Episode 6: Each of our perception of 'normal' is based on our lived-experience as a child. Vera Byzova, 44, in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia

Today's episode is with Vera Byzova, a quadrigenarian, or woman in her 40s, living in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia.  I first met Vera in March 2017, as a fellow guest at Gaia Pollini's "F**k It" Retreat, held at Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo at Urbino Italy. My husband, Tom, gave me the book, "F**k It. The Ultimate Spiritual Journey" by John Parkin, for my 50th birthday. A very timely gift and a very enlightening read! John, Gaia Pollini's husband, wrote on the final pages of his book, 'come and see us in Italy on the "Hill That Breathes"'. So we booked it, as one of the only pre-booked dates in our Gap Year of Travel, and got to meet some of the nicest people in the world, eat the best organic Italian food on a vineyard in East Italy! I vividly recall introducing myself to Vera and likewise her to me. Vera looked straight into my eyes and said "I like to hug", which was lucky, because so do I! An outline of Vera's story: Vera has 4 cats, no children, is Russian, and born in 1975. So Vera remembers the Soviet Union, Perestroika and many other unpleasant things and shares her memories of those times. Vera has a degree in English and French and works as a translator from home, although she has also worked as an English teacher, volunteer care assistant to a disabled person, was a housewife for a while and even sold souvenirs to American tourists on a boat. Vera has lived most of her life in her home town and a bit (just over two years) in England. Some days she doesn't go out at all, other days she does - right now she can't for obvious reasons! Vera, unlike others in home town, has a love of travel, has hiked up active volcanoes in Italy and has a bucket list of where to go next!  Vera will share how the questions she pondered in preparation for the podcast made her reconsider some ideas and beliefs she had about her childhood; her memories of hard times, that she had thought were 'normal' as a child, and how each of our perception of 'normal' is based on our lived-experience as a child. We talk about Covid-19's impact on Russia, what life is like in Vera's small town of 300,000 people and Vera's desire to learn, grow, travel and make friendships throughout Europe (and Australia).   We kept having time-delays given internet is a little busy right now but it was a pleasure learning more about Vera's life. Vera has the best laugh, so an added bonus, is Vera will share that laughter with you throughout. We could all do with a shared laugh right now, all the way around this globe we call home.