Exams are done and I'm going home!
I wish you all very merry Christmas and a good end to 2015! :)
Until next year!
Me.
Friday 18 December 2015
Monday 7 December 2015
Study week and debating
Good morning!
I have been back from Slovenia exactly a week now and just thought I write a bit how it all ended. And then about my first ever real debating tournament in Leiden, Netherlands, which took place yesterday, and also about study week before the approaching exams (and home and Christmas!).
Actually I don't have so much to say about the last days in Slovenia, so I hope, that pictures say more than any words :). But shortly - we went to a place that might easily be (when you leave feelings like Hiiumaa-love aside, of course) the world's most beautiful place - lake Bled! It was a sunny weather and the place is amazing. It was really...fulfilling to be there.
The tournament at the end of the camp also went well. We really did well, and even made it to the top room with all the best debaters once. Only to lose there, of course, but it was still such a..cooool thing, that we made it there!
I really see the benefits of starting debating already! I especially noticed them during last week - the final lecture-week at uni. Firstly, I have improved enormously at the efficiency of taking notes. I make notes which I actually understand, quickly and structured. Can't believe that just these few months of debating help so much more than for example my entire bachelor program.
Secondly, I have become much more structured in writing and speaking (okay, maybe not at writing here in the blog, as this is always long and all over the place, but I'm trying :D) But for example writing reports and giving presentations, it suddenly comes so naturally to me, to really make a good structure where you first say what you're gonna do, then do it, and then say what you've just done.
Thirdly - every other type of public speaking seems so easy. Actually, I've never worried too much about giving presentations, for example. But last week I had to present our research report to our course, and I noticed that many people were rather nervous. To me, on the other hand, it seemed like the easiest thing to do - contrary to some motions in debating, I actually knew what I was talking about, there was no team against me, to attack me about every possible weak point I make, and no judge to give me points and rankings! It really is relaxing then, to do this type of public speaking rather than a real debate.
And finally, I surely noticed my progress yesterday at my life's first real debating competition at Leiden University. I am getting much better at understanding what the debate is going to be about already in the preparation time, better at finding arguments from different aspects, at structuring, and then at actually carrying it all out during my minutes of speaking. I was in a team with a guy called Perly, who is also very beginner, but our teamwork went so well, and we really had fun during the day rather than getting stressed and depressed :D. We came up with really good arguments and were good at backing each other up. Also, the feedback from the judges was really good and helpful.
However, it is still hard for me to go through such a long day of intense thought progress, combined with so much sitting. I would like to have a break to move around and do something physical to make my body a bit more lively during the long day, but no. Debating tournaments are just long and mentally challenging. But hopefully practice will help and my mental endurance will improve quickly :).
As I've been traveling and enjoying life so much, I am really far behind at uni things. Obviously, the noble thoughts of studying while I travel, didn't come to real action, so I have a lot to catch up during the study week. Also, I have to go do the lab practicals, that I've skipped, which takes another day off from studying. However, I do feel like I can do it, and more important - like I want to do it. And am extra motivated, because after exams I can finally go home and see my worlds bestest family, and my amazing friends :).
So I've been a good nerd and studying at home and at library.
And I have started to regularly go to gym again! It's so nice. And I will never forget Simon Strongman Stewart who taught me one of life's biggest truths (in my opinion) that Life is easy when you're strong. :).
Now picture time, and then back to studying!
Hope you all have a very very good week! :)
Goodbye!
Me
If this place is not beautiful then I don't know what is.
Lunch for true debaters - let's sit all day and then stuff ourselves with pizza! :D
Perfect boring granny gonna spend the entire day at library :)
If you take some Estonian and some English and mix them together in a weird way, you are speaking Dutch ;)
I have been back from Slovenia exactly a week now and just thought I write a bit how it all ended. And then about my first ever real debating tournament in Leiden, Netherlands, which took place yesterday, and also about study week before the approaching exams (and home and Christmas!).
Actually I don't have so much to say about the last days in Slovenia, so I hope, that pictures say more than any words :). But shortly - we went to a place that might easily be (when you leave feelings like Hiiumaa-love aside, of course) the world's most beautiful place - lake Bled! It was a sunny weather and the place is amazing. It was really...fulfilling to be there.
The tournament at the end of the camp also went well. We really did well, and even made it to the top room with all the best debaters once. Only to lose there, of course, but it was still such a..cooool thing, that we made it there!
I really see the benefits of starting debating already! I especially noticed them during last week - the final lecture-week at uni. Firstly, I have improved enormously at the efficiency of taking notes. I make notes which I actually understand, quickly and structured. Can't believe that just these few months of debating help so much more than for example my entire bachelor program.
Secondly, I have become much more structured in writing and speaking (okay, maybe not at writing here in the blog, as this is always long and all over the place, but I'm trying :D) But for example writing reports and giving presentations, it suddenly comes so naturally to me, to really make a good structure where you first say what you're gonna do, then do it, and then say what you've just done.
Thirdly - every other type of public speaking seems so easy. Actually, I've never worried too much about giving presentations, for example. But last week I had to present our research report to our course, and I noticed that many people were rather nervous. To me, on the other hand, it seemed like the easiest thing to do - contrary to some motions in debating, I actually knew what I was talking about, there was no team against me, to attack me about every possible weak point I make, and no judge to give me points and rankings! It really is relaxing then, to do this type of public speaking rather than a real debate.
And finally, I surely noticed my progress yesterday at my life's first real debating competition at Leiden University. I am getting much better at understanding what the debate is going to be about already in the preparation time, better at finding arguments from different aspects, at structuring, and then at actually carrying it all out during my minutes of speaking. I was in a team with a guy called Perly, who is also very beginner, but our teamwork went so well, and we really had fun during the day rather than getting stressed and depressed :D. We came up with really good arguments and were good at backing each other up. Also, the feedback from the judges was really good and helpful.
However, it is still hard for me to go through such a long day of intense thought progress, combined with so much sitting. I would like to have a break to move around and do something physical to make my body a bit more lively during the long day, but no. Debating tournaments are just long and mentally challenging. But hopefully practice will help and my mental endurance will improve quickly :).
As I've been traveling and enjoying life so much, I am really far behind at uni things. Obviously, the noble thoughts of studying while I travel, didn't come to real action, so I have a lot to catch up during the study week. Also, I have to go do the lab practicals, that I've skipped, which takes another day off from studying. However, I do feel like I can do it, and more important - like I want to do it. And am extra motivated, because after exams I can finally go home and see my worlds bestest family, and my amazing friends :).
So I've been a good nerd and studying at home and at library.
And I have started to regularly go to gym again! It's so nice. And I will never forget Simon Strongman Stewart who taught me one of life's biggest truths (in my opinion) that Life is easy when you're strong. :).
Now picture time, and then back to studying!
Hope you all have a very very good week! :)
Goodbye!
Me
 |
| last morning and Kranjska Gora |
If this place is not beautiful then I don't know what is.
Lunch for true debaters - let's sit all day and then stuff ourselves with pizza! :D
Perfect boring granny gonna spend the entire day at library :)
Windows look like jail :D - fine by me - must make me smart
Leiden Novice 2015, morning.
If you take some Estonian and some English and mix them together in a weird way, you are speaking Dutch ;)
On the way back home, super tired and half hysteric :D
This kind of post.
Bye-bye!
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