Noisy Grain

About Sander

Trivia about me:

• One of those 20th-century vintages that age like wine — I still look like I’m in my twenties, but the stamina’s not what it used to be. I try to make up for it with the charm and strength of spirit.
• By education, a could-have-been graduate of Ugro-Finnic Philology — Hungarian specialization, at the Department of Hungarian Studies on University of Warsaw. I’ve studied there for three years, the last of which was a repeat year. Later on, I earned a higher degree in Economics from one of the private universities.
• B category driver’s license since the age of 18. Passed the exam on the first try, although I did overtake a cyclist on a crosswalk going 20 km/h. I’ve long lost the total count of the kilometerperhours driven. A few international routesm, like straight shots to Croatia. The car of choice and affection is Volkswagen.
• In 2017, I’ve reached the summit of Križevac (520 meters above sea level) near Međugorje — I went up and down barefoot, though with spurs. Bless the man who shared his drink with me at the top.
• I’m an enthusiast of physical music media — from vinyl records to cassette tapes. I have a special fondness for optical media like CDs and DVDs.

But why Sander?

Before the journey begins, long before the party is gathered, we see an empty name field. The name doesn’t have to be real, but it should sound good — after all, we’re choosing it for the long time, and there’s a chance it might stick to us.

Sander. A freshwater fish from the perch family. Lean and slender, found in lakes and reservoirs. Prefers murky waters and stays in the depths. Importantly, a predator with a set of sharp teeth, can be aggressive, but mostly feeds on small fish. Fast, although it often swims in a zigzag pattern.

Sander is a loose reinterpretation of a nickname I’ve been using for quite some time. It started innocently, I wanted to make electronic music and I needed a nickname. The nickname was meant to evoke warm sand and a relaxed, beachy vibe. It ended with a few clunky MP3s made in FL Studio. But I liked the name so much I kept using it. A bit unwieldy, sure, but it was unique and, more importantly, mine.

It followed me most often in online games — through countless rounds of Call of Duty, long hours in War Thunder, or many virtual kilometers in Euro Truck Simulator. In English-speaking circles, it worked quite well, but among Polish speakers, it felt clunky. Over time, I tried to shorten and simplify it, and eventually, while looking for a solid Polish version, I came up with Sander. It’s usually Regular, though when I switch to light-sensitive film, I go by Practical.

I don’t have much in common with fishing, though I have caught a carp once in my life. I’ll never forget that moment. The rod still lies somewhere in the basement — next to the guitar.

And that’s the whole twisted story.