![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
ok, I promised a blog about 3 weeks ago and that never happened, so here is an update from the last time that I actually shared something with all of you, my internet friends:
Since the last time I have done a month long geologic field course in the Czech Republic, gone to the United States, come back, did the largest presentation of my life, and got a girlfriend. So you know, small minor things. I suppose I could expand upon these experiences which is a small hint of: this is going to be long.
Field Course in the Czech Republic: Now, in my Czech school all of the courses are in Czech (_shocking_) and therefore most of the people in this field course spoke only Czech. There were about 40 people, about half and half men and women and almost all of them were either Czech or Slovak with the notable exception of me from the States, and Efran from Spain. Luckily Efran spoke English rather well so it really helped out with the situation.
We broke into groups of 2 and 3 and my group consisted of Efran, myself, and a Slovak guy who was really nice but had basically no common sense whatsoever. As in, he was dressed in full camo during the entire time, so incase we got lost he could hide with the trees or something. Now me, I carry a mirror and I have a blindingly red backpack for such occasions that we get completely lost a blind man from 2 kilometers away could spot me. Anyway, The month went by without much of a hitch, I made some new really good friends and I learned that not everyone in the world is blessed with beautiful outcrops as we are in Utah. Personally, I like geology in Utah better, but, you go with what you can. Anyway, we wrote a huge report, lots of pictures included (because geologist like pictures and shiny things), got an awesome grade on it and went on our way.
About 2 days after I got back from the Czech field course I got on a bus to the train station, train to Budapest, metro to the airport, plane from Budapest to JFK and then JFK to SLC and just like that I went from wandering around aimlessly in the Czech wilderness to driving around in my old car in my old city, talking to old friends, and going out for beer with even older friends. They say that going back to your original land after being gone for at least a year is quite shocking, and I have to say, they grossly underestimated that.
The reverse culture shock was unbelievable. I had hot water, I could hear everything that everyone was talking about (although that wasn't always a good thing), I could read the billboards, I could order food, I could yell at strangers and I could actually see my family in person instead of just reading words in an instant message. But, the strangest thing is going back to the same city that I spent 24 years in and feeling like a stranger, and worse than feeling like a stranger, I felt I didn't belong there anymore. Now, this would be fine if I belonged somewhere else but I don't feel as though I belong in Slovakia either, so I am just a world entity, looking for a place to fit in. I stayed with my sister and brother-in-law which was probably the most fun I have had in a long time. Hours spent playing video games, partying, dinners, it was truly wonderful to be able to connect to them once again in person.
The main reason I went back to the States was to attend the wedding of one of my greatest friends in the world. She has kept me going through thick and thin and usually is the first to point out if I'm doing something completely retarded ( although I usually don't listen, she is almost always right ). The story of the wedding is one for another story as it is a bag of varying experiences and thoughts that cannot be expressed within the alloted space/time constraint of this blog ;) Sorry Katie, I'll post one soon
I am not sure if I can describe the feeling of going back unless you've experienced it yourself, but it is sort of true what they say: the bad memories fade over time and distance. I would travel to the places where I went when I was happy or hurt and the memories would flood back, but 98% of them didn't effect me like they used to just when I was driving around aimlessly when I lived there. Perhaps one day I will return, but that day won't come very soon.
Work. man work. Now, my boss is awesome but he is a slave driver and if he thinks you have potential he will push you right to the edge of a pit of lava, push you in and say " swim bitch swim!" Well, I got pushed into the lava and thus far I haven't been burned and I'm still breathing (although it is probably getting close to going over my head, but I'll worry about that when I get there). There are some very large and important things coming up, but I'm not one to forecast or tell of future things, so as they happen I will bring them to your attention :)
Life in general: After I got back from the States I had a project deadline that absorbed all of my time and effort, but after that things got interesting ( as if they were boring or something before that ). As soon as I got back I finally decided that being alone for over a year was quite enough and it was time to go out on a limb and start dating. I asked out the girl (Jonna) that lives across the hall from me ( yes yes I'm dating someone that lives in my apartment building, I don't need the lectures about that. . . ) and surprisingly she felt the same about me for quite a while, so we decided to give it a shot. Since then I can honestly say that I have been the happiest I have ever been for at least a year and a half and probably 2.5 years if one was to be completely honest with himself. Although, dating someone that is from a completely different culture (Finnish) with English as a second language as proven to be quite interesting and comes with a steep learning curve, it has been completely worth it to every end.
I am now struggling along with work, trying to make something of myself, struggling to fit into a new culture and struggling to become a better person but now that I have someone to travel together with through the whirlpool that is life, I am far more optimistic than I ever have been, and there is no end in sight.
Since the last time I have done a month long geologic field course in the Czech Republic, gone to the United States, come back, did the largest presentation of my life, and got a girlfriend. So you know, small minor things. I suppose I could expand upon these experiences which is a small hint of: this is going to be long.
Field Course in the Czech Republic: Now, in my Czech school all of the courses are in Czech (_shocking_) and therefore most of the people in this field course spoke only Czech. There were about 40 people, about half and half men and women and almost all of them were either Czech or Slovak with the notable exception of me from the States, and Efran from Spain. Luckily Efran spoke English rather well so it really helped out with the situation.
We broke into groups of 2 and 3 and my group consisted of Efran, myself, and a Slovak guy who was really nice but had basically no common sense whatsoever. As in, he was dressed in full camo during the entire time, so incase we got lost he could hide with the trees or something. Now me, I carry a mirror and I have a blindingly red backpack for such occasions that we get completely lost a blind man from 2 kilometers away could spot me. Anyway, The month went by without much of a hitch, I made some new really good friends and I learned that not everyone in the world is blessed with beautiful outcrops as we are in Utah. Personally, I like geology in Utah better, but, you go with what you can. Anyway, we wrote a huge report, lots of pictures included (because geologist like pictures and shiny things), got an awesome grade on it and went on our way.
About 2 days after I got back from the Czech field course I got on a bus to the train station, train to Budapest, metro to the airport, plane from Budapest to JFK and then JFK to SLC and just like that I went from wandering around aimlessly in the Czech wilderness to driving around in my old car in my old city, talking to old friends, and going out for beer with even older friends. They say that going back to your original land after being gone for at least a year is quite shocking, and I have to say, they grossly underestimated that.
The reverse culture shock was unbelievable. I had hot water, I could hear everything that everyone was talking about (although that wasn't always a good thing), I could read the billboards, I could order food, I could yell at strangers and I could actually see my family in person instead of just reading words in an instant message. But, the strangest thing is going back to the same city that I spent 24 years in and feeling like a stranger, and worse than feeling like a stranger, I felt I didn't belong there anymore. Now, this would be fine if I belonged somewhere else but I don't feel as though I belong in Slovakia either, so I am just a world entity, looking for a place to fit in. I stayed with my sister and brother-in-law which was probably the most fun I have had in a long time. Hours spent playing video games, partying, dinners, it was truly wonderful to be able to connect to them once again in person.
The main reason I went back to the States was to attend the wedding of one of my greatest friends in the world. She has kept me going through thick and thin and usually is the first to point out if I'm doing something completely retarded ( although I usually don't listen, she is almost always right ). The story of the wedding is one for another story as it is a bag of varying experiences and thoughts that cannot be expressed within the alloted space/time constraint of this blog ;) Sorry Katie, I'll post one soon
I am not sure if I can describe the feeling of going back unless you've experienced it yourself, but it is sort of true what they say: the bad memories fade over time and distance. I would travel to the places where I went when I was happy or hurt and the memories would flood back, but 98% of them didn't effect me like they used to just when I was driving around aimlessly when I lived there. Perhaps one day I will return, but that day won't come very soon.
Work. man work. Now, my boss is awesome but he is a slave driver and if he thinks you have potential he will push you right to the edge of a pit of lava, push you in and say " swim bitch swim!" Well, I got pushed into the lava and thus far I haven't been burned and I'm still breathing (although it is probably getting close to going over my head, but I'll worry about that when I get there). There are some very large and important things coming up, but I'm not one to forecast or tell of future things, so as they happen I will bring them to your attention :)
Life in general: After I got back from the States I had a project deadline that absorbed all of my time and effort, but after that things got interesting ( as if they were boring or something before that ). As soon as I got back I finally decided that being alone for over a year was quite enough and it was time to go out on a limb and start dating. I asked out the girl (Jonna) that lives across the hall from me ( yes yes I'm dating someone that lives in my apartment building, I don't need the lectures about that. . . ) and surprisingly she felt the same about me for quite a while, so we decided to give it a shot. Since then I can honestly say that I have been the happiest I have ever been for at least a year and a half and probably 2.5 years if one was to be completely honest with himself. Although, dating someone that is from a completely different culture (Finnish) with English as a second language as proven to be quite interesting and comes with a steep learning curve, it has been completely worth it to every end.
I am now struggling along with work, trying to make something of myself, struggling to fit into a new culture and struggling to become a better person but now that I have someone to travel together with through the whirlpool that is life, I am far more optimistic than I ever have been, and there is no end in sight.
2 comments | Leave a comment