Today’s guest is comedienne, actress, and journalist Kristina Grekova — sharing her thoughts on building intimacy while living in forced emigration, why it’s important to talk about boundaries and emotions, and why it’s becoming harder for us to stay together. We discuss loneliness, short-term connections, the Belarusian context, and new forms of relationships — without excessive expectations, but with real closeness.
Do we truly want to be in relationships? Is the modern concept of family based on connection, or is it merely a structure that is convenient for the state?
Kristina says that education and access to information can reshape how we think about relationships. We often only see the public part of someone’s life, and even in close circles it’s sometimes hard to talk openly — for instance, about sexual preferences. Taboos remain strong.
Speaking up is a vital part of any relationship. According to Kristina, both romantic and platonic connections rest on three pillars: boundaries, the degree of vulnerability, and the degree of trust.
How much vulnerability can you allow yourself in a relationship and still feel safe in it? How clearly are your boundaries communicated? The ability to build deeper connections depends on these points. Without mutual agreements, relationships can’t truly grow.
Loneliness feels sharper in forced emigration. Even close friends who end up in the same city outside Belarus can lose their former closeness. We grow used to being on our own — simply because we lack experience in asking for help or initiating connection.
In Belarus, social bonds often formed through school, university, work, or family. But in forced emigration, these connections must be built consciously — and that takes more energy. The desire for meaningful connection is there, but often there’s not enough strength to make it happen.
This gives rise to a new kind of connection — short-term intimacy. A bond without obligations or detailed agreements, but with moments of full presence and warmth. We discussed whether “random encounters” can really work — or whether the odds of a meaningful connection with a stranger are too small.
Is it possible to form close relationships with people outside the Belarusian context? We explored both the pros and cons — and concluded that shared context matters. It doesn’t have to be traumatic — just something that unites.
More on this — in the full episode. And don’t forget to catch Kristina’s stand-up. Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umkadv/
