ok.
london is the most busiest and fullest place i have ever been to. its like hometime pedestrian and road traffic all day long. crazy! but somehow i managed to survive on the footpaths, on the crossings, in the subway, the tram, the overland train and finally in the plane. i saw all those things you hear about in london. you know - trafalgar square and big ben and buckingham palace and squirrels and piccadily circus and the tower of london. i came to the realisation that london bridge is not the bridge all the photos and postcards are of - thats the tower bridge - so i walked right on past london bridge without stopping. i also spent many hours in the british museum inspecting all the things the english stole from the ancient mediterranean world. somehow i didnt spend much money but thats because im cool and went to a supermarket and ate sandwiches and weetbix everyday. the weather was good. i took photos. i like the tate modern art gallery. and i am a legend at using all types of transportation - especially walking with a pack that is over half my weight.
canada is fun! the plane ride was nothing compared to the journey to new zealand. i didnt even get jetlagged! so far i have seen a black baby bear. a mummy racoon and her baby. some loons. and a frog. sadly i missed the two snakes but i shall continue to explore. oddly enough i have not yet seen squirrels.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
'there was only one catch and that was catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. orr was crazy and could be grounded. all he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didnt. if he flew them he was crazy and didnt have to; but if he didnt want to he was sane and had to.'
nothing like reading a good book when youve got nothing else to do! its turning out to be the funniest dark satire that i have ever read.
the sun actually did end up following me back from turkey so this last week i have been relaxing in the park, reading, catching up with the remnants of people that have yet to leave leuven, and doing one important thing a day. bank account is now closed and i no longer have health insurance. that sort of thing. im off to london on monday which im looking forward to.
nothing like reading a good book when youve got nothing else to do! its turning out to be the funniest dark satire that i have ever read.
the sun actually did end up following me back from turkey so this last week i have been relaxing in the park, reading, catching up with the remnants of people that have yet to leave leuven, and doing one important thing a day. bank account is now closed and i no longer have health insurance. that sort of thing. im off to london on monday which im looking forward to.
Monday, July 26, 2004
the dazzling blue above and high temperatures of turkey continue - but i am no longer under such skies. flying back 'home' to belgium brought with it a familiarity and sense of peace. it also brought with it overcast skies. in turkey it is a cloudy day if three clouds can be spotted on the horizon. in belgium it is a sunny day if only three clouds can be seen above. only 5 hours of flying and yet these two places are worlds apart in all respects.
my time is turkey was fantastic. i met some wonderful people, i learnt about the art of drinking tea, i saw a snake, i saw my dad and i realised i am the worst person ever to teach card games.
so a brief summary of different aspects...
workwise - sagalassos is the biggest archaeological project right now being undertaken in the east. it has such potential for reaching the standards of ephesos and pergamon because, unlike many other ancient cities, it was not looted of its material. an earthquake led to the abandonment of the city and then, over hundreds of years, the city was completely covered by rubble tumbling down off the mountains in the north. now - it is being excavated and entire buildings, in the years to come, will be given the chance to stand once more.
my job was not that of an archaeologist, despite what many believe (and despite that i now have a masters in archaeology!) but a geomorphologist. our job is to look at the environment, which has a large part to play in dictating how people in the area live. a lot of walking is involved. a lot of coring into the ground is involved. knowing about the movement of the earth is important at a site like this. knowing about where people farmed is important. and these were the things we were dealing with.
peoplewise - with over 80 people involved in the project - and with a great deal of them flemish - it was only to be expected that my flemish would improve more in three weeks than it did all year. it's all about immersion my friends. while i couldn't hold a conversation in the language, by the end i could certainly understand 60 or 70% of what was being said. impressive in three weeks i must say. my turkish also greatly improved from nothing to being able to say hellos at different times of the day, thankyous, and most importantly (when visiting tourist markets in big cities) saying no thankyou. firmly.
i was lucky to have my dad come and visit me too! he had been travelling about europe getting up to all kinds of mischief on scooters and behind no entrance doors - and then popped in via a bus that took him across more of turkey than i have ever seen - to see me! so that was great fun and he got to have a look around the site and see the sorts of things that i do.
and now i am in leuven, dad is in new zealand, and the sun remains in turkey. i'm here for two weeks, relaxing, closing bank accounts and making the most of this free and fast internet connection.
i'm sure you'll see me around. this site shall be running as long as i keep having adventures. and i'm not planning on stopping anytime soon.
my time is turkey was fantastic. i met some wonderful people, i learnt about the art of drinking tea, i saw a snake, i saw my dad and i realised i am the worst person ever to teach card games.
so a brief summary of different aspects...
workwise - sagalassos is the biggest archaeological project right now being undertaken in the east. it has such potential for reaching the standards of ephesos and pergamon because, unlike many other ancient cities, it was not looted of its material. an earthquake led to the abandonment of the city and then, over hundreds of years, the city was completely covered by rubble tumbling down off the mountains in the north. now - it is being excavated and entire buildings, in the years to come, will be given the chance to stand once more.
my job was not that of an archaeologist, despite what many believe (and despite that i now have a masters in archaeology!) but a geomorphologist. our job is to look at the environment, which has a large part to play in dictating how people in the area live. a lot of walking is involved. a lot of coring into the ground is involved. knowing about the movement of the earth is important at a site like this. knowing about where people farmed is important. and these were the things we were dealing with.
peoplewise - with over 80 people involved in the project - and with a great deal of them flemish - it was only to be expected that my flemish would improve more in three weeks than it did all year. it's all about immersion my friends. while i couldn't hold a conversation in the language, by the end i could certainly understand 60 or 70% of what was being said. impressive in three weeks i must say. my turkish also greatly improved from nothing to being able to say hellos at different times of the day, thankyous, and most importantly (when visiting tourist markets in big cities) saying no thankyou. firmly.
i was lucky to have my dad come and visit me too! he had been travelling about europe getting up to all kinds of mischief on scooters and behind no entrance doors - and then popped in via a bus that took him across more of turkey than i have ever seen - to see me! so that was great fun and he got to have a look around the site and see the sorts of things that i do.
and now i am in leuven, dad is in new zealand, and the sun remains in turkey. i'm here for two weeks, relaxing, closing bank accounts and making the most of this free and fast internet connection.
i'm sure you'll see me around. this site shall be running as long as i keep having adventures. and i'm not planning on stopping anytime soon.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Sunday, July 11, 2004
turkey week one:
ı get up at 6 and get ready for a day of walkıng. we walk up hılls and down hılls. we are lıke goats. lıterally. each step comes wıth an element of rısk because the ground ıs covered ın a rubble-lıke substance that moves downslope constantly. ıt makes for some serıous decısıons ın how to tackle each step.
ıt gets ınto the hıgh 30s up there on the mountaıns and ı kınd of wısh ı was an archaeologıst on thıs trıp because then ı could at least sıt ın one place and look at pottery. but alas ı have joıned the geomorphology team - and our job ıs to walk for kılometres and dıscern what ıs goıng on ın the landscape surroundıng the sıte.
thıngs ı have seen ınclude an ıllegal opıum plantatıon, movement ın the undergrowth that ıs thought to represent a snake or snake-lıke creature, a herd of goats come crashıng down the hıllsıde bleatıng lıke, well lıke goats ı suppose, and the art to makıng real turkısh chı tea.
ı am ın love wıth the sound of runnıng water.
despıte drınkıng 3 lıtres of water a day my throat remaıns parched and ı have lost my voıce.
weekends are on frıday and saturday and rıght now ım ın antalya - glad to be part of the sagalassos team as we got a dıscount at a very flash hotel equıpped wıth aırcondıtıonıng and a swımmıng pool. ınstead of payıng 70 euros a nıght - ı only paıd 17. cool eh? pays to know people hıgh up on the lıst ı thınk! ıts 43 degrees here today and ı am covered ın salt after swımmıng ın the medıterranean.
ı get up at 6 and get ready for a day of walkıng. we walk up hılls and down hılls. we are lıke goats. lıterally. each step comes wıth an element of rısk because the ground ıs covered ın a rubble-lıke substance that moves downslope constantly. ıt makes for some serıous decısıons ın how to tackle each step.
ıt gets ınto the hıgh 30s up there on the mountaıns and ı kınd of wısh ı was an archaeologıst on thıs trıp because then ı could at least sıt ın one place and look at pottery. but alas ı have joıned the geomorphology team - and our job ıs to walk for kılometres and dıscern what ıs goıng on ın the landscape surroundıng the sıte.
thıngs ı have seen ınclude an ıllegal opıum plantatıon, movement ın the undergrowth that ıs thought to represent a snake or snake-lıke creature, a herd of goats come crashıng down the hıllsıde bleatıng lıke, well lıke goats ı suppose, and the art to makıng real turkısh chı tea.
ı am ın love wıth the sound of runnıng water.
despıte drınkıng 3 lıtres of water a day my throat remaıns parched and ı have lost my voıce.
weekends are on frıday and saturday and rıght now ım ın antalya - glad to be part of the sagalassos team as we got a dıscount at a very flash hotel equıpped wıth aırcondıtıonıng and a swımmıng pool. ınstead of payıng 70 euros a nıght - ı only paıd 17. cool eh? pays to know people hıgh up on the lıst ı thınk! ıts 43 degrees here today and ı am covered ın salt after swımmıng ın the medıterranean.
Monday, July 05, 2004
am ın turkey. all ıs good. ı love thıs place already. thıngs that have happened so far: saw a bıg turtle and took a photo thınkıng ıt was uncommon. then walked around the corner and saw about 50 of them wanderıng about. was mındıng my own busıness when a lıttle yappıng puppy came up wantıng to play and bıt a hole ın my extremely cool brown baggy pants. not ımpressed though can see the funny sıde. landed at 4am and was up at 8am to start work today. walked up and down bıg hılls and shall be ın paın tomorrow after lıvıng a year ın leuven where no hıll exısts. enjoy usıng the turkısh 'ı' so get used to ıt! rıght. thats ıt for now. shall keep you posted.
Saturday, July 03, 2004
rebekah merriman: BA (Auckland), BSC (Auckland), MA (Leuven)
not only did i pass, but i passed with 'great distinction' which was a huge surprise to me. this meant i got an overall average of over 80%, with my supervisor giving me an 18/20 for my thesis!!! am most pleased i must admit!!
the graduation ceremony is much shorter than that in auckland, as students just have their names called, and do not go up on stage, and hence do not dress up, or parade through the streets. but there was a good reception afterwards for everyone to chat and mingle. all in all - an exciting morning.
am all packed for heading to turkey tomorrow at lunchtime. uncertain what the internet situation will be but i'll try and post something once i'm there.
not only did i pass, but i passed with 'great distinction' which was a huge surprise to me. this meant i got an overall average of over 80%, with my supervisor giving me an 18/20 for my thesis!!! am most pleased i must admit!!
the graduation ceremony is much shorter than that in auckland, as students just have their names called, and do not go up on stage, and hence do not dress up, or parade through the streets. but there was a good reception afterwards for everyone to chat and mingle. all in all - an exciting morning.
am all packed for heading to turkey tomorrow at lunchtime. uncertain what the internet situation will be but i'll try and post something once i'm there.
Monday, June 28, 2004
where am i? wouter's house, tilburg, holland.
what have i been doing?
1: last night i saw more people dressed in orange then i have ever seen in my life. i saw more orange balloons and streamers and hats and general orangeness than you could imagine. why? last night was the big soccer game, in the eurocup 2004 competition, between holland and sweden. and last night i watched the game from a jam-packed bar on the main street in downtown tilburg. the tension, the excitment, and the roar of delight that came with plentiful jumping up and down in the air when the penalty shoot-out ended with holland winning was crazy. and you thought that we get hyped up with the rugby. soccer over here is a huger deal than can be possibly explained. am so pleased to have had a true european soccer experience. and of course i was all dressed up in my day-to-day orange clothes and a holland jester type hat. now my thoughts stay with holland as they play this wednesday... HUP HOLLAND.
2: today i ate new zealand royal gala apples in zeeland. that's right folks, the daddy of new zealand. such a beautiful area, much of it on reclaimed land due to the impressive dykes built out into the north sea. so another ocean has been witnessed by oneself, more beaches to be added to the list. i saw the old traditional style windmills that make me think of that cute children's book about that cow... errr, clarence? who falls in a canal. and then the new super alien style windmills now generating power for the region.
what have i been doing?
1: last night i saw more people dressed in orange then i have ever seen in my life. i saw more orange balloons and streamers and hats and general orangeness than you could imagine. why? last night was the big soccer game, in the eurocup 2004 competition, between holland and sweden. and last night i watched the game from a jam-packed bar on the main street in downtown tilburg. the tension, the excitment, and the roar of delight that came with plentiful jumping up and down in the air when the penalty shoot-out ended with holland winning was crazy. and you thought that we get hyped up with the rugby. soccer over here is a huger deal than can be possibly explained. am so pleased to have had a true european soccer experience. and of course i was all dressed up in my day-to-day orange clothes and a holland jester type hat. now my thoughts stay with holland as they play this wednesday... HUP HOLLAND.
2: today i ate new zealand royal gala apples in zeeland. that's right folks, the daddy of new zealand. such a beautiful area, much of it on reclaimed land due to the impressive dykes built out into the north sea. so another ocean has been witnessed by oneself, more beaches to be added to the list. i saw the old traditional style windmills that make me think of that cute children's book about that cow... errr, clarence? who falls in a canal. and then the new super alien style windmills now generating power for the region.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Friday, June 11, 2004
in this past week the temperature has risen 10 degrees from 25 to 35. this has caused statements such as: 'i had to put water on my face and my pillow last night' (sandro), 'i couldn't sleep because the pillow was sticking to my head' (naomi) and 'i wish we had a little paddling pool' (me).
so two exams down this week. and they were fine. i got to talk about a lot of water related things. like greek fountains and roman fountains and arches being flooded and becoming fountains. and that the maccabees invented the swimming pool along with ritual baths. things i had studied a lot because of the heat. because it's hot!! and a little paddling pool would be quite nice.
i don't study at home anymore. my room is a sauna. literally with temperatures in the 40s. i promise. no exaggeration there. why? because there are 50,000 (perhaps slight exaggeration) mosquitos waiting outside my window. so my window stays firmly shut. no mosquitos but high temperatures that do not permit studying.
so two exams down this week. and they were fine. i got to talk about a lot of water related things. like greek fountains and roman fountains and arches being flooded and becoming fountains. and that the maccabees invented the swimming pool along with ritual baths. things i had studied a lot because of the heat. because it's hot!! and a little paddling pool would be quite nice.
i don't study at home anymore. my room is a sauna. literally with temperatures in the 40s. i promise. no exaggeration there. why? because there are 50,000 (perhaps slight exaggeration) mosquitos waiting outside my window. so my window stays firmly shut. no mosquitos but high temperatures that do not permit studying.
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
look whose back. dee dee dee. bex is back. dee dee dee.
ha, right, so wasn't gone for long eh? that is because i have an awesome flatmate who leaves her door unlocked when she leaves, and puts notes under my door saying her computer is all mine for the weekend! woohoo for elien.
not much fun stuff to say though. sadly. here is my routine. i get up at 9am. i eat some brekky. muesli these days. good for the mind. then i pack my bag and head up the street to morna's to study. such an arrangment is very beneficial to us both. i get her up in the morning, she stops me from falling asleep over my notes in the day and we both end up getting a lot of study done. hurrah! though obviously quite a boring 'hurrah' huh? sorry about that.
so until next time i am procrastinating...
ha, right, so wasn't gone for long eh? that is because i have an awesome flatmate who leaves her door unlocked when she leaves, and puts notes under my door saying her computer is all mine for the weekend! woohoo for elien.
not much fun stuff to say though. sadly. here is my routine. i get up at 9am. i eat some brekky. muesli these days. good for the mind. then i pack my bag and head up the street to morna's to study. such an arrangment is very beneficial to us both. i get her up in the morning, she stops me from falling asleep over my notes in the day and we both end up getting a lot of study done. hurrah! though obviously quite a boring 'hurrah' huh? sorry about that.
so until next time i am procrastinating...
Thursday, May 27, 2004
farewell little computer. you have served me well.
due to the aforementioned handsome lads heading to hamburg tomorrow, my computer is to be returned this afternoon. such an event will bring with it a variety of consequences:
a) i will have a whole lot of space on my desk.
b) i will have no exam procrastination options.
c) i will be given back my deposit!
of course i shall be visiting - but from the computer lab up the road.
due to the aforementioned handsome lads heading to hamburg tomorrow, my computer is to be returned this afternoon. such an event will bring with it a variety of consequences:
a) i will have a whole lot of space on my desk.
b) i will have no exam procrastination options.
c) i will be given back my deposit!
of course i shall be visiting - but from the computer lab up the road.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
so here i am. one thesis down, and five exams to go. quite the anti-climax really.
whereas the last exam period was full of coldness, rain and gloomy clouds, now it seems leuven has finally submitted to the sun. this makes it slightly more difficult when it comes to studying, but i surprisingly got quite a lot achieved at the park today, so perhaps i can escape my bedroom more often now. which would be wonderful.
my blog entries, my msn chatting and my general emailing will be coming to a bit of a halt soon. this computer is due back on friday at the rental shop. so once again the saga of carrying these boxes half way across town will be undertaken - hopefully by two handsome lads who wish to impress me with their strength.
of course this does not make me disappear from the rest of the world. no doubt i'll make trips up to the computer lab but obviously not with quite the same frequency as turning on the computer every morning when i wake up!
my future plans are set a bit more in stone now. or at least in receipts. so just as an update, here's the latest:
7th june: exam one
9th june: exam two
15th june: exam three
16th june: exam four
18th june: exam five
- from the 18th until the 2nd i will endeavour to completely relax. some of us may (if it's cheap) fly back to barcelona girona and camp on a beach for a few days. otherwise just will do nothing or take day trips out of leuven.
2nd july: graduate
3rd july: fly to turkey
- nearing the end of july my daddy is coming to visit me in turkey! hurrah!
29th july: return to belgium
- between then and the 13th august i shall make my way across to england
13th august: fly from london to toronto
- sometime mid-late october i fly back in to auckland. date still to be confirmed.
whereas the last exam period was full of coldness, rain and gloomy clouds, now it seems leuven has finally submitted to the sun. this makes it slightly more difficult when it comes to studying, but i surprisingly got quite a lot achieved at the park today, so perhaps i can escape my bedroom more often now. which would be wonderful.
my blog entries, my msn chatting and my general emailing will be coming to a bit of a halt soon. this computer is due back on friday at the rental shop. so once again the saga of carrying these boxes half way across town will be undertaken - hopefully by two handsome lads who wish to impress me with their strength.
of course this does not make me disappear from the rest of the world. no doubt i'll make trips up to the computer lab but obviously not with quite the same frequency as turning on the computer every morning when i wake up!
my future plans are set a bit more in stone now. or at least in receipts. so just as an update, here's the latest:
7th june: exam one
9th june: exam two
15th june: exam three
16th june: exam four
18th june: exam five
- from the 18th until the 2nd i will endeavour to completely relax. some of us may (if it's cheap) fly back to barcelona girona and camp on a beach for a few days. otherwise just will do nothing or take day trips out of leuven.
2nd july: graduate
3rd july: fly to turkey
- nearing the end of july my daddy is coming to visit me in turkey! hurrah!
29th july: return to belgium
- between then and the 13th august i shall make my way across to england
13th august: fly from london to toronto
- sometime mid-late october i fly back in to auckland. date still to be confirmed.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
well well well. guess what? indeed. thesis is printed and ready for copying and binding. despite rising early and going to the copy shop - it seems they are all closed on saturdays. never mind. it's still all done and ready and copying can take place first thing on monday morning.
hurrah!
here is my thank you list: to dad for HUGE (note capital useage) support and help with everything. to mum for statistics help. to stephen for excel help. to rachel for statistics help. to regan for computer help. to frank for turkish spelling and computer help. to julian and naomi for moral support!!!
you guys are the best!
the sun is shining. a day of relaxation in the park is beckoning.
hurrah!
here is my thank you list: to dad for HUGE (note capital useage) support and help with everything. to mum for statistics help. to stephen for excel help. to rachel for statistics help. to regan for computer help. to frank for turkish spelling and computer help. to julian and naomi for moral support!!!
you guys are the best!
the sun is shining. a day of relaxation in the park is beckoning.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
yeah, so after making such a fuss about my blood type, typically i forgot to go and pick it up yesterday. got it now though. those that guessed were right.
my room is like a sauna right now. it is ridiculously hot but i refuse to open the windows. last night i had an uninvited guest who went by the name of mossie. note the past tense. mossie came to a very decided end this morning, after much damage had already occurred. i refuse to go through the same event tonight which means putting up with temperatures that must be over 30 now (though im suspicious there may have been another, as mossie did not have the amount of redness inside of him that i believe left my own body). i'm drinking water to keep my brain alive, as well as eating speculoos (think gingernut flavour but just normal biscuity crunch).
my supervisor has finally swayed and given in to the idea that i want to finish this week. so today he sent me half of my thesis back with corrections to be made. yeah, it means more work, but it's not the end of the world, and he did write 'it looks good' which is quite the compliment i assure you! the second half arrives tomorrow. so today i have been fixing things, changing things, adapting things. yawn. i think i'll be on here late into the night. but hey, it will be worth it in the long-run!
my room is like a sauna right now. it is ridiculously hot but i refuse to open the windows. last night i had an uninvited guest who went by the name of mossie. note the past tense. mossie came to a very decided end this morning, after much damage had already occurred. i refuse to go through the same event tonight which means putting up with temperatures that must be over 30 now (though im suspicious there may have been another, as mossie did not have the amount of redness inside of him that i believe left my own body). i'm drinking water to keep my brain alive, as well as eating speculoos (think gingernut flavour but just normal biscuity crunch).
my supervisor has finally swayed and given in to the idea that i want to finish this week. so today he sent me half of my thesis back with corrections to be made. yeah, it means more work, but it's not the end of the world, and he did write 'it looks good' which is quite the compliment i assure you! the second half arrives tomorrow. so today i have been fixing things, changing things, adapting things. yawn. i think i'll be on here late into the night. but hey, it will be worth it in the long-run!
Saturday, May 15, 2004
is it normal to bruise when you get a needle stuck into you? i've had a few blood tests in the past and a few injections against different diseases... but i've never ended up with a bruise. especially not a big blackey bluey reddy weird looking one that seems to follow my vein part way down my arm. (just a little way, mind you, i'm prone to do a bit of exaggeration)
so i'm going to turkey and they want to know my blood type. seems logical enough. seems simple enough. of course i don't know it myself, but surely someone back in new zealand will. does dad? nope. does mum? nope. does my doctor (whom i have had since i was born!!!!)? nope. does my little baby book? nope. hmprh - that baby book contains so many other randomly random facts. you'd think it would talk about my blood. however it seems that i officially have an unknown blood type. i must be one of a kind. but on monday the truth will be revealed. i'll even be given a little card that i can put in my wallet and show off. and i will show it off. i've been missing out on showing it off for the last 23 years! it's a pretty big deal. really. it is.
in other exciting, world breaking news... i ran out of milk and had to eat cornflakes with water this morning. that wasn't the news. i just saw my bowl and remembered. anyway. so yeah. today i gave this presentation. it was quite the big deal, with a panel of four lecturers, arguing back and forth (though luckily more with each other than with me...) and asking questions. it's actually worth more than an entire class so i hope i did okay.
i'm nearing the end. i'm nearing the light. i'm nearing insanity too. this weekend will be one of plenty of work but hopefully plenty of work leading to one completed masters thesis. my only slight concern is that i met my supervisor again today and he wants me to resend everything through to him on monday. which i don't like the sounds of as i'm printing it all off and handing it in next friday. oooh, one week away.
so yeah. soon you will be hearing a happy me. a happy me with no more thesis. and no more school as next friday is the last day of term. i think i can afford to be happy for perhaps two days and then i will have to drop back to reality as the dreaded oral exams approach.
so i'm going to turkey and they want to know my blood type. seems logical enough. seems simple enough. of course i don't know it myself, but surely someone back in new zealand will. does dad? nope. does mum? nope. does my doctor (whom i have had since i was born!!!!)? nope. does my little baby book? nope. hmprh - that baby book contains so many other randomly random facts. you'd think it would talk about my blood. however it seems that i officially have an unknown blood type. i must be one of a kind. but on monday the truth will be revealed. i'll even be given a little card that i can put in my wallet and show off. and i will show it off. i've been missing out on showing it off for the last 23 years! it's a pretty big deal. really. it is.
in other exciting, world breaking news... i ran out of milk and had to eat cornflakes with water this morning. that wasn't the news. i just saw my bowl and remembered. anyway. so yeah. today i gave this presentation. it was quite the big deal, with a panel of four lecturers, arguing back and forth (though luckily more with each other than with me...) and asking questions. it's actually worth more than an entire class so i hope i did okay.
i'm nearing the end. i'm nearing the light. i'm nearing insanity too. this weekend will be one of plenty of work but hopefully plenty of work leading to one completed masters thesis. my only slight concern is that i met my supervisor again today and he wants me to resend everything through to him on monday. which i don't like the sounds of as i'm printing it all off and handing it in next friday. oooh, one week away.
so yeah. soon you will be hearing a happy me. a happy me with no more thesis. and no more school as next friday is the last day of term. i think i can afford to be happy for perhaps two days and then i will have to drop back to reality as the dreaded oral exams approach.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
moh. sometimes work just doesn't happen. you know? once upon a time (last thursday for instance) i would have been exceptionally frustrated about this fact. but today i've come to terms with the reality that sometimes i can do work. and sometimes i cannot. today i cannot. so i sit here and ponder un-work related things that i could do. this involved colouring in all the places in europe i have been to and how i got there. on my big map of europe on my wall. that took a substantial amount of time. i have seen a good chunk for an unemployed student without a loan living off new zealand currency. let's all say a big hurrah to my parents for teaching me how to budget. one, two, three 'hurrah'.
paris is one amazing city! i know i have always had a tendancy to prefer the ancient cities of athens and rome... but when it comes to just loving a beautiful european city for being a beautiful european city, paris is right up there on my favourites list.
today i'm in a list mood. so here's the list:
1: note dame is an impressive church with perhaps the most incredible stain-glassed windows i have ever witnessed. wandering around inside i was in awe of the elaborate motifs and at the same time, slightly unimpressed with people's disrespect when the sign clearly states that no photos should be taken...
2: eiffel tower is gorgeous, night and day. nothing like sitting on a park bench eating a baguette and brie, drinking french wine and admiring the view. and then taking the lift up to all three levels, stopping each time to note the difference in wind speed. preplanned to experience the day and night scene - i saw paris in the daylight, the sun setting, and the lights coming on as evening fell. note: new zealand is the most furthest place away from the eiffel tower according to the distances given at the top! auckland is 18,542km and wellington is 18,983km away! very cool. we are famous, in a far away kind of way.
3: sacre coeur is another great landmark, perched up above the city in splendour. not sure which church i liked more. they were both completely different from each other. the best part about this one was that often jesus gets represented as the guy hanging on the cross. but here, he's very alive and well and reigning triumphant.
4: the louvre museum is just fantastic! the egyptian exhibit was incredible and to finally see the book of the dead and other exceptionally famous works (if you are an egyptologist person). and the hellenistic and roman sculpture was also amazing - once again i was able to see so many of the things i had studied and only ever seen in a picture. typically my camera is now filled with incredible masterpieces that i can fully appreciate because i have learnt the ins and outs of the history and style and artists that created them. also saw the mona lisa which was surrounded by a zoo of tourists. a very pushy zoo too i might add!
5: l'arc de triomphe is very big and lines up perfectly with the champs elysees, the egyptian obelisque and the louvre. it made for a very pleasant walk. napolleon won a lot of battles.
ok, that will do for now. i have a thesis to finish! eeek.
today i'm in a list mood. so here's the list:
1: note dame is an impressive church with perhaps the most incredible stain-glassed windows i have ever witnessed. wandering around inside i was in awe of the elaborate motifs and at the same time, slightly unimpressed with people's disrespect when the sign clearly states that no photos should be taken...
2: eiffel tower is gorgeous, night and day. nothing like sitting on a park bench eating a baguette and brie, drinking french wine and admiring the view. and then taking the lift up to all three levels, stopping each time to note the difference in wind speed. preplanned to experience the day and night scene - i saw paris in the daylight, the sun setting, and the lights coming on as evening fell. note: new zealand is the most furthest place away from the eiffel tower according to the distances given at the top! auckland is 18,542km and wellington is 18,983km away! very cool. we are famous, in a far away kind of way.
3: sacre coeur is another great landmark, perched up above the city in splendour. not sure which church i liked more. they were both completely different from each other. the best part about this one was that often jesus gets represented as the guy hanging on the cross. but here, he's very alive and well and reigning triumphant.
4: the louvre museum is just fantastic! the egyptian exhibit was incredible and to finally see the book of the dead and other exceptionally famous works (if you are an egyptologist person). and the hellenistic and roman sculpture was also amazing - once again i was able to see so many of the things i had studied and only ever seen in a picture. typically my camera is now filled with incredible masterpieces that i can fully appreciate because i have learnt the ins and outs of the history and style and artists that created them. also saw the mona lisa which was surrounded by a zoo of tourists. a very pushy zoo too i might add!
5: l'arc de triomphe is very big and lines up perfectly with the champs elysees, the egyptian obelisque and the louvre. it made for a very pleasant walk. napolleon won a lot of battles.
ok, that will do for now. i have a thesis to finish! eeek.
Friday, May 07, 2004
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
here's the thing.
a) i feel like writing on here before going to sleep.
b) it would be nice to write to you all and tell you about the exciting things going on.
c) the slight problem of having absolutely nothing to talk about is an issue.
life right now could possibly be the most hectic and busy period i've ever experienced. and yet, still nothing to say. suppose that points out the large amount of tedious work that comes when your thesis for the year is due in under a month.
soon i will have elaborate stories and adventures that i can inform you of. just not today.
oooh, i almost forgot. on friday i'm going to paris. i mean really, it's just such a short hop away and is very cheap too. am working very hard now so i won't be concerned as i relax at the top of the eiffel tower. heh heh heh.
a) i feel like writing on here before going to sleep.
b) it would be nice to write to you all and tell you about the exciting things going on.
c) the slight problem of having absolutely nothing to talk about is an issue.
life right now could possibly be the most hectic and busy period i've ever experienced. and yet, still nothing to say. suppose that points out the large amount of tedious work that comes when your thesis for the year is due in under a month.
soon i will have elaborate stories and adventures that i can inform you of. just not today.
oooh, i almost forgot. on friday i'm going to paris. i mean really, it's just such a short hop away and is very cheap too. am working very hard now so i won't be concerned as i relax at the top of the eiffel tower. heh heh heh.
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