Answering 8 questions about transitioning from an English PhD into a non-academic role.
Who do you think I am?
A litle over two years ago I was writing about my struggle with people's assumptions about me in my adopted country. In that blog post, I was reflecting on the pitfalls of the not-so-innocent "where are you from?" question that many migrants like me face when they open their mouths to speak. The culprit? Doubtlessly …
Slow but steady: Snails win the race
My first encounter with snails must have been when I was but little, maybe 6 or so. I was in the countryside and snails came out in scores after the refreshing summer rain. I quickly became fascinated with their beautiful shells, their considered pace, and the sensation of their cold, moist flesh across the skin …
Variations on the Theme of Sadness
This is a short and (for me) experimental piece, mixing fiction and non-fiction. I haven't written much creatively in a long while, and this baby just wanted out, so here I am, unleashing it upon the world. Constructive feedback and thoughts are always appreciated. (Full piece after the cut!) ¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬.¬ There are days when the …
“But if I’m not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I?”
Ah, here it comes then, finally, a proper blog post. Many of you will probably recognise that title quotation as lifted whole out of one of the most famous books in the world, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. That's when Alice, frustrated and confused by so many (rather brusque) changes in height, and puzzled by the anthropomorphic White …
Continue reading "“But if I’m not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I?”"
The Joy of Purposeless Gaming, or the Art of Doing Nothing
This post is, in a way, a continuation of this review I wrote some time ago about the social screensaver The Endless Forest and the art of purposeless gaming. I won't go into all the details of how the TALE of TALES project is all kinds of marvellous and then some, but I will go …
Continue reading "The Joy of Purposeless Gaming, or the Art of Doing Nothing"
“I Wish I Were a Doll”
Gothic Lolita. I've been chewing on this for a while, wondering if I should or shouldn't venture to write something about it. This usually happens when a certain topic is very dear to me, and I don't want to cause it any kind of injustice. But this time, in particular, I've had several serious doubts. …
Things that never quite grow old, or what I loved when I was only 4
When I was about 4 or 5 years of age, I stumbled upon a cassette tape in my dad's vast collection. I don't actually remember how it happened, or why it was that that particular cassette piqued my interest - after all, there was nothing especially attractive about it at first sight. Except, maybe, the …
Continue reading "Things that never quite grow old, or what I loved when I was only 4"
From Camden Town to Istanbul in a Single Stride: Vintage Memorabilia
I was unlucky in my quest for vintage photographs for a while - the local market has been yielding nothing but black and white photographs of cats and dogs and some tacky birthday cards. But my luck turned just as soon as I paid a visit to Camden Market, London. Have I ever mentioned how …
Continue reading "From Camden Town to Istanbul in a Single Stride: Vintage Memorabilia"
The thing about not having a home (or having one too many)
It doesn't often happen to me to feel the need to slice open my heart on a public surgery table, but since this little space is (arguably) as much of a private affair as it is an "all welcome" things, then I allow myself, every once in a while, to rant and rave. The issue …
Continue reading "The thing about not having a home (or having one too many)"
Encyclopaedia Vanitatum 