I've decided to switch to another account with a new name and PFP.

I originally started using SW again, after EP shut down, when I moved from Denmark to Ukraine because I wanted to blog about my experiences here – everything was super weird and different to me, and even though I have lived here for around 7-8 years now, I still get surprised from time to time. Anyways, my posts that had any mentality other than American were often met with ignorance, but whatever, there were always a couple of cool people too.

When the war started, that's when everything went to crap, because now my posts were regarded as political topics. 🤦🏼‍♀

I can genuinely say I have not enjoyed blogging about living Ukraine since that day, and certain types of people use the details I share about my personal life as ammunition in petty keyboard-warrior battles that I do not even consider myself a part of. 🙄

This is why I've decided to switch to a new account, on which I do not mention my personal life at all. I don't know what I'll blog about exactly, but probably just creative stuff.

The people who know me somewhat well will likely notice who I am, but I will not link my new name and picture to this account. I don't intend to outright hide that I live in Ukraine as I still want to upload photos, but I won't discuss my country of residence in comments or on my profile.

I think it's a shame that SW is as Americanized as it is, instead of being a space where everyone around the world can feel comfortable, but in the end of the day I've been here for so long that I just don't see myself leaving.

If you see my new profile and recognize me, feel free to ask in DMs if it's me. 😽

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Pretzel · 70-79, M

We tend to be rather narrow minded.
Sorry that was your experience.

Glad you're still sticking around - and be safe there

Nightwings · F

@Pretzel The only problem with American mentality is the tendency to discuss foreign affairs, and sadly this is now accompanied by a lot of misinformation which I rarely see in coming from other countries. My life has not become political, but my SW profile apparently has. 😆 🤦🏼‍♀

Pretzel · 70-79, M

@Nightwings I can discuss politics - but only to say how corrupt it is - and I AM happy to have the freedoms I have here but I don't think other people are necessary inferior because they don't live here.

(and don't tell anybody I said this but I think some countries do some things better than we do)

Nightwings · F

@Pretzel In the end of the day, every country has its perks and downsides. It might be objectively better to live in a rich country than in a poor one, but most people will like their own country more than any other, simply because they grew up there and it feels familiar to them. I find myself missing silly little things from my home country, like a type of chocolate that I never even liked, sometimes. 😆

22Michelle · 70-79, T

@Nightwings The problem with an Americanized mentality is the tendency to discuss foreign affairs as if they are just like American domestic affairs.

Pretzel · 70-79, M

@Nightwings ahh yes, the "forbidden fruit"

and you grow up with a certain way of dealing with people, societal expectations and when people act differently than "normal" it throws you off

it gives tourists a bad name in the new country - people expecting things to be the same as their country

but if everything was the same - why leave?

Nightwings · F

@22Michelle That's actually so well put.

Nightwings · F

@Pretzel Yes, I am glad that there exists so many different countries, cultures, and languages – the world is like an unimaginably content-rich video game. Lol.

Pretzel · 70-79, M

@Nightwings wish we could push the reset button every once in a while