Dana Czerepkova - My life before Govanhill
In our regular feature ‘My Life Before Govanhill’ we find out from the diverse community of Govanhill what they got up to before settling around Victoria Road. In this edition, we meet Dana Czerepkova.
Interview by Marzanna Antoniak
Where do you come from?
I come from Moscow, Russia, a metropolitan city with a population of 12 million. Similar to Glasgow, Moscow is inspiring and challenging at the same time. There, I enjoyed the diversity of the art and music scene, beautiful architecture and vast parks. There were also some things I found difficult there, like endless traffic jams and conflict arising from ethno-racial division.
What about your cultural heritage and the ways in which you connect with your roots?
I was born in Russia and lived there till I was 16. I love Russian folklore and cuisine. I was lucky to have spent long weekends with my grandma collecting mushrooms in the forest outside her dacha (summerhouse) and making hearty soups with them afterwards when I was young.
She taught me how to identify edible mushrooms, so I go foraging here in Scotland. I always send pictures of my findings to my grandma to keep her entertained. I also enjoy collecting sea buckthorn berries in late autumn and making tea out of them. It reminds me of cosy evenings with my family. Here, I am part of the Govanhill Voices choir where we occasionally sing Russian and Eastern European folklore inspired songs. There is so much energy in them.
What are some of the things you like doing here?
I work in an architectural practice in the Southside. I enjoy transforming underused buildings and creating spaces that bring people together and are sensitive to the surrounding context. Until recently, I coordinated Govanhill Community Markets with G42 Pop-Ups, Govanhill Baths and GAMIS: mini-street festivals bringing together communities of Govanhill over shared meals, music, workshops, games and film screenings. We took a break this year due to the team’s life commitments, but are looking forward to new adventures in the coming year. Besides that, I’m a board member of Kin Kitchen, enjoy exploring the Highlands, renovating my flat, and having dinners with friends.
What made you come to Scotland?
I came to Scotland 10 years ago and first settled in Edinburgh. I had been looking for a place to study architecture and happened to visit Edinburgh once. I had a good feeling about the city and that’s how I made my decision. After three years, I felt the urge to explore new places and moved to Denmark. After a year, I realised that Scotland held a very special place in my heart. I missed the people, mountains, ceilidhs, and most of all, my partner. So I came back and moved to Glasgow, which feels absolutely right at this point. I feel like I’m useful and can do meaningful things here.
How do you feel in Govanhill?
I really enjoy Govanhill. It has so much energy and gives me a whole palette of feelings: excitement, sadness, calm, occasionally disgust, much joy and inspiration. It’s a place where life is happening in its full diversity. I’m glad to be a part of it.
What is your dream for Govanhill?
It would be great to find a way of making the back lanes of Govanhill feel like shared outdoor living rooms. Maybe we can start by meeting our neighbours for little happenings in the lanes and see where it takes us? I have a dream to organise a festival of potluck meals with neighbours in the back lanes of Govanhill. Maybe even a carboot sale or a music session? It could be something quite simple; bring a dish to share and a chair to sit on. I know rubbish in the lanes is a big issue, but we’ve got to start somewhere. Dear neighbours and readers of Greater Govanhill, do you want to join me for this little adventure? Get in touch via g42popups@gmail.com or @g42pop.ups on Instagram and Facebook if you want to get involved.