Hi all!
My name is Natalie (real name Natalia Yan), i was born in 1986 in former USSR.
My hometown in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, small town of total 150,000 people, far east of Russia, Sakhalin Island.
Happened to be that I’m an Asian looking Russian, Korean-Russian that is. Some reckon it’s hot,while I think it’s just a crazy mix. To be korean in russia is difficult and to be korean looking russian in Korea is also not that easy.
I’ve done a bit of traveling and hoping for more as i love new experiences, new places, new people, new cultures etc.
Interests
I’m interested in extreme sports such as snowboarding, push-bike riding, ice skating, roller skating and a bit quad bike riding, go-karts riding.
watching people while having a coffee at the bar
learning new things even if i don’t need them
listening to what random people are talking about (sometimes you can hear such a bullshit interesting stories)
playing pool and darts and having bets on the game
psychology,
interested in different cultures
interested in magic
I love’s:
love my mum and my older brother, my friends, love my cousins,
love my interests
love music (most of which is rock, alternative rock, metal and such),
love puzzles,
love board games,
love drawing (even tho I’m not good at it),
love making something with my hands, like origami,
love cooking, baking,
love giving massage,
love my laptop and all the computer devices i have,
love my iPod, my camera and my teddy bear,
love green tea, coffee, drinking beer,
love watching rugby, ozzie rules, soccer, cricket, rally racers, moto racers everything while drinking beer.
love cheese cookie and chocolate chip ice cream,
love hanging out with friends
love quite nights with a hot chocolate or milk and a good book
love winter and snow
love summer and white beaches
love long road car rides
love giggles
love taking photos
love listening people discussing something what they think is very important
love happy, smiling people
I don’t like’s :
don’t like angry aggressive people (or more scared of them)
don’t like big aggressive dogs (as i was bitten by one)
don’t like people talking behind someone’s back
don’t like when something sticks in to your sock and you can’t get it out due to any reason
don’t like when you forget something at home, but you already locked the door and can’t be bothered going back =/
don’t like when people i love hurt and I can’t do anything about that
don’t like when friends need help and I’m in another part of the world
don’t like when the battery in my camera goes flat
don’t like when people are being too picky, too nerd about something (like – “don’t walk here i just washed this part of the floor” or “don’t buy that it’s too expensive” or “why are you talking in korean with him but wouldn’t talk with me” or “i don’t like you with no reason” <—sorry can’t help it really…
don’t like when people squeezing in to the line without any permission
mmm thats about it…
my weirdness:
when it rains i like it to walk without umbrella
sometimes when i’m sitting i shake my leg….up and down very fast.
when taking a shower bringing speakers in to the bath and listening to the music
sometimes i’m looking at the sun and sneeze, on purpose.
trying to scare myself in the mirror when i can’t get rid of hiccups
can abuse photoshop for 2, 4, 6 hours and never really getting tired of it
talking to my teddy toys and all computer devices, as i am convinced they can hear
collecting all sorts of stuff starting with wrist bands and ending with useless souvenirs like stubby holders xD
=) well you’ve got a pretty good idea about me by now i guess =)
Dear Natalie,
I am living in Hokkaido Island Japan
Our Island and yours are very close but nobody knows
about Sakhalin around me.
I wish to go visit Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk near day.
Please be advice about Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city.
Yoichi Koshibuchi
Konichiwa~ ^.^
Funny, but even some people in Russia(mainland) don’t know what is Sakhalin and where is it =)
You know we can see Hokkaido from our Island(on a very clear day). even can receive radio signals.
Of course if you ever happen to visit our land, i would love to help you out around =)
Natalie
Thank you for your comment so soon.
Now still hard to get private tourist visa to there.
But I wish to be there very soon.
How is the temparature on October there?
Yoichi
Hope getting a visa wont be too hard.
Temperature in October would be a bit rainy and cold. The best time really to visit is winter time, from December to March. It is +10 at the moment, but i think it will start cooling down soon~
Greetings Natalie,
I was looking into Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk as a possible travel destination in the future and stumbled on your wonderful blog. It’s great to be able to actually hear of Yuzhno through the words of a native living in the country. My name is Jared and I live in a small island in the middle of the pacific, Kauai, Hawaii. I can understand your hardships with having multiple ethnic backgrounds and being a minority.
G’Day Jared,
I’m glad you like my blog. Hey, you know actually now in Sakhalin there are so many different ethnical groups. And people from the mainland actually reckon that in Sakhalin people are much *friendlier*. On the mainland russians(european looking) are a majority, so they can be pretty tough to anyone who doesn’t look the same. While here on Sakhalin because of the great mixture of many different nationalities we are no longer a minority, it is sort of balanced now, so people are cool.
If you need an advice on hotels or places to go I’m always available.
People of which nationalities live in Hawaii?
Natalie,
That’s great to hear then! If that’s the case then Yuzhno is a bit similar to Hawaii. Hawaii is a melting pot of nationalities because of its history. Native Hawaiians first inhabited Hawaii, migrating and originally discovered the Hawaiian islands. It is said that they are originally from South east Asia long ago. Then Caucasians discovered the islands and imported laborers for sugar plantations; Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipinos, Puerto Ricans, and there was actually an old Russian fort here on the island
Funny how things are separate yet connected yea? but there are many nationalities here. Are there many museums there? I’m very interested in learning more of the history of Yuzhno and just learning more of its people. Also learning more of its cultures. Since there are many nationalities in one place in Yuzhno I can expect many traditions from many backgrounds being practiced and blended into one. I’m very interested in learning of that! Hope we can talk more! Also you English is great!
-Jared
Also if I refer to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk its better to use Sakhalinsk? Sorry for last post if I called it incorrectly. I better refer to your country correctly!
-Jared
Natalie,
This is Jack… I was going to wish you all the best in 2012 since this will be a very important year for you. I did not know how to find your email address. Take care in Australia and go for it. Remember, you deserve the best.
Jack