Uprooting Anastasia

What does it mean to belong somewhere when you've called 15 different cities home? A recent passenger offers a fascinating glimpse into a truly global life, having lived across six countries before recently settling in Washington DC after a stint in China. 

"The world is your oyster"—but what happens when you constantly uproot? Our latest episode explores heritage, identity, and finding yourself while constantly moving. How do you create belonging when you're always starting over? #LetsDrive

Connect:

RSRT Facebook

RSRT Instagram

RSRT TikTok

About: Foundation Digital Media | Kuna Video

Chapters

• 0:00 Podcast Introduction
• 1:42 Identity and Secret Passports
• 4:32 Family Heritage and Immigration
• 8:35 The Immigrant Experience
• 12:55 Life Across 15 Cities
• 19:28 The Journey and Closing Thoughts

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Speaker 1 0:10

Welcome to another episode of Rideshare Road Talk Conversations in Motion, a podcast where we create unfiltered talk space that examines the meaningful lives of my passengers, while engaging in personal and topical discussions. I'm your host and driver, john Fondas, and we're cruising the streets of Washington DC. Buckle up, let's drive. Hey there, how are you?

Speaker 2 0:35

Carriage.

Speaker 1 0:37

I'm not your typical ride share driver, so enjoy while you can.

Speaker 2 0:42

Wow, I do this for a podcast. A couple times a week Say again Wow, I do this for a podcast a couple times a week say again I do this for a podcast a couple times a week.

Speaker 1 0:52

I'll drive downtown and do a podcast and they go home that really is a fantastic episode. I won't ruin it for you, but Susan's husband was an asshole and so. I'll leave it at that so I do it's always recording you can just say I'd rather not be on, and then just nothing happens. Wow, I want to be on. Okay, you're on. Perfect, I'll be quiet and let's start talking.

Speaker 2 1:33

Wow, that's going to be a podcast. Hey, this guest was a legal asshole, exactly, and she sued me.

Identity and Secret Passports

Speaker 1 1:41

No, no no, you're only like probably the 100th attorney I've driven um. Yeah, folks are everywhere. It's the city right? Yeah, it is it is.

Speaker 2 1:50

That's what you get as an attorney but, I'm not. I'm not practicing, so don't worry I keep my license, that's good but I'm, I keep my license, but I don't practice, okay, so is it like bartending? It's just a life skill for you, I know it's a different kind of bar but the bar is very high but you have to keep tipping well played, well played.

Speaker 2 2:12

I have to do 32 hours of it's called called continuing legal education. Mmm, my favorite parts about ethics, where you know it's like you're not supposed to be the client and you and someone's conflict of interest it's all fun.

Speaker 1 2:28

It's all the best, of course. Where is home for you now?

Speaker 2 2:33

What do you think? Oh, it's-.

Speaker 1 2:35

Well, you mentioned New York.

Speaker 2 2:37

Right, it was a home for the best year of my life probably, but it was like 15 years ago.

Speaker 1 2:43

Oh, okay.

Speaker 2 2:44

But oyster life in my world is your oyster. For the best year of my life, probably, but it was like 15 years ago, oh, okay, um, but uh, oyster life, my world is your oyster.

Speaker 1 2:50

No home is dc now okay where I live now how long have you been in dc?

Speaker 2 2:55

a just over a year.

Speaker 1 2:56

Okay, just over you have nine more years till you can officially call yourself a washingtonian whoa, that's the way that's, I think, full for me, even if I'm not American. No, it doesn't matter.

Speaker 2 3:07

Really yeah.

Speaker 1 3:09

Where's the mother country? Where are you from?

Speaker 2 3:11

It's a bit tricky.

Speaker 1 3:12

Because it's changed names so many times.

Speaker 2 3:16

Including yes, including that, but I don't know, maybe that's not for a podcast.

Speaker 1 3:24

It's just for conversation.

Speaker 2 3:25

I have two, two like I'm on a. I'm on one passport here, but I have another passport that is not super popular these days, so I sometimes keep it secret.

Speaker 1 3:34

Well, don't. You can keep your secret with me. I have no one to tell. But you know, anyone that listens Can guess.

Speaker 2 3:42

Well, I recently done. There's like an app where you could test your accent. Oh nice, and I've managed to trick it into thinking that I'm Bosnian, okay, which is very I'm like kudos for the system. Not many people know what a Bosnian accent is and where the country is, and I mean, I don't know, I I'm not from bosnia, but I think it's a very I I was very proud of myself that tricked a little bit yeah, but for the purposes of this conversation, I'm from the uk fair enough and if you think, I believe that I am from the uk.

Family Heritage and Immigration

Speaker 1 4:21

I have a new guy passport I'm, I'm officially British. Yeah, that's good for you, that's what the American government has acknowledged. So don't be damn serious, make that work for you.

Speaker 2 4:34

Many countries like this beautiful country is accepting people to be from all over the world right. Including ancestors.

Speaker 1 4:44

That's what the the blueprint says. Yeah, I have. I'm entitled to dual citizenship through my father. By descent he was from Greece he was from Greece and just outside of Sparta, whoa.

Speaker 2 5:01

I usually called Sparta like my I am I I'm lucky because I get a lot of tough assignments and I usually quote Sparta like my I am I, I'm lucky because I get a lot of tough assignments and I usually say like they treat me as a, you know, as a child in Spartan you know if you a little bit weak. They would like throwing you into the woods. If you make it, you make it. I'm like. I'm constantly feeling like I'm the tough child.

Speaker 1 5:21

Spartan 300 in Sparta yeah so he was born in the year, so he was born in greece, came here during world war ii as a young boy and uh, and then my mother's family is uh was half italian, from naples and the other half was from uh, ukraine, from odessa, so lots of things going on.

Speaker 2 5:45

Do you keep any of the heritage? Did she keep any of the heritage?

Speaker 1 5:49

Oh, I speak a little bit of Greek, italian not so much, you know, my boss is Greek.

Speaker 2 5:59

She says I have very good Greek accent.

Speaker 1 6:01

You do, you do. Yeah, you rolled very nicely and better than mine just two words. That, uh, that my name is greek so um, yeah, yeah, of course, of course it's um and I have a names day.

Speaker 2 6:13

Greeks always say that I have a names day I'm closer because they say christos anastasios right that's the, that's the gist that's right, that, wow, that's great. So why did he never come back? Because it's not a country that you know honestly, I think he was technically illegal. There or here, or both.

Speaker 1 6:38

I think no here. Because, when he left it was illegal. He was eight and I think at the time and I could be wrong there was some language in the law that because it was wartime that he might have been the byproduct of a love child with a Nazi soldier from a German soldier, because they occupied Greece. And so that was kind of like a red flag. But he came in through Ellis Island but he didn't have paperwork and so fast forward his whole life.

Speaker 1 7:10

When it was time for him to retire and do his social security or whatever, he hit some roadblocks. And I was like, okay, and that was kind of the reason why we couldn't go back, Cause I think he would have had to pay a fine and do something. You know anyway.

Speaker 2 7:28

Do you feel something like because there's like this talk about, like do people feel the history right? Like do they feel connected? Is there something in there Like do you feel I don't know when you think, when you, you know, watch a movie about the war, do you feel like any? Do you have any emotions that?

Speaker 1 7:51

you know you're particularly moved, or? Yeah, I think you know my family stories are very similar to a lot of people where you know they came from war-torn countries during World War II or pogroms in Russia where you know the Cossacks and the Jews were just. You know, it was just horrible history. I agree.

The Immigrant Experience

Speaker 1 8:07

But I do have these connection points and this pull for history and about those things, and I think a lot of people are like that. Where you know I can trace back, my Italian great-grandfather worked at the palace in Naples or in Caserta, the Rose Garden. He tended the Rose Garden there, and then on the other side he was the chief forester for the Tsar in Russia, all these great little anecdotal stories.

Speaker 2 8:41

Because I think, particularly now, people are a little bit like oh, immigrant is becoming a big negative word, but I think there's so much beauty into you know, taking your life in your hands and also like the world is a mixture right.

Speaker 1 9:00

Perspective right, I mean. The great paradox is what's happening now where you know, immigrant is somehow air quotes a bad word now.

Speaker 2 9:11

It's like wait stop.

Speaker 1 9:12

Everyone knows what we're really talking about.

Speaker 2 9:16

Which I think is ironic for this country that so I used to live in Boston. I came here when I was in Boston and I thought Boston takes such a particular pride in coming from this generation of you know first immigrants who've? Been so brave that they've taken their life in their hands and they decided. It's just so American right it's such a good American yeah, and then Boston is not.

Speaker 2 9:39

I'm sorry for, for, for, for, for for saying this, but Boston is not the most kind of place that welcomes, I think, immigrants. I think New York is much more multicultural. Dc, I think, is the best, to be honest, I think it's the most accommodating.

Speaker 1 9:57

Yeah Well, every immigrant wave faced, and still does face, its battles of assimilation and finding their way.

Speaker 2 10:05

It's no different now than it was in the 30s regardless of city right. It just would would happen everywhere I actually think that some people try to keep and that's very interesting. So some people try to keep their identity right and then yeah when you are immigrant. I think that's the hardest part that you know they're. Maybe for the second generation that's easier because you have more connections with the country that you live in.

Speaker 2 10:30

But your first place, particularly if you, if you've been parting with the original country not on good terms. What if you are? You know you're trying to be, to feel yourself right, and then sometimes you feel even more connected to your food and you of course. You want to speak your home language to your kids. And you kind of live in a small little Italy, right, right right, of course. And then there's this extra incentive to keep this right.

Speaker 1 10:59

Right and there's a balance there, Because you want to hold on to that heritage but you also want to progress for our next generation.

Speaker 2 11:06

But it's a fine balance, right.

Speaker 1 11:08

It is.

Speaker 2 11:09

I think everyone finds their own balance and sometimes it's not a choice, because sometimes you know you don't speak the language You're not accepted there are people who stare at you, etc. Etc. But I think it's like there is no one single way how to be a happy immigrant. So there's like there way how to be a happy immigrant.

Speaker 1 11:27

so there's like there's beauty to it right, yeah, my father would always make a joke rather an aggressive, hard-hitting joke that you know none of the atms and 800 numbers you call to pay a bill are in greek. They give you the option of spanish. No one gave me the option of greek when I came here, so that's a rather hard line way to approach it, but it's not inaccurate either.

Speaker 1 11:49

Um, yeah, but my Italian side, they they assimilated and changed the last name and shortened it like a lot of people did. Uh, the family name was Masucci and they changed it to Mason and it stayed like that now you know, for three generations right, right, yeah, I wonder what's the original generation in italy?

Speaker 2 12:12

thought you know, because sometimes when you when you go away, like your grandma is like oh, you changed, you're longer one, yeah sure, and you're like, like you want to. It's very hostile move, normally right to To integrate and you want to have some support at least for your family.

Speaker 1 12:27

Right, but they would be the ones who are like no, let me put the last nail into your coffin. Right, the family name's not good enough for you. Oh, no, no, no.

Speaker 2 12:37

And then all the questions like oh, why you're married to this? Other national why your kids are not.

Speaker 1 12:42

Oh, my God your kids are not the same age. Oh my God, there are worse things than that.

Life Across 15 Cities

Speaker 2 12:46

But, I think it's like a lot of, and I think people do not talk about this as much right. Like this trauma of immigration. There's like different aspects, like depression, finding a job, but just I think immigration is such a phenomenon that so this is my 15th city to live in 15?

Speaker 1 13:10

15. Wow, I've moved a lot and I that's quite an adventure.

Speaker 2 13:16

I lived in six countries and I've just moved from last year. I moved from China. So speaking of Wow, Okay, Speaking of immigrants but, I've never, like I've moved there without the intention to stay. So that was clear. And I think no foreigner moves to China with an intention to stay, except for very, very few people, very, very few. So that's. I think it's different Like you immigrate, but still, even if you know you're going to stay in this country you're not going to buy a house and retire.

Speaker 2 13:45

You still want to make like your, your peace yeah, with the country, and then sometimes it's like for me it was for job, but I've always been excited about like to me, moving is a way to to be excited about the future, like, hey, yeah, let's, let's go, let's uh, let's, let's do this and this year I've realized how much energy it takes, just like packing your books, packing your clothes I'm making, finding apartment.

Speaker 1 14:16

I mean, I probably just spend a couple years of my life just moving sure and and it's exhausting but somehow I feel like it suits you, like you have this quality of wanderlust about the way you talk about it Sometimes.

Speaker 2 14:31

I'm like. Is it because I'm not like, I cannot find my happy place? Maybe or Well?

Speaker 1 14:37

you know, there's a famous what is the famous line? Who's a piece of literature that's turned into a lyric that stuck with me. The point of a journey is not to arrive.

Speaker 2 14:46

Life is a journey, not a destination. That's what people say yeah, maybe, maybe, and I'm super happy. I mean I would never be like give me another life, I would still live it the way I did.

Speaker 1 15:00

It'd be a fascinating memoir, I'm sure.

Speaker 2 15:02

And it's not yet done, get it out, get it out.

Speaker 1 15:05

Get it out of your brain in chunks.

Speaker 2 15:08

You know my family back home. They kind of like before I go home I need to check with them where they tell the neighbors I am from so that I can check my stories, because somehow they felt like China was a little bit too revolutionary to tell Like, oh my god, like is she nuts I?

Speaker 2 15:27

think that's fascinating and I'm like mom, who do who I'm telling you like, as long as you tell this consistent story, that's, your reputation will not be ruined, because my reputation is definitely, is definitely drowning. But yeah, it's super fascinating and I think the world is. I mean, nowadays it's much easier to travel and to change, and you know I'm doing this for work, so I guess I chose the vacation that makes me, that enables me to go, and to you know get all these wonderful things.

Speaker 1 16:02

Yeah, for sure, for sure.

Speaker 2 16:04

But it's also a very lonely thing, right.

Speaker 1 16:07

It can be, I'm sure, yeah.

Speaker 2 16:09

Because you have to start all over.

Speaker 1 16:10

Well, what you have mastered, it seems like, is a life skill that many just function or can't function. With which is the ability to travel alone or to do those things. I'm trying to learn that there are a few places where I feel comfortable doing that. Oh, Interesting. But I mean I've always been able to reset right and be comfortable with myself and do all the things I need to do to feel whole or whatever. That means just being alone. That's fine, right, right, right.

Speaker 1 16:48

I have my hobbies and my things and do all the things I need to do to feel whole, or whatever If that means just being alone, that's fine. Right, right, right. I have my hobbies and my things, and that's great. It's a good reset. A lot of people can't do that, let alone travel, and move and live and exist.

Speaker 2 16:58

Sometimes it gets too comfortable, like right now.

Speaker 1 17:00

I'm going to like an event where I'm supposed to meet people and I'm like like oh, my god right it's like I need to talk because it's because always going to be the element of the puppet show, right where you kind of just you're putting on the face and you know everything.

Speaker 2 17:14

You have to change a few, like you have to talk to a few people to find your friends to find someone you're close to. Yeah, and that's a bit of a transaction cost.

Speaker 1 17:24

Sure that you have to go well you know, coming full circle because we're almost at the end of the ride. I think the formula as to why this podcast has worked um the way it has is that there's no pretense, you're in a relative safe space and people are free to talk. It's not like you and I met in a bar and you're like, oh my god, what is this guy doing coming up to me, right, you're kind of like a captive audience, so to speak, and those conversations are usually fairly unedited and organic and natural. This makes for a nice listening experience, I guess.

Speaker 2 18:01

It has been a fabulous writing experience. I have to say Thank you. I feel, much more relaxed going into my event where I'm supposed to meet new friends.

Speaker 1 18:12

You're prepared. You're prepared. Now you can use this as a catalyst. I just had the most fascinating drive.

Speaker 2 18:18

Oh really.

Speaker 1 18:18

And then you used that as an icebreaker. Who knows that's?

Speaker 2 18:22

absolutely true, but yeah, I think it's a. It's a fabulous idea as well that I read about someone who who made a book out of it okay, sure and uh, but I think yeah no matter what kind of you like, what medium you put out of it yeah the experience is what matters it is, and it's a narrative.

Speaker 1 18:42

It's um. I could turn it into a book very easily. They're just transcripts and then, just have a ghostwriter do it.

Speaker 2 18:47

But I'm sure you do it for kind of. You find a joy in it as well, right Because? Through all these conversations, you find something about yourself as well. Right it was very unnerving.

Speaker 1 18:55

When I first did it, I questioned multiple times why? Because I don't need to do it. But then I gradually found it to be so rewarding on so many levels. And you have some people that just don't care about anything. They just, you know, don't bother to look up when they walk on the street, and those people are always going to be you know whatever. But um no, it has been a really interesting experience.

The Journey and Closing Thoughts

Speaker 2 19:19

Well, I'm absolutely fascinated by this and thank you very much. You're welcome, I'm grateful for this evening and, um, thanks so much and have a wonderful absolutely wonderful evening.

Speaker 1 19:29

You too, please be careful getting out. Yeah, I think, and um yeah uh, let me know what you think of the podcast. Thank you for listening to this episode of rideshare road talk. If you've enjoyed what you've heard, we'd love for you to review the podcast on your favorite listening platform, like Apple or Spotify. Your support helps us so much, and don't forget to reach out on Instagram with your feedback or topic suggestions. Until next time, let's drive you.