02/12/2010 No license, no service

Drving a car is easy. Owning a car not.
To buy a car I need so many things.... Knowledge about the car, an insurance and a driving license. All this is beloning together. Because with a local driving license, the insurance is way cheaper.
So, I started to get a driving license of the wonderful sunshine state. Today was my writen exam... And I failed. Twice. I did not know that trucks with a weight of 3000 lbs and more need a special break...I guessed was 2000... But really? Do I care? Do I need to install a break at a truck? Will I ever drive a truck over 2000 lbs?????? tztzttztz-- rather not...

24/11/2010 - I make my driving license

Yes. I decided today to make my driving license. I will buy my first car soon. It is not, that I want to buy one. I think, it is costy and ... I do not like it. Well, mostly because it is costy and I have to arrange so much... invest time, money, effort... all those things. and I have never had a own car... I do not feel that I need that.. I like my bike a lot... But I am rational and I know my friends will kill me, if I do not buy my own car soon and drive them for the next 2 months. And they are right. In Florida, you need a car. The urban planning is ... weak. No public transportation and no efficient ussage of the space. So, you need already a car from your housedoor to the letterbox or garbage can, because they are a half mile away. They do not have a 2nd or 3rd floor, so everything is pretty wide. And because they do not have public transportation, each house has to have plenty parking slots in front for all the people with their huge trucks. And this spreats the city much more out... A devil cycle. And now, I am in it. So I need a car. I have never had an accident, however I am rational enough to buy an insurans (here we see the german low risk tolerance). The US-insurance system is kind of funny. They are not interested in my 10 year accident free driver report. No, they are only interested in an Florida driving licensen to calculate my insurance fee. And the difference is huge. With my german driving license I have to pay 100 USD per month on insurance, with an Florida licenses 30 USD. And the license costs 50USD... So... well for sure I will do this amazing test....
And so it comes, that i am busy with statements like:

Hitting a row of bushes is better than hitting a tree, post or solid object

Aha... good to know.

14/11/2010- November sun & avocado omlettes

What a great day today!
I woke early up and meet some colleagues for a fantastic breakfast. We discovered a wonderful place and enjoyed the fresh food. Later, I went shopping with my friends and rested in the warm sun with coffee. We counted 8 pregnant women crossing and plenty of kids. The temperature was confortable 24 degrees and there was already a decorated chrismas tree in front of the Italien restaurant.

13/11/2010 Soooo early

Ahhh! 7:00 am and my alarm rings. Puh... I am so used to sleep until 9-ish or 10-ish. So, everything before those times seems to me to be cruel. I do not remember how I managed it to stand up at 5:00 am in the past.... And even than I went out all the nights... Seems I get old :)

Old or not, I have an exam to take today. A wonderful operations and ERP exam. Lucky me, that I like those topics, lets hope I will also like the grade :)

Btw... did I mentioned? I made my desicion. I will stay. Juhuuu! Finally, I can buy sooo any shoes, furtniture, and decoration as I want! :-) No thoughts about how to transport them, or how to stay under 23kg luggage!

Seems the gipsy times are (a bit) over. Let's see how long it stays like this this time :) (My longest was 7 months without exessive travels)

10/11/2010 - The danger of the wildniss

Short notice...
I have had a pool party yesterday. Yes. It is mid-November and I can still held some fancy pool parties. (However, it was in the hot tube, because even here it is getting "colder")
it was a great evening and we have had a lot of fun... Until this silly aint showed up and bite me.
I am alergic to those fire aints and whenever they bite me, it gets a big infection and everythings swells and so on. Those little friend did not care about that an bite me in my butt.
Today, I could barely put my jeans on, so swallen was my body. In special my ass, which has La-Lopez dimensions. Could be funny if it would not be so painful. And I have had to sit the whole day. It was like having a painful pillow... sitting 10 cm higher than usual

07/11/2010 I stay?

My dear friends, I am sorry for being that busy, or lazy. I did not wrote much the last weeks. This was kind of, because I was busy with all the school work, on the other hand, it was because I was lazy, and than, it was also, because there was nothing spectacular in my life. Not in comparison to before, but a lot in private is going on:
1.) It seems I stay here. On Friday, I got a job offer. Incl. Visa. At a good company. I guess I will take it.... However, it is completely the opposite of all I wanted. I needed a ex colleague to find this out. But it is true. The new job is work intensive, stressfull and will me not give any chance to build up a private life the next years. Further, it does not support me on the way to a "real" management position... like a head of department or so. IT might bring tons of money, but... I was never interested in that.
2.) My exboyfriend has now his residentship. One more year and he will own a brittain passport. Than he will go back to India... So he said in our last talk. However, he is again not talking anymore with me. I want to be with him, but his insane behave gives me and us no chance. Tztztztz
3.)My date is not dating me anymore. He is searching for the real love. Maybe I told him some times too often that he is speaking too much and should just be quiete and pretty. Yes, I know, I am not nice, but, I was it never. And yes, I know, that I repeat the asshole-pattern from some of my ex... But, well, this is how I am.
4.) Well, on friday, I have had my master defense. it was a video conference with 3 continents. However, the Chinese were not connected and the polish were too late. It startet 8:00am east coast time, I was already awake at 5pm for getting prepared. I also prepared a kind of breakfast for my friend, who gave me a ride. This guy... I know him since a year. He was really obstinate in asking my help with his flat...Somehow we got friends... I think. I like him. And he does a lot of the cute things for me. And me for him. well, he was there for getting breakfast and giving me a ride. After the defense, we went with the others to a bar to join the happy hour. But first, he dropped me home for changing the cloth
5.) when we arrived at the bar, the table was already full with 15 people, we took a seat the waitress came, geave us the menues and called me out as the girlfriend of my date. 3 times. Well, after this, my friend, he spoke the whole time with the girl next to him. And he did not drove me home. And he did not pick me up for the party in the evening. Clear.

well. You see, a lot of things, but not really things to share in detail, not really positive, not really exiting, just the daily crab.

And I get fat. I gained since I am in US already 7kg. I hate it and I work out every day. But... No help at all. Today I worked out twice, and after that, I went with my friend and a bottle of wine in the hot tube. We talked, we listen to beautiful music from "Söhne Mannheims" and we spoke about the deeper meaning.... And I thought of Jernej, my very best friend, who I lost because I was too busy to listen. Well. A bad feeling. And I feel the lack of him again. And I see, that I was not even thinking of him in the last weeks. Nad I feel much worse. How can it be, that I forget to think of one of the most wonderful persons in my life? How can I dare to forget him? And how dare from me to forget about all the other people I love so much?

Make this all sence what I do here? Or is it complete against all my values?

I am far away from the people I love, far away from my family, and far away from my goals. I am busy, too busy to keep my friendships, I am surprised that some of my former best friends have 3 years old kids... I am too stressed for anyone outside of me. I am too busy to be a friend, or even a part of the society. There are people, who are really important to me. And they are so happy, if they see me.... But I am since over a year too busy with silly things to visit them.
I am far away from my goal of finding a special one and having a family. And with this new job, I will stay far away from that for the next 5 years. And the time is running. Somewhen, I will wake up... alone. And it is too late for everything. I will be maybe rich, maybe not, but not relaxed, not healthy and not surrounded by friends and family. All is possible... well we will se ;) .

13/10/2010 Hope & Disappointment

I applied for a very good and very well paid position with a big fantastic company. Today, they called me. They told me, how interested they are, and that they also forwarded my CV to other devisions. They want to meet me tomorow morning to discuss 3 positions.
-Wonderful!
Than, 5 minutes later, a second call... If I need some future sponsorship for my Visa. I said that I have the Visa for the first time already, the following, I would need to get it with the company. ... "Sorry, than we cannot go on."

So sad.

11/10/2010 - All is fine

Dear friends, I am sorry for not writing that much here, but there are so many exiting things going on in my live.
USA is pretty "normal", I work a lot, I have tons of exams, midterms, group projects, quizzes, and papers to do for the university. Next to that, I am searching a new job. So, I am pretty busy. However, I have awesome friends here and I enjoy live, hanging out with them and party :)
All is great! I am fine!

20/09/2010 My first Bachelorette Party

My friend marries in November, so we decided to throuw for her a bachelorette party.
The party was a blast! We went to a mock wedding with her, we bought her a wedding dress, and a crown and we were dressed as her bride maides.
There was a real wedding cake, buquette trouwing, soap bubbles, glow masks and tons of freaky guests! We have had lot of fun! And I am sure, this was one of the best Bachelorette parties ever!

15/09/2010 We are Florida ladies

Back in Florida, I enjoy my live with my friends. Sun, pools, drinks and nice people around you. It is sooo much better than I expected it to be. I am happy. Tonight we have "Girls night" in my hot tube. eating pizza while swimming? We can do that!

12/09/2010 Be in THE city

New York, New York! My mom came for a week to new york and I fly to THE city to visit her.... Accidently, is this weekend also the weekend, when the fashion week starts! Amazing!

I arrive in the late friday evening and take a shuttle bus from the airport to porth authority, where I took a city bus to get to New Jersey. My mom has a hotel in New Jersey, which as pros and cons- the bad thing is, that there is nothing going on in the night and so, i can forget about any parties. On the other hand, has her bedroom two panorama windows, with an awesome view on Manhatten.

Well, the weekend, was very different to what I would enjoy normally. My mom has had the funny idea to avoid the jet lag by keeping the German rythm and the German time. Thus, she stand up at half to six in the morning and pushed me to start with the sight seeing. Later, at eight pm she was already so tired, that she fell in her bed. Comparing it to my normal schedule, which starts not before 10 am and ends somewhen after midnight, I felt the jetlag :)

But we have had a lot of fun. We were on the empire state building, near the statur of liberty, in little italy and China town, at the central park, madison avenue, timesquare, Broadway and Wallstreet. And all of this in 1 day.

The second day was rainy and we spent all the time with eating and going from cafe to cafe to eat and drink more. :-)

05/09/2010 Little Havanna

Yesterday night, I got sick. Soooo sick. I ate wrong, too late and too much. This resulted in a short visit in my favorite club. Too short. On the roofdeck of Clevelander at the Oceans drive, there was an amazing party. It was so great, cool music and me with 10 other friends. You could party and enjoy the wind in the hair. Looking down, on the people dancing on the ground floor and looking over the town and the ocean. On the roof, they have had rainbow waterfalls, waterfalls from which the wattter was falling down in rainbow colors. I worn my new dress and all was great... But my belly. So I stayed 5 minutes and went sad home for sleeping.

The next day was a bit better, i thought. but soon I found out, that I only felt good, if I was lying in my bed or at the beach. sitting and walking was not a very good idea for my belly. However, somewhen in the afternoon, it was ok and we started a cool sightseeing tour. (Remeber, I was the only person allowed to drive the car) We went to Miami Ink and after that to Little Havanna. Little havanna was nice, but rather empty... Well we should predicted, that sundays is not that much action in latino, catholic districts. But it was nice and we ate the cheapest and best food at the whole miami trip.

In the night I worn again my new dress. The guys came over in our room, we drank, we talked, it started raining and it never stopped. We were staying and waiting while drinking, but it was like a hurrican. Somewhen at 2 we took the risk and left the hotel. I wanted to go to the Mansion Club on Washington, because I ahve had always a good time there. Unfortunately, the club requiered an entrance fee of 40$. Way too much, in special, if I can stay only for 2 hours, because I have to sleep to be ready to drive the 7h back tomorrow. So, I went back on the rainy street, towards my hotelroom. Seems, this dress is not done for party :(

04/09/2010 - Lazy at Miami South Beach

Sleeping late, breakfast on the way to Oceans Drive, going to the beach, sleep and swimm. So relaxed, so nice.

03/09/2010- Afterwork Strip

I arrived in Miami, slept a bit, took a shower and met my lovely ex colleagues(*) for an afterwork drink. They were amazing. They picked me up for going to the "bar". The bar was a very private bourlesque club, with breathtaking shows of acrobatic, bourlesque, strip and dance.

THey have had there big swings and huge beds to make it yourself confortable. Everywhere were tastefull pictures of almost naked or naked women and the waiters worn only underwear. Nevertheless, it was not a dirty place, very tasteful, classy and confortable. I loved it there.

Later, my fav. colleague started a competition at the pole... I though, I could win, because I took some pole aerobic lessons in the past.... forget about it! Unbelievable, what he could do. I forgot that he is regularly working out and has tons of arm muscles, with which he can climb um and hold himself with one arm and so on. Man, this 43 years old auditor, father of 4 kids, should be boring, not that professional at the pole ;)

(*) there was one more surposed to come... He was only allowed to hang out with us, because his wife was out of town. However, she found out and returned. Luckely she found him before we left for the stripclub...

03/09/2010 7h road trip on 95

7 hours Road trip on 95.- all the way down from Jacksonville to Miami. It seemed to take for ever. We have had the plan to go to Miami by a private minibus, but somehow, plans change and so, my friends take their car and I take together with 3 others a rental car to have the labourday weekend in Miami. At 7:30 in the morning, I met with one swedish guy from my car to get to the airport and pick up our rental car. At the airport, we found out, that there is only 1 driver allowed on the car and the 2nd driver ahs to pay 16$ per day extra. Sounds like a unfair system, but we were willing to pay it, unless, we (or better the agent) found out, that our 2nd driver is under 25 years old, and therefore not allowed to drive this car according to the rental car company policy. "Nice". This means, I drive all the way down by myself. And also there, I will always be the driver. This indicates, no drinks after midnight :-( And this in labour day :-(((
However, after we solved that, we got the next problem with the insurance. I am an Amex card holder and therefore, I am very risky and do not care about anything, because I have a credit card insurance for almost everything. In addition, I am german and I guess I have more insurances as some museeums. However, the Swedish guy gets scared by the fearfull and dramatic misinformation of the rental car lady. She is a really good sales person, so after an other half hour discussion, we took the car plus the extra insurance. So, after 2.5h discussion we got our car and started with a 3h delay in our weekend.

The streets in US are terrible boring: streight all the time, but with a speedlimit of 65mph or 70 mph. This is only 105 kmh. :-(((( and it takes sooooo long. However, we were lucky and had had a relaxed ride. The other private car was a bit speeding, but I was afraid to drive way to fast, because I was the only signed driver, and if I would loose my licence, it would be the end of our weekend.

A nice story to the private car. The car is a used car, which my roomate and 3 polish friends bought last week for round about 1200$. Plus insurance, Tax, legalization and so on, it was a price of 2000$. When me and the swedish guy drove to the airport we discussed, that this car is great for going to grocery and so, but not for a 1000 miles road trip. The car has some lacks, no aircondition and smells like hell. However it drives, as long, as there is fuel inside. The fuel display is broken, so within the last week, the guys rund twice out of fuel and asked me for my bike to get to the next gas station. Well, for the trip to miami, they put 20$ gas inside, I dare, this would be enough to cross the whole state.

Finaly, 150 miles before Miami, their car broke down. The engine was blown up and they have had to sell the car for 200$ to pay the bus tickets back to Jacksonville :-(

Very sad for them, but when they called us, we were already in Miami and we could not really help them. So, we reduced from initial 15 to 8 and now to 4 people. But great people :)

29/08/2010 America - The land of unlimited possibilities

American sales shows fascionate me. In english I would say, the are very positive about their success. In german, I would say "dreist".. which means as much as "arrant" or "bold". But, somehow, this marketing works... there must be some people nbelieving in the promisses, otherwise, they would not buy it and the companies would change their advertisement. We have here cable TV with maybe 600 channels. Sounds amazing. Out of the 600 channels are 300 blocked, but can be available with an additional payment... Ok, so 300 channels available channels are left... Still a lot. Those are movie channels, music channels, children channels, news channels and the sales channels. I guess from the 300 channels are 200 sales channels. You can buy there everything and a lot of C-actors and models praise products, ranging from cosmetics, sport equipment, house applience until real estates. All easy accessable and you can purchase it with your credit card. If you missed one of the product shows, there is no reason to worry: You can see all the fancy stuff also online. That is wonderful!!!! I like to wonder myself about the products, prices and about the constaintly very good mood of the sales persons. They have to take very strong medicaments, or they are just good people, happy to share this innovative products with all other people. Ok, you might be wondering, why I am writing about that, it seems to be like every other sales show on TV. This might be true. But yesterday, I saw the cream! I saw the reason, why US is called the country of 100 opportunities, where a dishwasher gets a millionair! : Wealthy without risk! (I am sure, the diswasher had ordered this service)And: Make money riskfree guaranteed by law!. (Wow! I want to have this!) All promoted by an middle-old aged man and a women, who has to have an idea of risk and wealth, otherwise she could not have afford her 5 boob jobs. :-)

28/08/2010 - Pictures from my new flat

Sorry guys, I am lazy. Therefore just some random pics from my flat and my bike :)

25/08/2010 - Hurricans & Starbucks

Today, I saw this advertisment on our Starbucks. Yes. Our Starbucks. We have one Starbucks on the campus. :-)

23/08/2010 First day in classes... American classes

Classes started! I have 5 courses (plus my thesis). For europeans, this sounds not that much, but in fact, in US it is a bit diffirent. WE have to read a lot of books and have finals, midterms, projects, homeworks and quizzes. A lot of names for tests, tests, tests and ok, groupworks. So I will be really busy. (This is alsy, why I post this article now and not already some days ago)
Also the classes itselves are different. We have no morning classes, but somethimes we are sitting until 22:30 in the lecture. I have no idea how I shall do that without sleeping in. One day we have classes from 12:00-19:30, with only 2 breakes of 15 min in between. This is not long enought to eat and change the room. And it is almost a whole working day ... I will be starving.
However, the people there are great. I am very happy and I already met a lot of nice new friends. It is so easy to meet new people. The semesters starts, and we have a lot of orientation meetings, registration things and other events, where we meet other new starters. Everyone is looking for new contacts,a dn so forming groups is really easy. I also appreciate that there are open classes, where other people, than my normal fellow students participate. This makes a good mixture.

18/08/2010 - Trailors, Trucks and the confideration flag. Welcom in Florida

I am in USA since yesterday. I made my long way over Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chicago to Jacksonville, where I got a late in the night pick up from my friends. Due to my late arrival I could not check in in my appartment and I slept the first night at their place. They are living in a very cute area, called river side. It is near to the river and all the houses are this "american style". Solo standing, nice frontyard, nice garange and wooden surfaces in yellow, white, pink or baby blue. And a lot of american flags everywhere.
Next day, I checked in in my appartment housing. There was also an american flag, just to make sure, you are still in the same country. My appartment complex is nice, there are 3 floor houses, 2 pools and a club house. In my appartment there are with me 3 girls living. All are nice, and maybe I will write you later a bit about them.
One of them is a girl from greece and she also just moved in. My friend (now our friend) wanted to help us to buy a car and he drove us to the car buying place. A white old men met us on the street and told us to follow his car. He has had a lot of tattoos and only a few fingers left. The final destination was an interesting trailorpark. Here was also a flag, but the south staate flag. So, just to make sure, where we are... US... somehow. Our friend is half black and he was imediatly pissed off of the flag and the person and the place and everything. But he is a nice american sales guy and he did not showed it, when we went to the 30 car wracks, which were parked behind the trailor. Than the man and our friend started their "ghetto talk". about the brothers and the neighbourhood, and that you have to help the people and so on. Interesting.... I never have had such an experience in my live. Finally, the car was too bad and we went home.

15/08/2010 - Lights and Fortune Gambling in Maccau

Having now soo much extra money (from the found of my wallet), I made a spontanous short trip to Macau. I went there with an american guy I met in the hostel. He is very humble and we have had of fun. We went by ferry appr. 1 hour and were in Macau. What is with Macau, I do not really know. It is - like Hong Kong - somewhat Chinese, but not China Mainland, and not everybody is allowed to enter. We get a 90 Day Maccau Visa at the customers control and surprisingly, it does not cost extra.
At the ferry gate are plenty shuttle busses to the Hotels and Casinos. It seems, this island survivies by gamblers only. It is kind of rainy, which is not unusual, beacuse it rains every day for a half hour in Hong Kong, therefore, it also rains for a short time in Macau. Welcome to the tropical islands :)
To make it short: we went with the shuttel bus in our hotel and after a short rest, we went to the historical center. It was really beautiful. Macau has been a Portugese colony for a long time, and this is still present. Plenty Portugese restaurants and nice old buildings dominate the center of the old town. We strall around and try some excersises at the free outdoor gym, before we went back to the hotel and get ready for the casinos.
The casinos give with its plenty twinkeling lights a wonderful skyline in the night. We met a couple from canada and spent the evening exploring the casinos and the casinos shows. I liked the Wynns the best. They have had a golden tree and a very impressing golden dragon. Those were stunning by theirselfes, but this all was again inbedded in a breathtaking show. Outside, they have had a water fontaine show with music and fire balls every 15 minutes and inside, behind the desk were little jellyfishes. Wonderful! Unfortunatly, they do not provide real roulett, or crab tables, so we went to starworld and MGM. In those establishments, I won 4$ and lost 500$... Thats live, but at least, I have had fun. My friend was really disappointed, because he changes a lot of money in Maccau Dollars, but at the most tables were only Hong Kong dollars accepted. The argument, to change the money he refuses because of the changing commission and the bad exchange rate. The fact, that he will loose everything anyway did not count for him :)

14/08/2010 - Honest Hong Kong

Since yesterday am I in Hong Kong. The city is big and shining. Bling bling. Gems are not big, they are huge! Seldom I have seen what they offer here as almost normal. Of course, I enjoy it and spent the whole morning in several Cartier shops, enjoying myself with a coffee on the nice jewels.
I visit nice stones and watches for a half million USD, trying out some baby aligator bags. Than I notice that my wallet is not anymore in my bag. I start visiting the shops in reverse order, walk all the way bag, but, it is lost. I gave up and went to the 5***** hotel to ask the, if they can block my credit cards. They are nice and helpful and also set down a police report for me. I am relaxed, the money is away (i was just at the ATM) and the only thing, I struggle with, is that I was not buying more before I lsot the wallet. Than, the guy from American express told me, that I can get a new card on monday. Unfortunatly, it is now saturday, and I have no cent, and no cards and nothing. I have not yet paid for the hostel and i have no idea what to do. The amex guy tells me to ask the embassy, there should be a found for that. The embassor is a friendly men, but he does not give me money. But he showed me a way: I called my father, that he transfer me some money with western union. Pefect!
I went back to the hostel, explained the people my situation. There were fine, that I will pay a bit later and I skyped to my dad and explained him, what to do. He agreed to transfer me the money within a hour. Perfect! So, I thought... :-/
After our talk, I remembered, that I also need the code for getting the money. And my dad is a nice person, who stores his cellphone in the wardrobe and never use it. But he told me he will be back home 2 hours later. So, I wait and I tried to call him. Again and again and again. in the meanwhile, there was a email from the hong kong police station coming. Someone found my wallet!. Amazing! I was not expecting to get some money, but at least, I will have my driving licence, which is very usefull in US. I went to the police station to pick my purse up. Unfortunatly, was the officer not here and they asked me to wait.
After 30 min wiating, they told me he might be out for dinner and I should come back in 30 minutes. No problem! I understand this man. I am also very hungry. Since breakfast I have not had anything, due to the lack of money. So i walked around and went back to the police. There they told me, that he is not out for dinner, but left home. I should come back on monday. ... Monday.. I know this day. It is far away! And i am hungry. Luckily the police men understood my situation and said me, I could try it also the next day, at 9:00 in the morning. Ok... So, i went home and try to call my dad again. and again and again. I get really nervous, because it was already quarter to eight and on eight all banks are closing, which means, I do not get any money and I would stay hungry. Than, 5 to eight I could reach him (after I tried to call him for 5 hours) He was in a good mood and told me all what he done in the afternoon, and that the son of the lady from the bank also lost his wallet in china and and and. Due to my hunger i was kind of unpolite and stopped the call to run down to get the money and finaly food.
Next to western union, there was an indian stand with sweets and banas. I bought 2 sweets and ate them hungry. Than went I upstairs to my hostel, paid the bill and visit the night market to eat more.

12/08/2010 - My last evening in Japan

It is my last full day in Japan. I came somewhen at 7 in the morning home, totaly messed up. I was on a date and sooo pretty. But than, when I was kicked out at 6 in the monring (it was heavy raining) my make up was a mess, the lashes was half hanging down and my cute dress was somehow outstanding between all the people driving to work. I fall in the bed and slept and slept and slept. Somewhen I checked my emails and saw a lunch invitation from the cute girl, who was my simultan translator 2 days ago. Unfortunatly, I was not really able to stand up. Besides that, I have to get a shower, get ready and go to the place... so no chance to get there. Without a cellphone, i could not call, so i wrote an email back and we canceled the lunch for some sightseeing at 15:00. When I came there, there was also the nice guy who hosted me in Akashi. I felt a little bit guilty, because I let them wait for 3 hours, but I did not know that he was also there. We went to nice places in Osaka, to the Osaka tower, to some picture places and we made plastic food by our self. All Japan is full with plastic foods. Every restaurant shows a wide range of dishes as plastic foods to their consumers and also decoration is often fruits and fishes out of plastic. It was a very cool day, and we have had a lot of fun. I never made plastic food before, and I did not expect it to be that funny. (I highly recommend to do it, it is an unforgettable event). later, we met with the other trainer, whith whom I gave the session in Akashi. He wanted to join us for the dinner, but before we visited some breathtaking picture places in Osakas city center.

Than, when we drove to the restaurant, I regognized, that we are going to a very posh area. I just hoped the restaurant will accept credit cards, because as it is my last day, I do not have that much money left. Entering the bar, I just found out how crazy they were. It was an first calss place. elegant and cosy. And they booked the whole bar for the whole evening. And we were not only we 4. No. All my close friends from Japan were there giving me a good bye. This made me so happy! In special, because some of my friends, when I wrote them that I am in Osaka now, they just wrote back something like"have a good time"... I was really sad, because I thought they do not want to meet up with me. But they were just arranging this party blast!!! Debouchery the whole evening. They did not saved anything. so ince food, all specialities, oisters, champagne, sake, sashimi, soups, salads, octopusses, shark... all was there. A lot of laughting.. a great time. Somewhen at 2:00 I was really "tired" and a bit drunk, so that someone drove me home. I was feeling soooo sick and was glad, when I arrived at home. And this was not due to the driver.

11/08/2010 - Japanese romance in Osaka

I woke up in the flat... since month the first flat without aircondition and I am sweating. Not gloving or so... Sweating like a horse. I am hot and everything around me is hot. Also the water in the shower is warm. Puhhhhhh. But, I have to arrange myself a bit and organize what I wil do the day. This is all not that easy without having a cellphone. But somehow, I arranged to meet up with one of my friends. He is a nice Japanese guy and we met in Singapore. There he was a kind of mentor and he showed me (with a lot of patience) how to do origami birds. Well, we stayed in contact and he "really wants to go for a drink" with me. His wish my pleasure ;-) First, he picked me up at the subway and we went to the Osaka castle. It was very beautiful and we have had a lot of fun. After 2 hours he has had to go back to his company, but we have had an appointment for the evening, when his work will be finished (22:00).

I went home, showerd, changed my dress and get Japan nice dressed ready: Nice make up, some lashes, done eyebros, nice hair with a big loop and assessoires. Oh... I looked so cute!!! Than I went to the dinner, and afterwards some drinks. Somewhen he wanted to go to a hotel, because he has to work the next day. I was absolutly not tired and very courious about those love hotels, my friends told me about. In Japan it is common to go for private time in a love hotel. In this hotels, there are special rooms. And as Japanese are, some of those rooms are really crazy, in SM mode, or with spiderman, or everything is hello kitty or it is surrounded by an aquarium or so. Of course I also want to see that. To make it short: we walked around in the rain, all fancy rooms were already booked. So finaly we ended up in a karaoke room... Who want to do karaoke while having sex?!?! So, the machine stays off and he was so tired, that he starts sleeping imedently. Than, somewhen at 6:00 in the next morning, he jumped untder the shower and went back to work. (6:00-22:00). Well, the night in a love hotel was different, than I expected :-)

10/08/2010 Travelling around Akashi

I woke up in my hosts place. Miki, my host, arranged all the traiings for me. He is a great guy. single dad with 4 children. Working hard, caring for his family and taking the time to be actiev in society. And to take the time to help a german girl, he never met before to arrange training sessions.
He was so nice and took 2 cute daughter from him and we went the whole day for sight seeing. We took plenty pictures and saw a impressing bridge, holes in the water and natural mysths. After that he drove me to Osaka. It was a 3 hours drive, and I felt soo deep in his debt. But he said: do not mind! And than I arrived at my new host in Osaka. A nice Chinese guy.

09/08/2010 My first training in Japan

Today, I give my frist training hour in Japan. I am very proud that I have the chance to provide a training in Japan & Japanese language. Of course I do not speak appropriate Japanese, therefore they arranged a simultan translator.
I take the train from Kyoto to Akashi. First, I was afraid, that it will take long and willbe expansive. But it is not like that. I can go with the local train for 15 Eur the way in 40 minutes. Perfect. In the train I use the time for wrapping my gifts. First, I bought some gifts in China to give out for the members. But than, I heard there are 12 members coming and I have only 10 gifts. So I went again for shopping in Kyoto. I found some nice heard shaped locks in the 100 Yen shop. So I bought them and some giftbags and I hope they will like it. It are cute locks for luggage or so. Maybe 10 centimeters, read, heard shaped and with a number combination. For my host, I have some belgian pralines. When I arrived, they are already waiting for me and the translator and the other trainer. I just recognize, how big the blow it all off. Wow... It is not a simple casual taining, we have an official session with press and 3 trainers coming. Wow. The other trainers are really good. And one of them I know already from singapore, where I met him in the Japanese headquarter. Such a funny hasard :) All is very formal. While my friends in Kyoto were very relaxed, those here are different. A lot of bowing, 90 degree bowing, a lot of formal words and streight sitting. But they are also very nice and after the training we went for a wonderful Chinese restaurant.

08/08/2010 - A traditional Japanese Dinner

Yesterday night, we got a good idea: My friends will trouw a nice good bye dinner for me with traditional cloths. This means with Kimono or Jokurta. I worn a Kimono when I was a geisha. So, I know, it is really hot and difficult to wear. Next to it, it is expansive, so I decide I will wear a Jokurta. A jokurta is a traditional japanese bath robe. It was worn to get to the bath or to wash yourself. Nowadays, it is appropriate to wear it in public and for official events. In difference to the Kimono, it is worn without underwear (= without the 5 layers of cloths). It is pretty light and still looks somehow like a kimono.
So, the sister of my friend picked me up in the noon to go with me and her family to buy a new Jokurta. In Kyoto those traditional dresses are very popular and you see a lot of men and women wearing it on the street. Therefoer, they sell them also in shopping malls. Lucky for me, they have sales at the moment and I can get a complete set of dress, belly loop and shoes for 6800 Yen. They have a lot of different colors and patterns and it is really hard to choose one of them. Finaly, I choose a cute pink one and a yellow belly loop. It looks amazing and my friend also buyes himself a new one. The kids are getting tired and we have to pick the up in the game zone. Oh my god.. I never saw such a game zone in a shopping mall... thousands of machines and computers, thousands of yelling kids, music, lights and tralala. It is really too much for normal adults. but the kids love it. We went fast with the kids to a sushi restaurant, where we have a light lunch. It is so cute, they have a kind of happy meal for children: different sushis, french fries and orange juice.
After that it is already time to go home, take a shower, making my hair and getting dressed. Luckily, one of the girls from my dorm took some classes in traditional Japanse culture and knows how to wear a Jokurta. So she help me to get in it and fix it.
Than, I went trough the street to find the restaurant. I feel very beautiful with that dress. The restaurant is a very high class establishment and we have a place (no table) outside on the terrasse with view over the river. The fresh breeze is perfect in the hot weather and we enjoy a perfect evening. We are traditional sitting on pillows and everyone has a small table in fron of him /her for the food. After a while, the sitting gets a bit complicated :) but it is really nice. The owner of the restaurant is a member of my club, so he join us and gives us a great menue of 12 dishes, all absolutly tasty. After the long dinner, we decide that we went all together to sing some karaoke. It is so much fun! In Japan karaoke is a private thing. This means, there are no public bars, where everyone grab the microphone and sings. We order a room, which is only for us with "all dirnks inclusive". It is amazing how good they can sing! And how much they enjoy. they are really freaking out with some songs. Unfortunatly, i cannot sing that well... and they are a bit dissappointed that I am so bad in singing and do not know any lyriks and so. But for the next time, I will train :-)
After the karaoke, we went to the bar we also ended up yesterday morning and go on with our party... somewhen in the early morning, I was tired and went to bed, to get a bit fresh before I go to my first training in Akashi. Kyoto was a great time!

07/08/2010 (2) - In the Zen temple

My friends are amazing. After my Geisha shoot, they pick me up and arrange for me a visit in a very private Zen temple. Normally this temple is closed for public, but a friend is a friend of the priest and so I am a llowed to enter the beautiful temples.
The other tourists around are looking a bit jalous, and, yes, they have reason for it. It is a wonderful place. The zen master took his time and showed me around. Beautiful 700 years old paintings, springs and trees. I was allowed to see the very special and holy imperail gate, which is only used if the imperer is arriving. That was 2 times in the last 400 years. When ever the imperer is coming, the zengardens have to be new structured and new sand is used, that the empoerer can walk on a new surface. He explained me the meaning of old zengardens. Detailed aranged stones, which have to be rearragend every morning new by one of the 3 training monks.
He takes me with in the very old teahouse, and showed me the traditional tea ceremony and the meaning behind it.

It was wunderful. And after it, we went all together to a very small japanese restaurant /bar. The boys ordered all the food on the menue and lots of sake. We have had great fun and I was eating a lot of strange but tasty things. The most strange one was the eye of a fish. For real. They said, this has a lot of collagen and therefore it is very good for my skin to eat it. I just trust and try everything. The exe was not bad in taste. But also not outstanding good. Normal. I was very surprised, that the pupil was hard. I thought it is just a hole in the eye, but it is a small black hard ball. like a little pearl and -for me- not eatable.

07/08/2010 I am a Geisha

I went today to my Geisha - Transforming. In fact, I did not get a transforming to a geisha, but to a maiko. A maiko is the trainee geisha. In opposite to a geisha wears the meiko colorful kimonos. I love colors and I love geishas, so I decided I want to do this maiko transofrmation.
I researched a studio last month in the internet and I was a bit shocked by the prices. But... I really want this, so I think, I deserve it.

To be well prepared, IO did not went out last night and get awake very early to go to my studio. The studio is in the old Kyoto district, which is famous for a lot of geishas. Well, I am not sure, if the plenty geishas, people see and picture there are real geishas, or as me, tourist who make this styling :) But the scenery is wonderful. I arrived there after a long walk in the heat and felt like a princess. I got a thing bathrobe and have had to change. I also get those socks with the seperate toe (for the "geisha-flip flops") and than I went to the make up.

They make my face and neck with 2 differnt white creams white and than a bit rose. I got some niche eye make up, new pink eyebrows and red lips. After that, I could choose my kimono and got the dressing.
This dressing is really effort. There are severyl layers and towels they use to hide the breast.The funny thing is, they hide the brest, by putting towels on your tommy. So, after all you are fat like a barrel. :-) Than the put me the beautiful kimono on, and the belt and the loop of the back and the underskirt. Than I got my faked hai and the assessoires like shoes, bag and all the nice flowerthings they have in their hair. Puh... It was heavy and hot ans soooooo beautiful!

After the dressing, I went out with my fotographer and she took somke pictures with me infront of some houses and trees and in the street. A lot of people were fascinated and took fotos of me.

It was really surprising for me how difficult it was to walk in that geisha shoes. And I have had the not high ones.... Ususally I have always 8 cm high heeels, or higher, so I thought, walking with that cute shoes would be no problem.. but it was really hard to keept the balance :)

And I was sweating... it was soooo hot! I was really happy when I could take all the nice clothers off afterwards and feel the nice cold of the aircondition on my legs.

An amazing experience!!!!!! I loved it!

06/08/2010 - Kyoto in Old Japanese Style

Japan has fantastic fast trains. The Shinkansen train is faster than our ICE in Germany. Long distances can be done in less than 1 hour. But therefore, this train is super expansive. So, I decided not to take 1h train, but doing a 9h night bus ride. Very unconfortable, but finally I arrived in Kyoto.

Kyoto is a medium sized city in Japan. I guess round about 1.5 million people. So, I arrived there, smelling, tired and with only 25 kg luggage. I found out, that there is a airport luggage delivery service in Japan, and so, I could sent my 30 kg suitcase from Tokyo to my final airport in Osaka for only 25€.... How great!!! I feel so... easy :)
Nevertheless, I have had to cross half of Kyoto to get to my hostel. When I arrived there, noone was there. So I wait until someone opened me the door. Unfortunately, the alarm started and I have had no clue how to switch it of. So the alarm stayed on for the next hour, while I tried to sleep a bit on the couch in the lounge (what is is strictly forbitten).
Somewhen the desk was open, I stored my luggage, took a shower and went with a nice guy from Newzealand into the city to buy some gifts for my JCI friends. We crossed the imnperial garden, went in for 5 meters, shot some pictures and went on. The same with the castel and severy temples... We were just too tired and sweaty for sight seeing. but we shot great pictures and I am very happy I have had my semi professional camera!
Later I visit a frined and his family for a BBQ. He has had his 4 kids and the 2 babies of his sister with him. I am highly surprised. Japanse kids are so nice and happy, never fighting or crying. And the steaks were exellent! :-)

05/08/2010 Sunset over Mt Fujii

I went to the city memorial building (or similar name) Luckily, I was bloody late. So, I have had a great view over Tokyo and saw the sunset over Mt. Fujii.

03/08/2010 Special treatment in the Maid-Cafe

I spent this da with the finnland-girls I met in my place. They are typical finnish. With piercings, tatoos, shaved sides, and Spicegirl shirts. They want to go to a maid cafe. First I did not know, what this is, but than, my host explained it to me, that this are sexy dressed girls, in super cute and short maid uniforms, which take special care for their guests. Sounds fun. So we went there with 5 persons. Because the finnish girls are quiete pushy, we went there in the morning, leaving the house at 8:20... Crazy. In special, if this nice cafe does not open before 11. So we wait and wait and than we entered. All food is sweet with a lot of cream and very expansive. There were 2 maids, which were busy with everything else, but us. And english? forget about it. No cute jumping, no other things. So we left the cafe and go on.
I bought a great new camera! Unfortunatly, all the manual is in Japanese laguage, so it will take a while until I am an expert with it.
And one other thing happened that day: We were injailed by the Tokyo metro. My host and I, we entered a gate, which was just closing. Unfortunatly, there was again a second gate, which was already closed. So, we stuck between those both gastes and called the police. The nice police men were very friendly and helpfull and informed the security company to take us out of our jail.

02/08/2010 Almost Tokyo

Today is the day I am flying to japan! Everything worked fine, I catched my subway, got my very havy bag and checked in. I am allowed to carry 20kg with me. When I put my back on the scale and it shows 30kg, the nice check in lady says nothing. not even a look. No comment about my additional 25kg hand luggage. No discussions, it easily works. Wow. A great start. The flight is nice, I work, I sleep. Arrived at the airport, everything works fine, everything is in order and easy to follow. It is great. The only thing, I found out, that Tokyo Airport is not in Tokyo. It is even in a different state. So, I take a 2h bus ride to arrive, but even this is fine. I cross different landscapes, and everything looked like germany. Excatly like when I drive the autobahn from Karlsruhe to Landau. Ok, later, it looked a bit like the area around Mannheim, but this is still the same highway, only 30 km more in the north. I am surprised :-)
Late in the evening I arrived at my host and we went for tradittional Japanese goof, Omoyapppi or so. It is a nice pancake-omlett, done by yourself on a tepanyakki. Very tasty!

31/07/2010 - Exploring Shanghai

Waking up at 7 in the morning is bad. But waking up at six, after have been clubbing half the night is worse. In special, if it is saturday and you could sleep for ever. But my body seems to have other plans. So I stand up, worked a bit, took a shower and left for the old city.

It took me a while to find the place, beacuse I have had no idea, where it was and what metro stop it should be, but I did not care. The sun was shining, a perfect day. The air is fresh, the buildings are nice, everywhere is an good atmosphere and I am in the middle of that. I love it. I saw small streets, stores, parks and a great skyline.

Finally I arrived in the "Old town" and I was a bit surprised. The old town was not really old. It was a big perdisant street with those typicly chinese houses. But only store at store. KFC, next to Hagen Dasz, next to McDonalds, next to Starbucks. Iterativ, with some interruptions by souvenir shops. And so many people pressing through this.

I really did not appreciate, so I decide to go to the bund and enjoy the nice view on the modern Shanghai. In a close park, I met a girl from Singapore who is living since 1 week in Shanghai. She is new and we met on Couchsurfing to walk together through the city. What a perfedct match! We liked each other from the very first second. We were the whole time laughting talking about nonsence and private things. I really felt after 2 hours very close to her. We spent a wonderful afternoon (5h) and made plans for tonight and tomorrow. Well, I am 100% happy. I enjoy this great time!
PS: The guy from yesterday texted me to get the dinner confirmed - if i am still interested :-)

30/07/2010 La vie en rose

Shanghai... What have I heard about this city? It shall be big, international, crowded, sticky, hot, modern and it has the Expo. It shall be widely and very expansive. Trains are not serving in the evening and everything is a bit expansive and complicated.

MY first experience with this city is completly different. I arrived with some delay at the airport, being afraid that the last train was already gone and I have to pay a very expansive 45km taxi ride. But, no, train and metro werre working propperly and so sweet chinese girls helped me to find my destination and showed me where I have to change my trains. Than, I arrived in my place, a wounderful nice french girl opened me the door, welcomed me with wine, quiche and cheese. She showed me my room and we ahve had a small talk before I dressed me up and we went to a club.


The clubbing area is in walking distance and I recognize, that everything here is not like China. "Well, we are living in the French Concession" she said. WOW! So cool! Yes, here are a lot of french people, everywhere french language, the streets are small and not crowded, there are plantanes (trees) on the side and everything is a bit like home. Also the clubs... Wow! I am alive again! There were drinks, real drins, there were mood, real good mood, there were the "old hits from the 90 and 2000... and dancing on the tables and everything. Other areas where outside and you could enjoy the fresh warm air. It was amazing. We have had so much fun, I really felt myself being home and back in live.

And than... the magic happened! This is real, no fake, no story: Somewhen, we were tired and we decided to go home. We just crossed the garden of this wounderful colonial style club there was a group of people entering. One of them was a very handsome blond tall guy. He was really outstanding for me, my eyes were like magnetized. And he was also observing right me. I mean, you feel it, if someone is really watching you. He looked so familar to me, but I just arrived some hours ago, there was no change, that we have seen each others somewhen before. When he was crossing me I got this electrical feeling, "Gänsehaut". After he passed, I said "I know you from somewhere". He and his friends turned, he looked at me and his exes said that he feel the same. Now is the scary part coming: In the same second, all of his 4 friends said: "you are Jennifer!" or "Are you Jennifer?" ... Huuuu.... Why those people know my name? Even if I have a connection with him, for sure, I have never seen one of those before. Me and my friend we were looking each others very surprised. Than the conversation went on and I have a date with Mister Magic on sunday. Lets see what happen :)

19/07/2010 German Quality in Chinese Mass Production

Volkswagen (VW) is a big german automobile company. They have a factory in North China, where they produce high quality engines for several VW cars, as well as for Audi A6.
I was lucky to get a chance to visit the factory and see a production and a assembling line. This was very interesting and opened me my eyes again for a moment. Not only, because the official language at VW is german, and everything is written in Chinese and German. Very unsual but very confortable for me. It was also interesting to see how the production processes are going. Not on the paper or in Theory. In real, in the factory. My dear brother is working in Germany in such a line. I am very thankful, that I could get a small insight in his working day. They have 3 or 4 shift schedules, with no downtimes. I guess working in one of this lines, with high time and quality pressure is really hard. Besides that, I also think, that doing the same task for 8 hours a day, with only 30 minuts lunch break is really not a funny job. My poor brother. What is he doing every day for day, risking his health by this hard, for the bit money he earns. He does night and weekend shifts, he never complains, and is always in a good mood and friendly. No comparison to the comfortable office job, in which the most people are always unsatisfied and requesting more money.
After seeing that, I highly respect these people, who are doing this mental and physical difficult work in a constantly good quality. Their effort results in my customer satisfaction.
And I remember a quote from a friend of my brother. This friend, lets call him Tim. After he heard that I am a project manager for process improvements, he said: "You are one of those stupid engineers, who are coming, and always disturbing? They have no idea of our work. Theyare looking and disturbing our process, measuring everything with the stopwatch and than changing everything, that it does not work anymore and we are sweating and than fired!"
Well, a bit harsh, but this was what he said and what Tim felt. After this visit, I recognized: Sitting at the desk, designing a process, cutting some costs and increase the efficience, by turning the process time down - this is easy. And normaly this person is not that one, who has to work later with the process. And normaly, he is also not the one, who is cost cutted. This journey really teached me my lesson.
(We) I should remember that in future and value and appreciate the work of those workers more.

17/07/2010 - Boom Boom Pow!

Did I told you already? I have everyday fireworks. Everyday. For sure every evening, sometimes also in the morning or in the afternoon. When it started the first time, I thought there were bombs and I was afraid and scared. I really thought, there might be some attacs, some jets coming from - i do not know, Japan? Korea? Russia? all that near and well weaped. I was really afraid and did not know what to do. under the table? Out of the house? With the elevator? By stairs... hmm I am living in the 13th floor....Panik.
But now, I am used to it. It is fantastic. View over the yellow sea and twinkeling fireworks in the black sky. And all cobined with the lights of the housings and the themeparks around. Amazing. And often. Very often. As mentioned, everyday and sometimes also several times a day. Why? I do not know. So far, I could not find out. Who pays for? Also no idea. But as long as they are not at 8:00 in the morning, I enjoy them. (8:00 in the morning, I really want to sleep, which is not possible at all with those "bombs" )

05/07/2010 The Great Wall

Sunshine. Blue Sky. And The Wall. Anything to add?

04/07/2010 Climbing the mountains

In Beijing, there are amazing many people. And all with umbrellas, to protect their selves of the sun. It was really hot. This in addition with the 15 million air-conditions and 10 million cars, it really heathen the city up. So, I was really happy to escape on the second day, to the Chinese mountains.
1h with the subway and than 2h with the bus and you reach a beautiful hiking area. To cross the bridge and enter the park, you have to buy a ticket.
But this seems to be not enough for the Chinese business people, so they blocked the bridge with a motor scooter and demand additional money to let the people cross. Here I learned that there is a free hotline number, where people can report these illegal activities. And here, I also learned that these numbers do not help you much, because they need a lot of background information before they act. But, we were lucky and a police car came and made the way free for us.

So we started our hiking journey with sunshine and new Korean friends, which we met in the bus.

Those Koreans, there were really fun. Always chatting, always making pictures and the best: in the middle of the mountains, they took their cookers out and start cooking noodles. :-)

We enjoyed every second, even, the mountain was high, and sometimes, the bamboo stairs seems to be endless. But we also get great benefits. I have never seen such beautiful butterflies. And some of them just came and sit down on our shoes.

Back down, we have had some food and refreshed ourselves in the nearby river.

Than we start waiting for the bus… 1h…2h.. than a bus arrived. It was sooo full, the people were pressed inside and the bus driver was not opening the door, because they would have fallen out. Here, I have only a picture from the second, not that filled bus… but for Germans, still too full. So, some when, I stopped a small van and he drove us for some money back to the city.

I was really tired, and the next day, I have to get up early, but I was also hungry, so I went to a street “full of clubs and bars”. The near street turned out to be half hour walking distance, and the “clubs and bars” where some souvenir shops and tourist cafes. Well, Chinese people, are not really so in outgoing. But the street was fun and I spent longer than planned by watching all the things and enjoying the colder temperatures. A great day!