Getting my Geek on..

For those of you who know me, know I am a geek. Seriously..a geek of EPIC proportions (for a girl) in some ways. Needless to say, having moved to the land of Santa and Reindeer has caused my geek to morph in a few ways but for the most part I am still a big -ole - sci-fi/fantasy loving G-E-E-K.

My friend Kati has been enjoying the hospitality of the Sunshine State for about 3 months now on a research fellowship with a university there (back in July). We are in email contact and have been having interesting conversations on the finer points (both good and bad) of the red, white, and blue culture (specifically in the south) - bagels(good), vapid small talk(bad), a gazillion choices in the supermarket to feed your junk food addiction(good and bad), 8796 channels of television - in particular the SciFi channel (GOOD! GOOD! GOOD!). Now, Kati is a member of the geek patrol as well - one can't be a geneticist and NOT be a member. I think it has something to do with using long scientific words in your work being an auto-go-magic membership getting factor.

So, I get an email from Kati 2 weeks ago lamenting that her social interactions have been a bit strained/difficult and she believes she has succeeded in offending people at every turn. For those of you who aren't familiar with Finnish culture, I will briefly explain a finer point of said culture - as much as this is a generalization and I mostly hate them, most any Finn will agree with the following assesment of their beloved Finnishness - Finns don't do small talk. Actually Finns really dislike small talk and as a result are not very good at it - unlike Americans. Now, an American will go around the block and speak to you for 5 minutes without really saying anything until they feel comfortable enough to ask you what they really wanted to ask you (after all the questions about how you are, how is the family, isn't the weather lovely..etc). A Finn will just come right out and ask you - full stop. If a Finn wants to know something they will ask you and it is a real question - if they ask you how you are, they really want to know and the obligitory "good and you?" answer isn't really what they are after. Needless to say, there can be a bit of confusion or perception of rudeness of a Finn because of their inability to do the small talk thing and answer your question directly. This has led to Kati feeling she has offended everyone in the Uni by being direct and honest - I informed her that she should NOT learn to be disingenuous but possibly be a bit more understanding of the cultural difference - it is a 2 way street after all..but I digress... (as usual)

Okay..so in that email, Kati mentioned how she is enjoying a nice glass of wine and that Battlestar Galactica(BSG) is about to start so she is sort of in a heaven of sorts :)

Now..I must admit that I think I have some geek demerits on my record at this point because I hadn't seen the new BSG at all. I was one of those die-hard original series fans and didn't want to watch another re-make of a series that I loved as a young adult which I felt would disappoint me. A fact which I relayed to Kati.

The following weekend, her sister Satu sends a text message that she has Season 1 and Season 2 on DVD from Kati's flat here in Helsinki for me to watch. Kati had emailed her sister and asked her to drop by her house and bring them to me. Talk about a sweet thing to do! Now, my 'merican cultural upbringing obligates me to watch at least the mini-series introduction to the new BSG..it would be rude not to right?

2 Words: FRAK ME!

I must say..I have been really pleasantly surprised.

One thing...not so sure about Starbuck being a chic. - Disclaimer - my feminist-comfortable shoe wearing sensibilities LOVE that there is some eye-candy that isn't vapid and forgetable... HOWEVER...Starbuck (go Dirk!)was one of my favorite characters from the original series and I am having a hard time with the fact that it is a girl...