Every year starts with a recap of what happened before. (All I know I learned from Harry Potter.)
There was a mess in my life lately and therefor on this blog, so in case case anyone would be curious about how things stand now I wrote this update post.
Money:
Still bad, but slightly less tragic. We're not yet done with the transaction that's supposed to give us the cash we wait for. It goes on forever, but we're moving forward. Hopefully we will finally get it, because things aren't perfect to say the least. My step-father is still not working and though I got my survivor's pension back (though they sent it to my house instead of my account and almost gave me the heart attack) it sure won't be enough for us to live by. Ha. It won't be enough for me to really live on, considering that every month I need to pay for my laptop, cell-phone and rented room.
Laptop & Internet:
I got it, it's not great, but it works. Well, the Internet is not great, so far I rather like my laptop. Perhaps it's nothing special, but it works for me. I got it along with the Internet so the contract is for longer and in conclusion I will pay more that if I'd buy by myself all at once, but with this option I got to have both immedietely and I admit it also counts.
Family:
We're surviving. We usually work better together if we're in a crisis, but we're getting fed up with it all and it's hard to stay optimistic and not snap at each other. My mum angered me lately, but I can't even be as angry as I would normally be, because I know that times are tough on all of us.
My step-dad is getting better. He walks now, they go for a walk almost every day now, so he'd gain back his strength. It's unfortunately still far from full recovery.
Thanks to this transaction that takes forever, I was forced to meet my grandma and my uncle Mark, who also brought his son. Not the most pleasant experience of my life, but apparently me and grandma hadn't seen each other for long enough to forget (/be able to pretend we forgot) our grand fight. I think I've actually missed her.
Studies:
I'm in Lodz. On cultural studies, studying literature and creative writing. Everyone mocked me and said I'm choosing those studies so I can be lazy. It turns out I have more to do than on my previous studies. And I would complain, but I love it too much. I probably will complain later (by the end of the semester most probably ;)), but while I'm working my ass off, I'm also loving pretty much every class I attend. I actually enjoy going to the classes, because I'm simply curious what will I learn, what will we do. It's good to have this enthusiasm back, it was gone for far too long.
Unfortunately I also have PE, which sucks and I'm still working how not to get killed on this occassion.
But, apart from great classes and profs, I also wanted to mention the fact that I'm actually getting on with other students. And not one or two as per usual, but pretty much all of them. Especially my group for Creative Writing is pretty awesome. Lits know each other already and are not so keen on making new friends. But in CW we're all new and batshit crazy, it's a lovely group of messed up people. :)
Rented room:
I rent a room in a flat that's about 40-50 minutes away from my university. And I say as much because I count getting to the streetcar and from it. I could, in theory, switch streetcars and get closer to the uni, but what's the need if I can take a lovely walk near the park?
In the flat besides me lives the owner of a flat, Mrs. Ula, her dog and two other students. The students I meet briefly, 'cause they're not here as often as I am. They have far less classes and have closer to home, so they often just drop by for a day or two, sometimes we exchange "hi!", but usually we don't even meet.
Mrs. Ula on the other hand is perfectly charming retired lady, who never has much time, between all the relatives, cooking, helping neighbours, walking the dog, etc. etc. In the free time however she can talk with us about anything and tends to force food on me. ("You'll be back late and you didn't take anything to eat?" "I don't have time, really, I'll just buy something or..." "Go get your things, I'll make you a delicious sandwich!") As I'm writing this I'm eating apple pie she made (celebrating her new grandkid's birthday) and shared with me. I'd think I'd hate her for that, but it's actually really nice and she's to adorable to be angry with her.
Lodz:
Dear world, what I haven't heard about that city before I've moved in here. It's terrible. It's ugly. It stinks. It's dangerous. Full of hooligans, bandits, thieves, angry football fans and all that's the worst in world and Poland.
...
First things first: It's beautiful. Yes, clearly strained and demaged in plenty of place, but even more so beautiful because of it. It's also full of nice people, who start talking to me on the street or in the bus and are always very helpful, when I ask for directions or anything. I haven't met anyone with any sign of loving some kind of Polish football club. (I saw two Real Madryt's fans, one of Manchester United and one of Germany National Team, judging by the T-shirts.) There's obviously some graffitti about different clubs, like in every city I've ever lived in. Far less than in Warsaw, a bit more than in Gdańsk. *shrugs*
At first it was a bit overwhelming, then annoying, 'cause strange and I had troubles with orientation, because there's no center, no point of orientation (one of my profs was delighted when I've complained about it, because apparently it is a thing). Now I think it's lovely and when I get things settled with my ticket I'm gonna explore some more. (Though I already give instructions to other at the uni, because I had few days to look around and I did the smart thing, which was remembering where nearest xero's points are.)
Perhaps if I saw Lodz right after living in Gdansk it'd make less of an impression. After a year of dealing with Warsaw it's an amazing relief.
There'll be some picspam probably, now that I have a laptop I can send photos on from my cellphone. But it may take awhile.
Fandom:
I wrote a few things while I was away, but I'm not sure if they're worth of being typed in. We will see. Right now I'm too busy writing for classes to do much of anything else. So don't expect some massive posting on my point.
I'm working out how/when to get my paid account back, I was thinking about this month, but since I don't have cash on my account I can't pay for it. (Or for GISHWHES, but that would be too much money anyway.) Maybe the next month if things go as planned.
Money:
Still bad, but slightly less tragic. We're not yet done with the transaction that's supposed to give us the cash we wait for. It goes on forever, but we're moving forward. Hopefully we will finally get it, because things aren't perfect to say the least. My step-father is still not working and though I got my survivor's pension back (though they sent it to my house instead of my account and almost gave me the heart attack) it sure won't be enough for us to live by. Ha. It won't be enough for me to really live on, considering that every month I need to pay for my laptop, cell-phone and rented room.
Laptop & Internet:
I got it, it's not great, but it works. Well, the Internet is not great, so far I rather like my laptop. Perhaps it's nothing special, but it works for me. I got it along with the Internet so the contract is for longer and in conclusion I will pay more that if I'd buy by myself all at once, but with this option I got to have both immedietely and I admit it also counts.
Family:
We're surviving. We usually work better together if we're in a crisis, but we're getting fed up with it all and it's hard to stay optimistic and not snap at each other. My mum angered me lately, but I can't even be as angry as I would normally be, because I know that times are tough on all of us.
My step-dad is getting better. He walks now, they go for a walk almost every day now, so he'd gain back his strength. It's unfortunately still far from full recovery.
Thanks to this transaction that takes forever, I was forced to meet my grandma and my uncle Mark, who also brought his son. Not the most pleasant experience of my life, but apparently me and grandma hadn't seen each other for long enough to forget (/be able to pretend we forgot) our grand fight. I think I've actually missed her.
Studies:
I'm in Lodz. On cultural studies, studying literature and creative writing. Everyone mocked me and said I'm choosing those studies so I can be lazy. It turns out I have more to do than on my previous studies. And I would complain, but I love it too much. I probably will complain later (by the end of the semester most probably ;)), but while I'm working my ass off, I'm also loving pretty much every class I attend. I actually enjoy going to the classes, because I'm simply curious what will I learn, what will we do. It's good to have this enthusiasm back, it was gone for far too long.
Unfortunately I also have PE, which sucks and I'm still working how not to get killed on this occassion.
But, apart from great classes and profs, I also wanted to mention the fact that I'm actually getting on with other students. And not one or two as per usual, but pretty much all of them. Especially my group for Creative Writing is pretty awesome. Lits know each other already and are not so keen on making new friends. But in CW we're all new and batshit crazy, it's a lovely group of messed up people. :)
Rented room:
I rent a room in a flat that's about 40-50 minutes away from my university. And I say as much because I count getting to the streetcar and from it. I could, in theory, switch streetcars and get closer to the uni, but what's the need if I can take a lovely walk near the park?
In the flat besides me lives the owner of a flat, Mrs. Ula, her dog and two other students. The students I meet briefly, 'cause they're not here as often as I am. They have far less classes and have closer to home, so they often just drop by for a day or two, sometimes we exchange "hi!", but usually we don't even meet.
Mrs. Ula on the other hand is perfectly charming retired lady, who never has much time, between all the relatives, cooking, helping neighbours, walking the dog, etc. etc. In the free time however she can talk with us about anything and tends to force food on me. ("You'll be back late and you didn't take anything to eat?" "I don't have time, really, I'll just buy something or..." "Go get your things, I'll make you a delicious sandwich!") As I'm writing this I'm eating apple pie she made (celebrating her new grandkid's birthday) and shared with me. I'd think I'd hate her for that, but it's actually really nice and she's to adorable to be angry with her.
Lodz:
Dear world, what I haven't heard about that city before I've moved in here. It's terrible. It's ugly. It stinks. It's dangerous. Full of hooligans, bandits, thieves, angry football fans and all that's the worst in world and Poland.
...
First things first: It's beautiful. Yes, clearly strained and demaged in plenty of place, but even more so beautiful because of it. It's also full of nice people, who start talking to me on the street or in the bus and are always very helpful, when I ask for directions or anything. I haven't met anyone with any sign of loving some kind of Polish football club. (I saw two Real Madryt's fans, one of Manchester United and one of Germany National Team, judging by the T-shirts.) There's obviously some graffitti about different clubs, like in every city I've ever lived in. Far less than in Warsaw, a bit more than in Gdańsk. *shrugs*
At first it was a bit overwhelming, then annoying, 'cause strange and I had troubles with orientation, because there's no center, no point of orientation (one of my profs was delighted when I've complained about it, because apparently it is a thing). Now I think it's lovely and when I get things settled with my ticket I'm gonna explore some more. (Though I already give instructions to other at the uni, because I had few days to look around and I did the smart thing, which was remembering where nearest xero's points are.)
Perhaps if I saw Lodz right after living in Gdansk it'd make less of an impression. After a year of dealing with Warsaw it's an amazing relief.
There'll be some picspam probably, now that I have a laptop I can send photos on from my cellphone. But it may take awhile.
Fandom:
I wrote a few things while I was away, but I'm not sure if they're worth of being typed in. We will see. Right now I'm too busy writing for classes to do much of anything else. So don't expect some massive posting on my point.
I'm working out how/when to get my paid account back, I was thinking about this month, but since I don't have cash on my account I can't pay for it. (Or for GISHWHES, but that would be too much money anyway.) Maybe the next month if things go as planned.