MY HOUSE

Here you go mom, finally, a tour of my house. It's a really nice house, done up during the summer. And we got a great landlord who fixes any problems that might pop up.



As some of you saw in the last post, I found sign language music videos on YouTube. And since that I've watched loads. I think it's so fascinating. It was actually these videos that gave me my idea for one of my documentaries. In one of the modules, we have a project called "Student Led", meaning it's free and we can make whatever we want. I want to make a doc about sign language and how it's like to live your everyday life doing that. Most likely I'm hoping to sign up for the Discovery sign language project. They will pay for my course in BSL (British Sign Language). In return I have to commit to the project, working every other Friday. That would be a great way for me to research for my documentary. One can not really understand another persons way of life before one puts himself  in their shoes.

I think sign language is beautiful and exciting to watch. The idea of communicating like that is to me an incredible thing.

Today's song: Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA (ASL)

SIGN LANGUAGE

I just came across some amazing music videos. He "sings" them in sign language, ASL. How cool is that?



I can say my name with sign language, but that's it. I used to know more, cause we had to learn it 6th and 7th grade. We mostly focused on the one-hand alphabet, in Norwegian, not necessarily words. We even had a test in one-hand sign language. This wasn't compulsory in my time, but our teacher said it was important. Till this day, I really appreciated that she taught us that. One of my little sisters, Christina, she's in 3rd grade now. Her class has had sign language classes from 1st grade cause one of her classmates is deaf. So she knows bits and pieces. I think that's really good.

I think sign language should be compulsory in school, at least to have a basic understanding.

I want to learn sign language, so I'm considering signing up for Discoverys sign language project. It would be amazing to be able to "speak" that.

Today's song: Jessie J - Price tag Sign language style

GOT A NEW JOB AS A PHOTOGRAPHER

I've started my new job now, for Student Swansea Events. Working as a promoter and photographer (film mainly). We had our first "trial" evening on Wednesday the 19th of October at Fuzzylogic (Oceana).



For now I'm working in the Monday team, promoting the concept iLoveMondays. Today I've been visiting Illustration course to tell the student about the Halloween flyer competition. Basically we want them to design a flyer within 36 hours. Can it be done?

I submitting a design proposal to, which I'm making later tonight/tomorrow. I do love my job, cause even though it's minimum wage, I get free entry to a bunch of the cities clubs, VIP and much more.

I LOVE HER NEW SONG! I've listened to it like 7 times today already. Check it out
Today's song: Rihanna - We found love

KIDS AWAY - FIRST ACTIVITY

Today was the first activity of the new project I'm in charge of, called Kids Away. It went absolutely perfect. First I would like to thank my 5 volunteers, who did an amazing job walking through the forest on treasure hunts and making sure everyone was having a great time. Thank you :D

For those that don't know, the Kids Away project take about 20 kids out on monthly activities, such as bushcraft, climbing, bowling etc. With the next week or so, I'll be launching the Kids Away blog (BETA site so far) were you can check out our project, get involved or give donations/support us. F. ex. for the December activity we need jam jars and toilet roll tubes.

Today we were in Gower having bushcraft courses together with Dryad Bushcraft. Andy and Rick were today's amazing instructors, who thought us everything from building a survival shelter and lighting a fire to making friendship bracelets from forest items. 

I felt so good finally starting up. All the stress and planning is worth it when you see these kids faces. They are an incredible bunch of kids, just that some might have had and have a rough time.

One of the boys doesn't speak outside his family, hardly even in school. He's really shy. Today we got him to smile and participate in all activities. He loved it. I also managed to get a faint whispers with the word "Okay" when I asked him "how you feeling?" after he tripped on a stick. One activity, one word. Just imagine, maybe after three activities we'll get a sentence. THAT is progress.

That's what I mean, many of these kids need help rebuilding, but even so, all of them smile and have fun. If I can say I've managed to improve the life of a few kids during my time I'll be through the roof.

Today's song: The Killers - Human

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE

Every Thursday I've got a four philosophy seminar/lecture. I like philosophy, it makes you think of the world differently. This is a response I've written to one of the topics we had today (13/10/2011). This post is also posted on my career blog.

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What is the meaning of life?

This is a question philosophers and people have asked themselves from dawn of time. It's in the very nature of humans to question the world around them. What's the point? Why should I iron that shirt? Why should I go to uni? Why should I bother getting out of bed in the morning?

Matrix - Red: Disconnect from Matrix Blue: Stay put - Source: Warner Bros Inc.

Is reality fundamentally one or is it many? That is a question that has been asked many times. Take the Matrix films. The theory of the world most humans grow up in is computer generated and exist only as part of clever programming. And that the real world is outside this. But then again, what determines what is real and what is not?

I would say the fact that I can see the world, that I can smell the different smells, that I can hear the sounds around. Basically the five senses. But when one dreams, doesn't one see, smell and hear too? What is there to say that the dream is a dream? Maybe the real world is a dream and the dream the real world.

Source: Reellifewisdom.com

We make a choice and either accept it or not. Simple as that. Humans base their choices on logic, moral and ethics. Most of us has the same "moral-code", but then you have the people that have a different view. Are they wrong or are we wrong? We classify someone mentally ill when their minds are much different from the general public. But think of this, the mentally ill will sometimes say they are sane and that in fact "we" are the crazy ones. The perception of reality is subjective.

Back to my original question; What is the meaning of life?
Is it to become rich and buy the newest Audi? Or is to be happy and live life?
This is also something that is subjective. My meaning and plans are different from my friends, if not much, then in some degree.

Meaning with life to me is to be happy, live life, make a difference and be remembered. I chose this reality and accept it, even though it may give you a hard time some times. I wish to make my mark on the world, even if the mark is tiny. If I can help someone or make something that change something and/or someone, I get happy. Yes life is hard and I make bad choices all the time, but I also make good choices. This goes for all of us, in some degree or another.

"Live the life you love, so you can love the life you live."

Don't give up and stay put, it get's better. Sometimes the light in the end of that tunnel might seem so far away or it could be all black. If ever I felt lost, the great and amazing people around me turned on the light.

A great music video, with a stopmotion effect.

Today's song: One Republic - Good Life

HOME SWEET HOME

My room is done :D and I love it! We went to IKEA the other day, all us boys, to buy loads of stuff. Apparently students get 15% off on everything in IKEA (UK only), which is great!



Have a look in my new room: (I know it isn't as smooth as the last one I did, but the program crashed so had to simplify it)


So there, now mom you can't stop nagging about pictures of my room. Haha! I'm gonna post some more pictures of the rest of the house some time in the future. It feels good, having our own house. I'm home now.

Today's song: Sweet home Alabama

KIDS AWAY MUSICLAND

Been working with my Kids Away project all day. Not long now. Gonna be lush to start with it, see some of the kids again. Been calling every single parent/guardian and arranging a social night for the volunteers today.

  

Have you heard James Morrisons new album? The Awakening? It's amazing! That is my album of the week :D 

For the last four days this song has been stuck in my mind! I know it's kinda cheese and it's boy band, bt it's kinda catchy. And the lyrics are true.

Today's song: One Direction - What makes you beautiful