Dr Alex
@afedorov.bsky.social
Hong Kong & Asia | Religion, plurality & secularity
Sociology & education | Autoethnography & writing
Liminality | Freedom, diversity, motivation
afedorov.com | #RaveAsMethod | jatb.nl
Sociology & education | Autoethnography & writing
Liminality | Freedom, diversity, motivation
afedorov.com | #RaveAsMethod | jatb.nl
Flying back to Asia—my beloved home.
What I love about trips is that you can start a long destination-related task on the flight out and finish it on the way back. Perfect loop closure. Repeat.
Life is a series of liminal spaces.
#Asia #Liminality #Travel
What I love about trips is that you can start a long destination-related task on the flight out and finish it on the way back. Perfect loop closure. Repeat.
Life is a series of liminal spaces.
#Asia #Liminality #Travel
November 28, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Flying back to Asia—my beloved home.
What I love about trips is that you can start a long destination-related task on the flight out and finish it on the way back. Perfect loop closure. Repeat.
Life is a series of liminal spaces.
#Asia #Liminality #Travel
What I love about trips is that you can start a long destination-related task on the flight out and finish it on the way back. Perfect loop closure. Repeat.
Life is a series of liminal spaces.
#Asia #Liminality #Travel
A lot of conferences recently. Trying to build an EQ-effective routine.
What seems to work:
Paper talk → networking → goals (collab, etc.) → two focused writing days → one recovery day in a museum or in nature.
My unfair advantage is freedom with my time + pretty good understanding of emotions.
What seems to work:
Paper talk → networking → goals (collab, etc.) → two focused writing days → one recovery day in a museum or in nature.
My unfair advantage is freedom with my time + pretty good understanding of emotions.
November 26, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A lot of conferences recently. Trying to build an EQ-effective routine.
What seems to work:
Paper talk → networking → goals (collab, etc.) → two focused writing days → one recovery day in a museum or in nature.
My unfair advantage is freedom with my time + pretty good understanding of emotions.
What seems to work:
Paper talk → networking → goals (collab, etc.) → two focused writing days → one recovery day in a museum or in nature.
My unfair advantage is freedom with my time + pretty good understanding of emotions.
Joli Jensen’s “Write No Matter What” has a beautiful idea: keep a “ventilation file”, where you dump obstacles, anxieties, and resistance so you can keep writing.
I’m convinced this is where #AI can help. It’s a 24/7 ventilation partner. Tell ChatGPT what’s blocking, and ask it to reflect it back.
I’m convinced this is where #AI can help. It’s a 24/7 ventilation partner. Tell ChatGPT what’s blocking, and ask it to reflect it back.
November 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Joli Jensen’s “Write No Matter What” has a beautiful idea: keep a “ventilation file”, where you dump obstacles, anxieties, and resistance so you can keep writing.
I’m convinced this is where #AI can help. It’s a 24/7 ventilation partner. Tell ChatGPT what’s blocking, and ask it to reflect it back.
I’m convinced this is where #AI can help. It’s a 24/7 ventilation partner. Tell ChatGPT what’s blocking, and ask it to reflect it back.
Jetlag is an underrated research method.
You wake up at impossible hours, the city is empty, and your mind goes sideways.
My risk tolerance and adventure hunger let me wander for a couple of hours if inspiration doesn’t strike (and it always comes).
Liminality first, coffee second.
You wake up at impossible hours, the city is empty, and your mind goes sideways.
My risk tolerance and adventure hunger let me wander for a couple of hours if inspiration doesn’t strike (and it always comes).
Liminality first, coffee second.
November 25, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Jetlag is an underrated research method.
You wake up at impossible hours, the city is empty, and your mind goes sideways.
My risk tolerance and adventure hunger let me wander for a couple of hours if inspiration doesn’t strike (and it always comes).
Liminality first, coffee second.
You wake up at impossible hours, the city is empty, and your mind goes sideways.
My risk tolerance and adventure hunger let me wander for a couple of hours if inspiration doesn’t strike (and it always comes).
Liminality first, coffee second.
#AAA2025 is such a cool gathering, by the way :)
I planned precisely nothing beyond my paper talk and Marriott writing time, and still ended up learning about disease prevention, eco-civilizational futurology… ten or twenty parallel streams (I’m not good at counting, and even the app doesn’t help).
I planned precisely nothing beyond my paper talk and Marriott writing time, and still ended up learning about disease prevention, eco-civilizational futurology… ten or twenty parallel streams (I’m not good at counting, and even the app doesn’t help).
November 24, 2025 at 1:01 AM
#AAA2025 is such a cool gathering, by the way :)
I planned precisely nothing beyond my paper talk and Marriott writing time, and still ended up learning about disease prevention, eco-civilizational futurology… ten or twenty parallel streams (I’m not good at counting, and even the app doesn’t help).
I planned precisely nothing beyond my paper talk and Marriott writing time, and still ended up learning about disease prevention, eco-civilizational futurology… ten or twenty parallel streams (I’m not good at counting, and even the app doesn’t help).
Luckily, my Marriott has French vanilla creamer and bottomless filtered coffee.
My almost-broken trip is saved.
My almost-broken trip is saved.
November 23, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Luckily, my Marriott has French vanilla creamer and bottomless filtered coffee.
My almost-broken trip is saved.
My almost-broken trip is saved.
Somehow, New Orleans is even better than Hong Kong for suitcase runs.
Within a few minutes’ walk: six Marriotts, a Hilton, a Hyatt, and even a Best Western.
#HK #AAA2025 #TheHabitusOfStaycations
Within a few minutes’ walk: six Marriotts, a Hilton, a Hyatt, and even a Best Western.
#HK #AAA2025 #TheHabitusOfStaycations
November 22, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Somehow, New Orleans is even better than Hong Kong for suitcase runs.
Within a few minutes’ walk: six Marriotts, a Hilton, a Hyatt, and even a Best Western.
#HK #AAA2025 #TheHabitusOfStaycations
Within a few minutes’ walk: six Marriotts, a Hilton, a Hyatt, and even a Best Western.
#HK #AAA2025 #TheHabitusOfStaycations
My beloved Prof. Liz Jackson told me a few of days ago that she actually prefers reading to writing these days. (And she’s an incredible writer.) She’s probably right—I don’t remember Liz being wrong. But I love both writing and listening to audiobooks while walking long distances or cleaning home.
November 21, 2025 at 6:53 PM
My beloved Prof. Liz Jackson told me a few of days ago that she actually prefers reading to writing these days. (And she’s an incredible writer.) She’s probably right—I don’t remember Liz being wrong. But I love both writing and listening to audiobooks while walking long distances or cleaning home.
Excellent book stands at #AAA. The books are just mind-blowing. I keep thinking I should buy a cheap suitcase on Canal St of amazing quality and fill it with books. Not going to happen. I have maybe three paper books back home.
November 21, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Excellent book stands at #AAA. The books are just mind-blowing. I keep thinking I should buy a cheap suitcase on Canal St of amazing quality and fill it with books. Not going to happen. I have maybe three paper books back home.
I don’t quite see the difference between #raves and #conferences. Walk and talk to smart, interesting people. Worse catering, no dancing—but a gym at the Marriott, proper meditation, and better sleep. #AAA #USA
Planning to talk at Ozora (and bring Euan). “Same Same but Different” Thailand (2009).
Planning to talk at Ozora (and bring Euan). “Same Same but Different” Thailand (2009).
November 21, 2025 at 1:17 AM
I don’t quite see the difference between #raves and #conferences. Walk and talk to smart, interesting people. Worse catering, no dancing—but a gym at the Marriott, proper meditation, and better sleep. #AAA #USA
Planning to talk at Ozora (and bring Euan). “Same Same but Different” Thailand (2009).
Planning to talk at Ozora (and bring Euan). “Same Same but Different” Thailand (2009).
It’s unbelievable how time changes things. First time in New Orleans—9 years ago—True Detective S01, Texas–Louisiana–Georgia by Greyhound.
Now as Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, networked in academia, polishing my AAA paper & UNESCO report. Still IPA from a paper bag.
Same city—just a little rough.
Now as Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, networked in academia, polishing my AAA paper & UNESCO report. Still IPA from a paper bag.
Same city—just a little rough.
November 20, 2025 at 4:36 AM
It’s unbelievable how time changes things. First time in New Orleans—9 years ago—True Detective S01, Texas–Louisiana–Georgia by Greyhound.
Now as Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, networked in academia, polishing my AAA paper & UNESCO report. Still IPA from a paper bag.
Same city—just a little rough.
Now as Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, networked in academia, polishing my AAA paper & UNESCO report. Still IPA from a paper bag.
Same city—just a little rough.
New Orleans feels like it’s built around #AAA this week—my second time here (first was 9 years ago), but the whole city has that conference gravity.
It’s like Barcelona during MWC: the air changes.
On the airport bus yesterday, two girls from my flight suddenly realized they were both presenting.
It’s like Barcelona during MWC: the air changes.
On the airport bus yesterday, two girls from my flight suddenly realized they were both presenting.
November 19, 2025 at 11:40 AM
New Orleans feels like it’s built around #AAA this week—my second time here (first was 9 years ago), but the whole city has that conference gravity.
It’s like Barcelona during MWC: the air changes.
On the airport bus yesterday, two girls from my flight suddenly realized they were both presenting.
It’s like Barcelona during MWC: the air changes.
On the airport bus yesterday, two girls from my flight suddenly realized they were both presenting.
Landed in Seattle—zero (!) people in the non-US passport line.
Used the chance to pitch The Habitus of Staycations.
The poor officer:
“Do you live in HK?”
“Why are you flying to New Orleans?”
And suddenly—COVID, 49 hotels, my PhD, the accidental pet project turning into paper. Even googled #AAA.
Used the chance to pitch The Habitus of Staycations.
The poor officer:
“Do you live in HK?”
“Why are you flying to New Orleans?”
And suddenly—COVID, 49 hotels, my PhD, the accidental pet project turning into paper. Even googled #AAA.
November 18, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Landed in Seattle—zero (!) people in the non-US passport line.
Used the chance to pitch The Habitus of Staycations.
The poor officer:
“Do you live in HK?”
“Why are you flying to New Orleans?”
And suddenly—COVID, 49 hotels, my PhD, the accidental pet project turning into paper. Even googled #AAA.
Used the chance to pitch The Habitus of Staycations.
The poor officer:
“Do you live in HK?”
“Why are you flying to New Orleans?”
And suddenly—COVID, 49 hotels, my PhD, the accidental pet project turning into paper. Even googled #AAA.
Speaking of audiobooks—they’ve become my core consumption/method.
When I’m in walking through HK, Seoul, or Tokyo, I can finish a book a day. Movement clears space; language slips in.
Audible has limits (especially if you devour 10–15 books/month), but for writing-craft literature, it’s unmatched.
When I’m in walking through HK, Seoul, or Tokyo, I can finish a book a day. Movement clears space; language slips in.
Audible has limits (especially if you devour 10–15 books/month), but for writing-craft literature, it’s unmatched.
November 15, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Speaking of audiobooks—they’ve become my core consumption/method.
When I’m in walking through HK, Seoul, or Tokyo, I can finish a book a day. Movement clears space; language slips in.
Audible has limits (especially if you devour 10–15 books/month), but for writing-craft literature, it’s unmatched.
When I’m in walking through HK, Seoul, or Tokyo, I can finish a book a day. Movement clears space; language slips in.
Audible has limits (especially if you devour 10–15 books/month), but for writing-craft literature, it’s unmatched.
Ryan Van Cleave. Not a classic, but a perfect match with my current “autoethnography and memoir.”
Practical insight from structures and archetypes to “writers and substances”—Hemingway's “write drunk, edit sober.”
Glad I managed to finish it in HK: started listening to it on the bus when landed.
Practical insight from structures and archetypes to “writers and substances”—Hemingway's “write drunk, edit sober.”
Glad I managed to finish it in HK: started listening to it on the bus when landed.
November 14, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Ryan Van Cleave. Not a classic, but a perfect match with my current “autoethnography and memoir.”
Practical insight from structures and archetypes to “writers and substances”—Hemingway's “write drunk, edit sober.”
Glad I managed to finish it in HK: started listening to it on the bus when landed.
Practical insight from structures and archetypes to “writers and substances”—Hemingway's “write drunk, edit sober.”
Glad I managed to finish it in HK: started listening to it on the bus when landed.
From noble silence to conference emails—same volume, different frequency.
Reentry is always the real meditation.
Heading to New Orleans / #AAA next week with The Habitus of Staycations on Hong Kong pandemic leisure.
The project that once felt bizarre feels bizarre again—full circle 😎
Reentry is always the real meditation.
Heading to New Orleans / #AAA next week with The Habitus of Staycations on Hong Kong pandemic leisure.
The project that once felt bizarre feels bizarre again—full circle 😎
November 11, 2025 at 5:37 AM
From noble silence to conference emails—same volume, different frequency.
Reentry is always the real meditation.
Heading to New Orleans / #AAA next week with The Habitus of Staycations on Hong Kong pandemic leisure.
The project that once felt bizarre feels bizarre again—full circle 😎
Reentry is always the real meditation.
Heading to New Orleans / #AAA next week with The Habitus of Staycations on Hong Kong pandemic leisure.
The project that once felt bizarre feels bizarre again—full circle 😎
While I was meditating, our #RaveAsMethod paper was accepted by #AERA Arts-Based SIG.
Euan and I are thrilled—it’s one of the few spaces to provoke about the blurring lines between epistemology and affect/emotions in academia. And in a liminal world.
Hoping to be in LA soon. Loved the reviews 🫠
Euan and I are thrilled—it’s one of the few spaces to provoke about the blurring lines between epistemology and affect/emotions in academia. And in a liminal world.
Hoping to be in LA soon. Loved the reviews 🫠
November 10, 2025 at 12:30 AM
While I was meditating, our #RaveAsMethod paper was accepted by #AERA Arts-Based SIG.
Euan and I are thrilled—it’s one of the few spaces to provoke about the blurring lines between epistemology and affect/emotions in academia. And in a liminal world.
Hoping to be in LA soon. Loved the reviews 🫠
Euan and I are thrilled—it’s one of the few spaces to provoke about the blurring lines between epistemology and affect/emotions in academia. And in a liminal world.
Hoping to be in LA soon. Loved the reviews 🫠
As much as meditation is ethical and experiential for me,
I find aesthetic criteria borrowed from the arts deeply relatable.
Someone once said that true art works when everything you can take from it—and hold—is yours.
Strangely accurate for #Vipassana, too.
I find aesthetic criteria borrowed from the arts deeply relatable.
Someone once said that true art works when everything you can take from it—and hold—is yours.
Strangely accurate for #Vipassana, too.
November 9, 2025 at 2:42 PM
As much as meditation is ethical and experiential for me,
I find aesthetic criteria borrowed from the arts deeply relatable.
Someone once said that true art works when everything you can take from it—and hold—is yours.
Strangely accurate for #Vipassana, too.
I find aesthetic criteria borrowed from the arts deeply relatable.
Someone once said that true art works when everything you can take from it—and hold—is yours.
Strangely accurate for #Vipassana, too.
7 years ago, I left my first 10-days Vipassana halfway through.
Went back to the same Lantau center. Full circle. The awareness was sharper, the silence louder.
The teacher laughed when I said I preferred my thoughts to the present moment. “Relax,” he said. He was right.
Went back to the same Lantau center. Full circle. The awareness was sharper, the silence louder.
The teacher laughed when I said I preferred my thoughts to the present moment. “Relax,” he said. He was right.
November 9, 2025 at 7:22 AM
7 years ago, I left my first 10-days Vipassana halfway through.
Went back to the same Lantau center. Full circle. The awareness was sharper, the silence louder.
The teacher laughed when I said I preferred my thoughts to the present moment. “Relax,” he said. He was right.
Went back to the same Lantau center. Full circle. The awareness was sharper, the silence louder.
The teacher laughed when I said I preferred my thoughts to the present moment. “Relax,” he said. He was right.
Had a chat why I picked #HK as home (if I have one). The most beautiful, layered place I know (I’ve been to 130+ countries). Partly true.
The bigger reason is its liminality—the theme I’ve been working on recently: Rave as Method, The Habitus of Staycations, Travel as Non-Method. Even my website.
The bigger reason is its liminality—the theme I’ve been working on recently: Rave as Method, The Habitus of Staycations, Travel as Non-Method. Even my website.
October 28, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Had a chat why I picked #HK as home (if I have one). The most beautiful, layered place I know (I’ve been to 130+ countries). Partly true.
The bigger reason is its liminality—the theme I’ve been working on recently: Rave as Method, The Habitus of Staycations, Travel as Non-Method. Even my website.
The bigger reason is its liminality—the theme I’ve been working on recently: Rave as Method, The Habitus of Staycations, Travel as Non-Method. Even my website.
Sunday slipped by—I barely noticed. A few rules I set months ago:
1. Life=work=fun.
2. I write every day—except meditation or digital withdrawal (ideally in Nepal).
3. Everything runs through #Asana; batched.
Conference day: registered/submitted for #CIES, #CESHK, #HKSA.
Night walk. Well earned.
1. Life=work=fun.
2. I write every day—except meditation or digital withdrawal (ideally in Nepal).
3. Everything runs through #Asana; batched.
Conference day: registered/submitted for #CIES, #CESHK, #HKSA.
Night walk. Well earned.
October 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Goldberg says she wrote her early books in cafes—each in different cafes.
Writing in cafes amazing in #Seoul: huge two-level zones with student vibes. In HK, it’s hard to get a shared (!) table for few hours.
The real writing spots in #HK are public parks on rainy nights. Or Chungking Mansions.
Writing in cafes amazing in #Seoul: huge two-level zones with student vibes. In HK, it’s hard to get a shared (!) table for few hours.
The real writing spots in #HK are public parks on rainy nights. Or Chungking Mansions.
October 24, 2025 at 1:42 AM
These days, we’re flooded with AI-written pseudo-wisdom on Threads and Instagram:
“Six truths I wish I knew at 30.”
“Replace motivation with discipline.”
Etc.
Ironically, that’s anti-wisdom. Real wisdom is visionary—and often anti-viral.
If we can learn anything from #AI, it’s form, not insight.
“Six truths I wish I knew at 30.”
“Replace motivation with discipline.”
Etc.
Ironically, that’s anti-wisdom. Real wisdom is visionary—and often anti-viral.
If we can learn anything from #AI, it’s form, not insight.
October 22, 2025 at 3:23 AM
These days, we’re flooded with AI-written pseudo-wisdom on Threads and Instagram:
“Six truths I wish I knew at 30.”
“Replace motivation with discipline.”
Etc.
Ironically, that’s anti-wisdom. Real wisdom is visionary—and often anti-viral.
If we can learn anything from #AI, it’s form, not insight.
“Six truths I wish I knew at 30.”
“Replace motivation with discipline.”
Etc.
Ironically, that’s anti-wisdom. Real wisdom is visionary—and often anti-viral.
If we can learn anything from #AI, it’s form, not insight.
What I love about Korea and Japan—where my language skills are zero—is that it feels like walking through woods, but with people instead of trees.
No one cares, as long as you don’t break the social scripts.
Complete privacy or seamless interactions in 7/11, Starbucks—my social heaven. Seriously.
No one cares, as long as you don’t break the social scripts.
Complete privacy or seamless interactions in 7/11, Starbucks—my social heaven. Seriously.
October 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
What I love about Korea and Japan—where my language skills are zero—is that it feels like walking through woods, but with people instead of trees.
No one cares, as long as you don’t break the social scripts.
Complete privacy or seamless interactions in 7/11, Starbucks—my social heaven. Seriously.
No one cares, as long as you don’t break the social scripts.
Complete privacy or seamless interactions in 7/11, Starbucks—my social heaven. Seriously.