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Why Belgian Food Beats French Food (And I’m Not Sorry)
Ambiance Enter any Belgian café or a restaurant and you get smiles, friendly comments and feel like you are much welcome to be there. In France, not always so. It is as if they do you a favor, that they have much better things to do, rather than spend their time on tolerating foreigners to… Continue reading
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Anna’s vampire saga
What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life? I think I would love to live a long life, for a simple reason that I love living, despite marching against all odds with my bipolar disorder. I have lived in four different countries, speak four languages, and worked across many different… Continue reading
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Echoes of a Shattered Life
Can resilience exist in a shattered life? You know, I kept on talking about empowerment and stuff, but whom am I kidding really, when my own life is havoc? I used to think that anything is possible in this life. And it does look like, on the surface. I have a Bachelor in Interpreting and… Continue reading
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I don’t know the answer to grief
Is your life today what you pictured a year ago? Some people think that I have an amazing life. I knew until recently how to play the act of appearing as normal and in control. Only a few very perceptive people asked me pertinent questions, such as “Are you sure you are all right?” And… Continue reading
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One day
Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech? I played at school theatre a lot and gave speeches and everything, but it’s hard to remain confident when you have to prove everyday that you are worth it. I used to dream to become an actress and this was my first choice for a… Continue reading
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No Turkey for Christmas
Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays? Me and my son, we don’t have any family left where we live. When we moved to the Netherlands (for my job) six years ago, my Dutch stepfather (husband of my mother) followed us, to help me with my son, but he died… Continue reading
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История с китайским чаем
Поехала у меня крыша после китайского чая. История с китайским чаем просто выпустил мои проблемы наружу, а так причины всех психозов надо, конечно же искать в детстве. На чай я вышла через китайский медицинский центр в Амстердаме. Сидела, помню на работе своей, банки анализировала, и думаю: «пора бы вылечить гастрит.» Гастрит меня к тому времени… Continue reading
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Moscow: 1994
Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live? If I had to relive a year of my life, I would relive 1994. I was in Moscow in 1994, when Russia (but also Ukraine) was undergoing life crisis. After years of hunger shops restarted to sell some eatable products, such as bread,… Continue reading
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Faith twist
What’s something you believe everyone should know. I think everyone should know that living one’s life in faith doesn’t mean that one should abandon all fun things and become a super religious monk. Life is given to us by God to live it fully and to enjoy it. A life based in faith doesn’t ask… Continue reading
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A life of wonder denied for many
Are you seeking security or adventure? Are you seeking security or adventure? For some reason our society has become a bit divisive, it’s either one or another, without allowing anything in between. Western leaders say we shouldn’t judge by culture or disability, but look around: people get silenced online for speaking out, or labeled ‘crazy’… Continue reading
About Me
I am a doctor of philosophy, a university lecturer, and a lover of cats, fine wine, dancing, theatre, and human eccentricity. I was born in the Soviet Union (Moscow). I am fluent in four languages, and have spent all my adult life studying (except from 18 to 19) working and living throughout Western Europe. Despite a surname-Netchitailova- that translates from Russian into English as “unreadable”, my greatest passions in life are reading and writing. My personal struggles have made me appreciate the manifestations of weirdness that exist everywhere.