Blog on vacation

"It was one of those days when it's a minute away from snowing and there's this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was, like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that's the day I knew there was this entire life behind things, and... this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video's a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember... Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in." American Beauty



For me its not the video - but my pictures. There are so much more than just photos; each one of them has their own story to tell, a special significance and remember me of my journey(s).

Being locked up in a room, studying fulltime and spend all of my time reading and writing is completely different from what I have been doing in the last few years. It feels like taking a break and looking at the world from a different angle.
So, my blog will also go on a break - until I have something to say again. You know where to find me till then ;o)

Bookspotting

Choose Life. Choose a career. Choose a Masters. Choose books, choose courses, resources, workshops and lectures. Choose a topic for your term paper, choose more books, and resources.

Choose another topic for another term paper. Choose more books. Choose to read. Choose to study on the weekend. Choose wondering who the hell you are on Saturday night when you are by yourself laughing at Stiglitz’ jokes. Choose sitting on that very same desk and chair every day to read and write. Choose to analyse, deconstruct, reconstruct, evaluate, critique...
Choose to explore. Choose to read more and be more confused. Choose to go nuts. Choose to question the world and yourself. Choose to go to that extra lecture. Choose to care about theories, concepts, models, trends, indices, definitions and intellectual heritage...Choose to sleep in. Choose a part-time job. Choose to take up a huge loan and count every penny you spend – but choose to buy that extra bottle of wine and pint once in a while. Choose to make fun of yourself.

Choose your future. Choose life. Choose a Masters... But why would I want to do a thing like that?

Here is to freedom, choice and development. Good night and good luck :)

Friday night student's entertainment

“One of the reasons that Adam’s Smith invisible hand may be invisible is that it’s not there”
Joseph E. Stiglitz

Video: Joseph Stiglitz and Kenneth Rogoff discuss: Globalization and Its Discontents

October 19th, 1916

As long as I can think of, there really has only been one big role model in my life…the one person which you put on a small podium, the one you admire, the one which inspite of his flaws seems flawless to you,…for my it was me grandfather, or “Opi” as I used to call him.

Growing up life seemed very simple – no matter whether it was to chose a dish on the menu, chose an ice cream, make any decision….I would always say “I take the same as grandpa”. It seemed natural that anything that grandpa would chose would be the best choice.

When I was about five years old, I was asking my mother to explain me why people marry and if I will get married one day. My mother patiently explained me that all adults are getting married and that one day I will also get married. So, I looked at her and asked her – “but whom will I get married to when I am a grown up?”, “when you are an adult, you will marry the man that you love”, she replied.
The moment she said that I will get married to the man I love, it was clear for me that this must be my grandfather. (don’t you love how simple the world was when you were a kid ;o)
I was happy and excited and ran over to my grandma to tell her the great news … I thought that she would be happy to hear about my wedding plans – but instead she explained me that I cannot have him as he is already married to her. I was sad, angry at the world and felt that this was simply unfair – how could it be that the man I love already be taken?
I remember that it took my mom a long time to clarify “the situation” – and at the end it still left me confused - as I simply could not imagine that there will ever be another man that I would love as much as my grandfather...



Besides the man of my dreams, he has been a father, but also my friend, mentor, teacher, role model, soul mate and my conscience.

When I was angry with the world or when I was simply too rebellious – I could always go and talk to my grandfather. He would just sit there in peace, listen to all I had to say and at the end look at me and ask a few questions which would leave me thinking for while...he would challenge and encourage me at the same time – and always made me believe that I can reach any goal if I truly believed in it...that it did not matter what other people thought but what mattered most was to be honest, to know myself and to stand up for what I believe in. And he always made me laugh...he thought it’s healthy to laugh a lot and to be able to laugh about oneself once in while.

He had that incredible sense of humour and his smile and laughter were absolutely contagious...He was kind, caring...intelligent, wise, well-read, eloquent - but very humble and graceful...he had that wonderful inner peace and happiness that just made you want to sit next to him and absorb his positive energy.

Today, on October 19th, he would have turned 90 years old.

His presence is greatly missed - but in many ways he will always part of me and be my guiding star.

New Beginnings...

"What do we leave behind when we cross each frontier? Each moment seems split in two; melancholy for what was left behind and the excitement of entering a new land." Che Guevara

a true inspiration

In 1997 I heard a speech by a man called Muhammed Yunus about his life, his struggle and his success to set up the first micro-credit bank in bangladesh. His genuineness, dedication and humbleness touched me deeply and I had goose bumps listening to his calm voice. Ever since, I have read and listened to his speech over and over again - and I still get goose bumps. He has been and is one of my biggest sources of inspirations and energy.

Today, he was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize 2006. I was so happy to hear this - his impact is immeasurable and he truly deserves that honor and recognition...and I am sure his voice, ideas and loans will reach even more people in the future.

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2006, divided into two equal parts, to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank for their efforts to create economic and social development from below.

Lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty. Micro-credit is one such means. Development from below also serves to advance democracy and human rights.

Muhammad Yunus has shown himself to be a leader who has managed to translate visions into practical action for the benefit of millions of people, not only in Bangladesh, but also in many other countries.
Loans to poor people without any financial security had appeared to be an impossible idea.

From modest beginnings three decades ago, Yunus has, first and foremost through Grameen Bank, developed micro-credit into an ever more important instrument in the struggle against poverty.

Grameen Bank has been a source of ideas and models for the many institutions in the field of micro-credit that have sprung up around the world.

Every single individual on earth has both the potential and the right to live a decent life. Across cultures and civilizations, Yunus and Grameen Bank have shown that even the poorest of the poor can work to bring about their own development.

Micro-credit has proved to be an important liberating force in societies where women in particular have to struggle against repressive social and economic conditions.

Economic growth and political democracy can not achieve their full potential unless the female half of humanity participates on an equal footing with the male.

Yunus' long-term vision is to eliminate poverty in the world. That vision cannot be realised by means of micro-credit alone. But Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank have shown that, in the continuing efforts to achieve it, micro-credit must play a major part."

Home

Home. there is nothing more beautiful than flying over the alps into zurich on a sunny day - what nature. what beauty.what a welcome!
coming home after a long time is always special - I always feel like alice in wonderland staring at everything and wondering whether its real...sometimes the beauty of this country seems surreal and many times I feel like I am looking at everything as if I saw it for the first time.

Grönemeyer says that home is not a a place but an emotion - I guess he means that feeling of complete peace and happiness when I walked into my mom's house and hugged my mom and my sister.
on the same note I am missing friends which were able to give me that emotion of home when I was living abroad. can't wait till our paths will cross again...



"und es ist, es ist o.k., alles auf dem Weg,
und es ist Sonnenzeit, unbeschwert und frei

und der Mensch heißt Mensch
weil er vergisst, weil er verdrängt
und weil er staunt und stählt
weil er wärmt, wenn er erzählt

und weil er lacht, weil er lebt
du fehlst...

und der Mensch heißt Mensch
weil er irrt und weil er kämpft
und weil er hofft und liebt,
weil er mitfühlt und vergibt

und weil er schwärmt und glaubt,
sich anlehnt und vertraut
und weil er lacht, und weil er lebt
du fehlst..." Herbert Grönemeyer