I got over the fact that I failed statistics. It just mean I'll stay an additional term at university, instead of working fulltime while writing my thesis. It also means I can drop one course this term, which is extremely helpful cause I've promised my boss to work 3 days a week, and I've signed up for belly dancing lessons.
I confess I felt better when I saw that most of the students who took the exam with me failed, meaning that it was just an exceptionally difficult exam (as opposed to be meaning hopeless).
Where my paycheck is concerned, I felt really stupid when I realised that there had actually not been any mix up with my paycheck. My boss (who is educated in business, and obsessed with everything concerned with business & profit), patiently explained to me every little detail of how "when I'm making so much money, I will pay an awful lot of tax, and therefore not get much money paid" (Icelanders have to pay 39% tax). I told my boss that in that case, he should pay me more money. But he just laughed and said "but the tax will take it away anyway!".
Yesterday a funny incident took place.
An American entered the shop where I work, and the following dialogue took place:
American: Excuse me, we are making a documentary about Iceland, Icelandic designs, etc (and yara yara). Would it be all right with you if we filmed in here?
Me: How long will it take?
American: About 10 minutes
Me: Well, okay
American: And would it be all right if we asked a few questions?
Me: Ehrm.. Who is going to be seeing this?
American: It's for the American market
Me: Well nobody I know then. So why not!
American: Great, so we'll be here in 5 minutes!
Okay, so 5-10 minutes later he and 2 other guys came with a huge camera, all kinds of equipment and stuff, and spent ages on finding the right background for interviewing me! They went like "do you feel ready?". And I went "well I'm just supposed to answer a few questions, right?"
Then they made me stand right in front of the camera, and asked me a MILLION questions about wool, lava, runes, tourists, what tourists think of Icelanders, etc etc, and I just talked and talked.
Then they filmed everything I had talked about, went by everything I said literally (which is funny, cause I'm no expert). I am not used to cameras in my face, but they assured me I had done "wonderful". I know they say that to everyone, of course, but it still made me feel better! They took my name, and said they were going to put it on the screen while I was being interviewed.
After they were gone I thought to myself that it's funny that I was ready to say no if the documentary would be filmed in Iceland, or even just anywhere in Scandinavia, where I know people. But in the United States, where hundreds of millions reside.. that didn't bother me!
So anyway, if you live in the US, keep your eyes open for documentaries about Iceland. Cause I might be in it! Oh and.. remember that the camera always adds 10 pounds. I'm thinner in real life! :p
Hi Maria! Sorry I wasn't here for a while. I've been busy too. Now I missed comforting you on your worst day, but it looks like you're going to be ok. I just hope you will find some time for a vacation?
I'm sure you had done wonderful on the TV, and you are probably no less an expert than many people talking in documentaries. But I do understand you about not wanting to appear on TV where people know you. You can never know what it would look like after the edition. The result can probably be embarrassing even if you talk about wool.
Posted by: Orly at September 3, 2005 08:02 PM PermalinkWell, I couldn't find it on the web, but look at this tear-jerker that I did find:
Maria, a young woman from Silesia, replies to an advertisement by the Icelandic farmers association that promises fortune and happiness. At last, a chance to get out of the reception camp where she has had to live with her mother since their escape. On her journey there, she meets the seaman Olaf who tells her some old sagas. She falls in love. Olaf wants to fetch her from the farm and marry her. Working on the land is unfamiliar and tough, her loneliness knows no bounds, and painful memories of the last days of the war haunt her. And there is no sign of Olaf. But the spectacular landscape with its powerful crescendo of colours gives her strength. The farmer starts to pester her sexually. She escapes to Reykjavik, but cannot find Olaf. Instead, she meets the Jew Bruno who was only accepted by Iceland because he can play the flute. She learns from Bruno, who secretly loves Maria but is dangerously ill, that Olaf has since married and his wife is expecting a child. However, Olaf is not happily married and tries to seduce her a second time. But Maria remains strong and decides for Bruno instead....
Posted by: David Boxenhorn at September 3, 2005 08:44 PM PermalinkTV tales:
Both when I was in 'Jeopardy!' and when I was in 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' we got makeup. We had to be powdered to avoid reflections from fatty skin. On both occasions we were told that we could get additional makeup on request. On one occasion they told the tale of some previous male contestant who dared to try some eyeliner.
This was told as if eyeliner on a man has to be a good thing, since men usually don't use it. If men don't do it, doing it must be good. I learned over the years that the prime goal for womankind is to make men look ridiculous, and so I also learned to just say 'No' to any suggestion coming from the lips of a woman...well most suggestions, at least.
Anyway, on both occasions I did actually make additional requests. I asked them to add a third eye with a cat pupil on my forehead. They refused, even though I told them how happy it would make my son.
What can you learn from this story?
I dunno...
:)
Orly, I was wondering where you had been!
David: I absolutely LOVED the story!
One could think it were about me. Everybody loving & wanting to seduce me, Icelanders and Jews alike. NOT!
Torbjörn: My sister was on a tv show as well and won a car. They also put tons of make up on her. But these were just a few guys making a documentary.. They promised me it wasn't candid camera!
Posted by: Maria at September 4, 2005 09:02 PM PermalinkOh hell, was it "Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations?!!!"
I totally saw you on it. It ran about two weeks ago, when this dude went to Iceland, and he interviewed you in the gift shop and I thought to myself:
That looks just like Hatshepsut!
HAHAHA! OMG. That's awesome! You did really well and looked pretty and had NO ACCENT at all. I am impressed.
Posted by: DeoDuce at September 5, 2005 03:13 AM PermalinkSpork take a chill pill. The interview was like 4 days ago :p
Posted by: Maria at September 5, 2005 11:41 AM Permalink