Sergey Grechishkin is the first visitor we met on Wednesday.

Based on my memory, I roughly summarized the process. His book narrates a grown-up story of a boy in the USSR. Fortunately,  I have a vague impression of the history of the USSR and people’s living conditions at that time. Under the name- Everything is normal, the main character’s life and surrounded people, based on his childhood, all seems normal and traditional, however, there are deeper values and restrictions that are way more interesting. Moreover, most of the people do not experience the shift of living style between an old brand socialist country to a capitalist country, there are some cultural transformations that triggered my curiosity.

Something I am interested in and can be my potential topic is that he told us the restrictions of Coca-cola, as the government viewed it as a capital product. On the other hand, the corporation of domestic firms and Pepsi in the USSR. Citizens are not allowed to consume fast foods such as burgers and fries, or yogurt, which are typically considered as western food. Indeed, some of the facts surprised me, and all the restrictions on products are related to the government’s ideology.

Lately, he answered several questions about how can he deal with his relatives after he published the book or did he feel regret after publication. He did not hesitate. I can see the designed the characters intentionally, after several revises, not all of the plots are real since the influences after the publication took into account. Anything deal with social impact and reputation? There must be “One theme carries from the beginning to the end.” as he said.

Now, I want to know more about the book.

“I am working with survivors with sexual violence.”

Katie Powel Rachid came during the second section on that Wednesday. From her appearance, I did not expect that she works with survivors with sexual violence, including verbal and physical. She then told us about her experiences, her clients, the cases, and the difficulties. This is never an easy job to do, she has to face different cases and hear her clients talk about their depressions. This sort of work demands people with inner strength, like her.

However, she revealed something I did not think about it – the support system. I asked her how can she recover if her clients’ negative emotions influenced her. Noticed that the support system is connected, she has her own mentor to talk so putting the system into place can ease the tasks for her. I consider the supportive cycle is the most essential element for her and her clients since people always need emotional and physical supports when they are depressed. Additionally, understands the individual’s right and provides information relates to law and resolution, give clients choices.

In the end, she said ” anyone can support anyone, we all have the capacity to do it.