Last week, while Seth was in Prague (lucky sob) I babysat his printer. I had a paper to print out, as well as several scholarships, so I knew I would use it as well as pet it, feed it and tuck it into bed. When I first plugged it in, I received a whole lot of error messages filled with scary technical jargon. One would be turned off at this point, but equipped with my vast IT experience, I simply copied and pasted the message into Google, found many forums dealing with the same issue, followed the steps and voila! -- print baby print!
Of course, it helped to know such terms as port, driver, add, remove... but nevertheless it made me think that the key to being a pro in anything, is simply terminology. For example, football never interested me until I understood what the terms of the game meant.
This may seem like an obvious point, it is. And now I'm about to use this point to figure out the financial world, on stride to my financial independence. Say, what is the difference between a physical delivery option and a cash-settled option...? No really, tell me.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Freiburg girl goes to London... baby!
From Monday, February 25th to Friday, February 29th I took my first real European adventure to London, England to see what the fuss is really all about. The hardest part of the journey was getting to the airport in Frankfurt Hahn (an airport 100km from Frankfurt city) which required 3 trains and a bus = a four hour endeavor compared to the easy one hour flight to London. Luckily, I was travelling with a very plan-precise friend of mine also on the same program: Kat. Kat had our whole travel itinerary down to a T, while I sat pretty reading my strange rabbit fiction, Watership Down.
On Monday, our main goal was to get checked into our hostel, St. Christopher's. On their website, they advertised a cool bar/hangout area attached to the hostel to meet other travelers, when in reality it was a hostel attached to a loud bar... but who can really complain at under $15 a night. Kat and I had an occasional beer in the bar (at least we didn't have to bring our jackets and purses with us), but we were both into our books, so we mostly read and went to bed early.
Our hostel was located in a totally punk-alternative area of London called Camden (you might recognize this neighborhood, it was recently in world news for having a fire in one of its numerable markets.) The markets were so vast and contained so many cool treasures, we spent almost all Thursday walking around shopping. Many shops had wacky sex t-shirts and "f**k the man"/marijuana memorabilia, that we mostly walked around giggling.
Tuesday and Wednesday were our busy touristy days. In both mornings we went on free walking tours. The first was called "Royal London" led by a hilarious Australian guy who could crack every British joke in the book. We saw Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and so many other cool attractions. I really advise travelers to take tours of the cities you visit because 1. you can almost always find an English tour and 2. you'll see the city thoroughly and learn information about landmarks not usually found in guidebooks. For example, we learned that at Princess Diana's funeral, there was such a big turnout that only the royals could fit in Westminster Abbey and the general population sat on the grass outside watching the procession on big screens. A speaker inside the church made a comment against the Royal family, saying that they are only targeted against and are only turning into haughty celebrities. To this comment, the outside crowd started cheering. The applause was so loud that the Royals inside heard it and, oblivious to why the crowd outside was cheering, starting clapping along politely (the Brits are way too proper) and little did they know they were clapping against their own existence!
The second tour called the Old City of London was a historical tour led by another Australian, who knew almost too much British history. He showed us the famous Tour Bridge, the Tower of London, St. Paul's cathedral, London's wall street, Globe Theatre, and other fancy-dancy attractions. This was also a cool tour, but I, a little bored, had fun cracking corny jokes to Kat about British history (ex. "How bout that Boston Tea Party?...suckas!") as we went along.
(Kat and I apparently wearing the Tower Bridge)
After the tours on both days we had lunch and spent the afternoon in a museum (all were free!) We saw the controversial Greek Marbles from the Parthenon (the Greeks want 'em back), Monet, Picasso, Pollock, my new fav Joan Miro, and also the Rosetta Stone.
As a last personal note to our trip I have to say this: I love big cities. The diversity, the intelligence, the history. Technological advances, human rights movements, political activities. I always feel so rejuvenated going to a big city while others (including Kat) feel so exhausted. London was especially exciting for me 1. because everyone talks so silly, I could never get tired of it and 2. because its like grand New York but cleaner. This trip reminded me about my love for the city of Seattle and hey, I was in London, baby!
It rains in London, what? Parliament Tower and London Eye in the sunshine
On Monday, our main goal was to get checked into our hostel, St. Christopher's. On their website, they advertised a cool bar/hangout area attached to the hostel to meet other travelers, when in reality it was a hostel attached to a loud bar... but who can really complain at under $15 a night. Kat and I had an occasional beer in the bar (at least we didn't have to bring our jackets and purses with us), but we were both into our books, so we mostly read and went to bed early.
Our hostel was located in a totally punk-alternative area of London called Camden (you might recognize this neighborhood, it was recently in world news for having a fire in one of its numerable markets.) The markets were so vast and contained so many cool treasures, we spent almost all Thursday walking around shopping. Many shops had wacky sex t-shirts and "f**k the man"/marijuana memorabilia, that we mostly walked around giggling.
Tuesday and Wednesday were our busy touristy days. In both mornings we went on free walking tours. The first was called "Royal London" led by a hilarious Australian guy who could crack every British joke in the book. We saw Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and so many other cool attractions. I really advise travelers to take tours of the cities you visit because 1. you can almost always find an English tour and 2. you'll see the city thoroughly and learn information about landmarks not usually found in guidebooks. For example, we learned that at Princess Diana's funeral, there was such a big turnout that only the royals could fit in Westminster Abbey and the general population sat on the grass outside watching the procession on big screens. A speaker inside the church made a comment against the Royal family, saying that they are only targeted against and are only turning into haughty celebrities. To this comment, the outside crowd started cheering. The applause was so loud that the Royals inside heard it and, oblivious to why the crowd outside was cheering, starting clapping along politely (the Brits are way too proper) and little did they know they were clapping against their own existence!
The second tour called the Old City of London was a historical tour led by another Australian, who knew almost too much British history. He showed us the famous Tour Bridge, the Tower of London, St. Paul's cathedral, London's wall street, Globe Theatre, and other fancy-dancy attractions. This was also a cool tour, but I, a little bored, had fun cracking corny jokes to Kat about British history (ex. "How bout that Boston Tea Party?...suckas!") as we went along.
(Kat and I apparently wearing the Tower Bridge)After the tours on both days we had lunch and spent the afternoon in a museum (all were free!) We saw the controversial Greek Marbles from the Parthenon (the Greeks want 'em back), Monet, Picasso, Pollock, my new fav Joan Miro, and also the Rosetta Stone.
As a last personal note to our trip I have to say this: I love big cities. The diversity, the intelligence, the history. Technological advances, human rights movements, political activities. I always feel so rejuvenated going to a big city while others (including Kat) feel so exhausted. London was especially exciting for me 1. because everyone talks so silly, I could never get tired of it and 2. because its like grand New York but cleaner. This trip reminded me about my love for the city of Seattle and hey, I was in London, baby!
It rains in London, what? Parliament Tower and London Eye in the sunshineFriday, February 22, 2008
Red onions/ red peppers with pasta
I also wanted to use this Blog to update on my cooking development. I might also add book and movie opinions when they strike me.
Wed, 2/20/08
Cooked red onions, added red peppers. Added some tomato sauce and salt and pepper for a very yummy sauce for my noodles.
The red peppers made the onions very sweet.
Wed, 2/20/08
Cooked red onions, added red peppers. Added some tomato sauce and salt and pepper for a very yummy sauce for my noodles.
The red peppers made the onions very sweet.
Map Thoughts
Lately I've had so many ideas for interactive maps I could make! Yesterday I dragged Seth on this path I found by the Waldorfschule where I normally have orchestra rehearsals. At the top (literally top, it was somewhat of a climb) we found a small church and cafe over looking the city. We followed the path further and discovered a very small old castle-looking structure! It is only open in summer, but who knew this thing was even here! I then thought it would be so neat to take pictures of secret locations in Freiburg I find this year and plot them on a map for future AYF students.
I think I could use google maps as a base map... ooo or maybe I could use google earth and make a 3D map. A fellow student last year (Laura) made her final Geography 575 project on google earth and I really liked it because it was so easy to picture the actual landscape where she did her research. Therefore I know it is possible, it would just be the task of researching how to do it properly.
This brings me to my latest fascination on how advanced and convenient websites are becoming. Facebook uses Flash to load pictures faster and write messages in easy pop down boxes. It is my dream one day to discover no more clunky websites. It absolutely drives me crazy when I go to a website and can't find what I'm looking for.
I think I could use google maps as a base map... ooo or maybe I could use google earth and make a 3D map. A fellow student last year (Laura) made her final Geography 575 project on google earth and I really liked it because it was so easy to picture the actual landscape where she did her research. Therefore I know it is possible, it would just be the task of researching how to do it properly.
This brings me to my latest fascination on how advanced and convenient websites are becoming. Facebook uses Flash to load pictures faster and write messages in easy pop down boxes. It is my dream one day to discover no more clunky websites. It absolutely drives me crazy when I go to a website and can't find what I'm looking for.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The first post of hopefully many
I like the idea of blogging. I've had several online journals and have greatly enjoyed updating them with my latest rants and raves. However the time always comes when I reread previous posts that I feel outraged at my previous beliefs or feel sheepish of saying too many details. "TMI" as my mom often puts it.
So to try to keep this blog for a longer period of time I've resolved to just not read old posts. And keep the conspiracies and college drunken mishaps to myself.
How's Germany? To sum up: great. I was asked yesterday whether I'm going to come home sporting Lederhosen and speak with verbs at the end of my sentences... it is a possibility... but just because I live in Germany, doesn't mean I'm transforming into a German. On the contrary! I've never read more American literature, listened to more American music, or discovered more about American culture in my previous 20 years put together. There is something about the distance from where one comes from, and the isolation of never truly fitting into another culture (sure immigrants are an exception, I'm more referring to year-long abroad students) that makes one truly grasp their national identity.
It also helps that I have way too much free time on my hands. I wish I could say I'm getting in SO much productivity but come on! I'm young and lazy! Luckily reading has been the most self-growing/learning activity I can do while still sitting on my bums. I'm so amazed how absolutely wonderful reading is... I know, it took me a while to figure it out.
It has also taught me that not having a TV makes me very creative in how to use my time. I've been crocheting, rollerblading, scrapbooking, listening to music, playing games with my german neighbors, walking around Freiburg. Now blogging! I would like to spend less time on this laptop, but baby steps first.
Anywho, traveling season is here (ich hab' ZWEI monaten semesterferien!), but first I must write my last essay on the philosopher Heidegger... in german... five pages... oy, I better get on that.
So to try to keep this blog for a longer period of time I've resolved to just not read old posts. And keep the conspiracies and college drunken mishaps to myself.
How's Germany? To sum up: great. I was asked yesterday whether I'm going to come home sporting Lederhosen and speak with verbs at the end of my sentences... it is a possibility... but just because I live in Germany, doesn't mean I'm transforming into a German. On the contrary! I've never read more American literature, listened to more American music, or discovered more about American culture in my previous 20 years put together. There is something about the distance from where one comes from, and the isolation of never truly fitting into another culture (sure immigrants are an exception, I'm more referring to year-long abroad students) that makes one truly grasp their national identity.
It also helps that I have way too much free time on my hands. I wish I could say I'm getting in SO much productivity but come on! I'm young and lazy! Luckily reading has been the most self-growing/learning activity I can do while still sitting on my bums. I'm so amazed how absolutely wonderful reading is... I know, it took me a while to figure it out.
It has also taught me that not having a TV makes me very creative in how to use my time. I've been crocheting, rollerblading, scrapbooking, listening to music, playing games with my german neighbors, walking around Freiburg. Now blogging! I would like to spend less time on this laptop, but baby steps first.
Anywho, traveling season is here (ich hab' ZWEI monaten semesterferien!), but first I must write my last essay on the philosopher Heidegger... in german... five pages... oy, I better get on that.
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