The Introduction Thread

[Fen Shen]

As I really enjoyed reading all your introductions, here's mine...
I'm from northern Germany (and like neither Weißwurst nor Sauerkraut), aged between Onni and Tuuri and currently writing my master thesis. Afterwards, I'll be unemployed try to find work as a journalist, if possible at a science magazine. I love reading fantasy and science fiction as well as non-fiction books. I think I've already described how I've come to find SSSS in another thread. When I'm not online, I'm probably outside jogging or hiking, or in the gym, since I'm very much into karate. Languages are also a passion of mine although I find it difficult to keep the ones alive I've already learnt  But hey, the forum is not only a wonderful place to chat away, but also to practice my English and some other languages thanks to our international public here!

[kjeks]

As I really enjoyed reading all your introductions, here's mine...
I'm from northern Germany (and like neither Weißwurst nor Sauerkraut), aged between Onni and Tuuri and currently writing my master thesis. Afterwards, I'll be unemployed try to find work as a journalist, if possible at a science magazine. I love reading fantasy and science fiction as well as non-fiction books. I think I've already described how I've come to find SSSS in another thread. When I'm not online, I'm probably outside jogging or hiking, or in the gym, since I'm very much into karate. Languages are also a passion of mine although I find it difficult to keep the ones alive I've already learnt  But hey, the forum is not only a wonderful place to chat away, but also to practice my English and some other languages thanks to our international public here!

You don't like Weißwurst? Nothing's better than being on a heavy metal festival in southern Germany and starting the day with Weißwurst and sweet mustard .
Did you study "ordinary" journalism or did you specify? My boyfriend actually studied technical journalism, that's why I'm asking.

[Fen Shen]

I studied "ordinary" communication sciences in combination with french and lots of side-topics (we get credits for a free study section where we can choose any lecture - I mostly took biology and ethnology). I guess with a specialization on technical journalism, it's easier to find a job?

[kjeks]

I studied "ordinary" communication sciences in combination with french and lots of side-topics (we get credits for a free study section where we can choose any lecture - I mostly took biology and ethnology). I guess with a specialization on technical journalism, it's easier to find a job?

Mainly it's easier, because many of the bigger corporations like Audi, Hecklar & Koch or even WMF (that counts for smaller businesses as well) provide jobs besides the public relations (especially for designing and editing instruction manuals). But though he has finnished his studies just recently he still sticks with his job at a shop, selling special cases for technical instruments/weapons (etc.), because he likes it there.

[Raya]

You're a palaeontologist?!???!!! That was my childhood dream job!! (I was a huge nerd-child about fossils and petrified wood and stuff [and dinosaurs asdfghjkl!] haha I was a weird child ) 8'D That sounds so awesome! Even if you're stuck at a desk

What would you normally be doing if you weren't in the desk job?? OuO

It was my dream job too, I just never grew out of wanting it

With palaeo you can go one of three routes: oil and gas industry, lecturing or museum work. I went down the museum route as I specialise in science communication and education (basically I love teaching others about natural history!). Unfortunately I entered the field during the recession when budgets were being slashed and museums lost a lot of funding, meaning jobs are very scarce. Temp jobs are the best you can hope for, and even then the competition is fierce; I once applied for a part time job that had over 200 applicants! With hindsight I should have stuck with lecturing, but to get back on that route would cost over £10,000, which I simply can't afford. Sigh. Nothing to do but keep applying.

Basically what I'd be doing is educating museum visitors, designing workshops and activities etc. Previously I've lead guided fossil walks and identified specimens members of the public brought in. I absolutely loved it and really want a permanent job doing it. Saying that I also wouldn't mind doing curating and exhibition design.

In a nutshell I really, really love my dead fossilised animals

[Pessi]

This is a great thread =)

I'm a Finn, twice as old as Tuomi plus eight years. I speak, understand, read and write Finnish and English, understand written Swedish and some spoken Swedish too and can get along speaking simple Swedish if I really have to. My first foreign language in school was German, but since I haven't had much use for it I've forgotten most of what the teachers managed to cram into my head in ten years. Can still read books in German though.

In uni my major subject was archaeology and minors folkloristics and comparative religion. I switched to a polytechnic to study web media when it turned out my hands simply can't take the strain of archaeological field work, but I'm still really interested in everything ancient and all folkloristic and religious phenomenons. I have a bachelor of arts in web media but that hasn't helped me to get a corresponding job, so I earn my part of the upkeep of our family working as a security guard/receptionist.

Besides my family (= husband and two sons) I have four great loves in my life: The forest we live by, The Finnish Tolkien Society, Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and a geek women's choir called Another Castle. The little time that isn't consumed by these (plus my work of course) I spend mostly reading, drawing, playing music, knitting, crocheing and hanging on the Internet.

I found SSSS through an ad on Girl Genius, didn't quite get the hang of it but continued through to aRTD (which I read in Finnish), then tried SSSS again and realised it was actually the best web comic I had seen so far (not that I've seen very many). I found the comment section and two days later there was talk about a new forum, so I came along here.

[Fen Shen]

I had to google Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu - it sounds like a really interesting and multifaceted martial art. I hope I'll get the chance someday to learn another eastern martial art besides karate, preferably one with weapons.

[Hrollo]

I had to google Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu - it sounds like a really interesting and multifaceted martial art. I hope I'll get the chance someday to learn another eastern martial art besides karate, preferably one with weapons.

Aikido is pretty interesting, and while weapons are secondary, they occasionally come up in the training (mostly bokken and bo or jo).

[Nimphy]

I had to google Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu - it sounds like a really interesting and multifaceted martial art. I hope I'll get the chance someday to learn another eastern martial art besides karate, preferably one with weapons.

One of my classmates practices wushu. He says he uses a lot of weapons and it's "interesting, unlike karate" (his words)

[Fen Shen]

I've tried Aikido and I really liked the concept of using your opponent's energy, but I gave up after the second session. It was the complete opposite from everything I am used to (hard blocking, straight techniques etc.), and I just couldn't make myself be easy enough.  But that was years ago, I might give it another try if there's the chance.

[kjeks]

I've tried Aikido and I really liked the concept of using your opponent's energy, but I gave up after the second session. It was the complete opposite from everything I am used to (hard blocking, straight techniques etc.), and I just couldn't make myself be easy enough.  But that was years ago, I might give it another try if there's the chance.

Made a similar experience which would also seem to happen on any other fight/defence orientated sport: I really wasn't able to put my arms and legs in the right order. So I stick with running through the woods. Also the Aikido class took place with around 40 people which is way too much for a small gym.

[Eich]

This is a great thread =)

I'm a Finn, twice as old as Tuomi plus eight years. I speak, understand, read and write Finnish and English, understand written Swedish and some spoken Swedish too and can get along speaking simple Swedish if I really have to. My first foreign language in school was German, but since I haven't had much use for it I've forgotten most of what the teachers managed to cram into my head in ten years. Can still read books in German though.

In uni my major subject was archaeology and minors folkloristics and comparative religion. I switched to a polytechnic to study web media when it turned out my hands simply can't take the strain of archaeological field work, but I'm still really interested in everything ancient and all folkloristic and religious phenomenons. I have a bachelor of arts in web media but that hasn't helped me to get a corresponding job, so I earn my part of the upkeep of our family working as a security guard/receptionist.

Besides my family (= husband and two sons) I have four great loves in my life: The forest we live by, The Finnish Tolkien Society, Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and a geek women's choir called Another Castle. The little time that isn't consumed by these (plus my work of course) I spend mostly reading, drawing, playing music, knitting, crocheing and hanging on the Internet.

I found SSSS through an ad on Girl Genius, didn't quite get the hang of it but continued through to aRTD (which I read in Finnish), then tried SSSS again and realised it was actually the best web comic I had seen so far (not that I've seen very many). I found the comment section and two days later there was talk about a new forum, so I came along here.

The Finnish Tolkien Society?  I'm going to guess that you know Mikko Ojala, then?  I'm not sure if he's a part of the society, but he's a biiiiig Tolkien fan.  He's in the SSSS comments most days, with a picture of Gandalf for his avatar.  Incidentally, he is also one of the coolest commenters Minna's got, and the first bard of the comic.

[Headfinder]

Let's see...

I'm a spaniard, I'm quite lazy (what a surprise!) and I'm 1,2 Tuomis old.
I used to be that guy in the comment section who's name always showed as blank
My english is good enough to write and read it, but I can't really speak it, my biggest issue all the vowel sound (This means that I don't get poetry right either).
I tried learning finnish once, but didn't get too far. I learned some 3d modelling with blender once, but I didn't get too far. I tried something once, but didn't get too far...
Something I have been successful at is making my way into my first year of college, studying computer engineering (Yay!).
The most interesting thing I've done yet was this videogame project during 1st of bachelor (that's the two years between highschool and college).
I prefer heavy metal (heavy, nwbhm, thrash, folk...); I like sandbox, simulation and horror videogames; I have a cat and... I guess that's it, there's not too much to tell.

[Richard Weir]

Hi, I'm Richard, I'm in my early 50s and live in the UK. I used to be a computer programmer / tech support guy / I.T. tutor / guy-with-the-tool-kit for a succession of firms (they tended to go bust, not my fault!) until a serious cardiomyopathy incapacitated me from working. (As I also have cystic fibrosis (CF, also known as mucoviscidosis), I have to spend too much time with treatments to be able to earn a living.)

In my bits of spare time I read too many webcomics, play computer games, and moderate a forum for the UK CF community.

I got into aRTD fairly early on (I can't remember how) and was amazed by the quality of Minna's art and her prodigious productivity! My brother and I share a copy of aRTD he purchased, and we agreed we would take turns purchasing SSSS.

(BTW, can I suggest people avoid too much chat in this thread - it dilutes it's usefulness if people have to wade through chat looking for intros, or if they get too many search-function hits for a name.)

[Pessi]

The Finnish Tolkien Society?  I'm going to guess that you know Mikko Ojala, then?

I may know him but the name doesn't ring a bell. If he's a memeber of the society, I probably know him by his forum nick. Since the society operates mostly through it's forum Vihreä Lohikäärme, "The Green Dragon", nicks are used also in irl meetings and official names are hard to remember.

Edit: Oops. Sorry Richard. That's a good idea, so no more chatting from me in this thread.