Kultur – Page 19 – Natalia A.

Kiev and Kyiv

The former is the Russian pronounciation, the latter is the Ukrainian. I use these two interchangeably. My first language is Russian, but I love Russian and Ukrainian the same. And I hate all the politics that get in the way of beautiful things, such as the sharpness, the clarity of Kiiii-ev, the rounded, breathy softnessContinue reading “Kiev and Kyiv”

Smell sweet, and carry a big stick

Off her feet with the crumbs she throws you. – Kim Carnes. My grandmother was never what you would call a stereotypically attractive woman. She had no shortage of “gentlemen suitors,” but she was no beauty. She was just endearingly herself. She was loud, direct, well-organized, good-humoured, and confident. Instead of being shy on accountContinue reading “Smell sweet, and carry a big stick”

To expand on something Umar Lee said

I have been, a number of times, propositioned by “conservative” Muslim men. The ones who, like Umar says: “date non-Muslim women strictly for sexual purposes, then go home to marry a good girl from the village” (read his whole post, it’s very interesting, as usual). In fact, a guy tried to grab me in theContinue reading “To expand on something Umar Lee said”

The case for (?) Diana

I’d hate to see what kind of bile Germaine Greer would dump on my life if it were as scrutinized and well-publicized as the late Princess Diana’s. Here’s an uncomfortable truth: Almost everyone’s life is a mess. Perhaps there are monks on Aphon, or totem pole carvers in Alaska who have things figured out –Continue reading “The case for (?) Diana”