Latest / Babes, how did you get here / Beyond the Borders: My Escape From a Double Life to a New Self
Transcript
- 0:00Would you say that that freedom to explore is not necessarily a stereotypical experience in Kazakhstan?
- 0:09Definitely.
- 0:10Okay.
- 0:11Definitely, because the families, they are also...
- 0:15Let's say in culture, culturally, Kazakhs are more likely to judge something common, even us as Kazakhs we know this.
- 0:23So we have even a word to say, his kid is better than mine.
- 0:27Really?
- 0:28Yes, it's a...
- 0:29Did you see...
- 0:30Did you see him or his car?
- 0:31Yes.
- 0:32I like about him.
- 0:33What do you...
- 0:34I feel there is not like English speaking people separate.
- 0:37Or Russian speaking people separate.
- 0:39Kazakhs people separate.
- 0:41And...
- 0:42Can my people come out and separate?
- 0:43We all are together.
- 0:44Okay.
- 0:45Yeah, we are all together.
- 0:46And that's why I have come out and say they have a huge respect that they accept.
- 0:50Because it's a...
- 0:52You have to start in a certain way to remove your ego and to accept other people.
- 0:57Right.
- 0:58So it means they are more connected to their hearts.
- 1:00And it just feels...
- 1:02Picture this.
- 1:03You're raised in Kazakhstan.
- 1:04You fall in love with dance.
- 1:06And somehow life spins you all the way to Cambodia.
- 1:09This is the story of Sayora.
- 1:11She's a dancer, a dreamer, and a woman brave enough to say yes to life's adventures.
- 1:16I'm really interested in learning more about her origins as well as her life here in Penang Pen.
- 1:22But first, I must ask...
- 1:24Babes, how did you get here?
- 1:26Babes.
- 1:27I was just following my heart.
- 1:28Really?
- 1:29Yeah.
- 1:30You knew about Cambodia?
- 1:31I knew.
- 1:32I knew about Cambodia.
- 1:33I visited Cambodia in 2017-2018.
- 1:37I stayed here for a year.
- 1:40Okay.
- 1:41I started here.
- 1:42I finished my school, my Russian school.
- 1:44Okay.
- 1:45Yeah, in Russian Embassy.
- 1:47And then before COVID hit, I went back to Kazakhstan because I had my grandma, so I wanted to stay with her more.
- 1:53Very cool.
- 1:54Yes, I spent with her time.
- 1:56And then suddenly I decided to come back because Cambodia, I just love everything about Cambodia.
- 2:02Okay.
- 2:03First, tell me.
- 2:04Describe, because Kazakhstan, I know nothing except that it is the largest landlocked country in the world, but that's it.
- 2:12Kazakhstan.
- 2:14It's a huge country with amazing people, why amazing for me?
- 2:19Because they are so artistic, everyone.
- 2:22Because in our culture, we love to dance, to sing, to talk, and to debate.
- 2:28Okay.
- 2:29Yeah.
- 2:30Even though I love Kazakhstan so much for me, I found it hard to be myself there.
- 2:35Because I'm very open and in countries like Kazakhstan or close to Kazakhstan countries, you have to, let's say, follow some rules.
- 2:48Because I'm a dance teacher and I want to be open.
- 2:51And the way how I see my art, I don't want to put any limits.
- 2:55One more like a freedom.
- 2:56I want to dress up nice.
- 2:58You know, I want to dress up sexy.
- 3:00Right.
- 3:01And in these countries, I felt a little bit limited.
- 3:04Yes.
- 3:05So it's not about the people, but the rules that it's been there for a year.
- 3:09Okay.
- 3:10It's quite conservative.
- 3:11It is.
- 3:12Okay.
- 3:13It is conservative.
- 3:14And even though it's getting better, because we have so many dance teachers over there doing the same thing that I'm doing.
- 3:22Okay.
- 3:23It's just I wasn't fighting enough to handle it.
- 3:27How did you fall in love with dance?
- 3:31I was dancing since I was a kid.
- 3:34And when I was a kid, I love to compete.
- 3:37Oh, really?
- 3:38Yes.
- 3:39So I didn't go just for fun, for emotions.
- 3:42I went there to compete.
- 3:43I love to get the diplomas.
- 3:46Okay.
- 3:47I love to win the toys, gifts, anything that gave me after it.
- 3:53Sure.
- 3:54And then I was studying.
- 3:55I didn't dance for 10 years.
- 3:57Okay.
- 3:58I was working.
- 4:00I was traveling around.
- 4:02I traveled to Asia, Europe countries.
- 4:04I stayed in Russia.
- 4:05I can Kazakhstan in Cambodia.
- 4:07Okay.
- 4:08In Thailand.
- 4:09Yes.
- 4:10And then I was working in an international company that were doing cosmetics.
- 4:14One day I felt it's not for me.
- 4:17Okay.
- 4:18Yeah.
- 4:19I felt completely lost.
- 4:21I was very depressed at that time.
- 4:24What were you doing with the company?
- 4:26Retail.
- 4:27Retail manager.
- 4:28Okay.
- 4:29Sales manager.
- 4:30I was selling to Europe.
- 4:32I was selling to America.
- 4:33Okay.
- 4:34Yes.
- 4:35That's how I improved my English.
- 4:36Right.
- 4:37Yeah.
- 4:38And I was hired as a top manager after this.
- 4:41Amazing.
- 4:42Yes.
- 4:43And I was selling solar panels.
- 4:44Okay.
- 4:45Yes.
- 4:46In America.
- 4:47We were producing in Australia.
- 4:48And selling in America.
- 4:49Yes.
- 4:50And then I had a salary that I was dreaming of at that time.
- 4:54Everything was right.
- 4:55Right.
- 4:56And then I felt like I felt it's when you come home and you fell empty.
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- 5:44Like you don't have anything.
- 5:46Nothing gives you the spark, the fire in you that you want to wake up and do something.
- 5:52You are just waking up and thinking about, oh my god, I have to go to work.
- 5:56Yeah.
- 5:57So I was living like that maybe two years.
- 6:00Okay.
- 6:01And then when the COVID hit, I felt like everyone is depressed.
- 6:04So I have company.
- 6:06Yeah, company.
- 6:07So it felt, it made me feel good.
- 6:09Okay.
- 6:10Yes.
- 6:11Because when you are depressed and everyone is just working.
- 6:13And you feel isolated.
- 6:14Yes, exactly.
- 6:15So when COVID hit, I had my time.
- 6:18I was just resting.
- 6:20I think I didn't have any plans.
- 6:22I was just doing TikToks.
- 6:25And that's the time when I realized I'm doing this.
- 6:29No one is paying me.
- 6:30Right.
- 6:31I'm doing this because it makes me happy.
- 6:33So and it was hard, especially in conservative country.
- 6:38We are raised to be right.
- 6:42We were raised to be, especially if you're a woman, you need to act a certain way to be respected.
- 6:49And the dance, especially high heels, it's.
- 6:55It gives a picture of me that I don't want to people see me in that way.
- 7:00Yes.
- 7:01So it was very hard time at that time when I decided.
- 7:06So when I was going to dance classes, I didn't post it.
- 7:09Okay.
- 7:10Yes.
- 7:11So you started your dance classes again.
- 7:14Again.
- 7:15And I didn't tell to anyone.
- 7:16Okay.
- 7:17But even my friends only my family, like I'm very happy to have my supportive family.
- 7:22Amazing.
- 7:23Yes.
- 7:24I think it's a luxury thing for me.
- 7:26But when I was going to dance classes, I was running after because I felt like.
- 7:31It made me feel happy, right?
- 7:33I went to a dance class.
- 7:34But after I had this flavor of like, I cannot even share it.
- 7:38I cannot be truly myself.
- 7:40Did you think your friends were going to judge you?
- 7:43No.
- 7:44Okay.
- 7:45No, it's not that your friends are your close people going to judge you.
- 7:49But sometimes it might get dangerous.
- 7:52For example, if you post.
- 7:54So it means you are sharing it to the world.
- 7:56Sure.
- 7:57And sometimes some men can write to you that like, it's not.
- 8:02Okay.
- 8:03Yes.
- 8:04And as we are a woman, we always have to think about our safety.
- 8:07Safety.
- 8:08Yeah.
- 8:09So I was living my double life.
- 8:12In the dance classes, I was the open.
- 8:15Because I was looking to LA dancers and I'm like, I'm a LA dancer.
- 8:19Whatever.
- 8:20I'm feeling it.
- 8:21At the same time, I'm a Kazakh.
- 8:23And after dance classes, I have to act a certain way.
- 8:27Right.
- 8:28So I felt like.
- 8:30I was thinking, which one is me?
- 8:33Right.
- 8:34The one that is there in the dance classes or the one that is living and trying to build a right way to leave.
- 8:41And that's when I was starting to think, maybe I should go back to Cambodia.
- 8:45Okay.
- 8:46Yes.
- 8:47But once I visited to come visit it, Cambodia in 2018, 19.
- 8:51It was.
- 8:53It wasn't that developed and they had no studios.
- 8:56Okay.
- 8:57Yeah.
- 8:58So it meant for me, I have to leave because at that time, I started teaching already.
- 9:02Okay.
- 9:03Yes.
- 9:04So at that time, I had to decide.
- 9:05So you're teaching and you're still keeping your corporate job?
- 9:08No.
- 9:09Okay.
- 9:10I quit.
- 9:11I quit.
- 9:12And then you're just teaching, dancing yourself.
- 9:15Dancing.
- 9:16And then you're like, I want to go to Cambodia.
- 9:18But are they going to have the infrastructure?
- 9:21They're not going to have any studios.
- 9:23That's what I was thinking.
- 9:25Coming here.
- 9:26So I thought, maybe I'll just leave my life for.
- 9:30Not to just worry about my safety.
- 9:33Okay.
- 9:34Yes.
- 9:35And just going to dance for myself.
- 9:36Okay.
- 9:37Yes.
- 9:38I was running.
- 9:39I was like, I answered my question when I was thinking which one is me.
- 9:43Right.
- 9:44And I realized the one that in dance classes, it's me.
- 9:46Yeah.
- 9:47Yeah.
- 9:48The one that is acting.
- 9:49It's not me.
- 9:50And do you think looking back that your fear was a valid fear?
- 9:55Or because sometimes we can be scared of something, but it's actually in our head.
- 9:58Or do you think that the fear of the repercussions of you dancing publicly were real?
- 10:05I think there is not the right answer to this.
- 10:08It's yes and yes.
- 10:09Okay.
- 10:10Both ways.
- 10:11Yeah.
- 10:12As I said, as I mentioned, there is dance teachers doing the same.
- 10:15So even crazier.
- 10:17But they have this courage to do it.
- 10:19Okay.
- 10:20So I think for me, it's not about only dance classes.
- 10:26It's just generally there is some things more than dance classes that I had to act.
- 10:31It's like the lifestyle.
- 10:33Like I felt I am Kazakh, but I felt like some things are not happy with it.
- 10:39Like.
- 10:40Okay.
- 10:43So how we are raised.
- 10:46And then because I went to Kazakh school.
- 10:48Okay.
- 10:49So we taught to how to dress up.
- 10:52How to act.
- 10:53Not to be loud.
- 10:54Okay.
- 10:55Not to be this.
- 10:56Not to be that.
- 10:57So there is so many rules.
- 10:58Okay.
- 10:59And it's a lot.
- 11:00Yeah.
- 11:01Yes.
- 11:02And I was living out like one day, I felt it's not normal.
- 11:06Because you've seen other places.
- 11:08Yes.
- 11:09Because I travel.
- 11:10That's how I got like, why should should I do that?
- 11:12Like I want to feel like in America.
- 11:14Sure.
- 11:15I feel I want to feel free.
- 11:16I want to dress up nicely.
- 11:18Yes.
- 11:19Yeah.
- 11:20I want to go crazy.
- 11:21Because in our in our country, we have to.
- 11:24Post of the colors.
- 11:25Like I'm not seeing a lot of colors.
- 11:28It's all the same.
- 11:29It's like when I moved to London.
- 11:30Yeah.
- 11:31I was like, why is everyone in black and gray?
- 11:34So I'm moving from Jamaica where we are color, even the houses.
- 11:37So in Jamaica, you'll drive through.
- 11:39Houses are all kind of color.
- 11:40Green, yellow, blue, like whatever.
- 11:42And then in England, they're all the same.
- 11:44I said, what is going on with the colors of the houses?
- 11:46Only to learn that you literally have to get planning permission
- 11:50to change the color of your own house.
- 11:52Like you can't just paint your house pink.
- 11:54Okay.
- 11:55So the color thing, I was just like, why is everybody just dead?
- 11:58And for some people, it might be like, oh, it's just clothes.
- 12:01But I think when you're in an environment and you see color,
- 12:04it does do something like to your spirit and your energy.
- 12:07Yeah.
- 12:08Yeah.
- 12:09Because in Kazakhstan, it's not, it's not only about the colors.
- 12:12Like I would accept the colors.
- 12:14It's fine.
- 12:15The architecture is fine.
- 12:16But the, the way how we see the life.
- 12:18Okay.
- 12:19Like I felt like all the same for me.
- 12:21Maybe I was there.
- 12:22I like, you know, if you met other Kazakhs, they can show you the other story.
- 12:25Sure.
- 12:26But my story is this that I've whenever I went, whenever I talked to anyone,
- 12:30it felt all the same.
- 12:31Okay.
- 12:32All the same.
- 12:33Even the taste, the music, the references they get,
- 12:37the things that they get inspired by, all felt the same.
- 12:40So it's like, I felt I have to follow them.
- 12:44Right.
- 12:45Because I was myself and I felt like, I like different things.
- 12:48I like different things.
- 12:50It's not about I'm different, but I felt not safe.
- 12:52Okay.
- 12:53I didn't feel safe to show to my true colors.
- 12:57Okay.
- 12:58I felt like I have to act a certain way.
- 13:00Maybe if I was myself and I could see, but I didn't have the courage to show myself.
- 13:04Yeah.
- 13:05Because I knew like there is Thailand, there is Cambodia, like countries like more in South Asia.
- 13:10They're more open.
- 13:11Right.
- 13:12And less likely to judge.
- 13:13Yes.
- 13:14And still I'm a human, so I'm scared sometimes.
- 13:17Right.
- 13:18So it makes, it made me scared.
- 13:19So I felt I love Cambodia so much.
- 13:22I love people how they're more open.
- 13:24They, they don't judge, especially if you're a foreigner.
- 13:28Right.
- 13:29Cambodia, they don't judge.
- 13:30They're like, she's a foreigner.
- 13:31Maybe that's just how they are.
- 13:33Yeah.
- 13:34And they just, they're so innocent.
- 13:37So they don't judge you.
- 13:39They just are curious to know why you're doing it.
- 13:42You know, so moving here, it was the best decision.
- 13:45Yeah.
- 13:46It was the best decision.
- 13:47Can you take me back to when you came to study?
- 13:49What you're for?
- 13:50Do you remember like arriving in Cambodia for the first time?
- 13:53I remember.
- 13:54Tell me.
- 13:55I remember.
- 13:56I went to Cihanna Quill.
- 13:57It's a city near to the, um, uh, so we're in Panama.
- 14:03There is a city Cihanna Quill.
- 14:04Okay.
- 14:05Yes, I was living there.
- 14:06Okay.
- 14:07Yes.
- 14:08So for me, I was always dreaming to leave, uh, by seaside.
- 14:12So it was like a dream to have a house and live in the seaside.
- 14:15Right.
- 14:16Guess what?
- 14:17I only went once.
- 14:19Once.
- 14:20I was so excited.
- 14:21I went to a, yeah, I was swimming to pictures and that's it.
- 14:26And then I never come back again.
- 14:28I was like, I was dreaming.
- 14:30Yeah.
- 14:31I was dreaming.
- 14:32It was my dream to leave that life.
- 14:33And then once I got it, I'm like, one time.
- 14:36One time.
- 14:37One time.
- 14:38Yeah.
- 14:40I really loved it.
- 14:41Loved it.
- 14:42Only people.
- 14:43Okay.
- 14:44Yeah.
- 14:45But at that time, there was a lot of, um, construction going on.
- 14:48Okay.
- 14:49Yeah.
- 14:50So I didn't see the beauty.
- 14:51But I could feel the islands and, yeah, it felt different.
- 14:54And anything that makes me feel different, always excites me.
- 14:57It's a good thing.
- 14:58It's a good thing.
- 14:59Yeah.
- 15:00So I liked it.
- 15:01At the same time, uh, I didn't like it.
- 15:03Okay.
- 15:04Yeah.
- 15:05Uh, at that time, I was young.
- 15:07And as I said.
- 15:08That's how you were young.
- 15:10You're still young.
- 15:11Younger.
- 15:12Younger.
- 15:13Okay.
- 15:14That's my English.
- 15:15You're a baby.
- 15:16Uh, well, baby.
- 15:17Yeah.
- 15:18When I was a more baby.
- 15:19Yes.
- 15:20So, uh, I felt life in the Kazakh way.
- 15:23Okay.
- 15:24I call it myself.
- 15:25My Kazakh version.
- 15:26Yes.
- 15:27And yeah, I was thinking how I'm going to be successful.
- 15:31And in this place, it's more peaceful.
- 15:33Right.
- 15:34And I've met people.
- 15:36The richest people I've met were in Santa quilt.
- 15:38Okay.
- 15:39Yes.
- 15:40And they were saying we were working for 40 years in a huge company.
- 15:44We got everything.
- 15:45But we are here.
- 15:46And think about it.
- 15:47Because they wanted to give me a device.
- 15:49Right.
- 15:50But I was like, no, something wrong with that.
- 15:52They lead their lives.
- 15:54I want to stress.
- 15:55I want to success.
- 15:56I need that.
- 15:57Right.
- 15:58Yeah.
- 15:59And maybe I stay there for one and have here.
- 16:02Okay.
- 16:03And back to Kazakhstan.
- 16:04Right.
- 16:05I realized, okay, they were right.
- 16:07They were completely right.
- 16:09And maybe they give me something more like they open my eyes more to see, yes.
- 16:15And definitely by talking with them, it helped me a lot.
- 16:20Once you realize that your passion was dancing, that's what you wanted to pursue.
- 16:24And you tell your family, I'm leaving.
- 16:27What is their reaction?
- 16:31My family, as I said, they're so supportive.
- 16:36Whatever I choose, they're like, if that makes you happy, go for it.
- 16:39Amazing.
- 16:40Yes.
- 16:41I think that's why I'm a little bit could feel the difference between me and my friends in Kazakhstan.
- 16:47Because my family, when I was growing, they always said one thing.
- 16:51If that makes you happy, whatever you choose.
- 16:54Are you an only child?
- 16:56I am.
- 16:57I am.
- 16:58It's interesting.
- 16:59And it's also, I love that you acknowledge that having the support of that allows you the
- 17:12freedom to kind of pursue what you want to do.
- 17:14Because I think that sometimes people discuss things like, when we say people are brave or you
- 17:20have the courage to do something, we speak about it as though it's just from within.
- 17:24And I tell people, for example, you know, I opened my first restaurant and I'd never worked in hospitality.
- 17:29I had no idea what the hell I was doing.
- 17:31And if my dad didn't give me permission to fail, I don't think I would have had the courage to do it.
- 17:36So I think it's really where some people might be like, oh, you're so brave.
- 17:39Yes, there's a level of bravery.
- 17:40I'm not saying that.
- 17:41But I'm saying there's a bigger picture that allows you to have the freedom to kind of exercise your bravery.
- 17:47And it sounds like similar.
- 17:48You have your family that said, do what, that give you permission to explore whatever makes you happy.
- 17:54As an artist, I always give credits.
- 17:57So everything you see right now, it's because of my family.
- 18:01They support it.
- 18:03It's not, it's not financially.
- 18:06Sure.
- 18:07It's something that they give you in sight, like the, you know, so it's very important.
- 18:11And would you say that that freedom to explore is not necessarily a stereotypical experience in Kazakhstan?
- 18:20Definitely.
- 18:21Okay.
- 18:22Definitely because the families, they are also, let's say in culture, culturally,
- 18:30Kazakhs are more likely to judge something common, even as, as we Kazakhs, we know this.
- 18:36So we have even a word to say, his kid is better than mine.
- 18:40Really?
- 18:41Yes, it's a, did you see, did you see him or her?
- 18:44Yeah.
- 18:45Yes.
- 18:46So this way of thinking, it's like kind of cuts your, how to say, ability to observe.
- 18:55You already, since you're young, you already know the steps.
- 19:00So you finish the school, you go to the university, which everyone wants to go.
- 19:05Okay.
- 19:06So you don't have a choice.
- 19:07Right.
- 19:08Yes.
- 19:09So it's in a way like an old style of thinking.
- 19:11I'm not saying for everyone.
- 19:12Sure.
- 19:13Of course, the environment I stayed was like that.
- 19:16Oh, yes.
- 19:17Maybe I didn't see other parts of Kazakhstan, but I'm sure 90% of people will agree with me.
- 19:24Yes.
- 19:25That's the vibe.
- 19:26Yes.
- 19:27That's the vibe.
- 19:28When you first came to Cambodia, you knew that it was going to be a fixed amount of time and then go back, right?
- 19:30Because you were just doing this course.
- 19:33As I said, I was depressed at that time.
- 19:37Right.
- 19:38Yes.
- 19:39So I didn't have any plans.
- 19:40I was just like, blindly coming.
- 19:41I was like, what have a life takes me?
- 19:44Yeah.
- 19:45And then when you came the second time in your mind, you're coming to stay.
- 19:50Yes.
- 19:51Okay.
- 19:52Was there a difference between the two times, other than the fact that I appreciate the second time you're seeing more development, you're seeing like more infrastructure, but in terms of your feelings towards the country?
- 20:05Yes.
- 20:06I think that's the, that's why I'm happy right now.
- 20:08Okay.
- 20:09Because coming before coming to Cambodia when I decided to leave here, I was in Kazakhstan.
- 20:16But I knew that I will be accepted by people here.
- 20:20Okay.
- 20:21So that really matters for me.
- 20:22Yes.
- 20:23So I knew whatever it's going to be in the jungle or in the city.
- 20:27I don't care.
- 20:28There's people that are going to accept me.
- 20:29Okay.
- 20:30So yeah, so I came here.
- 20:32That's, that was the best decision I said it.
- 20:34And you've visited so many other places.
- 20:37I'm wondering what was it about Cambodia?
- 20:39Is it just the acceptance or were there other things about the country that made you choose here over say Thailand?
- 20:45Because everyone seems to be wanting to run to Thailand.
- 20:49Yes.
- 20:50I also, I was about to study in Europe.
- 20:53Okay.
- 20:54That was the actual plan.
- 20:55Yes.
- 20:56But once I felt this is not for me, this, it seems like right.
- 21:01Even when I said Europe, it sounds more like right for people.
- 21:05Okay.
- 21:06But Cambodia has something that is unique from all the countries I visited.
- 21:13I visited more than 15 countries.
- 21:16It has something that makes you not be different, but makes you more question yourself.
- 21:25Okay.
- 21:26Not like in a bad way, but more like what do you want?
- 21:30What do you want to eat?
- 21:31It has more opportunities and it has more freedom to be yourself.
- 21:38Okay.
- 21:39And it starts with small things like what do you want for coffee or what do you want to eat?
- 21:44Who do you want to meet?
- 21:45Because it's a lot of different people.
- 21:47Right.
- 21:48And I think we all here going the same journey.
- 21:51Yeah.
- 21:52I felt like we all are asking ourselves like what do, what do I want to do?
- 21:55Not like we are not surviving.
- 21:58That's different because all other countries they are surviving.
- 22:01They need money to pay for the rent.
- 22:04They need money to pay the bills.
- 22:06Or they have kids that they have responsibilities.
- 22:09Here it feels like a summer camp.
- 22:13It's like we are all here for the vibe.
- 22:17And you could feel the difference.
- 22:19I do.
- 22:20You could feel the difference.
- 22:21And what I like about Cambodia, I feel there is not like English speaking people separate.
- 22:28Russian speaking people separate.
- 22:30Kazakhs people separate.
- 22:31And can my people come here separate?
- 22:34We all are together.
- 22:35Okay.
- 22:36Yeah, we are all together.
- 22:37And that's why the Cambodians they have huge respect that they accept.
- 22:42Because it's a, it's you have to start in certain way to remove your ego and to accept other people.
- 22:49Right.
- 22:50So it means they are more connected to their hearts.
- 22:52And it just feels, it feels good.
- 22:55It feels good living here.
- 22:57Yeah.
- 22:58And when you just arrived, was there a point where you went from like this honeymoon period,
- 23:04although you still said you're on summer camp.
- 23:07So I'm like, has that energy just sustained?
- 23:09How long have you been here?
- 23:11This trip.
- 23:12It's been one and a half year or not.
- 23:14Yeah.
- 23:15Would you still say that the honeymoon period is still still there?
- 23:18It's not that it gave, it's not the honeymoon period yet since the beginning because honeymoon,
- 23:23it means you have a short time of period that satisfies you, right?
- 23:27But here it's different.
- 23:29It's the struggles you face here.
- 23:32It's, for example, it's more like in the car, you know, when you have an accident,
- 23:37you have like an impact.
- 23:39In fact, yeah.
- 23:40So it's the same here.
- 23:41It's the impact is bigger.
- 23:43So whenever you face, it feels less dramatic, less painful.
- 23:49Yes.
- 23:50And especially when you have people around you that you feel like we're all,
- 23:55all the same.
- 23:56It feels all the same and we're afraid even if you have small struggles because we do
- 24:00with it, that's why we cannot be all pink, right?
- 24:02What are some of the struggles that you've had moving?
- 24:05Well, she would stay positive because it's a lot.
- 24:13It's really.
- 24:14Of course.
- 24:15Like what?
- 24:16Because when you're in your own country, you know everything.
- 24:20Yes.
- 24:21So you don't think about small things.
- 24:22And even when you don't know everything, you know someone who knows everything.
- 24:24Yes.
- 24:25Exactly.
- 24:26That is the thing I miss the most.
- 24:27Whenever I'm living somewhere else, I'm like, if I don't have the answer in Jamaica,
- 24:31I know someone else who has the answer, whereas I don't know anybody over here.
- 24:35It's a boy.
- 24:36Yeah.
- 24:37Yeah.
- 24:38So here it was hard.
- 24:39It was hard.
- 24:40Because first, I saw there is no dance studios here.
- 24:42Okay.
- 24:43Second, I was already living as a full-time dance teacher, so I said, oh my God, maybe I'm going
- 24:50to just eat rice and drink coffee, but whatever.
- 24:55Money doesn't matter.
- 24:57Passion.
- 24:58Let's go hard.
- 24:59They said it.
- 25:00Right?
- 25:01So, yeah.
- 25:02I came here the first week.
- 25:04I said my friend's place and like the money was spending.
- 25:08So I felt, now maybe it wasn't a good decision.
- 25:13Sure.
- 25:14Yeah.
- 25:15You have to be brave at the same time.
- 25:17Stupid.
- 25:18Yeah, it's a stupid decision, but I'm so happy that I did it.
- 25:22So I stayed on my friend's place and the week later, I just posted that I'm looking for
- 25:28any type of rumor studio to dance myself.
- 25:31And I've met a person who offered me a full-time dance teacher.
- 25:35Really?
- 25:36So I was like, that's a sign.
- 25:38Yes.
- 25:39No way.
- 25:40Is this a movie or what's going on?
- 25:42So you just posted on Facebook?
- 25:44Yeah.
- 25:45I was looking in a Facebook.
- 25:46Yeah.
- 25:47In a Facebook, there is like, yeah, like a page where you can write all the questions like
- 25:51where do I find this?
- 25:52Where do I find that?
- 25:53Yeah.
- 25:54So I went to a coffee shop to meet him and we were talking.
- 25:58I'm like, oh my god, that's so fast.
- 26:00It's been only a week.
- 26:02Yeah.
- 26:03And then the next day, I was starting working already because there is not much full teachers
- 26:10here.
- 26:11Okay.
- 26:12So yeah, so I was on the right time.
- 26:15Yeah.
- 26:16And since then, I'm a dance teacher.
- 26:18That's crazy.
- 26:19Yeah.
- 26:20When you came, did you bring savings?
- 26:22I did.
- 26:23Okay.
- 26:24So did you have like a deadline if I don't have this sorted by this time, then I'm going to go home?
- 26:31Yes.
- 26:32Okay.
- 26:33Yes.
- 26:34What deadline had you given yourself?
- 26:36Maybe one half months.
- 26:38Okay.
- 26:39But I was more like to go to just to leave here.
- 26:46Okay.
- 26:47So I know it's for a rise in coffee.
- 26:50You don't eat much.
- 26:51A lot of money.
- 26:52So I said, I'm capable to find anything that would make me eat sweet goods.
- 26:57You know, so yeah.
- 26:58So yeah.
- 26:59Very cool.
- 27:00And then when you teach dance, what is the demand in terms of are you teaching?
- 27:06Young students are you teaching adults?
- 27:08What are you teaching?
- 27:09So when I came here, I started teaching as a ballet teacher for kids.
- 27:13Yes, because I have a ballet background.
- 27:15Very cool.
- 27:16And I was teaching dance classes here for adults, high heels.
- 27:21Okay.
- 27:22Yes.
- 27:23At that time, high heels were in something.
- 27:26Wasn't a vibe going on here because it was only few foreigners that would love to dance.
- 27:32Yes.
- 27:33It was more focused on kids' classes.
- 27:35Right.
- 27:36Yes.
- 27:37And yes.
- 27:38How many times I said.
- 27:40And after a while, maybe after a year, I've built such an amazing community here of dancers.
- 27:46Yes.
- 27:47Because there are now a professional dancers that now I'm fully focused on my adult classes.
- 27:53And I don't teach ballet classes anymore.
- 27:55Oh no, the point bubbles.
- 27:57Did you not really like teaching babies?
- 28:00I enjoyed a lot, but I think you need a certain experience to be able to talk to young, young humans.
- 28:09Is there more likely to observe a lot?
- 28:13Sure.
- 28:14So whenever if you come to the class and you have a certain energy, somehow kids they feel it.
- 28:18Yes.
- 28:19You don't say anything they feel it.
- 28:21Yes.
- 28:22And you have to be very careful.
- 28:24So it's not you have more risk.
- 28:26You have to be more responsible.
- 28:28What you say, what you teach.
- 28:30I love that you realize that.
- 28:32Yeah.
- 28:33People parents need to hear it.
- 28:34Because honestly, it's funny.
- 28:36I was talking to someone and I was like, this lady, she was cursing around her child.
- 28:40And don't get me wrong.
- 28:41My mouth can be dirty.
- 28:43But around children, I would never think to speak, you know, the way I would speak.
- 28:47So an adult.
- 28:48And I was saying that it's not just the words.
- 28:50It's the energy, right?
- 28:51If you're angry and like, let's say I'm coming to you and I'm telling you a story about someone who annoyed me and I'm cursing,
- 28:57that energy around your child is not going to be healthy for them.
- 29:01And also then it becomes normalized that you live in a house where people show up and they're angry.
- 29:06And I'm like, I think so many people don't realize that it's not just, you know, what we're seeing or doing.
- 29:11But it's like the energy of the room when it comes to children.
- 29:14True.
- 29:15But I think they realize, but it takes a lot of energy.
- 29:20So for example, if I go for a month, of course, I'm going to be a best teacher for them and a best teacher for their parents.
- 29:27But imagine working a year and you see them every day for five hours, let's say.
- 29:32And you start acting yourself.
- 29:34And we are not, let's say, the best way to handle our own emotions.
- 29:40But it's not only you, you're working with kids and they're, they're waiting for you, right?
- 29:45They're, they're, they don't have this ability to know their emotions, what they're going for.
- 29:51Especially if dance, you struggle a lot.
- 29:54Okay.
- 29:55You struggle a lot.
- 29:56You struggle a lot.
- 29:57Yeah.
- 29:58You struggle a lot.
- 29:59A technique, yes.
- 30:00And when you dance, you're more likely close to get to yourself because you always have to ask yourself what's going on.
- 30:05Why I cannot do this.
- 30:06Like, you know, so it's a lot of talks in your head.
- 30:09And young kids, they, when they do dance classes, they have the same talk as we.
- 30:13Yes.
- 30:14Maybe some of them are shy or maybe some of them think I'm not good enough.
- 30:18Right.
- 30:19And kids have this.
- 30:20Unfortunately, kids have this some sort of voices in their head.
- 30:24So when you teach for kids, it takes a lot of energy.
- 30:27Sure.
- 30:28A lot.
- 30:29Even though I love teaching, I don't think I'm the best represented.
- 30:34Yeah.
- 30:35So when you say that when you dance and the challenges cause you to kind of be a lot more introspective, right?
- 30:43Yes.
- 30:44Think about the inside.
- 30:45What has dance taught you about yourself?
- 30:48A lot.
- 30:49I wish I didn't see it.
- 30:53Yes.
- 30:54Because I remember when I stopped dancing, I had a picture of myself.
- 30:58Like, I'm so confident.
- 30:59I like, I can do anything.
- 31:00Oh, my God.
- 31:01I'm the prettiest.
- 31:02I'm the, I'm that.
- 31:03I'm that.
- 31:04And then when I start dancing, first of all, you're in a room with other 30 women like you, right?
- 31:10And it's, you have a meter in front of you, which makes it worse sometimes because you can see you're not.
- 31:17You're not doing it right.
- 31:19Right.
- 31:20Yes.
- 31:21You cannot lie yourself that you're doing something, right?
- 31:23But you see it.
- 31:24So then it starts a talk.
- 31:25Okay.
- 31:26So you're like asking why I'm not capable to do this.
- 31:29The answer may be all different.
- 31:31It can be to your confidence.
- 31:33Like, maybe I'm not good enough.
- 31:35Maybe I'm not the prettiest or maybe I'm just fat or maybe I'm too short or maybe the outfit is not good.
- 31:42Or it can be a technique.
- 31:45But to choose the other way, you have to be more professional.
- 31:50Right.
- 31:51Yes.
- 31:52Because you have to divide when you are talking to yourself.
- 31:55Like, first, if it's something about you or something that you can learn and study and become better.
- 32:01Yes.
- 32:02And most of the adults that come to my classes, I saw some of them that they were choosing the first option, right?
- 32:10So even though I was there to support because it's a stress, it seems like all a fun experience.
- 32:17Yes.
- 32:18Unless it gets a little bit challenging.
- 32:20Okay.
- 32:21So then it becomes not.
- 32:23Yeah.
- 32:24Yeah.
- 32:25Yeah.
- 32:26And then they're like, I thought the dance is for fun.
- 32:29Yes.
- 32:30But you have to be to build your body, right?
- 32:34To build nicely, to dance nicely.
- 32:37So then it gets a little struggle.
- 32:40So a teacher there to help your journey to become more softer, to support you and to build the confidence.
- 32:47Yeah.
- 32:48But before I was thinking to become a dance teacher, I didn't know all of these things.
- 32:53Right.
- 32:54I thought I'm just going to show the moves.
- 32:55Okay.
- 32:56Right.
- 32:57Maybe I'm going to help the moves, but I didn't thought it's going to go that deep.
- 32:59Maybe that's it now.
- 33:01Yeah.
- 33:02Is it through your own experience of forcing yourself to go deeper that you've now been able to recognize with other people that that's probably what's going to go on?
- 33:13Not really, because I was dancing since I was a kid.
- 33:16Okay.
- 33:17And I also did gymnastics.
- 33:19Okay.
- 33:20So my vision of dance is different, because I see it more like a proper lines, bodies, structure, right?
- 33:30And the dance classes I give people sometimes they don't have a background.
- 33:35And dance.
- 33:36And dance.
- 33:37Okay.
- 33:38So they face, they face different struggles.
- 33:40That's where I was thinking, because I didn't see their way, right?
- 33:45So it took a time, a lot of times to understand what they're going, going, experiencing what struggles they have.
- 33:54Yes.
- 33:55And once I realized, because it made me more mature in a way, because now, because as you, I talk a lot of people every day.
- 34:06And I meet different people.
- 34:07And I, a certain way, the, like, develop to see people's potential or their struggles.
- 34:15Even if they say it or don't say right.
- 34:17Yeah.
- 34:18So I could see especially when they don't say.
- 34:20Yes.
- 34:21And I'm there not to highlight their mistakes.
- 34:25I'm not there to highlight their struggles.
- 34:27I'm there to make it soft, easier.
- 34:30To make them to enjoy, to leave their room and to feel like, oh my god, is that me?
- 34:36Because that's the thing.
- 34:38When you start dancing, especially in my classes, you come just to dance.
- 34:41Right.
- 34:42Then you're like, okay, the teacher is going for that outfit.
- 34:45Maybe I should try something, right?
- 34:47But it takes a lot of process.
- 34:49Sure.
- 34:50It takes a lot of classes just to step up from your comfort zone.
- 34:54It, it sounds like so fast, but in reality, it takes a long time.
- 34:59Do you think your passion now is more in teaching or performing?
- 35:05Wow.
- 35:06I love that question.
- 35:09I was thinking just recently, I was thinking because I never thought I'm capable to teach.
- 35:17Okay.
- 35:18Yes, I was, my intention was to get money.
- 35:21Yes, I was thinking I just need to survive.
- 35:24Yes.
- 35:25I was thinking that I could help so many women out there to get inspired.
- 35:35So now I would say I, I like it 50, 50.
- 35:41Okay.
- 35:42Yes, I cannot pick something one.
- 35:44Sure.
- 35:45Because one is, when is one is missing, you have the other one.
- 35:48When the other one is missing, you have, so it's, yeah, I take energy from both ways.
- 35:53Yes.
- 35:54And in terms of for your own personal development, you said that you wanted to make the money
- 35:57so you could also take classes.
- 35:59Yes.
- 36:00Can you do that in Cambodia?
- 36:01And I'm not trying to be mean to Cambodia.
- 36:02I just don't know.
- 36:03Like, when I think of dancers, I don't necessarily think, oh, yeah, I'm going to come to Cambodia
- 36:07and get better.
- 36:09But I'm just interested in you being here.
- 36:11Are there opportunities in that space?
- 36:14For me, there is no, not opportunity.
- 36:18There is no opportunities for me because I'm not just the beginner.
- 36:23I'm already a professional dance teacher, dancer, and I have my own style.
- 36:27Right.
- 36:28So whenever I go to other teachers, I go someone that has my vision.
- 36:32Right.
- 36:33So it's harder because it makes your option less and less and less.
- 36:36There is some dance classes here.
- 36:38They are good, but not for me.
- 36:40They're not in line with what you need.
- 36:42Yes.
- 36:43Yeah.
- 36:44Sometimes there is so many workshops in Thailand, in Vietnam.
- 36:48So do you go elsewhere?
- 36:50Yes, I do.
- 36:51Okay.
- 36:52I do.
- 36:53So you'll go to neighboring countries and do a workshop.
- 36:56Yeah.
- 36:57Do workshops.
- 36:58Okay.
- 36:59And the workshop teacher there from Australia, from America, over from Europe.
- 37:03Yes.
- 37:04Do you ever think, let me just go live in the country where there's the workshops all the time?
- 37:08I was thinking, oh, yeah.
- 37:10I think you're so good to us.
- 37:12We're having a session.
- 37:14You're like, okay, I got the way how she, I got her life.
- 37:18I got her journey.
- 37:20Yes, I was thinking, just recently I was thinking maybe should I move to Thailand,
- 37:24or maybe should I move to Vietnam to leave there to pursue my career full-time.
- 37:30But no.
- 37:32Okay.
- 37:33No, no, no.
- 37:34Why?
- 37:35I'm going to stay here.
- 37:37Yes.
- 37:38Whatever it takes, it's going to be more harder to go somewhere to travel.
- 37:43But this is home.
- 37:44Yes.
- 37:45I'm staying here because of the people.
- 37:47Not only the people.
- 37:49Okay.
- 37:50It's all the small things that makes a bigger picture.
- 37:53Okay.
- 37:54It's life.
- 37:55It's not just a year.
- 37:57It's everyday, right?
- 37:58So it's the what you leave in everyday.
- 38:00And everyday, I enjoy living here.
- 38:03In everyday, what you can do, going, meeting people, getting taxi, going to the work,
- 38:11cleaning, paying your bills, anything that's small, gives you a bigger picture.
- 38:17And this small things, it's kind of a stress, because you have to, I think anything is stress already for.
- 38:25And more for me, because I'm more artsy.
- 38:27Right.
- 38:29But even just from a career perspective, like don't get me wrong.
- 38:33If my children want to do something in the arts, I will 100% support them on the surface.
- 38:38I'll text you behind the scenes.
- 38:40I'm like, shit, why did they have to want to go and be creative?
- 38:43Just because I think it is, it's a harder path because it's not so easily defined.
- 38:48In the sense that if you tell me you want to be a doctor, I'm not saying that it's easy to be a doctor.
- 38:54But what I'm saying is I can understand the steps that my child needs to take in order to be a successful doctor.
- 39:00Like I understand which schools they need to go to, I understand where they need to go and get an internship.
- 39:04It's just easier for my brain to understand.
- 39:06If they told me that they wanted to be a dancer, I was just like, it's so subjective.
- 39:11That's the other thing, right?
- 39:13Like when you go into certain careers that are like exam based, you know, you need to score well on the exam.
- 39:20But with the arts, with the creative space, it's so dependent on opinions.
- 39:26It's also just not clear and that would scare me.
- 39:29But I would be very conscious.
- 39:31In the same way, you're like, oh, with students that are kids, you need to be aware of your energy.
- 39:35100% I'd be aware of my energy that I'm not trying to steal my baby's dream.
- 39:39But I'm telling you, as an adult, I would be so scared because I just think it would be harder.
- 39:44I mean, it's hard for me now.
- 39:46I don't know what I'm doing in this like creative space, whereas I did a law degree last year.
- 39:51Random. I just.
- 39:53Yeah.
- 39:54Basically, after I had my kids, my uncle reminded me that I always said I was going to be a lawyer.
- 39:59And I thought how crazy would it be to just have twins reopen a restaurant and then do a law degree?
- 40:04Like that would be mad, right?
- 40:06So then I was like, cool, let's do that then because then when my girls get older and they tell me that they can't do something.
- 40:12They're like babes, wrong audience.
- 40:16All moms are the same literally, right?
- 40:18And so I've thought about this in terms of the pursuit of a career in a creative space.
- 40:23And I think is it a case of your passion is so strong that it doesn't matter if you fail.
- 40:29Like do you genuinely believe that?
- 40:31Do you think that if you didn't reach the heights?
- 40:34First of all, what is success?
- 40:36That's a backtrack.
- 40:37What does being a successful dancer mean to you?
- 40:41For me.
- 40:42Yeah.
- 40:43I think I'm already successful.
- 40:45Okay.
- 40:46Okay.
- 40:47Let's start from this because I think I have more opportunities than some people.
- 40:56Why I'm saying this?
- 40:58Because it can be so basic, but I think I can feel whenever I say this.
- 41:03It's home, food, the body that I'm capable to touch, feel.
- 41:10I feel all my five senses and I'm doing something that I really like.
- 41:15So what I need from life.
- 41:17I am successful because every day I think I'm just doing a dance teacher, right?
- 41:23I'm a dance teacher.
- 41:24And it's crazy for me because when I was a kid, I wouldn't imagine myself teaching.
- 41:28I wouldn't imagine myself.
- 41:30Yes, I thought I'm going to be the same like a lawyer, whatever.
- 41:33A serious job.
- 41:35So I don't have to be serious.
- 41:37I'm not serious right now.
- 41:39I'm a fan, I'm creative and I like that.
- 41:42Really enjoy that.
- 41:43But talking about your kids.
- 41:45Yes.
- 41:46And about being creative and artistic people.
- 41:49I think artistic people are the strongest people.
- 41:52Okay.
- 41:53Yeah, are strong because you don't have limits.
- 41:57So whenever you say a doctor, a lawyer, you have a certain way of box.
- 42:02Not a box, let's say, a way that you have, let's say, to shape it in that way to achieve something.
- 42:09Right.
- 42:10But creative, it means you get wider.
- 42:12So you don't have something to touch to feel that makes you going to shape in a way, right?
- 42:16You have to always to follow your instincts.
- 42:20So makes you more emotional because you always, you don't know what to catch.
- 42:27You don't have the tools to make you a better dancer or creative because the dancer is not about the movements.
- 42:34Because now I got the vibe.
- 42:36I got the vibe when I talk to people that are not dancing.
- 42:39So dancing, it's not something you do the moves perfectly.
- 42:43It's not something you look good visually.
- 42:47It has a vision.
- 42:49Everything comes from a vision and vision comes from the way how you see life, the way how you feel.
- 42:55So a dancer means he took a long time to observe, to feel, to express.
- 43:02It makes you stronger.
- 43:04Yes, at the same time, you are so emotional, right?
- 43:09Because you don't have, as I said, the tools, the shape.
- 43:12Right.
- 43:13Yeah, so we're not like an army.
- 43:14We don't go to a dance school and then become like a robot doing the perfect moves.
- 43:19Right.
- 43:20It's a lot.
- 43:21What inspires your dance?
- 43:22My dance.
- 43:24That sounds crazy.
- 43:26Because I've never heard someone saying, as a dance teacher, I watch the other dancers.
- 43:31Okay.
- 43:32Talking the interiors.
- 43:33And I've never heard my answer, which makes me worried.
- 43:36I'm like, should I go to a psychologist?
- 43:40It's going to be so funny, but lines.
- 43:43Lions.
- 43:44Are you taking her?
- 43:45Okay.
- 43:46Yes.
- 43:47It's so vivid.
- 43:49In more way.
- 43:51That's the thing.
- 43:52When I was in Europe.
- 43:53Yes.
- 43:54I saw some buildings and I saw the lines and I'm like, is there, I feel sorry.
- 43:59It makes me feel something.
- 44:01Yes.
- 44:02And then it made sense after three years.
- 44:05When I started teaching, I realized I like certain moves that requires muscles.
- 44:10Right.
- 44:11Yes.
- 44:12And the lines gives me, so there is an option if you dance a small or you make your movements
- 44:18that's big.
- 44:19Sure.
- 44:20And I like to imagine my movements as a, as a building in a way.
- 44:24Yeah.
- 44:25I hope it makes sense.
- 44:26No.
- 44:27I mean, it's surprising.
- 44:28I didn't know that's where you're going.
- 44:29But, but I get it.
- 44:30I mean, it's more surprising.
- 44:31It's all like what's going on.
- 44:33Is it?
- 44:34That's very cool.
- 44:35Yeah.
- 44:36What does your day to day look like?
- 44:37So how often do you teach?
- 44:41Now I teach maybe five, six times per week.
- 44:45Okay.
- 44:46Before I used to teach maybe 20 classes per week.
- 44:4920.
- 44:5020.
- 44:51Okay.
- 44:52Maybe 15.
- 44:53Yeah, per week.
- 44:54Because I was teaching adults and kids.
- 44:56I chose them right.
- 44:57But now I have only five class only.
- 44:59But in Cambodia, it's a lot.
- 45:01Okay.
- 45:02It's a lot because none of the dancers here have so much opportunities for time to do this.
- 45:07So I'm doing five, six classes.
- 45:10I'm also doing private classes.
- 45:12I do projects.
- 45:13Okay.
- 45:14Yes, I do my own projects or I get invited to like today.
- 45:19Yeah.
- 45:20So my day looks like, first of all, I order the best coffee.
- 45:26Why the best?
- 45:27Because it's cheap.
- 45:29It's only one dollar and the lady that gives me coffee.
- 45:32She's amazing.
- 45:33Yeah, I love her.
- 45:35It's so I ordered at the same place.
- 45:39And then I just do my makeup.
- 45:43Outfit.
- 45:44And then create choreography.
- 45:47Okay.
- 45:48I go to the studio.
- 45:49Sometimes I take classes here, my own.
- 45:52Okay.
- 45:53Yes.
- 45:54And then I give classes.
- 45:55It takes maybe three hours.
- 45:57Sometimes the longest was three hours.
- 45:59But yes.
- 46:00And that's it.
- 46:01I met my students.
- 46:02I talk, make videos.
- 46:04And then I edit the videos at home.
- 46:06Okay.
- 46:07Right.
- 46:08I enjoy it.
- 46:09Editing.
- 46:10Editing.
- 46:11Yeah.
- 46:12That's it.
- 46:13That's how my daily life looks like.
- 46:14Has your family visited you here in Cambodia?
- 46:17They're living here now.
- 46:18They live here.
- 46:19They live here.
- 46:20I was thinking where did it.
- 46:21I didn't know that was happening.
- 46:23Yes.
- 46:24As I said, everything.
- 46:25You really are an only child.
- 46:27I'm only child.
- 46:28Yeah.
- 46:29So your parents live here?
- 46:31Yes.
- 46:32They live here.
- 46:33It's amazing.
- 46:34It is amazing.
- 46:35But it wasn't like this.
- 46:36I just said.
- 46:37I wasn't a family person till this year.
- 46:40Yeah.
- 46:41I was living in Russia and other countries my own.
- 46:43Okay.
- 46:44Starting from 14, 15.
- 46:45Okay.
- 46:46Yes.
- 46:47And this is the only year when I realized, oh my god, my family is my best friends.
- 46:51You know what?
- 46:52I got it.
- 46:53Yeah.
- 46:54Everyone talks a lot about the Cambodian family structure being like really important.
- 46:58Yeah.
- 46:59Do you think that that influenced your perception and your relationships with your own family?
- 47:04Well, I think in Kazakhstan, we also have a very strong, strong, strong way, the way
- 47:09we are family.
- 47:10We are very family-oriented kids and family.
- 47:13Okay.
- 47:14So there's two, three things.
- 47:15Kids, family, and how successful you are.
- 47:18Okay.
- 47:19Yeah.
- 47:20So family comes first.
- 47:21Yes.
- 47:22Right.
- 47:23And coming here, yes.
- 47:24It's also family-oriented country because everyone goes with a family with a group of 10, 15
- 47:29people.
- 47:30But I wasn't like that.
- 47:31Okay.
- 47:32I'm very, very different from my family.
- 47:35I like to be alone, solo, I don't call, don't text.
- 47:40Maybe once, in two months, I call my own and like, you know, so how do they end up moving
- 47:47here?
- 47:48They end up moving here because they also like Cambodian.
- 47:50We traveled, yes.
- 47:51We traveled together when we visited Cambodia for the first time.
- 47:55It was with my family.
- 47:56Right.
- 47:57Yeah.
- 47:58And they just love it here as well.
- 48:00Yeah.
- 48:01I think by meeting people here in Cambodia, you will notice that everyone may be similar.
- 48:09They say similar things about Cambodia.
- 48:11Yeah.
- 48:12That every, what's the, the main thing everyone feels good.
- 48:16Right.
- 48:17So we wouldn't stay here if it didn't feel good.
- 48:20I think there's a similarity that I have seen that there's a lot of people who are comfortable
- 48:25by themselves who move to Cambodia.
- 48:27Yeah.
- 48:28And I think there's a lot of people that say that in the same way that you've just described,
- 48:32like, I was fine being by myself.
- 48:34There seems to be, I think the word isolated sometimes gets a negative connotation.
- 48:40And I don't mean it negatively.
- 48:42I got it.
- 48:43But I think people, a lot of the people that I have spoken to who are moving to Cambodia,
- 48:47they're really comfortable just in their own like secluded space.
- 48:52I would say it differently.
- 48:53Okay.
- 48:55Not isolated, but we came here as isolated, because we came here from different countries.
- 49:05So it meant that something didn't work for us in our countries.
- 49:08It might be at least for my surroundings.
- 49:10And when we came here, we're isolated at the same time.
- 49:14We are not forced to change it.
- 49:16We're not forced to change our world, not the way we leave.
- 49:20We're not forced to change the way that we follow certain rules or we have to act certain ways.
- 49:27We're just so many different worlds living here.
- 49:30And the thing is, when you say isolated means you don't connect, you don't observe,
- 49:36you don't express with people, but people here are more likely to be connected with people,
- 49:42rather than in other countries, because we feel no pressure.
- 49:47When you are connecting, you know that this person lives his own world.
- 49:51So you're not forced to, I will explain.
- 49:54For example, I had a problem with Kazakhstan.
- 49:58My friends, they already have babies.
- 50:01So what can I talk about?
- 50:03A dance classes would be boring for them.
- 50:05They would be not interested, at least I could feel, right?
- 50:09Or coming here, people are interested,
- 50:14because they have their own world and they know they're like solo.
- 50:18So they're like, what do you got?
- 50:20I'm like, my dance classes.
- 50:22And they're like, really?
- 50:23What is that?
- 50:24What's going on?
- 50:25And they would come to my dance classes to try.
- 50:28And I would ask for them what you do.
- 50:30And they're like, modeling or DJ.
- 50:32I would never question a DJ in Kazakhstan what he does.
- 50:35Oh really?
- 50:36I would be like, it's a DJ.
- 50:38I have my friends.
- 50:39I said, but yeah, I'm like, what are you doing?
- 50:41It's like a DJ.
- 50:42I'm like, for what?
- 50:43And I could feel different worlds here.
- 50:45The fact that your parents are here.
- 50:47Has that changed your experience of Cambodia?
- 50:50Because for some people, being away from their norm,
- 50:54their comfort zone is liberating.
- 50:57And I just wonder if your experience living here has changed at all
- 51:01since now your family is here?
- 51:04Well, I was living here alone as well in Cambodia
- 51:09and my family were in Kazakhstan.
- 51:11Right.
- 51:12And now we're together.
- 51:13And there was other countries where I lived alone.
- 51:15Okay.
- 51:16And yes, it is frustrating.
- 51:19It is hard at the beginning.
- 51:21Okay.
- 51:22But once you got the comfort zone.
- 51:23And you get your rhythm.
- 51:24Yeah, you got your freedom.
- 51:26You got your rhythm.
- 51:27You would never, never sell your freedom for something.
- 51:30Yes.
- 51:31And Cambodia is more, as I said,
- 51:34more makes your journey soft.
- 51:37So it kind of protects you.
- 51:40Yeah.
- 51:41So the people right here, right here, people here, they also,
- 51:46they are also alone.
- 51:48Okay.
- 51:49So they don't, some of them don't have families here.
- 51:51So we built a family here.
- 51:54Yeah.
- 51:55So your friends don't become your family.
- 51:58But they are more likely to do what family do for you.
- 52:02Sure.
- 52:03Yeah.
- 52:04So they're not going to be there 24-7, right?
- 52:06But whenever you need them, one call, they're there.
- 52:10They're there for you.
- 52:12And you don't even need the call because you could feel the...
- 52:15That there's something.
- 52:16There is something.
- 52:17Yeah.
- 52:18You could feel the support.
- 52:19And in other countries that I lived, I didn't feel that way.
- 52:21Okay.
- 52:22Yeah.
- 52:23I felt alone.
- 52:24I felt like, oh my god, I'm struggling a lot.
- 52:26I need my family.
- 52:27I need my help.
- 52:28Yes.
- 52:29But here, it's, it's easier.
- 52:31Was there anything culturally that you had to get your head around in those earlier, like months when you just moved?
- 52:39Say it again, like culturally?
- 52:40Yeah.
- 52:41That was very different in Cambodian culture that you had to adjust yourself.
- 52:45Because a lot of times, you know, we're in this age where people are moving a lot more than they did.
- 52:50Yeah.
- 52:51There's a certain type of person who, when they move to someone else's country, they expect that country to change to kind of suit them.
- 52:59And you don't have that energy at all.
- 53:01Your energy says, I know that I'm coming to your country and I'm going to adjust so that I make it work.
- 53:06And I'm just wondering, were there any things that you had to kind of change your way of thinking or your mindset because you appreciated that this is the Cambodian way?
- 53:14Yes.
- 53:15Okay.
- 53:16Oh, that's a good question, too.
- 53:17Why so surprised?
- 53:18You don't think I can come up with some good questions?
- 53:20I'm just enjoying our talk.
- 53:23Oh, I didn't thought I'd love to talk a lot.
- 53:26Give me more time to talk.
- 53:30Yes, I struggled.
- 53:32I have this bad habit.
- 53:34In me, I hurry.
- 53:36Okay.
- 53:37Even though I've never been on time, but I hurry.
- 53:41And when you hurry, I realized that's where I got the depression from because you hurry.
- 53:46You don't leave your life.
- 53:47You're like fast fast and you get yourself in a stress out of nowhere.
- 53:51Yeah.
- 53:52Where you could start a time management to proper like structure your time properly.
- 53:59Yeah.
- 54:00And here in Cambodia, there is no time management, but there is more to do everything slowly.
- 54:07Okay.
- 54:08Just slowly, yes.
- 54:10And at that time, it was very, very annoying for me because I'm the person who needs to see people
- 54:18are working.
- 54:19I need to see the callus.
- 54:21I need to see them struggling a little bit.
- 54:24So I could feel they're also putting their all energy into it.
- 54:28That's how I thought.
- 54:29But here, people love to do it, but they are not going to die for it.
- 54:34You don't have to give part of you every day just to do what you like.
- 54:39Sure.
- 54:40They're taking everything slowly.
- 54:41Yeah.
- 54:42So they're like more emotionally intelligent.
- 54:44Let's say, yeah, they're more slowly and they have time.
- 54:49I feel like they don't need to put things when you have, for example, a space.
- 54:57When we talk, we don't have a time when we are just take part.
- 55:01Sure.
- 55:02But when you talk to convenience there, they can be quiet for 10 minutes.
- 55:06Yeah.
- 55:07And it's crazy.
- 55:08Yes.
- 55:09But it's not only about the talk, but the way of how you leave.
- 55:12Right.
- 55:13Because when you do nothing in a home, is there anyone who is sitting at home like for 30 minutes like this?
- 55:18Not right?
- 55:19No.
- 55:20No.
- 55:21That's the thing.
- 55:22Isn't it crazy?
- 55:23How we never stop to do anything?
- 55:25Even the phone.
- 55:26You're still doing something.
- 55:27Yeah.
- 55:28You're working.
- 55:29And I think that's why we sleep not good.
- 55:32But people here, they have a very good, good sleeping schedule.
- 55:37They go to bed at nine, wake up at five a.m.
- 55:40Okay.
- 55:41Yes.
- 55:42And one morning at five in the morning.
- 55:43Yeah.
- 55:44And the morning.
- 55:45Wow.
- 55:46Their morning starts at five at six.
- 55:48Okay.
- 55:49Six to nine.
- 55:50Because my morning started at 11, 10, 11, and then 12, lunch.
- 55:54That's it.
- 55:55Right.
- 55:56I had two hours for the morning.
- 55:58And I just realized I was observing.
- 56:01And they're like, they could sit.
- 56:03They could talk.
- 56:04And it feels very slowly.
- 56:06And it feels good.
- 56:07But at the same time, I don't think I am that kind of person.
- 56:11But I still need the movements.
- 56:13I need to still the energy, let's say.
- 56:16Yeah.
- 56:17And I'm still learning.
- 56:18Yeah.
- 56:19And I hope one day I could just feel just see.
- 56:23Yeah.
- 56:24I mean, I'm with you.
- 56:25I believe in it.
- 56:26It's not easy.
- 56:27I would be able to do it.
- 56:29But I think it makes complete sense.
- 56:31And I agree with you 100% on the rushing.
- 56:33The rushing also starts from like kids.
- 56:36I see people all the time.
- 56:37Everything is rushing.
- 56:38They're rushing when they don't need to rush anywhere.
- 56:40And it's funny and like.
- 56:42When my daughter, she's trying to open the door like to the hotel.
- 56:45And so she's using the key.
- 56:47Yeah.
- 56:48And she's struggling.
- 56:49So it's taken a bit of time.
- 56:50And everyone's like, okay, well, I'll just do it.
- 56:52And I'm like, no, she's not getting frustrated.
- 56:55Right.
- 56:56So let her in her own time.
- 56:57If she's frustrated, then we can help.
- 56:58And eventually she opens the door.
- 57:00It took about 20 minutes.
- 57:01But she eventually opens the door.
- 57:03And she's super happy.
- 57:05And where are we going?
- 57:06We're just going inside a hotel room.
- 57:07Why are we rushing inside to go into the hotel room?
- 57:10But I think that again, maybe it's like a Western influence thing.
- 57:14This idea that we always have to kind of be productive and moving.
- 57:18In the UK, it's rushing is a thing.
- 57:21Even the way people walk on the sidewalk.
- 57:23It's just still.
- 57:25It feels like you could tell they have somewhere to go.
- 57:27To go.
- 57:28And they probably have nowhere to go.
- 57:30Maybe.
- 57:32Do you love food?
- 57:33How's food?
- 57:34Do you like food or is food not a big deal in your life?
- 57:37I love food.
- 57:38Yeah.
- 57:39And come on, they have all the food.
- 57:40All the culture.
- 57:41I was surprised how much international food is here.
- 57:45Yeah.
- 57:46What is food from your home country?
- 57:47Do you have a national dish?
- 57:49We do.
- 57:50It's called Besparmak.
- 57:51Okay.
- 57:52So it means you have five fingers.
- 57:55And you eat your food with five fingers.
- 57:57Okay.
- 57:58Yeah.
- 57:59It's made from meat and like pasta, let's say.
- 58:02Yeah.
- 58:03And it's very oily.
- 58:05Okay.
- 58:06And we eat everything with meat.
- 58:08Right.
- 58:09So if there is a salad, it should be with meat.
- 58:11Yeah.
- 58:12If there is no meat, it means you're not eating.
- 58:14Yeah.
- 58:15So you do well here because there's meat everywhere.
- 58:18I eat everything.
- 58:19Okay.
- 58:20I eat everything.
- 58:21And I enjoy local food.
- 58:23Okay.
- 58:24I enjoy it a lot because it's rice.
- 58:26It's a little bit of meat, egg and vegetables.
- 58:30Right.
- 58:31Yeah.
- 58:32If you were describing life abroad, not necessarily Cambodia,
- 58:36but someone who is curious about moving, what would you say to them?
- 58:41Just in general.
- 58:42Yeah.
- 58:43I think talking about the box.
- 58:48This is the way you could see that there is other worlds.
- 58:53There is other people.
- 58:56Because when you live in one country, you see the same people.
- 58:59Okay, the stories might be a little bit different,
- 59:01but it's not going to change perception of how you see your life.
- 59:06When you travel, you're going to meet a new version of yourself.
- 59:12So in different countries, I found myself different because my different
- 59:16personality is pop-up.
- 59:17And it's not something I already had in me.
- 59:20Some of them, yes, but some of them, they just build it,
- 59:23like the confidence.
- 59:24It didn't come out of nowhere, right?
- 59:26You build it.
- 59:27So the same, you build a new version of yourself.
- 59:30And that's why people love to travel.
- 59:32Because when you travel, even if you stay in your hotel,
- 59:36but you see new buildings, you see new faces.
- 59:39And somehow you start to see the difference.
- 59:42And you talk.
- 59:44Everyone talks in their head.
- 59:45And they see what makes that difference.
- 59:48This place, why it's different from my country, why people
- 59:52they walk fast in London, then in my hometown.
- 59:56So you think you start to think a lot.
- 59:59You start to enjoy life more.
- 1:00:02People love new.
- 1:00:05They just love new.
- 1:00:07And by who are talking about brushing, I think, yeah,
- 1:00:11because people they don't want to accept what they have now.
- 1:00:14They just want something.
- 1:00:16They want it.
- 1:00:17And travel.
- 1:00:18It's the best.
- 1:00:19It's when you travel, everything is new.
- 1:00:21You got the excitement.
- 1:00:23You got the adrenaline.
- 1:00:24You got all the goosebumps.
- 1:00:26It feels like a honeymoon.
- 1:00:28Yes.
- 1:00:29How are you different, the Cambodian version of you?
- 1:00:32The Cambodian version of me.
- 1:00:34Yeah.
- 1:00:35I don't say Cambodian version of me.
- 1:00:36I say when I speak English, it's a different version of me.
- 1:00:40Yes.
- 1:00:41Okay.
- 1:00:42Tell me how you're different speaking English.
- 1:00:44So in English, I'm more fun.
- 1:00:47I'm more fun.
- 1:00:48Yeah.
- 1:00:49I'm more like a confident, sexy and very cool.
- 1:00:53Yeah.
- 1:00:54Going out, extrovert.
- 1:00:55When I speak my language, I become the strict woman you've ever seen in your life.
- 1:01:02Yeah.
- 1:01:03I'm like a teacher, like a proper teacher.
- 1:01:05I wouldn't talk.
- 1:01:06I wouldn't smile.
- 1:01:07I don't know why.
- 1:01:08It's just like crazy.
- 1:01:09Yeah.
- 1:01:10Is there anything that you would have wanted to talk about or touch on that we haven't had in this conversation?
- 1:01:16Well, I would like to say welcome to Cambodian.
- 1:01:20I think it's going to change.
- 1:01:24It's going to add something more in your journey.
- 1:01:28Because there is, as I said, we traveled a lot.
- 1:01:32And when I was talking to people, locals or foreigners in different countries,
- 1:01:37I would learn.
- 1:01:38I would take something.
- 1:01:39Right?
- 1:01:40In Cambodia, it's very unique.
- 1:01:42It's very unique culture and people that lives here are very unique.
- 1:01:47And even if their energy is different, but once you get to know their stories, it would in a way inspire you.
- 1:01:55Or it feels, I would describe it as a movie.
- 1:01:58It feels like you're living a life in a movie where everything feels not real.
- 1:02:04Because it feels good.
- 1:02:07Yes.
- 1:02:08Especially when you come from the country where you struggled.
- 1:02:11So it feels like it feels not boring.
- 1:02:17But it feels you cannot believe that it's something good could happen so fast, so quick, we're just coming here.
- 1:02:26And I'm really glad that you came here.
- 1:02:29I appreciate that you invited me.
- 1:02:32I have one more question.
- 1:02:33If you're a life with a postcard, what would the picture be?
- 1:02:36A postcard.
- 1:02:37Yes.
- 1:02:38What is a postcard?
- 1:02:39So you send back in the day, you are very young.
- 1:02:41Yes.
- 1:02:42You send, you used to travel, you'd buy a card and it has like a picture.
- 1:02:45So you might have like the big band in London or you might have Monument Square.
- 1:02:49But if you had to sum up your entire life into one photo, what would the picture look like?
- 1:02:55Wow.
- 1:02:56A picture of myself, right?
- 1:02:57If you want, some people don't put themselves in there.
- 1:03:00Can I put everything?
- 1:03:01You can put anything.
- 1:03:02All of it, anything.
- 1:03:03I'm feeling everything.
- 1:03:04Would you be dancing in the picture to sum up your life?
- 1:03:09I would be showing my favorite pose.
- 1:03:12Dancing is okay, but I'm like, I want to be pretty in my postcard.
- 1:03:17Are you on the beach?
- 1:03:19Are you in a city?
- 1:03:22For sure, there should be elephant.
- 1:03:25Because I feel Cambodia, so a postcard makes sense.
- 1:03:30Me, next to the elephant.
- 1:03:33Maybe I'm feeding it.
- 1:03:35Lots of, maybe in the jungle.
- 1:03:38Yeah, in the jungle.
- 1:03:39Because I love nature.
- 1:03:41I love nature a lot.
- 1:03:42And I really want to put Montagne.
- 1:03:45Don't question.
- 1:03:47Jungle Montagne.
- 1:03:48Yes, that's how I feel.
- 1:03:49You can have everything you want.
- 1:03:50It gives a wild life.
- 1:03:53I don't know.
- 1:03:54Colorful.
- 1:03:55Amazing.
- 1:03:56Thank you very, very much.
- 1:03:57Thank you for having me.