#and a lot of the places to learn outside the home country are expensive or outdated

[radioregine]

like they were worried about our language dying for a while bc a lot of diaspora kids just don't grow up speaking it bc assimilation

[mindfulstudyquest]

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗺𝘂𝘀 pros and cons

a girl asked me to talk about my erasmus experience in the questions box and she inspired me to make this post. if you have posts to request don't be shy! unfortunately i don't have all the time i would like to uptade but i will try to keep up.

erasmus is a student mobility program of the european union that allows a european student to attend a school in another EU country for a period of time legally recognized by their home institution.

it is a temporary experience with many benefits, enabling students to engage with different cultures and customs. due to its non-permanent nature, i believe it is one of the most beautiful opportunities for a student to feel completely free to explore and understand themselves, to figure out what they want and do not want from their life and educational path.

but let’s start by discussing its downsides. unfortunately, not everything is perfect.

𝟭. paperwork ( 📄 )

hey, i know, guys, i'm not the first or the only one to say this, but the paperwork for erasmus is a pain in the ass. it's not only extremely complicated, but universities (mine for sure, but i know it's a common experience) provide zero help in filling out the documentation. especially if you're not familiar with bureaucracy (and at 20 it’s normal not to be familiar with these things), it can seem like an insurmountable mountain. but if i, someone who doesn’t understand anything about this stuff, managed to get through it, you can do it too. typically, the documentation includes:

various information like ID, health card, and the IBAN of an account in your name (or joint name) where they will deposit the scholarship.

learning agreement, another plague sent from hell because you usually have to deal with two professors, one from your university and one from the host university, who clearly would prefer to mop the sea than help you fill out your learning agreement.

financial agreement for the scholarship, which has specific deadlines by which you need to submit documents (usually IBAN, learning agreement, and acceptance letter from the host university). fun fact: i almost missed this and didn’t receive the scholarship because these deadlines were buried deep in my university’s website (don’t be like me, make sure to be informed well about the financial agreement or you risk being left without money).

the best advice i can give you is to find someone from your university who has already done the erasmus where you’re supposed to go and ask them for some information. they, having gone through it, know what mistakes to avoid and what’s best to do. the offices often assume too many things and give you insufficient and hasty information.

𝟮. finding an accomodation ( 🏡 )

this too, another pain in the ass. it depends on the city, but here in madrid, finding a place to live has been a nightmare (and indeed, i've significantly overshot the budget i had set for rent). you have various options for accommodation:

student dormitories these solutions may seem the best at first glance, but they aren’t always. here in madrid, the fees for the dormitories at my campus cost more than my current rent, plus having only one kitchen for an entire floor is not exactly optimal comfort, especially if, like me, you cook a lot.

apartment studio/flat this is definitely the most comfortable option, but also the most expensive. a studio outside the center in big cities can cost up to €1000 a month. however, if you can afford it and prefer privacy, then go for it. at first, living alone might not be easy, especially if it’s your first time away from family, but you’ll get through it quickly.

room in an apartment this can be the best or the worst option depending on your luck because having flatmates means cohabitation, which is not always pleasant. if you're going in erasmus with someone you know, it might be optimal to share an apartment or take two rooms in a larger flat. personally, i rented a room in an apartment with three other people (two bathrooms and a kitchen), and i couldn’t be happier; i love my flatmates, and we quickly became friends. we cook together, go out together, spend entire evenings chatting and joking and they helped me a lot overcoming the first crisis. i realize, though, that i am an exception, so choose your accommodation carefully.

in short, consider your choice based on 3 factors:

proximity to the university/public transport links i study outside of madrid, almost an hour by bus from my place, but i live practically across from the bus stop, so it’s not a problem at all.

centrality/connection to the city center you're in erasmus to experience the city!

comfort of the place such as private bathroom (very hard to find but not impossible), utensils, AC, appliances (we have a dishwasher at home, and i assure you it saves our lives everytime).

𝟯. homesickness ( 🤧 )

yes, everyone feels homesick, even the most stoic. but guarantee you, you'll get through it. first of all erasmus, fortunately or unfortunately, isn’t forever. it’s a 6 month/1 year experience that is incredibly valuable for your personal growth, at the end of this period of time, you'll be back home. secondly, you can always stay in touch with friends and family in the age of technology. those who truly love you will support you in this project and do everything they can to make you feel less lonely. lastly, during erasmus, you’ll make many amazing friendships and connections that you otherwise would never have the chance to make.

𝟰. language barrier ( 🦜 )

i can’t say much about this, i've never studied spanish in my life, but, since i'm italian, i have no trouble following the lessons and understanding people when they speak, even though i'm still not able to express myself well in this new language. however, by living in another country, you’ll learn the language much faster and more effectively than with any academic course. in just a month, i already feel much more comfortable with spanish, and everyday i learn new things.

and of course, i could talk for hours about the benefits of erasmus, but i might save my praises for a post i'll write later, towards the end of this experience.

i can tell you that in just a month here, a whole new world has opened up for me. not only is the thrill of being in another city, in another country, an electrifying flow of continuous energy, but i’ve also realized things about myself that i might have ignored before.

i have much more confidence in myself; i feel freer, less afraid of making mistakes. it’s true, i’m far from my family and friends, but this also means i’m far from all those eyes under which i always try to appear perfect.

i crave to see and learn, i'm eager to discover new things, and this drives me to do things i probably wouldn’t do in my home country, to appreciate their flavor and indulge in the uncertainty of "maybe i’ll like this".

for the first time, i’m experiencing a new country without the rose-tinted filter of a short vacation. i’ve never felt as rich and full of gratitude as i do now, and i hope this is a feeling every student can experience.

so, erasmus, yes or no? absolutely yes.

i’d love to keep updating you on my experience abroad. what do you think? would you like that? let me know in the comments! star kisses ⭐

[cavedraconem]

Local Maximums

A while back I read an opinion piece my a woman who was upset about the state of grocery shopping these days. I can't really disagree with the basic premise that food in NZ is too expensive and this causes a lot of trouble for people who are living paycheck to paycheck. And shopping at the supermarket can be pretty stressful for a variety of reasons!

BUT, when the writer started to describe her shopping process... it was a massive odyssey. Of a Saturday she was dragging herself and her kids through multiple different shops - a Pak n Save, a Countdown, a fruit & veggie shop, maybe even a butcher as well - looking for the cheapest everything to stretch her budget, the particular whatever her husband wanted, the brand of snacks that her autistic child would eat. Of course she was sitting in traffic and fighting for parking and struggling with the kids and navigating trolleys at every single one of these locations. It sounded incredibly stressful! And she was incredibly stressed about it by the time she got home (and so were the kids).

"Surely just buying food shouldn't be this difficult?" she cried. And, well... no, I don't think it should be. Obviously I don't know every detail of this woman's life and I probably have extreme DINK privilege, but the ordeal she tried to pose as relatable seemed to me largely self-inflicted. Some of these issues seem trivially solvable: if you know your kid will only eat one type of snack, why wouldn't you just buy ten boxes at once? Can you plan ahead and click & collect any of these shops so you don't have to drag the kids around the supermarket itself? Can you pop out by yourself on a quiet evening?

And then we get into some more speculative cost-benefit questions that will depend on the exact details. Are the vegetables from the fruit & veggie shop cheaper enough to make up for the petrol you spend driving there? (Petrol is also expensive in my beautiful country.) What value do you really place on your time and stress? Is the money saved or the special thing for your husband really, genuinely worth the effort? If you are doing all of this work to save money, could you instead work a bit more to earn more money instead? Add a couple of extra hours a week onto your contract so you can afford to shop at a nicer supermarket or get groceries delivered, and save that much time or more on the weekend, plus less screaming from your children.

(By the way, I got that last idea from an old flatmate of mine. His philosophy was that it was better for him to work an extra hour every night and get takeaways for dinner than to spend that hour cooking something cheaper but not very good. I would have been more convinced by this [and his related opinions about division of labour] if he hadn't been allowing his PhD student girlfriend to cook him literally three meals a day.)

Anyway, this writer spectacularly failed to make her problems relatable to me, but there probably is something to be learned here. It's about how easy it is to reach a local maximum in your life: where you look at what you're doing and think, this is the best way I could possibly be doing it. But you're wrong! Maybe you've optimised your routine along one axis (e.g. cost) but totally neglected other axes (e.g. time/stress). You're making tradeoffs that you don't realise you're making. Things that you think are non-negotiable might actually be pretty easy to compromise on. It can take an outside perspective and a bit of convincing or experimentation to even realise that other possibilities exist, and maybe some of them are even better than what you're doing now.

So, in the end it's a good reminder to me to question my routines and ask whether I've trapped myself in any local maximums. What is stressing me out now that could be easier? Does everyone else have so much trouble with this? What opportunities am I missing? Surely it shouldn't be this difficult?

[theroseceleste]

Pilot Miguel - Part 10 - An Unexpected Visitor

In this short, but fluffy chapter, you reminisce about your stay in London and snuggle with your man in his penthouse. This is until someone unexpected turns up...

Buy me a coffee! (And gain access to my discord)

Word count - 1619

Contains : A little bit of fluff and a confrontation conversation via text.

Enjoy! xx

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

If you enjoy this fic, please consider liking, commenting or re-blogging. Many thanks xx

London was great, you definitely want to go back again. There’s so much there to see and do. England itself has a lot to offer, along with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which make up the United Kingdom. So much history happened all around the country, and there’s too much to fit into just two days of staying over between flights.

You never enjoyed history at school. It was boring learning about it in a dull classroom. But, walking around in the streets the history took place makes it all the more interesting.

Naturally, you wanted to see Buckingham Palace. Many pictures were taken outside of the iron gates in front of the grand building.

You took romantic walks with Miguel around St James’s Park and Hyde Park and then you went shopping in the famous shop called Harrods in Knightsbridge.

The Tower of London was another point of interest. A castle with effectively a small town concealed within its fortress walls.

Connecting all of these places in the city, is the London Underground network. Locally nicknamed ‘the tube’ as the tunnels that the trains snake through on a daily basis are round, exactly like a tube.

It amazed you to learn that the tube stations were used as bomb shelters during World War II. Helping residents of London take cover from the air raids that took place at night.

During your stay, some tube lines were busier than others, particularly during the rush hours. You found yourself pushed right up against Miguel as the train was crammed full of commuters.

The weather gods had been kind to you during your visit. Typically, it rains a lot in England - that’s why it’s so green. But the English summers can be stunning when the sun does finally come out and say hello.

You’re back in Nueva York now, sitting in Miguel’s penthouse, curled up on the sofa with him. His big arms wrap around you as you both flick through the pictures on your phone. The latest cute couple picture is the one of you both standing in a pod on the London Eye. The sights of the historically-rich city below you with your loved up, slightly jet lagged faces being the main focus.

Every now and then you feel kisses on the back of your head as he holds you close. His nose pressed against your recently washed hair, taking in the scent of your favourite shampoo.

This is the first time you’ve visited his apartment, and you can see why he didn’t bat an eyelid when booking your stay in Versailles. You’re certain he’s paid exceedingly well, but that doesn’t matter to you.

Everything in his apartment is expensive, or the latest model or whatever. You’re not interested in what his smart screen, 4K, ultra HD, thingy-ma-whatsit TV does. So long as you can snuggle with your man and watch a film on it, you don’t care.

It’s evening and you’ve not long had dinner together. He cooked and it was surprisingly scrumptious.

“I never had you down as skilled in the culinary arts,” you say to him as he nuzzles against your neck.

“I had to help my mother around the house, which meant doing stuff in the kitchen.”

You ponder for a moment as you think about the delicious food that’s now in your stomach.

“Your mother must be a good cook if you learned from her.”

“Yes, she certainly knows how to throw together a few things and prepare a tasty meal.”

He shifts uncomfortably in the seat, like he doesn't like where the conversation is going.

“You like the penthouse?” Miguel finally asks after deciding to change the subject.

“You have a beautiful home, very techy too, no surprise there…”

He chuckles at your comment before leaning in closer slightly.

“I’d love it if you—“ his whisper in your ear gets interrupted by a knock on his front door.

“That should be a delivery I’m expecting, could you grab it? I need the bathroom real quick.”

You both get up from the couch, you watch him stride off to his en-suite in his grey sweatpants and black t-shirt - for some reason, he looks incredibly sexy in that outfit.

There’s another knock at the door, reminding you to open it before Miguel misses his delivery.

The door creaks as you open it to reveal a woman, not dressed as a delivery driver. She has mid-length black hair and blue eyes. She seems surprised to see you.

“Oh…”

Her shock intrigues you.

“Can I help you?” you ask her.

“Oh, no - it’s okay, I didn’t know Miguel was… um… entertaining…”

She begins to turn away, but you open your mouth to speak again.

“Who shall I say came to the door? I can ask him to get back to you.”

The woman considers your offer for a moment.

“That would be great, thank you. Tell him Xina tried to visit, but will try some other time.”

You nod and smile.

“Sure.”

“Thanks,” Xina replies and hangs her handbag over her shoulder before turning around to walk back to the elevator.

After closing the door, you return to the couch and begin to wonder why a woman would be calling around Miguel’s so late in the day.

Miguel returns from the ensuite and joins you on the sofa again.

“Where did you put the package?” he asks, looking around for a box.

“It wasn’t a delivery,” you reply.

He looks back at you and raises an eyebrow.

“Who was it?”

“Someone named Xina? She said she’d try again some other time.”

Miguel’s smile drops the instant he hears Xina's name. What could she possibly want with him? A sinking feeling in his stomach means he suspects that whatever it is she wants, it’s not going to be good news.

“Mhmm… thanks.”

He lays you down with him on the couch and puts a film on for the both of you to watch. An uncomfortable thump in his chest pounds against his ribs as his mind wanders over what Xina wants. He kisses your head as he pulls his phone out while the movie starts. Calling up Xina’s contact on his screen, he begins to type a message to his ex-wife.

“What do you want?”

It doesn’t take long for Xina to reply. He suspects she’s sitting in her car outside the apartment block.

“You’ve moved on quickly…”

Miguel’s lips press into a thin line as his heart thumps harder in his chest.

“What’s it to you?” he replies, trying to not jab at the screen with frustration and jog you too much.

His message is left on read for a moment, like Xina is thinking about what to say next. A nauseous feeling develops when he sees that she eventually starts typing again.

“I feel like perhaps I was too hasty in wanting a divorce.”

Another text comes in shortly after.

“I miss you. And I miss what we had, the good times we did share together.”

The urge to launch the phone across the living room is almost too tempting. She wants to come back into his life after pushing and fighting for a divorce? He didn’t think he’d get a shot at happiness again, especially so soon after the end of his marriage. Now that he has you, he’s not giving what he has up for someone who can’t make up their mind and seems to think they’re at liberty to mess people around. As far as he’s concerned, Xina can find her happiness elsewhere, because he gave up fighting for her when he was pushed to sign the papers.

He types out another reply.

“You made your bed, now you go lie in it.”

Xina starts to type back almost instantly.

“Are things serious between you two?”

Miguel does everything he can to not growl with annoyance. To make himself better, he snuggles into you more and kisses the back of your head again, sniffing your scent.

Taking in a deep breath to calm himself, he starts to type again.

“None of your business.”

His response is left on read once more for a moment, he can feel her frustration through the screen with her lack of a reply. She’s probably resting her head against the steering wheel of her car, seething - good.

Spending time with you, making plans with you, dating you, he feels has done him the world of good. Some might say he moved on too quickly, that he was on the rebound, but you were too good of a person to let pass by.

He has defence walls for a reason, and you are one of the select few who sees who he really is. You are his and he is yours. You bring out such happiness in him. He doesn’t want to lose you and he’ll do anything in his power to make sure that doesn’t happen.

He finds himself surprised that Xina doesn’t reply, but he suspects that this is not the last he’ll hear from her.

A gentle snore suggests you have fallen asleep. He smiles as he tenderly nuzzles into you again. His hand strokes your hair before he subtly turns you on your back so he can see his perfect chiquita sleeping. You look so peaceful. It’d be rude to wake you and he wants this moment to last a little while longer. Strong arms wrap around you after he tosses his phone onto another sofa and he settles down, hoping his pounding heart will relax soon. Listening to your deep breaths is already having a calming effect on him. You’re so much better for him than Xina ever was.

I hope you enjoyed Part 9!

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[deadbeandrop]

is lumpus a city boy

y'know i really love asking in that way (there's something cute yet almost mocking about the phrase) but you get me, see, i already have a list of this stuff i've been trying to figure out for everyone

for the record, at the same time i've also been trying to nail down the other factors that come with a family situation there, like, work statuses of the household, wealth, what time frame i'm working from (it's such a nightmare trying to get a job and own a house in comparison rn...) so i'll talk about that a bit too... and there is also the ever present "do you guys know how fucking Expensive it actually is to stay at a summer camp this long???" thing that unfortunately my very specific brain has me thinking about even though it doesn't matter in Cartoon Land and i simply have a Prablem

(i'm also still learning about some of these terms i use because i have no life experience but i hope this still paints a picture here even if it might not be fully correct...?)

so for lumpus specifically we're looking at

- two parents who aren't particularly young when he's born (my friends not too much older than me talk about their 50+ parents and i'm like What???)

- a span of years where it's still easier to make enough money to own a house and be alright on one good source of income (his father works but i'm not sure what his job is yet... maybe he should go work at the nuclear power plant all homer simpson-style and die ☺️ idk)

- a flashback that i'm working off of where things look pretty average over there (i do still have the idea that the house is a hand-me-down from one of their parents on the table though... in general my brain still tilts to working class in a different era but this is subject to change a bit)

- me having already placed a general area in the state that i've been playing in (i've been eyeing sort of the southwest here but i do need to think about it more and the distance from camp further north)

- at least enough money to be sent to camp for the summer (even if he has to scrounge it up over the year, but i've also been thinking of camp kidney already being a bit different/weird on this front)

- and a character where camp being something of an "escape" for him is actually pretty important

so i don't think he's a country boy, but i also definitely haven't been imagining things directly in the city, so i placed him in the middle zone, which means they're either somewhere in suburbs or a little bit outside of that... not overwhelmingly urban but still not too far. i'm only learning today what i might be thinking is usually called the exurbs, maybe...? i don't have a strong sense of reference for a lot of things so a lot of my thinking is based in places where i've lived... and he very likely may not have a super accessible woods to go and frolic in but maybe the issue is just that he has no one to do it with cus he's an only child with no friends growing up LOL

the Main part of the Escape aspect is still on other factors, i.e. he's lonely at home, his parents fight a lot and his dad's an alcoholic and he has a very complicated relationship with them (you know how it goes), he's not the best in school and gets picked on and in trouble a lot there as well, etc.

and i think it's almost helpful to describe everything in contrast to slinkman's family, which in comparison is a bit easier to pin down. his family is more on the side of upper middle class (?) and they have a good sized house with passive income (father's a landlord) to be comfortable with and are actively involved in their community. they do live in the suburbs just because a mix of the of the type of people they are (his father's a city boy but his mother's on the country end) and cus they do have the privilege to do so. they're able to pay for slinkman to go to college/uni and for lumpus to fuck around over there but for slinkman to still feel like he's leeching off of their support too much... and it's almost that feeling to me when i visit an older relative who's got an actual House, and it's a decent size, its always clean, and there's a spare bedroom or two, and they're always busy or off doing something, and it still feels like they have the money to spare on whatever even if they don't really... to me that's still almost the feeling lumpus gets when he stays with slinkman and his parents for a while LOL

so the difference between their situations at least in translation to today is something like this to me:

To me middle class is staying afloat - you make enough money, can save up for a minor goal like a vacation or even a medium goal like a car down payment but you’d probably finance the car rather than purchase it in cash. A minor emergency or car issue won’t break you but it’ll delay other priorities (like vacation would get delayed by a year)

Upper middle class is making enough to support your day to day life and having a decent amount of excess income to where you can save quite a bit while taking a family vacation a couple of times a year (maybe overseas for a couple of weeks a year). You may be working towards saving for a rental property and investing in a 401k, IRA, and maybe even taxable brokerage account. Rainy day fund is fully funded so you won’t have an issue with regular maintenance on your car or needing braces for the kids.

lumpus' family still struggles at times, is probably in debt in some areas, they don't always have the money for what they want and something like camp becomes an exception (there is definitely still the threat of lumpus worrying he won't be able to go to camp if too much comes up...) and slinkman's family is over here with assets and money to spare even if they can't go crazy... but everything also sort of feeds into slinkman's "it's easier to just follow someone else's lead" thing too, like, his dad is like ''son why don't you go to college for (XYZ)'' and slinkman's like ''ok'' because he literally had his only sense of self aspiration crushed barely a couple of years ago and he has no idea what to do with himself and they'll have the money to do so and so he just sort of goes along with it

anyway. yeah. i have a lot of shit locked and loaded at any given time thank you for the quastion 😁

[usafphantom2]

SAC Crew Dogs: How I Ended Up at Loring AFB, ME

Learning the Loring Shuffle, Check. Seeing -40F, Check. Wear shorts in the spring when the temp was only +40F, Check. Finding out what a Black Fly was, Check. See a moose, Check. See a bear, Check!

We used to say, “What are you going to do? Take away my Birthday? Put me on Alert? Send me to Loring? Sorry, been there, done that, got the T-Shirt!

As a SAC Boom Operator in training, they asked me to list, in order of preference, what bases I would like to be stationed at. They called it the Dream Sheet. You could choose any base you wanted, but they would still send you where people were needed. There really wasn’t much you could do about it, except to lean into it and accept the fact that you were probably going somewhere you normally wouldn’t choose.

I decided to short circuit the system by just choosing the base I figured they’d send me to anyways. I just put Loring AFB at the top. My motto at the time was, “Low expectations will get you everywhere.” It worked too. I knew it would be a terrible place to live, because everybody told me so, but it was only a ten-hour drive from home, so visiting home would be easy and not too expensive.

Of my initial training class of twelve, three of us went to Loring, and the fourth showed up a year later. Leaving California, I drove cross country, stopped at home for some leave time, and I arrived at Loring in December, just in time for the fun.

So, what was I in store for? A lot. I was told once that Loring receives around two hundred inches of snow per year and I have no idea if that number’s accurate, but I do know they get a lot of snow there. The temperatures would drop, and the wind would howl. The plows created monstrous piles of snow that were easily thirty feet tall. Streets became like tunnels due to the snow piled up on the sides.

The parking lot at the Base Exchange (BX) has a very slight slope to it, and in the winter, any slope was something to view with caution, because there was always ice and snow everywhere. Everybody learned to walk in such a way as to not fall and it was called the Loring Shuffle. It wasn’t anything special, you just kind of shuffled along (not to get into politics, but kind of like how our current fearless leader walks.)

I was driving in the BX parking lot, and I saw somebody walking around the back of their car to head into the store, and they had obviously forgotten they were at Loring in the winter, and just a like a cartoon, I saw this person slip, go completely horizontal, hang in the air for a moment, and then fall to the ground, in a very painful way. I couldn’t help it, even though I knew it could and would happen to me, I remember laughing and thinking “Dumb *ss.”

The temperatures could drop very low at times and once, while I was doing a mid-tour Alert changeover, I had to head out to the airplane by myself, at night, when the temperature was -40 ambient, and -80 with the wind chill. For some reason, I didn’t have my heavy gloves with me, so I put on my flight gloves. I got out of the truck and went to the airplane, opened the door, installed the ladder, climbed up, then found my bag, grabbed and reversed course to get back to the truck. The total time outside, maybe three or four minutes, but when I took my nomex gloves off, my hands were white, like they’d been freeze-dried.

When it got colder, down below 15 degrees, it didn’t normally snow. It was too cold. On one of these very cold nights, we were at the NCO Club, and when they finally kicked us out and we went outside, the snow was at least knee deep, but it wasn’t normal snow. When you attempted to walk on it, it just moved out of the way, like fog. The snowflakes were two inches wide and were super lightweight. You could have plowed with a leaf blower. I’ve never seen anything like it since.

Once the ground froze solid and was covered with a solid base of snow, you wouldn’t see it again until late spring. They had a lot of four-way stop signs because it was very common for people to slide through the intersection. You’d hear the horn, and watch somebody slide right through and think, “Dumb *ss, must have just gotten here.” But it wasn’t just the noobs who would slide through stop signs. Sometime, the polished ice before the stop sign would be fifty yards long and if you were going more than five miles per hour, you were going through.

They didn’t use salt on the roads. Too cold, but they did use sand and that would help. And when it got really cold, the snow would get crunchy and you actually had good traction in a car, or when walking (as long as you didn’t hit a patch of ice.)

Of the three of us that showed up together, one of my buddies had purchased a 4-wheel drive Chevy S-10 and when we had snowstorms, if we weren’t busy, the three of us would hop in his truck and head out to see what was going on. It was probably a foolish thing to do, like a Hurricane Party, but we did it often (there were lots of blizzards) and we always had a blast. We usually got stuck once or twice and just dug ourselves out and continued. We had a lot of fun doing that.

As you would expect, snowmobiles were a big thing. I bought one and had a lot of fun with it. They had groomed paths that were like roads. Rumor had it that if you crossed over into Canada, they could take to snowmobile trails all the way to the west coast. In Maine though, there were no speed limits, no helmet laws, and no drinking while sledding laws, and we took advantage. A typical trip involved heading out to a local lake, visiting a restaurant to warm up and have a beer, and then head out to the next lake, which would have its own restaurant. You did have to be careful on the lakes because they would get frost heaves, where the ice would shift and rise, sometimes up to a foot. If you were unlucky enough to be headed in the wrong direction it was like hitting a brick wall, and we had a few people who were injured that way.

If you were to think of any normal task you do and think about how long it took to do, at Loring in the winter it would take at least twice as long. The car had to be warmed up, if it started. Walking to your car took longer because you didn’t want to end up on your *ss. Pushing a shopping cart full of groceries to your car? Yeah, fat chance, better drive up to the door. Same thing on the airplane too. Getting to the airplane, warming up the airplane, doing the pre-flight, all those things took much longer to do, and it made a difference.

During the winter, the roads covered with snow would naturally be straightened out by the drivers. When spring came along, it was like everything moved. You couldn’t cut the corners off of curves anymore because if you tried to drive over the grass, you’d sink into the mud. When the rivers started to thaw, ice flows were always in danger of getting blocked and causing severe flooding. Overflowing rivers with huge chunks of ice weighing many tons were extremely destructive and had no problem tearing down bridges, houses, or anything else that got in their way.

When the temperatures got into the 40s and 50s it felt so warm, people would wear shorts. I know, crazy right, but it really did feel warm. And then… the black flies appeared. Those little bastards would bite you, but you wouldn’t feel it, until you felt the blood running along your skin. They were very small, and the bites didn’t hurt, but they were relentless. We called the Black Fly the Maine State Bird.

The cold weather, long hours of darkness in winter, and the isolation had another side effect though. People would hang out together. The boom operators would hang out together often, not just the single guys, but the married ones too. We were drawn together by the circumstances, and we got to know each other. The squadrons were closer too. We always had something to share because we were all stuck and if nothing else, you could always talk about the weather.

For all the suffering the weather created, going to Loring AFB was probably one of the best decisions I’ve made in my entire life.

Photos:

My 67 Mustang frozen solid

My buddy’s truck, spinning all four wheels on the ice

The runway and main taxi way at Loring in the winter

@tcamp202 via X

[suomeen]

Chapter 5: Finnishing the Year

As the year was coming to an end, we finally moved into our new apartment in a 5-story municipal building. The house is rather simple, though it has all one might need, with a storage space outside and a laundry room in the basement. There are Finns living there but a lot of the apartments are owned by the city to house refugees or immigrants so there are a lot of Ukrainians, as well as people from Arabic countries and South East Asia.

The apartment is spacious, has 2 bedrooms and a larger living room. When we first arrived, there was basically nothing in it. Just beds and closets and a starter kit of cheap cutlery, plastic plate and glass, and a few pans. A bit later we also got a few chairs and bedside tables, as well as a kitchen table. The beds are very uncomfortable but it’s better than sleeping in the corridor and waking up from explosions. It was almost strange to feel so safe.

Sharing a tiny room with your mother in your 30s is not exactly ideal. Having my own room is probably what I miss the most. In a situation like that, you soon realize that privacy is a luxury. The inherent lack of privacy was exacerbated by the fact that without much furniture, carpets or curtains, the acoustics were way too good. You couldn’t make a sound without the whole apartment knowing. The bathroom is a fucking echo chamber. To make a private call, people go outside. You can always see someone hanging out in the yard with their phones. And its not great when it’s cold as fuck outside.

The city itself has a population of just 60k. But then Finland is not a big country with only 5 million people overall. So, a city of over 50k is sizeable. It’s not exactly small in terms of area either, as most of the houses have just 1 floor and the buildings are rather sparse. It looks like a forest anywhere you go. The problem is our block is quite far from the city center so to get literally anywhere you need to walk at least 40 minutes. You can take the bus but it costs 3e and doesn’t go everywhere and only at certain hours. No buses after 6 pm and on Sundays. The city is designed for cars. Or, at the very least, bikes. If you walk to a shop through an industrial zone, you’re probably not gonna meet a single person for miles. At least our house has a big supermarket right next to it.

When we arrived to settle in, there was already another dweller. A young woman named Lina who took the other bedroom. She was a German teacher, polite but sociable. We hit it off surprisingly well.  Our first order of business was to try and make this place feel at least a little bit like home the best we could and navigate this wondrous new territory.

The NY eve was wild. Sure, we used to have fireworks in Kyiv, but they went off at midnight and only lasted for about 5 minutes. We don’t have them since the war started. Fireworks sound just like explosions, you know.  Here, the fireworks began at 6 PM and went on till after midnight. There were hundreds of them going off all around us. they never stopped. It was insane. As the day wrapped up, the 3 of us sat down in the kitchen. We didn’t even have proper drinks because we learned too late that you can’t just buy alcohol in Finland. The supermarkets don’t sell anything over 5%. For that you have to go to one of the Alko shops and there are just 4 of them in town. Besides, the alcohol is also very expensive. We drank a few cans of cheap beer and called it a night.

[awakened-human-design]

I WAS A MILLENIAL ON A SPIRITUAL QUEST

How would you like to get started on learning Human Design?

????? what the heck is that ??????

My Story

In December 2017, I was on a call with one of my teachers from the group Trillium Awakening. They asked me for my birthday, time and place of birth, and sent me my Human Design body graph. They talked about how I was a projector, and they were too, how it was a rare type, and that I had a lot of open centers, meaning, I was really open to conditioning from the outside world.

They suggested I check it out and some of its free resources. A small tool too accelerate my spiritual process. Which, by the way, could take up to 7 years.

I *WAS* A 20?Something ON A SPIRITUAL QUEST: 

THE VICTIM STORY

Yikes! This is cool, but heck if I had the time or money for more of that!

I hardly had enough money to pay for our weekly group calls in a women’s circle - that put a price beyond compare - but stretched me, even at the discounted rate they offered.

No one in my family had put money into spiritual or personal development work, while I was knee-deep in the stuff. To be honest, I didn’t really feel like I had a choice.

Doing work on spiritual development was a choice between “This stuff is so expensive. If I do this I won’t have any money and I will die” and “This stuff is absolutely what I need at this point in my life and that the world needs to evolve so if I don’t do this…I will also die.”

So? It was, as one of my teacher’s Marc Gafni would call, an erotic double-bind.

I made the choice to go knee-deep in work towards spiritual evolution.

I left the teaching world and I worked in the “gig economy.”

My resume had 5 different education companies.

I worked between 1-40 hours a week, and spent half of it driving.

For months at a time I did what I loved - working with kids - and had no “boss” to call me to the office.

Sounds good, right?

Finally free from educational institutions, I saw how life really worked in people’s homes. I saw the truth of District public and charter schools, and, no matter where I went, I taught kids in the way that felt good to me.

Of course, not everything ended well, and some parents and classroom teachers asked me to *get out* on the first day! But…the recognition of my abilities as a teacher *direct* and *instantaneous.* The progress of the children showed in their creativity.

Let’s get real though about this so-called “gig economy” that promised millennials freedom. No boss meant no W-2. No health insurance. No retirement plan. No coffee breaks. No co-workers.

The road was lonely.

Between driving to tutor or babysit kids at their home, substitute teach at a random school in Maryland, or attend a retreat in New Jersey, I started to feel less like a teacher and more like a truck driver. I took up bad habits that I never imagined as a yogi. I ate protein bars with more sugar than a Snickers and smoked the more the occasional American Spirit that even listening to Adi Da podcasts could not save me from.

I felt sad - but who else could see me but myself?

Some of my friends from my “previous life” no longer spoke to me. I felt ashamed I had left the active lifestyle I once had of biking, walking and yoga, but I knew I could not afford it. I paid for retreats by offering to cook batch meals for the sangha.

I lived in a basement apartment in a house owned by an electronic musician that hosted bands from all over the country. My next door neighbor was an indie musician as well with a great wardrobe and occasional clothing swaps with her New Zealand friends. My closest friend made her own jewelry and tye-die. Two blocks away from the thrift store! So… Major perk - getting to listen to and play music on the reg. and get free, cute clothes. Major downside - working all the time with hardly enough cash to pay the rent to show for my good deeds, and sometimes looking “woke up like this” and other time looking like I hadn’t changed out of my pajamas.

OKAY…SO WHAT IS THIS HUMAN DESIGN STUFF AND HOW DID YOU LEARN IT

Okay, cool. So back to the start of the story. My teacher gave me a tool and I don’t think I looked at it for two years.

But then …. the covid, the lockdowns, the confinement , and suddenly we all had no where to go, everywhere to be (on Zoom) and time, too much of it.

How was I ever going to ‘be’ someBODY?

I won’t go into the depth of “the lockdown” story because at this point, we all have one.

But lockdown story did not produce the kind of “free time” that one might really hope for, unless, of course, you enjoy “free time” like a character from a Albert Camus novel.

Coincidantalment**, I spent the entire time of “confinement” in two foreign

No exit. Like - am I ever going to get out of this? Am I ever going to escape this like square box my form is trapped inside of, speaking to people in a language no one understands?

Okay. I am going to revisit this Human Design stuff. I am going to learn a language that describes the programming of the human body.

No, this isn’t some weird genetic altering stuff. Au, the contrarie!

A system of empowerment that came along at the right time.

When we are, as David A Temple puts it posed between utopia and dystopia. We are getting the call to know ourselves - NOW - in a progressively globalizing and demanding world. And not just globalizing in terms of ��oh maybe this bag of chips I’m eating right now came from a Uyghur death camp and perhaps its made of sawdust.” Okay…maybe that too…but really…Globalizing in terms of the planet - the “PLAN-(N)ET” - has a plan to catch us and we best follow her word…or…else.

TO POPPY-SEED QUEEN CURING HER ADDICTIONS: A HEROINE’S JOURNEY

So I spent…every day of French class, every morning, looking at the transits (both astro and HD), recording my dreams, reading my graph, reading the Cross of the day, the Gate, drawing the iChing…taking a university-levelcourse on iChing…ok…maybe there was some magic involved…and many sleepless nights…and…yes…going down to the depths of the bottom of the bottom…the rabbit hole…the worm hole…the brain hole…you name it…its the the “dark night of the soul “ and there ain’t no batman to help you sidekick robin so you better be the hero of your own story and save the day.

I can tell you. I’ve been there. There’s no going back. 

…..*di di di di*** the song of “why do I like Human Design so much” ***do do do do**….

1- TRANSPARENT AND EASY AS F**** TO LEARN

I like Human Design because it is a very transparent system. If you’ve gotten a reading in astrology or tarot, the “method” or “magic” is usually a little hidden from the person receiving the reading. This is more “Teach yourself your Self” and a reader is more like a guide.

Like a contractor explaining the blueprint of a house from the day it was built. You might not of had the tools to build the house - but you get it. The plan is clear.

It’s not like Enneagram or Myers-Briggs where you take a quiz and find out a type, only to have it change again half-way through your life. Those tools of human development are well and good (but are subjective), and you should use those too. But that’s not what this is.

This system starts with the objective.

And then you have to test it out.

2 - the 100% USE FOR 100%…KIDS

This system, for as weird as the origin story may appear, was built by a teacher. It was built for children and the generations to come.

Anyone who has ever been a teacher (*and hopefully left the profession because they KNOW how the conditioning is happening) for kids under 7 can SEE how easily children and manipulated and cohereced into a “not-Self” program.

They are literally “programmed” to not-love themselves! The sh*t people are paying beaucoup bucks for to *fix* them later in life!

So let’s cut that s-t out before it beings. Let’s raise a generation of kids who don’t need to go to therapy when they grow up to un-do all the trauma that came from their conditioning.

And for you - “grown up” let’s help you re-parent your inner child.

(People always told me I needed to do that. I had no idea how, or the privilege, I felt, to do it.)

Let’s help you learn to “be alone” with your “Self” as you already are - whole.

3 - IS THIS A RELIgION?

Okay, let’s talk religion - if you grew up Christian (like “me” yay****) confirmed in the Christian church…yadda yadda…you probably have SOME trauma from that stuff. Don’t really care if you go to church every Sunday, are a flat-out atheist or extreme right..some body has GOT to say it…

Everything you have been brought up believe is not the meaning of the Christ.

With a little toe-dipping into esoteric Christianity…

The current image of “Jesus on the Cross” is no more than a sacrificial lamb that has you totally tricked into thinking you need to “die” (to the empire) in order to be “saved.”

No. You are a unique balance of light and dark. Although these do move in the 4 directions, they do not always look like a perfect “cross.” More on that later. 

BUT The beauty of it …is also that THERE IS a cross. And you can understand it. And you can be and become your own Christ. 

Your own Savior. And take back the power into your own life.

I don’t care if you can name me every book of gospel or if you tell me that Jesus was a historical figure or in fact never lived and is a myth in our imagination. Or if Jesus is coming back down from the heavens tomorrow so repent your sinners or oh shit maybe the world really *IS* on fire and maybe the highest court in the land (the UN) and now has “Inner Development Goals” and realizing that maybe infrastructure is not just made of things. It’s made of people. Who hurt. Who feel. Who laugh. Who cry. And is telling people that maybe they should consider working on themselves. 

In other words: It’s not just the third world world that needs supported. 

I’m not even sure if this has everything or nothing to do with a guy named Zeus with a big white beard who lives in the sky (although, I have had a couple teachers with big white beards that could compete quite fairly with Grandaddy Marx see “The Stoa” for reference)…but I do know this has everything to do with YOU and your unfolding FATE and DESTINY to live a radical life among the stars.

 Yeah…there. I said it. 

I’m prothetlytizing on the sidewalk sweeties and its time to convert.

Burn me for it. It’s okay. 

Joan was a 5/1. She dressed up as a boy.

They canonized her has a saint. 

Let’s see what the rest of us can do. 

OKAY….NOW I’M THE BAD GUY BECAUSE…

This knowledge is not free. So I do charge.

It’s an Interior Science. No one will do it for you.

It takes time. You have to test it out for yourself.

Let me ask you this: If you didn’t have a story before…do you have one now?

Try Human Design. 

My Design - A Poem

I’m a Savior, but not a Saint.

But the crisis is urgent. And the task is real.

There’s a Devil in command, and I’ve trained him to be quiet.

Wearing masks, playing charades, yet we know it’s all a game. 

Yes, it’s all an illusion of MAIA. She’s the goddess. The veil of illusion.

She’s written these words and she’s ended my confusion. 

Her values will break you apart and make you whole again.

Come home, and be your Self. No one else will do it for you. 

————-

 ~*~ b3 @uTh3nTiC ~*~

**Spell check (?) You can send me a French dictionary later

***HD uses Kabbalah, iChing, Western Astrology, and the Chakra system.  

**** For the Americans out there, Labour Day in the rest of the world is May 1st

[royalacademyajman]

Why More Parents Are Choosing CBSE Schools in Ajman

If you’re a parent living in Ajman, chances are you’ve already had that “school talk” with other families. It usually starts with a simple question - “Where have you enrolled your kids?” And more often than not, the answer you hear is a CBSE school.

That might seem like a trend, but there’s more to it than just following the crowd.

For many Indian families here, CBSE isn’t just another curriculum. It’s what we grew up with. We know how it works. The textbooks, the grading, the board exams - it's all familiar territory. That kind of familiarity brings a lot of comfort when you're raising kids in a foreign country.

It Feels Like Home, Academically Speaking

Let’s be real - adjusting to a new place is hard enough. Kids miss their cousins, grandparents, and even the school snacks back home. So, having a school system that feels familiar? That helps a lot. CBSE schools offer that structure, and for most of us, that’s huge. It’s not just about what’s taught - it’s how it’s taught.

You know what to expect. Class 10 board? Class 12 board? No surprises. You’re already mentally prepared as a parent. And the kids, especially if they’ve moved from India recently, find it easier to settle in.

Why Not Just Go for International Curriculums?

Sure, international syllabi like IB and British curriculum sound fancy. But they’re also expensive. And not every child adapts easily to different styles of learning. Some of us just want a solid academic foundation without having to pay a fortune. That’s where CBSE schools in Ajman offer a good middle path.

What I Keep Hearing from Other Parents

I’ve had these chats over chai, while waiting outside for pickup, and even during weekend meetups. The reasons I hear are usually the same:

“It’s easier if we move again - CBSE is everywhere.”

“We’re planning for Indian colleges later.”

“It’s what we’re used to.”

Nobody’s trying to be trendy. Parents just want something steady. Something proven.

Not Just About Exams

People often say CBSE is too academic. Maybe it was, once. But schools these days try to balance it out. Kids are getting more chances to join in activities, explore hobbies, speak on stage, and play sports. It’s not perfect, but it’s getting there. And as a parent, you do see the change.

Some Advice If You’re Still Deciding

Don’t just go by rankings or polished brochures. Visit the schools. Talk to the teachers. Ask other parents - not just the happy ones, but also the critical ones. Every child is different. What works for mine might not work for yours.

And yes, not all CBSE schools are equal. Some are more rigid, and some are more open-minded. But overall, the system offers a good mix of discipline, familiarity, and affordability.

Final Word

At the end of the day, choosing the best CBSE schools in Ajman is personal. But for Indian families in Ajman, CBSE seems to hit the sweet spot between cultural connection, solid academics, and practicality. It’s not hype - it’s just what fits.

[mongolian-in-paris-2024]

Week 1

My first week in Paris started off with me getting my accreditation and going to the NOC Service Center of the Olympic Village.

I waited in the rain for maybe an hour, but I guess it was my fault for not going to the right place for volunteer accreditation. Still got it end though.

I called Victoria, my supervisor, a couple of times before figuring out what I was supposed to be doing or where I was supposed to be going. Anyway, after about 2 hours of hassling about, I got into the village. At the time things were still being set up and a lot of the countries' delegation hadn't arrived yet so things were surprisingly calm. Damien gave the volunteers there a quick rundown of what we do and a tour of the village for us. (Thank you, Damien)

I quickly realized how much stuff I had to learn if I was going to be useful at the information desk. The NOC transport guide alone was over a 200 page pdf.

Here's how it looked on that day.

Tried some kebab as a small celebration because I love kebab back home.

Pretty good, but less sauce and vegetables than I was used to. The fries were great though.

There were some surprising things I noticed about Paris. The people really do place an importance on small talk (saying bonjour, merci, etc.) Otherwise you get kind of weird looks.

Cars actually stop for pedestrians, which was a surprise that led to awkward encounters when I would wait for a car to pass first, like I would in Mongolia, just for the car to wait for me to cross. Then I kind of had to do a half-run to show I respect their time.

And there were some things that reminded me of home. Like the fact they smoke anywhere outside or piss on the streets at night or jaywalk constantly. The jaywalking I understand since there's not much cars around in the first place and there's really no reason to wait for a car that's not there. But the smoking and the piss reminded me of my home city, Ulaanbaatar.

On Day 2, went to an E.Leclerc to buy some stuff to make sandwiches. The baguette there was ridiculously cheap, only 0.38 euro.

In general, the cheapest food I could get that wasn't from a supermarket was the 5 euro deals at fast food chains like McDonald's or KFC. Which mind you is still expensive for Mongolians. I kept thinking I could get 4 pirozhki or khuushuur or mantuun buuz for a little over 2 euro. And 2 of those things could easily hold you over till dinner.

Then on day 5, I went out to see the Eiffel tower, and Notre Dame de Paris. Got lost in the city center and actually enjoyed myself being lost. I'll be honest, I did not think the Eiffel tower was that big. I could still see it after going like 2 or 3 kilometers away from it. Got some of the better shots of the tower from those places since there weren't too many people there.

Notre Dame de Paris is my favorite musical (I must've watched and listened to it over a dozen times), so seeing the actual building was pretty special for me.

On day 6, I made cinnamon rolls and bought some more stuff for sandwiches. The cinnamon rolls didn't turn out great because apparently French salted butter is salted to high heaven. So instead of being a nice caramelized sweet roll, it became a salty bun.

Tried pain au chocolat and baguettes here for the first time as well. In the evening went out to a place for an international speaker meet-up. Met some friendly people there and ended up doing karaoke with them until midnight.

On day 7, came to my position late, couldn’t wake up that early (slept late like an idiot). Went to a chess café which I heard about from the night out before. Met an American dude that made music and was a chess coach. Got my ass handed to me by everyone, including him, but one person I did manage to beat. Played 3 minute games OVB (over the board) for the first time. Surprised myself with how I was managing my time decently.

The following is the general layout of the village. It really is like it's own little village with all its different service centers and its own public transport. The athletes were only allowed stay for the duration of them actually competing, so as the games continued the athletes changed. At some point the average height of the village increased because the basketball players came. Saw the American team there for a bit when they visited. Unfortunately not a huge fan of basketball so their presence was not as big a deal as maybe it should've been according to a few of my friends.

There was a Volunteer center, NOC center, Sports Information center, Fitness center, the different lodgings for the different countries' athletes. And that's not even mentioning the kitchens, dining halls, and recreational zones.

[iwritefeelings]

27.06.2024

It's been more than two years since my last blog. I don't really come here often except when I needed an escape from reality. I can't say I enjoy going through my brain dump when I was five to ten years younger - it's an awkward phase; lots of cringe and no sense drama. But hey, this is my secret refuge! Why??? Maybe there's comfort in knowing that "this too shall pass" and that "things will get better." After all, what felt like carrying a big boulder then seems just carrying a stone in my pocket now.

Life hasn't been great lately, but it's not too bad either. It's just right. Nothing too grand to celebrate. But there are little moments of joy to still make you want to live. I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I'm bored of the stability. I have a decent job that pays enough to get me through the next month and invest a little for the future. But am I hopeful for the future? I don't know. I question myself a lot lately, "what's next after I pay off my mortgage?" I said I wanted to retire by forty-five, and just take history, psychology, or art appreciation courses. But do I really want that?

When you stripped me off my job, I'm naked. It's hard to admit that I don't have life outside work. And it's not like I'm even great at work. I practically gave up the workaholic badge because it drained me like a lemon squeezed out of its juice. And with that gone, what's left of me?

I have a very loving and caring partner. We've been together for 14 or so years now. I'm not exaggerating when I say he's the best one could ever ask for. He's smart, kind, good looking, and a people person. But he's just too great! He does so well in almost everything. I'm proud of all that he's achieved and I'm sure there's much more in the future. But I wonder, is he ever proud of me?

I've been living abroad for 6+ years now. I don't come home often because flights are too expensive. There was a time I haven't been home in 3 years - mainly because of the pandemic but mostly because of money. I feel guilty for taking out-of-the-country trips but never home. But to my defense, my entire trip sometimes cost just a few bucks more than my flight home. And it's a new place! I love going home, but sometimes I feel like an outsider. I don't know where people kept things anymore. I have to watch and learn. I can't figure how to turn on the tv. I'm too shy to check the fridge when I get hungry at middle of the night. I've become a guest in my own home. Do they think of me as that too?

I don't have friends.

Five or ten years from now, I only hope I read this and laugh at myself just as how I laugh at my younger self now. The questions of today's what's next would be tomorrow's what's become. I don't feel excited, but we go with the flow. At least we're stable.

[saratravel]

Hey! It's Rīga!

Rīga is the capital city of Latvia, and my 3rd capital of this trip (of FIVE, holy moly). I'm really racking up my streak of "country captials I've visited before I've visited my own country's capital" 🤐 I think I'm up to seven.... and now I think of it, I haven't been to any of the capitals on my home continent, even- I only saw Guadalajara, Mexico and Vancouver, Canada 🫣🫣 Oh well, future trips for future Sara.

Rīga has a really different history to all the places I've visited so far. As it was under Germany for a long time, much of its Old Town was owned by Germans. Then, before the Nazis came in, they told those Germans it may be a good time to leave the area, so they just up and left. The buildings that stayed were all empty and eventually became random stuff around town, so there's a lot of bars, clubs, tattoo shops, etc, etc, right in the Old Town area. Additionally, there's not too many locals living in Old Town, so it's pretty much all tourists.

The buildings, while gorgeous, are all post WWII reconstructions made throughout the 20th century all the way up to 1999 reconstruction of the House of the Blackheads, which was historically (in the 15th century) where all the young bachelorsbstayed as they were learning their business trades and were generally being ruffians.

In fact, it is said that the first decorated Christmas tree came from the Brotherhood of the Blackheads guild after they got so wasted on Christmas that they ended up putting food in the trees. The magic of Christmas, truly.

Here's some pics from around Old Town.

These next buildings are the Three Brothers, which was another example of the 1950s Soviet reconstruction of older architecture styles. The facades represent three different types of architecture that were used in various points of history there. It currently houses the State Inspection for Heritage Protection and the Latvian Architecture Museum. The guide joked that the first thing they do when someone says they want to restore a historical piece of land is take them outside, point to their own building, and instruct them not to do that.

Here is an example of a building that has not been restored yet. It is very expensive to do so accurately to preserve the history (and not get UNESCO status taken away) so some stand like this today.

Due to its pretty European reconstructed buildings, Rīga has been used as a filming spot for a number of movies and shows. The one I learned about on this tour was the Soviet version of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson from 1979. It was very popular in the USSR and even got its approval from the Doyle estate for its accurate characterization of Holmes. Rīga was used to film Baker Street. Close enough, I guess. Here's the show (first episode at least is available on YouTube with English subtitles) and the picture of the street I took today. I watched about a third of the first episode over lunch, and I gotta say it is really quite good. The character dynamic between Holmes and Watson is excellent. I plan on watching as much as I can find when I get home.

I learned about the history of the Rīga Old Town square, which is famous for its Christmas Market during the opposite side of the year cycle. It was created by a Latvian dictator, Karlīs Umanis, who really just wanted a space to stand and watch military demonstrations, so he demanded the destruction of 90% of Old Town in the interwar period. However, only 25% of it was taken down when WWII started and interrupted the project.

Anyway, that's all well and interesting, but the wildest part about this is that the Latvian dictator graduated from the UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA?? HUH??

Turns out, he fled the Soviets at one point, studied agriculture in Nebraska, and then later used that degree to get him a job as dictator of Latvia. Who'd have thunk.

He, of course, got beaten out by the Soviets and was shipped off to somewhere as a prisoner. He died, and no one really knows where his grave is.

After the tour, I grabbed a coffee, bought some postcards, and walked in the rain back to my hotel. I had checked the weather before I left so I had my raincoat on me. Still, my socks, shoes, and pants got pretty wet, so I took a while to dry off and eat lunch in my hotel room before the final excursion. Around 2, I headed in the opposite direction to a Saturday market in Kalnciema quarter, a suburb of Rīga. I meant to stay a while, maybe buy a bracelet and snack on some stuff, but I quickly found an upcycled top that called to me and I blew more money than I intended all at once so I ran quickly back to the hotel with my prize and nothing else to keep myself from bleeding dry.

I am now the proud owner of this funky oversized top about cowboys in Arizona, stitched together by a women in Latvia 😂😂 it's so stinking cute and the woman and I chatted about Arizona, the Baltics, amd upcycled clothes (I was wearing my upcycled flannel from the Tempe thrift shop, Rocket A GoGo). It was a great time!

[greenlodgecypher]

Cypher Editorial and Update

by Adria

How things have changed. The community of a person, the society they live in, hasn't disappeared in the modern day; it's moved on.

We made our own communities. We published our manifestos of what we love. We found our own people. Haven't we, here, sought out the creativity and creations of others in our lives? Shared our enjoyments and mutual love? Isn't the Internet an echo of our cries to one another? Surely there is a future there! I hope so. But I wonder if those things can last. How long will a website be maintained? What, when they leave? E-mails can fall silent. Chat rooms die. The friends you have may not bother to stay in contact. There are so many things worth loving that will fall into obscurity. Getting specialty items is hard when they were published years ago and will never be again. There are so many films that have no proper release in this country, or in this time. Home video is an increasingly lacking medium. What will return on DVD? What callous license-holder will simply sit on their hoard of art that, though beloved to us, means nothing save a margin to them? How many passages of some soundtrack must I remember, and be fated never to hear again? It is all water in our hands. The Ensor Zone can be a strange place. People thought that it was rural, safe, and satisfyingly isolated yet conveniently close to the more commercially developed places in the state. But it is insular. Isolationist. It is part of a diverse state, yet people act as if it has nothing to do with the rest of that community. It has a lot of expensive estates, yet it also feels like it's full of houses and places that are slowly decaying away (yes, even before this year). The farm history is disappearing. Who now knows that the area was known for a women's jousting competition as recently as the 30s? Who learns the dark histories of the locale? That north of the Line, people were kidnapped and taken back here to be enslaved? Who remembers the early industry here? The clear-cut fields? How the world has changed. We remember so little of this, as a community. But what community is there? Even before we started having to move, what continuity of culture? Now that there are major pressures to leave, we find that these communities melt away into nothing. There is nowhere back and nowhere forward to move. Those with the money can leave. Families with ties elsewhere, perhaps. Those without any of this are dependent on the goodwill of an increasingly more hapless government to make do. They wanted me to cut that sentence. I don't care what Compliance wants anymore. I'm sending in this print file and they can shut me down for all I care. These things may be only a fig leaf, a remnant of the idea that anything can be done at all. There may be no future. I have a confession to make to you all. Gillian, my partner in the Cypher, has been submitting her articles from Wollstone, and soon may be leaving the state entirely. Her departure is due to several reasons, not the least the growing problems in our area. Kino may be moving to California, after the loss of their stock. Meanwhile, there is a new circle of trees on the field above my family home, where there were no trees before. We're having the yard inspected again shortly. I don't want to leave, but I may need to in the end. Remediation doesn't leave much behind. Because we could not leave before, and because inspections are starting to be made outside the Zone, there may be no more aid for us. There may be no Cypher next month. I don't think I can see this through. Surely, I tell you again, there is a future. But I don't know if I believe it myself.

[workpermitz]

Breakdown Of Living Cost In The UK While Working Under Work Permit

The United Kingdom is one of the most popular destinations on the globe. Professionals from all over the world are drawn here by the robust economy and abundance of employment prospects. 

You may be aware of the cost involved in the UK visa application. However, other than that, there are also some other expenses that you need to consider before moving to the UK. 

Due to factors like high housing costs and wage rates, the cost of living in the UK is relatively higher than other countries. 

Keep reading this article to get a detailed analysis of the cost of living in the UK. 

What Is the Cost of Transportation in the UK?

The majority of public transit in the UK is controlled by private businesses, with little to no influence from the government. As a result, it is quite expensive. You can get a regular monthly pass for £ 65 whereas a one-way ticket for local transport can cost you £ 2.5. Buses and trains are owned by private companies; hence they are slightly pricey. A monthly bus pass can cost you £ 160. 

What Is the Cost of Accommodation in the UK?

Depending on where you live and the kind of housing you have, the average rent in the UK will vary. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is £758 (about $1000 USD) in the city and £614 (around $810 USD) outside of it. 

If your energy bills are covered by the rent, the amount can be higher. Nevertheless, if you opt to share your apartment, the cost of living and utilities will be reduced by 50%.

What Is the Cost of Food and Groceries in the UK?

You can effectively control your expenses if you avoid eating at expensive restaurants. Instead, cook your own meals. You can get basic food items in the UK for a minimal cost. 

For instance, one bread packet will cost you £ 0.97 whereas you can get rice and vegetables for £ 2. 11. Additionally, you can buy dairy products like milk and cheese for £ 0.92 and £ 5.57. Lastly, chicken and eggs will cost you somewhere around £ 7.37. 

What Is the Cost of Entertainment and Recreation in the UK?

Living in the UK also involves entertainment and other recreational activities. It is beneficial to engage in some leisure activities to expand your social network, tour the nation, and discover the culture and people in greater depth. 

Here's a list of different recreational activities and their costs - 

Movies - £ 9 - £ 15

Amusement parks - £ 40

Fast food - £ 6 

Sports - £ 10 - £ 20 

Concerts - £ 40 - £ 50 

Clubs and pubs - £ 10 - £ 40

Coffee shops - £ 3 -  £ 4

West End theatres - more than £ 25 

Which Are Some of The Affordable Cities To Live In The UK?

Some of the affordable cities to live in the UK are Durham, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Sterling, Belfast, Norwich, Nottingham, Cardiff, Coventry, Lincoln, and Warwick. 

What Are Some Of The Ways In Which One Can Minimize The Cost Of Living In The UK?

Living in the UK can burn a hole in your pocket. However, here are some ways in which you can save some money and live comfortably in the UK. Let us learn more about these ways in detail. 

Live In an Affordable Place

The most important factor affecting the cost of living in the UK is the place where you live. Here you can find places with higher to lower costs of living. To save money, you can opt to stay in a relatively cheaper place. Some of the pocket-friendly places to live in the UK are Sterling, Lincoln, Liverpool, Warwick, Manchester, Lancaster, etc. 

Cut Down the Transit Expenses

Transportation in the UK is expensive since it is governed by the private sector. However, you can reduce your travel expenses by using a travel card. A commuter oyster card is also available. However, the best strategy is to compare the prices online and choose the best alternative for you. 

Eat Home-Cooked Meals  

This can save a lot of your money as the restaurants in the UK are quite expensive and cost you somewhere around £ 40 - £ 50. 

What Are the Other Miscellaneous Costs Involved? 

The other miscellaneous costs include food, television, internet, mobile plans, taxes, and other services. In the UK, it is mandatory for you to possess a TV license to watch TV even on your computers or tablets. For colour television, you will be charged approximately £ 158 annually and £ 53 for black and white TVs. 

You may also need to get a local phone number while you are staying in the UK. Using mobile phone services can cost you somewhere around £ 15 to £ 50 per month. The housekeeping charges are £ 160 - £ 200 per month, and bills including gas, electricity, and water will cost you £ 40 - £ 50 per month. 

What Is the Cost of Visa Renewal in the UK?

Now that you are staying in the UK as an immigrant, you need to renew your visa after a given interval of time. You are required to renew your UK visa after every 2.5 years. The cost for the UK visa renewal is £ 2593. 

If you wish to extend your UK work visa, you may be charged £ 719 per person for a 3 years extension and £ 1,423 per person for more than 3 years. 

The cost of living in the UK lies in a slightly higher price range. However, with effective planning of your expenses, you can comfortably live in the UK as an immigrant. However, as an immigrant, apart from expenses during your stay, you also need to take care of uk visa renewal costs. These costs may vary depending upon whether you have a skilled worker visa or any type of visa. 

[occupyasgard]

Hey! I can't reply to this but I go to cons and sell here and there (not as my main source of income) but this is what I'd suggest:

Typically you want your display to be vertical rather than flat on the table. There's a good handful of people who use their max height displaying things because you can't really go sideways. A lot of people do it on their table top while others use photo backdrop stands and display behind them. Doing a test setup before you get there is super helpful!

Each con is really different in terms of what quantities you need. It's a frustrating answer but it's true. It varies based on items too. Some people find bringing 10-12 of an item (like a poster) is plenty but sometimes lower priced items go even faster (or slower depending on what's popular). It's a learning curve that changes from person to person.

When I do commissions at conventions, I have a sample commission to show, my commission supplies, and a notebook to take commission notes and contact info in. I only do commissions if I have a helper or the con is slow enough I could handle them and selling by myself. If it's your first time doing commissions at a convention, start slow with one or two and put your sign advertising commissions away while you learn what your pace is. What could take me 20-30 minutes at home takes me an hour to an hour and a half at conventions because of the people I'm talking to. I've found for me, doubling my time and texting people when their commission is done works best. I also put the finished commission on the table in a clear sleeve with the customer's name on it so people can see additional examples while I'm waiting for pick up.

If a con has setup the night before the first day and you can make it, it's a nice thing to do. It takes pressure off yourself to set up day of. Doing a practice run of your display is really helpful if you do setup day of. Typically it takes me an hour and a half to two hours to make my display the way I like it.

Business cards go really fast! A lot of people have switched to a QR code on their table with their contact info. I use a QR code and give business cards away with purchases or when I network. Cheap business cards with white space are GREAT to have on hand to give to people who say they'll be back because you can write your booth number on them and it's easier for someone to find you on a big showroom floor. (Or just to write a quick thank you).

Having snacks and water is so important! Con food can be expensive and you're going to be there for most of the day. Some places don't allow outside food, but I haven't really had any issue bringing things in as a vendor unless I bring it in while the show is going and through the general admission entrance.

I personally haven't done cons outside my country but I have flown to them and packing any paper items (like posters or stickers) in my carry on helps with the weight requirements because those are usually the heaviest items. I know from a con friend that some countries make you pay taxes on any merchandise you travel with regardless of whether or not you sell it. Sometimes you can mail things to your hotel to avoid that cost and just pay taxes on what you sell instead.

On the theme of taxes, in US at least, when taxes are due varies from state to state. Some states require taxes be paid at the end of the event and the convention staff will collect it or a state employee will come around to collect it. Always make sure to get a receipt for any taxes paid. Sometimes those that collect it are volunteers. I've never had my tax payments lost or misplaced but it's always good to have the paperwork.

Hey! If you’re an artist who frequently goes to / sells at cons I’d love to know some of your pro advise for a simple first timer artist alley table set up!

Stuff like:

What are the goodies I should focus on to bring over (and in what quantities)

How to smoothly take commissions

Any advise if I’m flying in from another country?

Also if you encountered me at a con what sort of items you’d like me to have?

Thank you!

[dyedcomrade]

Dark! Nikolai Zinoviev

i almost vomited in my mouth with every word written, but i gotta let the trauma out

edit: i am sorry for anyone having to read my unbetad version. also this partly was inspired by my cravings for cookies my mom makes sometimes.

tw: misoginy

dark Nikolai where he takes you home, be that wherever, imo he just moved his family out of Russia as soon as he could

• and he actually introduces you to his family, but they are kind of old fashioned and so misogynistic it's astronomical

• although it doesn't matter if you're not a woman. it's their son, who has been so good his entire life, it must be you who is the problem. you should just listen to him, he knows best.

• they believe the husband has the final word in everything, where you live, when you can leave the house and speaking badly about him is disrespectful and even the fact that he lets you do it shows how spoiled you are

• if you manage to look past this thing with his parents, they can actually be a nice company

• they even let you in the kitchen and do your own thing - "as it's your duty to learn these household skills if you haven't yet to serve your husband better"

• you get to learn cool cookie recipes though

• of course he has another place for you, away from his parents if you choose to misbehave or if he just wants some alone time with you. can't have them stressed out by your crying fits and screaming. imagine how horrified his mother would be if she knew you reject your own husband. a man has needs !!

• with all the money he gets from being a mercenary you have the opportunity to be spoiled rotten. of course if you behave.

• he doesn't ask much. don't try to escape, don't try to hurt him - you won't succeed anyways, but after a tiring day of working and being the breadwinner of the family the last thing he wants is a bratty spouse trying to outmatch him. really? all his life he has been doing this. maybe if you have the same or at least similar life experiences, were military or something maybe you can get a punch or two in. but since you don't have these daily trainings anymore, you couldn't possibly keep up your physique and it's just a matter of time before any chance of overpowering him withers away.

• when he first brings you home he won't chain you to the bed, as he knows what long-term immobilisation can do to someone and he doesn't want his darling dying on him because of something stupid like this

• he will watch your every step instead. if you get too close to something you can hurt yourself with he will just manhandle you away from it to somewhere safer.

• you need to understand, how it is from now on. life is unfair and while he had to flee from a shitty country and has been stuck doing these kind of jobs, you have this little something making things a little harder. it's not that uncommon, you know? in a lot of countries it's just tradition. be glad he doesn't force himself on you.

• it's not much he asks. stay inside be a nice little doll for him, try to behave and have some kind words for him at times. aside from that he would be glad if you had sex with him but it's not necessary. he can just get a hooker or something if he wants release. but a homemaker, someone he knows is waiting for him at the end of the day has always been missing from his life. you have to understand, it's basic human needs. and it's really hard to date when you are kind of a wanted criminal.

• if he is sure you won't try to pull anything on him, you can even go outside together. shopping, seeing a fair, on a vacation. of course if stockholm-syndrome strikes first.

• but why wouldn't you want a great guy like him? he is about putting in equal effort. think of it as a sugar relationship. haven't you ever tought of how nice it'd be? being someone's sugar baby, pampered, dressed up in expensive clothes and jewelery, only having to think about life's pleasures - while the only thing you needed to do was give a little something back.