2015 — A NEW HOME BASE AND THE SPIRIT OF AN ENDLESS JOURNEY

CATEGORIES: 2015 - BERLIN - ERASMUS - PORTO - FRIENDS

CHAPTER 1 - BERLIN CHAPTER 2 - ERASMUS CHAPTER 3 - PORTUGAL CHAPTER 4 - PERSONAL STATEMENT

THE CHAPTER BERLIN First things first. I start to arrange things to get a comfortable and cozy atmosphere in my new-favorite-shared flat in Berlin. And a really good year should also start with a journey. So after the short Christmas holidays I find myself having a good time in the snowy countryside of Norway. Refreshing and refilling batteries for the first exam time I was approaching. Fully motivated and well-trained I succeeded in passing seven exams, four final presentations and the first level of Portuguese language. Time to lean back and enjoy life. In the moment of happiness and the feeling of weightlessness during celebrating Berlin's nightlife, I unfortunately got rid of my wallet and my Smartphone by some guys with incredible pickpocket abilities. Ok, I noticed ten seconds later, but it was already too late. Damn it. A next journey took me back home to my beloved friends in April. There we couldn ’ t stop laughing about all the stupidities and good times we already shared in the place we call „second home“. On the way back to Berlin I had a very pleasant stay in Bayreuth. Finally I made it brouu. You must be proud.

Some of the best friends from Stuttgart and from my hometown visited me in Berlin and with more time passing I started feeling at home there. Meeting the right persons you want to spend time with and don’t live 40 min far away took some time. I was impressed of the architects’ lifestyle and the ones I met. I felt a kind of similarity in mindset although I’m not an architect at all. The public celebration days in May and June (1st of May, Carnival of the Cultures, Fete de la musique) are incredible experiences to make I highly recommend. Especially on these days you are able to absorb the booming culture scene of Berlin and its’ variety.

And then in August there was that day of saying „goodbye and see you soon“. I felt so much comfortable with all the decisions I made but I didn’t felt like opening a new chapter

again. Berlin was still a new chapter and I opened another one on top. Ok. To be honest I love taking adventures. And I wanted to follow the sun: extending the summer. to life near the beach. to be able to go surfing whenever I like. to learn a new language. try to become local in a country I do really love.

THE CHAPTER ERASMUS What is this Erasmus thing? Is it what I expected so far? Yes and no. On the one hand it is a community full of young amazing people who want to share their free time to enjoy and explore the foreign country. It’s like a big international „multiculti" family for this specific period you are abroad. And moreover it is an exchange for life - minha casa é sua casa. You get a lot of input of the different people from different countries you meet and talk to. And even more if you listen to their stories. You get those chances if you don’t waste your time on Erasmus-theme-parties, which are always in the same clubs and mainly endurable only if you’re drunk or almost wasted. That might happen. I’m in Erasmus. On the other hand I face the fact that the more you’re „in“ Erasmus the less you get known to the real locals. Except if you use tinder or you have that natural curiosity about the folks of the country you live. And it’s a big bonus if you know the language.

THE CHAPTER PORTUGAL Porto should be the new playground for the past months.

I didn’t jump from the Ponta Luis I. Bridge yet.

Exhausting challenge to find a accommodation. I had two choices:

1. to live near to the beach so I can always go surfing by foot

2. to live in downtown and to be near the hotspots The decision was to stay in downtown (on one condition: to live near to the metro-line which runs to the beach). I almost opened a Gin Bar at the Costa Nova Beach.

Continued bouldering far away in Maia after leaving Berlin. I met the right Portuguese people who are too incredible to describe and I don’t want to loose. Took a shower under the waterfall within the nature at the boarder to Spain. Starting the event „running dinner“and having delicious specialties from around the world with the best ones I met during my Erasmus so far. I bought my first surfboard in Portugal after surfing now since 2011. That was an intense moment. I went directly to class with only the board and nothing more because I was late. On a Saturday morning I wrote an exam after studying all night long. I love tiles. The best birthday present was to see my best friends from my hometown entering my flat. I was on a road trip through Portugal without leaving the car in the roadside ditch.

Good things always happen on a road trip with your best friends. I didn’t use a t-shirt at the beach after Halloween. Probably the best live concert I went to was „The cat empire“.

I started to write about the experiences from my perspective.

The combination of hiking and hot springs is a fabulous thing to do on the Azores. I gave a hair tie to a girl who is deaf and dumb after drawing on a sheet of paper in order to communicate with each other.

The mission to share the experience and benefits of Erasmus with the portuguese high school kids - accomplished.

I went to an art-exhibition with possibly the most amazing view of Porto. To meet some more of my best friends from my hometown not sober at all was fun.

I still really don’t know what the girls from Belgium thought in those moments!? Nevertheless are Tapas the best opportunity to show the typical cuisine from a different country.

I went with my little brother to Ribeira in the beginning of December where all begun. Ellen Allien played at Gare Porto. I was the only German on an amazing Italian dinner - molto bene.

Madrid is a supernice address to travel and maybe also to live one day. I am thankful for everything.

THE PERSONAL STATEMENT Our freedom of expression is fundamental, but it has to be used smartly. Raise your voice for humanity and tolerance in these days. Go further than uploading a theme profile picture on Facebook. Exercise humanity in real life. That’s our new ice-bucket-challenge.

"Let me remind you about Fear we are all facing around the world. Fear is a very healthy thing to have. No one can get away without it. You got to have fear to run out of a burning building. But. Don’t let anyone spread fear and hate. It is so misguided. It is important that we open up our arms and our hearts to refugees that are fleeing ahorrifying situation. Humanity is a good thing when it's exercised. Use your imagination how you could make the world a better place instead of bombing in areas where education and opportunities are little. And if we can make life good to all those people I believe that the people stop thinking that the west is so evil. Humanity will take over.“ Mandy Patinkin