Sunday 28 November 2010

Getting Creative on First Sunday of Advent



Was in the market the other day thinking of what to buy to
add a bit of festive spirit in my flat now that the first
Sunday of Advent is coming. As usual, just a bit of greens
and some commercial candles of all possible colors cost
a fortune and they all look the same. Prices range from
15 up if one wants a good to look at holiday decor just
in time for the start of Christmas.
I normally make my own simple Christmas decor using
nuts, fruits, greens and candles. This time I have two
Kakis ready to eat for the Sunday brunch. Next Sunday,
I might have oranges or apples...pineapple might be too
huge for the Teller (plate) but maybe you have bought
the new breed good for Christmas decoration and flown in
just for the season.
Advent, Advent, the season of expectation, of waiting
and here's a quote I saw this morning regarding
expectation:
Brian Tracy: Expectation Quotes
"Your attitude is an expression of your values, beliefs and
expectations."

Send me some photos of your own creation. Let's share
them. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Thursday 25 November 2010

Celebrating Nov. 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women


Wir Fordern Die Nacht Zurueck! Reclaim the Night!
With this political slogans, women in Cologne celebrated
the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against
Women on November 25.
For the protest march, they were shouting:

Wir sind Frauen
wir sind viele
wir haben die Nase voll!

We are women
We are many
Fed up are we!

Frauen, hoert ihr Frauen schrei'n
lasst die andere nicht allein...greift ein!

Women, if you hear woman screaming
Don't leave her alone
Strike back, help her!

Wir sind Frauen, welch ein Glueck,
wir fordern uns die Nacht zurueck!

We are women and lucky we are
We want to reclaim the night!

Frauen gemeinsam - sind nicht einsam
gemeinsam sind wir Stark!

Women together are not lonely
Together we are mighty!

The protest march was organized by the women network
Lila-in-Koeln and supported by the Frauenverband Courage
and rhythms of resistance Koeln.

Please see the attached video of the protest march of Nov. 25.

Sunday 21 November 2010

Visit to Koelner Dom/Cologne Cathedral


If you're around in the city and want to hear a high mass
with all heavy and heavenly church music, then come to
Koelner Dom just beside the central station or Hbf...very practical
as one tourist commented.
High Mass is on Sundays at 10:00. Check also the site
I participated this morning at the Holy Mass and
was able to film partly the Gottesdienst. Secretly, of course.
Here's my short video.

Monday 15 November 2010

Supporting the neighborhood economy


My first act when I returned to my village after a brief holiday
in Budapest was to buy a kilo of these locally harvested
walnuts. I saw the sign Walnuts for Sale for 3.50Euro per kilo in
front of a house on the street near our local post office.
I thought time has really changed. Even my neighbors are now
selling nuts from their backyard. But the nuts taste really
fresh, sweet as compared to the imported nuts from USA which
cost only about 2Euro a pack from the supermarket. The ones
from the USA are bigger and cleaner but taste a bit old and
moldy. I wonder how long have they been stored in some German
import houses and released just in time for Christmas season.
Well, I have my locally harvested nuts for consumption and the
US nuts could be used as Christmas decors. Nothing is lost.
Bayanihan ala Alemanya. The difference is that I paid for the
nuts. Didn't get it free, didn't work for it either.

Sunday 7 November 2010

Integrationsknigge: New Word Learned "Eiersollbruchstellenverursacher"


(Source of Photo:googleimage)

Just in time for the renewed debate on integration of foreigners
in Germany, I learned a new German word while attending
a seminar on "Internationale Handlungskompetenz". A seminar in
English with this topic could include: decision making and
responsibility, negotiating skills, hands-on expertise,
performance capabilities, occupational competence,
leadership skills, action competence, authority to do,
professional skills, social and inter-cultural communication
talents, etc.
For my fellow migrants in Germany, don't worry, this is not
a required seminar to get a permanent permit of stay nor
a part of that compulsory integration course.
Yes, you might think this should be rather a compulsory
seminar if not a course for many public and government
officials who are back to making capital out of
the renewed integration debate. Remember a high ranking
CDU official who had the gall to say "Lieber Kinder als
Inder" (better have children than have Indian migrants)
during a debate on the granting of especial migrant
visa status for IT experts for Germany.
For an updated info, see this link for the current state on the
debate on integration.
Now back to what I really want to blog on the newest
German word I learned...Eiersollbruchstellenverursacher
a word which came out of my friend's mouth
during our brunch after our seminar on hands-on
expertise i.e. Handlungskompetenz.
It is a compound word consisting of egg and cause of breaking
point which is just impossible to translate. Minutes later, I found
this English translation, not egg tickler nor beheader but
an egg clacker.
Eiersollbruchstellenverursacher.
Who needs it?
If it's one item on the language proficiency exam for
obtaining a German passport, I get one correct answer.
At least hindi itlog sa exam!