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My Gravatar
It started with an introduction to poverty. The type that’s close to its abject form. I grew through it alongside its companions: my friends and my family. After the years of blissful experiences...
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My Gravatar Pt2: The Russian Encounter
It’s been a while since I’ve ventured this far into the world. Now I’m at Johannes Places restaurant. The person I’m meeting reminds me of me. Cool calm and collected with childish temper issues. He’s...
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Discovery
The archaeologists had been searching for ages, but they didn’t expect what they found. Many of them were laughing and congratulating themselves on their discovery: ‘Oh my God!’ ‘I can’t believe it! I...
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My Gravatar Pt3: Intimate Attempt
I spent the rest of my stay in Russia in a hotel that was scarily silent and without many visitors. I started to think that Leonid – despite his gentle demeanor – was setting up an environment to...
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My Gravatar Pt4: Airport Greeeting
The sound of an aeroplane landing is always louder than I would like. The airport was far from quiet as well. There were two other people waiting for me when I arrived. Jake Ard, an Australian who’s...
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My Gravatar Pt5
It was a taxi ride longer than any I’d ever been given. Night was coming on by the time we stopped. Cheng paid the driver and walked ahead while me and Jake followed. Jake was walking beside me, which...
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My Gravatar Pt6: Meeting
Within a minute we were at the location. It was covered in a dark roller shutter that was hard to see in a night absent of necessary streetlights. Cheng slammed what sounded like a rhythm against it...
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My Gravatar Pt7: Translation
A creaking noise was coming from somewhere above me but I didn’t look to see. It was too dark to spot the cause anyway. Before I spoke I called Cheng over, so as to remind him that he should translate...
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My Gravatar Pt8: The Big Plan
I shuffled in my seat thinking of a way to buy time. Despite the low illumination the lights provided I could see people’s eyes were on me more than they had been since I began talking. Jake coughed...
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My Gravatar Pt9: Questions
I watched the elderly man who had raised his hand get out of his seat, he easily stood at six foot five. His hair was tied back in a ponytail and his sleeves were rolled up, showing long muscularly...
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My Gravatar Pt10
I had to speak a bit loudly to ensure everyone was hearing me clearly and that the few people who were still mumbling quietened, ‘I might not have enough time to tell you all the reasons why my...
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Identical Twins
I walked in expecting to see the same, anything besides that would have been a shock. So what my eyes met I wasn’t prepared to see. Their looks stunned me, until Rob’s voice straightened my senses....
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My Gravatar Pt11: Deliberation
The silent mumbling combined with the odd stretch of someone raising their voice made me uneasy. Fang Wyan had moved into the darkness to join the thoughtful mob, and their collective silhouettes...
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Expansion Pt12: Fruition
There was a lot of smiling but not on my side. Me, Jake and Cheng remained calm as Fang along with his gang shook our hands thoroughly and repeatedly. Later Cheng would tell me that they were thanking...
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Expansion Pt13: Thinking Back
The morning after our meeting with Fang’s Triad faction, we got up before the start of the afternoon and readied ourselves without much conversation. Instead of eating at the hotel we went to a place...
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Expansion Pt14: Planning
We were at our table for almost two hours talking and outlaying plans that we hoped would be useful in the future. The majority of the ideas we came up with most likely wouldn’t be used at all. Not...
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Expansion Pt15: The Capital (1)
It couldn’t have taken any longer to get back to London. When I finally arrived my home sickness wore off quicker than the polish on leather shoes. I should have expected this. I can swear every time...
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Expansion Pt16: The Tube
I have nothing against public transport. I had to use it for five years everyday during my time in secondary school and I’ve become very used to the variety of people who need it. They could be the...
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Expansion Pt17: Old Friends
It would be a good time to call a taxi as the walk home from where I’ve gotten off is just under twenty minutes . . . double that with my pace of walking and the luggage I’ve got with me. For some...
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Expansion Pt18: Cable Sweets
He offers me one of his sugary cables, and I look at him offended by his small offer before asking for a handful. He tilts the small bag forward and I stick my hand down it trying to grasp as much as...
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