Auslaenderamt - Part 1

 When we entered Germany (now already one and a half year ago) my now husband (South Korean nationality) could enter and stay without visa for three months. Before this three months expired, we had to visit the Auslaenderbehoerde (Foreigners Office) at Friedrich-Krause-Ufer.

South Koreans fall under the same visa category like a few other nationalities (Australians, Israelis, Japaneses, New Zealanders and North,- Middle- and South Americans) who are privileged to change their status (Aufenthaltstitel) while in Germany.

You have to book an appointment by the internet. This link applies to all nationalities.

The first time we were foolish enough to go to the Auslaenderamt without taking a prior appointment. However we've been lucky because we came before opening time and waited for quite a while in the queue. Just shortly before the doors opened, the queue wasn't any longer respected - much to our frustration. Once the doors opened, we felt like being out in the wild (pushing elbows, running up stairs) people ran to get the few tokens they release on each day. We rushed to also get one too. Even these tokens normally are just there to make an appointment (we were told later) and not to clear your issue. However, we've been lucky. We had all the necessary papers and my now husband got a temporary extension from a friendly civil servant.

Unfortunately we had to extend this temporary visa once more because we didn't manage to get our marriage organized before the three months expired  (this is another story of crazy German bureaucracy ). Even though we had an appointment which we had booked  by internet a few weeks in advance, we had to wait a long time and only after I'd asked them what happened, we got called into their room. I think they simply had forgotten us and were embarrassed to say so. This time they were really unfriendly and we had to listen to some silly blablabla but anyhow, we got another extension of three months. Because we had the correct documents together. Note that you are not allowed to work with this temporary visa. 

A few weeks later we did get married. YIPPEE! 

Again we had booked the appointment at the Auslaenderamt in advance by internet and he got his 3 years Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit) without problems. This time there was again a friendly lady who served us. It's just so much nicer to deal with friendly people.

Make sure, you book your appointment and bring all the necessary documents.

And have a lot of PATIENCE and SMILE !

Five Little Snowflakes - a Rhyme

One little snowflake with nothing to do.
Along came another and
Then there were two.

Two little snowflakes laughing with me.
Along came another, and
Then there were three.

Three little snowflakes looking for some more.
Along came another, and
Then there were four.

Four little snowflakes dancing a jive.
Along came another, and
Then there were five.

Five little snowflakes having so much fun.
Out came the sun, and
Then there were none!

This picture is from our winter vacation last year.

Magdeburg - Biggest Hundertwasser House

In Magdeburg (Sachsen-Anhalt) is the biggest and most beautiful building designed by architect and artist Friedenreich Hundertwasser. This artwork is called "The Green Citadel"  His unique and artistic architecture is simply beautiful and enchanting. His philosophy to include nature and live in harmony is seen in the unusual artwork in Magdeburg. Hundertwasser said; " I will not build homes by which nature and human's soul will suffer."

See also my previous post about Hundertwasserschule in Lutherstadt.

The Green Citadel in Madgeburg was finished in 2005. You can find flats, shops, theater  restaurants  a hotel, cafes and even a kindergarten housed in the huge building. It's a place to live, work, shop and relax AND for sure worthwhile to see.

Even the bathrooms are designed beautifully - only very expensive. A visit cost you 1 Euro:

The Shop is worthwhile to see. Many different beautiful artistic items are on display. In the shop you can register for a guided tour. But it's only available in German language.

Visit to Szczecin - Poland

Before the new year we went for a short trip to Poland to visit the city Szczecin. It depends where in Berlin you live but we took about 1,5 to 2 hours by car. The German name of the city is Stettin. The city is located at Oder River and lies 120 km north east from Berlin. It's a major seaport of Poland.

When we arrived it was already dark - anyhow by 4 pm it still gets dark these days.... and found a parking place. Asking a fellow about the parking fee, he spoke some English but no German, he helped us and payed the fee for 10 minutes. Changing money at the bank later we found out that anyhow only from 8 am to 5 pm you need to get a parking ticket.

Some impressions of the evening:

 The cold and rainy weather made us escape into the Shopping Center in the Center. Same shops like in Germany and also beautiful Christmas decoration:

 On the top floor we found many culinary stalls from Asia to Mc Donald and Salad Bar. Also now we know what Berlin is famous for:

We had not booked anything in advance because we couldn't decide before and didn't want to drive endlessly. Therefore the hotel might have been slightly expensive but very classy. Only we mistook the sound of  the air freshener for a mouse under the cupboard ... haha.

  Next day still cold but beautiful blue sky:

Memories .... Om Mane Padme Hum

Today some memories of our visit to McLeod Ganj  - Dharamsala - North India (2008) popped up.
The nickname of the place is "Little Lhasa"
I guess because I was feeling a bit down today, and the holiday spent there was one of the best one ever.... it's so worthwhile to remember that time and share. I wish I could have beamed myself there today.

 The mantra OM MANE PADME HUM cannot be translated into a simple phrase or a few sentences. Here's an explanation, an extract by His Holiness the Dalai Lama:

"It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast.  ... The first OM .... symbolizes the practitioner's impure body, speech and mind; it also symbolizes the pure exalted body, speech and mind of a Buddha. ...

The path is indicated by the next four syllables, MANI, meaning jewel, symbolizes the ... altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassionate and loving. ...

The two syllables PADME, meaning lotus, symbolizes wisdom. ...

Purity must be achieved by an invisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable HUM, which indicates indivisibility. ...
Thus, the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path, which is an indivisible method and wisdom, you can transform you impure body, speech and mind into the pure exalted body, speech and mind of a Buddha. ..."

We didn't meet the Dalai Lama in McLeod Ganj but at the end of the year in our community in South India. We stayed a bit more than two weeks in McLeod Ganj and enjoyed it thoroughly. The visit to the temple, the walk around the compound, stroll through the village, the visits at the various cafes and restaurant, the yummy Tibetan thanduks and momos.

I deeply cherish this memory and the marvelous, peaceful time with myself, with family and friends.

Germans celebrating Silvester - New Year's Eve

Maybe I should have told you a day earlier..... but anyhow.

I want to share with you German tradition for Silvester - New Year's Eve.

First of all, before the new year everybody wishes you "Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr". Meaning is Happy New Year but literally meaning is something like "have a good slide into the new year".

Not missing for decoration should be paper streamer (Luftschlangen)

Then lucky charms for New Year are:

- Pigs (Schwein)
- Chimney sweeper (Schornsteinfeger)
- Four-leaved clover (Vierblaettriges Kleeblatt)
- Poisonous toadstool (Fliegenpilz)



People present each other with these in various forms and shapes.


Some people also do "Bleigiessen" (lead pouring). A very German tradition where lead or tin is melted. You can buy these sets before Silvester. Then it's poured into cold water. And the lead quickly forms shapes. Now these shapes are interpreted and are telling you your fortune for the next year. Nowadays I guess most people don't take it too seriously but at one point like in the middle ages people did.

Then don't miss Pfannkuchen -basically filled doughnuts - which are also called Berliner. In Berlin nobody calls it Berliner like in the rest of Germany. For obvious reasons... we don't want to eat ourselves. :-)

At midnight people wish each other a Happy New Year (Frohes Neues Jahr) while cheering with sparkling wine or champagne.

I hope you enjoyed your Silvester Party and had a good start into the New Year!

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/