Binezone

Where is the sound of silence ?

2012-02-04T03:58:00.000-08:00

On Friday we had a memorial church service for a deceased colleague. There was a moment of complete silence - no cough, no rustling of clothes, no whispering, nothing. It made me think about all the noise that tortures my ears all day.

My job forces me to work with people. A lot of people. A lot of people who talk to me at the same time. There is constant noise - in the office, in the hall, in the room for the the breaks. Five conversations at the same time, everybody shouting loudly trying to make themselves heard.

There is music... well "music" ... everywhere. In the supermarket, for example. The nice relaxing music that is supposed to make me buy just makes me angry . I want to escape as fast as possible and forget half of the things on my list. Children crying, mothers shouting, men talking at the top of their voices.

And all the machines: cars, buses, trams, planes, helicopters, the washing machine, the dryer, the computer. People talking on their mobile phones. When I come home, I turn on the TV, the radio or a CD. Most of the things I hear there are not important, but they pollute my brain and keep me from thinking.

Well - there is a point to start. I may not be able to get away from the noise at work or in the city. But I can keep my house quiet. Or go to a quiet place, like a church. And when then, after a while, the organ lets some Bach music float through the air... then I know, that silence makes us hear the important things. Like the voices of our hearts.

Church in the small town of Tequila, México

Happy Chinese New Year

2012-01-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

xin nian kuai le ..... gung hay fat choy

I wish everybody who celebrates a happy new Year of the Dragon - ah, you don't know what this is all about?

Well - the traditional Chinese calendar is a lunar calendar, so the celebrations of the new year take place at some time between the end of January and the beginning of February. The Chinese call it the "Spring Festival" and it is the celebration of nature coming back to life. Like all big festivals you celebrate with your family, which means that each year around this time millions of Chinese are on the road (or train or plane..) to visit their families. And of course, there are fireworks. After all, the Chinese invented fireworks ! What most Western kids like most about Chinese New Year are the red envelopes with money children and unmarried relatives get . More details about the celebrations here.

And where does the dragon come from ? The Chinese calendar has a 12 year cycle and each year is named after an animal. Last year was the Year of the Rabbit, the new year is going to be the Year of the Dragon. People born in the year of a certain animal are said to have certain characteristics... well, if you want to know more, you can e.g. find more information here .

By the way, I was born in the Year of the Rooster...

A colouring page with a dragon can be found on Jackie Chan's website in the "Kids Corner."

Good bye, Princess !

2012-01-16T12:47:00.000-08:00

I lost a friend - well, you might say, it was "only a cat", but she was more than just "a cat". She was a member of our family and a good companion for more than 12 years. And on Friday I had to go to the vet and have her put down.

I got her when she was 11 weeks old and we had a close relationship. She had an incredible air of arrogance about her and seemed to be well aware of the fact that in ancient Egypt she might have been worshipped as a goddess. She was a real princess - but also a real cat who could live a real cat's life roaming the gardens of the neighbourhood, hunting and supplying the household with food.

I miss having to fight for access to my bed, my desk and my computer keyboard. I miss nearly stepping on her when I walk into the kitchen. I miss spending winter evenings opening and closing the balcony door, because a cat is always on the wrong side of a door. She was seldom satisfied with the service she got from me - and she never failed to tell me off. And I miss it.

And she was there when I needed someone to cuddle because I was sad. She listened patiently to everything I told her - and living together with her taught me that love and freedom can go together.

Bye bye, my dear friend - I am listening to our favourite music and thinking of you. And I am grateful that you shared my life.

Whose bed ?

Memories

2011-07-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

A long time has passed since my last post, but I was extremely busy at work and privately. But then I could take a break - a holiday in Carinthia/ Austria. The interesting thing about this holiday place is the fact that it has been part of nearly my whole life.

It is a farm whose owners started to rent out rooms to holiday makes in the 1960s and when I was nine years old, my family and I went there for the first time. It was an adventure: strange smells, strange language, no wash basin in our rooms, the only tap was in the kitchen. They have come a long way from there, today there are apartments with cable TV.

I came here as a child and teenager with my parents, alone as a student, with my boy-friend and then with husband and child. I met a lot of other people who had been here as a child and came back with their own children. The friendship to the farmer's family grew - the older generation died and we "youngsters " are now in our 50s.

I had not been at this place for 10 years, but when I entered the kitchen, it was like coming home. And I spent a week remembering things my late mother had done or said - and thinking of the happy times of my marriage and the time when my son was little. It was like re-living my life, but at the end of the week I had arrived in the present and could look ahead to new adventures.

However, like a real home, the farm in Carinthia will remain with me wherever I go.

Some things never change: a new-born calf

Internet Connections

2011-04-10T05:57:00.000-07:00

Today I realized again how useful Internet is and how much it has changed our lives. On TV I saw a report about the revolution in Egypt and the role that mobile phones, Facebook and Twitter played in it. Information can be passed on at the wink of an eye and people cannot be kept from getting it, no matter how hard a government may try to prevent this.

After that I had my very own personal "Internet " moments.I know a lot of students all around the world - and I am a passionate teacher. So when my friend asked me to have a look at her essay and correct the language, I agreed to do so. She sent me her essay by email, I sent it back the same way an hour later. She is in California at the moment, I am in Germany - in real life we would not even have met. Something similar happened a bit later with a student friend in China who is studying German. I explained German grammar to him via Instant Messenger and then remembered some helpful documents, so I put them into an email and he got them a few seconds after I had hit the "send" button.

Do you remember how difficult it was in the old days to get authentic material in a foreign language? Nowadays you can access online TV stations, radio or newspapers; there are websites with tons of material to practise and to study . And you can make friends around the world with whom you can practise your language skills.

Maybe these new media are a chance for understanding and peace, too. They have made the world a smaller place - hopefully no "Klingon" attack from outer space is needed (yes, I admit, I watched Star Trek last night) to make us humans work together instead of against each other. And we need to work together to save our little planet ...

Parque Nacional in Uruapan/Mexico

All's right with the world ??!!

2011-04-03T03:12:00.000-07:00

There is a war in Libya. The Japanese are still fighting with the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami and it will take the country years to repair all the damage.I know people who are somehow affected by it all - or by some other form of hardship.

And what does the sun do today? It shines. The sky is blue, the birds are singing, it is a lovely and warm spring day. The smell of flowers and trees is incredible. The cold and dark winter is over. I could sit in the sun and relax. But how can I, when I think of all the sad things happening ?

I can allow myself to do that. Maybe even more, I must do it. We all need it - the precious moments when there is peace around us. We need them to gather new energy to face the hard times. We must take them and cherish them. I think the secret of life lies in living these moments in the full knowledge of the cruel other side of life. The secret lies in hoping they will come back, when we are in the middle of a disaster.

Hope is a powerful source of energy. Believing can give you hope - religious people know what I am talking about.

I wish those who have a peaceful day that you can enjoy the precious moment thankfully. To those, who are troubled: I wish you hope.

Photo: Sam C. Chan

What we should really care about ...

2011-03-27T02:06:00.000-07:00

So many things I want to do become irrelevant, when I watch the news about Japan and Libya on TV. I worry about friends I have in dangerous parts of the world , but there is not much I can do. So, as a means of distraction, I switch to another channel and hit "Germany's Next Top Model", a "casting show" (as they are called in German) hosted by Heidi Klum.

I must admit, I stayed glued to the screen until the end. What am I worrying about, I ask myself, when there are REAL PROBLEMS ... such as if you are wearing the right dress or shoes while walking along the catwalk ? Ahh, walking .... I don't know how I have survived more than 50 years with my unsexy and uninspirational walk. It is a wonder anybody talks to me ! And the bitch fights: a girl is not chosen at once as a flat mate - tears, long discussions. One girl is praised by presenter and photographer... jealousy.

Yes, I know. These shows are not about finding talents, they are about entertainment. The candidates are used by the production company and put into certain situations, so that in the end something interesting, shocking and entertaining can be shown. How many girls enter a competition like this with high hopes and dreams and in the end are simply exploited?

Commercial TV is about selling advertising time. The adverts that interrupt the programme are, of course, about beauty products. Again I am fascinated by what I need and have not got . When I realized that my armpits will never be "beautiful", because I am using the wrong deodorant, I lost all hope that I will ever be able to catch up...

Demostrations against nuclear power ? Peace walks ? Protecting the environment, saving the earth ? Equal pay for men and women ? Human rights ? People dying ? Who is interested in that ?

Who wants us not to be interested ?

Tagesschau online (German news programme)

Help Japan

2011-03-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

If I ignore those for whom the terrible plight of the Japanese people is only a way of making money, I see pictures that touch my heart.

I see the dignity and calmness with which the people in Japan go through these difficult times. My heart bleeds when I see children ... it bleeds for them and their parents. I see the true heroes of our days: the technicians and firefighters in the power plant risking their lives to avoid the final catastrophe.

All I personally can do is pray - and support relief agencies with a donation. Money that says "We are thinking of you.. you are not forgotten."

Please ... help in the way you can.

A Prayer from Japan

2011-03-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

For those who pray I want to include the text of the prayer that the German Protestant community in Tokyo published at the weekend:

FÜRBITTENGEBET
Gott, du hast die Welt geschaffen. Dafür waren wir immer dankbar. Darauf haben wir immer vertraut, dass wir ein Teil deiner Schöpfung sind, von dir gewollt und zu Gutem bestimmt.
Jetzt haben wir erlebt, dass deine Schöpfung auch ein anderes Gesicht hat. Wir haben erlebt, wie klein wir Menschen sind.
Manche von uns haben Stunden der Angst erlebt, Stunden der Unsicherheit und Sorge. Die Menschen in der Erdbebenregion haben ihr Leben verloren, ihre Angehörigen, ihre Existenz.
Und der Schrecken ist noch nicht vorbei. Das Kernkraftwerk in Fukushima ist noch nicht sicher.
Dennoch hoffen wir auf dich, Gott, halten an dir fest und bitten dich um deine Gegenwart in all diesen schlimmen Erfahrungen.

Wir bitten für die Familien, die nicht wissen, ob ihre Angehörigen noch leben.
Wir bitten für die Verstorbenen.
Wir bitten für die Menschen in den Notunterkünften.
Wir bitten für die Menschen, die vor dem Nichts stehen.
Wir bitten für die vielen Helfer, die ihr Leben für andere aufs Spiel setzen.

An dir halten wir uns fest, Gott, gerade, wenn uns der Boden unter den Füßen wegrutscht.
Auf dich hoffen wir, in allem, was wir erleben, ertragen, durchmachen müssen.
Begleite du uns, dass wir nicht verzweifeln.
Hilf uns, aufeinander zu achten, richtige Entscheidungen zu treffen und zu helfen, wo wir können. Amen.

My English translation:

God, you have created the world. We have always been thankful for it. We have always trusted that we are part of your creation, wanted by you, meant to do good.

Now we have experienced that your creation can also have a different face. We have experienced how small we humans are.

Some of us have experienced hours of fear, of insecurity and of worries. People in the earthquake region have lost their lives, their relatives, their livelihood.

And the horror is not over. The nuclear power plant in Fukushima is not secure yet.

And yet, oh Lord, we have our hopes in you and ask for your presence in all these terrible moments.

We pray for the families, who do not know, if their members are still alive.

We pray for the dead.

We pray for the people in emergency shelters.

We pray for people who have lost everything.

We pray for the many helpers who risk their lives for others.

In you we trust, God, particularly when the ground has been taken from under our feet.

Facing everything we must experience, suffer and go through, we put our hopes in you.

Accompany us that we do not despair.

Help us to take care of each other, to make the right decisions and to help where we can.

Amen.

(Translation SK/15th March, 2011)

http://www.ekd.de/bilder/rubrik_glauben_2009.jpg

When Disaster Strikes: Japan and the Media

2011-03-13T01:56:00.000-08:00

Do you remember Tchernobyl 1986? When you lived in Europe at that time, you know about the accident in the Ukranian nuclear power plant - the worst one in history. It had far reaching effects, not only for the region,but the nuclear fallout affected also northern and central Europe - up to the present day. In those days we wanted and needed information, which we got from TV and radio. Reliable, factual information, so I felt. I remember that I was worried, but not in panic (and that this nourished my suspicion against nuclear power plants, but that is a different topic).

In those days we had mainly the public broadcasting services for information and they did a good job.

When the earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit Japan, we had already lived in the age of commercial TV for more than 20 years. Due to Internet and advanced technologies we were flooded with pictures of the disaster immediately. Media were competing for the most terrible disaster scenario .

And then nuclear power plants in Japan were affected, there was an explosion - and, naturally, we worry. All TV channels brim with activity. Special news programmes. Everybody who knows how to spell "nuclear power" is called in as a specialist and interviewed. They cannot say much, of course, facts are hard to come by. So they say what they think. In between some "human interest stories" - and one journalist remarked that the Japanese were taking all this with amazingly little panic. Yeah, what a pity, would have made great pictures for the evening news, wouldn't it?

In fact, I am fed up with the "news coverage" of this. It does not help anybody, least of all the people in Japan and neighbouring countries . I want to know if my friends in that part of the world are ok, but I don't learn that on TV. I want facts and information. But what I don't want is sensationalist reports, pictures of crying children (I can imagine myself that the Japanese are not exactly having a party there) and a disaster simply used for selling advertising time.

And least of all do I need worried discussions about the question what the nuclear fallout could do to Germany. I feel it is necessary we dicuss our own nuclear power plants.

As to Japan, I feel deeply with the people there.All I can do is donate to relief agencies and pray for them - and ignore those who want to make money out of a terrible catastrophe.

Stuff as TV shows are made on ?

2011-03-06T05:23:00.000-08:00

This morning I remembered one of my favourite Shakespeare quotations, taken from his last play "The Tempest":

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

(The Tempest, Act IV,1)

"The Tempest" takes place on a magic island and with these words the "master" and magician Prospero ends the show. Both, the play and this quote, leave a lot of room for interpretation I don't want to discuss here. And the idea that "all the world's a stage" (As You Like It , Act II,7) shines through his plays also at other places.

In his time, Shakespeare was a star writing plays that people from all social spheres watched and loved. Today we have TV - and we have things like "Deutschland sucht den Superstar" (= DSDS, the German version of "American Idol"). Of course, this show is not about finding and supporting talented young artists - it is about selling advertising time. After 10 years, people singing wrong notes is not enough to attract the audience's attention, so more exciting stuff has to be staged. In the last season one of the contestants had to go to prison half -way through the show. And just now I saw a magazine informing the bored viewer about the "biggest fight in the history of DSDS." !! It is a childish argument between two of the girls - so obviously written into the show by those who make it. Boring, shallow, blown up out of proportion . I prefer Shakespeare any time...

And yet, it makes me wonder ... I hope we are not such stuff as TV shows are made on ...

(http://www.dsds-superstar.com)

Romance Scammers - A Serious Comment

2011-02-15T14:26:00.000-08:00

I have already written about the positive sides of Internet, but on 14th February you can find a slightly ironic post making fun of some of the more amateurish romance scammers I came across. But there is a serious background to it and I want to comment on it here.

Like already mentioned in the Valentine's post, romance scamming is no fun for the victim. I read heart-breaking stories of women or men for whom the material loss was not the most terrible thing, but who suffered for a long time from what can only be described as a traumatic experience. They had opened their hearts to someone, they had trusted him/her, had fallen in love, had thought they had found happiness - and then suddenly they found out that the "someone" did not even exist.

And that brings us to the negative sides of Internet. It is easy to pretend to be someone you are not - everybody can pose as someone else. The only solution is to be careful, never give away too much information too soon and ask questions. An honest person does not mind if you are suspicious, but beware of those who talk of "trust" and "confidence" as an immediate must when meeting a stranger.

By the way, you are not on the safe side when you avoid dating websites. Scammers can be found everywhere: Facebook, for example, is full of them, and I was contacted by several scammers on a site where I practise languages. So be careful who you add as a friend and who you talk to.

There are sites on the Internet that help when you have become a victim of a romance scam or if you want to get further information.

All in all, I have found more friends than scammers online - and I wish you all the same good experiences !!!

Scammer Cat ... I don't know who owns the copyright for this, but I found it on this blog.

Romance Scammers

2011-02-14T08:50:00.000-08:00

It is Valentine's Day today - the day of lovers and loved ones. The Internet message boards I am member of are full of romantic Valentine wishes for those who are in a relationship and even more wishes for those, who are not. So I am writing about something romantic, too : romance scammers. They pretend to love you, but are only after your money.

After I personally have been bored by so many amateurs, I thought it is high time someone writes a guide for young men who want to try this as a living. So here are some points a professional should consider:

- Check your English. Chances are you come across a teacher of English who gets very suspicious if you claim to be an academic and native speaker, but can't write a single complete sentence without mistakes.
- Check your victim's age. If she is older than 50, she might have children of her own and thus might not be interested in becoming the step-mother of a motherless 11-year-old girl, who will be a bitchy teenager faster than you can say "puberty".
- Particularly don't say you are widowed with a pre-teenage kid when she is a teacher ! She deals with them in her job, she doesn't want to have any at home as well.
- Don't move too fast: it is very suspicious if you say you cannot stop thinking of her and she is the woman of your life after half an hour of chat and a blurry photo.
- Don't be too insistant on getting her mobile phone number, a better photo, her real name, address, job information, income and things like that too soon, and particularly don't ask for this at your first "date".
- Don't ask for money after all together a few hours of contact. And the argument : "Yes, you are clever to be careful, but if you give me the money, you will see that I pay back..." is not very convincing. In fact, a professional scammer doesn't ask, but waits until money is offered.

In other words: LEAVE ME ALONE and don't bore me with your stupid stories !!

PS:
Sarcasm alert ... yes, the obove is meant ironically. There are warning websites on the Internet and if you never heard this term and are single, you should go and study them. Romance scamming is no joke for the victim, but maybe the above helps to raise awareness.

And: I still wish you all a lovely and enjoyable Valentine's Day !!!

Tea Ceremonies

2011-01-29T02:50:00.000-08:00

When I work, I usually drink a lot of coffee. But in order to relax, I need tea. There are deep philosophies behind making and drinking tea , and the difference between coffee drinkers (active, extrovert) and tea drinkers (meditative, introvert, like traditions). So my way of consuming beverages is logical - and of course, my tea is not made by throwing a tea bag into some hot water. I like loose tea and the ceremony of brewing it.

In Hong Kong I visited the Museum of Tea Ware (Flagstaff House ) which shows beautful Chinese tea cups and pots, but also the different ways of making and celebrating tea. A bit of time is always needed. When I was at the coast of the German North Sea last autumn (a landscape called "Ostfriesland"), I learned that there is a connection between this area of Germany and China.

First of all the connection of trade: we visited a museum, a captain's house, which had a whole room dedicated to the souvenirs from his trips to China in the 19th century. But there is more: people in Ostfriesland love tea (this is the only area in Germany where people drink more tea than coffee) and the tea ceremony is an important part of their social life.

The typical tea they drink here is a mix of Assam teas that has a dark colour and strong taste, which goes very well with cold, windy and rainy days at the seaside (as I could experience myself). After the tea is prepared carefully, you pour it into a small cup with some lumps of special sugar at the bottom that does not dissolve easily. Finally you add a "cloud" of cream, carefully, so that it does not dissolve at once, either.

Now you have about three sips: the first has the bitter taste of the tea, with the second one you taste the cream and the third one gets you to the sweetness of the sugar. If you are invited to a "Teetied" (tea time) in Ostfriesland, you must drink at least three cups in order not to appear impolite.

Do you like tea or coffee or both ? Whatever - may you have time to sit down and enjoy it !

Adding a cloud of cream


Harbour of the little town of Carolinensiel

Coincidence ?

2011-01-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Some encounters change our lives. Exactly a year ago I had one that definitely influenced the whole year of 2010 for me. I was not only happy during this time, but does that mean I wish it had never happened?

Sometimes we wish something had not happened, sometimes we wish we had made a different decision. But really, it is no use to cry over spilled milk. Our life went the way it did, we cannot change it.

And finally we may realize that everything that happened had also positive sides. We learned something, we gained experience, we grew and developed a bit.

A year later I stand at a new point - it was an encounter that in the end even changed my life. Although not in the way I had expected.

Is our life a series of coincidences and do we just create an artificial sort of meaning when looking back - or is there really a sense in all this ?

The church of the village of San Juan Parangaricutiro (Mexico) was destroyed by the eruptions of the Paricutín volcano - the church towers and the altar were spared. Coincidence ?

Changes

2011-01-16T05:03:00.000-08:00

Life is movement and change . A lot of changes have happened in my life during the past two years - not only a new hairstyle ! So I decided to change the design of my blog as well and try out some of the new things that are offered.

Changes are usually met with a mix of apprehension and excitement. We are looking forward to new challenges and experiences, but a change also means "good bye" to something old and familiar. Some changes are inevitable - growing old for example - and all we can do is make the best of the situation. Others can be avoided, but then everything stays as it is . If we are happy, there is no need to change anything. If we are not, we probably have to collect enough courage to jump. And even then we might have moments of regret ...

"No risk - no fun" is a motto you can hear from young people in Germany. So I risked a new design here and hope you have fun ... ;)

No change wanted ....

Esperanto - some questions

2011-01-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I commented on a series of articles on Esperanto that was published in a Mexican paper. The author explained the history of Esperanto and its importance for the past, present and future. My first comment concerned the idea of a world language. Today I have some thoughts and questions that concern communication in general .

Communication is not only about words. A person can understand the single words and the rules according to which they are put together, but sometimes this can still mean, the person does not understand the message. We all know about things like humour or irony, where we say one thing and mean another. This becomes even more complicated when you consider cultural differences. In one country it may be custom to use words like "dear/dearest" frequently and they mean just normal appreciation. In Germany, however, "liebste/liebster" is used only in very close relationships . So, how do Esperantists bridge differences like these ... do two people really mean the same when they say "Kara..." ?

Another example is literature. Literary texts express to a great extend the personality of the writer, which is formed by his/her cultural background. It is very difficult to translate idioms , proverbs and even metaphors into another language, as they are based on the historal, social and religious background of the country in question. I find it hard to imagine that Esperanto literature really works without being influenced by the cultural background of the writer. On the other hand, maybe the Esperanto community will develop a cultural background of its own ... or does it already exist ?

As the language of a country is part of its culture, I like studying languages, even if I won't be as fluent in most languages as I am in English. But I get a glimpse of the culture this way.

All this does not mean that I want to belittle the idea of a language that provides an easy- to- learn means of communication. I have read some criticism of Esperanto which I don't want to go into here, as my own observation is that Esperantists are peaceful people interested in the world, its human beings and their culture.The Internet provides new opportunities for this - and who knows, Zamenhof's vision might become true one day.

The author finishes his articles with some personal remarks describing his own benefits from being an Esperantist. Of course, they are the same that I have from being a Jackie Chan fan (finding friends and learning about the world) - common goals and visions connect people across all borders !

I refer to :
Guillermo Macías y Díaz Infante: Pasado, presente y futuro del Esperanto (Primera de cuatro partes), in: La Jornada Aguascalientes, 2nd September, 2010, p. 6 (written in Spanish and Esperanto, part two to four on following Wednesdays)

Looking back and ahead

2010-12-30T13:39:00.000-08:00

Ein gutes neues Jahr ! Happy New Year ! Feliz Año Nuevo ! xin nian kuai le ! gung hay fat choy ! Bonne Année ! Buon Capadonno ! Feliz Ano Novo !

The days after Christmas are full of TV programmes that try to show us the "highlights" and "most touching moments" of the past year. It is the attempt to catch and hold the time that is passing. Well, apart from the fact that we know we cannot really do that, we should also be aware that December 31st is an arbitrary date to do so. For me the end of a school year (in Germany it is in summer) has always been more important as a point of transition from one cycle of my life to the other. My Chinese friends celebrate their new year on February 3rd. So one could just ignore the date, celebrate a party and then battle the hangover the next day.

However, I have also looked back and found that the past year had the usual mix of ups and downs:

Some of the happiness I found turned out to be an illusion - but most of it was more substantial.
I made an exciting journey and met friends on another continent.
I had success in my job, but also a lot more work and less free time.
I was sick and healthy, like every year.
I was worried and scared, sad and in tears, happy and full of laughter.
I made mistakes and learned from them.

I guess, the next year will not be much different. I have things I can look forward to (si Dios quiere), I alreaday know at least one moment that makes me apprehensive, there will be moments of fear, there will be challenges and joys... There will be LIFE !

At the end of this year I say a deeply felt "thank you" to all the people who crossed my way last year- to the ones I will never see again as well as to the ones who stay with me. I am thankful for the laughter you gave me, the support, the lessons you taught me, the sorrows you let me share ... I am thankful for you being in my life.

I wish us all a peaceful new year !

Merry Christmas !

2010-12-24T01:57:00.000-08:00

Frohe Weihnachten! Feliz Navidad ! sheng dan jie kuai le !

Yesterday afternoon I visited a friend and his wife. Although they really have serious problems and worries, it was an afternoon of warmth and laughter. They keep their house open on Christmas Eve for everybody who feels lonely - and I thought that as long as I have friends like these I am truly rich.

I wish you true friendship and love - and if you celebrate it: may you find the true spirit of Christmas.

And may you have fun as well !!!

Little Big Soldier

2010-12-11T12:30:00.000-08:00

Today on the Facebook status of one of my American friends I read about an American soldier who died shortly before his baby was born and my friend asked to think (and pray) for him and his family. I am not going to write about the sense or non-sense of American military interventions in the world. This remark made me think of war, of violence and of a movie that I watched recently and that impressed me deeply.

It may not surprise the regular reader that it is a movie with Jackie Chan . Da bing xiao jiang/Little Big Soldier was released in February 2010 in China and is available on DVD also in my country. In fact, it was shown at the Berlinale film festival this year and Jackie was in Berlin as well.

Jackie plays an old and experienced soldier who kidnaps the only other survival of a battle, a young general from the enemy's army (Wang Leehom). He wants to take him home, collect a reward and then buy a piece of land and retire. The kind of down-to-earth and cunning old man is ideal for Jackie. But what touched me most was the message of the movie. Deep down we don't want to be heroes, deep down human beings just want to survive, to live and grow old in peace. Several times I had tears in my eyes seeing the simple dream Jackie's character pursues - simple and profoundly human.

I had to think of this movie when I read my friend's message. I thought of all the soldiers all over the world, no matter which nationality. I thought of their dreams, their families, their friends. I thought that I cannot prevent wars - and this weekend my heart and my prayers go out to all of them.

Dreams - is the impossible really impossible ?

2010-11-14T04:19:00.000-08:00

The impossible is impossible.(Sam C. Chan)

Recently, I have come across several of the "don't give up your dreams and they will come true" sentiments that give so much hope, but also seem to me like an order to stop thinking rationally. Dream your dream and stop looking at the real world, is that a way to live? I thought about it.

We all have dreams - big and little ones. We dream of a Sunday without work or a journey to Mexico or meeting our favourite star. Good news: dreams can be realized ! Some of them, at least. If you set yourself a realistic goal and if you think about what you must do to make it come true, you can work for the realization of your dream. You can also set yourself a more realistic goal, or one on the way to the final destination. This way, dreams can come true - and you may have noticed I spoke of "goals" rather than dreams. Because most of our "dreams" are goals that we can achieve if we work for them - or change if we see they are wrong or impossible.

The word "impossible" reminded me of the simple statement on a friend's website that I quoted above:The impossible is impossible. I find this important to bear in mind, because it is so true. I am dreaming of being 20, slim, young and ravishingly beautiful. As I am a normal middle-aged woman, this is impossible, and as the impossible is impossible, I can stop wasting my time dreaming of this and go for something more realistic. Of course, my friend's statement is a useful thought in a lot of situations - if politicians promise the impossible, we should not believe them.

This leaves the question who determines what is impossible. Of course, we can use logic, our knowledge of the laws of nature, our general knowledge and experience. And yet ... there are dreams that seem impossible, but can be the driving force behind our activities. The dream of peace and justice for all the world, for example, has made a lot of people make a lot of little steps. The dream that all these little steps will one day add up to a great change for the better, is also at the back of my mind and it will be with me until the end of my life. And maybe it is not so much a dream, but mankind's long-term goal...

And what is your big dream ?

Visiting Hong Kong in 2007 - a dream came true !

About a good teacher - or a true friend

2010-09-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

When I was 30 I took up skiing. Right in my first winter I had an accident and hurt my knee severely, which resulted in six weeks of leg in plaster and a lot of pain.

The year after, we went skiing again and the skiing school put me into a group of people who had been experienced skiiers, but had not done the sport for some time and needed practice. It was the wrong group for me, for, despite my obvious talent and skills, I was so scared that I really panicked at one point. So they "downgraded" me to a group of slightly advanced beginners and here I met the best instructor and teacher of my life.

He was a young Norwegian and he listened to my story of the accident with little visible sympathy (which I had gotten used to) , nodded and told me to get going. Whenever I fell, he waited until I was on my feet again and asked : "And what did you do wrong this time ?" I soon realized that the accident had not been the work of some cruel fate, but my own fault. Which meant, I could learn to avoid this mistake and not have an accident again. This was one of the most important lessons of my life.

Sometimes I feel as if a giant wave of despair and bad luck is washing over me and I feel like drowning. In this situation there are friends who pull me out of the water and provide me with a towel and hot tea and a box of tissues. But the really precious friend is the one who teaches me to swim.

If you have a friend like this, you are lucky. I am that lucky - although I sometimes swear at the tiring lessons...

Photo: Sam C. Chan

Viva México !

2010-09-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

VIVA MÉXICO!!!!

Today is the 200th anniversary of the day on which the fight for Mexican independence started.

Happy Independence Day to all my Mexican friends... I wish I could celebrate with you !!!

Esperanto

2010-09-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

The other day I read an article on Esperanto. This first part of four dealt mainly with the idea that Esperanto is a suitable means of worldwide communication due to its ability to express even complex and litarary contents and the fact that it is easy to learn.

This made me think about English, which is considered "the" world language. I teach English, I converse in English with most of my international friends and I love this language. Of course, English is also a rich language, one that can express a lot of thoughts, emotions and facts (like all languages that are spoken by thinking human beings). I realized that "English" (like all languages) has so many facets. For me it is not the language of the US political, economic and military leaders, for me it is first of all the language of literature that I love very much. The language of Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, Paul Auster. The language of books like "To Killl a Mockingbird", or the language of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest." The language that created immortal lines in "Romeo and Juliet" or "Hamlet".

English got this image of "world language" not because it is spoken by so many people. If that was the criterion, we would all be learning Chinese or Spanish. It is true that English grammar is easier to memorize than French or Spanish verb forms, but the details of expressing things can be just as complicated and delicate. English is a flexible language, one that has absorbed words from a lot of languages, and it is a language that is used and adapted to individual needs in its local varieties.

But the main reason why English is considered a "world language" is one of power, history and politics. The British Empire also spread its language (made easy by the facts I mentioned above) and today the USA are the remaining superpower... American politics, economy and culture rule and so does the language.

And when I got to this point, I thought that a "world language" that has nothing to do with power and oppression, but was created as a means of peace could maybe really help us. I should find out more about Esperanto ...

The article mentioned at the beginning is:
Guillermo Macías y Díaz Infante: Pasado, presente y futuro del Esperanto (Primera de cuatro partes), in: La Jornada Aguascalientes, 2nd September, 2010, p. 6 (written in Spanish and Esperanto)

The Paricutin ... one of the wonders of Mexico

2010-08-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

After a few quiet days in Pátzcuaro I moved on a bit further south to the city of Uruapan. It is again an interesting city with old houses, churches and museums (and a building that once was the oldest hospital on the American continent...) plus a wonderful park with fountains and waterfalls, the Parque Nacional. But my main objective was a trip to the village of Angahuán, to see the ruins that were left over when in 1943 the volcano Paricutin was born.

The Paricutin is the youngest volcano in the Western Hemisphere and during the years it took for it to be created, an Indian village was destroyed (the inhabitants could be relocated). Everything is covered by a mountain of black lava... and plants growing again out of it. Only the church towers can still be seen - and the altar. It is really a miracle that the lava stopped and spared the altar of the church. I just had to see this with my own eyes.

Usually you go through the village of Angahuan to the visitors' centre where you can also stay over night and from where you can start your way to the lava fields either on horseback or on foot. On the day I was there, however, the village was closed because of a "fería", but there were "shuttle horses" between the parking place and the ruins. There and back for 150 pesos. Oh my, the last time I had been on a horse was when I was 12, so I had my panicky 10 seconds, but then decided that the horse knew what it was doing and relaxed. It was also good that I had gone fairly early, because I not only avoided the midday heat, but also could enjoy the peace and quiet on the way through the forest, which has a certain magic quality. It is a place to think and remember that nature is stronger than humans and that we cannot control everything.

My Indian guide was also with me in the ruins, which was a good thing, because climbing around on the lava rocks is quite a challenge , but I managed with a helping hand now and then. And then I finally stood in front of the altar. I remembered the first time my friend had told me about it. It is a sight that makes you wonder ...

The things I had seen, heard and smelled on this morning did not leave me for the rest of the day and even now, a few days later, I still feel the atmosphere of that place. It is a special place and I am happy I could see and experience it ... it is one of the many wonders of Mexico.

The altar .. I am standing on the lava

Hotel Estancia de al Era, Pátzcuaro

2010-08-02T18:35:00.000-07:00

After Guanajuato I moved south to the Mexican state of Michoacán and did some sightseeing in its capital, Morelia, where I learned a lot about the fight for Mexican independence.Then I took a bus to the province town of Pátzcuaro, which is a lovely place that reminds me a bit of South Austria... if it was not for the language. But here I stayed in the cutest hotel I have ever seen: Estancia de la Era.

The owner is a painter and you can see her artistic touch in every corner. The beauty and harmony of the place comforted my soul and gave me peace after all the hustle of the big cities. I had time to think and to write and was spoiled like a queen. I got a different Mexican breakfast every day, good tips what to do and where to go and always a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in front of the fire when I needed it.

If you should be in the Morelia/Uruapan area and want to get some peace : go to Pátzcuaro and stay here. You will not regret it !!

http://www.delaera.com/

Guanajuato

2010-07-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

After an educating and relaxing weekend in Aguascalientes, I am on the road again for the second half of my Mexican adventure. Thanks to tons of tips and ideas from my friend, I will not be bored and am sure I will get along fine.

Today I discovered the old mining town of Guanajuato, which is a maze of little streets, stairs, underground streets and coloured houses. I started the day with a beautiful breakfast : most Mexican food does not only taste interestingly, it also is arranged to look good and the colours alone water your mouth. After a breakfast like this I don't need any food until the evening.

Then I walked along the northern part of the center, past the university, to the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, a local monument from the fight for independence. A local hero connected with this place is José Martinez, called Pìpila, from whose monument high above the city you have a great view.

Unfortunately, either my computer or the Internet connection don't allow me do upload any more pictures, so I must continue without them. You can walk up from the city center to the monument of El Pìpila, but there is also a cable car, which I took. When I came down again, there was a film crew near the Teatro de Juárez making the same 20 people walk across the same square for 100 times, so I went to the Museo Iconográfico de Quijote, which has a collection of pictures and other pieces of art inspired by the novel by Cervantes. Every year in October this city hosts the Cervantes Festival with music and theatre performances.

Speaking of music... near the central Jardín de la Union you can find groups of young men who play instruments and sing, they are called Estudiantinas and you can hire them to play a serenada for the girl you love. Or on Mother's Day for your mom... They look great in their traditional suits and, well.... who is going to pay for a serenada for me ? Nobody? Well, then I will get my own ticket for a nightly tour around the little Callejones with them !!

Mexico: Traffic

2010-07-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

My first two weeks are over and I have gotten used to some of the small things that are different than at home. Traffic for example.

In Germany, which is a country of rules and law and order, there are strict rules for the traffic and although German drivers feel like racing drivers on the Autobahn , as a pedestrian in a town you can pretty much rely on the rights you have. You have the right of way at a zebra crossing and when a car goes around a corner,it must let pedestrians pass. And you wait at red traffic lights. Even in the middle of the night. Even when there is no car to be seen within a radius of 50 km. You wait until the lights are green.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Mexico is a country of no rules. There are rules, but they are different. Rule one: as a pedestrian you have no rights whatsoever. Don't expect a car to stop just because you are crossing the street. The car is stronger and therefore always right. Look where you are going and improve your running skills so that you can escape should you have misjudged a car's speed.

Rule number two: Cross the street when it is possible, ignore the lights, trust your own judgment. Actually, this is an unwritten rule that you find in a lot of countries also in Europe. You can always spot the Germans in England or Italy, for example: they are the ones standing at the red traffic lights with the locals rushing across the street because there is no car around.

So when I am awake and alert, I make my way like a Mexican. But when I am tired, I can be found standing dreamily in front of a red traffic light, eyed suspiciously by the locals who look at me as if I was an imbecile.Or a tourist.....

Tequila

2010-07-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went on an excursion to the little town of Tequila, because I am right in Tequila country here. Actually, Guadalajara is a good place to see the "real Mexico", because this is also the region where the Mariachi music comes from.

Anyway, we first stopped at a hacienda where they make Tequila and could see all the steps of the process from the agave plants to the finished product. Of course, we got to try some and also could buy bottles of different sizes.

Then we had a look at the town, which is a typical little Mexican town with a nice marketplace and a beautiful church. In the end my friend and I got some fruit flavoured water and ice cream and sat down in the shade to have one of these endless women talks .... it was a great day !

Guadalajara:Churches

2010-07-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Guadalajara is an old colonial town , today the capital of the Mexican federal state of Jalisco. You can see a lot of churches here, I want to show you two of them. First the Cathedral, which for me looks more like a fortress from the outside. It was built in the 16th century and as it took them about 60 years to finish, a lot of different styles can be seen. The towers were destroyed in an earthquake at the beginning of the 20th century and were rebuilt in this way then.

A look at the stone masonry in the chapel to the right.

This church is called Templo Expiatorio and was built in the Gothic style between 1897 and 1931. It is an impressive and, in my opinion, very beautiful church, as the only decoration inside are the architecture and the beautiful glass windows.

Finally I saw these guys heading for an old building of the university... aliens studying in Guadalajara as well, it is a famous university !!!

Mexican Adventure:Rain

2010-07-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

As I said before, it is the rainy season in central Mexico and I did well to escape the European heatwave by travelling to Mexico. But on Monday I was caught in a tropical torrential rainfall that turned the streets and pavements into rivers within minutes. I was lucky, a lady in a shop asked me to come in and wait there, but still, being stuck for an hour because of the weather is something that a German finds hard to swallow.

In Germany people would get upset, look at their watches and blame the government. Or the opposition. Or both. In any case, they would expect the world to end soon. Here in Guadalajara, however, everybody just waited patiently until the street appeared again and one could walk on. And isn't that the best way to cope? After all, we cannot change the weather, so why get a heart attack about it ?

Mexican Adventure I

2010-07-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

Finally, after months of waiting I boarded a plane to take me to Mexico City on 9th July. About 11 hours later I arrived, took a taxi to the Terminal de Autobuses del Norte and then one of the very comfortable coaches to the town of Aguascalientes, where I spent the first weekend with a good friend. When I got there after having been on the road (or in the air) for more than 24 hours, I had indeed passed my first adventure.

Getting out of the plane and through immigration was like everywhere else in the world, but Mexican customs has a kind of lottery for the passengers: you push a button and when the green light appears, you may walk on, if the light is red, you must have your luggage inspected. I was lucky to get through everything in no time, so my next task was to find a desk where I could buy a ticket for an authorized taxi. No problem. Then I bought a telephone card - again no problem - and then tried to ring up my friend . Hmm ... several times I dialled something wrong, but in the end got the right number. Mexican telephones work like phones all over the world, it was just me who was too stupid to dial correctly.

Well, the taxi ride was amazingly fast considering that it was Friday evening and Mexico City was hit by two storms. At some point I thought I should have taken a boat instead of a taxi, but the driver sailed through the water bravely.

In Mexico you don't have railways like in Europe, you travel by coach, and although everybody says that they are cheap, comfortable and very reliable, they really are. I could sleep well during the night ride of 500 km, and the reason why my bus was nearly 2 hours late was the storm in Mexico City. I got a document from my school stating that I am a teacher in three languages: German, English and Spanish (Gracias, Guillermo!) and so I got a discount on the bus and for someone who is used to German railway prices this was like travelling for free. And how can you not like a country where teachers get discounts ????

My first weekend was spent seeing a bit of the city of Aguascalientes and its food (very important) and after the World Cup final I took the bus to my next destination: Guadalajara, where I am doing a two-week Spanish course.

That's all for today ... nos vemos !!!

Internet Friends

2010-07-04T06:16:00.000-07:00

I have already written something about the positive sides of the Internet here, but I would like to add another aspect: there is more to Internet contacts than "not being only bad." Let me explain:

- You can keep in contact more easily. I know a lot of families that are spread all over the globe and thanks to email, IM and video chat they can exchange information quickly and keep in touch. 200 years ago, when a member of the family emigrated to Australia, it meant that a letter travelled about half a year ... nowadays, an email reaches its destination in half an instant.

- You can really get to know someone . The anonymity of the Internet can create an atmosphere where very personal talks are possible that would not happen in real life. If (big IF!!) both partners are honest with each other (of course, with due caution), we come to the next point:

- You can make good friends on the Internet. Long chats, exchanging photos and information and seeing each other in a video chat, all this can lead to a point where you get really close. I have talked to hundreds of people and gotten to know a bit about their lives, but some of them have become good friends. Some I have already met here in Europe - others I still have to meet. Some have become very important for my life and I owe them a lot (for example the courage to start this blog - xie xie, Sam) ... and all this has made me curious as to where life will still lead me.

So next Friday I am travelling to Mexico for four weeks to see a new country, learn more Spanish and meet two more of my Internet friends ... one of them a young woman who I have known since she was a teenager. I am happy about how the Internet has opened the door to the world for me - so that we all can become friends and be united in peace.

(photo: "Friends" by Guillermo Macias)

Happiness

2010-06-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Happiness is a warm gun (Beatles) - or a warm puppy (Peanuts). Finding the love of your life. A baby. The baby moving out after 18 years. Leaving the love of your life, because he wasn't right after all.

Some people think, money means happiness. Living on a tropical island never having to worry about a thing. A house, an expensive car, a boat.

As you know, greater minds than mine have already thought and written about this topic, so I can only add my own personal idea of moments of happiness.Of course, unhappiness is a part of it,too, without it you would not recognize happiness. And remember, that the American Declaration lists "the pursuit of happiness" as one of the unalienable rights of every human being. The pursuit of happiness, not happiness itself. Happiness is a tricky thing (Sam C. Chan), maybe it has more to do with ourselves than with symbols of success and wealth.

Well, here are some of my happy moments:
- the smell of coffee early in the morning
- a phone call without bad news
- going to bed knowing that the alarm clock will not ring the next morning
- seeing the sun rise after a night of talking to a good friend
- seeing myself in the eyes of someone who cares
- being here at this time and place, living this moment and taking it as the gift it is
- being allowed to be me

And what are yours ?

The Forbidden Kingdom: Last Quote

2010-06-09T23:02:00.000-07:00

When Lu Yan is deadly wounded and confesses that he is not an immortal, Jason is shocked, but Lu Yan does not seem to be so unhappy about this fact and says:

"If one does not attach himself to people and desires, never shall his heart be broken. But does he ever truly live?"

I love this scene , because the character played by Jackie Chan suddenly gets so much depth, you feel, there is a long and interesting story that can be told about him. The amazing thing: Jackie can only create this with his face and voice, as he is lying motionless on the bed.

The first time I saw it in the cinema, it gave me goosebumps. And every time I hesitate to leave the safe path of my comfortable life to embark on some adventure, I hear Jackie's voice speaking these words. Yes, it is safer not to open myself to a new friendship, not to allow my heart to love, not to try something new, because I cannot be disappointed and hurt. But if I act like this, do I truly live ?

It took me many years to grow courageous enough to adopt this attitude, but now I have reached the point where I am aware that there is only one short life for me and that I should live every moment of it. And accept everything it has to offer...

(Photo: JC Group 2007, www.jackiechan.com)

"Empty your cup!"

2010-06-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

Jason, the Boston teenager who has been transported into a mythic world, has met Lu Yan who helps him to return the magic staff to its rightful owner, but Jason must learn to fight. Lu Yan decides to teach him Kung Fu.

So in the scene I am talking about they sit at the campfire after a day of travelling, Lu Yan has made some tea and Jason is very enthusiastic about learning Kung Fu. He has seen so many Kung Fu movies, he is looking forward to learning the "Buddha Palm Technique" and the "Shadow Kick". Listening to Jason's talk, Lu Yan fills his cup with tea and keeps pouring even when the cup is full. When Jason protests, he explains: "How can I fill your cup when it is already full? How can I teach you Kung Fu when you already know everything? Empty your cup !" Jason pours the tea into the fire - and Lu Yan is quite desperate about his new student.

I first heard this story from my own martial arts master who had got it from a book where the author got it from his master.For most of us the idea to completely forget anything we might know about a subject and start learning from the start is probably strange. In our Western culture we are encouraged to learn with a critical mind, to question what the teacher says and to draw our own conclusions. Eastern martial arts teach you to submit yourself to your master as he has undergone years of training and knows best.

So I was curious what my students would say to this quote. Amazingly, they understood the meaning at once. There are teachers and students. Students have to learn, teachers have to teach. It is a tedious fight if you question everything your teacher says, first you have to learn the basics and advance in the topic, and only after some time of learning are you able to judge yourself.

One student added a further idea: we should be open and curious to learn something new and not let our learning be influenced by preconceived opinions. When you go to a foreign country, for example, it is best to be curious and experience the strange culture with a free mind, not tinted by what you may have heard or read.

So I think, sometimes it is good to empty your cup and give a new point of view a fair chance.

(Photo JC Group, 2007, www.jackiechan.com)

"Don't think. Just do !"

2010-05-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

Recently I did a project with my 11th year English group and as they wanted to see a Jackie Chan movie, I chose "The Forbidden Kingdom", which came to the cinemas in 2008 and united the action stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The plot is a typical story of initiation: Jason, a Boston teenager, is thrown into a mythic world by a magic staff, where he has to fulfill a task and learns how to become a man.

One thing I did in class was take some quotes from this movie and discuss them with the students. The quote I want to talk about here is taken from the beginning of the relationship between Jason and the Drunken Scholar, Lu Yan, played by Jackie Chan. In a tea house they are attacked by the soldiers of the evil Jade Warlord and have to flee. At one point Jason is standing on the roof top, in front of him darkness, behind him the soldiers, but he hesitates. Lu Yan shouts: "Jump!", but Jason replies: "I don't think so." Lu Yan's order : "Don't think. Just do!"

Now Jason is torn between two evils: he can be killed by the soldiers or he can be seriously hurt or even killed by jumping down the roof. In the end he jumps, is caught by Lu Yan and they fall together, both surviving and making their escape.

I thought that life is sometimes like that. Like my first jump from the three-meter board in the local swimming-pool: it scared me to death, but the thought of all these people seeing me climb down again was even more scary, so I stopped thinking and jumped. My students gave another example: falling in love.It can give you happiness, but it can also cause you a broken heart. You can try to reflect and think about it for ages, trying to eliminate every risk, in the end you still have to "just do". Or remain lonely and wonder what you might have missed.

There definitely are situations in life when too much pondering means not going forward, when you have to stop thinking and jump. In the end it might be better than just standing there paralyzed and being killed by the soldiers. At least you have the chance to be caught and saved...

(Photo JC Group, 2007, www.jackiechan.com)

Berlin: Buddy Bears

2010-05-22T04:12:00.000-07:00

Everywhere in Berlin you can find these guys. This is not the famous "Berliner Bär", the bear of the Berlin coat-of-arms, but a Buddy Bear. Never heard of them? What a pity.

They are the invention of two Berlin residents, Eva and Klaus Herlitz. They thought of the idea to ask artists around the world to decorate these fiberglass bears and then the United Circle of Buddy Bears travelled around the world to promote the message of global peace, tolerance and friendship. In the cities, where the bears are shown, charity auctions and activities raise money for good causes and from time to time some of them are sold for charity.

I was introduced to the Buddy Bears by Jackie Chan's website, to be more precise, the Kids Corner of it. When Jackie Chan learnt about these bears, he became a fan and has supported the project ever since. You can find more information on his website and you can also download your own Buddy Bear to decorate.

http://www.jackiechankids.com/files/Buddy_Bears.htm

Oh, I forgot, the Buddy Bear is the chap in the suit, the bear in the anorak is me on a cool May day in Berlin...

Berlin: The Reichstag

2010-05-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

Berlin has not always been the German capital, mainly, because for most of our history there was no "Germany" that needed a capital. In the Middle Ages there was a German Empire that consisted of a loose connection of territories. After the Thirty-Years-War in 1648 they gained a lot of independence and the Kaiser just had a pretty crown, but no power over the whole Reich. So Berlin was the capital of the territory of Brandenburg that later became the kingdom of Preußen (Prussia).

In 1806 even this loose-knit empire was dismantled and not restored after Napoleon had been sent to exile. It was not until 1871 that a German national state was founded by Otto von Bismarck. The capital was Berlin and the King of Prussia became the German Kaiser (emperor).
This Reich had a constitution and even a parliament that was called "Reichstag", just like the building where the representatives met. However, at that time the main power still was with the Kaiser. After World War I the German people established the first real democratic state on German soil and the Reichstag became the building where the representatives of the people controlled the government and made the laws.

But in 1933 Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor. In February 1933 there was a fire in the Reichstag, which Hitler took as an excuse to abolish the basic human rights of the constitution, which was the first step to establishing the Nazi dictatorship.

After the war the building was restored, but without the dome that was blown up in 1945. It was situated next to the Berlin Wall and hosted an exhibition about German history. When Germany was reunited in 1990 and Berlin became capital again, also the Reichstag got its old function back: since 1999 it has been the place where the representatives of the German people meet, discuss and rule. Today it is one of the most famous attractions of the city - from the roof and the top of the new glass dome you have a wonderful view of the city.

Berlin: The divided city

2010-05-15T10:59:00.001-07:00

Last week I was in Berlin with a group of students. Berlin is not only the capital of Germany, but it is also a city with a lot of tragic history, particularly when you consider the time of the Cold War. Between 1949 and 1990 there were two German states, a Communist eastern state (German Democratic Republic) and a parliamentary democracy in the west, the Federal Republic of Germany. West Berlin was sort of part of the FRG, whereas East Berlin was the capital of the GDR. And West Berlin was an like an island in the Communist system, always in danger of being cut off from supplies. This happened in 1948/49, when the Soviets blocked all the roads and railways from West Germany to West Berlin and American and British planes flew everything that was needed into the city. There is a monument for this "Luftbrücke" (literally: air bridge) at Frankfurt airport and when you see that the planes used were so small compared to modern freight planes, you get an idea of the enormous task that was done then.

In 1961 the East German government decided to stop people from trying to leave the GDR via West Berlin and built a wall that was to divide the city until 1989. Today you can only see a line on the ground where the wall once was and some remains that show visitors how it was. The most famous one is "Checkpoint Charlie", which was the place where international military and diplomats could cross to the other half of the city. In October 1961, Soviet and American tanks stood here facing each other and ready to shoot ... Berlin was right in the middle of all the tension of those days.

The first picture shows the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), which used to be on East Berlin territory - how wonderful that everybody can walk through it again ! The other pictures show how "Checkpoint Charlie" looked when it was still in use and the line that signifies where the wall used to be.

Cave Woman

2010-05-01T02:33:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my computer crashed - first I thought it was only the system that had been affected by a virus, but in the end it was the hard drive that was broken and had to be substituted by a new one. On Sunday morning it ceased to function, on Tuesday evening I was reconnected to the world. THREE WHOLE DAYS without computer !!!!!!

To give you the good news first, I had done a backup of my files on Saturday morning, so in the end only one school worksheet and five photos were lost. But I found it amazing, how handicapped I felt without my computer. To mention just a few things:

- I had to write an important letter
- I had to design a test for my 5th year English group
- I wanted to work on some more writing
- I wanted to upload and send away some photos I had taken that day
- I needed some information for my lessons
- I could not talk to my friends around the world

I had to go down on my knees to beg my son to allow me to use his computer for five minutes for two emails, one professional and one private one. Reluctantly he let me approach his precious machine for five minutes, standing next to me counting the seconds and suspiciously viewing my every move. After all, my role in this household is that of the computer idiot and I probably had done something that caused the hard drive to break. I could also do some things at school on Monday and Tuesday afternoon, but that meant I had to stay in school longer on days with an already very busy schedule.

So, the computer makes my professional life a lot easier. But what I missed most were the conversations with my online friends - sure, we could exchange emails, and those are faster than the old, pre-Internet method, but still, I have so gotten used to a little chat here and there with someone on the other side of the globe.

Well, in the end I could leave the age of smoke signals and was reconnected to the world again. But it makes me wonder, what would happen, if by some disaster we were thrown back to an age without electricity and gadgets that pass a message around the world at the click of a button...

PS:
I have to add that after my son had built in the new hard drive, I was able to set up everything that was needed, but had problems with my old monitor. I asked my son to help me and that caused him to raise eyes to the sky and declare mothers the most annoying people on this planet. I pointed out to him that his annoying mother was paying for the new brakes for his car... it turned out to be a convincing argument...

Learning from my Cat

2010-03-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

Today was one of the first warm and sunny days of this year - did I go out to enjoy the sun ? No, I had to sit at my desk and work all day. During a short break I watched my cat who had taken up her favourite place on the table on the balcony … she was lying in the sun, totally relaxed, eyes closed, the ideal of well-being. Later she came into the house and sauntered into the kitchen to get some food before she elegantly jumped onto the sofa.

I looked at the furry ball on my most expensive silk cushion and thought that I could learn a lot from my cat. For example she always does what she wants, she never does what others expect from her. When we get visitors, she does not play the cute little friendly kitty, but throws a cold look at the intruder and then disappears until the strange person has left. Sometimes she grants the great privilege of her presence and people feel flattered when she comes. Nobody takes her for granted, not even I, her main food giver, can do that.

Her pride and elegance in every situation is something I would love to have as well. She knows very well that she is the most beautiful creature on earth. Never does she stand in front of the mirror scrutinizing her face for wrinkles or her aging body for fat. In fact, she ignores mirrors. Last year she reacted to the winter by extensively cleaning her fur which had the effect that she lost almost all her hair on her hind legs and stomach. A human woman would never go out of the house looking like this, but my cat walked around, tail raised proudly, totally ignoring the fact that she might look, hmm, “ugly” - and I am worried about a few wrinkles and pounds too many?

We women could learn a lot from cats !!!

About a real man

2010-03-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

What is a real man ? Apart from the obvious biological differences - what makes a man a man ?

A few months ago I was on a sailing trip with a group of 18/19-year-old students . On the first evening the chores on the ship had to be organized. One young man, very masculine appearance, made it very clear that he would do a lot of things but not clean the toilets. In his opinion a real man did not clean toilets. In fact, he refused to do anything that made it necessary for him to let his hands touch water. A real man is allergic to water !?

Another young man was (well, still is) a completely different type and a lot calmer. But in his quiet and modest way he made a deep impression on me. For example, he quickly learned how to steer the ship, and he was so good at it that the captain called him whenever things got complicated. One morning I got my chance at the wheel and I made a real mess at first, until this student came and stood next to me for about an hour, quietly explaining and giving tips. Suddenly he was gone and that meant he felt I could cope on my own.

Now, who is a "real man" ... someone who does not clean toilets or someone who can steer a big sailing ship with 25 people on board safely into the harbour ?

Animal Farm and a Lesson

2010-03-04T12:51:00.000-08:00

In my 11th year English class I am reading George Orwell, Animal Farm, with the kids. You may know that it is a sort of political fable about a revolution and the subsequent establishment of another dictatorship, until at the end the pigs (the new rulers) and the humans cannot be distinguished any more. Orwell wrote this under the impression of Communist dictatorships, particularly that of Stalin.

It was funny, when we started reading and the students read that the animals were talking, they at first did not know what to make of it. They soon realized that this was not a children's book ("No pictures!") and then someone mentioned the word "fable" and another one "Russian Revolution" and so we got on the right track.

Today we discussed chapter three. The revolution has taken place and life is better for all the animals on the farm. No more oppression, no more being exploited. But already in this second chapter after the rebellion you can see how the three leading pigs establish a privileged position on the farm. It is interesting to see how they do that: a subtle mix of fake altruism ("we are doing this for your good") and threats ("the farmer will come back if we, the most intelligent animals, are not there").

I asked my students if we could learn something from this for our own lives. Because the names are different, but the system of establishing and preserving control is the same, so we can recognize a lot of our politicians' behaviour if we look closely. What I want my kids to do is to be critical and vigilant.

In the break I talked to a colleague teaching politics and we found out that the state curriculum sees the independent critical citizen as the goal of our education. But, of course, there is the "hidden curriculum" of economy as advertised in the media: what is wanted is the obedient consumer slave. It is hard work being a teacher...

But, I have yet to come to a point where I want to give up.

On Presents

2010-02-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day made me think of presents, probably because I usually ignore this day. It is not a traditional German festival and seems to have been invented to make card manufacturers and flower shops happy.

But there are other occasions for presents. Presents are something nice, they are supposed to be a joy for the one who receives them and give satisfaction to the giver. But they often cause stress: you are obliged to give one, you don't know the person you are giving something to, you feel you must give a present you cannot afford, you simply have no idea what to give

My idea of a good present is like this:

a) It is given voluntarily. Not as an obligatory return task, not as the pre-Christmas shopping horror. It is given, because the giver had the perfect idea for someone and therefore bought or made it.

b) It is a meaningful for the person you are giving it to. This means you know the one you are giving something to well or it refers to something in your common history. It need not be expensive, of course, a true present does not depend on money. Writing a poem, doing the washing-up, baby sitting... there are a lot of meaningful gifts that don't cost a lot of money, but they mean giving time, i.e. part of your life.

c) It is received with gratitude as a sign of friendship or affection, but not with a bad conscience and the thought "OMG, what can I do in return?" One day the occasion for returning it will arise, but it should not be forced.

Of course, there are obligatory presents and in this case, flowers and chocolates are never wrong. But maybe we can avoid them for the ones we love -- and if flowers, maybe a single rose and a long talk is more appreciated than an expensive bouquet.

Happy Chinese New Year

2010-02-14T10:04:00.000-08:00

xin nian kuai le-
gong hay fat choy

Happy Chinese New Year to everybody who celebrates.

More Chinese greetings can be found here:
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/interactive/huichun/index.jsp

Before the lesson.....

2010-01-30T01:40:00.000-08:00

5th year English. Before the lesson has officially started:

"Mrs K., the page of my exercise book is full, may I use the next one?"

"Mrs K., Max always breathes loudly in my direction."

"Mrs K., I cannot find my pencil case."

"Mrs K., err, hmm, what did I want to say, oh yes, I remember, hmm, you see, my dog......"

"Oh, nice picture on your note book, Mrs K."

" Mrs K., Max is eating !!!!!!!"

" Mrs K., do we have to learn the vocabulary on page 170 ?" -
"Yes, page 170."
"Only 170?" -
"Only 170!!"
"And page 171?"

"Mrs K., Max has taken my pen !!!"

"Mrs K., hmm, err, well, my dohog has ....."

"Mrs K., may I use a pencil for writing?"
"Yes, of course."
Another pupil: "Ahhh, I have forgotten my pencil!! What am I supposed to do now?"
"Take a pen."
Third pupil: "How about a pencil?"

"Mrs K., listen ! My dog has , hmm. err. eaten. hmm...."

"What is our next lesson?"

"Mrs K., what is our maths homework ?"

"MY DOG HAS EATEN MY ENGLISH BOOK !!!"

*Mrs K., why are you lying on the floor and crying ???"

*sigh*
I love my job !!

(Picture: a poster on friendship (Freundschaft) made by students, 2009

Jackie is on Twitter

2010-01-23T01:53:00.000-08:00

I have thought for a long time if I should post this, but then, why not? Jackie Chan is on Twitter and the fans are going wild. News from him around the clock. WOW !!!!!!

Hmm, I must admit, I am not that enthusiastic. Yes, it is amazing that this man, who a few years ago said of himself that he was a computer "illiterate", now posts something by phone or computer or however. But, well, do I really want to know what he is doing every minute of his day ? It might be cute or wonderful for other people, it is not really for me.

Because, what are the Twitter "news" ? Short sentences, little snippets of trivia - let's face it, how many interesting things happen to you in one day ? If I was on Twitter, it would be "Just cleaned the kitchen," or "School was tiring," or "Auntie rang," or things like that. Does the world really need this avalanche of information? I don't think it does, so I am not on Twitter.

In a way Twitter is typical of our times. Fast information, quick to digest, nothing that really matters - and then move on. No pondering, reflecting, philosophizing. No need to really think about the words you use, to carefully select and re-write to get the best effect. It is like fast food - convenient, fast and tasteless - as opposed to cooking yourself with fresh ingredients, which makes you feel a lot more satisfied on so many levels, not only as far as filling the hole in your stomach is concerned. And we all know that fast food leaves you hungry in the end, craving for more. Twitter has the same effect, at least on me.

To be fair, it can be fun to get quick information and convenient to grab a burger when there is no time. But I also need more substantial food - and more substantial pieces of writing.

Heart Warming

2010-01-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

I am one of the Protestant teachers at a Catholic school of the diocese of Mainz. Before the winter break, one of our music teachers asked if a group of students and colleagues would sing at the Bishop's New Year's reception, which was today. I agreed to take part, because I like singing and Bishop Cardinal Lehmann is one of the Catholic bishops in Germany I like and respect a lot.

In his short speech he talked about the terrible earthquake in Haiti. He talked about how Haiti became one of the poorest countries in the world and he talked about the responsibility that we in the Western world have. How our exploitation made countries like Haiti poor. This was kind of remarkable, because I had not expected a Catholic bishop to be so outspoken on political issues, but, as I said, Bishop Lehmann is a special person.

Anyway, the choir sang very well. It was wonderful to see these young people who had sacrificed free time for rehearsals and a Saturday for the event. In the end the choir was given an envelope with 200 Euros to spend on some fun activity. The man who gave it to them said explicitly that this money was not for the music department, but for the members of this choir.

It took them five minutes to decide to donate the money for the earthquake victims in Haiti. None of us teachers had anything to do with it, it was the students' own decision.

Seeing this made me very happy - as long as there are young people like these in this world, we can be hopeful.

(Photo: Mainz Cathedral, www.mainz.de)

Consider the source

2010-01-09T00:42:00.000-08:00

We are under siege! A terrible danger threatens Europe !!!! DAISY is coming !!

Before you get worried: it is winter. It is cold. There is snow. And "Daisy" is the name of the current low pressure area that, I admit it, brings a lot of snow as well as wind, and this storm is what makes it dangerous. But I want to talk about how weather like this is covered in certain types of media, in certain newspapers and on certain TV channels.

"Why are we afraid of Daisy ?" asks the headline of an online article of Germany's biggest popular newspaper, BILD. Well, because you tell us to? "Snow Chaos" - "Supermarkets empty" - "Daisy has Europe under control " -- the headlines make it sound like some kind of war preparation. I remember a similar winter in the 1970s. Yes, there were reports on TV and advice how to prepare yourself for emergencies, but I cannot remember that this kind of panic was created.

Don't get me wrong: I know it is dangerous to drive on icy roads or in a blizzard. I have got matches, candles, a battery powered radio and some food stored in the house. I stay at home if possible. I see that I am quite lucky and that other areas of Germany are hit worse by the snow. And I look across the Atlantic to my American friends and the battles they fight with that kind of weather every year. But the news coverage makes me angry - one headline more sensational than the other which only fuels unnecessary panic. Selling the news, the paper, the time on TV, that is what it is all about, not factual information.

Let's be a bit more critical. Consider the source, if I may quote the advice of a friend's mother. Look for factual and serious information and advice.

Be prepared, be careful - but don't panic !

Internet is not only bad

2010-01-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

Internet is not only bad. Despite all the warnings about meeting potential rapists and murderers on Internet notice boards, I have been around quite a few of them and have made a lot of new friends. Of course, you should be careful with what you publish about yourself. You should not give your real name, address and phone number to strangers. But when you observe these basic precautions, you can have a lot of fun.

Some people my age complain about the anonymity of Internet. That you cannot see the person you are talking to. I find that this is at the same time a danger and a great asset.

There is the danger that someone you talk to pretends to be someone he/she is not. This is particularly annoying when you are looking for a partner on the Internet: if the one you are interested in presents a completely false picture of himself, you waste a lot of time.

But when you are simply looking for interesting people to talk to, this "anonymity" can be a great advantage. It can enable you to find chat partners you would in real life never have considered. I have had the most fascinating conversations with younger people, who in real life would probably not want to be seen talking to a middle aged woman. Looks, age and sex don't play a role, what counts are the thoughts and ideas you want to discuss. I can share my life experience and get some fresh views - horizons are widened and new doors are opened.

Definitely, Internet has a lot of positive aspects !

Futility

2010-01-02T00:36:00.000-08:00

When I got up this morning and staggered into the kitchen, I stumbled across the wires and cables from our Internet/telephone system. I had organized them well, had put some order into the chaos, had hung up the router and the other boxes so that nobody can step on them, had fixed wires and cables --- and yesterday my son (18) found out, we had forgotten to connect his PlayStation 3 and ripped it all apart. What he needs is a longer wire for the PS, but until he gets it, he improvises. Of course, in search of one, he dropped thirty other things and didn't pick them up, either.

*sigh*

This reminds me of the time when he was little. You may know how toddlers are, that within seconds they can turn a room into the chaos that was before God created the world. Or how kids stampede through your freshly cleaned house with muddy shoes only minutes after you have put away bucket and broom. In contrast to my ex, my son usually keeps his chaos to his own room and when it oozes into mine, it takes me only half an hour to make him tidy it up. Still - I am getting too old for that. I want some order. I need some order. Feng Shui says negative energies get caught up in the chaos and I have put up with negative energies for so long, I want some order. And I am getting tired of trying to re-establish some order that has been destroyed.

One could now think about how life is one great big struggle and how a lot of things are like that: you do something, you fail, you pick yourself up and brush yourself down and start all over again (to quote a song from a Fred Astaire movie). But surely, there can be one area in your life where you can relax and gather fresh energies? Only ONE !?!?!

This sense of futility, by the way, is also one I sometimes have in my job. No matter what I do, for the next 15 years I will have to explain the difference between "is" and "are". Those who have mastered this problem and a lot more, will leave and let university professors and employers profit from my efforts. They will pick the fruits from the tree that I (and my colleagues) planted and nursed and protected and told off for being late. My students don't get older than 19, but I see how I age when I look into the mirror. It is a weird world I live in and one that can make you crazy, if you think about it.

They say, kids keep you young. Sometimes they can make you feel very very old and tired,too.

2009-12-31T15:27:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year - I wish us all a new year full of love and hope !

Photo : Katharine Schroeder, 2008

Education !?!

2009-12-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I watched a programme called “PopStars – Du und Ich”. It is one of these “casting shows” á la American Idol. The German “PopStars” shows are looking for bands, in this case, a duo. We were in the final phase of this year's series and I was amazed to see that there were still a lot of young people in the competition who could not carry a tune. When the coaches told them that they had not done very well, they were offended. They cried. They said it was not fair. They blamed it on their partner, the person they shared a room with, on PMS or a slight cold or the bad dinner.

Which reminds me of my students when I tell them off for not doing their duties. They could not do their homework because the dog had to be taken to the vet's. They could not produce a sentence without mistakes because the person they are sitting next to is making strange noises. And I am SO UNFAIR because I don't praise them for simply being there.

Back to PopStars. A couple has performed their song, did averagely and are interviewed afterwards. Their comment : “Well, the most important thing is that we have fun on the stage. And we did have a lot of fun !!!” Well, I don't quite agree. I think the people who are supposed to enjoy the performance are the audience. The singers' job is to sing and dance well and deliver a good show. Of course, it is ideal if they like what they are doing. But if they don't do well, they should listen to those who know better and learn from them.

The other day I had a talk with my students who complained about some of their teachers and said that the lessons with Mrs XYZ were no fun. Hey, I have got bad news for you: school is not supposed to be fun, your teachers are no stand-up comedians. You are supposed to LEARN something. Good, it you have fun sometimes, but it is not the main objective.

Okay, we don't want to go back to the old days of teachers beating and humiliating their students. But I think it is time that we get a bit more of the idea that there is no God given right to have a life of ever lasting fun. That most of it is hard work and learning to live with frustrations.

Another scene from my fifth years enhanced this impression that education is going into a wrong direction: It takes me five minutes to walk from the staff room to their classroom . I enter the classroom after the bell has rung and the kids have had five minutes time to get their English books out of their bags or locker. There are no English books on the desks. I tell them to stop fighting/throwing jackets out of the window/doing whatever they do during the break and get their books. One student says : “You haven't taken your book out of your bag yet, either !”

I beg your pardon? After about five seconds of being perplexed, I exploded. It is time that these kids learn that there are adults and kids, teachers and students, that I am 40 years older than they are and that means I am allowed to do a lot of things they are not.

Respect is a good thing, but it works both ways. I claim the right to be respected, too !

So wise so young, they say, do never live long.

2009-12-27T05:13:00.000-08:00

Internet is not only bad, like a lot of people my age think. It connects people. And it can be very educating, too. One site I regularly look at for inspiration is the forum that goes with The Free Dictionary . There is thread discussing the "Quote of the Day" and I want to share with you today's quote and my thoughts.

So wise so young, they say, do never live long. (William Shakespeare, 1564-1616)
It is from "Richard III", the play about a man who murders one of his brothers on the way to becoming king. He has been made guardian of his (dead) older brother's sons, who are heirs to the throne. He plots to kill them, too, so in this scene he tells them that they will reside in the Tower until the coronation of the older one of them. He, the Prince of Wales, does not like this idea, but agrees, and then Richard says these words as an aside.Of course, he usurps the crown for himself and kills the two princes.

What do these words tell us in general ? You shouldn't be too smart at an early age. People don't like other people outdoing them in every field, particularly intellectually, and particularly adults don't like youngsters to be better than they are. It could become dangerous, if intelligence is not based on life experience and knowledge of people's minds. The young genius may be seen as a threat and the more powerful adult might crush him to pieces.

The truly intelligent youngster learns when to shut up and watch and learn.

The truly great adult appreciates gifted young people, carefully guides them and helps them to survive.

Why I don't like Christmas

2009-12-24T04:34:00.000-08:00

Today is 24th December and Christmas Eve (or "Holy Evening" as it is called in Germany) is the main time of the festive season in this country. It is afternoon, the shops have closed, the world is becoming quiet - and I want to think about why I don't like Christmas. Well, not Christmas in general, but what has become of it.

The first time that it dawned on me that modern Christmas is not really about the child in the manger and the message of hope and love he stands for, but about consumerism, was when I was 14. I tried to boycott the meaningless show, but, of course, my mother would not let me. However, it grieves me to see that the situation has not become better during the past decades, but worse. The image of Christmas that I see nowadays in the media and the stores is one that makes me sick. Really.

Christmas in the shops seems to start directly after Easter. Or the summer holidays. November is a month with days when in churches we remember those that have died - sometimes the Christmas tinsel and glitter is kept in the cupboards until the last one of these Sundays, but then it hits you with a vengeance. Christmas decoration is big, glittery, loud and screaming into your soul. Everything, from fur coats to toilet paper is turned into a Christmas present. Prices go up. Getting a present is turning into some kind of Olympic Games: more, bigger, more expensive than the one you got last year. A real gift, one that means you have spent time and thoughts on ? Forget it, we must rush on.

Music - where are the traditional Christmas carols ? This year I have heard not a single German carol anywhere in public. Radio and TV play "pop" songs that are mostly American. White Christmas. Jingle Bells. Winter Wonder Land. Little Drummer Boy . I have nothing against American songs, not even against these ones. But do they reflect the true meaning of Christmas? My ears are getting sick, too.

Decorations of houses and homes - they can turn into a nightmarish rush and competition, too. Up to about 15 years ago, lighting the outside of houses was done sparsely here. I liked the lights in the darkness. Nowadays there is no darkness any more and the symbolic meaning of the light has disappeared.

The highlight of modern Christmas is the advert of a well-known brown soft drink. A dark winter night is illuminated by a truck and a vending machine and people say with hopeful eyes: "It is Christmas." It has gotten to a point that my young students claim that Santa comes in this truck these days. One day we will go to the manger and pray to the Holy Bottle ?!?!?!

This modern Christmas is so phony, so false, although it may reflect a desire for happiness, peace and love. But we won't find it this way, even if the decorations and presents become bigger and bigger.

The true Christmas is not glittery and cosy. It is about a young couple who find no room to give birth to their child. It is about the child that grows into a man who preaches a message that is not comfortable at all. If you take it seriously, you must open your eyes and do your bit against injustice in the world, against the destruction of our planet, against poverty, racism, and intolerance.

I am not a theologian, but I am a Christian and I am longing for an honest Christmas. One that does not ignore the misery, but can be celebrated in the happy realization that at Christmas our God came to us to share our sadness and despair.

Of course, the "honest" Christmas spirit can be found at the most unexpected places and definitely also with people who don't share my religion. I know , because I have met them. Or because God sent them my way !?!

My Life wíth Jackie Chan

2009-12-23T04:20:00.000-08:00

I became a Jackie Chan fan in December 2004. What, my friends asked, a FAN? At YOUR AGE ? Funnily enough that was what happened. I had been practising martial arts for a few years then, I had watched martial arts movies and found out there are some I like more than others, but up to December 2004 I had never expected to become a fully fledged fan of somebody. This is for teenagers !

But this interest was different than liking to see George Clooney or to listen to Robbie Williams. This turned out to influence and change my life. Let me explain:

1. Jackie Chan's way of choreographing fights is unique and different from anybody else's. I simply enjoy the dance-like quality he adds, he humour, the creativity. This is not a Jackie Chan blog, so I won't go into details, which you also can find elsewhere on the Internet. The important thing for this context is that his movies also made me more courageous. With his movies in front of my inner eye, I managed to overcome my own fears and limitations - so for example when one day I forgot about being afraid of a dive roll in my martial arts class and just did it.

2. I learned more about his person and found out that there is a lot more to Jackie Chan than funny Kung Fu movies. His charity work, for example. His ideas of how different people from all over the world should become friends and learn from each other. These thoughts reflected my own ones and with a famous supporter like Jackie, I dared to be again more outspoken, to say what I had buried deep in my soul because I was so often made fun of.

3. I joined a Jackie Chan forum and then another one and all of a sudden the small town I live in had a gate to the world. I so much enjoy my contacts to different people from different cultures. I found new friends in my own country. I forged new friendships that go far beyond a common interest in Jackie Chan. I re-discovered my interest in China, Chinese culture and language and this time (unlike when it all started in the late 1960s) I could travel and start to study the language.

Up to this day, I have not plastered the walls of my room with Jackie pictures, nor have I got a Jackie tattoo on my shoulder. But I have gained a lot from having discovered him and I am most grateful for the really close and important friends all this has brought me.

Every journey starts with the first step...

2009-12-22T18:47:00.000-08:00

... and that one can be hard to take. So I want to start by thanking a good friend of mine for encouraging me to share what I am thinking and have been writing about. The Internet has opened a door to the world for me, it has enabled me to be connected to people all over the planet. I can talk and learn and grow -- and now even start to make my own contributions. It is a truly democratic situation, as I can say what I think, but nobody is forced to read it. :=)

The topics on my mind cover a wide area - personal experiences, philosophy, funny stories and observations. All closely supervised by my cat . Who wants my attention now, so please, excuse me for the time being ...