Today I did some capoeira. It's Brazilian martial arts.
Before I had only seen it once at some gala (people in white are in a circle and keep challenging/fighting each other while the music plays). It seemed neat.
A few weeks ago at one party I met Mike. He's this very calm guy, who is into different stuff, such as yoga, meditation, healthy eating etc. And he likes folk music and he designs stuff. We kept in touch, but for the long time couldn't find a good time to meet. Yesterday he suggested capoeira. He warned me that it's a bit hard and that I'll be sore. I agreed immediately. How hard can it be, and after all it's something new and cool!
And it was. It was very cool! Definitely new. And for sure pretty hard! 10 min in I was really sweating. And half way through my shirt was Wet! Lots cardio and kicks and stuff. Very, very neat. I think I will go back.
But - before - I have to survive tomorrow. I think I won't move too well tomorrow. But pain can be good too, right?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Weekend in Red Lake aka why you shouldn't trust girls with oven mitts
I had an amazing weekend. I went to Red Lake to entertain kids at the Norseman Floatplane festival (sciency stuff for kids).
Everything was great except my partner. I haven't met many people in my life, whom I just cannot stand, but she's one. She was just so whiny and complaining and unprepared and not fun. But I had a good time.
Friday
we took a plane from Ottawa to Red Lake with the (in)famous Bearskin airlines. It took close to 7 hours and 6 stops. It went as follows: Ottawa - Sudbury- Sault St. Mary - Thunder Bay - Sioux Lookout - Dryden - Red Lake.
In Sudbury I saw Paul for a few minutes, which was awesome!
We stayed at this Training Center, which was more like native culture center. Nice and clean though. Just the doors to rooms didn't lock. But who cares. I doubt that the bears are eager to come after me or my passport.
Catherine (my partner) and I had a dinner in town, and then headed back to our place. It's about 3 km into the forest. And then she just went to bed. I was at the TV corner, cutting handkerchiefs into 4. And then I met Mike and Mike and Ray and Tammy (from The Service) who were preparing for their show at the festival. And I managed to get a ride with them to the festival. The concert was great! I danced - one crazy eastern European, the locals were quite non-dancy. I also assisted Mike with beer drinking, as the pauses were too short to finish a beer, so I took care of the rest. At some point I met Brenda - an amazing cook (as I found out later) from Kenora.
Mike and I made it back to our Training Center just a bit before 2 am (at 2 am they locked the doors). And then we were in his room, chatting. All of the sudden there is a knock on the door, and I can see through the painted glass that it's my "roomie". She demanded that whether her friend is here. First Mike said "no", because I was thinking it's none of her business. But then she said that she's coming in, and I said I'm there. So she threw the door open and stood there in her pj's. And in one hand she had an oven mitt. It was 2.30 or close to 3 am. It seemed a little too early for breakfast. So I asked, what's up with it. And she - pulled out a long knife!
I was speechless.
And then she stormed away.
I went after her, and asked, whether everything is ok. She just wanted to sleep.
Well, maybe I had just wanted to chat before. Without all the adrenaline from the cold weapons.
So I took my pj's and stayed in the other room close to the morning.
When I sneaked back to my room, I had a very hard time to fall asleep. Still all this adrenaline.
The next morning she asked me: "so, what lesson did we learn last night?"
I was thinking to myself, that "she's crazy", but I said "I don't know".
It turned out that next time I need to leave her detailed letter, saying when I'm leaving, with whom, how, for how long, doing what, and when coming back.
Wow!
Really?
It is nice of her to worry about me. But it seemed a bit extreme.
So I just said, that I'm going out on Sat. night too. Period.
Saturday
the kids were fun!
At the evening my "roomie" just went to bed at 7 again. I decided to go for a walk. I saw a funny red sun. I saw a deer (or the deer saw me). I saw a snake. I went to the beach. I walked all the way to the town.
I wanted to find Brenda. She had told me that she's near the Beer Store. And there is a few storey building, and I just need to come in through the front door, go to the left, and make my way to the kitchen. First I missed the beer store. And then there were a few candidate buidlings. But - I made it.
She's a cook for the miners/drillers. Red Lake is the biggest gold "digging" place in Canada. Anyone wants to earn well, that's the place to be - the assistant gets 80 grand per year, and the experienced one 120 per year. Thats a lot. But then also they work 28 days straight, and then 14 days off.
So we had dinner, which was amazing. And then a few drinks. Brenda and Brent (one of the guys) and me. It was fun.
And then Brenda and I went to the festival, as Brent needed his beauty sleep.
I met a bunch of miners. It was fun:) And the music was provided by all natives band called Jamshack. These guys were so drunk that the singer couldn't even talk. But they played Metallica, so that I understood it was Metallica.
We got back at Brendas place around 1.30. We called for taxi, but they said it would take 45 min. And by that time the doors would be locked. So I stayed at her place:)
Sunday
I got home at 9 am. I was slightly worried that my "roomie" has woken up all the city and the cops are looking for me. But she was still asleep.
The Jamshack guys were playing their electric bass. They also were drinking already. And they didn't wear too much. But whatever.
The day was very nice. Lots of kids. Amazing pancake breakfast. I panned some gold from sand. I'm a pro now:)
In the evening I was quite tired. But I met up with Brenda and we wanted to go for a swim, but it was slightly chilly. So we just had tea and amazing cake she had made. And off to sleep I went. In my training center bed:)
We got back on Monday at 3 pm:)
Amazing weekend! And super nice place:)
Everything was great except my partner. I haven't met many people in my life, whom I just cannot stand, but she's one. She was just so whiny and complaining and unprepared and not fun. But I had a good time.
Friday
we took a plane from Ottawa to Red Lake with the (in)famous Bearskin airlines. It took close to 7 hours and 6 stops. It went as follows: Ottawa - Sudbury- Sault St. Mary - Thunder Bay - Sioux Lookout - Dryden - Red Lake.
In Sudbury I saw Paul for a few minutes, which was awesome!
We stayed at this Training Center, which was more like native culture center. Nice and clean though. Just the doors to rooms didn't lock. But who cares. I doubt that the bears are eager to come after me or my passport.
Catherine (my partner) and I had a dinner in town, and then headed back to our place. It's about 3 km into the forest. And then she just went to bed. I was at the TV corner, cutting handkerchiefs into 4. And then I met Mike and Mike and Ray and Tammy (from The Service) who were preparing for their show at the festival. And I managed to get a ride with them to the festival. The concert was great! I danced - one crazy eastern European, the locals were quite non-dancy. I also assisted Mike with beer drinking, as the pauses were too short to finish a beer, so I took care of the rest. At some point I met Brenda - an amazing cook (as I found out later) from Kenora.
Mike and I made it back to our Training Center just a bit before 2 am (at 2 am they locked the doors). And then we were in his room, chatting. All of the sudden there is a knock on the door, and I can see through the painted glass that it's my "roomie". She demanded that whether her friend is here. First Mike said "no", because I was thinking it's none of her business. But then she said that she's coming in, and I said I'm there. So she threw the door open and stood there in her pj's. And in one hand she had an oven mitt. It was 2.30 or close to 3 am. It seemed a little too early for breakfast. So I asked, what's up with it. And she - pulled out a long knife!
I was speechless.
And then she stormed away.
I went after her, and asked, whether everything is ok. She just wanted to sleep.
Well, maybe I had just wanted to chat before. Without all the adrenaline from the cold weapons.
So I took my pj's and stayed in the other room close to the morning.
When I sneaked back to my room, I had a very hard time to fall asleep. Still all this adrenaline.
The next morning she asked me: "so, what lesson did we learn last night?"
I was thinking to myself, that "she's crazy", but I said "I don't know".
It turned out that next time I need to leave her detailed letter, saying when I'm leaving, with whom, how, for how long, doing what, and when coming back.
Wow!
Really?
It is nice of her to worry about me. But it seemed a bit extreme.
So I just said, that I'm going out on Sat. night too. Period.
Saturday
the kids were fun!
At the evening my "roomie" just went to bed at 7 again. I decided to go for a walk. I saw a funny red sun. I saw a deer (or the deer saw me). I saw a snake. I went to the beach. I walked all the way to the town.
I wanted to find Brenda. She had told me that she's near the Beer Store. And there is a few storey building, and I just need to come in through the front door, go to the left, and make my way to the kitchen. First I missed the beer store. And then there were a few candidate buidlings. But - I made it.
She's a cook for the miners/drillers. Red Lake is the biggest gold "digging" place in Canada. Anyone wants to earn well, that's the place to be - the assistant gets 80 grand per year, and the experienced one 120 per year. Thats a lot. But then also they work 28 days straight, and then 14 days off.
So we had dinner, which was amazing. And then a few drinks. Brenda and Brent (one of the guys) and me. It was fun.
And then Brenda and I went to the festival, as Brent needed his beauty sleep.
I met a bunch of miners. It was fun:) And the music was provided by all natives band called Jamshack. These guys were so drunk that the singer couldn't even talk. But they played Metallica, so that I understood it was Metallica.
We got back at Brendas place around 1.30. We called for taxi, but they said it would take 45 min. And by that time the doors would be locked. So I stayed at her place:)
Sunday
I got home at 9 am. I was slightly worried that my "roomie" has woken up all the city and the cops are looking for me. But she was still asleep.
The Jamshack guys were playing their electric bass. They also were drinking already. And they didn't wear too much. But whatever.
The day was very nice. Lots of kids. Amazing pancake breakfast. I panned some gold from sand. I'm a pro now:)
In the evening I was quite tired. But I met up with Brenda and we wanted to go for a swim, but it was slightly chilly. So we just had tea and amazing cake she had made. And off to sleep I went. In my training center bed:)
We got back on Monday at 3 pm:)
Amazing weekend! And super nice place:)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
accepted!
Today was a beautiful day!
Today I received an e-mail from a Journal of Microbiological Methods confirming that my paper has been accepted for publication!
This is amazing!
My very first published paper, that someone at some point will even read.
I'm happy.
I still have hope.
To leave this place and have a life.
And I have actually accomplished something.
It was about time.
And, man, it was a long journey. I sent it (my manuscript) off the first time one year ago. To the journal called New England Journal of Medicine - Science citation index 42!
It came back negative (rejected).
Then I tried Nature Biotechnology - no luck.
Nature Method - they seemed to like it, but still refused. No reviews even - just editor saying no.
Then Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy - it went out to reviewers. But they didn't like it. Or it seemed that they just didn't like the general concept of peptides as future antibiotics.
Anyway - negative.
And then - I sent it to JMiMet (SCI about 2.2). It was in the beginning of June.
And now - it's accepted!
I am happy!
Julia and I celebrated too:)
We had a smoothie on the roof of the shopping mall.
I had a huge cinnamon bun.
We did yoga.
We had sushi.
We had tea.
We had more tea.
And tomorrow I'm going to the sauna at the Nordic Spa. It's time to rejuvenate and get my second manuscript in.
Today I received an e-mail from a Journal of Microbiological Methods confirming that my paper has been accepted for publication!
This is amazing!
My very first published paper, that someone at some point will even read.
I'm happy.
I still have hope.
To leave this place and have a life.
And I have actually accomplished something.
It was about time.
And, man, it was a long journey. I sent it (my manuscript) off the first time one year ago. To the journal called New England Journal of Medicine - Science citation index 42!
It came back negative (rejected).
Then I tried Nature Biotechnology - no luck.
Nature Method - they seemed to like it, but still refused. No reviews even - just editor saying no.
Then Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy - it went out to reviewers. But they didn't like it. Or it seemed that they just didn't like the general concept of peptides as future antibiotics.
Anyway - negative.
And then - I sent it to JMiMet (SCI about 2.2). It was in the beginning of June.
And now - it's accepted!
I am happy!
Julia and I celebrated too:)
We had a smoothie on the roof of the shopping mall.
I had a huge cinnamon bun.
We did yoga.
We had sushi.
We had tea.
We had more tea.
And tomorrow I'm going to the sauna at the Nordic Spa. It's time to rejuvenate and get my second manuscript in.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Let me come in
So they say.
And then they will come in.
For a glass of water.
Or washroom.
Or suddenly they have to see on a map where is Estonia.
And then...
... then they stay.
And then they find an excuse to move closer.
And they say some nice things.
etc.
And I always fall for this initial "may I come in for a second" part.
I guess it wouldn't be that bad, if they would be hot.
Sometimes they are. But still the timing is wrong.
One funny example here.
His name is Mahmoud. He is my ex-student (which means he is quite young).
We saw each-other at work, and he talked and talked and talked until I gave up and gave him my number. He promised a dinner. And what could I have against food? Nothing.
A week passed.
He called.
He said he's coming over and then we'll figure something out. So that was his way to get into my apartment.
And then he tried sweet talking to convince me to make sweet love with him. I was not too interested, and I told him so. But he didn't give up. So he kept trying and I kept blocking. It went on for a while, and he even told me: "why do you have to be so sarcastic?".
I don't know.
Anyway. The best line was the following: "Let me just put IT in (you) and if you don't like, then I will take it out".
Wow.
HOW could I resist this offer?
Easily! I just had hard time not to laugh.
He gave up soon after this.
And the thing is that I tried to teach him, that if you like a girl, then first you take her out for coffee or something, and then for dinner, and then at some point you could move on to the next stage. But he didn't master this skill yet.
And - after all this, have I heard from this guy? No. It has been a while. It's his birthday today.
His line - I think it's classic!
And then there was other Mahmoud. Also my ex-student. Also young. Similar story, just that it was his house, and it was a party, and he managed to get rid off all the guests in the half-minute and then made the sudden move on me. And I thought that he's just my friend... Yea, right...
It's sad, because I really thought he's a nice guy.
Once somebody asked me, whether all my male students have crush on me. I said, that I have no idea. I guess they do have crushes...
But I'm just not sure whether it's a good thing...
All I want is a nice and normal guy.
Perhaps they are all extinct?
And then they will come in.
For a glass of water.
Or washroom.
Or suddenly they have to see on a map where is Estonia.
And then...
... then they stay.
And then they find an excuse to move closer.
And they say some nice things.
etc.
And I always fall for this initial "may I come in for a second" part.
I guess it wouldn't be that bad, if they would be hot.
Sometimes they are. But still the timing is wrong.
One funny example here.
His name is Mahmoud. He is my ex-student (which means he is quite young).
We saw each-other at work, and he talked and talked and talked until I gave up and gave him my number. He promised a dinner. And what could I have against food? Nothing.
A week passed.
He called.
He said he's coming over and then we'll figure something out. So that was his way to get into my apartment.
And then he tried sweet talking to convince me to make sweet love with him. I was not too interested, and I told him so. But he didn't give up. So he kept trying and I kept blocking. It went on for a while, and he even told me: "why do you have to be so sarcastic?".
I don't know.
Anyway. The best line was the following: "Let me just put IT in (you) and if you don't like, then I will take it out".
Wow.
HOW could I resist this offer?
Easily! I just had hard time not to laugh.
He gave up soon after this.
And the thing is that I tried to teach him, that if you like a girl, then first you take her out for coffee or something, and then for dinner, and then at some point you could move on to the next stage. But he didn't master this skill yet.
And - after all this, have I heard from this guy? No. It has been a while. It's his birthday today.
His line - I think it's classic!
And then there was other Mahmoud. Also my ex-student. Also young. Similar story, just that it was his house, and it was a party, and he managed to get rid off all the guests in the half-minute and then made the sudden move on me. And I thought that he's just my friend... Yea, right...
It's sad, because I really thought he's a nice guy.
Once somebody asked me, whether all my male students have crush on me. I said, that I have no idea. I guess they do have crushes...
But I'm just not sure whether it's a good thing...
All I want is a nice and normal guy.
Perhaps they are all extinct?
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Feed me!
.. because I'm a hungry and poor graduate student.
And guess what - people do:)
Another Estonian event - Kiili Vanamuusika Ansambli kontsert (concert of Kiili old-age/renaissance music), which was held at the Tabaret Hall (University of Ottawa). It was great! Wonderful music. annnd - after the concert there was a small reception. Oh, how I love receptions. So that was dinner - some watermelon, cheese and crackers and wine. Amazing.
The best part was the end, where I got the chance to take all the leftovers with me. Isn't this great? So I have a box full of crackers, carrots, and cheese. And hummus. I'm set until Sunday, me thinks.
And all of it 'cos they know that I'm poor and hungry grad student.
But on the other hand - I want to have real life already. I don't want to eat leftovers and any free food there is. I guess I gotta take myself together and run - to the finish! (I wish it were that simple like running. I have to write. A lot. And writing is harrrd...)
And guess what - people do:)
Another Estonian event - Kiili Vanamuusika Ansambli kontsert (concert of Kiili old-age/renaissance music), which was held at the Tabaret Hall (University of Ottawa). It was great! Wonderful music. annnd - after the concert there was a small reception. Oh, how I love receptions. So that was dinner - some watermelon, cheese and crackers and wine. Amazing.
The best part was the end, where I got the chance to take all the leftovers with me. Isn't this great? So I have a box full of crackers, carrots, and cheese. And hummus. I'm set until Sunday, me thinks.
And all of it 'cos they know that I'm poor and hungry grad student.
But on the other hand - I want to have real life already. I don't want to eat leftovers and any free food there is. I guess I gotta take myself together and run - to the finish! (I wish it were that simple like running. I have to write. A lot. And writing is harrrd...)
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
hello how are you?
"hello how are you? i believe in the love to first see, becouse you like so much to me, i like youy eyes, yur lips more becouse you kiss like angel, plis answer me---- my name is enrique i met you en canada i mexican"
This is an e-mail I received today. I think I have hopes to get married:)
But actually - what would one answer to this? I'm not sure I even master the language...
It all started on Thursday when I went to have a drink with Marc at the Cafe Nostalgica. I had ended up having two, and then I learned that Dennis are getting married and it's his bachelor party the next day. And SoulJazz Orchestra was playing (i like their music). So of course I had to go out on Friday as well then.
Dennis is an interesting character. He is at the Cafe Nostalgica almost every day. Every time he's drunk and/or high. And he has been there for a few years I think. He looks good though, a little bit like Brad Pitt:) Last summer him and my friend had a fight because of me. It was very awkward. But all passed eventually.
And so he is getting married to a very religious girl (Jehova witness or someone like it). And apparently she is pregnant too, despite the disbelief of pre-marital sex. It will be interesting.
Anyway - so Friday I came around. I was sick all day (something in my lunch didn't agree with me), but by the night I thought it's good to get some calories through vodka, while sterilizing at the same time. Julia and Jaan came over with Viru Valge vodka and grapefruit juice. We had two pretty strong drinks, and headed off to the Cafe Nostalgica.
We enjoyed the music. I had a beer. We were sitting down and chatting. And then these 3 guys came in, one in a red t-shirt and the other with the striped shirt. And the striped one smiled to me.
Once Julia left, the Red T immediately sat next to me and started chatting. And the Stripes just smiled. Soon I figured that one speaks some English, the other one doesn't really. They were really nice. They are here for a course of some sort. So we chatted a little. Red T was trying to convince me that I'm not as old as I tell I am. That was an interesting strategy. And then the Stripes asked me for a dance. Everything was fine, except he was trying to kiss me at any possible moment, I guess to make up not speaking.
So we exchanged e-mail addresses and they went home.
I finally got a chance to talk to my friends.
And then all of the sudden Stripes was back. He came and stood next to my chair and he put his arm around my shoulder. And he just stood there. I felt bad for him, and I also felt uncomfortable. I continued talking to my (male) friend, as I couldn't talk to my Mexican friend. Then a bit later my other friend Marc came over, and decided to hug everyone, including Stripes. He got puzzled and decided to leave. Poor guy. And now I have to figure out what to tell him...
This is an e-mail I received today. I think I have hopes to get married:)
But actually - what would one answer to this? I'm not sure I even master the language...
It all started on Thursday when I went to have a drink with Marc at the Cafe Nostalgica. I had ended up having two, and then I learned that Dennis are getting married and it's his bachelor party the next day. And SoulJazz Orchestra was playing (i like their music). So of course I had to go out on Friday as well then.
Dennis is an interesting character. He is at the Cafe Nostalgica almost every day. Every time he's drunk and/or high. And he has been there for a few years I think. He looks good though, a little bit like Brad Pitt:) Last summer him and my friend had a fight because of me. It was very awkward. But all passed eventually.
And so he is getting married to a very religious girl (Jehova witness or someone like it). And apparently she is pregnant too, despite the disbelief of pre-marital sex. It will be interesting.
Anyway - so Friday I came around. I was sick all day (something in my lunch didn't agree with me), but by the night I thought it's good to get some calories through vodka, while sterilizing at the same time. Julia and Jaan came over with Viru Valge vodka and grapefruit juice. We had two pretty strong drinks, and headed off to the Cafe Nostalgica.
We enjoyed the music. I had a beer. We were sitting down and chatting. And then these 3 guys came in, one in a red t-shirt and the other with the striped shirt. And the striped one smiled to me.
Once Julia left, the Red T immediately sat next to me and started chatting. And the Stripes just smiled. Soon I figured that one speaks some English, the other one doesn't really. They were really nice. They are here for a course of some sort. So we chatted a little. Red T was trying to convince me that I'm not as old as I tell I am. That was an interesting strategy. And then the Stripes asked me for a dance. Everything was fine, except he was trying to kiss me at any possible moment, I guess to make up not speaking.
So we exchanged e-mail addresses and they went home.
I finally got a chance to talk to my friends.
And then all of the sudden Stripes was back. He came and stood next to my chair and he put his arm around my shoulder. And he just stood there. I felt bad for him, and I also felt uncomfortable. I continued talking to my (male) friend, as I couldn't talk to my Mexican friend. Then a bit later my other friend Marc came over, and decided to hug everyone, including Stripes. He got puzzled and decided to leave. Poor guy. And now I have to figure out what to tell him...
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Happy Birthday, Canada:)
It's Canada Day.
It's also 7.30 am. And I just got home. Leslie and I had a few drinks last night, and then we went to one house party (one of Leslies friends was throwing a party). That was a weirdest party ever. First I met Aaron there. I haven't seen him for a year or so, and now we happened to be at the same party. Then I met Jason - he is a old buddy of mine, whom I haven't seen for year either. And there he was. And then there was one of my neighbors - the Turkish guy. He lives in my building and we say hi.
Very interesting party. And so we just hanged out and chatted. And danced! I haven't danced for such a long time. It was awesome!! (except the part, where one of my boobs decided to escape my dress, but I don't think anyone noticed:).
We tried leaving at 2 or so, but got convinced otherwise. So we stayed, and drank more. And danced more. I met a guy from Uruguay.
And I just got home!
Such an amazing morning though. So beautiful! So quiet. Sunny! Kastepiisad päikese käes sillerdamas.
Now it's time to have a nap, and then I can reconvene to drinking! In Canada, Canada Day is a BIG event! Everyone is out and partying, and there are concerts and fireworks and a big, big party!
It's also 7.30 am. And I just got home. Leslie and I had a few drinks last night, and then we went to one house party (one of Leslies friends was throwing a party). That was a weirdest party ever. First I met Aaron there. I haven't seen him for a year or so, and now we happened to be at the same party. Then I met Jason - he is a old buddy of mine, whom I haven't seen for year either. And there he was. And then there was one of my neighbors - the Turkish guy. He lives in my building and we say hi.
Very interesting party. And so we just hanged out and chatted. And danced! I haven't danced for such a long time. It was awesome!! (except the part, where one of my boobs decided to escape my dress, but I don't think anyone noticed:).
We tried leaving at 2 or so, but got convinced otherwise. So we stayed, and drank more. And danced more. I met a guy from Uruguay.
And I just got home!
Such an amazing morning though. So beautiful! So quiet. Sunny! Kastepiisad päikese käes sillerdamas.
Now it's time to have a nap, and then I can reconvene to drinking! In Canada, Canada Day is a BIG event! Everyone is out and partying, and there are concerts and fireworks and a big, big party!
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