Very long dinner trip

After getting back from the excursion of today, we saw what there is for supper in the hotel. It did not look good, nor taste good. They sticked to the plain chicken and they had some other stuff, mostly full of coriander.
So we asked the guides if they can take us to some restaurant to eat. A lot of teams did that and we were told that it is possible, as we will have no more exams. Great.

They hired a marshrutka, this is a little bus like the ones were in Yerevan. This was suposed to take us to the restaurant in 20-30 minutes they said. It took more than 1,5 hours, as we were in a traffic jam.
We went pretty far away anyways, up to the mountains, further than the fun park.

This was a kinda fancy restaurant, but not expensive compared to our european prices though.
The food was ok. It was the national food mostly, 3 or 4 of us, including me, ordered some dish with meat slices baked with cheese. This was tasty, but not too much. The guides told us that this is huge and we will only manage to eat it if 3-4 of us take it together. Well, I would be able to eat it myself alone, unless I ordered other stuff like hatsapuri (also together with others).

The only problem was the confusion of the orders by the waiters or the guides translating, as the waiters spoke no english. This was surprising, as I thought that this restaurant is visited by a lot of tourists.

The view was awesome on the other hand. The lights of the city were visible, including the TV tower on the other mointain. We had a lot of time to enjoy it, as our table was outside and when we finished, we had to wait an hour for the marshrutka to arrive and take us back to the hotel.So we ended up spending much more time waiting for marshrutkas and in them then in the restaurant.

When we got back, some other teams said they went to the city centre and ate there in Wendy's. We decided to go there tomorrow if we want to go out, as there is no Wendy's at home. We'll see.

Excursion to Sighnaghi

Today we had a long excursion to a part og Georgia called Sighnaghi. Our own guide had some stuff to do, so we went with Nanuka again.
Firstly, we went to see a town with a castle. The bus ride was kinda long, we played cards, slept and did all kids of stuff not to be bored. After all, it was fun.

So we got off the buses and went up to the top of the little hill there to the remains of the castle. The view was awesome from there. It took a lot of time for all the people to see it and come down on the same little stairs and the bus guides were crazy already, becouse of the delay. As always.

After coming down, we walked around in the town. After like half an hour of super slow walking, we ended up at a museum. Thos was not too interesting, but the view from the balcony upstairs was good.



This time we were very hungry already, at least I was. We were told that we are going to go to a restaurant, but it is like half an hour bus ride there. So I ate all my biscuits that I brought and we were good to go.

Fortunately we were in the first round of lunch, as we were in bus 1. The other half of the people ate after us. The food was pretty good after the anti-diarrhea food of the past days.





After lunch, we went to look around. The restaurant was next to a monastery, where we looked around. They have nice gardens with fruits, spices and all kings of plants.





Nanuka told us that there is a nice place with a water spring  in the valley. We went down there on a long-long stairway. More than 500 stairs.



This is some kind of holy spring, where people wash their clothes and believe that they get forgiveness for their sins. They were queueing for this.



The way up was less pleasant, but there were little places with bences to stop, sit down and have a rest.



After this, we sat down in front of the monastery and waited for the departure.
The way back was short for me, as I was sleeping all along.

Food interview and reunion party

When we got back to the hotel, the sofas and smaller tables were removed from the hall and placed in the hallway of the hotel downstairs. They were prepearing for today's Reunion Party.

The guide told us that some people will come from the government to ask us about the food we ate and they will try to work out which dishes caused the diarrhea. We went downstairs, sat down in the hallway and waited for those people, while playing cards and socializing.

The guy had an excel sheet with all the food from the first days of the olympiad and asked about them one by one. Sometimes I was confused, as I did not remember everything precisely what I ate. But mostly the answer was yes, as I tend to try all the interesting dishes on this kind of events.

About an hour later, the mentors arrived with buses and the reunion party started. Before going to the hall to eat, we talked a lot in the lobby, discussing the problems and the experiences generally. 

The best thing about theis evening was that we met the mentors, the next was the food. Finally we got normal food. It was way better than the food normally served in the hotel, so the first days' food. And incomparably better than the anti-diarrhea food fo the past days.
After the mentors left, a lot of students stayed out of their rooms. Beside the ones looking for WiFi or doing something else on their phones, everyone was socializing. We all exchanged little gifts that we brought from home and talked a lot. The atmosphere was totally different from the past days, as there was no more exam ahead of us, just two days of fun and a closing ceremony.

Theoretical exam

Yesterday we went through the advanced topics and read some of our notes as preparation. Other than that, we were mostly sleeping the whole afternoon.

Fortunately Soma came back from the hospital yesterday evening and he said that he even enjoyed the stay there. He has started the exam some hours later together with the others visiting the hospital. They have written it separately from us.

The exam was in the same building as the lab exam and we had the same kind of lunch. Finally it was some normal food, not the anti-diarrhea stuff. It felt like years of eating that by now.

The tasks were not too hard, the time was almost enough for me to do all of them. I feel good about the exam. I’m sure it was better than last year and I hope for a gold or a silver medal.

Most other students told me that it did not work out that well for them, which made me a bit sad, because it was ok in my opinion. And on the other hand, they were not that happy to hear that I’m happy with my feeling of results.

On the way back, we were waiting half an hour near the university in the buses. It seemed like we were waiting for police cars that will accompany the our buses.

Anit-diarreah lunch

This morning, we heard that more than 10 people are already in the hospital. And more have diarreah already, possibly from some food eaten in the hotel.

I feel a bit of it too, but it is nothing compared to the constant diarrhea I had in India. I can eat everything still. So better keep doing everything normally and not tell the guides, as for I do not want to go to the hospital.

Because of this, we get the simplest food possible, which is mostly the diet after a very bad diarrhea: plain boild chicken, cooked potato, rice. That’s it. There is no spice, not even salt on it, so it pretty much has no taste at all.

I looked around in the dining hall and the people who were eating looked very bad. They did not look like that normally, just when they realized what they were eating.

The dinner was half cooked rice. I had to fight with it a lot to stop being hungry. That was the point when we were jealous of the Chinese and other people smart enough to bring instant noodles. We went up to the room to eat some biscuits and other food we had instead.

5-hour excursion for 1-hour amusement park

Today we went to the amusement park of Tbilisi, which is on the top of one of the mountains. the faris wheel is even visible from our room window.

With a reasonable amount of delay and waiting in the bus, we got there and went around a bit. The view was great from up there, but when we arrived to the entrance of the amusement park, it turned out that it is not yet open. They told us, that it will be open 1 hour later, so at 11 am. OK, we are already used to waiting, so let’s just keep on practising.

Finally it opened at 11:30, and we could go in.

The roller coaster was a bit short, but there were like 3-4 occasions to be upside down during that short ride.

We tried the ferris wheel, which was awesome. I liked the view from up there.

After this short fun, we had to go back to the hotel, but first, wait for everyone and then for dunno what.

Finally, 5 hours after departure, we got back to the hotel. Spending 1 hour actually in the fun park.

At least the bus ride was comfortable. :)

Diarrhea and replacement guide

Today evening Soma was taken to the hospital with diarrhea. He only had temperature, but after all it was better that he went in to be cured very fast, as he is needed to be fully functional on the theoretical exam in 2 days.

Our own guide went with him to the hospital, so we got a replacement guide, Nanuka, who is originally the guide of Estonia. We sat down talking with her after supper, and talked for like 2,5-3 hours. She is very nice and cheerful. I’m glad we got her as replacement. 

Practical exam

Today morning we woke up earlier than the past days, because of the practical exam. That is why we went to sleep kinda early yesterday. As preparation, we went through the inorganic analysis reactions.

After breakfast, we went to the bus and departed with small delay, compared to the past days.

The exam was at the Agricultural University of Georgia, where they have nice labs with new labware.

We already had our lab and seat numbers on our badges and we had to gather around people with the lab number. It turned out that the head of my lab is a Hungarian guy. It makes no difference, but I was happy with it.

Now the lab exam consisted of two parts, we had a break between the first and the next two tasks. The time was split like 100/200 minutes for the two parts.

The first task was inorganic analysis, where we had 5 solution samples of 2 compounds each. We were told which 10 compounds can be in the samples and we had these 10 given out separately to be used for examination of the samples. This was not too hard and when I started reading it, I was pretty sure, that this is Attila Villányi’s task. I know he likes to make tasks like this on other competitions too.

The second one was a simple titration with Cl^-/Ag⁺/SCN^-. Nothing special.

The third was an organic analysis task, where we were given 8 samples of flavouring compounds and we had to do 4 reactions with each. They had intense smell and the lab was full of it at the end.

All of it could be done on time, unlike last year.

I was very hungry when we finished the lab exam, and I was happy to hear, that we just have to go to the next building and have lunch.

I was surprised to hear, that two students will do the exam later, due to illness. They are in the hospital with diarrhea. Good that none of us had this problem.

Missed excursion

Today morning we were not woken up by guides, we had our own alarm waking us up on time. We even put a sticker on the door not to be disturbed before a certain time. We did everything normally, went to have breakfast. Knowing that there was an hour delay yesterday, and the dining hall was full of people including guides around the time of departure written in the schedule, we did not worry about the time.

Our guide came and told that we will leave in 15 minutes, and others were told other times. So we went up to the room and started getting ready. Later he came and told another time of departure. All right, we will depart some time, possibly soon.

Then he came and told that in 5 minutes we have to go, this was just after the last one. We said ok, but we finish all stuff, especially brushing our teeth. I was telling the guide to calm down, we will not be left here and we are still very early after yesterday’s delay.

Finally he said a bit later, which was not 5 minutes I think, that he was called by the head guide, that the bus just left. This time we were mostly ready, 3 of us out of the room, one getting shoes on. So we needed like 1 minute to get to the bus’ parking place.

I was surprised about the mentality of them, especially the head guide, that he does leave students in the hotel. Especially like this, when it wouldn’t have been a big thing to wait 1 minute. And our guide was telling him that we are getting out already, at least I hope, as he was speaking Georgian.

We were told that the excursion was to some churches and it was not too interesting.

The good thing about staying is, that we can sleep and prepare for tomorrow’s practical exam now.

Disco party and looking for catalyser

After getting back from the excursion, we had dinner and I asked about the disco party that is in the schedule. A guide told me that it will be held in the dining hall, by removing some tables and a DJ will run it.

After dinner the (kinda) DJ arrived with speakers and all the equipment. A lot of the hotel’s people helped setting everything up and some hours later the party started. Their music was not the best for the purpose. If you are running a party where people dance, you have to play music good for dancing, not gangster rap. Sadly they played too much of this kind. (by music for dancing, I do not mean waltz or tango music or similar but kinda disco music)

Everyone enjoyed it after all, as I saw, not all of it but surely something and this is the goal of such events on Olympiads I think.

I noticed a girl in the dancing crowd, who had a different badge colour than us. It turned out, that she is from the media. She is working on the Olympiad’s official daily newspaper for participants, the Catalyser.

I realized, that we did not get the today’s issue so far, just the one yesterday. I asked her about it an she told me that there was one made and she has no idea why I did not get it. After that, I asked the group of guides sitting in the corner of the dining hall. The head guide of our bus told me that it was distributed after the opening ceremony. It was on tables in some corner of the room, wherefrom we should have taken it. It seems like we had no chance to get it as the guide was making us hurry and that is too bad. I like these newspapers, as they tell stuff about the host country, the program we will have and the people having birthday on the given day. I like to collect all of them, as I did on my previous Olympiads.

The head guide told me that he will look into it. I liked that. The bad thing was, that when I told why we did not get it, explained that we were hurrying because of our guide, the guides talked all against me. They told me that it is my solely fault and I shall not blame any guide for that. And not saying this too nicely. Well, a pretty awful mentality of guides. I have never seen this kind of thing on my previous Olympiads.

Excursion of waiting everywhere in Tbilisi City

This whole excursion started off with an hour of delay. It is not surprising, as for 300 people have to eat and  get ready before it, having limited time.

We arrived to the buses a bit late according to the program and the guide was nervous about it. We had to wait a lot in the bus after that, like 20-30 minutes. Meaning we were pretty early after all.

Firstly, we visited a church, where there was a wedding at the moment. It is told to be a popular place to have weddings.

Then we went on with the buses to a little place, wherefrom we were walking. We went through small streets with restaurants and shops. This was the old town, kinda authentic and beautiful.

We saw their glass bridge, where we caused a traffic jam on foot, with 300 people wanting to got through at the same time.

Beside all of this, we were waiting a lot everywhere. We simply had to stop in the middle of squares, streets, anything to wait a bit for something. When we moved together, the walking speed was close to a snail’s speed. The big crowd was moved very chaotically. The basic idea was that each buses’ people stay together around the bus-guide, who has the sign with the number of the bus. And so, there is an order of the buses and they have to go everywhere in this order.

The problem with this was, that we talked to people from other buses. Shame on us, that we know people from other buses, right? And pretty much no one would say like: “Sorry, I will not let ou end your sentence/thought and I will not tell mine, because I have to wait for something about 50m away from here.” So the groups were mixed and the guides did not realize that we are not marching soldiers, but students from around the world who get to know each other.

Finally we went to see a river’s valley with a waterfall, which was the most beautiful thing on the way. And it was in the middle of the city.

After this, we went to the buses and surprisingly, waited there for whatever.

So this excursion was 70% standing and waiting, 20% walking super-slowly and 10% walking with normal speed and being stopped to wait for the others.

Opening Ceremony

Today morning we wanted to wake up at 7:30 as there is breakfast until 9. So we can have enough sleep, have breakfast and take a shower before going. We told this in the evening to the guides sitting in the lobby, including our's. They said it will be all ok, they will make sure not to wake us up earlier.

Then some guide was knocking on the door very hard before 7 am, telling us to wake up, get ready and breakfast is from 7 am. We were very upset with her and told her to go and not do this thing again.

We had a rich breakfast, fortunately not in that little dining hall, but downstairs in in the hall of the hotel.

We suited up and got on the buses. We had to wait a bit on the bus, then went to a theatre where the opening ceremony was going to be held. Before that, we had like an hour to chat around with other students and the mentors. This was great, it is always good to see the mentors during the olympiad.

As always, on the opening ceremony, we saw national dance and music performances, all the teams were called one by one to stand up for an applaus and heard speeches. The best was Gabor Magyarfalvi's speech, who is the Chairman of the steering comitee this year. It was well structured and he told us meaningful stuff.

After that, we took a team-photo in front of the Olympiad’s banner. Then the guide told us that we need to hurry up instead of socializing with others and leave fast. We did so and got on the bus, where we were waiting for other teams a lot. Good way to make yourself taken less seriously.

Opera play and national food tasting like shampoo

We went to the opera and bought tickets. The surprising thing about it was, that we were able to buy tickets to the 4th row, just half an hour before starting. And it was dirt cheap compared to the opera prices at home.

The title was Abesalon and Eteri it was in Georgian, as it is their national opera play, but with no subtitles. The guide told us the story of it, so it was understandable. It is kinda like Romeo and Juliet.

The weird part was that the main characters were supposed to be around 18-20 y/o but 60+ singers played them.

I was surprised that the whole audience stood upto applaud at the end. 

We missed the dinner in the hotel, so we went to eat something afterwards with the guide. He took us to a restaurant which is famous for it's khinkali. This is a national dish of Georgia. It is basically a pasta bag filled with something. The something was meat, mushrooms, etc., but all full of coriander. For some people, like me, coriander tastes like shampoo. I'm ok with coriander in small quantities, but there is a point when it is just too much of the shampoo taste. Just like salt, you need a bit, but not a dish full of it.

We ordered like 10 khinkali each, because it was the normal portion according to the guide. It turned out that 4-5 is already enough per person, especially from the coriander in it.

The other thing we tried was hatsapuri, which is like a pizza filled with cottage cheese and no topping but cheese. I liked this.

After all, this was very cheap so we were happy with it.

Registration

After a little sleep, we went to have breakfast. It was good, they had delicious croissants. The dining hall is very small, I doubt that the 300 people will fit in here for a meal.

After breakfast, we went back to sleep.

We discussed with the guide to sleep 1 hour before going to the registration. So we went to sleep and set an alarm clock.

After half an hour we were woken up by the guide's knocking on the door. He told us to get up and go now. The registration is open the whole day though and it is told that most planes are coming afte2 or 3 pm, so we told him to chill out, no need to hurry. So we could sleep a bit more.

We took a cab to the mentor's hotel, where we were waiting in the lobby. They told that a mentor must come down and tell them to let us in for the registration.

We met a lot of hungarians there, from the organizing comite. After discussing a lot of stuff with them, we got to know that there is an oprah play in the National Oprah House of Georgia and we can visit it. It will be cheap too.

Our phones were taken away, we got the olympiad backpack with a lot of stuff instead. There was a T-shirt, a baseballcap, a pendrive, etc. All with the olympiad logo. Too bad that they did not give us pins like last year and the year before. I would gladly put it on my suit beside the other one.

We got the badges, that we will have to wear the whole time. There is name, country and all useful info on it. We had red color of T-shirt, cap and badge as students, guides had yellow. This always a good way to distinguish the people.

Flight to Tbilisi

Yesterday evening we departed from Budapest Airport at around 8 pm. I've been looking forward to this day for around a year by now, pretty much since last year's olympiad's end.

We flew with Turkish Airlines this year too. It was convenient and we got good food. As always.

The only problemwas the timing of the flight: We arrived just before midnightto Istanbul and departed at 1:40 am from there. Then we landed around 5 am in Tbilisi. I slept only 1-1,5 hours this night, mostly on the plane.

This made us dead-tired when we got here to the hotel. After going to the room, we packed out a bit and went to sleep.

The next thing to do will be to have breakfast, but we have about 1-2 hours of sleep until then.

Prologue, IChO 2016

This year's IChO will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia. Finally we have a place at least. Firstly, Pakistan was the organizer, but a lot of countries canceled, excluding us. Then, when it seemed like only half of the normally participating countries will attend the olympiad, it had to be canceled there. Later there were several ides where to organize the olympiad and finally Georgia accepted to do it. They had short time to do it which makes me a bit worried about how well organizedit will be. We will see.