So this week marks a month since I've started my internship at the Heritage Conservation Center. It's been a really enriching experience and I'm looking forward to the next month and a half. Hopefully I'll get to work on other types of materials. But as of now, I can say that I'm basically a cleaner (for artefacts) lol. The good thing is that you'll always get different things to work on... but right now, I'm bored shitless vacuuming and checking the conditions of boxes and boxes of wayang kulit puppets.
I've probably looked at at least thirty puppets. The workmanship is amazing but i end up not remembering any puppet, except the one of the goat lol. Another thing I'm struggling with is identifying mould. When it's obvious, it's not a problem. But most of the time, I don't know how it looks like macroscopically and even under the microscope, I'm straining my eyes so much that.... I just scribble mould on my condition check list anyway (yes, lazy, irresponsible.).
Hopefully by the end of October, I'll have a job offer and then I can slowly gather experience in this little, yet discreetly, expensive industry. I've applied for positions in NMS, ACM, HCC and NAGA. Curator positions... I'm not that confident in since it seems like you have to really be into symbolism.... and I'm not lol. That's why conservation is good for me. See it as it is, treat it as it is.
Fingers crossed!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Day 1 - 3
Day 1
The whole traveling bit was exhausting and took up so much time that by the time we finally got to Bucharest, I was exhausted. After that it was a 3 - 4 hour drive to our final destination. We got in around 8/9pm local time, shoveled some food down, had a pint at the local village pub/convenience store and then hit the sack. Minus the exhaustion, it was cool knowing that we 'visited' three countries in a day (Frankurt -> Bucharest -> Ruse). I think i might attempt to travel into Frankfurt central when we return. Hopefully 5 hours would be enough.
Day 2
Got up at 8am. Breakfast was bread with ham, salami and cheese. Think it's the Bulgarian way here... but I'm honestly not too much of a fan. I miss my eggs and cereal. And FRUIT!! Can't help comparing with Spain.. our Spanish mama is such a good cook and always whipped up huge portions of Spanish delicacies and every meal was buffet style. There was a lot of fruit and vegetables as well. We would even have fruit bowls in the living room for us to snack on throughout the day. And biscuits and snacks in the cupboards. Man, that's something i miss.
Our Bulgarian mama is really sweet though! And also a good cook, but i just wish we had more vegetables and fruit. Can't believe she's actually doing our laundry and making our beds =____= I'm super grateful but i would really prefer if she didn't since she already has so much to do in addition to cooking our meals and cleaning the house. Really lovely lady though :) Wish my gran was like that.
Anyway, back on to day 2. It was about 20-30mins ride to Cherven and we got an introduction to the site. Really amazing and huge medieval town with lots of churches and a really cool fortress/castle bit. I know zilch about the medieval period (other than the Black Death..) and most people in our group specialize in this period so I'm just listening most of the time. Met the chief archaeologist, Stoyan, who's been working on the site since 1975. After that we went back to the house for lunch and Nikolai basically abandoned us (haha ok kidding) and we spent the afternoon lounging around the house.
Oh did i mention we have a paddling pool?! I'm like WTFFFFF. Seriously, are we on holiday or on a dig? We even have the privilege of having two people share one room! Back in Pintia, we had 14 people in a room with bunk beds. I really like it though :( Was very cosy and everyone got really close in that cramped room. I really miss Pintia :( Really can't help comparing even though this is just the beginning and I'm sure it'll get even better with time... but Pintia set the standard so high and everyone from the program is so amazing!
Day 3
So today was our first official work day. Got up bright and early and we got the 8am public bus to the town of Cherven. Had to walk the remaining distance to the site and climbed up multiple flights of stairs to the peak.... I'm gonna get toned thigh (HOPEFULLY HAHA) by the end of 4 weeks.
First thing on the list was clearing out the area we were gonna work on. Surprisingly, the day before, Stoyan said he hasn't even decided where we were gonna excavate. And today we were told we were gonna work on the same area that the team from last year worked on.. which was covered with overgrowth =_____= Y U NO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE AREA?! Just covering the whole area with a sheet would help. So much unnecessary trouble.
Yup, so our first day was spent hacking and sweeping up huge piles of weed, grass, twigs, branches, bugs.... whatever. There's a lot of unstratified ceramic in the whole area and lots of bone as well. Everyone was diligently collecting bits and bobs but i think Stoyan has no intention of keeping any of them but was patronizing us lol. We worked till 11am and had a tea break... which was really long actually. (I miss the containers of sandwiches and fruit that Spanish mama would send to us for tea break!) Tea break was a packet of chocolate crossiant (Pintia, you pampered us so much!).
Worked for another 1 hour =____= AND WE HAD LUNCH! Yes, our working hours are weirdly short. Lunch lasted 1 freaking hour and then we worked for another hour and Stoyan sent us home. The public bus wasn't coming till 4:15PM and we ended up sitting around for 1.5 hours which could have been better spent. I understand that every region has their own work ethics but i wasn't expecting it to be so relaxed. Sure, when you are working it is hard work... but clocking less than 5 hours on site?! So slack!
Hopefully we'll get to do some digging tomorrow. The site is brimming with history and I'm looking forward to see what else is hidden beneath the ground :D
Right now, we are just chilling in the garden (plus feeding the local mosquitos). Loving the weather so far! Shall update again soon :)
The whole traveling bit was exhausting and took up so much time that by the time we finally got to Bucharest, I was exhausted. After that it was a 3 - 4 hour drive to our final destination. We got in around 8/9pm local time, shoveled some food down, had a pint at the local village pub/convenience store and then hit the sack. Minus the exhaustion, it was cool knowing that we 'visited' three countries in a day (Frankurt -> Bucharest -> Ruse). I think i might attempt to travel into Frankfurt central when we return. Hopefully 5 hours would be enough.
Day 2
Got up at 8am. Breakfast was bread with ham, salami and cheese. Think it's the Bulgarian way here... but I'm honestly not too much of a fan. I miss my eggs and cereal. And FRUIT!! Can't help comparing with Spain.. our Spanish mama is such a good cook and always whipped up huge portions of Spanish delicacies and every meal was buffet style. There was a lot of fruit and vegetables as well. We would even have fruit bowls in the living room for us to snack on throughout the day. And biscuits and snacks in the cupboards. Man, that's something i miss.
Our Bulgarian mama is really sweet though! And also a good cook, but i just wish we had more vegetables and fruit. Can't believe she's actually doing our laundry and making our beds =____= I'm super grateful but i would really prefer if she didn't since she already has so much to do in addition to cooking our meals and cleaning the house. Really lovely lady though :) Wish my gran was like that.
Anyway, back on to day 2. It was about 20-30mins ride to Cherven and we got an introduction to the site. Really amazing and huge medieval town with lots of churches and a really cool fortress/castle bit. I know zilch about the medieval period (other than the Black Death..) and most people in our group specialize in this period so I'm just listening most of the time. Met the chief archaeologist, Stoyan, who's been working on the site since 1975. After that we went back to the house for lunch and Nikolai basically abandoned us (haha ok kidding) and we spent the afternoon lounging around the house.
Oh did i mention we have a paddling pool?! I'm like WTFFFFF. Seriously, are we on holiday or on a dig? We even have the privilege of having two people share one room! Back in Pintia, we had 14 people in a room with bunk beds. I really like it though :( Was very cosy and everyone got really close in that cramped room. I really miss Pintia :( Really can't help comparing even though this is just the beginning and I'm sure it'll get even better with time... but Pintia set the standard so high and everyone from the program is so amazing!
Day 3
So today was our first official work day. Got up bright and early and we got the 8am public bus to the town of Cherven. Had to walk the remaining distance to the site and climbed up multiple flights of stairs to the peak.... I'm gonna get toned thigh (HOPEFULLY HAHA) by the end of 4 weeks.
First thing on the list was clearing out the area we were gonna work on. Surprisingly, the day before, Stoyan said he hasn't even decided where we were gonna excavate. And today we were told we were gonna work on the same area that the team from last year worked on.. which was covered with overgrowth =_____= Y U NO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE AREA?! Just covering the whole area with a sheet would help. So much unnecessary trouble.
Yup, so our first day was spent hacking and sweeping up huge piles of weed, grass, twigs, branches, bugs.... whatever. There's a lot of unstratified ceramic in the whole area and lots of bone as well. Everyone was diligently collecting bits and bobs but i think Stoyan has no intention of keeping any of them but was patronizing us lol. We worked till 11am and had a tea break... which was really long actually. (I miss the containers of sandwiches and fruit that Spanish mama would send to us for tea break!) Tea break was a packet of chocolate crossiant (Pintia, you pampered us so much!).
Worked for another 1 hour =____= AND WE HAD LUNCH! Yes, our working hours are weirdly short. Lunch lasted 1 freaking hour and then we worked for another hour and Stoyan sent us home. The public bus wasn't coming till 4:15PM and we ended up sitting around for 1.5 hours which could have been better spent. I understand that every region has their own work ethics but i wasn't expecting it to be so relaxed. Sure, when you are working it is hard work... but clocking less than 5 hours on site?! So slack!
Hopefully we'll get to do some digging tomorrow. The site is brimming with history and I'm looking forward to see what else is hidden beneath the ground :D
Right now, we are just chilling in the garden (plus feeding the local mosquitos). Loving the weather so far! Shall update again soon :)
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Reply 1997
"First love. The reason everyone’s
first love is beautiful is not only because the love was pretty. At the
time of first love, there was a youthfulness that didn’t know how to be
wise, a me who was pure to the point of cruelty, and a you whose fire I
couldn’t handle. It’s because I already know that I can never go back
to that youthful, innocent, passionate time."
"First love is reckless. Without calculating, it throws everything in with pure passion, and inevitably fails. But that’s why it’s dramatic—the reckless tales wrapped up in experiences or feelings that you can never have again."
"First love is a time. Once it passes, it’s gone. Now you have to give a new love and a new time a chance. It might not be the experience or the purity of first love, but out of that scar is a love that grows and becomes a little more mature—you have to wait for an adult love. Only those who wait can dream of love."
"First love is reckless. Without calculating, it throws everything in with pure passion, and inevitably fails. But that’s why it’s dramatic—the reckless tales wrapped up in experiences or feelings that you can never have again."
"First love is a time. Once it passes, it’s gone. Now you have to give a new love and a new time a chance. It might not be the experience or the purity of first love, but out of that scar is a love that grows and becomes a little more mature—you have to wait for an adult love. Only those who wait can dream of love."
Friday, June 7, 2013
Cause when I die, then I die loving you
Life has led us here
Together all these years
This house that we have made
Holds twenty-thousand days
And memories we've saved
Since life has led us here
It's weird that this day that I've dreaded and feared is finally here. Like a dream. Or nightmare. Every time I leave, the thing that looms over my head like an overbearing dark cloud is that what if anything happened to them while I was gone? And when it did, every time my heart sank. I don't know whether being away is good, because I know being by their side and watching them suffer would break my heart. But not being with them is equally as hard. I worry myself sick and every time my phone rings, I dread what's waiting for me.
Before I left, i told her that i'll be back real soon. Just 3 more months! And then i'll be home to cuddle her and walk her. I can't believe this is happening man. The thing about death is.. no matter how you kick and scream and deny it, it just descends on you whether you like it or not and knocks the wind out of you. It takes your tears, your energy, your emotions... everything. I'm heading home in a few days but i don't want to be optimistic because doing so will make it even harder. It's this whole 'so close, yet so far' notion that is draining my soul. What if she goes while I'm on my way? What then? What then?
I'm just sorry that I can't be there beside her. I am so so so sorry.
And I'm so scared of that point in time when I'll step into the house and I'll no longer hear little feet scurrying to welcome me.
It's all these times when I regret even leaving at all.
Together all these years
This house that we have made
Holds twenty-thousand days
And memories we've saved
Since life has led us here
It's weird that this day that I've dreaded and feared is finally here. Like a dream. Or nightmare. Every time I leave, the thing that looms over my head like an overbearing dark cloud is that what if anything happened to them while I was gone? And when it did, every time my heart sank. I don't know whether being away is good, because I know being by their side and watching them suffer would break my heart. But not being with them is equally as hard. I worry myself sick and every time my phone rings, I dread what's waiting for me.
Before I left, i told her that i'll be back real soon. Just 3 more months! And then i'll be home to cuddle her and walk her. I can't believe this is happening man. The thing about death is.. no matter how you kick and scream and deny it, it just descends on you whether you like it or not and knocks the wind out of you. It takes your tears, your energy, your emotions... everything. I'm heading home in a few days but i don't want to be optimistic because doing so will make it even harder. It's this whole 'so close, yet so far' notion that is draining my soul. What if she goes while I'm on my way? What then? What then?
I'm just sorry that I can't be there beside her. I am so so so sorry.
And I'm so scared of that point in time when I'll step into the house and I'll no longer hear little feet scurrying to welcome me.
It's all these times when I regret even leaving at all.
Friday, May 24, 2013
A white blank page and a swelling rage, rage
You did not think when you sent me to the brink, to the brink
You desired my attention but denied my affections, my affections
I think I've become a pro at numbing myself, or running away from my fears.
Reading a book about disturbed kids and I've been kinda wondering if i have conditioned myself to accept all my idiosyncrasies or perhaps amplified them. Surely I wasn't like that before.. but I'm pretty damn sure that it was at first something that was avoidable.. but i chose to crash head first. Now, I'm wounded, pretty sure scarred. Stuck in a place where I can't let myself recover. Once again, it's a choice, and I'm making the less sensible one.
Funny how we sometimes choose the less viable route when it's so obvious what is best for yourself.
Sometimes I revel in my loneliness.
Sometimes I am angered by it.
But every time someone gets close, all i want them to do is step away.
This space has become so sacred and so personal...
Have i forgotten how to share my soul?
Sometimes I take the easier way out and I blame.
I blame you and you. Both of you for taking advantage of my trust.
But then... the blame just hits the wall and falls flat on nothing.
But it's the easy way out.
Most times, I just forget and lose myself in what I have.
But do not ask the price I paid,
I must live with my quiet rage,
Tame the ghosts in my head,
That run wild and wish me dead.
You did not think when you sent me to the brink, to the brink
You desired my attention but denied my affections, my affections
I think I've become a pro at numbing myself, or running away from my fears.
Reading a book about disturbed kids and I've been kinda wondering if i have conditioned myself to accept all my idiosyncrasies or perhaps amplified them. Surely I wasn't like that before.. but I'm pretty damn sure that it was at first something that was avoidable.. but i chose to crash head first. Now, I'm wounded, pretty sure scarred. Stuck in a place where I can't let myself recover. Once again, it's a choice, and I'm making the less sensible one.
Funny how we sometimes choose the less viable route when it's so obvious what is best for yourself.
Sometimes I revel in my loneliness.
Sometimes I am angered by it.
But every time someone gets close, all i want them to do is step away.
This space has become so sacred and so personal...
Have i forgotten how to share my soul?
Sometimes I take the easier way out and I blame.
I blame you and you. Both of you for taking advantage of my trust.
But then... the blame just hits the wall and falls flat on nothing.
But it's the easy way out.
Most times, I just forget and lose myself in what I have.
But do not ask the price I paid,
I must live with my quiet rage,
Tame the ghosts in my head,
That run wild and wish me dead.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Juice Fast Day 2 + BREAK FAST HAHA
Okayyyyy, yes i broke my fast today (day 3).
So yesterday, I woke up feeling light-headed and proceeded to make myself my breakfast juice. Sorry, didn't note that down but i remember it was really good. No hunger pangs throughout the day and made juice every 2 hours. But i had to work on my essay and it became really hard because I couldn't concentrate. I was writing it, but my mind was still quite buzzed out... so nope, that bit sucked.
I was quite enjoying the fact that i wasn't craving anything, considering how much i love to snack, but then i was also getting really worried because (awkward much) I haven't pooped AT ALL. Even before i started the fast i wasn't having regular bowel movements and no matter what I tried (drinking loads of water, tea, eating yogurt, veges, fruits..) it wasn't improving. I was hoping the juice fast would help but yeah, it didn't either. And all i could think of was junk building up in my intestines =____= EW. So that's the main reason why I'm breaking fast today - getting my system back to normal first!
Also, we spent 4 hours (11pm-3am) at A&E last night because my friend sliced her finger. ALL SHE NEEDED WAS A FREAKING ANTI-SEPTIC BANDAID!! I was kinda hoping she would get stitches or glued (lol sorry) but just a band-aid.. okay I should be glad that it wasn't anything serious. Nonetheless, I had a bottle of water with my that i guzzled up in the first hour. And I felt really giddy and out of it throughout our wait. Got myself a cup of tea. Helped a bit. But not having enough water and feeling the effects of it was irritating.
Right, so back to Day 3.
I know I shouldn't eat bread and carbs and stuff yet... but I did. So for breakfast, I had:
home-made bread with hummus
punnet of green grapes
handful of cherry tomatoes
one hard boiled egg
It made me pretty full, which I'm super impressed about. Usually it takes way more than that to get me filled up, but i think the cleanse over the last two days really helped out my eating habits.
Also, I felt weird without juice and after breakfast, I made myself apple and celery. Could this be a start of a new habit?
Regardless, even though I lasted only for two days, it was an interesting experience. I wouldn't go on it for too long though - love food too much. I'm gonna switch my meals up a bit as well, adding juice here and there as a meal :) I would definitely go on a juice fast again and LAST THE THREE DAYS. Also, wouldn't hurt with a better blender / juicer :)
So yesterday, I woke up feeling light-headed and proceeded to make myself my breakfast juice. Sorry, didn't note that down but i remember it was really good. No hunger pangs throughout the day and made juice every 2 hours. But i had to work on my essay and it became really hard because I couldn't concentrate. I was writing it, but my mind was still quite buzzed out... so nope, that bit sucked.
I was quite enjoying the fact that i wasn't craving anything, considering how much i love to snack, but then i was also getting really worried because (awkward much) I haven't pooped AT ALL. Even before i started the fast i wasn't having regular bowel movements and no matter what I tried (drinking loads of water, tea, eating yogurt, veges, fruits..) it wasn't improving. I was hoping the juice fast would help but yeah, it didn't either. And all i could think of was junk building up in my intestines =____= EW. So that's the main reason why I'm breaking fast today - getting my system back to normal first!
Also, we spent 4 hours (11pm-3am) at A&E last night because my friend sliced her finger. ALL SHE NEEDED WAS A FREAKING ANTI-SEPTIC BANDAID!! I was kinda hoping she would get stitches or glued (lol sorry) but just a band-aid.. okay I should be glad that it wasn't anything serious. Nonetheless, I had a bottle of water with my that i guzzled up in the first hour. And I felt really giddy and out of it throughout our wait. Got myself a cup of tea. Helped a bit. But not having enough water and feeling the effects of it was irritating.
Right, so back to Day 3.
I know I shouldn't eat bread and carbs and stuff yet... but I did. So for breakfast, I had:
home-made bread with hummus
punnet of green grapes
handful of cherry tomatoes
one hard boiled egg
It made me pretty full, which I'm super impressed about. Usually it takes way more than that to get me filled up, but i think the cleanse over the last two days really helped out my eating habits.
Also, I felt weird without juice and after breakfast, I made myself apple and celery. Could this be a start of a new habit?
Regardless, even though I lasted only for two days, it was an interesting experience. I wouldn't go on it for too long though - love food too much. I'm gonna switch my meals up a bit as well, adding juice here and there as a meal :) I would definitely go on a juice fast again and LAST THE THREE DAYS. Also, wouldn't hurt with a better blender / juicer :)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Juice Fast Day 1
Right, so my blender is gonna go ka-pish soon due to our occasional abuse of it over the last two years. Please just last for the next few days!!
Woke up and made myself a bowl (what? lazy student here!!) of carrot and apple juice. I don't have a juicer, as said, so had to resort to this method:
It works well for me, so no complains there.. at least not for now. I diluted it with quite a lot of water and it surprisingly still tasted yummy. Wasn't hungry through the afternoon as i went for a walk and to grab more ammo for my juice gun. I think this was because of all the extra calories I've had over the last three days. I know i should have weaned myself off food first before attempting anything, but sofar.. my body isn't reacting too badly. No side effects of nausea or giddiness yet, woohoo!
Next concoction i tried was:
Cucumber + apples + kale + orange
I've never had a good impression of green juices because they used to sell some kinda grassy nasty fluid probably a decade ago and it was the trend! There were aunties offering little cups of the green liquid at supermarkets and I remember trying one.... and vowing never to go near anything like it again. It was YUCKY!
But now that I'm an adult (hur hur yeah right), maybe what tasted bad when i was young would be palatable right now. Anyhow, I wasn't too keen on green/vege juices but I know they are essential in a juice fast. I know cucumber isn't technically a vegetable, but it's green la okay HAHA ;x okay, point is... the juice was DELICIOUS. I really enjoyed it and have another glass nursing in the fridge for later.
I'm gonna try making a 'greener' juice later in the day, maybe some kale, spinach, celery and apples/carrots to sweeten it up.
Sofar the verdict is:
I'm feeling pretty okay, but i can sense mucus building up in my nose.. which I've read is normal. No hunger pangs yet, but knowing me and my habits... it'll come sooner or later. Hopefully I'll hold out and not reach for some hummus on toast anytime soon :(
Oh and drinking lots of green tea too!
Woke up and made myself a bowl (what? lazy student here!!) of carrot and apple juice. I don't have a juicer, as said, so had to resort to this method:
It works well for me, so no complains there.. at least not for now. I diluted it with quite a lot of water and it surprisingly still tasted yummy. Wasn't hungry through the afternoon as i went for a walk and to grab more ammo for my juice gun. I think this was because of all the extra calories I've had over the last three days. I know i should have weaned myself off food first before attempting anything, but sofar.. my body isn't reacting too badly. No side effects of nausea or giddiness yet, woohoo!
Next concoction i tried was:
Cucumber + apples + kale + orange
I've never had a good impression of green juices because they used to sell some kinda grassy nasty fluid probably a decade ago and it was the trend! There were aunties offering little cups of the green liquid at supermarkets and I remember trying one.... and vowing never to go near anything like it again. It was YUCKY!
But now that I'm an adult (hur hur yeah right), maybe what tasted bad when i was young would be palatable right now. Anyhow, I wasn't too keen on green/vege juices but I know they are essential in a juice fast. I know cucumber isn't technically a vegetable, but it's green la okay HAHA ;x okay, point is... the juice was DELICIOUS. I really enjoyed it and have another glass nursing in the fridge for later.
I'm gonna try making a 'greener' juice later in the day, maybe some kale, spinach, celery and apples/carrots to sweeten it up.
Sofar the verdict is:
I'm feeling pretty okay, but i can sense mucus building up in my nose.. which I've read is normal. No hunger pangs yet, but knowing me and my habits... it'll come sooner or later. Hopefully I'll hold out and not reach for some hummus on toast anytime soon :(
Oh and drinking lots of green tea too!
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