Non-existent good day

After all, this day is a leap year's day, a day that does not usually (in other years) exist?!
And, it was a rather good day.

At least, I started this week thinking I should quit my teaching job. The difficult class was just too difficult. But then, my two other classes are acceptable to nice (the one), and a real pleasure (the other), and even the teaching in the not-very-pleasurable one just went as good as it gets.
Still, I am making observations about differences between Austrian and Latvian students and their respective discipline, let alone what would happen in the US if students behaved like that...

Anybody who says that it's all a matter of the teacher, or all depending on the students, has never taught anyone anything. The best teacher couldn't do anything if the students didn't want to cooperate; but how the students will act (up) is also a matter of what the teaching is like. And then, there are cultural backgrounds as well.

Had my telephone interview for the lectureship in China application today, think it went reasonably well. One more step, unless it runs into a wall. Yes, I'll admit: I'm one of those who rather expect, or at least mentally fortify themselves against, the worst.
Actually, that may be an attitude I should try out with writing and sending in texts for publication - make it as good as you can, and then submit it.
Don't try to prevent rejections by not even trying.

Training 02/29/2008

00:58.03,9 - 8.97 km - 6'28 min/km - HR avg. 152 - TE 3.2

One dog barking stupidly, one guy shouting something out a car travelling at at least 60 km/h at least 30 meters away, hence even more stupidly... With the humans, I keep wondering how many of those who laugh would last through a run.

Too many runs of the same effect, probably, but I'm still more concerned about getting in my mileage, keeping a constant pace, and seeing that my heart rate does not get any sudden peaks (which, recently, has not happened anymore).

2/28/2008

Running: 00:58.55,9 - 9.71 km - 6'04 min/km - HR avg. 153 - TE 3.5

Looking to replace most of my shoes. Having received an old pair from home (as I wanted), I had to realize that replacements are becoming necessary... the stitched-together pair (which is the most recent I bought) is still holding up nice, but a single pair of running shoes won't cut it.

That night, I was a bad student again, not going to my lectures.
Shopped around for shoes, and did some shopping for food to treat myself to a nice break instead.

It was necessary, for some things are nearly freaking me out. - Another month in Latvia is as good as over, there are not so many more to go, and I would feel as if I failed if I didn't manage to finish some writing I wanted to get done here. Part of it is also needed for a course I want to finish here, and it and something else (my writing on "The Ecology of Happiness," of course) would be a chance for taking another small step towards an academic career.
And that remains - or now, is even more strongly - my first priority, not the teacher training... So much, again, for Austria's constant stating that "we needed more academics." For the OECD statistics which say that there were too few, yes; in practice, there are not many decent opportunities. Finding work abroad isn't all that easy, either. Well, anyways...

I did, however, register for the Riga Marathon. Doesn't necessarily mean that I'll actually participate in it; I'll decide that on the spot. Would be nice, though.

Running 2/26/2008

00:56.00,0 - 9.63 km - 5'49 min/km - HR avg. 150 - TE 3.1

Trying to get back to making quick, separate posts about this...

Where to next?

All right.
This week, I managed to send off the two applications for going to China next academic year (Lektoratsprogramm der Österreich-Kooperation, a chance to work abroad as lecturer in a German studies department, and the CSC - Chinese Government Scholarship program, EU window).
Normally, I'd not even mention a thing like that. That way, at least there'd be fewer people who know that there might have been something if it doesn't work out... and there are always tons of possible reasons for a negative reply...

Next up, an application for studying in Japan, next year.

As always, trying to psychologically protect myself, I have also been working on Plan B, some travel dreams I realize I could very well do on a sabbatical should I get to work as teacher:


View Larger Map

I must admit, though, that the present experience has led me to realize that I would not dislike to work as teacher and do research "on the side," but I would still very much prefer to work as academic (doing research and teaching at university).

With the applications that are now current, I guess some things will be decided soon enough.

At least, Plan A (work/study in East Asia, finally gaining knowledge and experience there, and getting on the track to an academic career again) is good, and Plan B (continuing with teacher training studies, going abroad again with Campus Europae, financing research through that) is equally as good.

I just wouldn't want to go from teaching and studying to only being a teacher training student (and always wanting to ask the professors if they ever tried out what they suggest we should do once we are teachers).

There is another realization, too: Things work out like I thought they should. Teaching at school, I want to get into research; analyzing and writing about data, I'd much rather have another class.

Sitting down to study languages is still not my strong suit, though. Even though - and probably, even because - I am pretty good at acquiring languages.

Running:
02/22/2008 - 00:44.55,9 - 7.38 km - 6'05 min/km - 152 HR avg. - TE 3.3
02/23/2008 - 00:31.18,0 - 5.31 km - 5'54 min/km - 152 HR avg. - TE 3.1
(had a very strange encounter I don't want to talk about during this run,
that's why it was so short)
02/24/2008 - 01:17.09,9 - 12.59 km - 6'08 min/km - 153 HR avg. - TE 3.4

Time's a friend? - 30th birthday today

"You should pick one."
"What?"
"A birthday."
"What for?"
"In this short brutal life, you gotta seize any opportunity you can to celebrate."
(Max and Logan, beginning of S1 E04 of "Dark Angel")

It was not only the last total lunar eclipse for some years, which we didn't get to see in Riga because it was both foggy and cloudy, it's also my 30th. birthday today…

I let two of my classes write their test today anyway (they didn't even know). Judging by a first glance, the one did very well, the others didn't do too well. And for once, it should absolutely be the ones who don't listen who also had quite some trouble. I so don't understand what they think they are doing…
My 11th. grade class had known about my birthday for a while, and we celebrated:

I can tell that I am getting old… What shows it is that I have actually come to appreciate when somebody tells me that I look younger than my age ;-)

Russian class went nicely, though I don't know about next week's test for last semester I will be taking… studying would be a good idea (that possible part about my pupils I understand, but constantly chatting in class?). Otherwise, however, I have not been going to most classes this week. I needed the time out, and focused on getting my applications for - hopefully, possibly - going to China next academic year finished. I should be at that point, and sending them off, tomorrow…

On the issue of endurance:
100 days to go until the Stockholm Marathon takes place.

Training:
2/17 - 00:56.53,9 - 9.43 km - 6'02 min/km - HR avg. 149 - TE 3.1
2/19 - 00:43.43,0 - 7.12 km - 6'08 min/km - HR avg. 151 - TE 3.2
2/21 - 00:57.02,0 - 9.61 km - 5'56 min/km - HR avg. 152 - TE 3.4
Yep, I managed to squeeze in some time today. Had missed my training time yesterday, and wanted to make up for it today. At least in some things, I need to be and remain consistent. I'd want to also get there with more of my language studies, but alas… And some things, a birthday doesn't change at all.

"... maybe I should pick a birthday, just to have something to celebrate in this short, brutal life. ... Yesterday. Yeah. Born yesterday. And the best part is, I have a whole year not to think about it."
Max, at the end of the episode mentioned above. Mirrors my feelings about it.

The week in review, or something like that

A bit past 4 p.m., and I have to draw the curtains - because otherwise, I'd not be able to see the computer screen at all, the sun is shining so brightly.

Soon after coming here, the time of sunlight declined dramatically, and what felt not so long ago, it was pretty dark at around this time. I used to go out running at 4 o'clock, in the dark.
Still, when I last wrote, it was also rather warm, spring was in the air, I found the first green buds, and willow flowers about to open. Then, it rained quite a lot but was warm. Now, since two days ago, it's either sunshine in blue skies with dark clouds, or snow storms, and pretty cold again. (Then again, it's like that almost all over Europe right now…)

At least, I did not let the strange weather keep me from my running.

• Last Saturday, parkour training was on again: 02/09/2008 - 01:32.17 - HR avg. 144 - TE 3.4
• 02/10/2008 - 00:35.07,9 - 5.67 km - 6'12 min/km - HR avg. 154 - TE 3.3
• 02/11/2008 - 00:45.00,9 - 7.16 km - 6'17 min/km - HR avg. 148 - TE 2.9
• 02/12/2008 - 00:45.30,9 - 7.72 km - 5'54 min/km - HR avg. 150 - TE 3.1
• 02/15/2008 - 01:12.13,0 - 11.59 km - 6'14 min/km - HR avg. 150 - TE 3.2
• Today, parkour again: 02/16/2008 - 01:29.00 - HR avg. 116 - TE 2

Met a gymnast from Austria at today's training… Quite interesting, how I can tell since when I have been here, but not how long. I am able to tell (to the day - because of a countdown on my notebook) how many more days I'll be here, however. And it's quite few, considering how quickly time is passing, and how much I still need and/or want to get done. Sort of freaks me out…

This week, without teaching, I had at least been able to work in a more relaxed way. At least theoretically. In fact, I am not so sure it helped me:

At the start of yesterday's run, I lost the FootPOD (speed & distance sensor). Where I heard something suspicious, and saw that it had dropped off, was not actually where I had lost it. Fortunately, checking how much of a distance had been recorded, I found it. After some adjustment, it stayed on, and the run - in spite of the cold and some breezes of snow, and even some stupid teenagers who have to laugh at me (because of the running tights, no doubt) - was very enjoyable.
Running that circle passing over the Daugava twice, I keep wondering what it will be like to run in the mountains and view the Traunsee like that (during the Bergmarathon at the beginning of July)…

One of these days, I helped a school colleague with his letter of recommendation (the translation to English, that is). I had promised, so I did - and there, I still haven't managed to get all my own letters of recommendation together. It is all but impossible to get in touch with most of the people who are the right ones for that (except one - hat tip to Prof. Schrittesser here: Thank you!) … Then, in an attempt to get my computer files organized, I managed to delete some of the writing necessary for one of my applications for going to China. So, yesterday was spent re-writing those. Great. At least, things are coming along, and I should be able to finish all of that soon, well within time. Which probably means that I will just barely make it. Still, this is the single most important thing on my to-do list right now.

However, I still have more, especially for school (teaching) and for university, that needs to be done. This week, I kept on not wanting to go to various lectures because I'm all stressed out about it. (Usually, I did still go.)

Thursday, I finally did something touristy again - went (with a teacher and some pupils) to the Mencendorfa nams (Mentzendorf House), a nicely renovated old house of Riga, which formerly belonged to - well, guess what - the Mentzendorf family. Among other things, they were the official country representatives for the Swiss chocolate makes Lindt and Sprüngli…

Oh, yes: And I may, but should "as soon as possible" (quoting my teacher there) write the test for last semester's Russian course. I still feel so unprepared for it… and I still need to get some things written for other (pedagogy) courses of last semester, and this, and that, and I certainly could find some more ideas, oh yes, that, and something else,….. et cetera….. and so on….
My (informal?) life motto, more and more: "There is no rest for the wicked."

Call me crazy any day

... or maybe: Learnt a lot. Still little use.

I just found a preview video for a book, coming from a writer's magazine, out of a contest to write your memoirs in six words (http://www.sixwordmemoir.com/).

It's strangely moving to read so little, and yet find that it tells a story. And somehow, I've been on quite a memory trip during my time here, so the theme of memoirs is rather fitting, as well.

Never wanted but to live my way.

Okay, technically, that's one word too many. Which, in itself, would be very fitting.
I think that's the one for me...

RIP: Running Shoes; Second Semester, now really real

My running shoes' BOA lacing system ripped yesterday, succumbing to the strain put on it by the FootPOD (they use a special lacing like it's mainly used on snowboard shoes, with wires and a wheel instead of laces and a knot you make - the wire got frayed...).
They'll not actually rest in peace, though, for I've macgyvered the lacing and some additional support for it and the POD (my speed and distance sensor). Knew there was an effect and a reason to watching too much MacGyver all my teen years (yup, I'm of that generation).

Last run (where that happened):
02/08/2008 - 01:02.38,9 - 9.71 km - 6'27 min/km - HR avg. 147

It would be less than 100 days to the Riga Marathon, but I still haven't decided about running in it. It's rather too close to Stockholm, and I've not been doing quite as much recently as I should. And then, I am now officially on the list of starters at this year's (20.) Bergmarathon (mountain marathon) around the Traunsee...

This was the first week of both teaching at school and studies at university of my second semester in Riga.
I will indeed do just about as little as I've ever done at a university during this semester, but it still promises to be challenging:

• Quite a lot of (research) writing for one course, and of course the writing I wanted to get done anyways;
• Russian - first class, our teacher was (again) not here, there would have been only three students there, and in the end was only one girl and I, and what we did - got to do - was the pre-test I walked away from at the beginning of last semester because I was always only guessing. There was still a lot of guesswork, but this time around I did do it from beginning to end;
• Spanish - I can still stammer a lot, read texts quite a bit more advanced than we are usually reading for this course, am in the most advanced course, and notice that I have forgotten a whole lot of the grammar. It already seems to have been a good choice, though. I like it a lot, remember that I like the language and - interest in chile peppers and all - wanted to also make it back to Spain and South America, and finally to Mexico...
• Two literature courses - I rather enjoy them, as it turns out, they'll finish rather earlier than most courses (which I'll appreciate), and I'm quite certain I'll get them counted towards my studies. I'll really be all but finished with literature courses, though...
• ... and most of the courses I can take are in the evening or even at night.

Yes, this is what counts as "doing little" for me. And I still want to repeat my Chinese, and maybe sometimes go to classes here just to see what the teaching is like in other places.

Now. - Next week is very nice: Project week at school, and I didn't get around to suggesting a project - at least for the pupils. My project, therefore, will be to get on with my writing and research, and to submit (most of) the two applications which are due soon-ish.

Both of these applications - I'll finally say it - are for different chances for going to China for the next academic year.

That would be great for language learning and cultural experience, excellent for my research, and not at all bad for teacher training studies.

Well, that last one, it wouldn't be, "officially-speaking." University of Vienna has finally started thinking about offering teacher training for Chinese language, but it's still earlier than in planning stage. So, Chinese wouldn't count towards my teacher training studies, but I am also registered as a student of Chinese because I want to become able to teach it.... that's one of the points why things are quite complicated... because I'm studying languages to study and get certification as (high school) teacher for them, and also studying Chinese so that I would not - since Austria does not have them, officially - be a Chinese language school teacher, but certified as a teacher and proficient in Chinese, and therefore able and qualified to teach it, nonetheless. (If I ever get to that point.)
Of course, it could all go differently, they don't pick me, and I go on in Austria. Or they pick me, I go on that way, and get into an academic career in sustainability, after all.

Hmm

Still don't quite know about some things which should be easy, but at least found that I do still remember quite some Spanish... wish I remembered Chinese like that, though. I almost do, but only almost...
Decisions, decisions.

At least, I finally finished the questionnaire for traceurs, posted its announcement on just two main boards, and already got a nice number of responses. Even if it still does not make a career of it, I love being able to go on with - there's a reason I keep on referring to it this way - my work.

Training:

00:56.05,2 - 9.23 km - 6'05 min/km - HR avg. 158 - TE 4.8

Ready. Set. 2nd Semester

Pictures from the Rundale Excursion, last weekend:
http://picasaweb.google.at/lh/searchbrowse?q=Rundale+Excursion

Last Friday, went for a chat with Prof. Bluma, resident coordinator for the Campus Europae program…
She is all right with me organizing just about everything myself by now, just eager to help if there should be any problems. The main problems I had been having were at her faculty, but rather due to the usual bad or mis-communication.

The (last) week in training:
01/28: 01:00.53,8 - 9.42 km - 6'28 min/km - HR avg. 149 - TE 3.6
01/31: 02:00.30,7 - 18.68 km - 6'27 min/km - HR avg. 153 - TE 4.3
02/02: 01:02.03,9 - 9.95 km - 6'14 min/km - HR avg. 150 - TE 4.3
I updated the map of my running routes, by the way:

View Larger Map

I'm in the process of registering to "compete" in the Bergmarathon (70 km around the Traunsee in Austria, with 4300 meters of difference in altitude) in July.
I love that event especially because there is no official time-taking, it's officially all about simply making it.

Academic Issues

Today, planning for this semester went on, and it's still difficult.

Sometimes I (almost) ask myself what I'm doing here; it's no surprise it can be pretty hard for others to understand my career path. Yet, I see that there would be some nice things to work on in Austria, but also great opportunities abroad and through going abroad… I'll certainly be trying my luck at those. And if they don't work out, there's still good work to be done.

Now, the question with the planning for the semester is how I can manage to do enough for my necessary credits, and little enough to still have enough time for training and my work. Getting that all coordinated is quite difficult already, but should be working out.
What really get's to me is that I'll probably be just about finished with some subject areas for teacher training in English (literature), whereas in others I'll be back to the beginning (like linguistics). Yet, the courses I could take here would probably not be accepted as equivalent with the ones to take in Austria…
Moreover, I don't want to overdo it again, as usually, and in the end fail to finish some of the things I promised myself I would manage to get done while I'm here. - And amongst those, there is Russian language learning, and there is some research and publications to get done... if I fail to publish much longer, I would have to forget about a scientific career, and even while I am now working on teacher training, I will not give that up.

I'll just have to try and see.