The later part of the year was all about finishing.
As you know, my life after returning from New Zealand was determined. I began an apprenticeship and I set out to finish it to the best of my ability. To do so, much strength and endurance were needed.
In the end it went more than well and thank god, I finished this part of my life. Surprisingly, with the same score as the first apprenticeship back when the blog started: 94%
I also accomplished understanding early enough what would come: That I had to finish a certain project, set up a documentation about it (which exclusively would be graded) and to present it in the end. Also a final written exam in three parts was awaiting. This was all September to November. Basically all I knew I lived for that time.
After the deadlines would have expired and the exam was taken, I had some more time for the final part: Presenting the project and having some technical talk with the teacher afterwards. For this last part the company I work for takes great pleasure in preparing their apprentices. In early January, the day of the presentation, my learning state would fall off of me and I would be all done.
After New Zealand I had some medium-term plan. But this plan would resolve the moment I received a certain piece of paper. What then, I asked myself very often…
So, we have some outline of the greater points of the rest of the year: Write down an undeniable project documentation, take this exam, set up a smashing final presentation, don’t fall into the great pit after you’re done.
While the exam merely was a collection of things we prepared to answer for better two years, the other two parts required a time span of focused preparation.
More or less planned, those two stressful and tense periods of time were accompanied by travel.
First came the documentation.
I had to produce not only text, but a technical representation of what my project was about. It was all about precision, while maintaining a sense of ease for reading pleasure.
That was the time we went to Denmark again. One week, I might have thought, but each week was precious to spend writing. Thus, the vacation would be rather toned and I always knew I had to do something.
Trips like this are all about relaxation, pleasurable undertakings (even long walks would count) and fun.
For a week life would revolve around the plate on the table, crunching sand under our shoes, melting ice-cream on the tip of the tongue, meaningful playing cards, meaningful exhibitions at the museum, meaningful conversations, trips round the area and not least those quiet mornings in front of the laptop. (Did I tell enough people I finally got the groundbreaking difference between the Desk-Top and the Lap-Top? Desk and Lap = Mind blown.)
That was the environment important parts of the dreaded documentation were forged. In retrospect, there could not be a time and place more fitting.
The day came and we handed in the documentation. The days of intense preparation towards the written exam passed, we went out of the room and were relieved. We were done with that part.
Coming up next was the last part of examination: The splendid-to-be presentation plus tech talk.
Do you think I found a place as fitting and soothing as Denmark to prepare for that?
Find out in the next entry! That one will also conclude my retrospective, as we are closing in on the new time of my life I will tell you all about.
See you then!
