Man in the mirror

I went for a run today. The beautiful park very close to my house is called Burgerpark…for people looking like burgers. I felt good there :) Anyway, I was listening to my player and there was this amazingly amazing song…Man in the mirror (version of Natalie Gauci from Australian Idol). I know I was listening to it some time ago for the last time…but this was just great to hear it again! It would be cool to make some document about people and use this song as a background. People that make their portion of difference in the world.

Or before…I was reading some magazine about advertising and music, how it compliments each other. What song would you use for the advertising? It can be anything…What song is that beautiful, that would make other people buy the product? And first of all, make them feel good? I think I know what would that be for me: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: Somewhere over the rainbow. This song is just perfect, positive and not something you don’t like after a short time. It is simple, with great lyrics, relaxing and with the "good mood" flavour in it. I just love songs, every song for different occasion. As soon as I listen to Jason Mraz in the morning, the day looks better. And if I listen to Pearl Jam at night, I feel relaxed to just fall down like a stone (big one). Everyday, when I walk out of the door, I stuck the earphones in and transfer myself to another dimension :) (sounds like I am also on crack … wrong :D). Anyway, just read the lyrics attached bellow, it’s really nice.

My advice for today: if something pisses you off, is making you sad, or you just need to escape somewhere, just RUN! I did the same today and the feeling after is so refreshing and peaceful! Maybe it was also because I got lost in the forest and after an hour of nervous walking, I finally found my house :) But I definitely changed the brain channel (yes, this weird expression is new to me too). And with all the fall colors around, beautiful scenery in the park and a lovely lake it was just great. Darmstadt is nicer than I ever thought, it has this magic atmosphere, when you don't see all the beauty on a first sight, but you can discover it step by step...always surprising, but truly great!

Well, time to sleep, tomorrow is another working, ninetofive day. Oh what an exciting life :p

Here are the lyrics and a video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUM5QTUbW5U&feature=related

I'm gonna make a change, for once in my life
It's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right...

As I turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street,
with not enough to eat
Who am I, to be blind
pretending not to see their needs

A summers disregard
a broken bottle top A
nd a one man's soul
They follow each other
on the wind ya know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his way
And no messge could have been any clearer
if you wanna make the world a better place
take a look at yourself, and make a change

I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
That there are some with no home,
not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?

A willow deeply scarred,
somebody's broken heart A
nd a washed out dream
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I´m startin' with me

I'm starting wih the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his way

Good night!

Sunday morning

It’s Sunday 8:30am and I am already awake. I came to Slovakia on Friday night, free weekend that I was so looking forward to! Even if flying is really tiring, it is just so worth it, as soon as you see the faces of your family, friends, friends’ dogs, even if for few days. I met my friends yesterday. We had a meal, coffee, lots and lots of talking, laughing and discussing. I was happy, seriously.

Anyway, I was thinking lately about several things. My good friend is now in Africa, in Ethiopia on a volunteering program. To help other people who need it. And every time I read his blog (and I did that several times), I cannot stop thinking that this is something I need to do, to have a look at a different side of life, see things that you don’t normally see in “our” life. Some things are just too relative to be considered as worth to care. Why should I complain about too salty soup in the restaurant, when some people do not have any at all? Why would I care about make up and the choice of the right mascara color, if there are people, who could be happy to have a little bit of clean water every day? Why would I watch reality show, in which Barbie and Ken are arguing about the dishes? I do not have to :) And I am not saying, that things so normal for my conditions, like getting a drink if I order a drink, should be forgotten and I should not care at all because people far away have bigger problems, but maybe...maybe by thinking outside this box can give me bigger peace. Not to consider every detail as a problem, not to stress, not to construct problems, if they are not really there...rather trying to be in balance with my environment, my family, friends, nature and in general with the people around me.

Well, I am not saying that this kind of life is wrong, but it just does not make me think about people in a bigger need that often. I was thinking…what could I do, to make this difference? People have problems here as well, no matter what country you are in. I believe, that we all can help. Look around; it is not that difficult to see if your eyes are open.

Through Couchsurfing, our Darmstadt group was contacted by a guy, that was there for few days visiting a friend. The friend was working; so he appreciated somebody who could show him a town, sit for a coffee and talk. I wrote to this guy and few days after, we met. He is originally from Nigeria, living in England, visiting Germany. After the greeting, he said: “ There is something you should know. I don’t have one leg, it was a car accident”. You don’t really know, how to react in these situations. I started to ask him questions - who knows, if it was appropriate, but I was interested to know more about him. We talked a lot, he told me his story and I just felt that this person is stronger that I can possibly imagine. I noticed one thing: he wanted to talk about that! He wanted to tell me what happened, how he feels now and what are his plans for the future. After an hour, I felt like I know more than I wanted :-), but that was all right. It was all in a positive way! He thanked me several times for my time and the fact, that he could just talk about what happened. And I thanked him to let me be the part of his story, story of becoming stronger person that looks forward the future.

I am not really sure, if I wanted to use that story as an example, but my goal is to say, that everybody can make a difference. Even if being kind, having the eyes open, smile at others, talk to them, support, motivate or just help in any way needed. And I am talking about you and people around you. Nobody has to go too far to meet the problems, or sad destinies of other people. Meanwhile, support and be proud of those who have “the balls” to go to the places like Ethiopia and help there. Become a bright part of an unfortunate story with all you can afford in that minute. It can be as simple as a smile. But just do it!

I am probably going to sleep a little more, so good night and see you back in Germany!

I want to surf your couch!

In my previous entry, I mentioned the feeling of being lonely. Well, after some time, I discovered, that there is a way how to know locals and be a little more positive about being in a strange big big country!

CouchSurfing (http://www.couchsurfing.com/) is a worldwide network for making connections between travellers and the local communities they visit. Perfect for somebody, who comes to the different country and wishes to know a little more about the life from the locals. I found myself in this definition, so I just registered; found the group of people also registered for the same city and wrote them. I really tried not to sound too desperate, even if I was super close to just go in the middle of the main square (called Luisenplatz) and SCREAM!! Hey people, hey Germans, talk to me! I guess couchsurfing was a better idea :) Anyway, after few hours I got first answers. They all were interested to know me, or to meet. It was risky, I know, but at some point, you just have to risk and believe that people might actually be good and try to help you instead of constructing the catastrophical scenarios.

I met the first guy only couple of days later. It was so easy! Another meeting with more CSs came two weeks after and I had a chance to know several people…locals or travellers. And they were all so nice! We had a cup of tea. It was raining outside, so being with the lovely people with the cup of tea is just perfect. As we were talking, I realised that we all have something in common. And I guess this is the same for most of the CSs. We love to travel, to know new places and especially people. We shared the experience we had during visiting all the interesting places and I felt like this is what I want to do. I don’t care what countries; I believe that there is something special about every place in the world. And now, with CS, I actually see this so real. So what exactly is CS about? People from all over the world register and have a chance to offer their couch for other people traveling around. It is totally voluntary, so nobody forces you to do that, you can just meet travelers for a coffee, show him or her around and get to know a little more about each other. Not everybody has a possibility to offer a place to sleep (because of the roommates, or lack of space…whatever). I don’t, but it will be my pleasure to meet random people and help them know my city a little more. And anywhere I travel, I will think about this possibility for sure!

Anyway, thanks to CS, I had a chance to meet few lovely people that showed me that this city is special. It is special because of the people living there and atmosphere it has. I cannot wait to see and know more from them! We have a BIG thing in common. We share. That is something I enjoy a lot no matter where I am. And I love to be around people like that. CS gave me this opportunity and I wish more and more people discover how great it is to…discover :)

Good night everybody!

Vortex is opening!

The reason, that I am writing this blog happened a month ago. A while ago, I got an offer to work in Germany. I took it, but I had NO idea what it will mean to me. After finishing school, I spent some time in Canada, travelling around this beautiful country and then back to Slovakia (where I am from) for 3 days and then, in the end of August 08, I came to Germany.

Darmstadt (that is how the city is called) is not a huge city (not counting the students, I think around 170 000), it is not even very famous place and you cannot really meet a lot of tourists here. But there is something about this place that I started to enjoy in last few days: nothing is visible here, because there are almost no tourists, all the nice places are hidden...or they are just where they are, without a need to pay attention to them. I am talking about the places like Martinsviertel (students' quarter with all colorful houses with the special atmosphere joining the history with the young people on the bikes everywhere you look), Hundertwasser (insane buildings with lots and lots of colours, thinking that somebody just randomly dropped it there!), all the beautiful gardens, or small coffee places...Darmstadt is in the shadow of a bigger and more popular cities around: Frankfurt is just 25 minutes from here, Heidelberg 50 minutes and 45 minutes from Wiesbaden. But if somebody decides to spend some time here, there is always a lot to see!

Anyway, the fact that I can talk positively about this city is quite new. When I came, especially after my holidays in Canada, I felt like a stranger that can never feel like at home. Living in a hotel was definitely not something I enjoyed as well. Only four walls, no internet, no people to talk to, no fun, no washing mashine (!!). Only now I realised what it means to feel lonely. In the same time I thank all my friends, that were talking to me online while I was at work...they know who I mean - because of these people I did not get crazy! I guess it had to happen. I had to feel like that to see the real value of the people around me. Their patience, their positivism, love and time (in some cases it was hours and hours :-). It was not only because of the sudden change as it was, I think a big part of it was the fact, that I left in Canada a part of me. And the rest of me needed to get used to the fact, that things are going to change if I like it or not. The following question might be reasonable: Do I believe in deep feelings? Do I believe that they can be bigger than the distance between two people? I think I do. I definitely did before. But whoever tries it knows, that it requires more than you imagine. Especially when you actually care :) ! Trust is here so important, that that's basically all you have, so whoever is in the similar position, work on that! Tell the person you miss him/her! Pick up the phone and just say hi, when they don't expect it, you dont need to say all those cheesy traditional bullshit :) Anyway, however it all finishes, I must live for the presence and not from the past. And look forward the future, that will be exciting! I actually also try to believe what I write :D , cause it is so easy to doubt, but it needs a moment to believe in it as well.

The new part of my life starts soon. I am without him right now, unable to communicate and not sure if he ever will be. But I have a great friends in my computer, where I store them :) And I am moving soon. Finally getting out of the hotel room and moving to a lovely appartment in Martinsviertel with nice people and my own balcony (balconies rule!!!).

See you later, anonymous reader of my blabla :)