The Kitchen-Table Talks. Life is a Story - story.one

Arina Shalagina

Born in the early 2000s in Russia's Povolzhie region, my early years were framed by the transformation from Soviet relics to modernity, where old Volgas gave way to foreign cars, and childhood adventures unfolded by the river and under the sun with vanilla ice cream in hand. Moving to Moscow introduced me to a city of contrasts, from historic decay to the unforgiving pace of a metropolis. Conversations with my grandmother in the kitchen, surrounded by the aroma of traditional Russian cooking, were foundational, teaching me self-reflection and igniting my love for storytelling. Dostoevsky and Chekhov became my guides through the complexities of human emotion, enriching my love for storytelling that had begun with my first story at five. Now in Germany, I'm embracing a new chapter where writing continues to be my sanctuary and a bridge to understanding the world and myself.