Posts Tagged ‘Thoughts’
Been there, done that. Recycling and flowers for Gowalla
Developing country?
People talk about the arrival of plastics like about the beginning of a new era. The garbage era. Times in which tourist guides are ashamed of showing their villages to guests because they lead Flipflop-feet through piles of plastic bottles. Westerners driving by nod knowingly: it’s a developing country after all. At home… – at home we either burn or bury plastics, providing soil for some fine toxic tomatoes. In India, it is in our face – developing in which direction?
As it has become my habit, I question Marina about this. Read the rest of this entry »
“Welcome to Europe”- Gigantic, Green and Google
Heads on shoulders please
God Jul, Merry Christmas, Frohe Weihnachten!
For the holidays, we adapt to German grammar and use capital letters for our Christmas wishes. I assume this adds to their holiness. P. and I however just got back from my family in Germany, one meter snow, too much food and Brussels airport.
Brussels airport deserves extra attention this year.
a) because I missed my flight by 5 minutes and
b) because it serves as a platform for corporate promises. This is where Europe lands to go to work after all.
Read the rest of this entry »
King Kungen König
Hand in the cookie box
“Finally something is happening over there and you write about Starbucks??” – Complaints from my home country in times of royal scandals. Bimbetti caught me with the hand in the cookie box. – Oh dear, the King. “The reluctant Monarch”….
She challenged me to write something about “kungaskandalen” ASAP. It is not my style to chicken out, so here comes my take on the story:
Read the rest of this entry »
Lasse behind the pillar, sociable croissants and Vanessa Paradis
Nutritive empty space
Sunny 15 degrees in Paris this morning!
Mama Shelter can only be recommended to those coming from countries with a rich breakfast culture. Lots of fruit, cheese, juices and even sourdough bread. Love it.
In France and Italy, days often kick off with a compelling mixture of sugar and wheat – which reliably makes me feel like a piece of wobbly pizza dough.
Not at Mama Shelter. But something else happened this morning, Read the rest of this entry »
The difference between Ikea
Germany - Sweden
There is a major difference between Germany and Sweden. Actually, there are many. But there is a major difference between German and Swedish sleeping.
I was confronted with this for the first time when I rented a cute little room on Södermalm back in 2005. Painfully aware of Germanwings’ baggage limitations I carefully chose the things I couldn’t live without. Among those the super warm bed cover I had gotten from my compassionate mom (I am always cold). Coming home from the mandatory trip to Ikea, Read the rest of this entry »
All about books: Mario, Caroline & general controversy
general controversy
The Swedish Academy gave the Nobel price for literature to Mario Vargas Llosa today.
Mario was caught by surprise, but thinks these are wonderful news. He thought he had been forgotten.
Others think it is crazy to give this price to someone who is actually read. Which in turn comes as a surprise to those Read the rest of this entry »
Brotzeit. From Munich with love
Surviver
Guten Morgen!
Just woke up to a beautiful october morning on our little island. And even better: friends from Berlin are making coffee in the kitchen! Those who know always bring bread. Heavy whole grain German bread. Mmmhhhh. With butter and quince jam.
This one is round with a dark crust and comes from a Bavarian bakery called “Hofpfisterei”, which only recently opened a shop in Berlin.
“Do you make the bread here, or do you ship it over from Munich?” – asks Peter, seeing in the bakerygirls face that Read the rest of this entry »
How much do men cost? Whats my discount?
Cheaper when not in prison
Everyone is busy analyzing the Swedish election: A racist party made it into government. The journalists at Dagens Nyheter are no exception, but I find one article that touches a subject I have been chewing on for some time now, even if in very different contexts – for example when paying higher insurance because I am a woman with either simply breasts or increasing risk of childbearing.
The question is: “How much does a man cost?” Read the rest of this entry »
Really good noodles, the matrix and a rainbow.
The Matrix
Neo: “I used to eat there. Really good noodles. I have these memories from my life. None of them happened. What does that mean?”
Trinity: “That the Matrix cannot tell you who you are.”
Sometimes Swedes are afraid. They are afraid to stand out from the masses. To stick out their head, to swim against the current.
Partly it’s not very much appreciated by those masses and partly its something you just don’t do.
People will look at you strangely, wonder where you come from and unconsciously conclude that there might be much more suspicious under your Filippa K coat. Read the rest of this entry »
Nordic mañana
Det fixar vi sen.
“They are kicking us out of the apartment!”
“Boat sinking now!”
“The city hall is on fire!!”
“What? Where? What can I do?” would be an expected reaction. And the Prussian part of me instantly throws a net of structure over the situation to identify priorities and a timing for solving the mess. Whereas many of P’s fellow countrymen easily switch to relax-mode. This might come as a surprise to many, but there are quite some soft beats and ganja in the Swedish soul. Read the rest of this entry »
