Walking through the same path as so many times before. In the evening, but the sun has already set, with a friend chatting, not paying attention to the surroundings. We noticed two shady figures behind us. "Do you have cigarettes?" "We do not smoke." A bad feeling... We started walking faster. Suddenly a third guy appeared, with a nasty looking club. He made a step towards my friend: "Give me your money!"
Oh my, oh my...thoughts crazily flying in my head. No hope...there are three of them. Fear... "Heeeeeeeeeelp!!!!!!!!" I see no other choice, resist them? - I would be crazy... Loudly, as I had been taught in the drama club: "Heeeeeeeeeelp!!!!!!" We are in the middle of an urban area... a plenty of apartment houses around... A man walking with a dog raised his head... The guy with the club uttered a remark and the three figures quickly walked away.
Just a bit of bad luck today... or maybe good luck? Still, a bitter feeling remains...
Showing posts with label experience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label experience. Show all posts
7.7.12
Chudenice - leading a workcamp
Mostly included in the final report. Some special points:
It was exciting nevertheless. Very tiresome, but very exciting - always something to do, always something to organize, always people to talk with. I would surely want to do it again - or something similar.
Last, a funny story - when arriving, Sona, one of helpers of me and Jana Ulrychova, brought me by car with her mother to Chudenice. Her mother: "Oh, you speak good Czech. But you don't come from the Czech Republic, do you?" Apparently, a long shadow of my "going Dutch".
- Cited in a newspaper
- Eating wild boar meat
- Making pottery
- Excursion to a bee yard
It was exciting nevertheless. Very tiresome, but very exciting - always something to do, always something to organize, always people to talk with. I would surely want to do it again - or something similar.
Last, a funny story - when arriving, Sona, one of helpers of me and Jana Ulrychova, brought me by car with her mother to Chudenice. Her mother: "Oh, you speak good Czech. But you don't come from the Czech Republic, do you?" Apparently, a long shadow of my "going Dutch".
8.6.12
Farewell, Netherlands
Time to leave. Still, the two years have given me so much - unforgettable memory and a whole new direction in my life and... a lot of amazement from a new culture.
Bikes - everywhere; the most confident and prominent part of the traffic. And be careful when you come here - it's just too easy to get rid over by a bicycle! To make it even worse, the state of some bikes is desolate - in other lands, such bikes would not be allowed to enter a city (indeed, for instance, the Netherlands is unique in that it doesn't require bikes to have a hand brake - apparently there is no expectation that cyclists would need to brake...)
Water - everywhere. On the one hand, you have the omnipresent canals and ditches. And the fact that some parts of the Netherlands have been under the sea a few years ago... On the other hand, it's raining all the time and Dutch people talk incessantly about the weather.
The cohesive society - I was just amazed by the number of association (verenigingen) - student associations, sport association, cultural associations, you name it... The Netherlands has one of the largest percentages of volunteers in the population among European countries and "cooperative mindset" is all pervasive.
Coming from the "poor" Czech Republic, I have also noticed that "consumerism" - in a broad sense - is far more advanced in the Netherlands. People in general expect much more from their life. Almost everyone wants to own a house. Even students feel that they are entitled to live a comfortable life - so even though everyone gets a grant and a free travel card from the government, many students end up heavily indebted after their studies. A lot of people pride themselves as "environmentally conscious", but don't mind throwing away food rests or buying a new cell phone every year.
Architecture - very courageous. The first time that I went to Amsterdam and left the train in the Bijlmer Arena station, I felt as emerging in a crazy futuristic city. The UFO that I saw there just emphasized this feeling.
The Dutch are world famous for their directness or even rudeness, what a stereotype, isn't it? Still, I have noticed that the use of "please" is essentially obsolete in the Dutch language. Also, trying to use the polite form of "you" ("U") leads people quickly to shaking their heads in disbelief - even professors are addressed informally. That said, I have found the overall openness quite refreshing - there are very few tabus, people don't mind talking about sexuality, drugs, money...
Optimism - Enormous atmosphere of "we can do it" and "everything is possible". Everything should be "top" and people seek out "challenge" ("uitdaging") in what they do - at least they claim so. When you write a motivation letter for a job, it is expected that you are very very self-confident...a Czech recruiter would laugh seeing such a letter. And this optimism is also somewhat connected to the "nation of traders" tradition - many people know three foreign languages and when talking to my classmates, I sometimes have a feeling that almost everyone was an exchange student at a different continent - perhaps unsurprisingly, given that e.g. Universiteit Utrecht has exchange agreements with schools on all continents (OK, leave Antarctica out...).
Food - A shock was eating bread as lunch... Other than that, there is just overabundance of fried food - well, I guess you take the kilos down quickly when you are biking all the time... Also, when Dutch people are asked to cook a typical Dutch meal, they come up with something Surinamese or Indonesian - perhaps no one is proud of stampot or erwtensoep...
Bikes - everywhere; the most confident and prominent part of the traffic. And be careful when you come here - it's just too easy to get rid over by a bicycle! To make it even worse, the state of some bikes is desolate - in other lands, such bikes would not be allowed to enter a city (indeed, for instance, the Netherlands is unique in that it doesn't require bikes to have a hand brake - apparently there is no expectation that cyclists would need to brake...)
Water - everywhere. On the one hand, you have the omnipresent canals and ditches. And the fact that some parts of the Netherlands have been under the sea a few years ago... On the other hand, it's raining all the time and Dutch people talk incessantly about the weather.
The cohesive society - I was just amazed by the number of association (verenigingen) - student associations, sport association, cultural associations, you name it... The Netherlands has one of the largest percentages of volunteers in the population among European countries and "cooperative mindset" is all pervasive.
Coming from the "poor" Czech Republic, I have also noticed that "consumerism" - in a broad sense - is far more advanced in the Netherlands. People in general expect much more from their life. Almost everyone wants to own a house. Even students feel that they are entitled to live a comfortable life - so even though everyone gets a grant and a free travel card from the government, many students end up heavily indebted after their studies. A lot of people pride themselves as "environmentally conscious", but don't mind throwing away food rests or buying a new cell phone every year.
Architecture - very courageous. The first time that I went to Amsterdam and left the train in the Bijlmer Arena station, I felt as emerging in a crazy futuristic city. The UFO that I saw there just emphasized this feeling.
The Dutch are world famous for their directness or even rudeness, what a stereotype, isn't it? Still, I have noticed that the use of "please" is essentially obsolete in the Dutch language. Also, trying to use the polite form of "you" ("U") leads people quickly to shaking their heads in disbelief - even professors are addressed informally. That said, I have found the overall openness quite refreshing - there are very few tabus, people don't mind talking about sexuality, drugs, money...
Optimism - Enormous atmosphere of "we can do it" and "everything is possible". Everything should be "top" and people seek out "challenge" ("uitdaging") in what they do - at least they claim so. When you write a motivation letter for a job, it is expected that you are very very self-confident...a Czech recruiter would laugh seeing such a letter. And this optimism is also somewhat connected to the "nation of traders" tradition - many people know three foreign languages and when talking to my classmates, I sometimes have a feeling that almost everyone was an exchange student at a different continent - perhaps unsurprisingly, given that e.g. Universiteit Utrecht has exchange agreements with schools on all continents (OK, leave Antarctica out...).
Food - A shock was eating bread as lunch... Other than that, there is just overabundance of fried food - well, I guess you take the kilos down quickly when you are biking all the time... Also, when Dutch people are asked to cook a typical Dutch meal, they come up with something Surinamese or Indonesian - perhaps no one is proud of stampot or erwtensoep...
23.8.11
Referee
I've received a mathematical article for refereeing, for a journal!
Sure, some people would say I shouldn't get too excited about that...But still, for the first time,...just seems cool :-)
Sure, some people would say I shouldn't get too excited about that...But still, for the first time,...just seems cool :-)
13.7.11
Lost
I have been doing research for the last month (for my thesis). By that I mean reading papers and trying to figure out the solution - no success yet, but well perhaps a few promising avenues. I have already worked on the research during the semester, but never "full-time".
I do something more practical than I did for my Bachelor's thesis (i.e. I can see where it leads and how it would be "beneficial" if I found something), still, the overall "research experience" is very much the same.
The good thing: satiating my curiosity and satisfaction from solving problems (at least from trying to do so).
The bad thing (the very very very bad thing): The research is literally sapping my energy...Sounds strange, huh? Here is what I mean: after spending a day researching, I just feel *miserable*, as if all the pleasant thoughts wandered away from me (perhaps they were too bored by doing the research)...To compare: after one day attending of attending lectures, I feel something between *normal* and *wonderful* (depends on how interesting the lectures were). After helping organizing a festival a week ago (with plenty of people around), I felt *wonderful*.
By the way, I find it gradually more and more difficult to concentrate for a long period of time (breaks included). Eight or ten hours are often doable, but then I have to switch to something else (currently preparing for GRE and TOEFL tests, reading a Dutch book or, sometimes, going out with someone).
To conclude, it seems beneficial to start exploring other avenues of the life (and also, develop oneself in new directions; in the past four years, I 've become incredibly clever. Now it seems reasonable to become also incredibly ~something else~). I will probably take my research next year "not that seriously" compared to what I have thought - i.e.
What I miss the most are the people. Don't think that I stayed all the month doing nothing else than research - I was occassionally going out with people. It was sometimes refreshing (sometimes not...), but the refreshing feeling passed away rather quickly. I guess I must seek need meaning and "challenge" (uitdaging, as Dutch people would put it).
I've started applying to some volunteering and "commissie"-work, so far, I have been rejected on three places. (I don't consider applying for a job a feasible option anymore, my Dutch is simply still not good enough to find something that would be stimulating for me).
Well, one must fight back! After returning back to the Netherlands after "holidays", I will apply to more places.
I do something more practical than I did for my Bachelor's thesis (i.e. I can see where it leads and how it would be "beneficial" if I found something), still, the overall "research experience" is very much the same.
The good thing: satiating my curiosity and satisfaction from solving problems (at least from trying to do so).
The bad thing (the very very very bad thing): The research is literally sapping my energy...Sounds strange, huh? Here is what I mean: after spending a day researching, I just feel *miserable*, as if all the pleasant thoughts wandered away from me (perhaps they were too bored by doing the research)...To compare: after one day attending of attending lectures, I feel something between *normal* and *wonderful* (depends on how interesting the lectures were). After helping organizing a festival a week ago (with plenty of people around), I felt *wonderful*.
By the way, I find it gradually more and more difficult to concentrate for a long period of time (breaks included). Eight or ten hours are often doable, but then I have to switch to something else (currently preparing for GRE and TOEFL tests, reading a Dutch book or, sometimes, going out with someone).
To conclude, it seems beneficial to start exploring other avenues of the life (and also, develop oneself in new directions; in the past four years, I 've become incredibly clever. Now it seems reasonable to become also incredibly ~something else~). I will probably take my research next year "not that seriously" compared to what I have thought - i.e.
What I miss the most are the people. Don't think that I stayed all the month doing nothing else than research - I was occassionally going out with people. It was sometimes refreshing (sometimes not...), but the refreshing feeling passed away rather quickly. I guess I must seek need meaning and "challenge" (uitdaging, as Dutch people would put it).
I've started applying to some volunteering and "commissie"-work, so far, I have been rejected on three places. (I don't consider applying for a job a feasible option anymore, my Dutch is simply still not good enough to find something that would be stimulating for me).
Well, one must fight back! After returning back to the Netherlands after "holidays", I will apply to more places.
22.7.10
Vacations 2010, part 3
After returning from Belgium, the idea of staying in Prague, having little to do for 3 weeks, frightened me. Quickly brainstorming, I started to think about friends, who could be willing to do something together, about possible job offers, also about possibilities to again go somewhere abroad.
I stumbled upon a "last minute workcamp" from INEX, it was Wednesday, the workcamp (JR10/309 - Seix) was going to start on Sunday. I made a call there, after a few formalities, I was confirmed by the French side and could have set off on Thursday afternoon. I get to the place (somewhere in Pyrenees) on Sunday morning. It's going to be my third workcamp...
Hitchiking (just mentioning the major sites; starting 15/7 in the afternoon, ending 18/7 in the morning): Prague -> near St Gallen (sleeping) -> ... -> near Lausanne -> Grenoble -> Valence -> near Orange (sleeping) -> Montpellier -> Carcassone -> Fanjeaux -> Foix (sleeping) -> Seix
I decided to go to the workcamp in a lot of hurry, hopefully, I won't regret it (spending 3 weeks somewhere in the mountains...). Our goal here: cleaning an old garden, then preparing it for some other works there, it seems, we'll be able to get some other work in the village. The countries' composition: 3xFrance (counting in two "animators"), 4xSouth Korea, 2xLithuania, 1xRussia and me (Lithuanians and Koreans don't speak French). Just three boys.
This time, it seems the work could be quite useful - we are mostly paid by the local council money, so the mayor is pretty interested in that we actually do something, also she is interested in that we are known by the rest of the village (less than 1000 inhabitants).
The village is mostly touristic (mostly people from France, also from Netherlands, UK, Germany), deep in the mountains. I am surprised by the number of 'associatons' here (correlating to NGOs) When saying I am a East European and there are not so many 'associations' in the Czech Republic, everyone is willing to tell me or even show me, how it works - they are very nice. I am also surprised by the complexity of governmental organizations here and by the number of their employees. On the other hand, it seems they do what they are expected to do pretty well (though perhaps not in the most efficient matter). People here seem to be somewhat proud of not working too hard...
They told me, it was possible to become an 'animator' in France, even as a foreigner, even though I don't speak French too well. Might be interesting one day...
New 'skill': cutting grass with a hand grass cutter.
There is a lot of tourists, also quite some touristic 'attractions'. One thing that I also saw in Paris (generalizable to whole France???): they use a lot of modern technologies at the tourist venues, and, I would say, quite nicely.
I stumbled upon a "last minute workcamp" from INEX, it was Wednesday, the workcamp (JR10/309 - Seix) was going to start on Sunday. I made a call there, after a few formalities, I was confirmed by the French side and could have set off on Thursday afternoon. I get to the place (somewhere in Pyrenees) on Sunday morning. It's going to be my third workcamp...
Hitchiking (just mentioning the major sites; starting 15/7 in the afternoon, ending 18/7 in the morning): Prague -> near St Gallen (sleeping) -> ... -> near Lausanne -> Grenoble -> Valence -> near Orange (sleeping) -> Montpellier -> Carcassone -> Fanjeaux -> Foix (sleeping) -> Seix
I decided to go to the workcamp in a lot of hurry, hopefully, I won't regret it (spending 3 weeks somewhere in the mountains...). Our goal here: cleaning an old garden, then preparing it for some other works there, it seems, we'll be able to get some other work in the village. The countries' composition: 3xFrance (counting in two "animators"), 4xSouth Korea, 2xLithuania, 1xRussia and me (Lithuanians and Koreans don't speak French). Just three boys.
This time, it seems the work could be quite useful - we are mostly paid by the local council money, so the mayor is pretty interested in that we actually do something, also she is interested in that we are known by the rest of the village (less than 1000 inhabitants).
The village is mostly touristic (mostly people from France, also from Netherlands, UK, Germany), deep in the mountains. I am surprised by the number of 'associatons' here (correlating to NGOs) When saying I am a East European and there are not so many 'associations' in the Czech Republic, everyone is willing to tell me or even show me, how it works - they are very nice. I am also surprised by the complexity of governmental organizations here and by the number of their employees. On the other hand, it seems they do what they are expected to do pretty well (though perhaps not in the most efficient matter). People here seem to be somewhat proud of not working too hard...
They told me, it was possible to become an 'animator' in France, even as a foreigner, even though I don't speak French too well. Might be interesting one day...
New 'skill': cutting grass with a hand grass cutter.
There is a lot of tourists, also quite some touristic 'attractions'. One thing that I also saw in Paris (generalizable to whole France???): they use a lot of modern technologies at the tourist venues, and, I would say, quite nicely.
7.6.10
AAA80
I got an opportunity (thanks to my advisor) to attend a real conference in Mathematics - presenting the results of my Bachelor's thesis. Following, just a few random thoughts and remarks of mine:
It took place in Bedlewo, Poland - my first ('serious') visit to Poland. We lived in a castle and a building nearby and were wonderfully cared for.
I used almost all languages I knew (Czech, English, Spanish, French, Russian), except for Dutch and Chinese. Actually, I met a Dutch person and I talked to him, yet I wanted to get information from him, and as he was rather busy, I preferred getting information over practicing the language.
I met mathematicians, whose articles/books I'd had read before (so I consider them as nearly legends - oh come on, how many (little) books and articles has a bachelor read?) - Jonathan Smith, Rudiger Goebel, Anna Romanowska
A conversation:
Hmmm, but what does it mean, "geometric arguments", which areas of Mathematics does it encompass?? In what I have met so far in my life - the subjects: (Real and Complex) analysis, Topology, Differential geometry and Analysis on manifolds were full of such, while subjects encompassing Algebra and Logic mostly missed them (but also Functional analysis!!); Lie group theory was a mix. But now - does this say anything about the (mathematical) "real life"???
The Princeton Companion to Mathematics sort of divides mathematicians into geometers, analysts and algebraists. Distinction between algebraists and analysts being (succintly and imprecisely :-P ): "algebraists like equalities and analysts like inequalities". Do I really "prefer equalities", or is that just because of the plentitude of geometric arguments in early Analysis courses (together with the fact, that people in our Algebra department seemed more human-like than those at our Analysis department), that I consider myself to be an algebraist nowadays??
Being clever is not too appreciated (after all, every person doing Mathematics is; usually more then I am). What is appreciated, very appreciated - dedication, being hard working, passion and curiosity. This probably holds (as of my experience so far) in many other areas in life.
I don't want to end up doing research just for the sake of research (i.e. not interesting to anyone else, with almost no prospect of being interesting to anyone else even in future) - just a path too easy to follow in Mathematics (judging from what I saw and - even more - from the opinions of people who can probably be judged as "quality mathematicians"). But on the other hand (judging from what I saw and from the opinions of people who can probably be judged as "quality mathematicians")...there seems to be also so so much of the interesting Mathematics!
Giving talks, making presentations: slogans, pictures, examples...and motivation, if there is any.
"One has to have a lot of examples to develop the intuition."
It took place in Bedlewo, Poland - my first ('serious') visit to Poland. We lived in a castle and a building nearby and were wonderfully cared for.
I used almost all languages I knew (Czech, English, Spanish, French, Russian), except for Dutch and Chinese. Actually, I met a Dutch person and I talked to him, yet I wanted to get information from him, and as he was rather busy, I preferred getting information over practicing the language.
I met mathematicians, whose articles/books I'd had read before (so I consider them as nearly legends - oh come on, how many (little) books and articles has a bachelor read?) - Jonathan Smith, Rudiger Goebel, Anna Romanowska
A conversation:
"Is he good?"I was asked several times, what Mathematics I want to do in future. A lot of questions makes one think about it thoroughly. What I have thought out so far: I don't like geometric arguments (and am not good at making them). I'm good at abstracting (yes, this part is still rather vague...).
"Yes."
"Extremely good?"
"I don't know, he is not my student."
(To me:) "Unless you are extremely good, don't do universal algebra. It's too isolated... Maybe try combinatorics.
Hmmm, but what does it mean, "geometric arguments", which areas of Mathematics does it encompass?? In what I have met so far in my life - the subjects: (Real and Complex) analysis, Topology, Differential geometry and Analysis on manifolds were full of such, while subjects encompassing Algebra and Logic mostly missed them (but also Functional analysis!!); Lie group theory was a mix. But now - does this say anything about the (mathematical) "real life"???
The Princeton Companion to Mathematics sort of divides mathematicians into geometers, analysts and algebraists. Distinction between algebraists and analysts being (succintly and imprecisely :-P ): "algebraists like equalities and analysts like inequalities". Do I really "prefer equalities", or is that just because of the plentitude of geometric arguments in early Analysis courses (together with the fact, that people in our Algebra department seemed more human-like than those at our Analysis department), that I consider myself to be an algebraist nowadays??
Being clever is not too appreciated (after all, every person doing Mathematics is; usually more then I am). What is appreciated, very appreciated - dedication, being hard working, passion and curiosity. This probably holds (as of my experience so far) in many other areas in life.
I don't want to end up doing research just for the sake of research (i.e. not interesting to anyone else, with almost no prospect of being interesting to anyone else even in future) - just a path too easy to follow in Mathematics (judging from what I saw and - even more - from the opinions of people who can probably be judged as "quality mathematicians"). But on the other hand (judging from what I saw and from the opinions of people who can probably be judged as "quality mathematicians")...there seems to be also so so much of the interesting Mathematics!
Giving talks, making presentations: slogans, pictures, examples...and motivation, if there is any.
"One has to have a lot of examples to develop the intuition."
29.5.10
SVOC 2010
I attended SVOC 2010 in Ostrava (SVOC stands for "Soutěž studentů vysokých škol ve vědecké odborné činnosti v matematice a informatice" - a competition of university students in scientific activities in Mathematics and Computer Science???).
I liked it - there was a lot of opportunities to talk with fellow competitors about their work and I learned about a lot of interesting topics. Apart from the presentations in my section (algebra, topology, geometry) , I managed to see a few presentations about Analysis and Applied Mathematics - interesting to compare the overall environment in the respective sections (I don't know how to articulate it, yet I felt it differed somewhat).
I also somehow managed to win the joint first place. Wow. I just can't understand how it might happen. Perhaps I was the most enthusiast one...
I liked it - there was a lot of opportunities to talk with fellow competitors about their work and I learned about a lot of interesting topics. Apart from the presentations in my section (algebra, topology, geometry) , I managed to see a few presentations about Analysis and Applied Mathematics - interesting to compare the overall environment in the respective sections (I don't know how to articulate it, yet I felt it differed somewhat).
I also somehow managed to win the joint first place. Wow. I just can't understand how it might happen. Perhaps I was the most enthusiast one...
14.10.09
Threads torn
Threads of my life flow peacefully in time. Maybe I'm gradually losing some of them, a veces olvidando, a veces despidiendome, a veces por otras razones. Still, I lost a lot so suddenly, not too long ago...
Clack.. This was one of them - my first ever memory stayed there. I remember the memory vividly. But now, do I really remember it? Does it exist anymore? All it contained has vanished... Maybe, it has never been there, who can say...
And this was just one thread out of the many lost...
Clack.. This was one of them - my first ever memory stayed there. I remember the memory vividly. But now, do I really remember it? Does it exist anymore? All it contained has vanished... Maybe, it has never been there, who can say...
And this was just one thread out of the many lost...
11.2.08
School skiing camp
Don't know why. One day in November, I decided to go to my school's winter camp. Not a good idea, given I had to apply during December, while my exam term would be going on in January and February. Still, by chance, I managed to do all my exams all right.
We were accomodated in VAK in Pec pod Snezkou. It was nice. Also, food was included in the price (which was itself pretty fine for such kind of a camp) - and it was delicious, even though there was way too much meat for me; also the quantity was enormous.
The weather was rather warm (almost always above zero), but except for one day, the conditions were OK for skiing (on the other hand - the day we left everything was melting) .
Mornings were dedicated to alpine skiing or snowboarding, so me and Meldath decided to start learning snowboarding. I liked it, yet I must acknowledge I'd have to learn more of it one day, these were just the basics (and I still doubt I managed to get them right). It turned out to be pretty painful, that's true.
Yet another new experience was wheeled bobsledding. It's something like a roller coaster :) Makes one's head rolling around.
Afternoons were mostly dedicated to cross-country skiing. As it the weather was that warm, I didn't feel that cold and so I pretty I liked it, though I was one of the slowest skiers and had to try a lot, thus often ending up totally exhausted.
I have to mention I met a few interesting people. Perhaps most interestingly Jirka. While Meldath and me were babbling as usual (and I admit I missed this kind of chat very much recently), he proved a very valuable companion to these dialogs.
The teachers were nice and some of their personalities rather peculiar.
We were accomodated in VAK in Pec pod Snezkou. It was nice. Also, food was included in the price (which was itself pretty fine for such kind of a camp) - and it was delicious, even though there was way too much meat for me; also the quantity was enormous.
The weather was rather warm (almost always above zero), but except for one day, the conditions were OK for skiing (on the other hand - the day we left everything was melting) .
Mornings were dedicated to alpine skiing or snowboarding, so me and Meldath decided to start learning snowboarding. I liked it, yet I must acknowledge I'd have to learn more of it one day, these were just the basics (and I still doubt I managed to get them right). It turned out to be pretty painful, that's true.
Yet another new experience was wheeled bobsledding. It's something like a roller coaster :) Makes one's head rolling around.
Afternoons were mostly dedicated to cross-country skiing. As it the weather was that warm, I didn't feel that cold and so I pretty I liked it, though I was one of the slowest skiers and had to try a lot, thus often ending up totally exhausted.
I have to mention I met a few interesting people. Perhaps most interestingly Jirka. While Meldath and me were babbling as usual (and I admit I missed this kind of chat very much recently), he proved a very valuable companion to these dialogs.
The teachers were nice and some of their personalities rather peculiar.
26.9.07
Students' conference
I participated at the students' conference organized in the end of the Otevrena veda project (the one that enabled me to do internships in the last 2 years).
It took place at the Academy of Sciences headquarters. Quite a nice building, a nice interior as well. In the beginning, there was a press briefing (OK, at was first I had to go to Institute of Physics, to bring all stuff needed to perform my experiment...) - A few important figures spoke, mostly ravings about how important the education and research was, how it was utmost important to motivate students since elementary schools and how they would be trying to raise funds to continue projects like this.
After, we (15 of us students participating at the project) spent the rest of the day presenting our projects one by one. I liked the other ones (I like lectures about stuff I don't know), though some were to complicated for me - mostly the chemistry ones, sometimes I had just little idea about what it was.
My presentation - I didn't have the best feeling possible, but Mr. Fejfar said it was quite good (though after, he was talking half an hour about the shorcomings :-), so I was quite content. I know a lot of new stuff to be trained and I'm much wiser for next conferences to eventually come.
In the end, there was a banquet :-)
It took place at the Academy of Sciences headquarters. Quite a nice building, a nice interior as well. In the beginning, there was a press briefing (OK, at was first I had to go to Institute of Physics, to bring all stuff needed to perform my experiment...) - A few important figures spoke, mostly ravings about how important the education and research was, how it was utmost important to motivate students since elementary schools and how they would be trying to raise funds to continue projects like this.
After, we (15 of us students participating at the project) spent the rest of the day presenting our projects one by one. I liked the other ones (I like lectures about stuff I don't know), though some were to complicated for me - mostly the chemistry ones, sometimes I had just little idea about what it was.
My presentation - I didn't have the best feeling possible, but Mr. Fejfar said it was quite good (though after, he was talking half an hour about the shorcomings :-), so I was quite content. I know a lot of new stuff to be trained and I'm much wiser for next conferences to eventually come.
In the end, there was a banquet :-)
24.6.07
Hitchhiking, another preparatory weekend
I once again went to the preparatory weekend of Inex. I didn't have to go (as I had already been there), but I decided to. This time, I'm going to a workcamp to Morocco.
As I want to get to Morocco by hitchhiking, I wanted to start with that as soon as possible. So I tried to get to the location of the prep weekend by thumb. It was funny. My first success (trying to stop cars at Cerny Most, before the highway) was with the mother of my former classmate (Buchin). Though we didn't recognize each other immediately, it quickly became obvious :-) World is funny. Never mind.
Hitchhiking was just too easy :-) But fun. All in all, I stopped some 5 cars (though most of them took me not far away, mostly because the first lift took me somewhere beyond Pardubice.
During the weekend we were fed by a lot of information (though I'd heard some before). What I liked the most was stories about the visited countries - even something about Morocco (btw there were quite a lot - 5 - people going to a workcamp to Morocco this summer; by far the highest number among the "global south" volunteers (followed by Azerbaijan). The volunteer having been to Morocco also reported hitchhiking there (what a chance!). She, with her boyfriend, had made it to Morocco in some four days.
I also enjoyed learning about opportunities to volunteer in the Czech Republic, later on, when I'll be studying.
But perhaps the most interesting was listening to other participants. A lot of them was very experienced in terms of having traveled, a lot of them had very interesting lives. I listened with interest, eager to find out stories of other roving spirits, perhaps different ones, but sometimes very similar in something...
As I want to get to Morocco by hitchhiking, I wanted to start with that as soon as possible. So I tried to get to the location of the prep weekend by thumb. It was funny. My first success (trying to stop cars at Cerny Most, before the highway) was with the mother of my former classmate (Buchin). Though we didn't recognize each other immediately, it quickly became obvious :-) World is funny. Never mind.
Hitchhiking was just too easy :-) But fun. All in all, I stopped some 5 cars (though most of them took me not far away, mostly because the first lift took me somewhere beyond Pardubice.
During the weekend we were fed by a lot of information (though I'd heard some before). What I liked the most was stories about the visited countries - even something about Morocco (btw there were quite a lot - 5 - people going to a workcamp to Morocco this summer; by far the highest number among the "global south" volunteers (followed by Azerbaijan). The volunteer having been to Morocco also reported hitchhiking there (what a chance!). She, with her boyfriend, had made it to Morocco in some four days.
I also enjoyed learning about opportunities to volunteer in the Czech Republic, later on, when I'll be studying.
But perhaps the most interesting was listening to other participants. A lot of them was very experienced in terms of having traveled, a lot of them had very interesting lives. I listened with interest, eager to find out stories of other roving spirits, perhaps different ones, but sometimes very similar in something...
11.6.07
Working at McD
My job at McDonalds came to the end.
An interesting experience, though quite exhausting.
I learned some new stuff
An interesting experience, though quite exhausting.
I learned some new stuff
- a whole cashier job - might prove useful one day; and it's not that easy how you could think it is
- a lot of new cleaning methods
- thorough statistics on everything
- a hard working discipline - a lot of people leaving soon just because of this; on the other hand, a lot of employee benefits and a possibility to progress quickly in ranks if you're good
- recycling everything
- surprised about how many different tasks has to be done in just a small restaurant
- rules on doing everything - but employees are taught to understand it and it works very well
- it's not by chance McDonalds is that successful
- the restaurant where I've worked is famous for the good working team; on the other hand there are McDonald restaurants famed for the bad team - but those are exceptions
- hygiene rulez
- ...
- it's easy to earn a lot of money nowadays; but is it worth it?
- a lot of people like steady lives; I probably don't; still, people are different and I can use it to my advantage
- live and let live
- some people don't acknowledge the existence of cashiers
25.2.07
Orchids and geo-caching
Today, I went to the Botanic garden, with Irena and Squirrel, to see an orchids exposition. The outside areas of the garden were still mostly waking up from Winter, though there were first blossoms.
The exposition took place at the Fata Morgana greenhouse. In fact, there weren't that many orchids as one would expect, but there were some and also I had been there just once before, long time ago (in fact, just a while after the greenhouse was opened). So I was happy to see it once again (with many new plants introduced), not to mention I'm just too eager to see nature wake up in here, so this at least relieves me a little.
Still, I wouldn't go there just myself, so I was happy there was someone to go there and talk to meanwhile. I'm more and more realizing I've been very unwilling to do almost anything without some other people - it may be that I'm just too much learning for my forthcoming maturita and I simply have to compensate that - thus becoming a very sociable person; not that I'd object :-)
After, Squirrel wanted to roam nearby, to find some geocaches. An interesting phenomenon, this geocaching, one gets to places otherwise neglected - and that would be pity. It consists of going with a GPS device and searching by coordinates hidden caches. There are some caches just casually with a little treasure (assuming you leave some treasure there as well) and there are also others, more sophisticated, with riddles and so.
Before, I've heard about it, and then, this possibility :-) Squirrel has been doing it just since recently, but she already seemed quite experienced. It was also a nice talk and a nice walk :-)
The exposition took place at the Fata Morgana greenhouse. In fact, there weren't that many orchids as one would expect, but there were some and also I had been there just once before, long time ago (in fact, just a while after the greenhouse was opened). So I was happy to see it once again (with many new plants introduced), not to mention I'm just too eager to see nature wake up in here, so this at least relieves me a little.
Still, I wouldn't go there just myself, so I was happy there was someone to go there and talk to meanwhile. I'm more and more realizing I've been very unwilling to do almost anything without some other people - it may be that I'm just too much learning for my forthcoming maturita and I simply have to compensate that - thus becoming a very sociable person; not that I'd object :-)
After, Squirrel wanted to roam nearby, to find some geocaches. An interesting phenomenon, this geocaching, one gets to places otherwise neglected - and that would be pity. It consists of going with a GPS device and searching by coordinates hidden caches. There are some caches just casually with a little treasure (assuming you leave some treasure there as well) and there are also others, more sophisticated, with riddles and so.
Before, I've heard about it, and then, this possibility :-) Squirrel has been doing it just since recently, but she already seemed quite experienced. It was also a nice talk and a nice walk :-)
Chimney climbing
One crosses different paths, often without knowing in advance. I went to a tea house yesterday in hope of some chatting and while there'd been some talk before about a possible climb to a chimney top, I hadn't really paid attention. When the talk came to the chimney, I thought it would be a little one.
There's an organization of chimney-climbers, but of that little I'd known about them, I'd thought they were simply weird (I do still think so - but who isn't anyway ;-)
I end up climbing a nice one at Roztyly - 35 meters. It was with friends, but still. But what a surprise, I was most scared while still on the ground, then everything faded away and I just concentrated on climbing. My weak hands were quite nicely stressed, but they did it. When on the top, the view was really spectacular. It's weird, when i'm on tops of anything, just some really high places, I don't fear at all (rather, others are worried about me - I can understand why); it's just so ecstatic feeling, whew...
It's crazy, taking everything that comes, but it's really stimulating and...it just somehow fits to me...
I was told I'd be watching every chimney since then...hmmm...meanwhile, have a look at the list of the tallest chimneys by Wikipedia.
There's an organization of chimney-climbers, but of that little I'd known about them, I'd thought they were simply weird (I do still think so - but who isn't anyway ;-)
I end up climbing a nice one at Roztyly - 35 meters. It was with friends, but still. But what a surprise, I was most scared while still on the ground, then everything faded away and I just concentrated on climbing. My weak hands were quite nicely stressed, but they did it. When on the top, the view was really spectacular. It's weird, when i'm on tops of anything, just some really high places, I don't fear at all (rather, others are worried about me - I can understand why); it's just so ecstatic feeling, whew...
It's crazy, taking everything that comes, but it's really stimulating and...it just somehow fits to me...
I was told I'd be watching every chimney since then...hmmm...meanwhile, have a look at the list of the tallest chimneys by Wikipedia.
21.1.07
Soldering
On Friday, during my Physics internship, I learned how to solder! Sure, just a little bit and it took me quite a while and it has little to do with Physics itself, but still.
I had to bind a contact to a solar cell. First one has to apply rosin to both the solder and the soldered material. I don't know, how it precisely works, but it's there to clean the surface and remove oxides. Also, you use different rosin to solder different materials, so I guess it somehow reacts with the impurities.
Temperature is not that high - some 300C, it's because you use a quickly melting alloy to melt and then to get solid again (in my case it was some tin-lead alloy). Reportedly, lead alloys are going to be prohibited for this purpose; I am just not sure how it will help nature, when other alloys have to be heated to temperatures about 100 degrees higher, thus what you get by not introducing lead to nature, you lose by energy consumption...
My work was quite crude and, considering the cell was rather small, I wonder how it is going to work now.
I had to bind a contact to a solar cell. First one has to apply rosin to both the solder and the soldered material. I don't know, how it precisely works, but it's there to clean the surface and remove oxides. Also, you use different rosin to solder different materials, so I guess it somehow reacts with the impurities.
Temperature is not that high - some 300C, it's because you use a quickly melting alloy to melt and then to get solid again (in my case it was some tin-lead alloy). Reportedly, lead alloys are going to be prohibited for this purpose; I am just not sure how it will help nature, when other alloys have to be heated to temperatures about 100 degrees higher, thus what you get by not introducing lead to nature, you lose by energy consumption...
My work was quite crude and, considering the cell was rather small, I wonder how it is going to work now.
2.10.06
First dance lesson
Lan and me went to the dance school for the first time. My grandma came with me as my chaperon, while Kriza went with Lan.
I'm glad I wasn't attending the lessons when I was younger (e.g. at 15, when a great lot of people go there, often because of the parents or peers; so Veverka, who is as old as I am, is already doing an assistant there, for example), else I'd caught disgust towards dancing. Now, I'm able to withstand it (mas o menos), as I strive to learn how to dance. It struck me, the formal clothes and customs are so uncomfortable, so that the people are discouraged from the formal events. Or maybe it was thought out by pervert people for pervert people. I don't know.
Yet I like the dancing (so far) itself. Sure, the course should give me "basics of etiquette", but I'm willing to put up with that (so far). I take it as a sport - I may like the feeling, so I'll follow the rules, even though they may not please me. (But now I see why I like the skating so much - the feeling is very intense, yet the only rules applied are my own ones.)
Of the clothing, I somewhat like the shoes. Not that I liked it for casual wearing, but for dancing, they are wonderful.
We were taught, apart from a few (mostly useless) formal rules and recommendations, basics of foxtrot, jive and blues. We were training the steps and then we even got to dancing itself (though just the basics, of course). Dancing with Lan was fine, we just had to order our rhythms and then it was just OK.
Now I just have to convince some other people to practice with me. Kriza suggested others would be eager as the maturita ball was approaching. We'll see.
There was a plenty of people from the school, younger ones (and sure, Veverka, but that isn't to be counted). But when looking around, not everyone seemed to be around 15, there were older (ok, not thaaat older, these are after all courses for students) people as well.
I'm glad I wasn't attending the lessons when I was younger (e.g. at 15, when a great lot of people go there, often because of the parents or peers; so Veverka, who is as old as I am, is already doing an assistant there, for example), else I'd caught disgust towards dancing. Now, I'm able to withstand it (mas o menos), as I strive to learn how to dance. It struck me, the formal clothes and customs are so uncomfortable, so that the people are discouraged from the formal events. Or maybe it was thought out by pervert people for pervert people. I don't know.
Yet I like the dancing (so far) itself. Sure, the course should give me "basics of etiquette", but I'm willing to put up with that (so far). I take it as a sport - I may like the feeling, so I'll follow the rules, even though they may not please me. (But now I see why I like the skating so much - the feeling is very intense, yet the only rules applied are my own ones.)
Of the clothing, I somewhat like the shoes. Not that I liked it for casual wearing, but for dancing, they are wonderful.
We were taught, apart from a few (mostly useless) formal rules and recommendations, basics of foxtrot, jive and blues. We were training the steps and then we even got to dancing itself (though just the basics, of course). Dancing with Lan was fine, we just had to order our rhythms and then it was just OK.
Now I just have to convince some other people to practice with me. Kriza suggested others would be eager as the maturita ball was approaching. We'll see.
There was a plenty of people from the school, younger ones (and sure, Veverka, but that isn't to be counted). But when looking around, not everyone seemed to be around 15, there were older (ok, not thaaat older, these are after all courses for students) people as well.
10.6.06
Climbing
Maf and Meldath invited me to climb with them. We set off yesterday at 15.15. I was again late so we nearly missed the train.
I should have taken food and I did so, but those two complained it wasn't enough. Next time I'm going to let them take care of that.
We traveled somewhere near Beroun. There is a well-known climbing site. It was for the first time I was trying this, so I wasn't very successful. Yet I still succeeded in one easier climb.
It's very hard for both arms and legs and my arms are still hurting me now (though I was acknowledged that the main work should be done by legs.
In the evening Meldath played the guitar. He's been playing for just a week or so now but I believe he'll learn it and then it'll be wonderful ;-) Singing was rather difficult now but I'm already looking forward to a singing evening soon.
I went to bed quite early while they still played. In the morning they told me they had gone to sleep at 3.30...
Then we missed two trains (one because of their tiredness and second because we thought it'd go ten minutes later than it really did...
I should have taken food and I did so, but those two complained it wasn't enough. Next time I'm going to let them take care of that.
We traveled somewhere near Beroun. There is a well-known climbing site. It was for the first time I was trying this, so I wasn't very successful. Yet I still succeeded in one easier climb.
It's very hard for both arms and legs and my arms are still hurting me now (though I was acknowledged that the main work should be done by legs.
In the evening Meldath played the guitar. He's been playing for just a week or so now but I believe he'll learn it and then it'll be wonderful ;-) Singing was rather difficult now but I'm already looking forward to a singing evening soon.
I went to bed quite early while they still played. In the morning they told me they had gone to sleep at 3.30...
Then we missed two trains (one because of their tiredness and second because we thought it'd go ten minutes later than it really did...
23.5.06
Driving exam
Today I was making my driving exam. And I succeeded! At least it seems so.
But from the beginning:
I came to the driving school at 7.15. Before, I convinced my father to take me to a parking lot so that I could practice for a while more. When I was there, me, our teachers and others candidates moved to another nearby driving school - we were joined with them for the exams.
There we're waiting till 8.00 and then we received the tests. When we filled them, another two groups came - one group of foreigners, who needed a translator and then the group from the second driving school. The most people did it. Just two didn't. We didn't know how many points we got, but later at home when I checked my answers I hadn't been sure about, I realized I'd done it all right.
At 11.00 the tests of driving began. I went home for a book and later I even returned home for lunch. There were two commissaries ill that day, so only one came to the exams. Additionally, a lot of people are making the exams now, before the new traffic law has come in effect.
After all, I got into the car at 14.30. And there are always two people making the driving in the same ride (one goes somewhere and the second returns). So besides me there was a girl. She was doing the exam for the second time. At the first time she didn't succeed in maintenance and in driving. We had a rather interesting conversation when we were waiting.
Anyway, I was driving first. It was terrible. I was very nervous. First when I was starting, the engine stalled. Then I forgot to turn on the indicator light once and I forgot to turn it off some three times. Additionally, I once nearly went to the opposite lane when turning. The commissary let me park the car after some ten minutes, as it was not worth continuing.
Then the girl went. She was very careful, the commissary even told her to go faster. Yet she made no mistakes. And she drove much more confidently than I had.
She returned to the driving school. There we had to talk something about maintenance. She had a lot of problems with that, but overall, she knew everything important. So she was told to come the day after for the driving license.
Then I was talking about maintenance. The first question was what do I pour in the accumulator, what alternator is and then I was talking a bit about all of it. The second was, what's the color of the rear fog light on the control panel.
Fine, I did the maintenance. OK, I'll have to repeat the driving.
But then the commissary said this: "Fine, you're a reasonable person. You know your performance wasn't perfect. But I know a lot of people who had been driving even worse and yet they hadn't seen any problems with their driving. So tomorrow, you can go for your driving license, take your identification card and a photo."
I was staring at him for a while. Then I thanked him, said bye to him and the teacher and ran home quickly. Is it possible? It must have been a joke. But if it's true, it's incredible.
But from the beginning:
I came to the driving school at 7.15. Before, I convinced my father to take me to a parking lot so that I could practice for a while more. When I was there, me, our teachers and others candidates moved to another nearby driving school - we were joined with them for the exams.
There we're waiting till 8.00 and then we received the tests. When we filled them, another two groups came - one group of foreigners, who needed a translator and then the group from the second driving school. The most people did it. Just two didn't. We didn't know how many points we got, but later at home when I checked my answers I hadn't been sure about, I realized I'd done it all right.
At 11.00 the tests of driving began. I went home for a book and later I even returned home for lunch. There were two commissaries ill that day, so only one came to the exams. Additionally, a lot of people are making the exams now, before the new traffic law has come in effect.
After all, I got into the car at 14.30. And there are always two people making the driving in the same ride (one goes somewhere and the second returns). So besides me there was a girl. She was doing the exam for the second time. At the first time she didn't succeed in maintenance and in driving. We had a rather interesting conversation when we were waiting.
Anyway, I was driving first. It was terrible. I was very nervous. First when I was starting, the engine stalled. Then I forgot to turn on the indicator light once and I forgot to turn it off some three times. Additionally, I once nearly went to the opposite lane when turning. The commissary let me park the car after some ten minutes, as it was not worth continuing.
Then the girl went. She was very careful, the commissary even told her to go faster. Yet she made no mistakes. And she drove much more confidently than I had.
She returned to the driving school. There we had to talk something about maintenance. She had a lot of problems with that, but overall, she knew everything important. So she was told to come the day after for the driving license.
Then I was talking about maintenance. The first question was what do I pour in the accumulator, what alternator is and then I was talking a bit about all of it. The second was, what's the color of the rear fog light on the control panel.
Fine, I did the maintenance. OK, I'll have to repeat the driving.
But then the commissary said this: "Fine, you're a reasonable person. You know your performance wasn't perfect. But I know a lot of people who had been driving even worse and yet they hadn't seen any problems with their driving. So tomorrow, you can go for your driving license, take your identification card and a photo."
I was staring at him for a while. Then I thanked him, said bye to him and the teacher and ran home quickly. Is it possible? It must have been a joke. But if it's true, it's incredible.
1.3.06
Impro training
So yesterday, I attended to an impro training. It's just my second experience with impro and the first training ever.
However I must admit I liked it much. We were there for two hours. I knew most people there, except for two (plus our trainer) , cause they are from Gybu, yet there weren't all of them.
Our training consisted both of training for impro matches and of some verbal and motorical exercises.
It was fun and I intend to go there next week as well.
However I must admit I liked it much. We were there for two hours. I knew most people there, except for two (plus our trainer) , cause they are from Gybu, yet there weren't all of them.
Our training consisted both of training for impro matches and of some verbal and motorical exercises.
It was fun and I intend to go there next week as well.
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