Happy New Year around the world

In whatever language you say it, I wish you a 

Happy New Year!

Afrikaans: Voorspoedige nuwe jaar
Arabic:  Kul 'am wa antum bikhair
Basque:  Urte Berri on 
Bengali:  Shuvo noboborsho
Chinese (Cantonese):  Sun nien fai lok
Chinese (Mandarin):  Xin nian yu kuai
Czech:  Stastny Novy Rok
Danish:  Godt NytÅr
Dutch:  Gelukkig nieuwjaar
Esperanto:  Bonan Novjaron
Finnish:  Onnellista uutta vuotta
French:  Bonne année
German:  Ein glückliches neues Jahr
Greek:  Eutychismenos o kainourgios chronos
Hawaiian:  Hauoli Makahiki hou
Hebrew:  Shana Tova
Hungarian:  Boldog uj evet
Indonesian (Bahasa):  Selamat Tahun Baru
Italian:  Felice Anno Nuovo or Buon anno
Japanese:  Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu
Korean:  Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo
Laotian (Hmong):  Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab
Latin:  Felix sit annus novus
Nigerian (Hausa):  Barka da sabuwar shekara
Norwegian:  Godt Nytt År
Philippines (Tagalog):  Manigong Bagong Taon
Polish:  Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Romanian:  La Multi Ani si Un An Nou Fericit
Samoan:  Ia manuia le Tausaga Fou
Spanish:  Feliz año nuevo
Swahili:  Heri za Mwaka Mpya
Swedish:  Gott Nytt År
Thai:  Sawatdee Pi Mai
Vietnamese:  Chuc mung nam moi
Welsh:  Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

(source: Buddha Bless you)

a candle for peace in the world

Life of Pi

Today was the premiere of the movie "Life of Pi" in Germany. Of course, we couldn't miss it. In other countries it's been already premiered earlier. For our family this movie has a special meaning and we've been keen to watch it. Somewhere beginning of 2011 when the movie was shot in India, Pondicherry, we still called India our home. We saw the film buses and encountered blocked roads in Pondy during that time. We saw the crew - even Gerard Depardieu - at Calve College in Mission Street. (I guess they had called him to see the French Rivera of the East). Everybody talked about the movie and Ang Lee. Our neighbor boy even went for the casting. However  he didn't get the role in the end.


All of us had read the book some years ago and were already familiar with the story. We've enjoyed reading the book and were  in awe. I can fully recommend the book. But we were fascinated by the pictures of the movie too. They were enchanting and enthralling. There was tension and fascination throughout the movie. I would say that Ang Lee has done a beautiful adaption of Yann Martel's book . It's simply a marvel - a masterpiece.



I'm not getting much into the story here. Just this much. The story is about a young man who survives a disaster at sea and is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery  While cast away, he forms an amazing and unexpected connection with another survivor .... a fearsome Bengal tiger, (Official Site)
For symbolism and analysis of the whole story,  I leave it up to you.

"Without Richard Parker, I wouldn't be alive today...". There seems to be no right or wrong and I would say that the author let's you decide at the end what you want to believe. You can make up your own mind.

Here some pictures of the scenes in Pondicherry:
Source & credit for the following pictures and information: Guardian.co.uk

The French Quarter: The backdrop to many of the sequences in Life of Pi, the French Quarter was a base of the Compagnie des Indes Orientales (French East India Company) from 1675. Pondicherry then frequently changed hands between France and Britain between 1761-1815, after which it remained in French possession until 1954. On quiet, wide streets like rue de la Caserne, rue Suffren and rue Dumas – the latter with its Notre Dame des Agnes church – are French villas and trailing bougainvillea. Outside the Travaux Publics government building, a notable backdrop to one of Pi’s childhood memories, a sign reads ‘Beauty is our city. Preserving it is our duty’ in both English and French. Across the street is Aayi Mandapam, an imposing Arc d’Triomphe-style, Napolean III-era memorial. 

Grand Bazaar and Tamil Quarter: Reach rue Jawaharlal Nehru and you swap colonial ambiance for bustling, busy India, and the frenetic walled Grand Bazaar. The setting for Pi’s flirtations with his girlfriend Anandi (pictured centre), this football pitch-sized market crams in dozens of types of bananas, sacks of beans, okra and ginger, and flowers.

The smell of jasmine garlands and curry leaves fills the air, though both struggle to compete with the fish market next door. It’s staffed entirely by women, who lay out the day’s catch on concrete pitches. Pi is played in the film by Suraj Sharma, pictured here.

The pillars celebrated a train track from an adjoining pier where French boats docked; the pier was destroyed by a cyclone in 1953 – just a year before Pondicherry was transferred to India. The remains are just visible, though it’s the newer construction just south that features in Life of Pi

Merry Christmas!

Dear Readers,

Wishing all of you Merry Christmas. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing on that day, enjoy a peaceful time.

I didn't get caught in too much x-mas preparation but some more cookies needed to be done, our cute little tree needed a bit of decoration and the flat needed a clean up.

The weather in Berlin is kind of confusing... last week the snow melted, and we had what you call in German "Matschwetter" . Then two days ago it snowed again and yesterday it was incredibly cold. But according to weather forecast it's gonna be warmer and let's see if there will still be any snow on the eve of Christmas Eve.  ...

Liebster Award

WOOOOOW, my fellow blogger Sofia has nominated me for the Liebster Blog. What a surprise  I am quite thrilled. THANK YOU Sofia from "Speak your Mind - Sofia's First Blogspot".!!!  http://sofiasfirst.blogspot.de/. As I have only 1 follower so far, there shouldn't be a problem about the rule of having less than 200 .... hahaha
Liebster is German and means favorite. 

I am copying the rules here:
"When you receive the award, you post 11 random facts about yourself and answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you." "Pass the award onto 11 other blogs (make sure you tell them you nominated them!) and ask them 11 questions.""You are not allowed to nominate the blog who nominated you!""Make sure the blogs you chose have 200 or LESS followers"

OK, here we go...

11 random things about me

1. I've lived in an spiritual intentional community in India for 15 years .

2. On some days I just can't stop eating chocolate.  

3. I am a procrastinator. And it's just terrible.

4. I miss not having time to play theatre.

5. I am a re-expatriate in Berlin and often don't understand the behavior of Germans. 

6. I enjoy go shopping with my husband because I couldn't decide and he has a good taste. 

7. I wish to travel.

8. Living international patchwork family and love them - mostly. 

9. I am more and more discovering the Buddha's way and hope to be able to live by it. 

10. During the cold season I love to cuddle up on my sofa, lighting a candle and read a book or watch TV.

11. I love being around people from all over the world. 

And here are my answers to Sofia's 11 questions:

1. What are you proud of in your current life? 
Following my heart. 

2. What are you afraid of? 
Oh, a very intimate question. I guess I'm afraid not to be able to become the person I want to be. 

3. Is there a bad habit in your life you would like to get rid of? 
Thinking too much. Not being able to sleep because of thinking.  I could very well do without it. Same goes for procrastinating. 

4. If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you immediately go? 
Oho, surely loads of places I'd love to travel. Ok just one would be South Korea as my husband is from there and I have not been there yet. But some warm places like Spain also would be great. On my long list of places you would find Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, Prague, Singapore, Paris, Barcelona, New Zealand, Vietnam, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, California, New York, Argentina... . Sorry couldn't resist to name them although you asked for one place.

5. What if you could change the world, where would you start?
I am trying to change me into a better person. That's the only way to change the world and already hard enough. 

6. How many languages do you speak?
Basically two. German and English.... I learned French at school a long time ago and I could speak a few words Tamil but as I am no longer in India, I'm forgetting.

7. Do you have a favourite topic you read about on blogs, magazines, etc.?
Actually I don't read magazines any more. But blogs. Topics: Expat life, Berlin, Asia

8. What do you wish for in your life?
More wisdom!

9. If you are celebrating Christmas, will you have a Christmas tree at home?
Yes, sure. This year we already have a small tree in a pot. It's from my parent's garden and I'm looking forward to decorate it. 

10. Is there a hobby you happen to be crazy about, even if it is a bit weird?
Not so weird, just improv theatre and clowning. 

11. Who do you admire the most in this world?
Phew, even though I thought for a day, I really don't know.

And here are my questions for the 11 bloggers I am nominating

1. What do you like about the country/city you are presently living in?
2. What is your favorite movie?
3.  What was your cuddly toy as a kid?
4. If you could act in a movie, which role would you like to play?
5. If you could choose your dream profession, what would it be?
6. If you have a day off, what would you do?
7. What is your favorite food?
8. If you could be a kid right now, what would you do?
9. How do you celebrate Christmas?
10. How do you relax?
11. What places/countries/cities would you like to visit?

And here the 11 bloggers (actually, I came up with 9), I would like to nominate and to invite to take part in this award!

http://mergingtwoworlds.wordpress.com/

http://www.sippingchaiinchennai.com/

http://www.mumbaiontheslowlocal.blogspot.in/

http://bigappletobigbear.blogspot.de/

http://asiavufullcircle.blogspot.de/

http://jolenemahon.blogspot.de/

http://meowwsmusings.blogspot.de/

http://www.garethinasia.blogspot.in/

http://madeinmadraslc.blogspot.in/

Christmas Markets

I had intended to write about the Weihnachtsmaerkte earlier ... also didn't post anything on St. Nikolaus. 6 December. Somehow the week has been too busy, days just speeding by and YES it SNOWED. Big white snowflakes. Especially on Nikolaus Day on 6th of December it was very beautiful and magical.
The prediction from the weather forecast have been right and also this weekend the streets are covered with snow. It's cold, today minus 4 degree C.

There are so many Christmas Markets in Berlin that it will be hard to tell you about all of them. I guess there are so many different markets in Berlin as there are different people in the city. We made it only to Charlottenburger Schloss so far. sorry pics are only from my mobile.

Some of the "normal" markets would be:

Gerndarmenmarkt,
Am Potsdamer Platz,
Unter den Linden,
Spandauer Altstadt,
Am Roten Rathaus
Am Alexanderplatz
An der Gedaechniskirche

Here you can read about them (sorry in German)
http://www.weihnachteninberlin.de/weihnachtsmaerkte/

Then there are somewhat funky Christmas Markets, The Designer Markets like:

Trend Mafia (Karl-Liebknecht Str. 11)
Holy Shit Shopping (Postbahnhof am Ostbahnhof)
Nowkoelln Weihnachtsflowmarkt (Umspannwerk Kreuzberg in der Ohlauer Strasse 43)
handmade supermarket: x-mas edition (Markthalle in Kreuzberg)
Weihnachtsrodeo (Stadtbad Odeberger Strasse)

And don't miss a cup of mulled wine and Rostbratwurst. It's a must on a Christmas Market. For the cup normally you pay a "Pfand" (deposit) and get the refund when returning the empty cup.

And enjoy It's such a great time to pass the advent (Adventszeit) and prepares us for Chrsitmas, enjoy the Gemuetlichkeit. And the Markets are more fun when it's cold anyway, isn't it. 

Advent Time

Today advent time starts. It is the 1. Advent and time to light one candle. Every Sunday till Christmas one candle can be lit. And then on 24th December Christmas Eve will be here.

In Germany Advent time has a strong tradition and can be a wonderful, cozy time. Cold outside and warm and cozy inside. Cuddling up with a hot cup of tea and eating yummy biscuits. I already baked x-mas biscuits (Weihnachtsplaetzchen). Yesterday morning it snowed. Thick snowflakes came down for about an hour. But soon all was gone again. Melted away  It's cold but not minus degree during the day. Let's see if we'll get a white Christmas.

Everywhere over the country the Christmas markets are opened. Maybe we'll visit one today...

Of course the advent calender shouldn't be missing. Unthinkable especially if you have kids. Many Germans make their own or you can buy a chocolate advent calender as well. And enjoy the time! 

November

November, November ... the month known for darkness, rain, and moody days. Terrible days. However this year the November showed us also his sunny, blue, colorful side. Sure, it was AND is cold and again it's grey.
Also I got sick... cough, cold and even tonsillitis. Finally I have enough of it and luckily feel better now.
Nice thing to get cozy inside, put on some candles, soft music and a hot cup of tea. Perfect!

 In Berlin there are many nice parks and so many trees .Here are some pics from my walk in November on a sunny day with beautiful blue sky.  Just to remember and brighten up the grey days.  :-)

Happy Diwali - Indian Festival of Lights

source: DPA

In India the Festival of Lights -  Diwali - was celebrated yesterday. Just to keep a long story very short... Diwali is a Hindu festival and symbolizes the victory of the good.

This year because we're in Germany have not been really celebrating it, only had cooked and eaten Indian food yesterday.

But I remember the beauty of lit oil lamps, yummy sweets, noise and smell of fire crackers, the big eyes of children when the fire crackers lighted up, a sky full of light and people full of smiles. 

The Fall of the Wall

23 years ago on the 9th November 1989 was the day of the Fall of the Wall! A day to celebrate and to remember that the country was once divided, and with it the the suffering of people. Now we can share happiness of freedom.

Recently I visited the Wall Panorama (see my previous post about The Wall Panorama)
http://berlinbackagain.blogspot.de/2012/11/the-wall-panoramaproject.html
and it reminded me of the time as a child how the wall around us had become something normal and how odd it felt to visit relatives in East Berlin. How weird is was to be checked at the border.
How great and happy it felt that the wall was teared down and people could move freely and not fear anymore the constraints and punishment of the regime.

This is just a short post, just to tell you about this day and share a very few memories.

The Wall - Panoramaproject

Die Mauer - THE WALL - a Panoramaproject by the Iranian artist Yadegar Asisis



The artist Yadegar Asissi has already created a few of these Panoramaprojects in Leipzig and Dresden. And earlier in Berlin the Pergamon Panorama was exhibited. All these are the world biggest panoramas. And now since 23rd September 2012 in Berlin The Wall Panorama.











http://www.asisi.de/index.php?id=7#asisi_index_id_56












In his latest art work, which is the first of a contemporary panorma, the artist wants to show his artistic intense view of the time of cold war. He presents daily life at the Berliner Wall. The panorama is impressive because it feels very real.

Sound tracks are played and night and day give a quite a real feeling. His intention is also for the younger generation to "experience" the normality of that time, He also wants to bring up the ability of human beings  to adapt. To adapt when the living conditions are not ideal and tied to survival. 

Open from 10 am to 8 pmat Checkpoint Charlie. 

Getting there by public transport Bus 147 (Stadtmitte/Leipziger Strasse). M 29 (Kochstrasse/Checkpoint Charlie), U6 (U Kochstrasse/Checkpoint Charlie)

 

Visit at VW Autostadt Wolfsburg

We went for a trip to the Autostadt in Wolfsburg. They open at 9 am and close at 6 pm. Tickets are costly but you can spend the whole day in there. Of course you can take guided tours.  For more details check out  their website: http://www.autostadt.de/
It is definitely worth a visit. There are 8 pavilions and don't miss the ZeitHaus. The museum houses milestones of auto mobility exhibited over 5 floors and is a MUST! It's incredible to see and catapults you to previous times.

The CarTowers are 48 meters high and VW rolls their new cars over where they wait for the new owners. 600 cars fit in one tower. However on the day we visited there were just a few cars in both towers. On a discovery tour you can enter a lift and explore the towers in a glass lift. But you need to book this in advance. Check the website for this.

The whole area and architecture is very beautifully designed and in some of the pavilions you can explore stuff about cars. Only the Lamborghini seemed a waste of time to me. They presented a Lamborghini in a laser light sound show... Level Green lets you explore about sustainability.

We saw fancy cars and cool designs and had a fun day. 

Autumn Walk at Greenwich Promenade Tegel

Today it was one of the so called Golden October Days. Pretty blue sky and sun shining bright and cold. We  decided it was good weather for a walk at the Greenwich Promenade in Tegel at the Tegler See -  North of Berlin. From U-Bahn Alt Tegel it's a 5 minutes walk.

Especially in summer it's a popular destination. There is a ship landing place. The passenger ships take you to Wansee, Potsdam, Oranienburg Spandau or also into the city of Berlin. However the season for cruises is coming to an end. 

 This ship on the right is called Moby Dick. As kids we loved this ship and were always excited to see and wave to Moby Dick.

Some more impressions:

Bürgeramt Registration

Anmeldung bei der Meldebehörde:

Like I said in a previous post about Burgeramt Das Bürgeramt 
you'll need a lot of time and patience. German Amt works slowly like a snail only. If you can't make an appointment, try to go around the end or the beginning of a month. You will have to wait a bit less.

 If you want to register your residence, you need to do that within 2 weeks from moving. You need to bring the following documents:

-  proof of identity (passport)
-  application form - download "Anmeldeformular" here:
    http://www.berlin.de/buergeramt/formulare/index.php?path=/meldeangelegenheiten

-  For the first registration in Berlin you also need a "Personenstandsurkunde" 
     (a document stating your civil status, for example your birth certificate, marriage certificate)

source: wikipedia

Coping as a Re-Expatriate

Sometimes friends ask me "How is it to be back in Germany?"
Do you want the long or short version? Anyhow, here's some medium version. Basically it's not too hard to settle back in because I've grown up here in Germany and know the place. BUT sometimes it doesn't feel easy going. Lots of things have changed, I have changed ... First when we came here, we struggled with some bureaucratic stuff- and experienced typically German complicated bureaucracy- it's just awful. Anything takes time, you need to bring documents that you don't even know exist or where to get, you have to wait and wait.... the list goes on. Of course also in India things are slow but still somehow different. Especially for my now husband it's very frustrating because in South Korea things work much easier and customer friendly. He keeps telling me so.

Apart from these matters, life in Germany has changed -  I've been away for 15 years. And I don't only mean that "Schrippen" (buns are called Schrippe in Berlin) are more costly now. I somewhat feel that because of the economic situation people are more grim. People work harder, will have to work much longer. Parents often have less time for their kids. It's harder to get a job or hold your career. All these constraints have effects on people. Less smiling and less easy going, more rushing. Of course, this is a generalization and therefore leaves short the other positive examples.

Newspaper and TV report of much more violence that I've heard when I grew up. Of course, also technology has changed and banking systems are different, many more departments have become more computerized and it does take time for me to figure out how stuff works. Ok that might be a generation issue. My son has no trouble at all. Nowadays you don't find any staff at U- or S-Bahn platforms which used to be when I was young.
Sometimes I feel a bit foolish realizing that life has changed. Generally I'm happy to be in Berlin now and still think it was the right step at the right time. And Berlin is a great place too.

source: wikipedia