NotW #79 Sarah Noel

[Sarah Noel]

Who are you?

Spoiler

Tell us about yourself! Where are you coming from, what languages do you speak, what do you do, how old are you, tell us a few words about your family, work etc. This is the job interview part.

I was born in Seattle, but was mainly raised and currently live in New Orleans. I am an undergraduate at the University of New Orleans studying Biology. Everyone immediately asks if I'm going to Med School after hearing my major, the answer is no. I don't have the drive to interact with a bunch of strangers everyday, which is what the majority of medical careers boil down to. I'd rather be shut up in a lab somewhere with mircropipettes and agar. I don't actually know what I want to research yet. (entomology maybe?) I've got time to figure it out. I might possibly end up as a High School Bio teacher.

Why are you here?

Spoiler

What brought you here to the Learn Na'vi forum in the first place? Did you fall in love with the language? With Pandora? With a character? Did someone invite you? Or did you stumble upon this site? Once here, why did you decide to stay? How much time do you spend here every day?

I actually first registered for this site in January of 2010, with the intention of learning the language. I picked my username by choosing a random word out of the Na'vi dictionary, then got really lazy and never studied.  I forgot my first username, but hung out around the cosplay boards as a guest, eventually making a new account to post there. I generally check LN once everyday or two, looking through the cosplay board and the 2012 meet up board.

Where do your alias and profile pic come from?

Spoiler

Do they have a special significance? Is you alias a translation of your real name, or just a bunch of random letters thrown together? Is that you on your profile pic?

My username is my real name. My avatar is my Avatar cosplay.

Srak nga tsun nìna'vi pivlltxe?

Spoiler

How well? Why did you start to learn it? What is your ultimate goal with the language? Do you have specific methods/tools you use in learning the language? How did your friends, family, or colleagues react to your interest in learning Na'vi? Have you told them at all? Have you converted any of them?

I speak Na'vi very poorly, I have difficult time learning things of an academic nature (especially when most of it is drilling and memorization) when I'm not in a classroom setting with deadlines and things or I'll end up putting it off indefinately. I'd like to learn it profienctly enough to make my cosplay more realistic, and have simple conversations in it. In the very beginning when the movie was still in theaters I had convinced two of my friends to learn it with me, they both lost interest pretty quickly, and I still put it off.

Before the June 2011 meetup I was trying to cram a little of it in my head on the road trip. (My mom was going to Washington to visit family). When my mom found my phonetics papers in car, she joking called me a something like a "neotrekkie," since I was attempting to learn a nerdy con-lang. I told her Na'vi sounds way prettier than klingon.

What's you favorite Na'vi word? Did you incorporate it (or others) into your everyday vocab?

"fwäkì ke fwefwi" I like because I like to imagine a mantis whistling, it's a cute image. But more personally I somehow turned this into a vulgar interjection with the help of a friend; it's a minor inside joke between us. "F**king ke fwefwi" I'll say every once in a while when I'm pissed off.

In your opinion, what are the top three user-created content on the LN website?

Spoiler

Anything from the main site, the wiki, or the forum including language docs, threads, quotes, literary works, images, etc.

The Dictionary, the forum, and I actually really like podcasts since I'm having difficulty with this spoken language when I can't hear it. I haven't looked very hard though, so if anyone can point me towards more auditory content that'd be great.

Have you made any contributions to the LN community that you're particularly proud of?

Spoiler

What made you make those? Do you plan on contributing (again) in the future? How?

I do a cosplay and am currently organizing the 2012 Meet Up Clan Cosplay. check it out here. I also give informal advice to some of the aspiring Avatar cosplayers around the internet.

What is it that you liked/hated the most about Avatar ?

Spoiler

How many times have you seen it? How big of an Avatard are you? Prove it!

The thing I liked least about Avatar is that an empty headed Marine could waltz in with no knowledge of anything and save everyone. Norm's probably my favorite character so I feel bad that his years of hard work were completely ignored.

I saw it 7 times in Theaters, once I got the DVD I completely lost track. I embrace the term Avatard although I'm sure some find it offensive.

Has Avatar  changed your life in any way?

Spoiler

Are you trying to become a Na'vi? How and to what extent? Do you live on a tree? Do you wear your hair in a long braid? Or are you just simply blue? Do you bond with animals? Is Gaia on your contact list? Did you have your photo 'shopped?

Because of Avatar I was motivated enough to drop 20 pounds to more properly suit the costume I aspired to make. I hope to drop a few more before the 2012 meet up. My cosplay is the closest I'll ever be to being a Na'vi.

If you could ask Frommer or Cameron three movie or language related questions what would they be?

Spoiler

You can make requests specific words/expressions too.

I stole some of these from recent NotW, because I thought they were good questions.

Cameron: Care to give us any more information about the sequels?
Frommer: When you ever get the time, do you think you'll write an official Na'vi textbook of some sort?
Both: Care to come to Meet Up next summer?

What else do you do in you free time?

I knit, as well as general crafts and creations with my hands, "study", and spend way too much time doing nothing on the internet.

Name your top three favorite Earth animals from most favorite to least. Why those? What's the animal you're most terrified of?

1. House Cat
2. Millipedes, because I have some
3. uh, rats I guess

I'm terribly afraid of the impact uneducated people have on this world, if that counts as an animal. Not to say uneducated people are animals, I mean all people are animals, educated or not. I also get squirmy when I think of internal parasites, especially any of the ones that are or look like worms.

Pirate, ninja, zombie, or robot?

Spoiler

Something else? Maybe a combo? Exactly what subtype? Why? (For those of you not so versed in trash tropes, this question basically amounts to asking "What superpowers would you like to have?")

Always Pirate.

What three items would you take to a desert island and why?

Spoiler

Anything from books, movies, games, instruments, music, sporting equipment, etc. You'd be provided with means to fully utilize the chosen items – electricity, MP3 player, etc. –, but you couldn't use them for anything else. Escape is not possible.

1. Food
2. Computer with Internet
3. A really great bed

If you could travel to anywhere in space and time (including fictional universes), where would you go and why?

Pandora if I get an Avatar body, otherwise, Hogwarts.

If you were granted one single wish what would it be?

I wish climate change could magically fix itself, since I don't believe people are going to get their stuff together in time to fix it before it's too late. More personally, I want a secure, predicable and content life, possibly with a partner whom I have a deep connection with to share it with, boring I know.

What is a question you'd ask yourself? How would you answer it?

Are you going to start studying for that Physics test that's coming up?

Maybe

True or false?

Spoiler

Write three statements about yourself, the more extravagant the better. At least one of them must be true. At the end of the week, you'll have to tell which ones were truthful and which made up.

1. I once broke my arm falling off a horse.
2. My upper incisor teeth are majorily fake.
3. I can successfully paint every inch of my body.

What is the funniest, weirdest, or most embarrassing Na'vi or Avatar  related thing that has happened to you?

Spoiler

Something along the lines of a MLIA short.

I was once running around a Comic Convention in my Na'vi costume, happy as a clam, when a friend comes up to me and says "you're right breast has popped out of the bikini top." FML

I glue that sucker down now.

"You are known for your Na'vi cosplay. Do you, or have you considered doing, any other cosplay? What?"

Spoiler

Asked by the previous NotW.

I am planning other costumes. Avatar was my first really good one, but I have others in the works. When I have the time and drive, I'm working on a cat costume thing called "Knittin' Kitten" as well as a Faun costume, both of whom I have most of the materials for, but haven't gotten around to do yet. Besides being a biologist, I sort of want to comission costumes free lance.

[mikkowilson]

Nice post Sarah!

T/F/F


- Mikko

[AketuanNavi]

Awesome Sarah. Congratulations!  

T/F/T

I knit, as well as general crafts and creations with my hands, "study", and spend way too much time doing nothing on the internet.

If you are referring to IRC and the forums. I wouldn't consider it "nothing". I look forward to chatting with friends, and doing "tinychats" and livestreams...ect. And I'm glad you take the time to join us, it wouldn't be the same without you.  

-Aketuan

[archaic]

Congrats ma tsmuke.

I don't actually know what I want to research yet.

How about bioluminescence?



OK, so my T/F guesses .....
1. True, I have a couple of NARF's who fell off horses and broke stuff.
2. True, this kind of work is pretty common theses days.
3. False, because if you can get to certain parts of your back, then your a better tsmuk that I am.

[Sarah Noel]

If you are referring to IRC and the forums. I wouldn't consider it "nothing". I look forward to chatting with friends, and doing "tinychats" and livestreams...ect. And I'm glad you take the time to join us, it wouldn't be the same without you.  

-Aketuan

I was mostly referring to stumbleupon, youtube, facebook, and most recently reddit. I can get work done if I were on IRC alone.

[Swoka Ikran]

Congratulations

I'll guess Ng/Ts/Ng.

[akiwiguy]

Congratulations!

1 - True.
2 - True.
3 - False. You've said before that you've had to get a friend to paint your back iirc

[Txur’Itan]

Congratulations!

T/F/T

[Tsmuktengan]

Congrats Sarah! 

My guess.... Ts/Ts/Ng.

[Blue Elf]

Seykxel sì nitram, ma Sarah

I try to guess: Ng/Ng/Ts (If you can paint back yourself, you are snake woman )

[Txonä Unil Stä'nìyu Rolyusì]

Who are you?

Spoiler

Tell us about yourself! Where are you coming from, what languages do you speak, what do you do, how old are you, tell us a few words about your family, work etc. This is the job interview part.

I was born in Seattle, but was mainly raised and currently live in New Orleans. I am an undergraduate at the University of New Orleans studying Biology. Everyone immediately asks if I'm going to Med School after hearing my major, the answer is no. I don't have the drive to interact with a bunch of strangers everyday, which is what the majority of medical careers boil down to. I'd rather be shut up in a lab somewhere with mircropipettes and agar. I don't actually know what I want to research yet. (entomology maybe?) I've got time to figure it out. I might possibly end up as a High School Bio teacher.

No way I didn't know you were born in Seattle! That's cool! And nice major you've got there. Definitely not something I could do lol

Srak nga tsun nìna'vi pivlltxe?

Spoiler

How well? Why did you start to learn it? What is your ultimate goal with the language? Do you have specific methods/tools you use in learning the language? How did your friends, family, or colleagues react to your interest in learning Na'vi? Have you told them at all? Have you converted any of them?

I speak Na'vi very poorly, I have difficult time learning things of an academic nature (especially when most of it is drilling and memorization) when I'm not in a classroom setting with deadlines and things or I'll end up putting it off indefinately. I'd like to learn it profienctly enough to make my cosplay more realistic, and have simple conversations in it. In the very beginning when the movie was still in theaters I had convinced two of my friends to learn it with me, they both lost interest pretty quickly, and I still put it off.

Before the June 2011 meetup I was trying to cram a little of it in my head on the road trip. (My mom was going to Washington to visit family). When my mom found my phonetics papers in car, she joking called me a something like a "neotrekkie," since I was attempting to learn a nerdy con-lang. I told her Na'vi sounds way prettier than klingon.

I can help you via Skype, I also have my lessons on the Avatar Nation podcasts, and omängum fra'uti has some podcasts out as well. As SOON as I have time (probably this winter break?) I will be making some pronunciation lessons of my own

And Na'vi totally sounds better than Kingon lol

What's you favorite Na'vi word? Did you incorporate it (or others) into your everyday vocab?

"fwäkì ke fwefwi" I like because I like to imagine a mantis whistling, it's a cute image. But more personally I somehow turned this into a vulgar interjection with the help of a friend; it's a minor inside joke between us. "F**king ke fwefwi" I'll say every once in a while when I'm pissed off.

Lulz that's hilarious!

In your opinion, what are the top three user-created content on the LN website?

Spoiler

Anything from the main site, the wiki, or the forum including language docs, threads, quotes, literary works, images, etc.

The Dictionary, the forum, and I actually really like podcasts since I'm having difficulty with this spoken language when I can't hear it. I haven't looked very hard though, so if anyone can point me towards more auditory content that'd be great.

See my answer above ^^

What is it that you liked/hated the most about Avatar ?

Spoiler

How many times have you seen it? How big of an Avatard are you? Prove it!

The thing I liked least about Avatar is that an empty headed Marine could waltz in with no knowledge of anything and save everyone. Norm's probably my favorite character so I feel bad that his years of hard work were completely ignored.

I saw it 7 times in Theaters, once I got the DVD I completely lost track. I embrace the term Avatard although I'm sure some find it offensive.

I must admit I don't like the term 'Avatard.' But I also have a bad history with the word 'retard' as a derogatory term used toward me soooo.....yeah.

Name your top three favorite Earth animals from most favorite to least. Why those? What's the animal you're most terrified of?

1. House Cat
2. Millipedes, because I have some
3. uh, rats I guess

I'm terribly afraid of the impact uneducated people have on this world, if that counts as an animal. Not to say uneducated people are animals, I mean all people are animals, educated or not. I also get squirmy when I think of internal parasites, especially any of the ones that are or look like worms.

I love rats too!

True or false?

Spoiler

Write three statements about yourself, the more extravagant the better. At least one of them must be true. At the end of the week, you'll have to tell which ones were truthful and which made up.

1. I once broke my arm falling off a horse.
2. My upper incisor teeth are majorily fake.
3. I can successfully paint every inch of my body.

Hm, Imma say true for the first one, you look like the horse riding type to me. No clue about the second one lol.....true? And #3...really? Is that a trick question? You definitely looked like you had most of it painted in June lol. Imma say true.

What is the funniest, weirdest, or most embarrassing Na'vi or Avatar  related thing that has happened to you?

Spoiler

Something along the lines of a MLIA short.

I was once running around a Comic Convention in my Na'vi costume, happy as a clam, when a friend comes up to me and says "you're right breast has popped out of the bikini top." FML

I glue that sucker down now.

LOLOLOL oh man that's hilarious! Glad that didn't happen in June LAWLZ!


Nga lu Na'vi kintrrä a fì'uri seykxel sì nitram! Ulte 'efängu oe kawng furia ke pamlltxe san seykxel sì nitram suteru alahe a lu Na'vi kintrrä srekrr ha tsaylì'ut pìylltxe oel set: seykxl sì nitram ma frapo! Hrh. Tse ngeyä kintrr sivunu ngaru ulte ngahu ultxa si nìmun Siätllmì a fì'uri oe ke tsun pivey!

-Txonä Rolyu

[Human No More]

Congratulations!

What does fwäkì ke fwefwi mean?

Ng/Ng/Ts

['Oma Tirea]

What does fwäkì ke fwefwi mean?

It's one of the latest Na'vi idioms ta Pawl: "Mantis doesn't whistle."  It basically means... something about going outside of your nature (oe tswola').

[Kamean]

Congrats ma Sarah.

In my opinion - T/F/T.

[Sarah Noel]

Thanks everyone it was a fun week, I'm locking this early because my choosen successor is in a very different time zone and don't want to keep them waiting.

False, I've never broken a bone in my body.
True, I have cracked my teeth however and have a false cap on them now.
True, with practice I can now paint every part of me, even the back, although the back is sloppier than the rest.