喆譯's blog

Half of my time in Izmir has passed, so I guess I should be aware and have some feelings about the surroundings.

In the class Advanced GIS is quite easy, but introduced me to some ESRI products which I haven't got my hands on before.

This time is the Story map, I think it will be a great tool for presentation as a GIS user.

So, please enjoy

Fist is the cascade story map

And also the Journal Story Map


That is some basic use of story map and small walks around.

And for blogs, I think the tour map could come in handy.


And this one was kind of my last blog Exploring the beach near Urla and used in this story map.

it's quite fun.

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So, for the things besides technology? what did I learned here?

Well even though I will write things not so pleasant here, but still I don't regret coming here.

As my moral, make every decision as yourself after ten years, will you regret not doing it?

If yes, of course do it. If no, well why are you still worrying so much.

It saved me out of a lot of emotional suffers.

So, as for everyday life, I'm used to not speaking any thing while going around in Urla, the town I live.

Though the fish selling guy is my friend now, but still I can't really communicate with him.

And every other shops. And also looking for the best way to draw money and with card or cash.

those small things filled all the small gaps of life, chores took more time than in Frankfurt, and more tiring.

And for school life, it's nice to be taking different lessons, the lesson mind set is some how life in NTU but not as advanced, sadly. I can understand why they do this but not agree with them.
Classes are not always understandable, or too crazy.

Research seminar, this is the third time I take courses to generate a research question, though I'm still bad at doing this, I'm not really a researcher I guess. But this seems to be the only class with a proper content as a master course. Though the teacher has some issues of repeating herself. Last week I had one individual class, to cut and finish her words and go to the next topic faster is the task.

Economic and regional development. the teacher seems nice and also have good lecture skill, everything is loud and clear, still, it's not what I want. It is talking about the ancient 1990s model and how to grow. The era of endless growing is in the past, and all the things I stand for against.

Planning Theory is til now the most confusing lesson. Every week the most of the hard reading is from this class, and in the lesson, the question of the professor is really hard since she digs in all the details of the terms and phrases. And the answer is even more confusing, like is it even a sentence? every word is correct but don't really have a answer. Just no idea what the heck is all the history of the theories which brought to the disastrous cities of the current US. I don't know since it was always criticized in the past year.

Advanced GIS, well not so advanced since I'm already an advanced user. I guess it's automatic A if everything went smoothly.

And then classmates, well it seems now I'm the Charlie and three angels, the sidekick of the DEU group. But it's fun. And among the classmates, hmm English speaker is really rare, but still I had good friends I can give credits for this.
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Outside of school I guess I'm stuck at Gulbahce, Urla surf house.

I really enjoyed there, the kiting is fun. And kind of the only place I can speak with people pleasantly.

When there's wind, I want to go, when there's no wind, nothing much to do.

The owner of Urla Surf House Nico is the best guy in the whole Izmir time I met, he got soul, and kindness of helping me and offers me all kinds of kite styles, he like to see kiters improve and he kites with freedom.

Strongly recommend to come to this place and enjoy the wind.

And how about the free diving course?

Well til today there's three days on the boat, yes, only three fuckin days, from September.

And ALWAYS on windy days. The lessons are less progress. One indoor class took place last week, and it was turkish. The student who translates for me is not doing a good job, but I can't blame him.
This Sunday there's another session, and also, Sunday is the only windy day in the following week, damn.
I was looking forward to learning but the progress and the coaching just kept letting me down.
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For the friends I know in Izmir? everyone is really friendly and nice. I can really count on everyone of them. They always offer help and ask if I need. And actually I really need them, I feel useless when nothing works out when I try to do anything, just frustrating, the bond between people is the best in here.
So, let friends help, and also a good reason to hangout, and grab a beer, turkish coffee, cay(tea), is always so enjoyable.
Friends here are more hanging out, comparing to the endless partying in Frankfurt.
So I quite enjoyed when there's friends and really cherish the moments.
Though still mostly the moments are the lonely Urla townsville.
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This blog is kind of the murmuring of the life here so far, I like some part, hate some part, complicated just like life itself.

I just have to keep going on and see where I go.