Brainstorm/Prāta Vētra new single "Lantern"

Fresh and brave, and catchy! "Lantern", the new single from Latvian band Brainstorm. I am looking forward to the new album and the tour in summer.

Lizzy, Pigeons and Other Inhabitants in Hyderabad

With my short-term flat-mate Maria from Brazil in my room

Perhaps, subconsciously I miss them. She used to greet me every morning when I turned on the light at 6 o’clock and fearfully looked around searching: where will she be this time? From where will she creep out? How will she shock me? That was her. Mischievous and completely unpredictable. But then there were some other guys. They used to sing and dance and make wild parties in the bathroom which we had reserved for them (sort of given away). They used to chat in their annoying hollow voices. I remember them as a sort of monotonous radio which you cannot turn off as it turns on whenever it wants..... Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, may I introduce you to my ex-roommates? Our lizard Lizzy and pigeons. Yes, that was our ex-family. Probably, they are still there – in our Lakdikapool flat where we used to live before we moved to Secundarabad, RTC Colony and changed our living place from busy and crowded to peaceful and calm. Did they actually notice that we moved out? I wonder.

Cautiously happy

View from our Lakdikapool apartment

Accommodation has been my major problem since the day I moved to India. On my first day here in Hyderabad I was allocated in one of the 3 AIESEC flats in Lakdikapool and faced the first problems: no electricity, no hot water, sharing a room (no, no, even A BED) with a guy whom you have just met, no internet...and on the top of that – no certainty about when, how and if those problems are going to be fixed. Don’t get me wrong! I am not here to complain. Imagine, this topic would never find me if all the things had been perfect.

Ok, let’s live and see. That became our motive. Or so to say – let’s live day by day. Let’s be happy that today we have light, but let’s not forget that tomorrow it can get down again. Let’s be cautiously happy.....The same to internet, water...In short, let’s appreciate the moment as it’s given to us. Let’s be thankful for what we have.

Finding an apartment: mission impossible!

When I found out that my school is 2 hours ride away from Lakdikapool, I knew I am going to look for another place and move out soon. Luckily, my Mexican friend had the same opinion, so we started searching for an apartment.

Initially, it seemed like a normal thing to do: find an ad, go and see the flat, then agree on the rent fee and move in. That’s what you would do in Europe, but not in India. We forgot many things: even when we find an ad, call up the person who rents out the flat and arrange to see the apartment, it’s not at all that simple. Problems start here:

First, if you are a foreigner, it’s not actually that easy to get to the place where the flat is located. Equipped with many addresses and the hope to visit as many flats as possible on a fine rainy (completely inappropriate for that) day, we got into auto and moved on. Needless to say that the auto drivers would supposedly take you in their vehicle even if they don’t know the address (everyone wants to live and EARN), but pretend they know it perfectly. Surely, that is not the way you can reach the place. Moreover, you cannot reach it on the agreed time. Furthermore, you get lost in the new city you have just arrived at and in our case of a rainy August day – you get wet and feel cold.

Second, even if you reach the apartment (after spending long hours on looking for it and most probably involving random Indians from the street to finally help you find the place), you realize that it’s most probably not in the condition to start living there. Most probably it will be unfurnished or semi-furnished and without kitchen utensils (if you are looking for something that costs below 5000 rupees a month per person). Basically, what they offer are empty rooms which you can rent. But that means investing extra time to find all the necessary utensils and spending a lot more money for it. Perhaps, it would pay off if you plan to stay in Hyderabad for a long time, but a few months stay wouldn’t make sense to waste your efforts knowing that in India things don’t move fast, however you need a place as soon as possible.

Third, roommates. In India, many landlords would not allow girls live together with guys. So, if you are only two girls looking for a flat and want to share a room to reduce costs you would need to find more girls to place in a 3-bedroom or 2-bedoom flat or you need to find a landlord who allows boys and girls stay in a shared apartment. 

As a result, we realized that we don’t want to waste our time and energy looking for an apartment. So, we decided to stay at AIESEC flats provided to us even if that brought a lot of problems too. 

‘We will remove your beds’

The most adventurous times we experienced were in our Lakdikapool flat. In total AIESEC has/used to have 3 apartments there. As I already mentioned, the funniest part was our „roommates” (Lizzy and pigeons) who always kept surprising us. Apart from that there was time when we used to say „the only organized thing about India is electricity cuts” as electricity used to cut every day exactly at 6 in the morning (time when I had to wake up and face Lizzy in the dark corners where she was hiding). Of course, electricity cuts were sometimes „unorganized” and occurred during day time and evening too. The final step that made us move out of the Lakdikapool flat was different kind of people that kept coming and saying that „you haven’t paid the electricity bill”, „you haven’t paid the internet” (though we never had one in our flat), „you haven’t paid this and that”. So we realized the rent money we pay doesn’t necessarily go to the people who are supposed to get it. Lastly, we got to know that even our furniture that we had in our flat is leased. „We will remove your bed if you don’t pay the rent,” one man came and announced. We were always the „you” ones, the ones who didn’t pay though we had always paid our rent and it was AIESEC who didn’t deliver the money further. And that continued for many months...

Happy up there!

Living room in Secundarabad apartment

When we found out that the debt for our apartment had reached an astronomical number, there was no way than moving out. Luckily, those were AIESECers who had in mind another flat in Secundarabad. Finally, the conditions improved. The flat itself was much better furnished, it had internet connection, I could have my OWN room as it was too small to share it with others, the neighborhood was nicer and more private, and our landlord (the direct contact person) was living just downstairs, so if anything happened we didn’t need to contact AIESECers and wait until they come and solve the problem. The landlord was a very nice lady who cared for us and wanted to help when something went wrong.

That is how I started my life in Secundarabad. It was also more convenient for the school as now it took just 1 hour in a bus to get there. Apart from the fact that we were actually located in Secundarabad which is quite far from Hyderabad, I didn’t have any more complaints. Moreover, I would say I liked Secundarabad more as it somehow looked healthier place to stay. On the main street you could find everything you need, and all the shops were walking distance from my apartment. Of course, things sometimes went wrong there as well, like we had electricity cuts and internet cuts, but we took it in a more moderate way as you could easier find a solution. No, no, I don’t miss Lizzy and pigeons after all.

Let’s celebrate it Indian way!

It seemed to be a usual school day, however it wasn’t. The school buses were picking up spider men, witches, butterflies, princesses and many other characters. What??? Am I going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry today? I was thinking. No. It’s 31st of October. Halloween. No wonder why children from younger classes were enjoying this day with their special customs. „Happy Halloween!” wished their school’s Principal in the morning assembly. Indians like to celebrate! And if there seems to be no reason, they will find it! Isn’t it nice to get sweets every day?

Light a candle for Diwali!

From one celebration to another. Sometimes I get an impression. Though I didn’t join the pupils of elementary school for Halloween performances (I was working with junior and senior classes), I don’t miss the celebration and festival mood here. Some days ago (from 24th to 28th of October) Indians were celebrating Diwali (Deepavali), probably the most meaningful festival or so called the festival of Lights. Though the duration of the celebration is five days filled with lots of traditions and legends, the actual holidays are two. Diwali sweets, little lights called Diyas lit in all houses, fire crackers, rockets, sparklers. Sounds like New Year’s Eve? Indeed, for Indians this festival is like a New Years Eve, however, it’s important to celebrate it in families and enjoying Indian hospitality. So, did we. My Mexican friend and I had just come back from a trip to Goa when we got an invitation from our Indian friend to join her family’s Diwali celebration. As we were asked we put on Indian clothes (for Indians you should always wear new clothes at this celebration) and took a rickshaw to our friend’s house. Surrounded by lights and explosions of the firecrackers we were moving towards our destination and feeling like in a war. You couldn’t know where the cracker will explode. It was a bit scary despite hiding in a rickshaw, our shelter, and also the sound was quite annoying.

Once arrived, we waited for the other guests and then started the celebration with lots of nice food -  snacks, rice, sauces, sweets. „You must eat until you feel uncomfortable,” the host was telling us. And indeed, food is very important part for Indians, especially, in celebrations. No wonder, why you feel stuffed after Diwali dinner. But, of course, it’s not only about eating. During dinner we learned about the importance of Diwali. It’s indeed a special festival marking the time when the monsoons are over, the harvest has been collected and the family can come together to prepare for the next season. Also school’s term is over by that time and a new one starts right after Diwali. As it’s said in one of the children books „it signifies the triumph of good over evil”. It also signifies hope and reminds us of that despite the evil that exists in this world.

Traditionally also the firecrackers have a meaning and explanation, however, nowadays it has become commercial and people seem to enjoy turning the whole place into a battleground and making it even more polluted. Though Diwali dinner is a one day event (out of 5 celebrated days), it’s not the same with the crackers – you can hear the ‘bombing’ also in the next Diwali days.

Worshipping for Ganesha

I had hardly settled down in India (beginning of September, 2011) when I noticed strange looking elephant faces all around Hyderabad – bigger and smaller sizes, on streets, in markets. Everywhere. What’s this? Ganesha Charatarthi or simply Ganesha is another festival that is celebrated quite visibly, widely and loudly.

It’s quite important to know the legend of this elephant and human body that is being worshipped. In short, there was a goddess Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva) who created a statue and made it her son. One day she asked the boy to guard the house while she was taking a bath. After a while Lord Shiva returned home and sadly the boy didn’t recognize him and stopped the Lord. It made Shiva angry and he cut the boy’s head. After finding out it was Parvati’s son, the Lord felt bad and asked his servants to put on him any creature’s head they find as first. The servants found an elephant and put on his head. Then the Lord made him Ganesha which means „Lord of the attendants” and said he shall be praised as a Lord of Power and Wisdom.

Therefore, the idol of Ganesha is worshipped in families and also in public places where large statues are installed under huge tents. The period of worshipping lasts for 10 days, though the statues are being made months before. On the 11th day which is a national holiday the big statues are taken through the streets in a procession with crowds of people gathering and cheering and, believe me, making a big mess. People are transporting the huge Ganesha statues in the trucks and their cheering is sometimes really wild both inside the trucks and on streets where crowds are gathering, dancing, screaming. Moreover, after seeing some foreigners they get around them and involve in their dances and take loads of pictures – well, it’s nice and spiritual and you can really feel the atmosphere, however, might be dangerous as some of people are drunk.  what happens After the procession (you won’t want to believe!) these beautiful creatures are simply immersed into the water (in the case of Hyderabad it was lake). Of course, also this procedure is accompanied with rituals and traditions. However, it’s sad to see so much work and beauty to just disappear into the water....

Celebrating two laptops

Religion has an important roles when it comes to different festivals and celebrations. The majority of Indians belong to Hinduism. However, there are also Muslims and Christians and other religions. Especially, here in Hyderabad, Muslim population is the highest one in India. Therefore, naturally, you get to experience Ramadan and Eid (for Muslims) and Christmas and probably many other festivals and celebrations which I don’t even know about yet. For example, today (7th of November) it’s again holiday because Muslims are celebrating Eid.

And sometimes you really don’t need to know who is celebrating what and for what reason. You just notice it when somebody gives you a sweet. It happens very often in my school. A birthday kid wears special and new clothes, not the school uniform and gives sweets to all teachers. When it was my birthday I also brought some Indian sweets to school. This is interesting that it’s more common for Indians to wish ‘Many Happy Returns of the day!’ than ‘Happy Birthday’ (at least I got such an impression)..

And the private celebrations don’t finish with birthdays. Someone can treat you with sweets because he/she celebrates a newborn or even finding his/her laptop after thinking it was lost and having bought a new one. Why not? Let’s celebrate! Let’s have some sweets!

Hello from Hyderabad!

It has been more than three weeks since I am in India for the internship at Oakridge International School. Incredible India! I must agree! I am speechless and in the same time feel like every day spent here writes its own chapter. Every day is a box of surprises, we tend to say. It’s me and my Mexican friend who has become my closest friend here. We arrived at about the same time, realized how  much common we have and now are sharing the room and have more or less settled down. Yes, it was only yesterday when I finally moved into a certain place (after moving from one temporary room to another) and could pack out my stuff. 

I am not really willing to tell you how everything happened from the beginning till now as I think it’s quite impossible to put in words everything I have felt, noticed, experienced and seen in the past days. However, be patient! By time, these tiny details of every day life will come out as nice stories. Here are some highlights I would like to share as the first impressions of my first days in India.

Arrival in Hyderabad

I arrived at Delhi airport at night and had some hours to wait till my plane to Hyderabad. I was trying to sleep on my luggage and in the same time capturing the new, undiscovered, excited and noisy world around me. Once the time came, I checked in for my flight to Hyderabad. „I wish you a pleasant stay here!” said a random Indian guy (currently living in America) who sat next to me in the plane. And actually only now the real excitement started. Hyderabad, the city where I was going to spend at least half a year, was in my arms now.

I wasn’t picked up at the airport, nor I was picked up on time in the bus stop where I was asked to get off from the airport bus. I could have started to get worried and become angry and blame the local committee, but somehow I realized it’s the way I chose: unorganized, surprising, unexpected and so much intriguing. I rather asked for the help to some local people to call the local AIESEC committee responsible and after that was done, I could finally meet my pick-up person and be put in a rickshaw (for the first time) to go to my residency.  I was enjoying the rickshaw ride as some kid trying a strange vehicle in amusement park. Indeed, if amusement park is about to surprise you and give extraordinary emotions, that is how I would describe the traffic in Hyderabad. Full of spirit, surprises, beggars asking for money, dogs, people sleeping or peeing on streets. You can find there anything and let your emotional carousel go up and down. 

‘Pleasant’ chaos

Once we reached our residency, I was excited to meet other interns and slowly start settling down. You wish!  Confusion about where to stay as the room that was offered to us was really dirty, double beds while we are put two people in one bed (male and female), no electricity, no internet, no hot water, general confusion about who is staying where (as there were a few interns arriving at this time), no understanding of the situation. That’s what we found in our welcome package. My laptop breaking down. Though it might sound like a full container of complains, I am saying it just because of reporting. Actually, because we were around four of us in the same situation, plus there were interns who were already living in the building (just in different flats), the general mood was not that pessimistic as it might sound. We lived hour by hour, minute by minute and enjoyed getting to know each other, taking the rickshaws and going to the city centre and having our first dinner in McDonald’s. It was four of us – two Tunisian guys, Mexican girl and me.

Movies and parties

And that is why I love India. As deep as it might drown you, as high it can lift you up. Extreme feelings is the regular lifestyle here. It’s something you can and cannot get used to in the same time. Already on my first arrival day after some exploration of the city centre, we went off to a party with other interns. It was supposedly Ladies night and we enjoyed disco rhythms at a full spirit. 

While the other interns had to go to work next days, we were still resting and waiting for information about our schools and works. Unexpectedly, an opportunity for earning money came to us. One message and we as foreigners were invited to take part in a movie shooting. The shooting took place at the Hyderabad airport and we were picked up from our residency and brought there. It started with Indian breakfast when the whole crew was eating Indian food. I couldn’t eat anything as it didn’t look attractive at all. Afterwards, me and a polish girl had to go and change our clothes. We were wearing blue uniforms to act as flight attendants from British Airways and they even fixed our hair accordingly. There was nothing much we had to do except for walking with suitcases on a background while main heroes were engaging in dialogues. However, we were not forgotten in neither of scenes shot that day (around 5-6). The so called „feeling like celebrity” work finished at around six when we were taken back to our residency with 1200 rupees (12 ls) for each in our pockets. Nice job! It was Saturday, so another party to put on your dance shoes and forget about things you are still lacking....maybe it’s all about feelings and day to day situations which you just take as they come...

Ar jokiem un leģendām pēc 17. gadsimta senlietām

Medijs: Alma Mater, Latvijas Universitātes Avīze
Links: http://www.lu.lv/fileadmin/user_upload/lu_portal/par/mediji-izdevumi-un-multivide/alma-mater/AM-2011-03.pdf

Anotācija: Gandrīz mēnesi (no 18. jūlija līdz 12. augustam) Jelgavas ielā 1, Pārdaugavā norisinājās arheoloģiskās izpētes darbi, pirms šajā teritorijā tiek sākta LU Akadēmiskā centra būvniecība. Darbu mērķis bija pārbaudīt, vai zem zemes neslēpjas liecības par Kobronskansti, ko zviedru karaspēks, aplencot Rīgu, uzcēla 17. gs. Darbus, kas iesākti jau pagājušajā gadā, veica divdesmit LU Vēstures un filozofijas fakultātes (LU VFF), kā arī trīs Ģeogrāfijas un Zemes zinātņu fakultātes (ĢZZF) studenti izpētes darbu vadītāja, LU VFF dekāna Andra Šnē vadībā. Par spīti lietum, kas patraucējis darbu pirmās divas nedēļas, studenti nav zaudējuši entuziasmu un turpinājuši pašaizliedzīgi strādāt. Draudzīgais kolektīvs var lepoties ar atrastajām senlietām, ko A. Šnē dala trīs grupās – ar karošanu saistītās, sadzīves un trešajā – ar būvniecību saistīti priekšmeti.

***

„Te noteikti ir Gustavs Ādolfs gājis, tā ir viņa kurpe!” Ar jokiem par 17.-18.gs. dzīvi, draudzīgā kolektīvā, jau pierastajām garāmbraucošā vilciena un mašīnu skaņām, kā arī nereto garāmgājēju apmeklējumiem gandrīz mēnesi Latvijas Universitātes (LU) Vēstures un filozofijas fakultātes (LU VFF), kā arī Ģeogrāfijas un Zemes zinātņu fakultātes (ĢZZF) studenti Jelgavas ielā 1 veica arheoloģiskās izpētes darbus, pirms šajā vietā tiek sākta LU Akadēmiskā centra būvniecība. 

Ir kultūrslānis!
Darbi risinājās no 18. jūlija līdz 12. augustam, un to mērķis bija pārbaudīt, vai zem zemes neslēpjas liecības par Kobronskansti, kuras kādreizējā teritorijā iekļauts mūsdienu Jelgavas ielas 1 zemes gabals, apstiprina izpētes darbu vadītājs, LU VFF dekāns Andris Šnē. Kobronskansts būvniecība sākās 1621. gadā, zviedru karaspēkam aplencot Rīgu un izveidojot zemes nocietinājumu. Skansts nosaukta tās cēlāja — zviedru pulkveža Kobrona vārdā, bet vēlākos gadsimtos tai doti arī citi nosaukumi  - Orānienbaumas skansts, Pētera I skansts. 1641. gadā skansti pārbūvēja, ierīkojot bastionus, ravelīnus un aizsarggrāvi, un tā rezultātā skansts ieguva zvaigžņveida formu. A. Šnē stāsta, ka šis ir vienīgais gabals, kas saglabājies neapbūvēts. „Uz Mūkusalas ielas pusi tur viss ir apbūvēts,” viņš piebilst.

Pētījumi Jelgavas ielā 1 jau sākti pagājušajā gadā. „Tad mūsu interešu lokā bija visa šī teritorija, kad vēlējāmies noskaidrot, vai šeit vispār ir arheoloģiskas liecības, vai te varētu būt kādas konstrukciju paliekas. Tāpēc tika veiktas apmēram 20 zondāžas un izrakti trīs nelieli šurfi,” skaidro A. Šnē. Rezultāti apstiprinājuši, ka teritorijā ir kultūrslānis, kas attiecināms uz 17. gs. „Atradām vienu datējošu elementu – baltmāla pīpes kāta fragmentu, uz kura bija redzami gadaskaitļa pirmie cipari 1 un 6, kas norāda uz 17. gs.,” stāsta dekāns.  Līdz ar to šogad izrakumi izvērsti ļoti plaši – ja pērn pētījumos piedalījās vien daži studenti no LU VFF, tad šogad izrakumu platībā pulcējas 20 studenti no LU VVF un trīs no ĢZZF, kas no astoņiem rītā līdz sešiem vakarā izrakumos strādā katru darba dienu. Turklāt A. Šnē piebilst, ka  „ir ārkārtīgi daudz kursabiedru, kuri intereses pēc atnāk pastrādāt, paskatīties, kas te notiek”.

Vēsturnieki ar ģeogrāfiem
Kā pastāsta darbu vadītājs, izrakumu laikā galvenais uzdevums ir apkopot un savākt pēc iespējas plašāku informāciju, lai pēc tam atrastās senlietas varētu analizēt. Tāpēc liela loma ir studentiem, kuri pašus rakšanas darbus brīvprātīgi veic un atradumus fiksē. Lai kombinētu dažādas metodes, izrakumos tiek iesaistīti gan VFF, gan ĢZZF studenti. „No mūsu puses ir izrakumi, kas ir arheoloģijas pamatmetode, lai gan ļoti destruktīva metode. No otras puses ir ģeologi, kuri mēģina ar nedestruktīvām metodēm apsekot teritoriju un to zemes slāņu raksturu,” skaidro A. Šnē. „Mēs nodrošinām sākotnējo izpēti,” skaidro ĢZZF doktorante Agnese Kukela, piebilstot, ka pasaulē arheoloģiskie izrakumi vēsturniekiem un ģeogrāfiem notiek kopā, vien Latvijā tas bijis aizkavējies. „Mēs pārbaudījām, cik dziļi ir kultūrslānis, kas savukārt vēsturniekiem palīdz rakšanā,” piebilst LU ĢZZF maģistratūras studente Linda Berga. A. Kukela paskaidro, ka „ģeologi piedalās ar dažādām netiešām pētniecības metodēm, tādām kā radiolokācija, radiometrija, notiek pētījumi ar magnetometru”. „Tad tiek sastādītas anomāliju kartes, jo tas palīdz identificēt, kur attiecīgajā laukumā varētu būt kādas izmaiņas no apkārtējās augsnes un vides, kur varētu būt kāda struktūra, kaut kas interesants, citāda veida ieži,” viņa stāsta.

Strādā pašaizliedzīgi
A. Šnē atzīst, ka darbs ir smags, taču „studenti strādā ļoti pašaizliedzīgi un ar lielu interesi”. Nodrošinājušies ar vestēm, cepurēm un cimdiem, lielākām un mazākām lāpstām rokās, daži pie ķerrām, spaiņiem, sūkņiem, cits basām, dubļainām kājām studenti teju mēnesi pavadīja lielajā laukumā, kurš dažās vietās sasniedz 1,80 m dziļumu. Pirms darbi sākušies, tika mehanizēti noņemts vismaz metru biezs sablīvēta māla slānis, kurš bijis bez īpaši augstas kultūras un arheoloģiskās vērtības. Tālāk rakšanas laukums sadalīts trīs daļās. Kā stāsta studenti, nekāda īpašā organizācija par to, kur katrs strādās, nav bijusi. „Ja sāc rakt vienā objektā, tad zini, ka tas ir tavs, un tur tu turpināsi nākamajā dienā. Katram ir sava vieta, un bez teikšanas visi iet un rok,” norāda LU VFF maģistre Aija Vilka. Rezultātā laukums izskatās kā trīs dažādas saliņas. Vienā redzamas ēkas paliekas, citā ir izteikti melns. Ir daļas, kas netiek aiztiktas. „Tas viss ir ļoti apzināti. Nejaušība šeit, es ceru, nav,” komentē A. Šnē. Alma Mater viesošanās laikā, kad līdz darbu beigām atlikusi nedēļa, ir sasniegts līmenis, kad var noteikt, kur ir kultūrslānis un kur tā nav. Tāpēc tam tiek pakārtoti arī darbi. „Mums tagad ir īstais kultūrslānis – tas, ko gribējām sasniegt visu laiku,” entuziastiski stāsta LU VFF 3. kursa studente Ērika Tālberga, kas strādā otrajā laukumā. „Vakar mēs noņēmām dēļu grīdu, atrodam arī daudz ādas apavu un visādas citādas vērtīgas lietas, sadzīves priekšmetus, lauskas,” viņa skaita. Savukārt pirmā laukuma racēji var lepoties ar tādiem atradumiem kā lielgabala lode, ēkas fragments, auduma un ādas apavu fragmenti, piebilst VFF 3. kursa students Jānis Goldšmits.

Mēs atradām!
Pat, ja noteiktu senlietu atrod viens grupas biedrs, studenti norāda, ka darbs nav individuāls, un svarīga ir komanda, tāpēc atradums tiek attiecināts uz visiem. „Tie esam mēs, kas atradām!” precizē Aija. Tiesa, bļaustīšanās pa laukumu, atrodot kādu priekšmetu, nenotiek, uzsver LU VFF 3. kursa students Viesturs Markovskis. „Laukuma ietvaros pasakam citiem, ko atradām,” viņš norāda. „Taču, ja kāds atrod ko īpašu, gadās, ka visi saskrien paskatīties,” piebilst Aija. Atrodot kādu priekšmetu, tiek pierakstītas tā koordinātas, augstums, dziļums. Priekšmets tiek ielikts maisiņā ar zīmīti un pēc tam nākamajā dienā apmazgāts no zemēm. Iepriekšējās dienas atradumu mazgāšanu jeb pirmapstrādi veic divi dienas dežuranti, kas pa dienām mainās. Turklāt dežuranti ne tikai apmazgā priekšmetus, bet arī rūpējas par pusdienu pārtraukumu un launagu, sagatavojot visu nepieciešamo. Tāpat arī pēc darba laika dežuranti paliek laukumā ilgāk, lai uzkoptu teritoriju un izslaucītu dzīvojamo māju, stāsta Jānis.

Ak, šie pielijušie laukumi!
Studenti atzīst, ka visgrūtākās bijušas pirmās divas nedēļas, jo darbu traucējis lietus. „Visu laiku nepārtraukti lija, un mums bija jāattīra laukums. Sanāca fiziski smags darbs: rakt ārā dubļus un vest tos prom,” stāsta Viesturs. Viegli nav gājis arī Jānim. „Tu pa dienu iztīri laukumu tā, ka tūlīt var fiksēt un tad kāds gabaliņš ir jāattīra, ko atstās uz nākamo dienu. Pa nakti atkal ir lietus, un atkal laukums pilns ar ūdeni un dubļiem, un tev jādara tas pats, ko tu jau iepriekšējā dienā darīji,” viņš skaidro. Stipra lietus laikā studenti neraka, taču smidzināšana darbu neapstādināja. „Šeit nevar tā īsti nerakt, jo nav tik daudz laika,” apzinīgi stāsta Aija.

Neskatoties uz grūtībām, studenti uzsver, ka svarīgs bijis draudzīgais kolektīvs, kas šķēršļus palīdzējis pārvarēt. „Ir gadījies būt izrakumos, kur nevar īsti sastrādāties ar cilvēkiem, tas ļoti apgrūtina procesu,” teic Jānis, piebilstot, ka atradumi un labās, pozitīvās emocijas ir daudz vairāk nekā negatīvā. Savukārt Ērika uzskata, ka „arī negatīvajā ir zināms skaistums. „Reizēm tas lietus un tie paši aizlijušie laukumi – tie jau kļūst tik absurdi, ka, no rīta ierodoties, tev nāk smiekli,” studente piebilst. Visi kā viens atzīst, ka darba process paiet ātri un rokot nekad nav klusums. „Tiek bārstīti joki, stāstīti stāsti, runāts par dažādām lietām un atgadījumiem, citiem izrakumiem,” teic Jānis. Lai gan garām braucošās mašīnas un vilciens neļauj līdz galam izjust 17. un 18. gs. elpu, studenti nenoliedz, ka, esot laukumā, par attiecīgo laika posmu mēdz šad tad aizdomāties. „Atrodot senlietas, tu sāc domāt, no kurienes tika izšauta šī lielgabala lode vai kas ar to zobenu ir cīnījies (par zobena fragmentu),” stāsta Jānis, piebilstot, ka arī pašu jautrības uzturēšanai tiek izdomātas leģendas.

Šīs nav bildītes grāmatās
Studenti izrakumos guvuši arī jaunas zināšanas. „Kā notiek dokumentācija, laukuma iezīmēšana, mērīšana, fiksācija - tās ir tādas lietas, kas ģeologos pa tiešo netiek apgūtas. Tā ir iespēja paskatīties, kā to dara arheologi,” stāsta A. Kukela. Savukārt vēsturniekiem tā ir prakse augstskolā gūtajām teorētiskajām zināšanām. „Vienmēr bildēs un grāmatās ir skaisti satīrītas un restaurētas senlietas, bet tev nav ne jausmas, kādas tās ir, kad tikko izceltas no zemes – netīras, melnas, aplipušas,” stāsta Ērika. Aija savukārt uzsver, ka jebkuri izrakumi notiek par savu laika posmu, līdz ar to var iemācīties atpazīt šī posma senlietas. Pie 17. un 18. gs. priekšmetu atpazīšanas studenti piešāvušies diezgan ātri. „Ja, piemēram, ir gaiša smilts zeme un iezīmējas tumšs četrstūris, tad skaidrs, ka tur kaut kam ir jābūt! Visādi kauli, pīpītes un apavi nāk ārā. Pēc zemes strukūtras var pateikt, ka tur ir kaut kas citādāks – zeme ir cietāka vai poraināka vai tumšāka, gaišāka,” stāsta Ērika. „Piemēram, rokot zemi, sāk parādīties ādas loksnes un tad, apstrādājot ar mazajiem priekšmetiem, atklājas, ka tas bijis apavs vai kaut kas cits no ādas,” piebilst Jānis, kurš ar Aiju piedalījās jau pagājušā gada izpētes darbos Jelgavas ielā 1. Arī Ērikai un Viesturam šī nav pirmā vasara izrakumos. Tiesa, daļai studentu šie izrakumi ir pirmā pieredze, kas ir Lauku prakses kursa ietvaros, piebilst A. Šnē. Viesturs uzsver, ka svarīgi izrakumus spēt izturēt. „Viens ir tas, ka tev patīk, bet otrs – vai tu spēj to izturēt. Šie patiešām ir ļoti grūti izrakumi,” puisis piebilst. Savukārt Aija, kas pati izrakumos piedalās jau piekto gadu, uzskata, ka pārliecība nāk ar otro reizi. „Ja pirmo reizi vēl var pašaubīties, tad, aizbraucot otro reizi, tu pēc tam turpināsi visu laiku. Tas kaut kā ļoti ievelk sevī iekšā,” uzskata Aija.

Trīs veidu senlietas
Alma Mater viesošanās laikā studenti strādā ļoti cītīgi, lai darbus līdz paredzētajam datumam pabeigtu. Lai to izdarītu, nepieciešams tikt pie pamatslāņa, kuru cilvēka darbība nav skārusi, paskaidro A. Šnē. Tālāk  visi savāktie priekšmeti tiks apkopoti un vairāku mēnešu garumā analizēti. „Analīze nozīmē sistematizāciju, sakārtošanu, analoģiju meklēšanu literatūrā, jo šajā ziņā šī vieta nav unikāla. Jauno laiku apdzīvotība Latvijā un Rīgā ir ļoti plaša,” skaidro A. Šnē. Lai arī precīzi rezultāti un apstiprinājums par kobronskansti tiks iegūts pēc analīzes, A. Šnē sliecas domāt, ka 17. gs. kobronskanstes līmenis ir sasniegts. Par to varētu liecināt atrastā ēkas daļa, kas visticamāk bijusi skanstes daļa, dekāns uzskata. „Esam guvuši pārliecinošu apstiprinājumu pagājušā gada prognozēm – šī ir jauno laiku (17., 18., 19. gs.) apdzīvotība,” uzsver dekāns. „Konstrukciju paliekas, kuras šobrīd varbūt nav precīzi nodatējamas, bruģa klājums, dēļa klājums, arī grāvja vieta. Tas viss liecina, ka šeit dzīve ir risinājusies,” uzsver A. Šnē. Turklāt par 17.gs. liek domāt senlietas, kuras ir iespējams nodatēt – atrastās monētas, dažāda rakstura senlietas un artefakti (attiecināmi arī uz 18. un 19. gs.). Darbu vadītājs atrastās senlietas dala trīs daļās. „Ar karošanu saistītās, jo skanstes ir militārs nocietinājums, cietoksnis. Tās ir gan lielgabalu lodes, gan muskešu lodes, krama gabali, zobena asmeņa fragments,” skaita A. Šnē. Pie otrās atradumu kategorijas viņš ierindo ar sadzīvi saistītus priekšmetus, kas ir baltmāla pīpju kāta fragmenti, pīpju galviņu fragmenti un daļas, kuras ir ļoti plašā skaitā, - sprādzes, jostas sprādzes, saktiņas un cita veida sadzīves priekšmeti. Savukārt trešajā kategorijā ierindojami ar būvniecību saistīti priekšmeti – ķieģeļu fragmenti, koku daļas, apkalumi, naglas utml.

Pēc analīzes senlietas kā pērn tiks nodotas Rīgas Vēstures un Kuģniecības muzejā, kamēr studenti, ejot garām izrakumu teritorijā topošā LU Akadēmiskā centra būvei, rakšanas darbus atcerēsies un pārrunās vēl ilgi.

The Bus Life of Cairo

Photo by M.S.

I happen to be in 6th of October City, a new city blooming in the neighborhood of Cairo. I have to get to the Downtown, an hour from here. Taxi, the most common means of transportation in Egypt, would cost me around 50 Egyptian pounds (around $10) to reach my destination. I am standing on a road, watching the cars, taxes and buses passing by and instead of jumping in the cab, I decide to order a sip of culture: go and try a bus ride. Some people think this can be dangerous, especially for girls as harassment can happen. However, I get a courage, but most of all curiosity to try it out.

Firstly, you need to know how to stop the bus. And that depends on where you want to go. If you go to Pyramids street, you form your hands in the shape of a pyramid, or Lebanon square – you draw a circle with your finger. I need Tahrir square in Downtown and that is a hand stretched forward and shaken from top to bottom. First time might be a bit weird. You feel uncomfortable trying to perfect your hand’s movement in order to stop the right driver. Finally, it stops.

 „Tahrir square?” I want to make sure.

„Yes,” the crowd answers and spends a glance on my getting into the transport.

I manage to find a seat among 15 other passengers sitting by 4 in four rows. Now I start thinkink: how do I pay for my trip? Someone has the same thing on his mind. A person on my left shows his hand as a sign to give him my part of fee.

„How much?” I ask. He is trying to show me on fingers and then a guy from the first row answers „2,50 pounds.” Everyone noticed I joined the club. I give money to the guy who asked me for it. He is the collector of the fee in my row and once collected he passes it to the driver. If you don’t have a change, you can give even 50 pound banknote as the driver will open his window and with a fast movement contact the other bus driver to change your money. The driver seems to be really experienced in this, he doesn’t even slow down as he performs the quick maneuver towards the other driver.

I get an impression this is not only a means of transport; it becomes your one hour socializing place with its unique life there. There’s a guy who suddenly starts talking to me and we end up him offering me a job in Cairo. Another guy needs to pee. The bus stops and gives him the chance. Another one wants to buy Pepsi as it’s unbearably hot, and the bus stops to let him do it. You never know what can happen when you enter a bus in Cairo. In fact, it can also break down on the way and you might need either to wait till it gets repaired or take another bus. One is certain – you better not be in a hurry when exploring this adventurous life. 

Photo by M.S.

Royksopp @ Positivus festival 2011

Positivus festival 2011, Salacgrīva, Latvia

Royksopp