3.23.2007
Bruce Sterling in Belgrade: Urban Futurity
Since we are planning to travel to Belgrade in a week's time, and the fact that Lisa and I are both interested in urban sociology, this video caught my attention. I found this on Warren Ellis' website.
Ninjas! Spies! Laptops!
Here I was, bored because I missed the intrigues and scandals in Canadian (and American) politics. Then Lisa found a little tidbit the other day and let me tell you, as someone who had a steady diet of comic books and assorted geekery growing up, this news item satisfied my sweet tooth. Curious? Click here and scroll down a tad.
3.19.2007
Geography skillz
I don't think I would get a very high score on Michael's quiz that asks for as many Slovenian obcin (municipalities) in ten minutes. I'll try it in a few minutes when I've forgotten the answers I gleaned from the comments page. I'm not optimistic for my score.
I did, however, enjoy some success trying my hand at this (also found courtesy Carniola). Try it and see how many UN member states (out of 192) you can name in ten minutes. I got to 102 and then couldn't think of a single other country for the last minute. Try it (or if you're feeling up on your local Slovenian geography, try both) and post your score in the comments.
I did, however, enjoy some success trying my hand at this (also found courtesy Carniola). Try it and see how many UN member states (out of 192) you can name in ten minutes. I got to 102 and then couldn't think of a single other country for the last minute. Try it (or if you're feeling up on your local Slovenian geography, try both) and post your score in the comments.
Weather Liveblogging: snow in Ljubljana!
It started out as little flakes, then turned into little pellets and now we're seeing fat, fluffy flakes hitting the ground. I'm just amazed at the sudden change; we were boiling on Friday.
We're going to make some mulled wine, read our books and watch something funny and British.
We're going to make some mulled wine, read our books and watch something funny and British.
Trying to learn Slovene, one awkward silence at a time.
I admit it. I like my Slovene language class.
I have to admit it because I'm notorious for my anti-language class stance. I had terrible, soul-damaging experiences in the past (I know, dramatic) and I spent my belated academic career avoiding those classes.
The Slovene language class is two times a week, going for about and hour and a half. The instructor is friendly and patient, and she explains the complex (from my perspective) grammar by breaking down the rules in makeshift charts. I know this may sound simplistic and self-evident to our more sophisticated readers, but teaching me a new language is like drilling into solid rock with an eggbeater. The class is small, which is good, and held in small basement-like room under (yes, under) the dorms in Rožna Dolina.
At the last class, I only slept a few hours the night before, then went to my university classes for a few hours. By the time I arrived at my language class my brain refused to process information. When I tried to answer a question in class, all I could was blankly stare at my textbook, hoping the answer will magically appear. An early bedtime for me, then.
The basic vocabulary and formalities are easy to learn (dober dan = good day, na svidenje = goodbye) but the verb and noun system is still confusing me a little. In English, we have singular and plural nouns. In Slovene, they have singular, double and then plural. So when you conjugate the verb you also have to conjugate the noun as well. Therein lies the crux of my problem: trying to coordinate these two elements while forming a sentence.
Our class is tonight. Wish us luck, me hearties.
I have to admit it because I'm notorious for my anti-language class stance. I had terrible, soul-damaging experiences in the past (I know, dramatic) and I spent my belated academic career avoiding those classes.
The Slovene language class is two times a week, going for about and hour and a half. The instructor is friendly and patient, and she explains the complex (from my perspective) grammar by breaking down the rules in makeshift charts. I know this may sound simplistic and self-evident to our more sophisticated readers, but teaching me a new language is like drilling into solid rock with an eggbeater. The class is small, which is good, and held in small basement-like room under (yes, under) the dorms in Rožna Dolina.
At the last class, I only slept a few hours the night before, then went to my university classes for a few hours. By the time I arrived at my language class my brain refused to process information. When I tried to answer a question in class, all I could was blankly stare at my textbook, hoping the answer will magically appear. An early bedtime for me, then.
The basic vocabulary and formalities are easy to learn (dober dan = good day, na svidenje = goodbye) but the verb and noun system is still confusing me a little. In English, we have singular and plural nouns. In Slovene, they have singular, double and then plural. So when you conjugate the verb you also have to conjugate the noun as well. Therein lies the crux of my problem: trying to coordinate these two elements while forming a sentence.
Our class is tonight. Wish us luck, me hearties.
3.18.2007
Things to do while in Slovenia.
1. Last night I saw a couple of films at the 9th International Documentary Festival, namely The 10th District Court: Moments of Trials and Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis.
2. Keeping up with my homework. Well, that's not exactly a "thing to do" for some visitors.
3. On Friday we joined a group traveling to Park Škocjanske jame, to visit the Škocjan Caves. With over 7,000 caves in Slovenia, Škocjan is likely the most impressive. The cave system is made up of enormous "rooms" that rival even the largest of cathredals. Massive stone curtains polished smooth from thousands of years of erosion graced the walls and innumerable stalagmites adorned the cavern floor, clustered together like little stone forests.
The Reka-Velka river runs through the caves, forming deep gorges all throughout the system. As we followed our guide, we entered a long cavern tunnel, hundreds of metres above the raging river below, and followed a trail spiraling down the gorge to a bridge spanning the unearthly depths, ending at a spectacular waterfall. The trail skirts along a massive wall following the river, leading to the cave's mouth.
I've been in caves before, but never in one this size. The colours are remarkable: shades of red, brown, and green are everywhere. Knowing that mineral deposits induce these colours is a fine enough explanation, but that doesn't render the caves any less wonderous.
We scrambled back to the train station, which takes about half an hour, and just as we arrived our train just pulled into the station. During the walk back we were worried we would miss the train.
Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any pictures while inside the cave, but I'm sure you can find some decent pictures online. Lisa did manage to take some shots of the surrounding area:
2. Keeping up with my homework. Well, that's not exactly a "thing to do" for some visitors.
3. On Friday we joined a group traveling to Park Škocjanske jame, to visit the Škocjan Caves. With over 7,000 caves in Slovenia, Škocjan is likely the most impressive. The cave system is made up of enormous "rooms" that rival even the largest of cathredals. Massive stone curtains polished smooth from thousands of years of erosion graced the walls and innumerable stalagmites adorned the cavern floor, clustered together like little stone forests.
The Reka-Velka river runs through the caves, forming deep gorges all throughout the system. As we followed our guide, we entered a long cavern tunnel, hundreds of metres above the raging river below, and followed a trail spiraling down the gorge to a bridge spanning the unearthly depths, ending at a spectacular waterfall. The trail skirts along a massive wall following the river, leading to the cave's mouth.
I've been in caves before, but never in one this size. The colours are remarkable: shades of red, brown, and green are everywhere. Knowing that mineral deposits induce these colours is a fine enough explanation, but that doesn't render the caves any less wonderous.
We scrambled back to the train station, which takes about half an hour, and just as we arrived our train just pulled into the station. During the walk back we were worried we would miss the train.
Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any pictures while inside the cave, but I'm sure you can find some decent pictures online. Lisa did manage to take some shots of the surrounding area:
Still here.
I haven't been posting for what feels like a long time, I just haven't had much extra energy between school, some travels and a couple bouts of sickness. I'm bouncing back from the latest one, and catching up on posting and correspondence (apologies if I owe you an email).
It's a beautiful Sunday morning and we've got all the windows open to let in the spring air. The landlords just stopped by (they live in a small town about an hour away) to pick up the rent money. And drop off some shelves, homemade sausages and wine they made from their small vineyard. We told them about our language classes, and they said "Maybe you will learn our language and decide to stay!" I wish! Jay and I are a little blown away, since we've never had nice landlords. The last one was a nasty slumlord who made a living buying up old houses in economically depressed parts of town, fixing them aesthetically, but not structurally, and renting them out to young people. I particularly appreciated the way he painted over the water damage from the major leaks in the roof and then wouldn't call the roofers when we had water pouring into our flat. Hey, it only rains a little in Vancouver, why bother?!
Anyways, it's hard to wrap our heads around the fact that we have such fantastic landlords now. And two bottles of homemade wine, and sausages to serve to meat-loving friends when they drop by. Living in Ljubljana is giving Vancouver a serious run for the money.
It's a beautiful Sunday morning and we've got all the windows open to let in the spring air. The landlords just stopped by (they live in a small town about an hour away) to pick up the rent money. And drop off some shelves, homemade sausages and wine they made from their small vineyard. We told them about our language classes, and they said "Maybe you will learn our language and decide to stay!" I wish! Jay and I are a little blown away, since we've never had nice landlords. The last one was a nasty slumlord who made a living buying up old houses in economically depressed parts of town, fixing them aesthetically, but not structurally, and renting them out to young people. I particularly appreciated the way he painted over the water damage from the major leaks in the roof and then wouldn't call the roofers when we had water pouring into our flat. Hey, it only rains a little in Vancouver, why bother?!
Anyways, it's hard to wrap our heads around the fact that we have such fantastic landlords now. And two bottles of homemade wine, and sausages to serve to meat-loving friends when they drop by. Living in Ljubljana is giving Vancouver a serious run for the money.
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