NotW #86: ToktorGrace

[ToktorGrace]

I never expected I'd receive this honor :3 Thank you so much!

Now for the answers to the questions:

#1
I am a student at UC Santa Cruz, studying biology. I hope one day I can go to medical school and become a doctor. I also love to do art and learn languages. Currently I can speak French "assez bien" and am in the process of learning Spanish. I also intend to learn German and, of course, more Na'vi!

#2
I fell in love with the entire concept of the world created by James Cameron. It was an incredible mix of science, nature and beauty which are all things I really love. I started making a costume for cosplay, and in looking for resources, stumbled across the forum. I left for a while, but while I was painted blue at an anime convention I ran into Payoang  - who redirected me to the forums.

#3
I've gone through a few names here: Truro (my old artist name on many sites), Tivawm'ia (a rough translation of a forum name I use often 'lost2darkness') and currently ToktorGrace. I chose ToktorGrace because she is my favorite character in the story and I can look at her as inspiration. Although she isnt the same kind of 'doctor' that I want to be, a strong, scientific woman is an awesome character.

#4
Kehe ^^; I tried making an effort back in 2010 but with my pre-med schedule and requirement to learn Spanish it's been difficult to find adequate time to practice.


#5
I don't think I have a favorite word, per-se. I rather like the phrase used when they're trying to heal Grace though "eo Eywa oe 'ia" - "I lose myself before Eywa" seems like a good phrase for meditation activities.


#6
I really love the iPhone App – Na'vi on the go! I also spent a lot of time reading over "Na'vi in a Nutshell" and the dictionary when I was spending more time trying to learn.


#7
I'm most proud of my fanfiction "City of Paradise", currently in the works.  I regret I have spent so little time working on it, but I guess we all have to make sacrifices. I apologize for leaving people hanging! If anyone is interested, check my signature

#8
Liked: I loved the overall message – the religion and connection to Eywa is a really close conception of how I see the world and spirituality.
Hated: Small details – science stuff. Did the Na'vi evolve alongside such different animals in their world? The hexepedal vs four-limbed Na'vi is odd, and the breathing mechanisms of a lot of the animals is very different. I also am annoyed at how a lot of the head ornamentation on the Na'vi really resembles feathers, but there are no feathered creatures depicted anywhere in the film.

#9
AVATAR actually has changed my life in a significant way: I met Payoang at the anime convention because I was dressed as an RDA Avatar scientist – we now have been dating for a little over a year :3

#10
I would ask Cameron who he worked with to design the flora and fauna, and ask him more about the evolution and biology of these animals. Are there diseases? Special microorganisms? Do they use DNA? All these kinds of nerdy things.

#11
In my scarce free time I like to hang out with friends, do art, go to conventions.

#12
My favorite animals on Earth are felines – if I have to pick: snow leopards, lions, clouded leopards. I love all cats though. I am terrified of fleas... and large groups of ants.

#13
I'd want to be a Jedi! Or a lycanthrope.

#14 What I would bring to a desert island
A sturdy knife, a salt-water filtration system, a comprehensive wilderness survival book.

#15 Which time/place I want to visit?
I would really like to see the beginnings of humanity – travel back to the early days of civilization or before that. I would also love to see the animals that are long- extinct. So probably Europe in the something BC's.

#16 One Wish
I would wish for people I care about to have a happy life.

#17 What I ask myself
Q: What am I going to do with my life?
A: Get back to me on that...


#18
3 Statements: True of False?

I) When I was a kid I was attacked by a monkey. We were feeding them popcorn at a wild park and they started screaming at my sister and I and tried to bite us.
II) My aunt won the lottery when I was 10, so I was able to go on an extensive vacation with my family. That's how I got to see so many countries in Europe. We went to France, Germany and Switzerland. I
III) The last year I lived in Colorado, I was skiing and ran into a tree. I had to be taken down the mountain by ski patrol, and had to have a cast for my broken arm.


#19
"My Life is Na'vi..."
When Payoang and I first started being close, we were hanging out and listening to music. At one point, while we were kissing, suddenly I stopped and listened. The song playing? "Becoming one with Neytiri" Haha

#20
Q: You like Grace. In how far is she an inspiration for you, your life and your work and what do you like so much about her?

A: I see Grace as a role model of sorts – of course I'm not going to start smoking, but her work ethic, and her sincere interest in not only the hard science behind her work, but also the human side of study makes her a very inspirational character for me.  Applying science to help people – which is what I think Grace alludes to, saying that the "wealth of this world isnt in the ground" - she wants to share the knowledge of how the Na'vi survive without harming their Earth with the humans, a possible redemption for humanity.  It's really awesome too, to have a female character that is strong, independent and whose fate does not depend on a man's.

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

Txantsan, ma ToktorGrace! Seykxel sì nitram!

It looks like we share a lot of interests in common: Biology, science in general, and even spiritual views about animals/life. Medicine is a fine field to get into, if you are scientifically minded. (My parents tried really hard at one point to get me into medical school. But in broadcasting, I can turn my 'patients' off when I need to work on them....sometimes!)

I see you are a big fan of Dr. Grace Augustine. I like her very much as well. She and Norm Spellman are underappreciated.

Txantsan a falulukan(tsyìp) sunu ngaru Snow leopards are indeed really cool cats. I know at least one person who keeps 'snowies', and I got to play with a cub for about half an hour, several years ago. Clouded leopards are rare in captivity and even rarer in the wild. They are not a cat many people know about, and the 'cloudies' I have been close to over the years have always been a little skittish. Of course, lions are just the opposite. They really want to be your friend, if you are 'open' to them. I hope that you will get the chance to have an up-close experience with any of these cats!

Anyway, regarding you N/T questions:

1. N  I have had just enough experience with primates that I would expect them to behave like this. That is one of the reasons I do not work much with primates at the zoo!

2. N This is the one question I would say is least likely to be false. But because of your interest in European cultures, I have every good reason to believe it is true.

3. N Sounds entirely plausible.

Enjoy your week!

[Toruk Makto]

Yay! Congrats! 

Markì

[ToktorGrace]

Txantsan, ma ToktorGrace! Seykxel sì nitram!

Snow leopards are indeed really cool cats. I know at least one person who keeps 'snowies', and I got to play with a cub for about half an hour, several years ago. Clouded leopards are rare in captivity and even rarer in the wild. They are not a cat many people know about, and the 'cloudies' I have been close to over the years have always been a little skittish. Of course, lions are just the opposite. They really want to be your friend, if you are 'open' to them. I hope that you will get the chance to have an up-close experience with any of these cats!

I am so insanely jealous of you haha - If I felt it were ethically okay I would own a snow leopard in a heart-beat. I have always wanted to work with big cats, but most of the careers I've looked into with them are either not my style (ironically veterinary work doesn't really interest me) or something I dont feel right about (I dont think training wild animals is always a good thing and it's very dangerous)



@Toruk Makto: Thanks!

['Oma Tirea]

I know your week's been cut in half, but enjoy it while it lasts

Seykxel sì nitram!

[ToktorGrace]

I know your week's been cut in half, but enjoy it while it lasts

Seykxel sì nitram!

Oh dear.. no one told me. I havent gotten a hold of Zef...

[hemmond]

Congratulations ma ToktorGrace.

About your T/F questions: Ngay/Tsleng/Ngay

[Kamean]

Seykxel nìtramsì ma ToktorGrace!

Säfpìl oeyä - Ng/Ts/Ng.

[Tirea Aean]

*remembers about the existence of /navi-of-the-week*

OHI Smon nìprrte'. Seykxel sì nitram!

[Kxeyo]

I won't say congrats, but thanks for being NotW! Hope you enjoy the rest of your week, I apologize for any inconvenience. Now that you posted, I might also tell you that I was...totally curious about your post and already asked myself several times before why you weren't NotW. Nuff said now, all that is left is my guess: T/T/F. Kìyevame ulte eywa ngahu!

[Tirea Aean]

True False True by the way 

[Eichhörnchen]

Kaltxì ma ToktorGrace

seykxel sì nitram, 'en si oe: ngay - tsleng - ngay.

kintrrìri txana tì'o' ngar livu.

'Ivong Na'vi ulte Eywa ngahu,


ta Eichhörnchen ( Robert )

[Blue Elf]

Seykxel sì nitram, ma Toktor Kìreys

I chose ToktorGrace because she is my favorite character

Yes, for me also it is one of favorite characters (together with Norm). And I like her avatar too (still wondering what happened to him after Grace's death, I hope it will be resurrected in sequels)

I also am annoyed at how a lot of the head ornamentation on the Na'vi really resembles feathers, but there are no feathered creatures depicted anywhere in the film.

Interesting perception, I didn't noticed that. Really you can see Avatar many times and you still can discover new things!

Tìpawmìri 'en si oe:
1/ ngay
2/ ngay
3/ tsleng
Have a great week!

[Tsmuktengan]

Congratulations ma ToktorGrace!

I am sorry I can't really react on everything you said, I am very tired right now. But I feel like you had a great chance meeting Payoang. It seems amazing how adventures in such communities around a common passion can create such bonds and start stories. Take care of both of you.

I am trying to guess, hmm... Ngay/Tsleng/Ngay.

[Jane MacMillan]

I am right there with you on the feathers-with-no-birds thing, and on the anatomical differences between Na'vi and the rest of the creatures there.
Someone once theorized that the whole ecosystem was deliberately created, and the Na'vi were designed to be the dominant race with the ability to control animals through tsaheylu. It does seem fairly unlikely that a system like Eywa and the planetwide neural network would evolve naturally.

[ToktorGrace]

Someone once theorized that the whole ecosystem was deliberately created, and the Na'vi were designed to be the dominant race with the ability to control animals through tsaheylu. It does seem fairly unlikely that a system like Eywa and the planetwide neural network would evolve naturally.

If I ever have time I'm totally gonna write a fiction regarding the creation of the Na'vi - my speculation is that they were created by the "last Jedi" haha

['Oma Tirea]

I know your week's been cut in half, but enjoy it while it lasts

Seykxel sì nitram!

Oh dear.. no one told me. I havent gotten a hold of Zef...

Tam.  He'll have all of next week to start the thread

...ulte sran, chaos can kinda ensue when you become NotW on short notice, tsari hìtxoa.

[ToktorGrace]

I know your week's been cut in half, but enjoy it while it lasts

Seykxel sì nitram!

Oh dear.. no one told me. I havent gotten a hold of Zef...

Tam.  He'll have all of next week to start the thread

...ulte sran, chaos can kinda ensue when you become NotW on short notice, tsari hìtxoa.

Found someone else

[ToktorGrace]

Ok closing the thread - but first the answer to true false!

I: TRUE - I was attacked by a monkey, my sister even got bitten. Scary :p

II: FALSE - aunt never won the lottery but I have been to those countries I'm just fortunate my parents love to travel.

III: FALSE - I was an avid skier as a kid (grew up in a ski resort town in CO) but I never got into an accident of any kind I did break my arm at age 2 jumping from a couch to a table tho