“ When you are 20 you think that 30 is old but when you get to 30, you are like… this is not old!”
Name : Maria Maltseva
Gender : Female
DoB : 27.05.1984
City of Birth : Novossibirsk, Russia
Status : Engaged
Family : 1 sister 39yo
Hometown : Auckland, New Zealand
Education : Bachelor of Fine Arts – Graphic Design
Job : Graphic Designer
Religion : Orthodox
Politics : –
As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?
JOB – How did you decide to do this job?
I wanted to be a pilot! Because my dad was a pilot for a Russian airline. I grew up on planes, and I remember that I would often seat in the cockpit and announce the weather! I thought I was so cool! ☺
A bit later I wanted to be an artist, because I loved drawing and all things related to art
The Christchurch earthquake affected everybody in NZ. The whole country was in mourning, and someone always knew someone who was there…
HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now?
Ever since I can remember, I pictured myself living by the sea, even when I was living in Russia far from it (I was born in Russia an moved to New Zealand at 13). I have always been passionate by the ocean and wanted to live by the ocean. It was not so much of a physical place but more the feeling of a place, smelling the ocean, breathing this air.. Virtually, it could have been anywhere in the world.
Maria and her fiancé Leo spending some time at one of their favorite beaches : Takapuna beach.
Maria coming back from a sailing trip. She loves the sea and go sailing every fortnight.
Striking and memorable events…
IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life?
I think there are all related to “the love of my life”, the person with whom I share my life since 2009.
The most memorable moment would be the first time I saw him because I thought he was an angel – Literally! I did not think it was a person: he his very blonde and the sun was shining behind him, I entered into that room and I was like “wow, what is that”. Another amazing would have to be the days he proposed to me, in November 2 years ago.
IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in?
New Zealand : Without any doubt, it is the Christchurch earthquake that happened 4 years ago. I was not there but I think it affected everybody in NZ. The whole country was in mourning, and someone always knew someone who was there… A lot of friends who went down there to help, I also wanted to volunteer but I could not cause I was studying. Our country is rather small and it was an event that stuck people together. This event also made me think and put things into perspective because we are living in a city settled on many volcanoes… So I ask myself if we are next…
BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory?
I’m thinking about some moments of my childhood. The day we got our horse, I was probably around 8/9 years old. My parents had a 100 hectares of land farm in the Novosibirsk region (Russia) at the time. When I first got to ride him, feed him… these where such happy moments. I considered him as my best friend ☺ and I would ride him until sunset!
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT –
I am proud of going back to study after working.
I studied my first degree, started to work but I told myself, no this is not me, so I decided to go back to study. As an adult, it was one of the main decisions so far.
I did Graphic Design, but only a small diploma, but I wanted to expand my knowledge.
Looking back / Reviewing expectations
10 YEARS AGO, At 20, I guess I pictured myself like everybody else, I thought I would be married with 2,5 children, living in a house with a white picked fence…
At 20 I just quit my job in hospitality (I used to be barman), and decided to do something else. I have always loved art so I decided to do something with it. I applied and got a scholarship to study graphic design.
TODAY, Clearly it’s not how it turned out… but I think it is great! When you are 20 you have a lot of ideas and you think that 30 is old but when you get to 30, you are like… this is not old!
I am not married yet, do not have children either but I am happy! When it comes to my job, I do what I wanted to do at the time which is working with printable stuff… cause I like paper and books. I love the feeling of holding something in my hands, and the smell of library books.
Maria choose 3 objetcs : 1) A russian doll that reminds her origins. 2) A shell necklace with a cross that her fiancé made for her. 3) The pearl bracelet is a symbol of her family since it is from her sister’s wedding.
Maria and her fiancé Leo having dinner.
30 years old, a turning point?
WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO?
No, not really, maybe because I turned 30 while I was studying, in a class full people in their 20’s. I think it’s only perceptional and it is only a matter of how old you feel and how old you make yourself feel. I am surrounded by younger people, my boyfriend is also younger. But I also have friends older!
I think that all this (showing her face) is temporary. We are just shells…. Some are pretty, some are less pretty!
Of course I feel young! It’s just the way I look at life that makes me young. I still get excited about little things, like looking at the sunrise…
OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »?
Of course I feel young! It’s just the way I look at life that makes me young. I still get excited about little things, like looking at the sunrise… I think that looking at things and still be passionate, always having something to look forward to, and getting as excited as a 5yo keeps you young!
But when you stop living and learning, or if you are stubborn, too conservative and don’t express your feeling, I think it makes you old.
CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change?
Living with regret means that you want to change your life, and therefore the person you are today… but I don’t want! In my opinion, living with regrets is an horrible thing because it will eat you from the inside, and you would become this unhappy person.
Everything happens for a reason and everything is a lesson in life. I believe somebody out there knows what is good for us…
My Values
My Typical day
And tomorrow?
YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years?
I would like to say married with 2,5 children in a white house with picked fence. But today I really cannot say! Through all my experiences, I have learned that you cannot really plan so much ahead…. It is nice to imagine yourself an think about it, but I do not even know if I will be in New Zealand… or in what kind of job…The only thing that I hope is that I will be happy and that people around will also be happy. Maybe it is how I see myself, Happy surrounded by happy people!
THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years?
New Zealand: I really hope that the economy will grow, enabling many people to get a job. I hope that the government will do something good for this country instead of this mere import/export policy. I think there is a lot do, especially for pensioners who struggle to maintain a decent living.
I would love if could be much more aware of our environment and that we start treating the land around us with more respect. We could just start with recycling and follow the lead of Northern Europe countries.
World: I hope for the best but the way things are going at the moment make me quite skeptical. Hence my loving for this little paradise here… Far from everywhere… I hope that the barriers between some religions and some countries will be reduced. There are some many conflicts happening at the moment, Middle East, Russia… I do not really want to think about it because it concerns me in a certain way and it would depress me…
Fears and Dreams…
FEARS – What are you afraid of? I am afraid of people around me being hurt because it is something I have no grasp on and would feel powerless.
ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve?
I want to have great grand kids and still be in my right mind to be able to teach them something. It is not really about me living a long life but rather to share it and maybe preventing stupid mistakes from happening. None of my great parents are alive and I would have loved to share more with them. I wish I had more of their influence. Spend more time with somebody who is an older person, an older soul, who has seen a lot more…
DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams?
Going back to my vision of the world… I wish that that everybody gets along… I love people, but maybe I love animals even more. They are much better than people and would never rape, steal or kill one of their kind just for pleasure. We are the only animal who can get happy of such acts.
