Have not forgetten about this blog, but just don't find time to sit down and write something...
Uni keeps me busy all day and week long. I am longing for a night I get at least 7 hours of sleep...
Uni is fine - I leave home round 6:20am and return about 7pm. If the S1 (the train I am pending on) is cancelled (which happens unfortunately nearly weekly), there is lots of fun.
Lectures are comparable to school - there are some that are really interesting ones and others I actually need to kick myself to attend. In my few breaks between lectures I sit in the libary in order to get some homework done, write flashcards or try to learn.
After two weeks had passed my life got a bit easier as I adjusted to the early rising and the long day. Now it seems incredible that it is just 3 weeks till christmas! In the first week of January I will already have taken my first exam!
So long I need to read another 2 books (I have already finished 4), unterstand the theory of British Litrary and find a way to remeber all the stuff in sociology...
Besides, I wanted to see 4 films in the cinema but could not find time to go there. Then the Christmas Markets are open and I am dying to stroll there, especially since it became really cold during the last days.
So long,
Dienstag, 1. Dezember 2009
Donnerstag, 15. Oktober 2009
London
Did spent the last weekend - that wone before uni started - in London!
What a great time I've had: good weahter (it was quite cold but dry), did do some sightseeing and, of course, did watch some west end shows!
Arriving in Stenston and getting to Wembley is quite a challenge but I did it! It took me around two hours to get to the hotel - but I managed without taking the wrong way.
Friday I strolled aroung the city, seeing St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster, The Hourse Guard and the Tower Bridge.
Saturday I just watched the Change of Guards, as I attended a matinee as well as an evening performance.
Sunday I had to leave in the afternoon what couldn't keep me off a shoppin gtour through Harrod's and the Covent Garden Markets.
I know I am told crazy by a couple of people: I attended 4 west end performances within 3 days! I loved it!
All started with WICKED:
Ashleigh Gray as Elphaba and Dianne Pilkington as Glinda. First I was a bit upsad as I had hoped to see Alexia Khadime performing. Nevertheless, Ashleigh Gray was amazing! Her performance and voice made my flesh creep; to say nothing from Dianne Pilkington! Still I am strilled!
Ashleigh did imitate 'Glinda's' voice in 'Loathing' - I have never heared that in the german or the Melbourne performance. The iridescent lights in 'One short day' and the performance of 'Defying Gravity'. All those has to last till I can see Wicked in Oberhausen (I got a ticket for the first puplic show in March!!!! Can't wait March to come).
A friend of mine came along and even he would say it was an extraordinary show...
After a day of strolling around London I bought a ticket for Avenue Q on friday. Did see a song being performed in a charity show 2007 in Bochum. I liked that one much.
Wondering why TV sreens were pointed to the audience I couldn't wait the show to start. It turned out that the screens are used to visualise some parts of a couple of songs for the audience. Great fun!
On saturday I thought of attenting two shows. The main problem here: I knew Pia Douwes is performing in London's Chicago for two months only. But in which show would she be - matinee or evening? The nice assistent at the ticket shop did phone the theater to find out. As Pia would perform on both shows I got a ticket for the matinee one.
Never have seen Chicago before - not the film either. What is the show about? Would I understand everything? YES!
Seeing Pia on stage as 'Velma' was great and I had nearly no trouble understanding. There was the one or other dialouge which was hard to follow though but at least I was fine!
After the end I searched my way to the Palladium Theater. Anybody who says that's easy - let's be told the story:
Finding the station is not hard and getting off the tube at the correct station is not hard as well. But then my problems started: Which exit do I need? Wandering around and trying to work out the map I finally decided for oen exit - it was the right one. Having round 90minutes left I searched a café to sit down for a bit. The next challange and I was not successful! The first ones did close at6pm, others were too crowed to step in and yet others just to expensive. While looking around I got lost - just couldn't remeber if I had to take Oxford or Regent Street and in which way I had to turn - was it right or left?
Asking people on the street didn't help me either - I asked several other tourists. After quite some time I spotted a policeman and finally was told the way back...
Time was already preceded and I hoped to get into the theater. Again I was mistaken: The doors wouldn't open till 7pm; an hour before the show starts. Furthermore the doors to the seats wouldn't open before another 30minutes! Great! I was fessed up. There is no 'really' Foyer but you are taken in a 'gangway' to you seats and then you can't get to your seats....
Anyway, the show recompense for that! It is a seperate show and not the musical way of the film! I liked it much. Things like the costumes on those scenes the nuns perform in church, I didn't like - they don't fit for me; are to colourful. But in realtion of the story the costumes do fit. Voices were great! Have seen some trailor of the musical in before and wasn't sure what I would think about it. I am glad I've seen it now. No regretting!
There are just a couple of things I can't make sense of. Though, if you do - tell me please!
1. There is left-hand traffic in GB, that's clear. But why on earth do I have to stand on the escalator, which is placed on the left side as well, on the right-hand side?
2. I know from German Shows that there is no encore in most shows. That's a pity - but allright. Nevertheless, there will be 2 or 3 curtseys. What happend in the west end shows is: The last note was sung, the audience applauded, the actors gave a bow and immediatly lights were turned on! One wouldn't have the chance to give standing ovations. Song ended, applause, lights on and everybody leaves... Couldn't deal with that in wicked but experienced the same in Chicago and Avenue Q. Sister Act handled it a bit different. They performed 'Raise your Voice' once more and bowed at the end 2 times...
3. Why the hell are there no shows on sundays? Next to Saturdays and Fridays that should be the day where most people would watch a show... It was really suprising...
Anyway - I loved those 3 days in London very much and can't wait to go there again ....
What a great time I've had: good weahter (it was quite cold but dry), did do some sightseeing and, of course, did watch some west end shows!
Arriving in Stenston and getting to Wembley is quite a challenge but I did it! It took me around two hours to get to the hotel - but I managed without taking the wrong way.
Friday I strolled aroung the city, seeing St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster, The Hourse Guard and the Tower Bridge.
Saturday I just watched the Change of Guards, as I attended a matinee as well as an evening performance.
Sunday I had to leave in the afternoon what couldn't keep me off a shoppin gtour through Harrod's and the Covent Garden Markets.
I know I am told crazy by a couple of people: I attended 4 west end performances within 3 days! I loved it!
All started with WICKED:
Ashleigh Gray as Elphaba and Dianne Pilkington as Glinda. First I was a bit upsad as I had hoped to see Alexia Khadime performing. Nevertheless, Ashleigh Gray was amazing! Her performance and voice made my flesh creep; to say nothing from Dianne Pilkington! Still I am strilled!
Ashleigh did imitate 'Glinda's' voice in 'Loathing' - I have never heared that in the german or the Melbourne performance. The iridescent lights in 'One short day' and the performance of 'Defying Gravity'. All those has to last till I can see Wicked in Oberhausen (I got a ticket for the first puplic show in March!!!! Can't wait March to come).
A friend of mine came along and even he would say it was an extraordinary show...
After a day of strolling around London I bought a ticket for Avenue Q on friday. Did see a song being performed in a charity show 2007 in Bochum. I liked that one much.
Wondering why TV sreens were pointed to the audience I couldn't wait the show to start. It turned out that the screens are used to visualise some parts of a couple of songs for the audience. Great fun!
On saturday I thought of attenting two shows. The main problem here: I knew Pia Douwes is performing in London's Chicago for two months only. But in which show would she be - matinee or evening? The nice assistent at the ticket shop did phone the theater to find out. As Pia would perform on both shows I got a ticket for the matinee one.
Never have seen Chicago before - not the film either. What is the show about? Would I understand everything? YES!
Seeing Pia on stage as 'Velma' was great and I had nearly no trouble understanding. There was the one or other dialouge which was hard to follow though but at least I was fine!
After the end I searched my way to the Palladium Theater. Anybody who says that's easy - let's be told the story:
Finding the station is not hard and getting off the tube at the correct station is not hard as well. But then my problems started: Which exit do I need? Wandering around and trying to work out the map I finally decided for oen exit - it was the right one. Having round 90minutes left I searched a café to sit down for a bit. The next challange and I was not successful! The first ones did close at6pm, others were too crowed to step in and yet others just to expensive. While looking around I got lost - just couldn't remeber if I had to take Oxford or Regent Street and in which way I had to turn - was it right or left?
Asking people on the street didn't help me either - I asked several other tourists. After quite some time I spotted a policeman and finally was told the way back...
Time was already preceded and I hoped to get into the theater. Again I was mistaken: The doors wouldn't open till 7pm; an hour before the show starts. Furthermore the doors to the seats wouldn't open before another 30minutes! Great! I was fessed up. There is no 'really' Foyer but you are taken in a 'gangway' to you seats and then you can't get to your seats....
Anyway, the show recompense for that! It is a seperate show and not the musical way of the film! I liked it much. Things like the costumes on those scenes the nuns perform in church, I didn't like - they don't fit for me; are to colourful. But in realtion of the story the costumes do fit. Voices were great! Have seen some trailor of the musical in before and wasn't sure what I would think about it. I am glad I've seen it now. No regretting!
There are just a couple of things I can't make sense of. Though, if you do - tell me please!
1. There is left-hand traffic in GB, that's clear. But why on earth do I have to stand on the escalator, which is placed on the left side as well, on the right-hand side?
2. I know from German Shows that there is no encore in most shows. That's a pity - but allright. Nevertheless, there will be 2 or 3 curtseys. What happend in the west end shows is: The last note was sung, the audience applauded, the actors gave a bow and immediatly lights were turned on! One wouldn't have the chance to give standing ovations. Song ended, applause, lights on and everybody leaves... Couldn't deal with that in wicked but experienced the same in Chicago and Avenue Q. Sister Act handled it a bit different. They performed 'Raise your Voice' once more and bowed at the end 2 times...
3. Why the hell are there no shows on sundays? Next to Saturdays and Fridays that should be the day where most people would watch a show... It was really suprising...
Anyway - I loved those 3 days in London very much and can't wait to go there again ....
Sonntag, 27. September 2009
Hamburg
I am back from Hamburg!
Johanna and I spent a very nice weekend there. The weather-god was with us: it was quite cold but dry and yesterday even the sun came out for a bit.
Have been driven off on friday morning (5.30am) we arrived in Hamburg at 9am. My plan worked out well: Leaving early and so driving away from the rush-hour traffic. There was just a short stopp and go just before Bremen. But not as bad as it could have been.
As check-in was not before 3pm, we decided to left our bags in the car and searched for a cafe to get some breakfast.
Easy - you think?!? It was hard work! But finally we found one both of us 'liked'. After breakfast it felt much easier to stroll around and discover the city. We ended up in the old warehouse district and had a coffee in a coffee roas house. Saturday was 'day of the coffee' and after we drank ours, we had a 'Barista Lesson' and talked to a coffe master later on.
That is what the coffee should look like
Looks similiar - don't you think so? I was told after a weekend working as a Barista (and 1500 coffees later) that one would look like the other one...
Subsequent to that we went to our hostel, checked in, refreshed and were off again.
After having finished our dinner - in a Tansanian restaurant - we found our way to the 'Neue Flora', the theater we would watch 'Tarzan'.
It's a really wonderful musical. Lots of dancing and acrobatics - both on stage and in the air. A pity is that the lead is a Swede: a gorgeous man with clear voice (as long as he sings) but when speaking German there is a hard and badly sounding accent...
Anyway, really sweet: the young Tarzan, performed by a boy maybe 10years old, had a part in the beginnin of the second act as well and was even on stage at the very end for the curtseys! Next to 'Beauty and the Beast' I guess, it is one of the few musicals you see children on stage for the bow.
Yesterday we went for a sightseeing tour in one of the red double-deck busses. Sun came out and it was great!
I attended severel tours before while my differnt stays in Hamburg, the last one in 2007. There changed so much! The new 'Hafen City' - Europe's largest inner city development - is not only a construction side any more. The first 1000 inhabitents did move in the first completly finished buildings, a school and a preschool did open this year and even a restaurant and a shop are already open.
I loved to stroll around that area! If I win the lottery I would by an appartment in Hafen City! (Main problem is, I don't play lotterie. So, how can I get up to 11.000€ / square meter for my appartment?)
Johanna and I did walk through the Old Elbe Tunnel and had an astonishing view to the harbour promenade, then went to 'Cap San Diego', a museum ship, on which an exhibition is on about the emmigrants who left to Amerika between 1880 to 1910. Very interesting!
After a drive on a small boat in the evening, when the harbour side was lighted up, we walked to our hostel again and fell into bed...
After breakfast we headed back to Marl this morning, as Joey needs to work tonight.
What a pity! Such a nice weekend... ended so fast...
Johanna and I spent a very nice weekend there. The weather-god was with us: it was quite cold but dry and yesterday even the sun came out for a bit.
Have been driven off on friday morning (5.30am) we arrived in Hamburg at 9am. My plan worked out well: Leaving early and so driving away from the rush-hour traffic. There was just a short stopp and go just before Bremen. But not as bad as it could have been.
As check-in was not before 3pm, we decided to left our bags in the car and searched for a cafe to get some breakfast.
Easy - you think?!? It was hard work! But finally we found one both of us 'liked'. After breakfast it felt much easier to stroll around and discover the city. We ended up in the old warehouse district and had a coffee in a coffee roas house. Saturday was 'day of the coffee' and after we drank ours, we had a 'Barista Lesson' and talked to a coffe master later on.
That is what the coffee should look like
Looks similiar - don't you think so? I was told after a weekend working as a Barista (and 1500 coffees later) that one would look like the other one...
Subsequent to that we went to our hostel, checked in, refreshed and were off again.
After having finished our dinner - in a Tansanian restaurant - we found our way to the 'Neue Flora', the theater we would watch 'Tarzan'.
It's a really wonderful musical. Lots of dancing and acrobatics - both on stage and in the air. A pity is that the lead is a Swede: a gorgeous man with clear voice (as long as he sings) but when speaking German there is a hard and badly sounding accent...
Anyway, really sweet: the young Tarzan, performed by a boy maybe 10years old, had a part in the beginnin of the second act as well and was even on stage at the very end for the curtseys! Next to 'Beauty and the Beast' I guess, it is one of the few musicals you see children on stage for the bow.
Yesterday we went for a sightseeing tour in one of the red double-deck busses. Sun came out and it was great!
I attended severel tours before while my differnt stays in Hamburg, the last one in 2007. There changed so much! The new 'Hafen City' - Europe's largest inner city development - is not only a construction side any more. The first 1000 inhabitents did move in the first completly finished buildings, a school and a preschool did open this year and even a restaurant and a shop are already open.
I loved to stroll around that area! If I win the lottery I would by an appartment in Hafen City! (Main problem is, I don't play lotterie. So, how can I get up to 11.000€ / square meter for my appartment?)
Johanna and I did walk through the Old Elbe Tunnel and had an astonishing view to the harbour promenade, then went to 'Cap San Diego', a museum ship, on which an exhibition is on about the emmigrants who left to Amerika between 1880 to 1910. Very interesting!
After a drive on a small boat in the evening, when the harbour side was lighted up, we walked to our hostel again and fell into bed...
After breakfast we headed back to Marl this morning, as Joey needs to work tonight.
What a pity! Such a nice weekend... ended so fast...
Federal Elaction
Just a bit data:
There are 82.117.000 people who live in Germany (according to a census from July 2008).
About 62.000.000 are eligible to vote.
That means round 1/4 off all residents are not eligible to vote. There can't be that much children who are younger than 18... If I am not mistaken there are round 80tsd births per year; that means there should be round 1,4 mil. under 18-years olds.
Brings me to the question - who are the missing 18,5 million people?
Now waiting for the first results...
There are 82.117.000 people who live in Germany (according to a census from July 2008).
About 62.000.000 are eligible to vote.
That means round 1/4 off all residents are not eligible to vote. There can't be that much children who are younger than 18... If I am not mistaken there are round 80tsd births per year; that means there should be round 1,4 mil. under 18-years olds.
Brings me to the question - who are the missing 18,5 million people?
Now waiting for the first results...
Sonntag, 20. September 2009
OWD
I did it! I am an OWD now!
Christoph and I did manage to spare some time and went for five dive trips. It seemes that I am not incapable of diving:
Not being to nervy when we start to sink and finally sinking independently (which isn't as easy as it sounds to be); finding my way with a compass and being able to use the alternative air supply.
The really hard thing about diving? Switch off your brain! For me, it's really hard to float. When sinking, I touch the ground; well, then I use the inflator to pump some air into my jacket - and raise up (but to much!!). I don't manage to float at the first attempt (or the second or third). But when holding the finimeter or inflator in my hands - it's much better and I finally seem to float!!!!!
What next? The AOWD - of course! Down to 30m, a trip with photographing, a night trip. I just need to find the time. That is the problem. Usually the courses are held on the weekends. Those days I am working! That is way ,again, I need to make an arrrangement with Christoph...
Christoph and I did manage to spare some time and went for five dive trips. It seemes that I am not incapable of diving:
Not being to nervy when we start to sink and finally sinking independently (which isn't as easy as it sounds to be); finding my way with a compass and being able to use the alternative air supply.
The really hard thing about diving? Switch off your brain! For me, it's really hard to float. When sinking, I touch the ground; well, then I use the inflator to pump some air into my jacket - and raise up (but to much!!). I don't manage to float at the first attempt (or the second or third). But when holding the finimeter or inflator in my hands - it's much better and I finally seem to float!!!!!
What next? The AOWD - of course! Down to 30m, a trip with photographing, a night trip. I just need to find the time. That is the problem. Usually the courses are held on the weekends. Those days I am working! That is way ,again, I need to make an arrrangement with Christoph...
Mittwoch, 16. September 2009
My Sister's Keeper
I have read the book, written by Jodie Picoultonce. Guess, that's years ago. But I still remeber the story and especially the surprising end.
Here is a short overview:
My Sister's Keeper is a fictional novel written by Jodi Picoult. The story follows the life of 13- year-old Anna Fitzgerald, who enlists the help of an attorney, Campbell Alexander, to sue her parents for rights to her own body. Kate, Anna's older sister, suffers from leukemia, and their parents conceived Anna through in vitro fertilisation to be a genetic match donor for her sister Kate. Anna donated genetic material throughout her life, such as blood and bone marrow. Now, their parents want Anna to donate a kidney to Kate, but Anna instead files a lawsuit against her parents for medical emancipation so she will not be forced to donate one of her kidneys to her sister.
When getting to know that there will be a movie I had conflicting views. First, only a couple of movies are as good as the books they are based on.
But then I saw the trailer and did read some good reviews.
Well, even knowing that I probably would regret it, I went to see the movie:
I was astonished! What a great production. A relator is to hear in the very beginning. That was annoying but worked out well. Cameron Diaz and Alec Baldwin and to their site Abigail Breslin as Anna and Sofia Vassilieva as Kate. I liked the movie till 10 minutes before the end.
Of course there were enough women watching the film who started to cry. Sniffing, snuffling and sobbing all around me.
But then! Why can't they stick to the book till the very end? Why the hell did they change the end?
Kate dies, Anna survives and the family remembers Kate life by spending the holidays in Montana. F...
This could have been a superb movie - it is 'just' a good one.
What is quite unbelievable to me - Jodie Picoult is Co-author...
Here is a short overview:
My Sister's Keeper is a fictional novel written by Jodi Picoult. The story follows the life of 13- year-old Anna Fitzgerald, who enlists the help of an attorney, Campbell Alexander, to sue her parents for rights to her own body. Kate, Anna's older sister, suffers from leukemia, and their parents conceived Anna through in vitro fertilisation to be a genetic match donor for her sister Kate. Anna donated genetic material throughout her life, such as blood and bone marrow. Now, their parents want Anna to donate a kidney to Kate, but Anna instead files a lawsuit against her parents for medical emancipation so she will not be forced to donate one of her kidneys to her sister.
When getting to know that there will be a movie I had conflicting views. First, only a couple of movies are as good as the books they are based on.
But then I saw the trailer and did read some good reviews.
Well, even knowing that I probably would regret it, I went to see the movie:
I was astonished! What a great production. A relator is to hear in the very beginning. That was annoying but worked out well. Cameron Diaz and Alec Baldwin and to their site Abigail Breslin as Anna and Sofia Vassilieva as Kate. I liked the movie till 10 minutes before the end.
Of course there were enough women watching the film who started to cry. Sniffing, snuffling and sobbing all around me.
But then! Why can't they stick to the book till the very end? Why the hell did they change the end?
Kate dies, Anna survives and the family remembers Kate life by spending the holidays in Montana. F...
This could have been a superb movie - it is 'just' a good one.
What is quite unbelievable to me - Jodie Picoult is Co-author...
Dienstag, 8. September 2009
Saving money
Allright, it is true: I went to London last week and yes, I do have some (round 10) tickts for local theater shows. But hey - I live to see musicals!
But here is a list of things I quit in order to save my money and get to Australia back soon:
I didn't buy a ticket for 'Spamalot
I won't see 'Best of Musical 2010'
I did neither drive to Xanten ('Evita') nor to Tecklenburg ('Aida' - with Willemijn Verkaik!)
I will not spent a couple of days in Stuttgart and see the last 'Wicked' performance there
I do not buy a ticket for 'The Buddy Holly Story' which opens next month in Essen
Just needed to write this down to remember myself how much money I have saved already - that helps...
But here is a list of things I quit in order to save my money and get to Australia back soon:
I didn't buy a ticket for 'Spamalot
I won't see 'Best of Musical 2010'
I did neither drive to Xanten ('Evita') nor to Tecklenburg ('Aida' - with Willemijn Verkaik!)
I will not spent a couple of days in Stuttgart and see the last 'Wicked' performance there
I do not buy a ticket for 'The Buddy Holly Story' which opens next month in Essen
Just needed to write this down to remember myself how much money I have saved already - that helps...
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