About the Domovoi
As the name of the site suggests, the Domovoi is an important concept and will appear from time to time. But what is it?
Growing up, I've heard about him -- different stories from friends and family. After doing a bit more research, here's what I can tell you about the Domovoi.
He's typically a male/masculine house spirit and is often depicted either with a beard or a completely hairy body all around. Additionally, they're usually smaller than people...smaller even than most household animals and apparently get along well with cats.
They can be helpful or mischievous -- helping with chores or throwing things around and making a mess (like a ghost). In further similarity to ghosts, the Domovoi will often make noises and might scare people just to amuse himself.
There are different rules about how to behave towards the Domovoi -- what to do and say --that are also interesting and vary by region.
So what does that have to do with a website?
For the next couple of years, this will be my online "home" with its own Domovoi -- a spirit that will help, guide and comfort me as I journey far from where I grew up. In this journey, I invite you, the reader and visitor, to be one such spirit of comfort, helpfulness and possibly mischievousness.
Growing up, I've heard about him -- different stories from friends and family. After doing a bit more research, here's what I can tell you about the Domovoi.
He's typically a male/masculine house spirit and is often depicted either with a beard or a completely hairy body all around. Additionally, they're usually smaller than people...smaller even than most household animals and apparently get along well with cats.
They can be helpful or mischievous -- helping with chores or throwing things around and making a mess (like a ghost). In further similarity to ghosts, the Domovoi will often make noises and might scare people just to amuse himself.
There are different rules about how to behave towards the Domovoi -- what to do and say --that are also interesting and vary by region.
So what does that have to do with a website?
For the next couple of years, this will be my online "home" with its own Domovoi -- a spirit that will help, guide and comfort me as I journey far from where I grew up. In this journey, I invite you, the reader and visitor, to be one such spirit of comfort, helpfulness and possibly mischievousness.
About the Site
The impetus for this website and blog is my decision to serve in the U.S. Peace Corps and I will do my best to fairly represent my experiences during my service. On the other hand, although on some level I represent Peace Corps, having been judged fit to serve, I am not an official spokesperson for the Corps. The ideas on this site are strictly my own. They're the thoughts and feelings of one person.
I hope this site is interesting and educational.
Peace Corps isn't just a humanitarian mission to help train and educate. More than that, it is an effort to build a stronger global community by showing other people what Americans are like. And also showing Americans what other people and places are like.
In this way, I hope to help fulfill that third Peace Corps goal: "Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans."
Through the pictures you will see here, the stories you read and the projects you learn about and might even help support, you'll become a part of the Peace Corps experience.
I hope this site is interesting and educational.
Peace Corps isn't just a humanitarian mission to help train and educate. More than that, it is an effort to build a stronger global community by showing other people what Americans are like. And also showing Americans what other people and places are like.
In this way, I hope to help fulfill that third Peace Corps goal: "Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans."
Through the pictures you will see here, the stories you read and the projects you learn about and might even help support, you'll become a part of the Peace Corps experience.
About Peace Corps
What is the Peace Corps?
There is no short answer.
It is a humanitarian effort on the part of the United States.
A gesture of good-will and cooperation
An educational outreach to the world
An opportunity for Americans to serve a peaceful cause
A broadening of horizons for communities here and else-where.
Peace Corps educates, builds, and helps to acquire resources within communities in a sustainable manner so that the Corps doesn't HAVE to stay within a community. The Corps isn't about creating reliance, but instead, security and independence.
That's the short answer. For a longer, more interesting and more educated discussion of what Peace Corps is, feel free to check out the about section on the Peace Corps website here.
There is no short answer.
It is a humanitarian effort on the part of the United States.
A gesture of good-will and cooperation
An educational outreach to the world
An opportunity for Americans to serve a peaceful cause
A broadening of horizons for communities here and else-where.
Peace Corps educates, builds, and helps to acquire resources within communities in a sustainable manner so that the Corps doesn't HAVE to stay within a community. The Corps isn't about creating reliance, but instead, security and independence.
That's the short answer. For a longer, more interesting and more educated discussion of what Peace Corps is, feel free to check out the about section on the Peace Corps website here.
About Me
I suppose on a website that has my blog, my projects, my pictures and my Peace Corps experience, it is only logical that I should actually have a section about who I am or at least perceive myself to be. Granted, many of you reading this likely already know a lot more about me than I, myself would ever actually post for public reading. For those of you who do not know much about me, here's a quick biography.
In January 1990, at the end of the Soviet era in Eastern Europe, I was born in the city of Leningrad. At three years of age, my family moved to Kansas City as a temporary measure in my dad's pursuit of career. The temporary stay became less temporary as time went on.
At seven, I moved back to Russia at the behest of my parents, who were worried that I would forget my Russian roots. This fear has proved to be well-founded as I feel myself far more intimately connected to my family in Russia than my brothers are.
For this I am very thankful.
For a year and a half, I lived with my grandparents and attended primary school in Russia. I learned the language anew and strengthened my cultural ties before I returned to the U.S. in January of 1999.
Shortly thereafter, my family moved to the suburbs of Kansas City where I finished out my primary and secondary education.
In 2008 I began attending the University of Kansas in Lawrence in pursuit of a bachelors degree in the liberal arts, though at the time, I did not know for sure which degrees I would get. I would quickly come to realize that I could not settle for just one.
During my attendance at KU I lived for two years in Stephenson Scholarship Hall where I served as a Social Chair and then as the Stephenson Hall All Scholarship Hall Council Representative. I participated briefly in KU rowing and fencing where I met many interesting people. I served for a year as the technology director of the KU Queers and Allies and was an official KU Student Ambassador giving tours of the University to new and prospective students from fall 2009 onward. In February 2010, I founded Jayhawk -Writers on Campus, a student group for all KU writers -- the first of its kind at the undergraduate level. I also served as an editor for the 2011 issue of Comma,Splice literary magazine. In spring of 2011 I also had the opportunity to study abroad in England in a fantastic program called the London Review.
As time went on, I came to accept my passion for the English language, especially in its creative aspects. At the same time, I continued with my passion for languages and culture. In May 2012, I graduated with degrees in English, a co-degree in European Studies and minors in French, Russian, and Business. Through hard work and the completion of a creative English thesis in poetry, I achieved both English and University honors.
Peace Corps began as a possible idea at the end of my Junior year (spring 2011) and continued to develop through ups and downs until January 2012, when I got a phone call telling me I had been placed in a program set to depart in June for Benin, Africa. I look forward to seeing where the adventure goes and where my experiences thus far will take me!
In January 1990, at the end of the Soviet era in Eastern Europe, I was born in the city of Leningrad. At three years of age, my family moved to Kansas City as a temporary measure in my dad's pursuit of career. The temporary stay became less temporary as time went on.
At seven, I moved back to Russia at the behest of my parents, who were worried that I would forget my Russian roots. This fear has proved to be well-founded as I feel myself far more intimately connected to my family in Russia than my brothers are.
For this I am very thankful.
For a year and a half, I lived with my grandparents and attended primary school in Russia. I learned the language anew and strengthened my cultural ties before I returned to the U.S. in January of 1999.
Shortly thereafter, my family moved to the suburbs of Kansas City where I finished out my primary and secondary education.
In 2008 I began attending the University of Kansas in Lawrence in pursuit of a bachelors degree in the liberal arts, though at the time, I did not know for sure which degrees I would get. I would quickly come to realize that I could not settle for just one.
During my attendance at KU I lived for two years in Stephenson Scholarship Hall where I served as a Social Chair and then as the Stephenson Hall All Scholarship Hall Council Representative. I participated briefly in KU rowing and fencing where I met many interesting people. I served for a year as the technology director of the KU Queers and Allies and was an official KU Student Ambassador giving tours of the University to new and prospective students from fall 2009 onward. In February 2010, I founded Jayhawk -Writers on Campus, a student group for all KU writers -- the first of its kind at the undergraduate level. I also served as an editor for the 2011 issue of Comma,Splice literary magazine. In spring of 2011 I also had the opportunity to study abroad in England in a fantastic program called the London Review.
As time went on, I came to accept my passion for the English language, especially in its creative aspects. At the same time, I continued with my passion for languages and culture. In May 2012, I graduated with degrees in English, a co-degree in European Studies and minors in French, Russian, and Business. Through hard work and the completion of a creative English thesis in poetry, I achieved both English and University honors.
Peace Corps began as a possible idea at the end of my Junior year (spring 2011) and continued to develop through ups and downs until January 2012, when I got a phone call telling me I had been placed in a program set to depart in June for Benin, Africa. I look forward to seeing where the adventure goes and where my experiences thus far will take me!