NotW #87: Jane MacMillan

[Jane MacMillan]

Kaltxì, ma oeyä eylan! I am honored to be your Na'vi of the Week this week.

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 am a college chemistry teacher in Seattle. I like telling people that I am a Master of Science and a Master-level costumer. I'm 28 but look younger, and I live with some awesome roommates in a fabulously beautiful house in north Seattle. It's a great place to be.

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?

The instant the film ended, I desperately wanted to go to Pandora. After my second viewing, I said "oh, I'd love to do that costume, but I could never pull it off. ... well, I could do this, and this, and this might work ...." By mid-January I was working on it, and decided later in the spring that I should learn a little Na'vi to speak in character. I signed up here May 30, 2010 and really loved the language. I spend most of my time in the costuming subsection, but I do read the beginner and intermediate forums when I am thinking about Na'vi itself.

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?

I knew my costume would be an avatar driver, not a Na'vi, because I don't want to cut off my fingers and toes. And I knew I wanted to explain that during my masquerade presentation. I came up with a character, and named her Jane, because I've always liked that name, and MacMillan, after the professor I really wish I could have postdoc'd with. I happily answer to Jane, and in fact introduced myself that way at the LN meetup last summer.
My profile pic is of me in costume during the Norwescon masquerade [costume contest].

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 have a few phrases and some basic vocabulary, but I don't actually speak Na'vi. I keep poking at it now and then. My friends have been appreciative but not interested. I did get two of them to come to Karyu Pawl's talk at the EMP this summer.

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

I talk to cats in Na'vi, and "palulukantsyìp" is usually what I call them. I also like "oe irayo seiyi (ay)ngaru".
[I'm not entirely sure why I do that, but it seems like the thing.]

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.

Na'vi in a Nutshell is bookmarked on my iPhone so I can read through it at any time. The Learn Na'vi app is a fabulous tool. For a third, the grammar reference.

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 wrote up a guide to my Na'vi costume, and I was just tickled pink when someone stickied it. I really want everyone who even thinks they might turn blueskin to do it, and do it well. Plus, to be perfectly honest, I like showing off my work.

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 world of Pandora just captivates me. I'm with ToktorGrace on some of the biology discrepancies, but I still adore it.
I saw Avatar 4 times in theaters and watched it repeatedly for costume references.

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?

Avatar inspired me to create a Na'vi costume, and I won Best in Show at my regional science-fiction convention and Best in Show-Recreation at the World Science Fiction Convention with it. I get to be this inhuman, impossibly beautiful creature, and people appreciate it. <3

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'd ask Frommer if he's coming to this year's Avatar Meet, but that's not language related.
Cameron: Did you have any idea how much technology you'd have to develop in order to tell the story of Avatar? What technological revolutions are in store during Avatar 2 and 3?
Frommer: What's your next big project in terms of expanding the Na'vi language? What realms of vocab or grammar do you want to explore?

What else do you do in your free time?

Costuming, clearly! My current projects are Padmé Amidala's pastel lake gown, from <i>Star Wars: Attack of the Clones</i>, and Prince Zuko's royal armor, from <i>Avatar: the Last Airbender</i>. I'll be linking up into my avatar one last time for our meetup in Seattle, and then that's probably retired. I'm always looking for new characters I love and new costuming challenges.

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

Cats of every stripe and spot, wolf hybrids, and corvids. I've always had a thing for cats, and one of my friends breeds Maine Coon cats. They are so beautiful and intelligent. Wolf hybrids because the best dog I have ever known was a wolf-husky mix; smart, friendly, well-trained, loving, and fiercely protective of his tribe. Crows and ravens, again, because they're smart and clever. I inspired a dear friend to write a song about Raven once.
Animals I don't like, um, unexpected bugs. I hate being surprised by crawlies.

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?")

Pirate! I am Tore the Bold of the Lost Girls Pirate Academy. I can show you our class portrait.

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.

Desert island equipment... A good knife, a full set of some really long SF series (maybe all of the Pern books, maybe Honor Harrington; ask me the day I leave and I'll pick then), and Duran Duran's entire discography.

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

Besides the obvious moon of Alpha Centauri, I'd be one of the Doctor's companions, and go everywhere. (Can I hang out with Nine and Rose and Jack? They're the best.)

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

Equality and tolerance on the basis of race, gender, and sexuality. And for people to understand that those things are spectra, not toggles or radio buttons. Humans are complicated creatures.

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

Why haven't you applied to be an astronaut candidate yet?
Because I don't seriously believe I'd get in. I have decent qualifications but I can't overcome that voice that says I can't hack anything anymore.

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. Cory Doctorow mentioned me during a panel discussion at a convention.
2. A llama stepped on my foot when I was young and tore the growth plate in my ankle apart.
3. I taught chemistry to the former COO of Popcap Games (the company that makes Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies).

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.

The best experience I've ever had costuming was being a Na'vi and having little kids come up to me and say hi, or give me trinkets, or ask me questions. One little girl would wave and yell "AVATAR GIRL AVATAR GIRL~!!!!!!!1111!" every time she saw me, and some young boys asked me where my tree was and why I didn't have any arrows with my bow. (I told them it was because I knew that event was a place that wouldn't have any bad people, so I didn't need the arrows.) Their delight was such a treasure.

I really love your cosplay - and I am wondering if you've done any other awesome costumes in the past, and if you intend to do more in the future?

Spoiler

Asked by the previous NotW.

I mentioned my future plans earlier: Padmé and Zuko. My costume portfolio is here, with the costumes I'm most proud of, and my entire costume database is here.

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

Txantsan, ma Jane McMillian. Seykxel sì nitram ngaru!

Let me be the first to congratulate you on being chosen NoTW!

Its really good to see you were made NoTW. You certainly deserve it for your fine costuming work.

I'll never forget your performance at WorldCon Reno, and your receiving of many awards there. (You can see pictures at http://forum.learnnavi.org/news-announcements/our-own-jane-macmillian-stands-tall-and-blue-at-worldcon!/ ). Did you get any awards for hall costume as well?

And don't slight yourself too much on your Na'vi. You are the first person I know who I have spoken Na'vi to 'out of the blue (no puns intended)' and gotten a good answer back in Na'vi, while not at a Na'vi themed event.

Tewti that you like cats. Does this include the wild cats as well? Do you have any cats?

I know what you mean about wolfdogs. If I had a dog, it would likely be a wolfdog, or some other large breed. I have a friend who has 15 wolfdogs, and I occasionally get to care for them when they travel. I remember one particular dog who even wanted to try and sleep with me when I napped in a hammock!

Crows and ravens? I think that is a new one for any NoTW. They are interesting birds, and highly intelligent.

As for your N/T questions, you have some interesting choices:

1. N  It is entirely plausible for someone to speak of you at a SciFi convention panel. Especially, if you have a track record in performing in costume at them.

2. N This could easily be made up (as was the skiinng accident by the previous NoTW. But since you provide some pretty specific details, I have every reason to believe this is true.

3. T Again, your description is full of details unlikely to have been made up. But I would suspect that this COO would have had to be awfully young to have had you as a teacher. Its possible, but unlikely.

Enjoy your week!

[Jane MacMillan]

Tstunwi, ma oeyä 'eylan.

I don't have any cats, but my parents do, and I get to hang out with the Maine Coon kittens pretty often. I am also fond of wildcats. I never saw a mountain lion in the wild when I lived in Colorado, although my mother did once.

[Sarah Noel]

Congratulations on getting NotW!

I wrote up a guide to my Na'vi costume, and I was just tickled pink when someone stickied it. I really want everyone who even thinks they might turn blueskin to do it, and do it well. Plus, to be perfectly honest, I like showing off my work.

I completely understand the showing off thing, hehe. I remember when I first started making my costume, I would look through some of your earlier threads in admiration. Back then, I never thought I'd actually get the costume made, so it was sort of an odd thing for me when I finally did, and later when I got to meet some of the people that inspired it.

Cats of every stripe and spot, wolf hybrids, and corvids. I've always had a thing for cats, and one of my friends breeds Maine Coon cats. They are so beautiful and intelligent.

I love cats also, and maine coon is also my favorite breed because they are the largest.

1. Cory Doctorow mentioned me during a panel discussion at a convention.
2. A llama stepped on my foot when I was young and tore the growth plate in my ankle apart.
3. I taught chemistry to the former COO of Popcap Games (the company that makes Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies).

False, True, True?

The best experience I've ever had costuming was being a Na'vi and having little kids come up to me and say hi, or give me trinkets, or ask me questions. One little girl would wave and yell "AVATAR GIRL AVATAR GIRL~!!!!!!!1111!" every time she saw me, and some young boys asked me where my tree was and why I didn't have any arrows with my bow. (I told them it was because I knew that event was a place that wouldn't have any bad people, so I didn't need the arrows.) Their delight was such a treasure.

I like this too. At a con I went to last spring a little girl constantly yelled "AWESOME" whenever she saw me, and at that same con a younger girl walked up to me and gave me some pennies. It was the cutest thing.

I mentioned my future plans earlier: Padmé and Zuko. My costume portfolio is here, with the costumes I'm most proud of, and my entire costume database is here.

I've actually poked through your cosplay account before now, and I really like them, especially Jareth. I'm considering a Jareth in the far future.

[Blue Elf]

Seykxel sì nitram, ma Jane!
Another person who can come nearer to the Na'vi Well, I like your Na'vi costume.

Regarding N/T questions:
1. Cory Doctorow mentioned me during a panel discussion at a convention. - Ngay
2. A llama stepped on my foot when I was young and tore the growth plate in my ankle apart. - Ngay
3. I taught chemistry to the former COO of Popcap Games (the company that makes Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies). - Tsleng

Ngaru kintrr lefpom!

[hemmond]

Congratulations, ma Jane. Enjoy this week.

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

Besides the obvious moon of Alpha Centauri, I'd be one of the Doctor's companions, and go everywhere. (Can I hang out with Nine and Rose and Jack? They're the best.)

Fì'u!!! You too want to travel in TARDIS? I admit, that nineth Doctor was awesome and Rose and Jack were also fantastic.

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. Cory Doctorow mentioned me during a panel discussion at a convention.
2. A llama stepped on my foot when I was young and tore the growth plate in my ankle apart.
3. I taught chemistry to the former COO of Popcap Games (the company that makes Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies).

Well... I guess Ngay, Tsleng, Ngay.

[Human No More]

Congratulations

I really like your costume

Ts/Ng/Ng

[Maria TunVrrtep]

Jane
Congratulations!!! 
My guesses - True, False, True
Not sure why.  LOL

[Jane MacMillan]

Thank you all!

My statements were:
1. True; I attended a Cory Doctorow panel wearing my Star Trek TOS yellow minidress uniform and he commented on it during the discussion.
2. False. This happened to a friend of mine, which is why I was able to sound so detailed.
3. True; the student in question had decided to switch careers from programming to science.