Unknown Russia and the Intricate Web
The Internet is an intricate web, sucking you in on many levels. It's the venue by which humans from all over the world meet new friends, make enemies, and even find true love. For a socially awkward person like me, it's a forum in which I can easily express myself through writing when words would otherwise be lost or less eloquent in real-life conversation.
For all the glory, there are many downfalls. As a blogger you quickly learn that the Internet, mixed with anonymity, is a recipe for large batches of stupidity. I think Russian forums are the most troll-infected in the whole universe. At first, it really bothered me - all the horrible messages, personal attacks, attempts to belittle me and my intelligence. Now I'm accustomed to it and have developed a much thicker skin. The other downfall is that it sometimes discourages social activity and conversation. How many times have you been at a social setting where friends are all on their phones rather than speaking to one another? I've even witnessed my younger cousins texting each other when they're sitting in the same room!?! So now I play a game with my friends at dinner. Everyone puts their mobile devices in the center of the table during the meal, and if someone reaches for it they must pay the entire bill. :) I seriously worry about the next generation's ability to communicate, as it appears the art of conversation is a dying form.
The best part of LiveJournal for me is communicating with interesting and intelligent people. They far outweigh the evil ones, at least on my blog. It was in this context that I met a unique woman named Daria Kurochkina, the operator of a project called "Unknown Russia."
Daria's project is a worthy endeavor, as it seeks to provide English language information about solo travel in Russia. Although your country discourages independent travel, there are plenty of people willing to go it alone. Unknown Russia offers a wide-variety of resources, ranging from visa logistics to photo essays about remote places and unusual events in the country. Even as a native, you may find many articles of interest. Daria is open to suggestions, edits to content and particularly needs more English language writers to contribute articles to the site. Here's your opportunity to share with the world what you love about Russia, its diverse landscapes, and unique culture. You can register as a user and submit your own articles on the website, or communicate with Daria to provide suggestions for improving the site. Suggestions can be put in the comment section here, or you can email her directly.
I will say that Daria is a kindred spirit, an adventurous and open-minded woman who has traveled extensively in Russia and abroad. She usually travels long routes via car, bicycle and even hitchhiking! Her hometown is Gatchina. After university, she worked as a software developer in St. Petersburg, became bored with office life, and then moved to Denmark to volunteer at a scout center. She now lives in Switzerland, where she's earning a Master's degree. All this travel taught her an important lesson - there are kind and friendly people in every country, willing to help strangers navigate through unfamiliar areas and cultures. Now Daria's mission is to "pay it forward," and help others discover the unknown regions and treasures of Russia. I commend her passion, as the site is truly a labor of love.
I encourage you to check out the Unknown Russia site, which is still in development. People often ask me where I want to travel next in Russia. For me, the ultimate dream is to visit Lake Baikal or the remote Siberian wilderness. How about you? What is your favorite region or place in Russia, and where do you dream of going?
You also can find Unknown Russia on Facebook and VKontakte. And don't forget to cast your vote for my next journey! Poll is open until Friday. :) Tomorrow I'll tell you about a beautiful farm in the hills of Vermont.
For all the glory, there are many downfalls. As a blogger you quickly learn that the Internet, mixed with anonymity, is a recipe for large batches of stupidity. I think Russian forums are the most troll-infected in the whole universe. At first, it really bothered me - all the horrible messages, personal attacks, attempts to belittle me and my intelligence. Now I'm accustomed to it and have developed a much thicker skin. The other downfall is that it sometimes discourages social activity and conversation. How many times have you been at a social setting where friends are all on their phones rather than speaking to one another? I've even witnessed my younger cousins texting each other when they're sitting in the same room!?! So now I play a game with my friends at dinner. Everyone puts their mobile devices in the center of the table during the meal, and if someone reaches for it they must pay the entire bill. :) I seriously worry about the next generation's ability to communicate, as it appears the art of conversation is a dying form.
The best part of LiveJournal for me is communicating with interesting and intelligent people. They far outweigh the evil ones, at least on my blog. It was in this context that I met a unique woman named Daria Kurochkina, the operator of a project called "Unknown Russia."
Daria's project is a worthy endeavor, as it seeks to provide English language information about solo travel in Russia. Although your country discourages independent travel, there are plenty of people willing to go it alone. Unknown Russia offers a wide-variety of resources, ranging from visa logistics to photo essays about remote places and unusual events in the country. Even as a native, you may find many articles of interest. Daria is open to suggestions, edits to content and particularly needs more English language writers to contribute articles to the site. Here's your opportunity to share with the world what you love about Russia, its diverse landscapes, and unique culture. You can register as a user and submit your own articles on the website, or communicate with Daria to provide suggestions for improving the site. Suggestions can be put in the comment section here, or you can email her directly.
I will say that Daria is a kindred spirit, an adventurous and open-minded woman who has traveled extensively in Russia and abroad. She usually travels long routes via car, bicycle and even hitchhiking! Her hometown is Gatchina. After university, she worked as a software developer in St. Petersburg, became bored with office life, and then moved to Denmark to volunteer at a scout center. She now lives in Switzerland, where she's earning a Master's degree. All this travel taught her an important lesson - there are kind and friendly people in every country, willing to help strangers navigate through unfamiliar areas and cultures. Now Daria's mission is to "pay it forward," and help others discover the unknown regions and treasures of Russia. I commend her passion, as the site is truly a labor of love.
I encourage you to check out the Unknown Russia site, which is still in development. People often ask me where I want to travel next in Russia. For me, the ultimate dream is to visit Lake Baikal or the remote Siberian wilderness. How about you? What is your favorite region or place in Russia, and where do you dream of going?
You also can find Unknown Russia on Facebook and VKontakte. And don't forget to cast your vote for my next journey! Poll is open until Friday. :) Tomorrow I'll tell you about a beautiful farm in the hills of Vermont.