I like reading, writing, and socializing. A friend once said that he felt "drowning in the mundane" while listening to me. I took it as a compliment. In my view, decency, empathy, and tolerance are far more attractive than self-perceived sophistication. I was fascinated by Dostoevsky's short stories as a teenager and still admire his timeless writing on my favorite subject, the mundane. I also like to watch Russian movies when I have a chance.