I am back!
I was gone way too long. So many things have happened in that time! In my life, in the world, in myself. This post will be only an update on my recent doings, but I promise I’ll be back with my pointless babble in no time. After all, I’m doing it mostly for myself. Though I appreciate HUGELY every comment and every visit to this blog. Sometimes it’s nice to know you’re not talking only to the mirror.
Anyway, last time I wrote I was saying that my exam session was going well. And it did – with one little exception. I flunked the oral Italian exam. It was entirely my fault (though I really wanted to blame Glee for that, I can’t, it was me who preferred watching it and reading Dalton instead of actually learning). But the consequences are just not fair. Usually when you fail an exam, you get to retake it in September and all is fine. I get to retake it too, but because I need to pass all my exams before my BA exam, I couldn’t get BA now, as everybody else, I have to take it in September too. And that means I can’t apply for the studies of secondary level, the MA studies. Everyone will get in before I even get my BA. My only hope is that there will be the second enrollment in September and I’ll get in then, but it’s not certain and I might be facing the possibility of loosing an entire year. I don’t know what I’ll do with myself in that case. Of course I’ll apply for MA studies next year, but in the meantime… I’ll have to find a job. And what if I can’t? What if I have to go back to my parents’ home and leave everything I have here behind FOR A FREAKING YEAR?! Not mentioning that my roommate would be in extremely difficult situation, having to find a new roommate very, very fast and all.
Or maybe I’ll just go to Warsaw, get a visa and come living in USA for that gap year. I’m not joking – I’m seriously considering a year in USA as an au-pair or a nanny. I’ve been in France twice for summer vacations exactly to do this – be an au-pair, so I have some experience. I speak decent English. The family would provide me with accommodation and some pocket-money. I’d have to use all my savings from France just to get the plane ticket, but one day I’ll have to use it anyway, so why not for this? I really want to visit USA – and not only travel as a tourist, I want to feel this country, live there for a while, just like I did with France.
But all this is a consideration, in case I don’t get in to my MA studies. I really really really hope I will.
I had a serious breakdown when I found out about this. A darkest day of my life since high school, or maybe even since middle school. I was hysterical, crying all the time, wanting to curl up on my bed and never ever get up. But I got over it and next day I was fine. And I am fine.
Surprisingly fine. Better than I ever was, actually.
And I don’t know if this is because of that flunked exam, or because of my new internship, or because of Glee, but I am feeling better in my skin than I ever felt. Like I’ve been reborn. Everything is new. I’m looking at the world with wide eyes and feeling it more intensely than ever. I’m not afraid anymore.
And that’s probably the biggest change: the one in me. And I guess I have Glee to thank for that. But this is a topic for another post. Because you probably raise your eyebrows right now, thinking how silly I am saying that a simple show (and not the best quality one, as I’m sure some of you might think) could make that big of a difference. Well, it did. It showed me something very important; more than that: it made me believe it. Something no one could do until now. But as I said, it’s a topic for another time.
There’s another thing that happened while I was gone from here: the History of French Language Exam. I got a decend grade from it, but two of my best friends weren’t that lucky. The teacher had done something unforgivable and frankly just criminal – opened our private e-mail even though the girls were protesting. It’s against the Constitution of Republic of Poland, let alone the penal code. Moreover, in one of the e-mails he found a silly name that someone made up for him. I can’t stress that enough: it was our private correspondence. He had no right to read it. But he did and then abused the girls for it verbally to the point they left the room crying. We are trying now to file an official complaint agaist that guy. I am just disappointed in our colleagues: the whole year that teacher was mean to all of us and with what he did to those girls… it’s unforgivable. But the whole class, with a few exceptions, says they won’t even sign that complaint because it’s not their business. Really, I thought we were more of a group than that. But okay, they don’t want to, we’re not going to force them. I just think it’s opportunistic and cowardly from their part. I wasn’t in the room when it was happening either and I am going to do everything I can to make that guy pay for what he did. Not just because it’s my friends we’re talking about, but because it’s the right thing to do. My blood pressure is still raising every time I think about it.
Another thing is more cheerful (sort of): I started my second internship. I work at the office with some pretty jolly gals doing mostly what I do for that first internship: spell checking and proofreading the translations, fixing the formatting and stuff. Recently I also did some other things, like filling forms concerning freelancer translators who work with us. Very, very annoying stuff – boring as hell. But I’m an intern, so I do what I’m told to do. I gain experience. And when I’m done, it’s gonna be a huge advantage in any attempts to get a real job in the future. I hope.
Also? I got totally addicted to Tumblr. And I’m translating “Dalton”, a Glee AU!Klaine fanfiction, into Polish. It’s all fluffy and not at all realistic, but I love it anyway. Huh.
And yesterday, for the first time in my life, I got a little drunk. I have a very strong head and usually I get just a little buzz in my ears at most, I honestly don’t know why yesterday was so different. T’was a strange experience. Not at all unpleasant (I was just slightly out of control, singing, dancing and saying silly stuff, but nothing more disorderly), but also not sky-high cool. I mean, it was fun when it lasted, but right now I’m a little embarrassed for myself. I can’t think how I would feel if I did something really stupid. Or if I couldn’t remember what I did.
(I know I’m 22 and I should have this kind of experience long behind me (legal age in Poland is 18), but what can I say? I am usually a good girl. And I really have a strong head.)
Oh, and I have totally rainbow nail polish on right now, Darren Criss style. Also his pink sunglasses. That is a real obsession, ya know :D
(I also want a sea monkey wrist aquarium, just like Chris Colfer’s, but I guess finding it would be a little problematic, since that sorts of things are not popular in my corner of the world.)
And that’s pretty much all for now. Thanks for putting up with me and see you soon ;)
Update
So I’m halfway through my exam session. I’ve had 5 exams already, another 5 before. I know I passed written French, both parts, I just don’t know the grade. Italian was today and I won’t know the results till Monday, probably. What I know is that I got 4,5 (roughly equivalent of your B+ I guess) from General Lingustics and 5+ (A+) from Merlin (it was an optional class about a character of Merlin appearing in various medieval versions of Arthurian legends. I am kinda nuts about Arthurian legends, no wonder I passed that one without any problems at all, I didn’t even need to study, just read all the texts – and dare I say, it’s an accomplishment, since some of them were in Old French…). This is good, so far.
What is very not good is that Asia, one of my best friends, didn’t pass that Lingustics exam. This sucks, because now she wants to bail out the other exams because she doesn’t believe she can get to Masters Degree studies in the second enrolment, in September, after the repeat exam. I tried to tell her she should be strong and fight. There aren’t that many people who even try to get in on this degree and it’s entirely possible that there won’t be enough people to even open the faculty. So she should get in without problems in September. Still… pretty depressing. I just can’t be glad about my result when my friend didn’t succeed.
Also? I watched entire Glee show in 6 days and fell in love with Kurt. Or, more precisely, with the couple Kurt/Blaine. They are just so adorable together <3 I can’t express it. Or actually… I haven’t written any fanfiction in years, I’m more of my own creation kinda gal now, but right now I really feel like writing Kurt/Blaine slash. Me! I have nothing against slash if it’s well written, but I usually don’t search for that kind of texts myself. And here – I am just so tempted! Maybe it’s because they are so cute, maybe because this couple is actually canonic – something I can’t say about all the Drarrys, Snarrys etc. (Aevenien should kill me now. Though with a little luck, she won’t read this :D) Anyway, I shouldn’t even think about it and just go back to learning. But after the session ends – I am DEFINITELY writing a Kurt/Blaine fanfiction.
Meme time!
I haven’t had an Internet access since Saturday, though maybe it’s a good thing, since I couldn’t waste my time on the Internet when I should spend it studying. Instead, I wasted it watching Mythbusters and crappy movies. Well, what the hell. I kicked the exam session in the butt after all. Yes, you read right – I’m all through it ! I finally passed the Arabic test, got a 4 (this would be your B, I presume) from Arabic Linguistics and also a 4 from Islam and thus finished the session with an average of 4,3. On Arabic Philology, ’cause on my Romance Philology I had only one exam, Theory of Literature, and I got a 5 (an A). Yeah, I am bragging right now.
But anyway. Today was the last exam (Islam) and tomorrow start the normal classes. Because of this damn extended session I didn’t actually get any spring break, but at least it’s over now. And the Internet’s back, right on time.
So, I’ve been tagged by Polish Mama on the Prairie. This is how it works:
It all started with Scottish Mum’s post:
“I have seen lots of posts about what we struggle with, or things that we like to do, and I’d like to find out a bit more information about all of you. This is my way of doing it. I am looking forward to visiting some of you on the blog hop.”
What you cannot choose. The Rules are Simple
“We all know that blogging/facebook/twitter is in our arena of what we like to do, so I am going to rule them out as one of the 5 that you can post about. They really are not very girly. Likewise, phones, computers, ipads are all out of the running. I am challenging myself to this, as I am really not a girly girly type of person, and I want to find that within myself. It’s not all about power suits, filofaxes, ipads and designer phones.
If you want to pass this along, pick bloggers that you want to find out more about, and challenge them to write up their 5 secret passions that make them feel good. The idea is to lift our spirits this week. The fact that there is a linky added, just makes it all the more worthwhile in doing.”
So, my Top Five:
- This won’t come as a surprise, but I am absolutely nuts about literature. I read my first real book at the age of 5. It was “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis. I actually don’t remember this, it’s my mom who told me about it, I think. My whole family is kinda nerdy that way. My mom used to read books under her covers when they were supposed to sleep (I tried to pulled the same stunt, but sharing a room with a 6 years older brother does not facilitate things). My father is a long-time member of the “Book World”, which requires its members to buy something from its catalogue every three months and in return, gives big discounts. My brother used to really irritate me by lighting his lamp and reading very late in the night when I was trying to sleep. Until I started to do the same. I suspect we have more books in our home than clothes. I am also kind of a writer. So far, I’ve written only short stories published on the Internet, but I also wrote a book that I’m trying to get published. Really. I didn’t get much success so far, but I have a lot of time – and, unfortunately, it’s hard to make a debut in Poland, especially with a book. It’s easier to get published with a short story in a magazine.
- This won’t be a surprise either, but I’m also absolutely nuts for the Middle Ages. I love this period, it fascinates me big time. I’m especially tuned into the matière de Bretagne, the Arthurian legends. I may not be a real expert, but I certainly know a lot more than an average passer-by. I actually read the first versions of the legend, the French one, those of Chretien de Troyes and the Vulgate (well, I haven’t read all the Vulgate, it’s much too big, but still). If you ever had a question about Arthur, ask me. Even if I don’t know the answer, I’ll know where to look for one. I also enjoy reading and watching the recent versions of the legend, though sometimes they frustrate me a lot. (I mean, come on, Merlin BBC is a crappy tv show, it has absolutely nothing to do with the legends besides names, and I still watch it and actually like it.) The best recent version of Arthurian legend? “The Mists of Avalon” by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It’s not very accurate to the actual legend, but it’s very well written and very interestingly composed, ’cause everything is told from the point of view of female characters of the story, mostly Morgana, but also Guenevere and Igraine and others. It’s also very mystic and a little disturbing. Very good book. And if you’re looking for a movie, I’d recommend “Perceval le Gallois”, but I guess you wouldn’t understand it without the previous lecture of Chretien de Troyes. I know I wouldn’t. Other than that there is no really good adaptation. “Merlin” from 1998, the miniseries, is quite good at some points, but crappy at others. “King Arthur” has hardly anything to do with the legends. “Excalibur” is just plain wrong; I mean, it’s a crappy movie. It’s just boring. I can’t wait till April, when the new series starts – “Camelot”. I have high hopes for this!
- I don’t smoke cigarettes (I never actually even tried, and I don’t feel like I’m gonna ever try), but from time to time I really enjoy shisha. Usually I smoke it in the Tea Shop, when we gather with friends, get one shisha for several people and pass along the tube. But when I was in Egypt this last september, I bought my own shisha. It’s not very big, but really pretty. I smoke it once every two months, if not rarer, but I still love it. It makes me light-headed in a happy, positive way.
My Egyptian shisha
- From time to time, I like to play some computer games. I don’t do it much, because I don’t have time for this, but it’s a great way to relax sometimes. I play RPGs mostly, my favorites being Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, Neverwinter Nights II, Planescape Torment and Knights of the Old Republic II. I like Civilisation, the Settlers and Heroes of Might and Magic too, though they are not RPGs. Usually, I prefer RTS to TBS, but Civilisation and Heroes are really great.
- I love to wake up in the morning, look at the clock and realize that I don’t have to get up. I love to just lay in the warm bed in the morning, on the verge between the dream and the reality, not quite conscious yet, but also not sleeping anymore. I love the feeling that I don’t have to do anything, I can stay there, in the warmth, and daydream as long as I want. It’s fabulous.
(Ok, I talk way too much.)
And now, I still don’t have all five people I could tag (not with PolPrairieMama tagging me and Ewa), so I’ll tag the two I can ;)
And tomorrow I’m going home, at last, to see my parents for the first time in month, so I’m quite excited. I’ll get back to you after the weekend then, if Internet will work, of course. Have a great end of the week :)
Stylish Blogger Award, thus: meme.
I thought meme is a thing only characteristic to livejournalers, but apparently, I was wrong. Yesterday I was awarded with “Stylish Blogger Award” by Polish Mama on the Prairie. I felt really flattered, because I’m just starting to blog and I feel that I don’t do such a great job. (I blame my language skills.) Thank you, @PolPrairieMama! (If you were wondering if this is a subtle hint to follow her on Twitter then you were right. Though I don’t know about that subtlety.)
I have a problem with the meme, though. I am so “new” to this world that every person I’d like to award has either already been tagged by someone else, or is so well-known, famous and great that they intimidate me to the point that I will not even try to tag them. Or both. I’m lame that way, I know.
So, I’m gonna leave it open; I’ll just do the first part.
- Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
- Share 7 things about yourself.
- Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers.
- Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!
So, 7 random things about me:
- I don’t want to get old. I plan to live my life as well as I can, at full speed, and not look back. Thus, I will probably die young. And guess what? It doesn’t bother me a bit.
- I have a very sarcastic and abstract sense of humour. I also use irony at the daily basis. This is why some people don’t understand me and think that I’m a freak. (Well, I am, but not because of the irony.)
- My mother is one of my best friends. I tell her almost everything and call her every single day. And I miss her like crazy when I can’t visit her at least once every two weeks. (Like right now, for example.)
- I’m politically aware and I try to be active, but I lack the candidates that would satisfy my beliefs. I’d need to combine the economic right with social left and merge them into one party and that seems to be impossible. (Bare in mind that I’m talking about Polish politics; when I think America, I think Democrat.)
- I suffer from two separate, chronic, incurable diseases. None of them is in itself life-threatening, just really annoying. And I also wear glasses. My health issues seem to be all interconnected and have some very irritating symptoms.
- I used to have English classes at high school, but when I left school (and thus – the classes ended) I was only at B2 level at best. Then I started to watch American tv shows with Polish subtitles. But I wanted to watch also “The West Wing” and there were only English subtitles; so I watched with them. It helped me a lot and now I don’t need any subtitles anymore to watch anything (except House, but that’s because of the medical vocabulary that’s mostly unfamiliar to me even in Polish). I’m quite proud of that fact.
- I love everything medieval. This period fascinates me and excites my imagination a lot.
I am sorry I cannot tag anyone else. I truly am. Maybe sometime in the future, if I settle down more as a blogger, I will be able to get back to this post and award someone who hasn’t been tagged yet. (And who doesn’t intimidate me so much. Because, seriously, I love Loralee or Erin, but I’m too much a chicken to tag them. And PolPrairieMama, Ewa and Ruth have all been already tagged.)
