Marina’s Bloggariffic

How do you like my eyes? I’m wearing those new fangled 1 day acuvue define contact lenses.

Since meeting cart, I’ve been trying for some while to learn the Italian language. It not so bad when Cart is around since we both could communicate in english. But it was kind of awkward when trying to communicate to his friends. Most of them were as fluent in English as I was in Italian. So while they were deep in their animated conversation, I had to poke cartcart, “Psst .. what are they talking about?”

I think one of the more perplexing moment was the time when I met Cart’s family. When we arrived, all I could manage was, ‘Buena Serra’ (Good Evening). I greeted everyone, till I heard a chuckle and cart conveying to me, “She’s asking if thats the only phrase that you know”

I was a bit embarassed.

Cart’s mom started asked questions about me. I had so much to tell them! But I couldnt. My grasp of the language was extremely rudimentary. After a while, it became a little cumbersome to let cart play the role of the translator. I think he got dizzy at our incessant questions.

So I just sat there quietly, smiled, nodded my head and pretended to be silent and wise.

Later on, I thought I’d be clever and use some gestures. Sign language are universal, after all. But after a while, I realise that the gestures that we commonly use, might not have the same meaning overseas.

In Singapore this will mean, ‘Oh no!’, while over there it would be, ‘Ah I remember!’

Here, this is a sign that you want to beat up that person, while there, it would mean, ‘Lets do it!’

If I were to go to work in Italy two years ago, I think I’d be very confused -

Boss : “Have you completed that report yet?”

I slap my forehead and think to myself, ‘Oh no I forgot!’

Boss : Very good, you’ve completed it. (Boxes palm)

Runs away and cover in fear as the boss wants to beat me up for not completing the report!

Not to say that I havent been trying to learn the language. So far I’ve been using several language software.

I like the Rosetta Stone as it is immersive:

The entire lesson is in Italian, it will ask you a phrase and you pick the right frame. I think its great for beginners because it is very easy to understand and pick up visually.

I also like the flash cards for Italian before you know it:

Its abit of rote learning which forces you to type in the right answer. It can get frustrating at times, but its a tried and true method which will improve the vocabulary.

I’m not too fond of the I can speak Italian by Transparent:

Its not very newbie friendly. When I started the lesson, the words used were way over my head. I didnt have the motivation to continue with the lessons. I think its more suitable for more advanced students.

Using software is definitely useful but I think there is something lacking. For me, human interaction where one can do actual conversation with another person is very important.

Initially, my friend Narima and me contemplated registering with the Italian Cultural Institute where we will be taught by qualified native Italian speakers.

But I balked when I calculated the total cost - it was nearly $500! I am sure that the teachers there are fantastic, but the price was abit much.

Then one day, I surfed the People’s Association website. I dont quite remember when I signed up for their online newsletter, but each month, I’d have updates about interesting courses that they were conducting. Having attended one of their course, I was quite impressed at the quality workshops that they had for a discounted price.

I did a search for Italian and to my rapture, I saw that there actually was an Italian Language course. The only center that conducted the lessons was at Tampines, which is quite far since I live on the other side of Singapore. Thank goodness for my scooter! It doesnt take more than 30 mins to ride there.

My first lesson there was great. Though the teacher isnt a native Italian, having lived, worked and attained a diploma in Italy, she was more than competent in teaching us.

I am in a very lively class with friendly classmates. We’d make mistakes sometimes, but we laugh at our mistakes. The teacher is cheerful that its such joy learning in the lessons. I can interact and practise with my classmates and the teacher - something that I dont think softwares can replace.

I’ve been to my fifth lesson so far. I wouldnt say that my Italian is that great, but I feel a bit more confident as compared to that time when I met Cart’s family. I dont have to pretend to be silent and wise anymore :P

If you’re keen on learning, I’d urge you to try the community centers. The next Italian course is coming up. I’m definitely signing up for level 2 at the end of my current one :)

Mi piace molto!

By the way, here are some great supplementary sites which I highly recommend:

• Step up your Italian with BBC
• Listen to Italian podcasts on your mp3 player on your way to work

Oh and before I go, there is a segment in the Italian phasebook that I was reading earlier where there some suggestive phrases that you could use.

The idea of whipping out the book when one is heavily making out is particularly funny to me.

Tags: Italian, Italian Language, Learn Italian

Sure was a lot of people queuing up for the Kids Central auditions. It felt like Singapore Idols all over again, except for the contestants being in their tweens.

My sister, Diana persuaded me to send her to Mediacorp, Bestway Building where she was to have her auditions. I think that it would be a good experience, just to try something new.

The queue of people snaked all the way till the carpark. There were fidgety kids everywhere. Some started to fidget in the warm, sunny afternoon. Diana was given a queue number and a piece of script to memorize and she sat down at the final line.

After what seemed to have taken ages, she came out of the audition room.

“How was it?” I asked

“It was ok. But I waited for hours just to be auditioned for 5 minutes! And they didnt even ask me why I wanted to be a host. They just told me to read the script, thats all!”

“Were you nervous?”

“Not really”

“And then what?”

“They will let me know if I make it to the next round in 2 weeks time by phone”

All the best to you Diana. Whether you get through or not is not important. You’ll always stay a bubbly, fun and zesty person :)

While Cart was in Singapore, we happened to catch a Nokia 5300 commercial while watching tv.

me: I really like this commercial

cart: Thats because you like Nokia phones :P

me: I do, but I also do like this song alot. Its got a great beat and feel to it. I wonder what song it is?

After a while, I forgotten about the advertisment.

Only recently while doing a search for a certain Daft Punk clip on youtube, and clicking on random links when I stumbled upon the song ‘Digital Love’.

Hey, isnt this the song that they used for the nokia commercial?

I remarked to Cartcart, “Look! Its the same characters as ‘One more time’. I’m pretty sure that they made it into a full length anime”

“They did. Do a search for Interstella 5555″

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7

Watching the movie, I’m quite impressed at how the visual and the song blend so seamlessly. It was a very enjoyable watch. It even has a pretty good storyline!

It isnt easy to make a clip to revolve around a song, but the animators has done a really spectacular job. Now I want and need to have a Daft Punk Discovery CD.

Go on and watch the movie and let me know what you think. My personal favourite is ‘Something about us’ :)

p.s If you like music with a storyline, I’d recommend Dream theater’s Scenes from a memory. Go on an listen to it, uninterrupted and picture the story in your mind. The ending is a great twist.

This morning, I noticed that Shirlyn, one of the staff in the school was donning on her ranger uniform. A ranger is a mentor for the girl guides - an association which I joined when I was in my teens.

“How odd“, I thought to myself. “Its not an activity day today, so why is she putting that on?”

And then I remembered that today is February the 22nd. Thinking day! Today is the day to remember about sister guides and brother scouts all over the world. Today is also a day in rememberance of the founder, Lord Baden Powell and Lady Baden Powell.

Wow. Loads of nostalgia there.

I first joined the association as a brownie, at about 9 years old. I’m not exactly sure what drew me, but I really enjoyed the activities that we did. I remembered that at the end of every meeting, we gathered round in a circle and sang this adorable song.

It went something like:

“Those born in January. Go home go home go home”
“Those born in February. Go home go home go home”

And it goes all the way to December. When your birth month is called out, you’d step to the front. I’d always step up when August is called.

I had so much fun that naturally, I continued to be a Guide when I started secondary school. We learnt loads of survival skills like map reading, knot tying (useful to make furniture out of sticks and pitching tents) as well as leadership skills.

I really felt a connection with nature when we went to camp - it was one of those days when I felt empowerment. I had to pitch my own tent to sleep in, and traverse the jungle.

It was such great times.

Unfortunately, I’m still horrible at map reading. Which explains why I can still get lost even with the street directory with me.

Anyway, just for fun I tried on something I havent worn for a very long time.

Tada!

I cant believe it still fits.

Last thursday, I attended the E27 unconference to hear about the Virtual worlds and Metaverse discussion. Here are some of my thoughts.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

Click here to view on youtube and click here to view the actual discussion.

Tags: E27, Metaverse, Secondlife, Virtual Worlds

Has anyone read the book, ‘The hidden messages in water’ by Dr Masaru Emoto?

In this book, he writes about his experiments using water from various sources. He directs thoughts and feelings at the sample of water before freezing them and then observing the water crystals.

The results are really facinating. Here are some of them:

Thank You

Love and Appreciation

You make me sick, I will kill you

Adolph Hitler

Because our bodies are made up of approximately 70% water, Dr Masaru Emoto believes that human thoughts, will affect a person, depending it be positive or negative.

That is the power of the inner power that each of us have, just by thought alone.

I’m usually a sceptical person. Though I may not believe Dr Emoto a hundred percent, I do believe that the mind is a very powerful tool and that there are many things that we have not tapped yet. We’ve recently discovered speed reading, accelerated learning and mental power. I am sure that with time, we will discover new things.

Imagine the things we could do in the future.

Facinating. Just facinating.

More reading here. And a video on how frozen water is photographed

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How do they do it? The people in successful long distance relationships, having their ‘happily ever after’. What makes it so easy for them to just jump into a whole new world?

I feel like I’m in the middle of the road, stuck and unable to move forward. I cant jump like these people. Maybe it is because of my deep attachment here, to my family, my friends … I’d be leaving life as I know it.

But at the same time, I dont think I can stand seeing him just once every 6 months - Oh to feel so happy when I am with him but comes pure anguish when its time to leave. My heart breaks and a part of me dies.

Its a horrible feeling and it doesnt take valentines day to remind me that my partner isnt here with me. I think about it every single day. There are some moments when I feel so lonely and helpless that I lie sobbing in bed.

I am amazed at how painful it can feel. I never imagined that this feeling could be so powerful, almost physical. And sometimes I wonder how it would be like if we never met, perhaps we wont have this heartache that we are feeling right now.

But then again, if we never met, we’d never experience our love and care for each other.

Long distance relationship isnt the easiest relationship to be in. Many of them dont work out in the end. Some of these couples find it extremely challenging. How do a person tend a relationship when the partner is so far away?

The thing that I have right now is hope. But I want for us to move forward. But I dont seem to see any paths ahead … Every route seems so hazy in front of me.

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