's; the instrument requires a special technique and approach.
Caring people and life inspiration
I'm inspired by my family, my girlfriend, with whom I try to keep in touch, being away from them.
I am inspired by people who change the world for the better. And I believe in the balance between caring about personal and global issues. Sometimes it is difficult to juggle your work and trials to change something in the world, not forgetting about yourself, your health and family.
Current state of spirit
I feel vigorous. I’ve moved to a quickly growing city, which has a unique opportunity to find its own culture. Old buildings have a new look, social and cultural infrastructure is still developing. As a city resident, I want to get acquainted with people who develop the city culture. I appreciate being here and I am grateful that I can share my experience with others.