Pacific ocean

Living in Oregon has some huge benefits. I grew up only seeing water larger than a puddle once a year when my dad and I would go to Saratov - a small southern town in Russia with the biggest river in the country, the Volga river. I can't complain as that was the best time I ever had as a child. I had never seen an ocean up until I was nineteen. It was my first month in the US when Andrew took me to see the Oregon coast.

Here we are, 3 years later, enjoying the same coast together. I love water... even when I don't get to spend time in it. I love watching waves, surfers, birds, rocks - it's so calming and makes me think that everything is in its place now.

Sonya. 

Smith Rock and something about my fears

Let's talk about bravery today. Do you consider yourself brave? What do we actually know about that?

I used to be this kind of a person who always thought that nothing would ever happen to me. At some point I felt kind of immortal, like there is no way anything could ever make me disappear of even get hurt. It also affected my life-views, when in school and at work I'd always be fighting for truth. I'd never be scared to stand out and speak up and make sure that everything becomes fair and right.
For some reason recently this feeling has been fading away, as if I've started to actually believe that I'm not that fearless. That I'm also a human being and just like with every other humans in this world, something might happen to me also.
I must admit, I hate this feeling as it makes me feel this  annoying discomfort, as if I'm not in my element anymore.

And you are wondering, why is she talking about her fears? It's because I feel that instead of hiding it all in my head I must expose them and probably talk to a few people. What do you think, am I brave still even if I'm scared?

That day we went to the Smith Rock - gorgeous "Valley of the Dinosaurs", like I always call that in my head. It's so peaceful and calming, where you forget about technology and the existence of the modern world. And besides the wonderful trails to hike this is one of the top destinations for the world-class climbing.
I used to climb at the gym twice a week when I lived in Moscow two years ago. I've never been afraid of heights and I always felt secure, as long as you do everything right of course.
But this year for some reason the thought of going on to the real rock terrifies me. It became out of my comfort zone. And I'm trying to figure out what am I scared of now? I know how climbing works, I know that I'll be safe, but something inside me stops from putting the gear on right away.

Now I think that true bravery is about overcoming your fear, because in the end of the way everyone is scared... right?

xx Sonichka

deer stalking and sunday chat

At the moment Andrew and I are in Bend, Oregon, staying with Andrew's sister and her husband so while everyone is busy with some preparations (they're having their friends over tonight) I decided to post a few pictures from our last trip to Basket Slough to spot some deer. This is something that I wouldn't get back in Russia and here 20 minutes away from the town and there is some wild life going on already. 

I feel like my recent posts are promoting Oregon's nature and I sure like taking pictures of it.

P.S. I'm talking below to my Russian friends regarding how amazing it is that all the things I've ever wished for come true. I believe that positive thinking can create life-changing results, such as increased wealth, health and happiness. So if you have your own example of how positive thinking worked for you -please share in the comments below. These stories inspire me and bring lots of happy thoughts.

Thank you someone up there for my lucky life.

Эти выходные Эндрю и я проводим в городе Бенд, Орегон, у его сестры и ее мужа и пока все занимаются своими делами я решила накатать быстренько этот пост с парой фотографий. Невероятно, конечно, осозновать, что в 20 минутах от дома можно увидеть настоящую лесную жизнь, например в виде оленей. "Бемби" был одним из моих самый любимых мультфильмов в детстве, поэтому к оленям я испытываю особую симпатию и любовь, которая теперь выражается в том, что я скупаю все, что как-либо напоминает мне этих "рогатых" дружков. Они очень милые, правда. Но, как оказалось, в Орегоне туда, где водятся олени, заглядывают и пумы, или так называемые горные львы, ну и конечно, я ведь везучая, мы увидели этих кошек в этот раз, но достаточно далеко, чтобы я начала паниковать.

Когда люди в России думают об Америке, чаще всего им представляется Нью-Йорк и его небоскребами, или Лос-Анджелес с шикарнами домами и пляжами, но не так часто мы думаем о том, как здесь может быть красива лесная и горная природа. Как и я не знала, пока мне не посчастливилось приехать на 4 месяца в Сиэттл почти три - даже не верится, что столько времени прошло!- года назад. Тогда я и познакомилась с водопадами, лесными массивами, горами, озерами и океаном. Если бы тогда мне кто-то сказал, что это станет моим домом, я бы не поверила. А теперь я здесь. И кто не верит в то, что мечты материализуются, тот сами знаете кто. Потому что абсолютно все подчиняется законом вселенной, как не крути. 

Мне было бы интересно узнать, что у вас сбылось из того, что вы загадывали? Или о чем мечтали? Материализуются ли ваши мысли? Такие истории меня всегда вдохновляют и приятно осознавать, что это работает для очень многих людей. Вы можете поделиться ими в комментариях внизу - быть зарегестрированным необязательно. 

Всем хорошей недели и материализации мечт.

xx Sonichka

Sun-day

I'll keep this post simple as the photos are speaking for themselves and I don't think I need to add anything. Oregon weather has been very good to us and it felt almost like summer, however during this trip the coast was still pretty windy. It's amazing for me to see people dressed in coats and swim shorts at the same time on the beach, but this is what's Oregon like - everyone feels it differently. Like in moscow during rain days I'd never forget an umbrella, and here you just put a raincoat on and good to go. We went there with Andrew's mom, Amanda and her little boy Frank who took us along on their little adventure.

Пока на данный момент я наслаждаюсь временем здесь и привыкаю к новому дому, но точно, с уверенностью, могу сказать, что счастью нет предела. В жизни все происходит не просто так, и я на себе проверила, что мысли материализуются. И это совсем не шутки - все, что я хотела, продолжает исполняться и я безумно благодарна вселенной за все возможности и открытые двери и в общем этот прост про то, что я очень рада. <3

Здесь мы на выходных с мамой Эндрю, сестрой и маленькой собачкой Френком (которую, кстати, Аманда взяла из питомника брошенных собак) поехали на океан. Очень интересно видеть совершенно другое отношение людей к погоде здесь - например в Москве если идет дождь, я никогда не выйду из дома бз зонта, а в Орегоне я просто одеваю дождевик, как и все, и ветер дождь совсем не помеха. Так же и в эти выходные было тепло, но очень ветренно, и это не мешало многим семьям наслаждаться солнцем в плавках и купальниках.

9 days in September

I've already done an Iphone post about the trip and now I think it's time to post some more photos from my favorite camera. This post is mostly devoted to my russki friends who always ask why I go back to the same place over and over. 

That's why.

Я уже публиковала фотографии с айфона и сейчас, я думаю, самое время выложить фотографии с моей любимой камеры. Этот пост, в основном, я хочу посвятить своим русским друзьям, которые спрашивают, почему снова и снова я возвращаюсь в одно и то же место. Именно поэтому.

Внизу очень много фотографий и все они очень личные. В этой поездке произошло много событий, которые, возможно, очень круто поменяют течение в реке, в которой я плыву в данный момент. Я чувствую, что перемены грядут очень скоро, и как ребенок, который ждет подарка, я так же с нетерпением смотрю в будущее и так же стараюсь замечать радости в настоящем. Столько прекрасного вокруг меня происходит сейчас, остается только быть благодарной и счастливой. И самое интересное, что я начала осознавать  что все эти вещи были со мной очень долгое время, просто я их не замечала. Урок дня- радоваться каждому моменту. Сегодня, сейчас, в данную секунду. 

США, Орегон, сентябрь, 2013

travel diary

i used to plan ahead all the things in my life. i don't anymore. i realized that it's just the illusion of feeling safe about the future. and the best part of it that the unpredictable things turn out to be the most amazing. i didn't plan this trip way ahead. it kind of just happened. and you can tell from my happy face that 18 hours of flight are definitely worth all of it. 

all the pictures here are taken and edited on my iPhone 

northwest, September, 2013

The night is young

The night is young and so are we

Dear blog,

You witnessed all the adventures I had to go through during 2012. I can't even explain how grateful I am for all I experienced. Unfortunately I have to say goodbye to 2012 and leave some things there. Or do I really have to leave them behind?
I tried climbing, horse riding, learnt scuba diving and got my university degree. I traveled twice to America and did several hikes along the Pacific coast. I tried new food, got promoted and learnt new things about myself. And what's more important I lived, I loved and I was happy.

This should be the last post about my American travels in 2012. I miss my friends. Thank you for my this amazing year!

forever or not

The days slowly get shorter while I take out my sweaters packed away since April. It's snowing today and I'm home alone writing this little story thinking about lots of different things. 

There are 1,001 ways to describe the heady sensation that comes with seeing a place for the first time. It's what gets travel enthusiasts hooked on travel. If it's been a while since you've felt the traveler's high, you're probably long overdue for a real adventure.

So every now and then the life gives me some surprises. Sometimes it's something material, but the greatest things I've got are just about emotions. I love my life for some opportunities I've got and here is one of them.

I was lucky to see Oregon again for the most amazing time of the year, when orange, red, green and grey colours made it incredibly beautiful.  I'll never forget the smell of salty water on the Oregon coast which is always beautiful regardless the season. You can show up just about anywhere in Oregon blindfolded, open your eyes and find something to do in a matter of minutes. And that's what I mostly love about it.

Of course There were little ups and downs during the trip like falling off the tree but the things like first ever s'mores, first scuba dive in the Washington state and first ever Halloween made me entirely happy.

I'm at this point in my life now when I want to try as many new things as I can but also I want to be a little more concerned about the future. It drives me crazy when I don't know what's going next and whether I end up being happy or not. But I've realised that maybe when I don't know future these little things make me even more happy when I receive them. Paradox? 

Let's just stick to something that makes me happy. Even if it's not forever. 

Here are some snapshots of what made me happy this October.

Oregon. Washington. Arizona.

Summer snow

I probably didn't have enough time to write my stories because I was trying to participate. But there are moments when I just want to share everything what I've seen and experienced. I wish that all the people I love and care about could have been there and seen everything with me. But as much as I like to write I just want to show my pictures so that way my friends would get the whole idea of how happy I was at the moment.

These moments are not stories. This is happening. 

July, 2012

Mount Hood