Nice to meet you, I'm the crazy pigeonless lady

There are a couple of things I've found out since I arrived in Regensburg. First of all, get rid of the stereotype that Germans are punctual. Especially those I came across certainly aren't for I've done quite a lot of waiting...just to wait some more...

Secondly, are they really that well-organized? Okay, to some extend yes. They are really into lists and info sheets. However, I don't want to be too harsh on them and let's be honest, Bavaria is kinda different from the rest of Germany. And that's what I like about it.

There is space to express yourself and bring in a bit of your own culture. As the mayor himself stressed: only when Regensburg is international it functions properly. Apparently, we should rather stay and keep it up!

Time flies like an arrow: I've just realised it's been 6 weeks since I left my hometown. Thinking back of the first days really makes me laugh. It sometimes felt like: what the hell?! what am I...? I don't even...No, I'm not Czech. Slovakia is not Slovenia. Yes, indeed we are a member of the EU! Do I need to...? Who am I supposed to ask? etc. After finding the way to the International Office and being told I'm staying in the same dorm like last year I was doing my happy dance! After climbing four floors and finding a huge and extremely messy pigeon party taking place on my balcony my smile froze...Endless thanks to you, mum and dad, for your moral and technical support and for being professional pigeon bouncers! Anyways, the pigeons are gone and so far my anti-pigeon barrier works, so talk to my hand, dear feathered friends.

Apart from waiting and warring against pigeons I've been doing a lot of walking. It always helps me to clear my mind but also enjoy the environment I'm in, which I quite frankly often forget to do at home. Autumn has been very generous so far offering beautiful sceneries, colourful leaves, and calming mists. We'll see what winter is preparing for us. 

 Meeting new people is another exciting part of being away. Technically speaking "you could be anybody". They have no idea about your past, about who you are. But I personally always end up being myself (unable to put on a mask just to have a bigger "fan club" or something) and I think that's the way it should be.

To sum up my Erasmus stay so far: numerous interesting people met, many new words and expressions learnt, one marriage proposal (repeated a few times) rejected, impressive places and sights visited, fun nights spent outside, dozens of photos taken, lazy afternoons tucked in bed, gratefulness for such an opportunity expressed...The train keeps rolling and there is more to come :-)

Last but not least, I can finally repay the hospitality I was blessed with lately! So any traveller or adventurer is welcome in my cosy and absolutely pigeon-free room. Actually have you seen my party balcony?

To the South for a change a.k.a. Are you hungry?

At the beginning of my summer holidays I spread my wings once again and flew into the world! Ok, not really...I got on a bus with a nervous driver and after a five-hour journey found myself in Zagreb! At the bus station my dear friend Nina (from my stay in Regensburg last summer) was waiting for me. It was so lovely to see her again after almost a year. I hope that next time I can be her host in Bratislava :) 

The historic blue funicular

We had a lot of catching up to do, so we didn't lose any time! After some rest at Nina's place we went to town. I have to say that Zagreb is really groovy. I liked that it was so lively and noisy, some streets were overcrowded with people trying to find a place to sit down and enjoy a drink. Warning: Be careful in the streets when Croatians watch football! And try to avoid crowds cheering when they score (or somebody else scores for them, right? :)).

Having a personal guide is surely a pleasant luxury. I got the chance to see places not mentioned in guidebooks and learnt about the rich history and culture of the city quite a few things. I noticed that Zagreb is very neatly kept and well organized. We have to learn a lot here in Bratislava, I thought. 

Cathedral

Another thing worth mentioning is Slovak and Croatian: languages very similar thanks to their Slavic origin. I was always very proud of myself when I could decipher what Nina and her family were talking about in their native tongue. Although with some words you need to be really careful (an innocent expression in Croatian for "drink" sounds dangerously similar to a really bad swear word in Slovak...).

 

Some of my friends were surprised I'm travelling to Croatia without actually going to the sea. As a matter of fact, Slovaks kinda consider the Adriatic Sea as their own for it's a favourite holiday destination. But I dismissed their "what-for-expressions" and enjoyed my stay thoroughly. Zagreb is definitely a must-see European capital city because it has loads of historic buildings, charming views, colourful parks, friendly people and bars open until late at night! ;-)  

At the fountains welcoming you in Zagreb

2nd Warning: Based on first-hand experience. Beware of little boys with water guns. They won't listen to your order not to splash you with water...And seeing the dad laughing in the background explains a lot.

The National Theatre

 

I was staying in Nina's family the whole trip and I couldn't feel more at home. It was just wonderful and leaving wasn't easy. However, I feel we haven't seen each other for the last time.

Once again a huge THANK YOU to you, Nina and your lovely family. For accepting me among you so cordially and honestly. For being such a perfect host family. And making sure I was never hungry :-D. "Are you hungry?" was the most frequent question I was asked at Nina's place. Until next time! :-*

I have a dream - Never forget series I

I was waiting for my bus when some kids next to me started to play a song on the phone. After some time in I recognized it: Vandaag Bakermat. It’s on the radio all the time these days.

Kid one remarked: „I like the lyrics. The DJ’s comments, you know…pretty cool.”

“Yep, pretty cool,” Kid two echoed.

My mouth almost dropped open. I gulped hard. They don’t even…

“I have a dream!” Kid one shouted in a pretended deep voice. Kid two began to laugh and added: “dream-dream-dream.” They’re both nodding to the rhythm.

I felt like crying out to the world: for God’s sake don’t ever forget! I couldn’t let it be.

“Hey, guys. You do know that it’s actually Martin Luther King, don’t you?” I said.

At first they gave me weird looks but eventually Kid two spoke up.

“Oh, that’s the one with…with I just came to say hello, right?!”

“No, you dumbhead! That’s Martin Solveig,” the other kid butted in. He looked at me for support of his statement.

“Well, I guess so but I didn’t mean…I…He was an activist, a fighter for civil rights of African-American citizens.”

“Like that’s what the song’s about?” Kid two asked.

“No. That’s what Martin Luther King’s live was about,” I replied getting impatient.

Kid one raised his eyebrows and then nodded. “Yeah. That’s a cool hobby for a DJ to have.”

Fortunately, my bus came so I could escape from the unknowing.

Love thy neighbour

It was a Saturday, just like today, the perfect time to make your flat more like an Emmental. As it happens, a neighbour started to drill. Another one, that is Edgar Nuts, was pouring milk into his morning cup of tea. He jumped at the sound and as a result spilt some milk on the kitchen cupboard and on his trousers and on the floor.

 

“Blimey, these people!” he shook his head at the damage. 

Mrs Nuts came in dashing. “What’s all the uproar?” she asked.

Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

“Oh, dear,” Mrs Nuts glanced up probably both glowering at the neighbours and calling for help from above. 

Wrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Wrr. Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Wrrrrrr. Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

“Unbelievable!” Mr Nuts paced nervously to and fro. “The audacity of these people…on a sunny Saturday morning…unbelievable,” he grumbled under his breath. In the meantime, Mrs Nuts cleaned the floor and the cupboard. 

“And Edgar, please, don’t forget to…”

“I know, I know, love. Don’t worry.”

Mr Nuts changed his trousers and they both went on in their usual Saturday.

The clock struck 13 o’clock when Mrs Nuts served tomato soup.

“Smells delicious,” Mr Nuts winked. The first spoon of the tomato soup was on its way to Mr Nuts’ mouth when a nasty wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr sent its content flying about and soaking in Mr Nuts’ shirt and the tablecloth. 

“I…” Mr Nuts dropped the spoon into the soup plate, which resulted in an even bigger mess. “One. Can’t even. Enjoy. One. Bloody. Meal.” Mr Nuts hissed through gritted teeth. He shook with anger. 

“Edgar, please,” Mrs Nuts tried to hush him. Mr Nuts left the room shaking his head. It took Mrs Nuts quite a while to make her husband sit at the lunch table again. He never liked his food when he was angry. Mr and Mrs Nuts, fuming and sighing respectively, ate in silence. While cleaning the table, Mrs Nuts looked at her husband and with a hesitant voice said: “Edgar, I’d really like you to…”

“I know, sweetheart, I know,” Mr Nuts butt in making his way to the living room.

“Ehm, before it’s too late, Edgar,” Mrs Nuts called after him.

“Sure.”

Mr Nuts wasn’t meant to enjoy a little peace in the afternoon either. He sat in his favourite armchair with his eyes closed, thinking of the yummy cupcake he caught a glimpse of when he was taking the milk out of the fridge in the morning. He hoped dearly that Mrs Nuts wouldn’t mind if it disappeared suddenly. “That would be the only good thing of this day,” he thought. Mr Nuts was halfway successfully sneaked into the kitchen when he stopped in his tracks. “NOT AGAIN YOU BLOODY..!” It seemed that his every move was accompanied by the drilling sound. Not even a cupcake could help. “…why would you do it in one go, when you can systematically annoy others multiple times…so that nobody’ll be deprived of the joy of a bit of wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.” Mr Nuts got all red in the face.

The atmosphere in the evening was very tense. Mrs Nuts wasn’t able to delight in watching the 274^th episode of her favourite TV programme nor could she remind her husband of his promise. Mr Nuts was just scowling and mumbling something about the neighbours. His day had been ruined.

All of a sudden, he jumped up and froze. Then he looked desperately at Mrs Nuts and quietly said: “I’m so sorry, darling,” and off he was. Mrs Nuts just kept staring at the place he had just abandoned.

Mr Nuts returned with a drill in his hand and a framed picture in the other. 

“Edgar,…”

“Don’t worry, love, it’ll be just a second. I’m so sorry. I’ve almost forgotten.”

“Isn’t it too…”

“You even marked the cross. Brilliant!” Mr Nuts smiled to himself.

…late?” Mrs Nuts finally finished her question.

Mr Nuts’ tongue stuck out, while he was concentrating on screwing on the right drill. 

“Very quick. And you can finally hang this thing up.” He continued to fumble with the drill.

“Edgar, I don’t think it’s appropriate to…” Mrs Nuts glanced at the clock. 21.16. “Well, it’s not like people would be already in bed. At least I can finally hang the lovely picture up,” she thought.

“Honey, you know I hate when somebody doesn’t keep a promise. I’m not one of those people. I mean, come on.”

Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.