29.8.11

You know you 've been 11 months in Weimar when : *


1.
2. You have explained where Weimar is  about 1.000 times
3 You start feeling annoyed when people don’t really understand and just nod in pity.
4. You have taken people sightseeing at least twice.
5. You ‘ve seen summaery – the annual exhibition of students’ work – and it wasn’t boring
6. You ‘ve seen spring coming, temperature raising, summer slowly stepping in.
7. You are still wondering whether summer ever came or we’re still waiting for it.
8. You realized that “let’s go to the park” might be misleading. After all the city park is closer to Falken for outdoors sushi nights and nahkauf for beers.
9. You ‘ve celebrated during the birthday month July all the possible birthdays, including your own.
10. You celebrated your birthday having a pic nic on a rainy day but it was just fine under the roman house terrace in the Ilm Park.
11. You got sick after that. Still ok. 
12. You 've attented concerts in the Ilm Park as part of Franz Liszt Year 2011 events series.  
13. You 've found out that FĂȘte de la Musique doesn't exist only in France. There is the german equivalent, called exactly the same, on June 21st (summer solstice). Music all over the city. And beer.  
14. You found out there are 21 Greek students in Weimar. Even scarier is that there might be some more..
15. You realized the world is REALLY small after meeting here someone you’ve met last year in Greece and someone who knows fellow architecture students from Thessaloniki.
16. You ‘ve visited Dessau because Bauhaus is not only in Weimar.
17. You ‘ve moved to a different house and you can say “my old flatmate…”.
18. Four lovely gentlemen helped you move everything within 1 hour without using a van. Yes, you can move your belongings ON FOOT!!**
19. Your new flat counts 5 flat mates (+ you = 6) and you are excited about it!!!
20. When your friends freaked out, your main and strongest argument was “but there are 2 bathrooms!!”.
21. When your mom freaked out your main and strongest argument was “ 2 out of 5 are my best friends” .
22. And surprisingly she calmed down and declared her trust to your choices…
23. IfEU has moved to another building. Therefore you had to say goodbye to the hill. A moving out party was thrown but failed.
24. You ‘ve used your heavy winter blanket… on July.
25. You ‘ve slept on the grass in the Ilm park.
26. You ‘ve hurt your ribs crushing your bike.
27. You are still riding the same bike.
28. You ‘re thinking that the foot break is actually convenient.
29. You are still going to Falken in all occasions and have some wonderfull memories there.
30.You ‘ve significantly improved your german language skills.
31. You ‘ve worked at a coffee shop /bar /restaurant and promised yourself you won’t do it again.
32. You heard about museums’ night but you were not able to go because you were working the night shift.
33. You ‘ve been to Eisenach, Berlin and Leipiz but you still don’t know much about the rest of Germany.
34. But you’re thinking that’s ok because you ‘re gonna be there next year too.
35. You are utterly happy about that.
36. You know that Erfurt is a far better place to go than Jena.
37. You 've been to a 20s' party and really enjoyed it!
38. You 've been to Spacekid Headcup (a self made vehicle race)on May 1st. 
39. You 've lost count of things you've done (without leaving Weimar) by number 39 but you know:
40. You ‘ve met great people.
41. You ‘ve said painful goodbyes.
42. You 've come to Greece for summer vacation and you 're thinking of whatever the winter might bring. 

1. You ‘re missing Weimar and looking forward to go back.

* idea stolen (again) from http://thaniinpieces.blogspot.com/
** ok, we had a regular car... but still!!






15.8.11

The fox

There are books I’ve read and reread and reread and the first chance given I’d read again. Because I almost know them by heart I can skip to the part I enjoy most. I’ve read “the little prince” many times over the years, as a child, as a grown up, and as a grown up when feels like a child. There are also some cases I read it to feel like a child, only when necessary. This time I skipped again to the part where he meets the fox. Scared as she might be she’s asking for the only thing she knows will make her happy, affection. She’s teaching him how everyday things, habits, movements, expressions, images can become unique if forever connected to a person. She’s guiding him through to tame her, explaining how necessary patience is and the time you spend with somebody. She is enjoying every step of the process till the end when she inevitably gets hurt. The amazing part of the story is that she knew from the beginning the possibility of getting hurt and she still pursued the goal, to have a friend. Isn’t it all the way worth it? Every friend we make is unique, no one else can talk, walk, wave, stand, hug, smile, laugh, lie, stare, tease, joke the same way. And that’s her reward, having someone special, losing someone special. She’s happy in the end, appreciating every moment she spent with her friend.

"One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."

PS The little prince isn’t a children’s book.