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 my life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my life. Show all posts
26.7.11
IMO 2011
I've had the opportunity to participate at the International Mathematical Olympiad in Amsterdam. The competition is for the high school students, but I was not a contestant - I served as a team guide, which is to say that I had to look after for team members of one team (usually six people), make sure that they enjoy the event and that nothing bad happens to them.
I was a guide for Slovakia and later on also for the Czech Republic (since the Czech guide had to leave earlier due to an unexpected event). Just as a note: there were something over 1000 people involved, of which cca 550 contestants.
As for the contest itself, there were 6 problems to solve (3 for one contest day, the contestans had 4.5 hours to solve it). The easier one were...doable for me (I must admit that I have not time yet to work them out completely, however I see how to tackle them and am confident they would yield themselves after some time). The hard problems were hard and as for the geometry, I read the text of the assignment and gave up :-) It should be noted that most contestants don't solve most of the problems (to get a silver medal, you had to completely solve two of the problems and a tiny little bit of a third one). What is amazing - that the contestants are able to tackle in a short time the problems where I get some idea and chance only because of the experience gained by four years of (very succesful) study of mathematics. How can this be possible? Let's face it - some of the contestants are simply genial. On the other hand, others (while also very clever) have already dedicated many years of their life to studying mathematics (which means, at the high school level: solving all the mail seminars, atteding all the mathematics contests for the secondary school students and probably also attending a high school with specialization in mathematics and physics).
I'm very much led by the latter students to contemplate the role of the "fate" in your life. Indeed, consider a person who dedicates herself since her 12 to mathematics (computer science/physics/chemistry/....) in such a way. I cannot resist a comparison to the Middle Ages monks who dedicated their whole life to serve the god (think also about other similarities in this comparison). As a humble and (rather) recently intiated servant of Mathematics, I cannot but feel that my level of piety can never reach that of the monks - and, actually, it might not be appropriate for me, a mere mortal, to make attempts in this direction!
By the way, it's noteworthy that lands of Latin America and Africa fared worse than those of North America, Europe and (especially) Asia. The next year, IMO is hosted by Argentina, so perhaps the home environment will help the South American countries? It would be nice if the travel costs were reimbursed also the next year - in that case, you surely see me as a guide in Argentina (but I guess the reimbursement will of course not take place...)
As is probably obvious from the above, it was amazing for me to get into contact with the contestants; and to see what they could do. In my group (of 12 people), there were 3 people going to Cambridge (one knew it for sure, the other two not yet). A person from another group who I met when accompanying him to Schiphol since he had to leave earlier in order to attend IIO. He was admitted to MIT (and a plenty of other prestigious schools, by the way; on the other hand, some other did not admit him...) He professed that he had wanted to go to MIT since his very youth - oh my, even sooner than I had the slightest idea that some MIT even existed! He had a few medals from both IMO and IIO...
Among the contestants, Lisa Sauermann certainly deserves a special mention. She has won her fourth gold IMO medal this year and also holds another silver one which makes her the most succesful IMO contestant so far. To put it into a "gender context" girls made 57 out of 564 participants of this year's IMO. By the way, she goes on to study Math at University of Bonn - the famous Math department in Germany.
In the free days (after the contest, when the team leaders were busy with correcting the solutions), excursions were organized for the contestants (and the guides followed their group) - our group visited Den Haag (and Escher museum) and sailed on Gouwenzee near the "typical Dutch" village of Vollendam. And yet another day, we visited the center of Amsterdam (there was too little time to see everything worthwhile, but it was nice nevertheless). Also, on one of the contest day, guides and team leaders could visit a museum, I chose the Rijksmuseum (perhaps I should be ashamed of that, but my first year in the Netherlands was spent differently than visiting museums, so this was my first visit there).
I was very happy with my team(s) - I had a great fun with them. On the other hand, looking after them was not always easy. It's difficult to gain respect of 18 and 19 years old (not all of them were, but some yes) when you are just a few years older and when you actually look younger than they do...There was a person constantly getting lost and another one who had a perverse affection in climbing to dangerous places (think of roofs of tall buildings, three meters high statues, trees, edges of cliffs...).
I made a lot of new contacts and I am looking forward to the opportunities of the future. On the other hand, I must admit that it is quite discouraging to see how big the role of connections is (Dutch people call it "via via"). By the way, some 80% percent of Dutch graduates reportedly get their job either after running an internship or "via via". The "zesjescultuur" at the Dutch schools is being repeatedly criticized, but why should students strive to get good grades if, in order to get a good job, it is much more effective and time efficient to "build network" instead of learning?
We were accomodated in a four star hotel - good food (I ate too much of it probably :-) We had several coffee machines at our service - and I learned how to make a good use of them which help me greatly not to fall during the exhausting days.
I was a guide for Slovakia and later on also for the Czech Republic (since the Czech guide had to leave earlier due to an unexpected event). Just as a note: there were something over 1000 people involved, of which cca 550 contestants.
As for the contest itself, there were 6 problems to solve (3 for one contest day, the contestans had 4.5 hours to solve it). The easier one were...doable for me (I must admit that I have not time yet to work them out completely, however I see how to tackle them and am confident they would yield themselves after some time). The hard problems were hard and as for the geometry, I read the text of the assignment and gave up :-) It should be noted that most contestants don't solve most of the problems (to get a silver medal, you had to completely solve two of the problems and a tiny little bit of a third one). What is amazing - that the contestants are able to tackle in a short time the problems where I get some idea and chance only because of the experience gained by four years of (very succesful) study of mathematics. How can this be possible? Let's face it - some of the contestants are simply genial. On the other hand, others (while also very clever) have already dedicated many years of their life to studying mathematics (which means, at the high school level: solving all the mail seminars, atteding all the mathematics contests for the secondary school students and probably also attending a high school with specialization in mathematics and physics).
I'm very much led by the latter students to contemplate the role of the "fate" in your life. Indeed, consider a person who dedicates herself since her 12 to mathematics (computer science/physics/chemistry/....) in such a way. I cannot resist a comparison to the Middle Ages monks who dedicated their whole life to serve the god (think also about other similarities in this comparison). As a humble and (rather) recently intiated servant of Mathematics, I cannot but feel that my level of piety can never reach that of the monks - and, actually, it might not be appropriate for me, a mere mortal, to make attempts in this direction!
By the way, it's noteworthy that lands of Latin America and Africa fared worse than those of North America, Europe and (especially) Asia. The next year, IMO is hosted by Argentina, so perhaps the home environment will help the South American countries? It would be nice if the travel costs were reimbursed also the next year - in that case, you surely see me as a guide in Argentina (but I guess the reimbursement will of course not take place...)
As is probably obvious from the above, it was amazing for me to get into contact with the contestants; and to see what they could do. In my group (of 12 people), there were 3 people going to Cambridge (one knew it for sure, the other two not yet). A person from another group who I met when accompanying him to Schiphol since he had to leave earlier in order to attend IIO. He was admitted to MIT (and a plenty of other prestigious schools, by the way; on the other hand, some other did not admit him...) He professed that he had wanted to go to MIT since his very youth - oh my, even sooner than I had the slightest idea that some MIT even existed! He had a few medals from both IMO and IIO...
Among the contestants, Lisa Sauermann certainly deserves a special mention. She has won her fourth gold IMO medal this year and also holds another silver one which makes her the most succesful IMO contestant so far. To put it into a "gender context" girls made 57 out of 564 participants of this year's IMO. By the way, she goes on to study Math at University of Bonn - the famous Math department in Germany.
In the free days (after the contest, when the team leaders were busy with correcting the solutions), excursions were organized for the contestants (and the guides followed their group) - our group visited Den Haag (and Escher museum) and sailed on Gouwenzee near the "typical Dutch" village of Vollendam. And yet another day, we visited the center of Amsterdam (there was too little time to see everything worthwhile, but it was nice nevertheless). Also, on one of the contest day, guides and team leaders could visit a museum, I chose the Rijksmuseum (perhaps I should be ashamed of that, but my first year in the Netherlands was spent differently than visiting museums, so this was my first visit there).
I was very happy with my team(s) - I had a great fun with them. On the other hand, looking after them was not always easy. It's difficult to gain respect of 18 and 19 years old (not all of them were, but some yes) when you are just a few years older and when you actually look younger than they do...There was a person constantly getting lost and another one who had a perverse affection in climbing to dangerous places (think of roofs of tall buildings, three meters high statues, trees, edges of cliffs...).
I made a lot of new contacts and I am looking forward to the opportunities of the future. On the other hand, I must admit that it is quite discouraging to see how big the role of connections is (Dutch people call it "via via"). By the way, some 80% percent of Dutch graduates reportedly get their job either after running an internship or "via via". The "zesjescultuur" at the Dutch schools is being repeatedly criticized, but why should students strive to get good grades if, in order to get a good job, it is much more effective and time efficient to "build network" instead of learning?
We were accomodated in a four star hotel - good food (I ate too much of it probably :-) We had several coffee machines at our service - and I learned how to make a good use of them which help me greatly not to fall during the exhausting days.
5.9.10
Introduction days
In the last week, there were introduction days for incoming foreign students. I was always doing something and there was a plenty of people everywhere - that makes me happy; even though today, I just had to have a rest...
There are many foreign students, but mostly exchange ones. A lot of Law students... In Mathematics, there are several foreign Masterclass students; then, as far as I know, there are 4 foreign master students (out of about 20 Math students).
In the school introduction, we were basically told about paying the tuition and the city registration (which I have to do myself anyway, since I don't live directly in the Utrecht city...). In the afternoon, we were told, how to use the computer study system Osiris. Then I went with my Norwegian classmate to see his SSH appartment (huge...). He let me taste a special Norwegian cheese - sweet, strange color, very delicious :-)
The faculty introduction - some introductory talk about how important is the master study .Then some information on my study program - how many credits I need in my program and so, after, a nice talk to a Logic professor. Then our study association A-eskwadraat organized some activities for us - jumping in a sack, riding on a "beer-bicycle-wagon" (don't know the official name of that, have seen it in Brugge, though) and tandem bikes; in the evening a barbecue (I like talking about what I've eaten here - so I should mention I like pindasaus). During this activities-afternoon, I had a chance to meet quite a lot of my future classmates (I would say most of them, since we are so few).
The ESN introduction - they say it's for every buitenlander, but really it's more for the exchange students. By the way, the exchange students are dissuaded (probably inadvertently, but still) from getting to know Dutch culture almost all the time - are encouraged to spend time in "international clubs", having a special vereiniging commitee to make actions for them (in English), to not need a single Dutch word, to not eat Dutch food... We were shown several clubs and a lot of places, where one could get a discount with the ESN card. I wonder, how many companies pay to the ESN directors to push their products ("get free Lebara sim card!" and similar). Have I already said, I like stroopwafels? By the way, we went to a boat trip in the Utrecht canals, that was nice.
My first lecture should be on Tuesday..looking forward to it. Also, I would not mind finally getting a tutor (comforting, though just a little bit, is the fact that not even most "local" students have one)
I should have written this in Dutch, zodat ik Nederlands oefen.
There are many foreign students, but mostly exchange ones. A lot of Law students... In Mathematics, there are several foreign Masterclass students; then, as far as I know, there are 4 foreign master students (out of about 20 Math students).
In the school introduction, we were basically told about paying the tuition and the city registration (which I have to do myself anyway, since I don't live directly in the Utrecht city...). In the afternoon, we were told, how to use the computer study system Osiris. Then I went with my Norwegian classmate to see his SSH appartment (huge...). He let me taste a special Norwegian cheese - sweet, strange color, very delicious :-)
The faculty introduction - some introductory talk about how important is the master study .Then some information on my study program - how many credits I need in my program and so, after, a nice talk to a Logic professor. Then our study association A-eskwadraat organized some activities for us - jumping in a sack, riding on a "beer-bicycle-wagon" (don't know the official name of that, have seen it in Brugge, though) and tandem bikes; in the evening a barbecue (I like talking about what I've eaten here - so I should mention I like pindasaus). During this activities-afternoon, I had a chance to meet quite a lot of my future classmates (I would say most of them, since we are so few).
The ESN introduction - they say it's for every buitenlander, but really it's more for the exchange students. By the way, the exchange students are dissuaded (probably inadvertently, but still) from getting to know Dutch culture almost all the time - are encouraged to spend time in "international clubs", having a special vereiniging commitee to make actions for them (in English), to not need a single Dutch word, to not eat Dutch food... We were shown several clubs and a lot of places, where one could get a discount with the ESN card. I wonder, how many companies pay to the ESN directors to push their products ("get free Lebara sim card!" and similar). Have I already said, I like stroopwafels? By the way, we went to a boat trip in the Utrecht canals, that was nice.
My first lecture should be on Tuesday..looking forward to it. Also, I would not mind finally getting a tutor (comforting, though just a little bit, is the fact that not even most "local" students have one)
I should have written this in Dutch, zodat ik Nederlands oefen.
26.8.10
Another impressions from the Netherlands
- What makes me happy: I got a second-hand chair, second-hand table, second-hand table lamp and a mattress from IKEA... Ja, en ik al weet, hoe werkt de IKEA systeem. A few days after buying the chair, I saw a few nice chairs being dumped into a garbage in front of the Mathematics building...too late.
- To be a little bit cynic: first impressions from the Netherlands = bikes + rain.
- I was said that perhaps around 20-25 percent are accepted for the Mathematical Sciences...wow, I was maybe more lucky than I thought...
- How to get a job as a pure mathematician: "Go to your future employee, give them your CV. Now, what do they see? They see that you're a genius, so they're going to accept you." :-D
- Summerschool is fun, I like learning again. I like the lecturers, maybe I'm going to take their subjects in the regular school year.
- I met two of my new classmates (in the summerschool) - one from Norway, the second one from here (with Chinese parents, but apparently as Dutch as any other Dutch person). Yeah, I like them :-)
15.8.10
First impressions from Netherlands
Not all of the impressions, just what has come to my mind just now.
I arrived on Friday with Wizz Air to Eindhoven. Cheap flight - pretty comfortable actually, people complain because of too little leg space, my legs are short enough, no problems with them :-)
Plenty of brick houses - just the whole city made of brick houses. Also seen a mosque there; a lot of Muslim people there. It caught my attention, but then why not, it may well have been an organic part of the city.
Arrived to Utrecht, by train. Train was very cheap, though pretty comfortable, a little bit airplane-like. The house, where I have my room in Zeist, is just lovely; my room is bigger than I had expected. My flat mate seems like a very nice guy.
Arrived to the summer school housing - a student housing; I guess getting the room was a good choice (albeit a very lucky one). Summer school participants are all around the world - probably much more multicultural, than the people in the 3 workcamps, where I had participated.
Utrecht - a lot of bikes, a very smart city; my house in Zeist is probably closer to Uithof then a big part of the Utrecht proper.
Went to "Utrechtse Bazaar" - it was like a Moroccan suq (also, a lot of sellers were probably of Moroccan origin, I even heard some Arabic being spoken). It was huge - I have a new backpack, cost me 6e; is bigger and seems more durable than my old one (I am already thinking about the possible use of the old one...). I also visited the Vredenburg market; it had a different flavor, was also pretty big.
Second hand shopping exists, but seems not to be too widespread :-( I found an address of a few second-hands (I need a table and a chair...); have yet to visit them. The new stuff is probably too cheap.
Food - a lot of food that I like is pretty cheap (even cheaper than in the CZ); yet fruit and vegetables are expensive (not so much in the suq...but it's pretty far :-( ). There is a lot of stuff to be put on a bread, much more than just cheese, butter, jam, ham. Dutch people seem really crazy in this (for instance, chocolate flakes, used in the Czech Republic just to decorate cakes...).
In Netherlands, everything seems so neat (at least on the first sight). It seemed to me the same in other "Western" European countries; perhaps neat in different way, but always neat (of course, some cities or city quarters were exceptional, but in general it held). Perhaps this is the origin of the sentiment that we are rich enough and that we should concentrate on other stuff than getting richer; this perspective is obviously much stronger in such neat countries (but actually, the Czech Republic has been becoming more and more neater during my life as well...).
The preserved patches of nature in Eindhoven and Utrecht seemed really well preserved - water birds, rabbits (on just very small areas, where there were no buildings!!!).
Dutch people speak Dutch too quickly...; but actually, it happened to me just twice or so, that they would switch to English, seeing I was a foreigner - a nice surprise :-)
I have a new (Dutch) cell phone number.
I arrived on Friday with Wizz Air to Eindhoven. Cheap flight - pretty comfortable actually, people complain because of too little leg space, my legs are short enough, no problems with them :-)
Plenty of brick houses - just the whole city made of brick houses. Also seen a mosque there; a lot of Muslim people there. It caught my attention, but then why not, it may well have been an organic part of the city.
Arrived to Utrecht, by train. Train was very cheap, though pretty comfortable, a little bit airplane-like. The house, where I have my room in Zeist, is just lovely; my room is bigger than I had expected. My flat mate seems like a very nice guy.
Arrived to the summer school housing - a student housing; I guess getting the room was a good choice (albeit a very lucky one). Summer school participants are all around the world - probably much more multicultural, than the people in the 3 workcamps, where I had participated.
Utrecht - a lot of bikes, a very smart city; my house in Zeist is probably closer to Uithof then a big part of the Utrecht proper.
Went to "Utrechtse Bazaar" - it was like a Moroccan suq (also, a lot of sellers were probably of Moroccan origin, I even heard some Arabic being spoken). It was huge - I have a new backpack, cost me 6e; is bigger and seems more durable than my old one (I am already thinking about the possible use of the old one...). I also visited the Vredenburg market; it had a different flavor, was also pretty big.
Second hand shopping exists, but seems not to be too widespread :-( I found an address of a few second-hands (I need a table and a chair...); have yet to visit them. The new stuff is probably too cheap.
Food - a lot of food that I like is pretty cheap (even cheaper than in the CZ); yet fruit and vegetables are expensive (not so much in the suq...but it's pretty far :-( ). There is a lot of stuff to be put on a bread, much more than just cheese, butter, jam, ham. Dutch people seem really crazy in this (for instance, chocolate flakes, used in the Czech Republic just to decorate cakes...).
In Netherlands, everything seems so neat (at least on the first sight). It seemed to me the same in other "Western" European countries; perhaps neat in different way, but always neat (of course, some cities or city quarters were exceptional, but in general it held). Perhaps this is the origin of the sentiment that we are rich enough and that we should concentrate on other stuff than getting richer; this perspective is obviously much stronger in such neat countries (but actually, the Czech Republic has been becoming more and more neater during my life as well...).
The preserved patches of nature in Eindhoven and Utrecht seemed really well preserved - water birds, rabbits (on just very small areas, where there were no buildings!!!).
Dutch people speak Dutch too quickly...; but actually, it happened to me just twice or so, that they would switch to English, seeing I was a foreigner - a nice surprise :-)
I have a new (Dutch) cell phone number.
17.2.10
Visiting a Chinese library (in Prague...)
I went to the Oriental Institute of the Academy of Sciences. Precisely, to their library, to the Chinese one. You know, not a lot of resources on Chinese to be found here in Prague...Oh sure, Internet is nice, yet I was also seeking for a guidance - what should I read??? How should I learn Chinese (as a non-Sinology student...).
Apparently, the few librarians in there don't have too many visits from "outsiders". And so, I was treated with all the ceremony, the appropriate Chinese book was chosen for me; I also got an interesting idea on how to get to touch with some Chinese in Prague - to my great astonishment, there are Chinese Bohemists (as in 'Sinologists', just the language being different) in Prague!! Of course, if Sinology students from Prague go to internships to Chinese universities, it should be the other way round as well, shouldn't it. But still, an idea of a Chinese student with a major in the Czech language??? Hard to believe. Never mind, I was hinted that these people would definitely be willing to have a chat with a Czech person :D
Oh, and I have (borrowed) a pretty little Chinese book on Chinese myths - seems even I may be able to read without much difficulty (as opposed, for example, to the writings of 鲁迅, after whom the library is named (when browsing the books, it almost seemed as if the library was named after him just because he was the most frequent writer in there).
By the way, I was told that there are a lot of books even in English (and not only about China, also about other areas of interest for the Oriental Institute - a large part of Asia) and on normal topics (seemed like there was also a lot of encyclopedia-like ones).
Note: in fact, I have read, that 鲁迅 actually wrote very accessible books - at least considering his epoch.
Apparently, the few librarians in there don't have too many visits from "outsiders". And so, I was treated with all the ceremony, the appropriate Chinese book was chosen for me; I also got an interesting idea on how to get to touch with some Chinese in Prague - to my great astonishment, there are Chinese Bohemists (as in 'Sinologists', just the language being different) in Prague!! Of course, if Sinology students from Prague go to internships to Chinese universities, it should be the other way round as well, shouldn't it. But still, an idea of a Chinese student with a major in the Czech language??? Hard to believe. Never mind, I was hinted that these people would definitely be willing to have a chat with a Czech person :D
Oh, and I have (borrowed) a pretty little Chinese book on Chinese myths - seems even I may be able to read without much difficulty (as opposed, for example, to the writings of 鲁迅, after whom the library is named (when browsing the books, it almost seemed as if the library was named after him just because he was the most frequent writer in there).
By the way, I was told that there are a lot of books even in English (and not only about China, also about other areas of interest for the Oriental Institute - a large part of Asia) and on normal topics (seemed like there was also a lot of encyclopedia-like ones).
Note: in fact, I have read, that 鲁迅 actually wrote very accessible books - at least considering his epoch.
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...
30.9.08
Winter term starting
Tomorrow, lectures start again. They ended in May, if I recall correctly. I find it strange - I go to school regularly just some six months (October, November, part of December, January and February, March to May), but dedicate myself mentally more to it than ever before (worth to say, the exam terms have quite some role in it).
On the other hand, I lost the somewhat sick feeling of distinction "vacation - good x school/work - bad". Now the events are just flowing, no matter what time of the year it is.
There are two changes, I will likely notice. First, there is going to be a lot of people again, which is an environment that I like. Second, there are going to be the lectures, some of which I'm pretty looking forward to.
I just hope, I will wake up tomorrow :)
On the other hand, I lost the somewhat sick feeling of distinction "vacation - good x school/work - bad". Now the events are just flowing, no matter what time of the year it is.
There are two changes, I will likely notice. First, there is going to be a lot of people again, which is an environment that I like. Second, there are going to be the lectures, some of which I'm pretty looking forward to.
I just hope, I will wake up tomorrow :)
6.9.08
Work in FZU finished
I have to make this note for myself..
So my summer 'job' in FZU. I wonder if it's similar to what would be a full-time job there.. One learns a lot of new skills. Someone there (a theoretical physics phd student, I think) told me he had to learn everything from scratch anyway (i.e. the school not having been too helpful in the 'real life'). Unsurprising, I'd say. Few people say, they have used too much of what they've learned in the school. And that guy may be considered lucky to work at least in the same field :D
Still, to my surprise, I was told, once I'd have some more time, that there was already yet another possible work for me to do :D Who would have guessed? (me not)
So my summer 'job' in FZU. I wonder if it's similar to what would be a full-time job there.. One learns a lot of new skills. Someone there (a theoretical physics phd student, I think) told me he had to learn everything from scratch anyway (i.e. the school not having been too helpful in the 'real life'). Unsurprising, I'd say. Few people say, they have used too much of what they've learned in the school. And that guy may be considered lucky to work at least in the same field :D
Still, to my surprise, I was told, once I'd have some more time, that there was already yet another possible work for me to do :D Who would have guessed? (me not)
26.8.08
Just a chimney
Yet another Motorlet party. Moreover, with a new chimney addict (though she perhaps not yet know she is :) Admirable, for the first time, to go to such a tall chimney. My hands would have fallen apart, had I gone to something like this for the first time. Actually, the hands almost did so this time as well.
Contrary to the most common perception, we managed to encounter some guards there. Imagine, at Motorlet, the symbol of safe chimney climbing :D They acted somewhat strangely and we still haven't concluded, if they saw us or not (and no, they didn't climb all the way up, we met them just under the chimney). Their dog. Such a nice doggie :) Instead of smelling the outsiders, it ran away, so they were chasing it all around, for a while.
So, you might guess, it was even more exciting than usual :D Anyway, there was yet another distinctly positive outcome. I had no troubles falling asleep tonight.
As for the life in general, everything seems so sharp..and so tender. Sharp in a soothing way...
Update: a photographing-obsessed person sent me a few of the pearls he'd taken. So while no one is probably interested in my smiling face (at least, I am not ;) , the landscape view from the top might do it.
16.7.08
Zoo
We went to the Zoo!
While the meeting time was set on the late afternoon, just Lan had come at atime. On the other hand, it was worth it to read two excusing messages in just three minutes :)
We saw a lot of strange animals (seems to me they are becoming more and more strange every time in a while when I visit the zoo). Small beetles, large spiders, large elephants, proud parrots, ehh, no wolves, what a pity; yet more - guanacos, ... you can name it (at least some). On the other hand, some animals were dismissed as being just "a donkey", or just "a goat", reducing their identification to the known case ;)
What surprised me was, how the price has soared since the last time I went there. I've always considered the zoo as a rather inexpensive venue, well, the time has changed.. Presumably, the animals has to eat something.
Also, since my last visit, there appeared a great lot of both outright advertisements and boards announcing which people have donated how much money to the cause of the individual animals. Still, I must say, I've found the advertisements inobtrusive, sometimes even funny, and it seems to me like a good idea for the zoo as how to raise some more money.
While the meeting time was set on the late afternoon, just Lan had come at atime. On the other hand, it was worth it to read two excusing messages in just three minutes :)
We saw a lot of strange animals (seems to me they are becoming more and more strange every time in a while when I visit the zoo). Small beetles, large spiders, large elephants, proud parrots, ehh, no wolves, what a pity; yet more - guanacos, ... you can name it (at least some). On the other hand, some animals were dismissed as being just "a donkey", or just "a goat", reducing their identification to the known case ;)
What surprised me was, how the price has soared since the last time I went there. I've always considered the zoo as a rather inexpensive venue, well, the time has changed.. Presumably, the animals has to eat something.
Also, since my last visit, there appeared a great lot of both outright advertisements and boards announcing which people have donated how much money to the cause of the individual animals. Still, I must say, I've found the advertisements inobtrusive, sometimes even funny, and it seems to me like a good idea for the zoo as how to raise some more money.
10.6.08
Life goes on
I don't use photos to refresh my memory. Overall, the outrightly visual aspects tend to not catch most of my attention. Perhaps because of short-sightedness. Or because the disliked elementary school Arts teacher. Who knows?
Still, if I don't even write, it seems, as if there is nothing, nothing.. As if it was true.
So many things have happened in the last few months.
Calmly go away - nothing of interest in here - at least not without living in it; yet I still have to scribble it for myself, at least in this little place.
I'm becoming just too curious. Is it an illness? And the more one knows, the less part of the whole one gets, and the more hunger for knowledge teases you. Such a silent drug...
In addition to Chinese, I started to learn Russian. Uncomparably easier. I have come to understand, why Italians and Spaniards understand each other with such ease.
I came to know, I don't want to spend my life in dark underground. No, not that. Rather in high towers, letting the thoughts flow. Or roving through unknown lands, discovering and wondering.. But it will be the Chance,tossing the coin, deciding in the end, one just has to relax and not resist.
And so many interesting people met. How could they all get together in one place?
...........
Still, if I don't even write, it seems, as if there is nothing, nothing.. As if it was true.
So many things have happened in the last few months.
Calmly go away - nothing of interest in here - at least not without living in it; yet I still have to scribble it for myself, at least in this little place.
I'm becoming just too curious. Is it an illness? And the more one knows, the less part of the whole one gets, and the more hunger for knowledge teases you. Such a silent drug...
In addition to Chinese, I started to learn Russian. Uncomparably easier. I have come to understand, why Italians and Spaniards understand each other with such ease.
I came to know, I don't want to spend my life in dark underground. No, not that. Rather in high towers, letting the thoughts flow. Or roving through unknown lands, discovering and wondering.. But it will be the Chance,tossing the coin, deciding in the end, one just has to relax and not resist.
And so many interesting people met. How could they all get together in one place?
...........
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.
2.2.08
Learning and the like
I love learning. It will be indoubtedly linked to my pathologic curiosity.
Last two months in my life were dedicated mostly to learning. Still, especially recently, I wasn't able to pursuit always the topics which interested me the most, as I was learning for the exams. Quite a plenty of them - six and also the programming test. And none of them was too easy (or perhaps I'm too stupid...). I'm happy to have done it. It's also a nice feeling - to know that it is at least possible to pass for me (although Analysis is expected to be even harder in the summer term... - so yet another possibility to drop out).
During the previous month, I was becoming more and more aware, that I actually knew soooo little... Actually, I was learning just too too little, perhaps accustomed from the secondary school. But I've realized, now - I actually can learn as much as I wish (that means a lot). This never happened in the secondary school - a lot of the matter was already known to me and the rest was mostly too shallow to let me investigate more. Still now - I feel as if staying in front of the sea of knowledge. Definitely an opportunity. After all - who knows for how long I will be able to swim in it? Still, I should first learn to swim...
Some would say there are more important things in life than just quenching one's curiosity. Sure, everyone is different. I just claim that in my part, curiosity plays just too a crucial role and I'm craving to act accordingly (and I most likely will). I hope I won't forget to eat and drink and I should also have a talk with someone, sometimes, even though it's going to be difficult for me ;)
Tomorrow I'm going to a school skiing camp (as I have de facto holidays now) - at least a week, so at least once going out of Prague in next few months.
Last two months in my life were dedicated mostly to learning. Still, especially recently, I wasn't able to pursuit always the topics which interested me the most, as I was learning for the exams. Quite a plenty of them - six and also the programming test. And none of them was too easy (or perhaps I'm too stupid...). I'm happy to have done it. It's also a nice feeling - to know that it is at least possible to pass for me (although Analysis is expected to be even harder in the summer term... - so yet another possibility to drop out).
During the previous month, I was becoming more and more aware, that I actually knew soooo little... Actually, I was learning just too too little, perhaps accustomed from the secondary school. But I've realized, now - I actually can learn as much as I wish (that means a lot). This never happened in the secondary school - a lot of the matter was already known to me and the rest was mostly too shallow to let me investigate more. Still now - I feel as if staying in front of the sea of knowledge. Definitely an opportunity. After all - who knows for how long I will be able to swim in it? Still, I should first learn to swim...
Some would say there are more important things in life than just quenching one's curiosity. Sure, everyone is different. I just claim that in my part, curiosity plays just too a crucial role and I'm craving to act accordingly (and I most likely will). I hope I won't forget to eat and drink and I should also have a talk with someone, sometimes, even though it's going to be difficult for me ;)
Tomorrow I'm going to a school skiing camp (as I have de facto holidays now) - at least a week, so at least once going out of Prague in next few months.
24.1.08
Gybu maturita ball 2008
I still remember it, when there was my maturita ball. Even though it seems such a long time ago.
Yet even though I don't go to the school anymore, I hadn't resisted the temptation to visit this year's ball.
It was a strange feeling, to be the one, who knows almost everyone, who is greeted by everyone...and to hear about the paths the others had undertaken since we had last met.
My dancing was rather 'low-level', I could use some practice, but I doubt I would have time for that in the near future.
This ball was the 50th in the history of Gybu, but that was not making it any special. It was special for me because of my presence (how surprising) and who cares about anniversaries anyway?
Oh yes, I liked the program prepared for us by the current maturita classes.
Yet even though I don't go to the school anymore, I hadn't resisted the temptation to visit this year's ball.
It was a strange feeling, to be the one, who knows almost everyone, who is greeted by everyone...and to hear about the paths the others had undertaken since we had last met.
My dancing was rather 'low-level', I could use some practice, but I doubt I would have time for that in the near future.
This ball was the 50th in the history of Gybu, but that was not making it any special. It was special for me because of my presence (how surprising) and who cares about anniversaries anyway?
Oh yes, I liked the program prepared for us by the current maturita classes.
21.12.07
First university exam
I had the first exam at the university. It was Physics for Mathematicians. I like the subject and I'd learned quite a lot before going to the exam. Actually our official examination period starts no sooner than in the middle of January, but then I'll have five more exams (not counting the rather difficult Programming, which is officially not an exam). That said, I was more than happy for the time before the exam period, even though I hadn't had enough time to learn everything I'd wanted to.
Still, I wrote the exam reasonably well and after, the professor was very benevolent. So yes, a nice start, even though there are more difficult subjects to come (which is not to say this was not demanding; rather this has really something to do with those other subjects).
Nevertheless, it's at least motivating for the beginning.
Still, I wrote the exam reasonably well and after, the professor was very benevolent. So yes, a nice start, even though there are more difficult subjects to come (which is not to say this was not demanding; rather this has really something to do with those other subjects).
Nevertheless, it's at least motivating for the beginning.
13.12.07
CPE exam
Last Saturday and today (i.e. Thursday), I was sitting my CPE exam. I naively applied for the exam in October, with the feeling there wouldn't be much to do at the school and also a little bit overestimating my grasp of English.
So now, it's over, and I'm glad for it. It was taking just too large a share of my time. Perhaps, I won't succeed, but at least I learned a little bit of English and will get to know my current state of knowledge.
As to the exam itself:
So now, it's over, and I'm glad for it. It was taking just too large a share of my time. Perhaps, I won't succeed, but at least I learned a little bit of English and will get to know my current state of knowledge.
As to the exam itself:
- Listening and Speaking took part on Saturday - Speaking at Gybu, Listening at Congress Center , the rest was today at Congress Center
- listening - We were given earphones, so the quality was superior; the test itself was similar to what I had expected
- speaking - My most feared part, but after all I managed to speak at least a little bit coherently (though not enough, I fear). It is usually performed in pairs, unfortunately, we were three (happens if it is not possible to pair the candidates), so the exam itself was just too long.
- writing - Another horror. It's necessary to write two composition (300-350 words) in a brilliant prose, in just two hours. While students in Britain reportedly practice this a lot in the schools, this doesn't apply for the Czech Republic (not even in when Czech is considered). Consequently, I had a hard time to just write it in time, not to mention my apparent shortcomings when it concerns the matters of style.
- reading - Generally thought to be the easiest part, this time it came out pretty difficult. The texts were almost cryptic and the possible answer options rather confusing. We'll see.
- use of english - Three months ago, this was a nightmare for me, but all the practice did the job. This part appeared to me as quite manageable.
24.11.07
Chimneys, this time in Nymburk
We climbed up on two chimneys in Nymburk this night. And I made my new record - 140m (the second one was 70m tall).
The ride to Nymburk was slightly longer, than it looked like on the map, but we finally arrived. It's already very cold even in the daytime, let alone at night (i.e. when we arrived).
The chimneys are situated in a factory area. It looked really spooky, as if from a post-apocalyptic world.
We climbed up on the smaller one first - a good choice, as there was less protection. The second one was just huge and I was really exhausted after, my hands shaking, my legs cold; but with a confident feeling. Not to mention the impressive view from the top.
The ride to Nymburk was slightly longer, than it looked like on the map, but we finally arrived. It's already very cold even in the daytime, let alone at night (i.e. when we arrived).
The chimneys are situated in a factory area. It looked really spooky, as if from a post-apocalyptic world.
We climbed up on the smaller one first - a good choice, as there was less protection. The second one was just huge and I was really exhausted after, my hands shaking, my legs cold; but with a confident feeling. Not to mention the impressive view from the top.
21.11.07
Beanie 2007
Yesterday, our Matfyz Beanie took place. What is it? An official (or semi-official, to cite the organizers) student's party.
It took place in Abaton which didn't impress me very much, but at least there was a very...special air - a former factory hall, it was very cold inside, there is a lot of plumbing everywhere...
Before letting us in, the security guards searched us in order to find any plastic bottles and they forced us to leave them outside (and eventually threw it in garbage :-( Curiously, a lot of people got inside with a knife...
Then there was a famous process of "Jarnikovani" - the newly admitted students (including me) are being hit in the head with a pile of Analysis books of a Czech mathematician celebrity - Jarnik.
Of other worthwhile actions, there were a few music bands; there were experiments with liquid nitrogen - that was impressive - it included levitation and other magic... And last there was an exposition about "a Matfyz student yesterday, today and tomorrow" - that I really loved :)
It took place in Abaton which didn't impress me very much, but at least there was a very...special air - a former factory hall, it was very cold inside, there is a lot of plumbing everywhere...
Before letting us in, the security guards searched us in order to find any plastic bottles and they forced us to leave them outside (and eventually threw it in garbage :-( Curiously, a lot of people got inside with a knife...
Then there was a famous process of "Jarnikovani" - the newly admitted students (including me) are being hit in the head with a pile of Analysis books of a Czech mathematician celebrity - Jarnik.
Of other worthwhile actions, there were a few music bands; there were experiments with liquid nitrogen - that was impressive - it included levitation and other magic... And last there was an exposition about "a Matfyz student yesterday, today and tomorrow" - that I really loved :)
28.10.07
PSMF
I met people from LSMF once again. It was PSMF during this weekend!
It took place at Ceske Budejovice and it was organized by some participants of SMF who lived in Budejovice. The organization may have been rather poor, but I really enjoyed some games (playing golf in the city), but most of all, I loved meeting all the people I'd strived to meet again - we played various desk and card games (ok, mostly Citadel ;-) and all in all - we had fun.
On the way back, when hitchhiking, I met an interesting couple owning a second-hand bookstore, so I got to know quite some interesting facts about the job.
It took place at Ceske Budejovice and it was organized by some participants of SMF who lived in Budejovice. The organization may have been rather poor, but I really enjoyed some games (playing golf in the city), but most of all, I loved meeting all the people I'd strived to meet again - we played various desk and card games (ok, mostly Citadel ;-) and all in all - we had fun.
On the way back, when hitchhiking, I met an interesting couple owning a second-hand bookstore, so I got to know quite some interesting facts about the job.
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