In 2012 I took a big 30-day trip to Norway with three friends. It was the first time I left my home. Being brought up in Russia's post-USSR dog-eat-dog culture I learned not to expect kindness from strangers. But the people I met on that trip - they weren't just kind to me, they kind of saved my life. That experience changed my perception of the world forever. Thank you.

I love Edward Munch, Hayao Miyazaki, David Byrne, Dmitri Shostakovich, Prince, bands like Husker Du and Fugazi. My current favourite writer is Svetlana Alexievich.