I wouldn't be the first calming that this summer is not the kind of summer that we all have expected. I was so enthusiastically preparing for this season (you know, buying cute skirts, sandals, and body tan lotions), but since my last post on this blog three weeks ago (I know, I know...), nothing have changed: rain is the most frequent guest and temperature barely reaches 20 something Celsius. BUT there's also a bright side of this sad affair: you can work without feeling guilty that you are missing all the sunshine and lazy afternoons with your friends! And that's what I've been doing this whole time: working, dreaming about vacation in some much warmer country, and preparing this summary of my latest activities!
The Wedding. I'd be lying if I told you that I've only been working for these past weeks. Last week I also attended one very special and beautiful wedding! The ceremony took place on this same hill fort where I got married almost four years ago (time really flies!). Although the day was rainy and we barely missed a heavy storm, it was so nice to see so many dear people in one place! And I also got a chance to wear my new dress with peonies!
PhD Stuff. During this time of the year I usually go to the Seminar of Indigenous Culture and this year was no exception. I've helped to organize the event and gave a presentation on "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" and it's relationship with folklore. The presentation itself took me two months to prepare, and I was hoping for a constructive discussion which, sadly, turned to be completely the opposite of my expectations. This was the first time when I felt so broken after reading my paper. Even though I was assured that the presentation itself was very good, I still feel the bitterness that I couldn't convince people to look differently to the gaming industry. Oh, well, at least now I know the direction of my future works!
Health Issues. This cold summer caught me totally off guard and one reckless action (swimming in cold pool, to be precise) "awarded " me with runny nose, aching throat and all other symptoms which you usually get when catching cold. Apparently, drinking all sorts of food supplements and working out in the gym is not enough to build decent immunity. Well, there's also a bright side in this matter too: you can spoil yourself by ordering take outs and stay in your bed with all the fashion magazines that you've bought but had no time to read!
The Books. Fashion magazines aside, I also bought some new books for my personal library.
I was watching a video on "Assasin's Creed" game and it's sources, when I heard the name of Vladimir Bartol. His opus magnum is a book called "Alamut", which explores the life and deeds of Hassan-i Sabbah, a leader of ancient Persian fortress. In the rise of terrorism, this book once again gained popularity, and I'm really looking forward reading it.
Another one is the latest poetry book by Rimvydas Stankevičius, one of my favorite Lithuanian poets. I already read this one and I hope to write a short review!
"We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin belongs next to the Orvel's "1984" and Huxley's "Brave New World". I read this book on dystopian world two years ago and now I found it on sale.
The last one is a book by Ruth Ozeki. I heard lots of praise about this one, so I thought that it's worth to give it a go.
Currently I am reading "Two Cities" by Polish writer Adam Zagajewski. It is a beautifully written essays that I just keep admiring! I can't remember the last time when I had so much joy reading a good quality text! Exploring the post-war emotions of Polish people (especially of those who had been forced to move from their home to other cities), Zagajewski captures the nostalgia of former lives and silent resistance to soviet ideology. It's definitely one of the best books that I've read this year.
That's all for now! Stay healthy!
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