[brazil, week 3] Collection of garbled notes
Language
My language is getting better. I feel as if I'm approaching an A1 level - not soon, but approaching. I'm able to get by with my day-to-day life now, and have found myself understanding short conversations when I am out and about. I'm also able to understand most stuff at work by picking out the important words and repeating to confirm the main points - ie. I hear two time slots and the word "tranquilo" (means "chill") and understand that it means "break for this time slot". Then I confirm by "agora tranquilo, (time) volto pra (room)" (means "now chill, (time) return to (room)"). I'm actually not sure if "pra/para" is the correct preposition, but it's understandable.
Music
I've started my bass lessons now and finally gotten permission to grab the conservatory bass. It's been great, and I feel that a part of me has returned now. It's been euphoric in a sense to play. I've also taken the chance to book a lil Miles Davis 100 Years tribute in town. Just a jam opening, not a 'real' concert. But still, it's something and it's gonna be fun.
I've also begun on a teeny little note about "Norwegianness" and music. Through my exchange programme, I'm (among other things) expected to bring "Norwegian" music here as cultural exchange. This has made me ask the question what "Norwegian" music actually is, what it is that defines Norwegianness, and how I can fulfill this task while being truthful to myself and my experiences as a Norwegian person. I'm also digging a bit deeper into the roots of [country]ness' relationship to colonialism and the general idea of a [country]ness'. To ask a simple question: Why should Karpe be less representative of Norwegian music than Bjørn Eidsvåg, and why should the national-romantic ideals of the 1800 continue to define what is 'true' Norwegianness - why is a Telemarkspringar perceived as "more Norwegian" than Forelska i Lærern when most Norwegians can only discern the latter?
Distrohopping?
I love gentoo. It's the ultimate variant of Linux for me. Full control while remaining super easy to use and it has the greatest mascot in all of Linux. Right now though, I'm considering installing Aurora for one very simple reason: I might help my girlfriend run the same system, and I want to be familiar with the tools for if/when somethings breaks so I can help instantly. Probably gonna miss the freedom and control of gentoo, probably not gonna miss compile times.
Matte leão
This stuff is great.
Playing BOTW again
I've begun to play more BOTW again! Since I'm home more at nights now than what I used to be in Norway (and since I have a TV), I've finally picked up one of my favorite games again. This is fun :)