Back to the basics

 As I was walking home tonight, I thought I would have some time to play on my electric piano. A surprising message came from my niece that she would like me to help her with some mathematical explanations. And this came after she asked me to help her with her exam on the next day. She wrote a specific time slot which pointed me to two things. First, she wanted me to solve the mathematical problems in real time. Second - I have completely forgotten that the students are now studying on-line.

I refused to do that for her. For me she had two options she could choose from. To use my support and learn something in the last moment or to learn from the decisions she has made in the past.

I was glad when she messaged me with a specific question that she needed help with. I jumped right on to helping her. It was a challenge for me as well. I had to go back to 8th grade. After a long conversation I was happy as it was a great deal of learning for both of us. Very few things were maths related. Most of it it was about principles I've learnt on my way to where I am now. And oh how this helps me connect a lot of dots as I am in a position where I need someone to teach me stuff but in the same time I teach other stuff to others. Changing my perspective from teaching to being taught helps me so much to be present and efficient in whatever state I am currently at.

At the end I think my niece will actually have chosen both - to learn a bit from me and will have inevitably be  subjected to the mistakes from her decisions from the past. I can't wait to hear feom her once the exam is over. Feedback is very important in the process of learning.

...in maths we trust...

Three types of people

 "There are three types of people in this world, Very. There are those who make the world worse, those who make no difference, and those who make the world better." "Away with the penguins" by Hazel Prior

I have always strived to be one of the latter, to make the world better. Even though I have very often questioned the meaning of the word "better" as better is a relative concept. But nevertheless, I have tried to put my own personal meaning to it.

One of those little things I have done in my life is donating. I have donated many material things in my life but one of them, I have donated eagerly. Blood. Our blood, at least in my case of a healthy human being, very easily replenishes once taken away. With the life-saving effect on others, it has an effect on me as well. Reducing the blood level in my body stimulates the production of new, fresh blood to replace what has been taken away. It feels energetic.

But last week I have donated something different. Blood plasma. To be honest I still have to research what blood plasma is. But the process of donation is different than donating blood plasma. I have actually found it very amusing and I will go and donate again, and again. The reason behind my decision to donate is that I have recently recovered from COVID-19. Shortly after I have received a message if I would like to participate in a program, which aims at helping people that have contracted the virus but their own body has a hard time fighting the virus back. As it took me only 3-4 days to recover from the severe symptoms due to the fact that I consider myself healthy, the fact that I love science, also I would like to be of those people who make the world better I have signed myself for the experience.

The process of donation of blood plasma is fascinating. For real! They have put me on a special machine where they drain a small volume of blood from me at a time, run it through a centrifuge and return the drained from plasma blood back into my system. I have observed every feeling I could get. The sound of the machine on each cycle, the draining of blood from my veins, the pressure of the slightly cold blood coming back to my veins, the unfamiliar newly experienced chill in my body as the cold is actually coming from the inside, the tingling sensation from the anticoagulant agent that is now present in my blood. After being on the chair for 45 minutes during which I have observed my body and the feelings I get in the process I felt glad that I can actually enjoy the process as it is similar to the process of blood transfusion, which in most of the cases is not provided for amusement purposes. But I had a great time and the results from the blood tests are that I have plenty of antibodies and I can keep donating every two weeks until the amount of antibodies in my blood has reduced to a limit where it will expose me to a threat of the virus.

...and may everyone know its blood type...