#anka's academic adventures

[courtbard-anka]

The Road to My Master’s Thesis

Week 1: fucking January.

Link to master post.

[working-in-weird-ways]

Monday, June 27

Rambling of the day

Clouds should be as fluffy as they look. Like if something looks that fluffy, it should be possible to take naps on it. But I can’t. Which is rude. Clouds are a textbook case of false advertisement.

Tasks of the day

Check my mails

Write mails

MuL overview + notes

One hour walk in the city

Lunch with my aunt

Violin practice: Back to Elgar it is!

Thing to look forward to

Temperatures are finally coming down and it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. Maybe I’ll even get a good storm? I sure do hope so!

[elsannabackwardsposts]

I CANNOT believe I’m late for this but uhm!!! When they were training in the Southern Isles, I’m curious about what Elsa’s reaction was to Anna calling her “Elska” 😔😔

Hey Anon! I really needed a writing prompt break, and so I’m gonna do you one better than just answering this question.

I’ve written a 1,600 word BONUS FEATURE: 

Elsa’s POV Chap. 20, final scene reaction. :)

Elsa Winters had always been a woman who put her all into everything she did, always given that additional responsibility with a pre-determined future’s demand hanging overhead. And her extra effort had to be there, with the looming role she was destined to one day inherit. It was ever present. Forever present, actually, if she even tried to recall to her earliest memories.

Her parents had pressed her studies, from as far back as she could remember. Academics first; completely limited in her extra circular activities all through her formative years. Homework, tutors, studying. Had she been of the age before discovering crew, she sometimes wondered if her parents would have put her through the traditional training to become a Debutante (but thank goodness that never happened). Instead, home life trained her in manners, poise, and professional behavior; preparedness that would one day propel her forward into the world with so much greatness and respect.

Despite all of that, there had been one thing, one little joy she had found and held close to heart in those young years; way before crew was destined to find its own home in her heart.

Her language studies.

She had already loved reading, losing herself in the many stories she could come across, but to explore meaning in foreign tongue was an adventure all on her own. Of course English had been the initial language to learn, taking priority in her elementary school scholastics. She enjoyed it and, with a natural born intelligence, easily excelled at every corner from the moment she memorized the alphabet.

But what may have been most amazing was that it was not just an activity that she herself loved, but a skillset that her parents actually commended. With how she picked up her second language so early on was the very first time she could ever recall feeling that semblance of pride coming from them.

Being able to converse with foreign clients with elegance in her prose and something close to native fluency would elevate her appearance by speech alone. The comprehension of detailed linguistic patterns, semantics, intonation, would also be an equal asset to dissuade any underhanded manipulation of a company trying to skirt past the reliance of an interpreter. And so, outside of school’s required language modes, she was asked to learn their neighboring country’s native tongues: some basics in Finnish for a non-Germanic input, as well as Danish and Swedish to expand on her own Nordic based language knowledge.

It was easy. Enough of the words in Danish were the same, even if pronunciation varied, while Swedish sounded so similar, but new word selection was more demanding; Finnish, she barely got a chance to begin, but internally (and never admittedly so) she was thankful that she could at least recall the bare minimum word for ‘summer’ over a decade later.

But it was just as she passed the precipice entering her teenage years that she recalled a wave of tension befalling the Winters household; her father’s ever astute, ever composed, attitude shifting greatly. The surrounding air feeling frigid for days, perhaps weeks, only heated by loud outbursts coming from her family’s study, painfully warming her ears if she opened her door a mere crack.

One day, her mother had finally enlightened her about a fallout deal that had occurred, causing a massive blow to company funds. Just as Elsa had been warned all of these years, a slip of interpretation between two national languages, Nordic to Slavic, had been a hit to her father; both fiscally, and in pride. It was that same evening that her mother told her that she would turn her studies away from the delicate intonation shifts of Finnish speech and onto the heavier, precision based consonant production of the language having felled her father’s plans.

Polish, it was. It was trickier, dependence on a new alphabet development, those dastardly consonants, a trial all its own. However, it was here, in the challenge, which Elsa began to see variants in terms. So many more words, varying descriptions of her thoughts being colored by arbitrary linguistic creations she’d never even considered, imagined. Not just one adjective, but four! It was a spark that she had found, realization hitting her like a ray of light, opening her eyes to something even more magical.

Emotions weren’t a thing she was allowed to express. A lady was polite and demur, but a business woman was stoic and firm. It was well ingrained, both in her mind and automatic mannerisms, that she was responsible to be both.

Yet having these many languages at her hand, on the tip of her tongue, categorized in her brain, associations were built, reaching to each and every aspect of her life.. including the untouched, unexplored confines of her emotions.

Of what her emotions were, or rather, could be.

In the privacy of her room, she would talk out loud, speaking to her few stuffed animals, listening to her echoes bouncing from the tall wallpapered walls, responding to her linguistic tapes in a one sided conversation flow. But it was an outlet. She could be as energetic, upset, angry, and colorfully descriptive as she wanted without concern for retaliation. She could describe her emotions, give them meaning through multiple words, infinite sound concoctions, and finally allow herself to learn what these unfamiliar feelings were, all thanks to the connection of something as unthought-of about as everyday language.

Polish stuck to her in particular. Maybe it was because of the extra effort she had to put in to learning it, or maybe it was the sense of responsibility to avenge her family’s name from a financial embarrassment.

Or maybe it was because, of all the languages she had been told to learn, Polish was the only one that her parents did not speak. Something she could call her own. Something she was free to use around the house, to express each and every thought she felt without fear for being told to stop; to actually be encouraged to say her mind all under the guise of ‘practice’.

It was during this period that she came to try out familial names, allowing herself the little pleasure to actually address her parents by terms of endearment that had been bred out of her vocabulary before she could remember; mamusia and tatuś. Stark contrasts from the formal ‘mother’ and ‘sir’ she was required to use at any other time in daily discussions. And without any close friends to practice on, she found a longing for use of such endearing names, but when put into real life social situations, joining crew and meeting Flynn, her sharing of these private language abilities was already farther away from socially acceptable than her own social ineptitude.

A longing to express closeness, forever tucked into the depths of her heart, stored within a language she held for family pride and family love; never expecting to find someone who both was allowed a chance into her heart while simultaneously drawing her mind to even think in the second language.

And yet, then she came to know the graceful grace of summer; Anna Grace Suvi.

It was a moment, so organic, filled with ease and contentedness, with friendly familiarity, and enjoying a favored topic, the most random language; a moment that she never foresaw an opportunity to share with anyone in her life. And it just.. happened. For the first time, not spoken to an audio tape conversation partner, not given to her favorite childhood toy, but given to an actual person. An actual friend. A friend she’d let deeper into this hidden part of her heart’s emotions than she realized.

“Anka.”

The embarrassment had been hot and flustering, at least after she recognized the error. More embarrassing was that she would never have even realized her slip had Anna not called her on it. Oh how natural had she felt around this girl.. but for how long?

Elsa had been quick to catch herself, spinning a tale, administering tricks that she was trained for, using supporting facts to hide misleading information in a genius guise. When Anna moved on, she silently vowed to never let that verbal slip up happen again, and she prayed that Anna would forget the entire incident by the time they reached that class lessen. A new semester should definitely put enough distance to erase such a stupid memory.

After consciously and successfully pushing that event aside, so many new worries now taxing her mind’s reserves, the brilliant blonde had certainly not expected to be wrong.

Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be the case.

Standing beneath the searing hot sun of the Southern Isles, sunblock painted cheeks red and burning from a reason farthest from sunburn, Elsa was left in an absolute stupor. Blue eyes watched the body of her Freshman Double’s partner running away with a merry pep in her step, but all the older girl could do was attempt to process the repeating term bouncing around in her skull.

“Elska.”

The knowledge that Anna had not just remembered the silly slip of tongue (and also had managed to piece the meaning together despite likely sleeping through most of her studies) should have been enough reason for why the Senior turned away, bracing herself against the hull of the prepared Double; tightly gripped fingers trembling along the carbon fiber, navy orbs wide eyed and blinking rapidly, each breath exhaled with a shudder. And she wished, really really wished, to the highest heavens, that that information was reason enough.

But as her heart pounded, she couldn’t mistake the initial trip; the flutter of delighted surprise, a zing shooting through her chest, and the wave of momentary elation. Finally, not just having discovered a person to express her yearning unspoken feelings of closeness to, but a person, for the first time in ever, to actually return the very same sentiment in a personally cherished language she shared with no one outside the privacy of her heart.

[courtbard-anka]

The Road to My Master's Thesis

Week pre-1: just gotta start somewhere.

Link to master post.

[courtbard-anka]

The Road to My Master’s Thesis

Week 0: interview with a very knowledgeable Master's student who definitely knows what they will work on for their thesis.

Link to master post.

[courtbard-anka]

The Road to My Master’s Thesis

Weekly comics about the ordeal of writing my Master’s thesis. Come along on this ride where I hopefully not only complete my project but also keep my sanity (mostly) intact.

Links to all parts under the cut. I also use this tag.

Link collection

Week 0

Week pre-1

Week 1

[courtbard-anka]

Small Master's thesis update:

Wrote two (2) big emails (the emails weren't big in text but big in how much mental energy they needed to be written and sent) and I already got confirmation from my prof that they will be my supervisor for my thesis. The emails can be broken down to:

Me: hey, no clue what the subject of my thesis will be so far but do you generally wanna be my supervisor?

Prof (literally 3min later): yeah, sounds fun, happy you asked me. Let me know when you have some ideas then we can discuss them together

Me: okidoki!

I did not write 'okidoki' but you get the idea.

[working-in-weird-ways]

Sunday, April 3

Rambling of the day

It snowed a lot yesterday and I don't really know what to do with that. The week before that it was spring weather and now I am extremely confused of what to expect from the upcoming week. Do I need to get my winter coats back out? Or maybe my swim suit? Who knows, not me.

Some numbers

Started working: 11:30

Ended working: 19:00

Overall mood: 7 / 10

Three most important tasks that need to be done today

UA: read / notes

GZ: read / notes / handout

Interview: rehearsing answers / pick outfit

Other tasks that I can work on if time permits

SL: preparation / vis

MHD: prepare / convert / upload

Orga: plan week / decide on tasks for tomorrow / monthly list

Home: laundry / clean bathroom / nails / hair / iron outfit for tomorrow / prepare package / finances

A thing I am looking forward to today

I'm looking forward to trying out my lute for the first time (after getting some of those tasks done). I have tuned it a few time in the past days (and it takes me ages) but I haven't really trying playing anything.

Melodies of Music Month

Senneville, Ballade pour Adeline (piano)

Pachelbel, Canon in D (piano)

Phalèse 1545, Premium Fundamentum (lute)

I also learned that the lute has a completely different notation system (tablature) so I spend quite some time trying to find information on how to read that. The reading itself turned out to be easier than expected but since the lute is not exactly a common instrument anymore, it took me a while to find a good introduction and explanation. I did learn a lot even if I didn't play that long!

[working-in-weird-ways]

Tuesday, March 15

About the book in the picture: Roughly translated the title means Experience of time, 1350-1600 and it's about how time is experienced in (German) literature between 1350-1600 (who would have thought with that title). Experience of time was one of the main subjects in my thesis that I handed in two months before this book got published...

Mood before starting to work

I am absolutely amazed that I slept for 8 hours, got up when my first alarm hit, and that I am now sitting at my desk ready for work. Just like this. I am as confused as I am happy.

First and last task of the day

I will start my work day with re-reading my notes from the last meeting with my advisor and end it with getting all my stuff together for tomorrow's uni day.

Started working: 09:00

Ended working: 15:00

Three most important tasks that need to be done today

MuL: workout the outline / figure out my arguments / define main sources

HCI: create shared folder / organize next steps with group members / contact potential participants round 1

Student Council: make sure everything and everyone is ready for the upcoming event

Other tasks that I can work on if time permits

Home: laundry part 2 / clean up

Home: put away that box that has been standing in the middle of my room for the past month / put away that box that has been standing in the middle of the living room for the past month. I might be bad at putting away boxes.

MuL: start notes on chapter 1

Admin: sign up for A / finance stuff

Mood after finishing work

I'm calling it a day earlier than expected. Reason #1 I am done with the important tasks, #2 tomorrow will be an insanely long day, and #3 the dark and gloomy weather makes me want to curl up with a blanket so I am gonna do that.

[working-in-weird-ways]

Sunday, March 13

Mood before starting to work

Kind of really excited about this studyblr thing? I am not at all a morning person and usually have troubles getting up but it was surprisingly easy today because I wanted to get up, take a picture of my coffee and write this post. So yeah, feels a bit weird (but in a good way).

First and last task of the day

I will start my work day with re-reading my notes for my GZ class. I will end my work day with cleaning up my desk and prepare the stuff I need on Monday morning.

Started working: 11:00

Ended working: 16:00

Three most important tasks that need to be done today

GZ class: finish and upload the handout for my presentation

HCI lab: finish the poster / fill out the group assessment

Introduction to middle high German: prepare tutoring session / upload documents

Other tasks that I can work on if time permits

UA class: do readings / take notes

HCI lab: prepare interview sessions

wash laundry / clean bathroom

plan meals / order groceries

Mood after finishing work

[...] (who the hell programmed those brackets like this? Why are they not lining up???)

Day 1 is coming to an end and I haven't been this productive in weeks! Sure, the initial motivation of trying something new will probably fade a bit with time but that's a problem for later. Right now I'm happy that I did all the tasks I had to do and even some of the ones that I could do today.

[working-in-weird-ways]

Monday, April 4

Rambling of the day

Fuck, I really wish I was a morning person. Unfortunately, mornings suck. Update: I really liked the 15 min walk from the train station to uni.

Some numbers

Started working: 09:00

Ended working: 17:00

Overall mood: 6 / 10

Three most important tasks that need to be done today

Interview: rehearse answers / look pretty / be interviewed

SL: prepare catalog of vis / meeting with R. / write mail to C.

MHD: bring my book and headphones / tutoring session

Other tasks that I can work on if time permits

OE: ask C. about timeline

School: write K. about lessons

MuL: mail U. about meeting / set date

ZHM: ask X. about timeline / set date

Student council: ask X. about meeting

HCI: figure out what the fuck is going on / add my ideas to the pot

A thing I am looking forward to today

Working at the office! After staying home for two weeks straight, I honestly can't wait to go to uni and work at my little desk at the office.

Melodies of Music Month

Phalèse 1545, Premium Fundamentum (lute)

[working-in-weird-ways]

Friday, March 18

Mood before starting to work

I didn't sleep very well so the early start wasn't ideal. But it's okay, I will be able to take a nap over lunch break.

First and last task of the day

My first task of the day is teaching chemistry. My last talk of the day will be teaching a class on photography and graphic design.

Started working: 07:00

Ended working: 19:30

Three most important tasks that need to be done today

Teaching: chemistry / photography / talk K. / talk N.

Student Council: documentation / create template

Orga: scan transcript / send mail to administrator

Other tasks that I can work on if time permits

Graphic Design: flyer

Sleep: take a nap

GZ class: write comment

Mood after finishing work

I am tired and glad that we made it through this week. There was a lot going on the past 6 days - sure, a lot of cool things as well, but I need some time to recharge anyway. I am definitely looking forward to my free Saturday tomorrow!

[working-in-weird-ways]

Thursday, March 17

About that picture: Anyone else reminded of that Michelangelo painting? Instead of Adam reaching out to God, it's Anka reaching out to coffee.

Mood before starting to work

I didn’t want to get up because it’s foggy outside which means it won’t get that warm today which means I still cannot wear that spring outfit. Rude of the weather. But anyway, I am on my way to uni now. Even though I would have preferred to sleep another hour, I am looking forward to coding visualizations again (let’s see if I still am at the end of the day).

First and last task of the day

I will start my work day with researching what I need to download. I will end my work day with preparing all my documents for my Friday lessons.

Started working: 09:30

Ended working: 21:00

Three most important tasks that need to be done today

SL: decide on vis / install package / research vis / document ideas / schedule meeting

HCI: contact group members / schedule interviews / contact participants

Student Council: meeting / bring up past difficulties

Other tasks that I can work on if time permits

Orga: scan transcript / send mail to administrator

Personal: go on a little walk in the city

Mood after finishing work

I am in the bus back home and I am Tired™️. It was a good day though. I didn’t get as far as I hoped with my visualizations so I will have to complete that tomorrow (normally I try to not do any uni work on Fridays cause it’s my teaching day) but I want a free Saturday. So tomorrow it is.

[working-in-weird-ways]

Monday, March 21

Tuesday, March 22

Mood before starting to work

Monday: Not particularly great. It’s one of those days where I would rather curl up in bed with a comforting book and ignore any responsibilities.

Tuesday: Time to try again. Also H. brought breakfast so this day is already a big improvement.

First and last task of the day

I will start my work day with writing an email. I will end it with conducting an interview.

Monday: 09:00-10:00, 16:00-19:30

Tuesday: 12:00-18:30

Three most important tasks that need to be done today

OE: check work flow

HCI: interview 1 / protocol / interview 2 / group meeting

Admin: call / pay bills / organize documents

Other tasks that I can work on if time permits

GZ: comment / read book / theoretical reading / notes

UA: read book / notes

SL: mail / work on vis / documentation

Mood after finishing work

Definitely better than yesterday. Did I get everything done, I wanted to do? No. But it's fine. The rest I can do another time (whenever the heck that is).

[working-in-weird-ways]

Sponsored by my brain’s love to get sidetracked

[working-in-weird-ways]

Wednesday, March 16

About the book in the picture: Gregorius by Hartmann von Aue is one of my favorite medieval texts. When I read it for the first time in my second semester of uni, I gave it an alternative title (the little writing on the front): "When family relationships become more complicated than they should be."

Mood before starting to work

Tired because it was very, very early. Like the kind of early where I look at my alarm and my immediate thought is NO.

First and last task of the day

Today my first task is to get myself to uni and get a coffee (update: I even got a chai latte!). I will end my working day with a student council meeting about an upcoming event.

Started working: 08:00

Ended working: 19:00

Three most important tasks that need to be done today

Student council: carry out event / reflect on the organization of the event / discuss how to bring up issues in meeting

Orga: update card / get transcript

Student council (yes, again): meeting

Other tasks that I can work on if time permits

Orga: scan transcript / send mail to administrator

UA: seminar / notes / send notes to J.

GZ: seminar / notes / input

Groceries: get them

Mood after finishing work

Take that, tasks, take that.