This is a blog for understanding the Other.
The globalised world is a scary place to live in. Suddenly all parts of the world became relevant, they mix and match in the most unexpected ways: an Indian government official, wearing a shirt made in Bangladesh, buys oil reserves from a Russian government company and a small Polish household pays a higher energy bill than expected one unusually cold winter. Mexicans look for jobs in the USA, Poles look for jobs in the UK, Syrians look for shelter in Poland, and somehow all of them become perceived as a threat, a public enemy. In the conundrum of countries and traditions, we fail to notice that, ultimately, we are all the same; and that a student from Yucatan, a shop owner from Moscow and an office manager from Warsaw have more in- than out-of-common. This blog is to remind you of that by bringing the not-so-Other straight to your doorstep.
Quick guided tour
There are a few ways for you to explore this site. Under the Categories tab in the menu on the right, you can explore the Sound Postcards, Film Postcards and miscellaneous photographs and articles I have sent from the places I’ve visited, as well as indulge in my metro projects: Metro Chronicles and Last Metro Stations. You can also let me take you on a trip to the said places and see everything I have published about them in the tab Places. If you’re interested in the live unfolding of events, you can also see all the entries chronologically in the Blog Log.
I spend a lot of time in the means of public transport and, to use the time effectively, I read. Library is the place where I collect excerpts I don’t want to forget.
Samovar? And a flying one?
My great travelling dreams (and great travelling itself, for that matter) started with Russia. My attempts at understanding started with Russia as well. I have always been drawn to the seducing splendour of Tsarist Russia as seen in the Golden Age literature, hence Samovar.
The Flying Samovar, like The Flying Dutchman, doesn’t seem to be able to settle in a port and travels across oceans and continents – it doesn’t bring you misfortune, though, it brings you along.