Elizabeth joined Keep part-time at the beginning of 2018 as Community Manager and then we were lucky enough to get her full-time starting in June. She brings a bright and inquisitive personality to the team and community. Please enjoy this interview between Jack Knutson and Eliza Petrovska!

Jack: Hi, Elizabeth! A warm welcome to the team full-time. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

Elizabeth: Hello and thank you! Very happy to be with you guys!

I guess I have quite an eclectic background. I am half Russian and half Ukrainian, born and raised in Latvia, a small and very green country on the east coast of the Baltic sea.

I happened to be quite a curious person and find myself genuinely interested in nearly everything.After finishing high school, I had to choose between two subjects to study further: either Psychology or IT.

On one hand, I’ve always found peoples’ minds a very fascinating topic. I was quite a bit into existentialism at that time (I blame Russian Classics) and had an inclination for chatting about various deep subjects and exploring how people function. On the other hand, I was very interested in the cyber world and the whole progress of internet technology, which looked to me like something very promising.

To be honest, at that time I had far too much energy to spend all day sitting in front of the slow PC that I owned, so I chose psychology. While studying in the evenings, I also did some paperwork in a small firm, and a bit of blogging in Russian.

One day I received an invitation from my cousin, who lived in the south of Spain, to come over and help care for my little niece. In contrast with rainy Latvia it definitely seemed like a place to be. While there, I worked part-time at a small restaurant in Gibraltar to help me integrate into the culture better, make friends, and learn some Spanish (which is still my work in progress).

For me, this was a breath of fresh air. I believe sometimes people grow out of the life they lead, but continue to be held back by the expectations of others. I find it very energy-consuming to have to support an outdated image of myself. Breaking free felt fantastic and I figured it was worth re-living. So, after spending just under a year in the sun, I felt like trading the slow-paced “mañana” lifestyle for something more fast-paced.

I decided to move to London. While there, I helped run a hair salon, which we also turned into a cultural and social hub for the local community. Outside of main opening hours we used the space to the maximum. We held different events there like poetry evenings, music gigs, yoga classes, and art evenings. Meanwhile, I learned hairdressing and did some beauty services too. I also got to meet some cool people who had worked with The Beatles, Queen, Rolling Stones, and more. It was all a very positive experience and a good fun.

(L-R ) Denni Godber, the hairdresser of Freddie Mercury, me and Piotr Rozanski, the “Love&Dye” salon owner

J: Sounds like it! Can you tell us more of what you’ve been busy with?

There is another thing I am exploring — biohacking and alternative medicine. Specifically-Indian holistic medicine called Ayurveda. This is an ongoing process of the last 10 years where I have self-studied, and also learned from teachers and mentors from different countries. Next year I will be a certified consultant and I hold a herbalist diploma. Meditations, yoga and QiGong are something I am exploring too, and recently I had intensive personal training in Odesa, Ukraine and been on a spiritual retreat in Rishikesh, India. So, quite a mix.

Overall, I strongly believe in successfully combining the best parts of both western and eastern medicine and practices, to find a perfect solution to staying healthy and content. I am exploring and searching to create the best combination. The idea of helping people has my heart.

At one point I felt inspired to create something. So I applied the knowledge I have and established a little candle/aromatherapy/cosmetic oils business. I created some very interesting products and found out I am a pretty decent perfumer. Starting a business from scratch was a new thing and I did it all myself — design, marketing, and creating the products. This was a very valuable experience for me.

J: Are you still living in London?

I absolutely love London, I have spent 6 years there and also have a citizenship now. But hey! How about some sunshine?

When I joined Keep full-time, I had the fantastic opportunity to move to Grand Cayman, Carribean island. I sold most of my things, closed my little business in London (for now!), and am now I’m here in this nice and sunny place, writing this surrounded by palm trees, chickens, and iguanas.

J: So you live on Cayman Island now! What is it like?

E: It is great! Similar to Spain, but warmer winters, the environment is very relaxed and I am really enjoying it. I have finally learned to swim and have obtained a driving license here. I feel I have more time and this is a big advantage over London.

There is a huge problem here with plastic... More education on how to recycle is needed for the island, and I have contacted some organizations to get involved. They also do beach cleanings and I am planning to attend as well as to initiate brochure distributions to the locals. Oh by the way… Here is the petition, (if you don’t mind signing!)

J: Sure! What do you like to do in your spare time there?

E: I try not to forget about my hobbies, but I am highly convinced there are just not enough hours in the day to do everything! My biggest passion is photography. Sometimes I write poetry or paint. My top three sports are cycling, Tai Chi, and yoga. I also tried skateboarding, but did not take it too seriously in order to stay in one piece. I also never miss a chance to get on an airplane for some new adventures and I believe traveling is beneficial for improving the way of one’s thinking.

J: How did you get into crypto/blockchain?

E: My friend, who is a Blockchain developer, introduced me to it last spring. At first I was skeptical that something like this could be widely accepted, but at the same time this looked like a real revolution and I was keen on finding out more.

Corruption and falsified voting campaigns are a big problem and I feel strongly that blockchain could potentially be the solution. Empowering individuals is a very intriguing idea. As I began digging into it, there was so much new information. For someone with a curious mind, it has been heaven. Since then, my life is full of researching and learning, with an endless number of tabs open in my browser every day.