tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55655954092117737852024-03-05T12:30:29.590+01:00 Ideas and OpinionsKleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-60518318329381932772013-10-23T13:32:00.001+02:002013-10-23T13:32:15.557+02:00Apologies<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I don’t know
if anyone will be reading this, but I felt the need to explain my long absence,
so I decided to write this post. Let me apologize for my being absent for so
long without any sort of explanation before. I had some severe personal problems that I
prefer not to specify here, but I have them more or less figured out now.
However, I will not continue this blog, at least not for the next few months
because I am doing my semester abroad now and it’s hard to find any free time
at all. I am always at university or at some sort of Erasmus event with some
friends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So, for
anyone who is interested in knowing more about this, well, I am in Rome now. Actually,
I applied for Erasmus (in case you’ve never heard of it, it’s a European
exchange program) in England, but at my university there were only four places available
while about 200 students applied for it. But they offered me to go somewhere
else. So, I ended up choosing Rome, since I learned some Italian at school and
I’ve always wanted to see Rome. I’ve never been there before, I’ve also never
been abroad alone or for more than two weeks, so as you can imagine coming here
was quite exciting for me. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And I have
to say, I absolutely love it. There are so many beautiful places to visit here,
there’s always something new to see. I love being abroad anyway and I love the
Italian language. I love waking up in the morning with my window open and
hearing people in the streets talk in Italian. Of course, it’s also much warmer
here than in Germany. What I love most is meeting so many people from all over
the world (mostly Europe) and making friends with them. I actually even avoid
the other German students. I mean, there are enough of them in Germany, so why
would I want to spend all my time here with Germans? The only slightly negative
thing about talking to all sorts of different people all the time is that I
feel like my English is actually getting worse here. Most of the Erasmus
students don’t know much Italian, so we usually talk in English. Unfortunately,
so far I haven’t met any native speakers and a lot of the students are not very
good at English, so you have to try to adapt a little so that they can
understand you. By the time I am back, I will probably speak English with an
Italian or a Lithuanian accent; Lithuanian because I am currently spending most
of my time with two girls from Lithuania. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By the way,
one thing that you should NOT do here is being out alone at night as a young woman.
I always meet with some friends when I go out, but Rome is so big and no one
lives near my apartment, so at first I always went home alone. Normally I don’t
have a problem with that, I also do that in Germany and I am not someone who is
easily scared anyway. But I can tell you that it was not a good idea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I had to learn quite fast that even during the
day, it can be quite difficult. Something that I still don’t know how to do is
being unfriendly with men. I am used to trying to be friendly and normally,
when I’m not interested, I still try to let them know politely and in Germany
that works. But in that aspect, Rome is very different from where I come from.
So, I’ve been told that I am too nice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Anyway, I am going back to university now. Actually I just wanted to explain why I haven't been around anymore. Again, I am sorry for not having continued my
posts like I said I would. But I hope you understand. If you have any questions
about Rome or anything else, don’t hesitate to ask. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I hope all of you are fine and have a great time, wherever you are. </span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-37188088720076031912013-01-05T01:53:00.000+01:002013-01-05T01:53:57.082+01:00Setting Priorities...<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s about 2 AM
where I live and after having worked on writing a paper for university all day (more or less),
I decided to go to sleep. Well, I couldn’t fall asleep with all those things I
have yet to do going on in my mind, so I got up again. I don’t even know where
to start, should I finish my paper, should I finally work on my application for
my semester abroad, should I catch up on all the Chinese vocabulary or should I
try to study for that math test that I will most likely fail if I don’t start
understanding anything very soon. Or should I prepare that presentation that
needs to be done for the next week? And what about the nine other exams I have to
study for? (And this is only concerning university, my life happens to consist of other things too.) I wanted to get all these things done during Christmas holiday.
There are only two days left. You see, there<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>is not much time left to work on my blog, actually the days are way too
short to get at least some of these things done, especially because after the
holidays I am at university for about 12 hours almost every day again, so there is not
much time to catch up on all these things anyway. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s why
I decided that I eventually have to set priorities if I want to pass any of my
exams and go on that semester abroad (which I really, really want to, I have
been looking forward to this for a long time). </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I am sorry
to announce this, but I will be on a temporary hiatus for some weeks. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I don’t
want to give up blogging permanently, however, I consider this as a break and
will return when my exams for this semester are done, that is probably at the
middle or the end of February. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will
still be around to continue commenting on my favourite blogs when taking a break from studying, but there won’t be enough time to write any articles. Actually I even
have some ideas, I just wish I also had the time to get them written down. Of
course I could do that quickly, but if I wrote them while being stressed like
this, they would be really bad, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on
writing them. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also wanted
to use this opportunity to thank all of you people that continued to come back
here and all of you who have left their comments, I truly appreciate every one
of them. Thank you for the support and for your wonderful opinions on whatever
I decided to write.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I’ll
probably be back in about six weeks (that’s actually not that long) with new
posts and I would love if you too returned to read them. I hope you have a
great time with whatever you are doing for the next weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-19950124033188294482012-12-30T20:45:00.002+01:002012-12-30T20:48:22.032+01:00New Year Resolutions and Past Mistakes<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the New
Year is approaching, most people have their New Year resolutions. I never
really have any because I know I wouldn’t keep them if I just made them up
for the New Year. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At this time
of the year, people start thinking about their mistakes and what they want to change for the coming year. It is said that to err is human, which it
certainly is, and that it is necessary and good because that way we learn from
our mistakes and know how to do it right the next time. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While I do
think this makes sense, I can’t help but wonder whether we really learn from
our mistakes. Don’t we make the same mistakes over and over again sometimes?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have to
confess, there is one thing I always do and I know I do it wrong. I am really
bad at organizing, I am just not that structured. Every year in school I made
the same mistakes again. Instead of being prepared for the exams and studying
in time, in order not to have too much stress later on, I always
began studying very shortly before the exams, to be more precisely, the day
before they took place. Or, as my father would call it, I just lived for the
moment. In school this worked for me but at university there is so much more to
do and it is not as easy as school. Last semester at university was the first
time I did actually learn from my past mistakes and tried to avoid that stress.
I managed to be prepared for the exams and it worked really well. I have never
had bad grades but this time they were actually great. Unfortunately, the
current semester seems to be different again. I know what my mistake is and
yet it has always been hard to change it. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And think
of all the New Year resolutions people have. I bet there are thousands of
people who now have the exact same resolutions they had last year and the year before and yet they don't manage to abide by them and make the same mistakes every year.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Furthermore,
just look at history. Sometimes it seems like we repeat all our previous
mistakes, considering all the wars or any situation where people just strive
for power regardless of the results and of how insane it might be. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately,
it seems like it always takes the worst outcome to make us finally change things. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">sn’t there
a saying that defines insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and
expecting different results? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what
does it take for us to learn from our mistakes? Do we actually really learn
from them at all? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe we
don’t learn from history but only from our own mistakes. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for me, I am now starting to write a paper for university, I don’t
want to save it for the very last day, after all. My excuse for writing this
post instead of working on my paper right now is that it has to be written in
English, so this was really just a quick warm-up, of course.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-ZbXILyUrQVCkq-YZhUBMybaBCqS_GaJ_6oPrXlyPd7-bfLWIno4RNdaE1daBFOGfyXDFetToQ0F69FeUfofAnvJV6Nl7wRk7tYN59lARZou6xmSPQPea3IM2hT39A08qAvhO-S0j_M/s1600/Happy_New_Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="28" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-ZbXILyUrQVCkq-YZhUBMybaBCqS_GaJ_6oPrXlyPd7-bfLWIno4RNdaE1daBFOGfyXDFetToQ0F69FeUfofAnvJV6Nl7wRk7tYN59lARZou6xmSPQPea3IM2hT39A08qAvhO-S0j_M/s1600/Happy_New_Year.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whether or not you learned from your past mistakes, I hope your wishes for the next year come true. I</span></span> wish all
of you a Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></span>Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-39732052671620471472012-12-23T08:58:00.001+01:002012-12-23T08:58:36.183+01:00A trip down memory lane<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am sorry
for having skipped last week’s post, I usually try to write an article every week,
but this week was different. The reason is that I have to live with my family for about two weeks. Initially I thought I could just come over for Christmas and then leave again but, due to reasons that are too complex to explain here, I have to stay longer. Those of you who have been reading
my posts regularly probably know a bit about the situation between my family
and me, although I didn’t tell all the details. So, because of the prospect of
having to stay there, I couldn’t really concentrate on writing.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you
ever go on a trip into your past? Was it voluntarily or were you thrown into
it? What were your feelings connected to it?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or are you
able to live completely in the present and never look back? I’d like to say
that I do, I usually try, and I did make peace with the fact that I will
never have a good relationship with my family, my mother and my brother in particular. I just decided to live my own life. I think it is good and even necessary to let the past go. But
there are moments that throw me back. Lately some people keep telling me they
think I am strong, but especially in these moments I am not at all. Whenever I visit my
family everything changes, mainly because nothing has really changed. I hope
this doesn’t sound too confusing.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you
ever look back and realized how good it is that past is over? This is what
happens to me every time I visit my family. To be honest, I hate it. Nothing
feels worse than stepping over the threshold of the entry door, every time I
just want to turn around and run away. I hate sleeping in my old room, in my old bed, there are too many memories. I feel
anything but free when being here. This is what describes it best, this feeling
of being somehow trapped. It feels like there is something pressing my chest, not letting me breathe. I wish I could say that I can forget and
forgive, but every time I’m here I realize that I can’t entirely. I couldn’t
sleep for two weeks before going here and when I just thought of it I felt
literally sick. I won’t stay any longer than necessary. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I
am trying to see the positive side, which is that I don’t have to live here constantly
anymore. Besides, I am really looking forward to a little Christmas party I am
having later in the evening with a few old friends of mine. This is the other
side of my journey into the past, I really missed those friends. We went to the
same school but afterwards we all chose a different university, plus I moved away
for my studies, so we don’t see each other very often now. Nevertheless, when we
meet, it is like nothing ever changed and we’re best friends again. So, visiting my home town really is like a trip into the past, it seems like nothing ever changes here. I like to think that by moving away I escaped this state of not being able to move forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway,
next week’s post is going to be more like my usual ones again.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope you
all get to spend Christmas with your loved ones. Merry Christmas, or, if you
don’t celebrate Christmas, just have a great time.</span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-34270663556194574562012-12-09T17:44:00.001+01:002012-12-09T17:44:23.528+01:00How much ambition is really necessary?<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes
people tell me I have to be more ambitious. But do I really always have to be
best at everything?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wANNZo7Xp3Td0kNTD2PdBa5BO0xRlkkc0ZG7eQ_G4WUUIils_24E2Sz8PQBYG_K4QMnmRNuihYVyRb-IkWcgg_1U5ieDFbMV3S0_sMKAbtux_tRxjA_UveElvCfJANKGF1dJxBdZeuc/s1600/ambitions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wANNZo7Xp3Td0kNTD2PdBa5BO0xRlkkc0ZG7eQ_G4WUUIils_24E2Sz8PQBYG_K4QMnmRNuihYVyRb-IkWcgg_1U5ieDFbMV3S0_sMKAbtux_tRxjA_UveElvCfJANKGF1dJxBdZeuc/s1600/ambitions.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems
like society sees it as a sin if you don’t seize every opportunity you have,
even if it concerns something that is not really important. Is it a sin to
waste your talent, for example?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you not allowed to be happy unless you achieve more and more? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How
ambitious does one really have to be? And how much ambition is too much? Can
there ever be too much of it, in your opinion? I would definitely have to answer
in the affirmative.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can be
pretty determined if I really want something and I do have dreams and aims in
life. But this doesn’t relate to every activity in my life, I don’t feel the
need to be more ambitious about certain things.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For instance, I have been
doing judo for quite some time now, although I don’t do much lately, actually
hardly any at all. Anyway, over the years, I participated in several competitions
and I was somewhat successful, for my standards. However, I have always only
done it as a hobby and refused every offer to go to a special school that would
focus more on sports. Also, I didn’t want to practice every day or go
to another more promising and successful club than the one in my town. <br />As a consequence, some people
told me I’d wasted my talent. But have I really? I had a dream, I aimed to take
part in the national championship just for once. When I qualified for it a few
years ago, it was quite a big success for me. However, I have accomplished my
goal, so afterwards I honestly lacked any ambition to achieve more than
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why do people think I should
want that? Maybe I could have achieved more, but I never wanted to live for it
and I knew that I would never be good enough to be really successful. I have
always been told that I need to be more aggressive and more ambitious, but that’s
just not how I am and I am not going to change with regard to this. So why
waste my time, given that I want something else in life?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moreover,
my priorities have changed, they became simpler and more difficult at the same
time. Although I still love doing judo just for fun,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care about how successful I
am concerning sports, I’d rather like to finish my studies, find a job, travel, have my own little
family one day, just be happy. And if I know that living for a sport won't make me happy, I won't do it. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTwWh8YieXJOERYvETY4Q3aDx731g0ByB6OoIBml1kv_iJHzujnupRyJx4OCnU5SnAmqCs_DGKaSYj5Vrrt9x5vIzLPRq43yM7F4FHrYJevuW4-A_QN1KKd73eBtKOR324H_6sAWmajc/s1600/key-success.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTwWh8YieXJOERYvETY4Q3aDx731g0ByB6OoIBml1kv_iJHzujnupRyJx4OCnU5SnAmqCs_DGKaSYj5Vrrt9x5vIzLPRq43yM7F4FHrYJevuW4-A_QN1KKd73eBtKOR324H_6sAWmajc/s1600/key-success.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it
really necessary to be ambitious in every area of life? Does it make you more
successful, happier?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is ambition the key to success? But what if
you don’t want that success? What if you’re content with what you have already
achieved? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you
consider it as a waste not to seize every opportunity you have? Does it make a
difference for you whether it is about a hobby or a job, for example?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not saying that having ambitions is bad. When I
really want something, I fight for it, I don’t give up and I do everything I
can to get where I want to be. But there are things I just don’t need to accomplish.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Besides, in
my opinion, too much ambition can become harmful when it turns into an
obsession.</span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-59422695740929925782012-12-03T17:31:00.001+01:002012-12-03T17:31:40.264+01:00I am British and Germans are Nazis...?<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course I
am not, but I would love to be British. I attended this seminar about cultural
differences at the weekend which was held by a British woman who came to
Germany in her thirties. She talked a lot about British and German values and
the differences she noticed between British and German people. Of course you
can’t say “the British” or “the Germans”, of course this is much more
differentiated. But I do believe that there are certain tendencies and that
some values might be more important in some cultures than they are in others. <br />
I noticed that in a lot of areas I am more British than German. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moreover, I
am currently planning my semester abroad which will take place in less than a
year and I desperately want to go to Great Britain. Unfortunately, my
university has only three partner universities in the UK and there are about
500 people applying each semester and only two are chosen for each university
(at least if you want to go as a Erasmus student, in that case you don’t have
to pay the tuition). The reason why there are only two students to be chosen is
because this is based on an agreement between the German and British
universities and apparently no one wants to go to Germany. This does not only concern Great Britain but
also France, for example. I can understand this somehow, if I could choose, I
wouldn’t choose Germany either. Actually I would love to move to England
someday in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, I
am really curious, how much do people (non-Germans) learn about German history?
And how much do you know about Germany as it is today? What do you think about Germans (please be honest)?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This woman
also talked a lot about stereotypes and told us about some of her experiences
and asked us about ours. A lot of the other students told stories about how
people asked them about Hitler when they were abroad and how a lot of people think of Germans as
Nazis. In fact, one student had been asked (not by a Briton though) what Hitler
does today. I am always quite shocked to hear that a lot of people don’t really
know a lot about this and that they really associate Germany with nothing else
but Hitler. Admittedly, I am not very patriotic, however Germany today is not Germany 70 years ago.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-QhNLKAcVLQ2zL5i0qjLmiHDzZ7WpZ8SqBE8KiqhRgxQakp_Vgn3E3pcPdolxtbtoJZ_pakHaQJWHRos3AI12iCmEdxLU3jzoASA5kJtJY5PUcj6l9audRvmpdhQ0TqsA3V_oOnqU0c/s1600/Germany-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-QhNLKAcVLQ2zL5i0qjLmiHDzZ7WpZ8SqBE8KiqhRgxQakp_Vgn3E3pcPdolxtbtoJZ_pakHaQJWHRos3AI12iCmEdxLU3jzoASA5kJtJY5PUcj6l9audRvmpdhQ0TqsA3V_oOnqU0c/s1600/Germany-map.jpg" width="186" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, as a
German, it is quite unthinkable to not know about German past and you can’t
imagine that other people don’t learn about it. Of course, history is inerasable,
therefore we learn really a lot about it at school, mainly to prevent that such
a thing can happen again. It is almost awkward to admit to be German.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again,
people shouldn’t forget about this time in history, in contrary, they should
learn about it (and Germans do but I don’t know how this is in other countries)
but I also think that it is important to know that it is past.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, when you
hear Germany, do you really immediately think of WWII and/or Hitler? Do you
learn a lot about it at school? Do you associate Germany with anything else
that doesn’t have to do with the above mentioned issues?</span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-49414862055446288472012-11-25T22:30:00.002+01:002012-11-25T22:30:35.026+01:00Believing Your Own Lies<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all know
that there are people who lie. But there are also people who lie to themselves
and who seem to believe themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are people
actually able to convince themselves of their own lies? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do some
people really talk themselves into believing their imaginary stories? Do they
even realise anymore that they are lying?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a
phenomenon that I could often observe with regard to certain people. A person
that called me a few days ago told me about what a colleague of hers has done
and that she thinks it is terrible. What is remarkable is that this person had done the same thing in an even worse extent over a long period of time. I didn’t know
what to say. After all, she should have known I remember what she had done, so
normally she wouldn’t mention similar behaviours of others in order to not draw attention
to it. The only explanation is that she decided to pretend it never happened
and not just in front of others but for herself. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems to
me that some people actually succeed in talking themselves into believing that
their own false behaviour never happened. It is astonishing what humans are
capable of. I was aware of the fact that this person tells a lot of lies and
tries to convince others of them but so far I have never realised she does
actually believe them herself. This does explain some things, it makes me
understand things I have never understood before. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I am
not sure about though is whether this is a sign of some serious mental disorder
or whether we all do that to a certain extent.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think
sometimes people try to repress bad memories, which is perfectly understandable
in some cases. However, is it still
normal to behave like any false behaviour on your side has never existed and to actually
believe it? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is
even more extreme is that there are people who build up a whole world of lies.
In school, one of my friends told me about a classmate that had made up his own
successful band, lots of friends and a girlfriend and that he openly talked about them all
the time and that apparently he told everyone how popular, rich and
good-looking they all were, in addition to a lot of other rather unbelievable
stories. I believe that you shouldn’t judge someone without even knowing him,
so I told my friend that it might indeed be only due to unfavourable circumstances
that no one had ever seen these friends, band, or girlfriend. However, I got to
meet that person and at some point it became impossible to deny that something
was obviously wrong with his stories (this is an understatement). No one was sure whether
he believed in his own lies. In my opinion, at some point he had started to
believe that his stories were true. <br />H</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">e has built up his own imaginary world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzgnHwjAq090Ni6CZJxK2QNUUIEUDwlk8CQ0pfym7vQhPlUTv1Mqj5qKWz9Bep190cyFDeTi4W1yWLlHjA7Q8ZuCr55iAhxt98gUDaEmbT6UaXWP2Pp5vpb1jKjnNjMWcCS8fiMA0a6g/s1600/your-own-world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzgnHwjAq090Ni6CZJxK2QNUUIEUDwlk8CQ0pfym7vQhPlUTv1Mqj5qKWz9Bep190cyFDeTi4W1yWLlHjA7Q8ZuCr55iAhxt98gUDaEmbT6UaXWP2Pp5vpb1jKjnNjMWcCS8fiMA0a6g/s1600/your-own-world.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes
we talk ourselves into believing certain things because we want them to be
true.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some
children even have imaginary friends and you wouldn’t consider that as lying.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But where
is the cross point between lying and having your own view of the world? If you believe your own lies, are you telling the truth?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> There
is this quote that I mentioned in a <a href="http://mywalkingshadow.blogspot.de/2012/08/quote-of-week-2.html" target="_blank">post</a> in the beginning of my blogging days: <i>Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact.
Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.</i></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t we
all have our own views and opinions about who we are and how the world looks
like? And if we don’t actively think about it, we think that this is how the
world actually looks like. But what if it does in fact look completely
different for everyone else? And I am sure it does. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So do we actually
all live in our own imaginary world? </span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-81909256844762051412012-11-17T17:35:00.001+01:002012-11-17T20:53:38.992+01:00Why do we believe in certain values?<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week,
one of our professors told us about the result of a survey that showed that 47%
of Americans agreed with the following statement: It is necessary to believe in
God to be moral and have good values.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aYPWsIgCBKHykIdBZ24IKOU0TdTz1CXtees9oM-EcU8VUwG48TEJwdKWltXNVrQHFROKAfchZDhdRdLsqbAz41f-rAB4TDasCIkzQVVcg1xeeQXKKPi8cOCjZ468rNfODE3okNgyr6I/s1600/values.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aYPWsIgCBKHykIdBZ24IKOU0TdTz1CXtees9oM-EcU8VUwG48TEJwdKWltXNVrQHFROKAfchZDhdRdLsqbAz41f-rAB4TDasCIkzQVVcg1xeeQXKKPi8cOCjZ468rNfODE3okNgyr6I/s1600/values.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I do not
know about the reliability of this survey, but I think it is a quite
interesting question: Is it necessary to believe in God in order to be moral
and have good values? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my
opinion, an individual does definitely not have to believe in God to have good
values. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I
happened to read another statement that describes a scenario in which no one
believes in God and such a thing as religion does not exist. What this person
says is that without God (or people believing in God), there would also be no
morals and no good values because people would not believe in a higher
judgement after death. But is this really true? </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Note that
this is not a discussion about whether a God exists; this is rather about what
would happen if people didn’t believe in his existence, if there didn’t exist
any religion at all.) </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe that even if nowadays there were no one to
believe in God, good values would still remain. But what if religions would
never have existed? Do our values and morals really exist because of the
existence of certain religions? But who does really believe in the existence of
hell nowadays? If people do believe in God and therefore believe in good values, do they
really do that because they fear punishment? Isn’t it rather because they
believe in a good or loving god? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Assuming that
morals are not the origin of religion, why do we believe in them? Why do we
think certain things are immoral? Who decides what is immoral? Don’t there have
to be some given rules that someone specifies? What are “good values” anyway?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it all a
concept of treating others the way you would like to be treated yourself? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The truth
is, usually being selfish and ruthless is the best way to be successful in
certain things in life. My brother has always been indicative of this fact. He always
lied, never cared about anyone but himself, wouldn’t even think about helping
another person and there he is with plenty of friends, money and time, and
girls running after him. Yet I honestly don’t know how he can even sleep at
night, knowing about all the things he has done. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajL2DTLwO3vRPLdGgNQEUUd-55QHhy-Zx2dDPOmCjtgOyJ9wOSD5KP9T4BFd2XCg9KzIZac_MqfOOII3b3a54t0HvPyDx0LHv0VQnDqPVBNdhxDukVlxfNymqAwBAn1_TyJP7zrW4tKo/s1600/morals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajL2DTLwO3vRPLdGgNQEUUd-55QHhy-Zx2dDPOmCjtgOyJ9wOSD5KP9T4BFd2XCg9KzIZac_MqfOOII3b3a54t0HvPyDx0LHv0VQnDqPVBNdhxDukVlxfNymqAwBAn1_TyJP7zrW4tKo/s1600/morals.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My brother
definitely doesn’t believe in some values that are generally thought to be
good. But what if he has his own values? There has to be someone who decides what
is good. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, if not
acting according to certain values like honesty and kindness makes us successful
and if we don’t fear hell after life, what makes us still believe in them?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think
there are many influences that affect our values, maybe some of those are
defined by religion, some certainly by our culture (in my opinion, this has a
huge influence on a lot of people and there are clearly different values in
different cultures) and some by our close environment, like family. That is
where we get to know about certain values, but what makes us really believe in
these?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I truly
believe in some values, I have mentioned some in several other posts, amongst
them kindness and honesty. But I can’t explain the reasons. I believe they are
good and right and in my heart I know they are, but it is difficult to explain why.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are some
values you believe in? And why are they important for you?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />I would love to hear some opinions to any or all of the questions.</span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-56662808019077957802012-11-09T16:51:00.001+01:002012-11-09T16:51:24.536+01:00Who would you be?<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone
has a role model. Who is yours? Who was your role model when you were a child? </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you
could be anyone, who would you be?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every now
and then I read questions like these. Every time I think about it, but I don’t
have an answer. I think the first role model for little children are their
parents. But then comes the time when you realize they are not inerrable. So
most children then choose some celebrity as their role model. They have posters
hanging in their bedrooms and want to be like them. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I never
really had that. In fact, I have never really understood the wish to be like
some celebrity. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The point
is, people admire them for a certain role they play in a movie or for something
they achieve in sports, for example. It is comprehensible that they would like
to emulate them in these actions. But, and this is what I have always
considered, they don’t know who these people really are. How can you know about
their personality? How can you know what they had or have to suffer in their
lives? You don’t know who they really are. You only know a little excerpt of
their lives. So why do you want to be exactly like them? Furthermore, they are
not perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can’t be because no
one is. So I don’t see a point in wishing to be someone else. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whenever
someone asks me who I would like to be if I could choose anyone, I don’t have
an answer, at least I can’t think of any specific persons. There are certainly
a lot of things I can learn from other people and a lot of things I would like
to adopt from others. And surely my life is everything but perfect. But I
am who I am. So all I can do is try to improve who I already am instead of wanting to be someone else. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I
do consider it as reasonable to try to follow certain actions, behaviours or
features. It makes sense to admire these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you
admire someone for being a good person, it certainly is a good idea to try to
be that too, in your own way</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. If you admire someone for being a good writer,
you can try to be become an equally good writer. But you have to try to find
your own style. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nevertheless,
I was wondering whether it is even possible not to have any role models. Does
everyone have one without even noticing? Do we have many? <br />A</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ren’t there always
people we imitate? How else would we learn anything? Or do we invent every
action new for ourselves? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, I
do think people in our environment can have a huge impact on us. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYRfWws2w0Jc3vdfQk-ihq8k7AGMuEhCA09zN_2JJoXWf5J-esxcoAYgpWpBJwyuVLo65dMyDQp9d_H5jldftWiWMdH0KiXDrDoA0stErevcO8n_Sd6fhMGqZzBG4B2ee1VxuvzAwPDs/s1600/who+would+you+be+(123x150).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was
sometimes surprised by the influence one's friends can have on one's behaviour. My
brother used to have a very changing circle of friends. Every time he had new
friends, his taste in music changed (it was easy to say, you could hear it
everywhere in the house) and every time he adopted their vocabulary or
behaviour. For instance, when he had friends who smoked and drank a lot, he did
that too. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKI74vH-EIpaiJSl3kgeiclPbYNo12HCT_jJcsXE3vpQ5_47f2f5QLqmUz4ceUw80O44m4v8zJfM4qH5Td26gBOsbRkjDZK7jRd8LEzXkRGmITJMSD-6ppToqdkj6IVkmA2HCN_dE12Q/s1600/who+would+you+be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKI74vH-EIpaiJSl3kgeiclPbYNo12HCT_jJcsXE3vpQ5_47f2f5QLqmUz4ceUw80O44m4v8zJfM4qH5Td26gBOsbRkjDZK7jRd8LEzXkRGmITJMSD-6ppToqdkj6IVkmA2HCN_dE12Q/s1600/who+would+you+be.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This makes
we wonder, are we all just a copy of our environment? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obviously,
one’s environment and especially friends can have a huge impact on one’s
behaviour. So are we just lucky to have a “good” circle of friends? But then
again, don’t we choose our friends? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you
adapt yourself to become more like your friends, perhaps without even noticing?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe the question should rather be Who are you? instead of Who would you be?</span></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coming back
to the initial question, I always tried to find my own way. <br />
I am not sure whether that is even possible or whether it is just an illusion
and actually we are all just a mixture of all the people we meet. After all, I
don’t invent any new behaviour, do I? But maybe we can decide which ingredients
from which people we choose and consequently become the best result we can. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Certainly
there are always people who influence us, our personality, our behaviour. I
think it is good or even necessary to have people who inspire us. But in the
end, you are an individual and you should make the best out of who you are
instead of copying someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are there
any people that inspire you?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you have
a role model? Do you even want to be someone else? </span></span></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Rr067DZcNDA%2FUJ0iCaJtEmI%2FAAAAAAAAAJM%2FkzluRhvm0j8%2Fs1600%2Fwho%2Bwould%2Byou%2Bbe.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKI74vH-EIpaiJSl3kgeiclPbYNo12HCT_jJcsXE3vpQ5_47f2f5QLqmUz4ceUw80O44m4v8zJfM4qH5Td26gBOsbRkjDZK7jRd8LEzXkRGmITJMSD-6ppToqdkj6IVkmA2HCN_dE12Q/s1600/who+would+you+be.jpg" -->Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-68817257257315063972012-11-02T16:50:00.000+01:002012-11-02T19:35:08.137+01:00Whose fault is it?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZ8Vrqel2TTrPL8zAhZ883zuy942b7NlrCDmXZ0OyvK-x2EGBItoKnsZu4fkB-u3RHhir_R45_GvREBt8tQoLskGl-2iJFm8_lx7dXREmXGdmty75SZTTaz1jlQyL9ZOsD_Z9n9vCwuA/s1600/victimhood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZ8Vrqel2TTrPL8zAhZ883zuy942b7NlrCDmXZ0OyvK-x2EGBItoKnsZu4fkB-u3RHhir_R45_GvREBt8tQoLskGl-2iJFm8_lx7dXREmXGdmty75SZTTaz1jlQyL9ZOsD_Z9n9vCwuA/s200/victimhood.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lately, I have been thinking about victims and offenders in certain situations. Don't we all rather like to see ourselves as victims? It is so much easier to blame someone else for things that go wrong in our lives. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I mentioned this in several posts, I have never had a good relationship to my parents or to my brother, due to things happening that I have no words for.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is
this idea that in some cases it is not only the offender’s but also the victim’s
fault because the victim lets it happen and doesn’t defend himself. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me
explain. When I was
a little child, I was rather shy. Actually that is an understatement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very shy, I almost never talked to
strangers, and in particular I avoided talking to adults. I think I was afraid of
doing something wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was also a compliant child, I did everything
my parents asked me to do, although apparently often doing it wrong in their
eyes. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My brother, in contrast, was quite revolting and whenever he didn’t get what he wanted, he created terror. Besides, he had a talent in lying and
ingratiating himself with others, especially with our mother. As a result, it didn't matter much how I felt about certain decisions, which was kind of my own fault. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For instance, there were these humiliating situations my brother liked
to spit on me, literally, just because he thought it was fun, or because he knew I didn't like it, or without any reason at all. My parents decided I had to endure this because they didn’t want to have
troubles with him and I, on the other hand, didn’t cause so much trouble, so it
was easier that way.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was only a little prelude to things he later committed. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I
remember exactly this one moment when again my mother decided it wouldn’t
matter what I wanted because my brother wanted something else and all of a
sudden my father said: Why does she always have to back down? This was the moment I decided he was right and I began to express my own opinions and to disagree with my mother. As a consequence, our relationship became even worse with every year that passed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgnMg-G-8UIcpaXFLIlaGLk1vQxgZCyyBYQUqCkZlI4_YIo5s_MARBdUsRUupA1su-KQHJwNcDcTt5CcCrEkn9P_WKO9t1ZqlLWQV5IQwlT6gaku6MFKDEpILYM6IgfupExIcBYuX5P0/s1600/family+(100x100).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgnMg-G-8UIcpaXFLIlaGLk1vQxgZCyyBYQUqCkZlI4_YIo5s_MARBdUsRUupA1su-KQHJwNcDcTt5CcCrEkn9P_WKO9t1ZqlLWQV5IQwlT6gaku6MFKDEpILYM6IgfupExIcBYuX5P0/s1600/family+(100x100).jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, I never
really defended myself much when I was young, so I made it easy for my parents
and my brother to take advantage of that. On the other hand, I was just a little
child and all I tried to do was to make my parents love me or be proud of me. <span id="goog_602408466"></span><span id="goog_602408467"></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But shouldn’t my parents have known better? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One thing
that I also considered is, what if my brother was made the way he is now? Is it
even his fault? Are maybe my parents responsible for the way he behaves? Was he
taught to behave ruthless?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I consider
that possible. Nonetheless, even though he might not have had the right education, he should
know some basic things, he should know things like sexual abuse are wrong. Or can he have lost the ability to feel someone else's pain?</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If someone was raised thinking that he can just take anything he wants without any consequences, is it his fault when he continues thinking that way once he is an adult?</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It almost seems
as if he is a victim.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So whose
fault is it really? </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who is to
blame? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it the
one who does something wrong? The ones that didn’t teach that person what is
wrong? Or is it the one who didn’t defend himself or herself enough? </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my opinion, you can’t just make someone else responsible
for your own decisions. Even if it might partly be my parents’ fault, even if
they partially made my brother the way he is, you cannot blame them for everything
he does. I mean, wouldn’t that result in going backwards more and more? What if
my parents were treated badly as children? Was it then their parents’ fault?
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At some point, you are responsible for
your own actions and you cannot blame someone else for committing a crime. At
some point, you just have to decide to leave the vicious circle, you have to
know about your responsibility for your own actions. A difficult childhood is
so often used as an excuse for behaving badly. In my opinion, it might
sometimes explain some behaviors, but it doesn’t excuse them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, at some point and in some cases, it might also be important to stop whining about your victimhood and start seeing yourself as an independent being. </span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-85767208466430999362012-10-27T20:47:00.000+02:002012-10-27T20:47:34.115+02:00What about kindness?<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been
quite busy lately and my days were very stressful. However, I would never let
someone else pay for it. But there seem to be a lot of people that vent their spleen on
others. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was wondering, what about social responsibility, politeness, kindness? Are these values not of importance anymore? Or have they ever been? </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is
one of my neighbours (he has an apartment in the same house) who for
some reason doesn’t seem to like either me or every woman or every human being.
Whenever I meet
him, I smile and say hello but the best I did get to hear so far was a
grumpy mumbling. Most times he doesn’t reply at all and just gives me a
disapproving glance. At the beginning I thought that maybe he was just having a bad
day but he keeps behaving like that every time I meet him. One time, he was
entering the building right in front of me and instead of holding the door open, or at least pushing it open, he slammed it right in my face. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And this is
just one example of strangers behaving unfriendly without any apparent reason. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No one says
you have to be a saint. But you really don’t have to be one to follow very few
rules of politeness. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I mean,
even if you had a bad day or don’t feel like engaging in long talks to your
neighbours (which I usually don’t even intend), could you not at least reply to
a greeting? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have been reading an excerpt from a book about former differences between liberty and freedom. According to this text, in very short terms, liberty used to be an
idea of independence and separation, it was rather a privilege that can
be taken away (it is maybe that which we understand as liberty today). In
contrast, freedom meant the right to belong to and join a certain group of free
people and to care about them, to respect their rights, and it was something that must be given. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">These sentences made me
think: “In modern America too many people have forgotten this side of our
inheritance. They think of liberty as license without responsibility, and freedom
as entitlement without obligation. To think this way in the modern world is to
remember only half of these ancient traditions.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I think you always have to be careful about how to interpret any texts
about social responsibility as they can easily be misapplied in order to
support insane ideologies. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">However, what do you think about this? Not only regarding America,
but the world in a whole, do you agree? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWS9RqwDL6yS55gixYTs43a_-n6dC2O0vP8StkEcUDTOQ8Lrc0DP1f9eEestvf64BAkqUJIdZTv8C8NsnhHT1pyTJhhbPn4dxFMvJtz32Fse29MzJm-jvInQ8-vLZL_mbQG1B_2f6Fx8/s1600/kindness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWS9RqwDL6yS55gixYTs43a_-n6dC2O0vP8StkEcUDTOQ8Lrc0DP1f9eEestvf64BAkqUJIdZTv8C8NsnhHT1pyTJhhbPn4dxFMvJtz32Fse29MzJm-jvInQ8-vLZL_mbQG1B_2f6Fx8/s200/kindness.jpg" width="188" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not referring to this text, but to the topic in general, this is my point of view : I believe that being polite is very important. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">More than that, I believe that we should do something good for others. I believe
in kindness, generosity and in sharing joy and happiness. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I really
believe that one can do something good for others, even if it is only by means
of a smile. (See also this post: <a href="http://mywalkingshadow.blogspot.de/2012/08/smiling-at-strangers.html" target="_blank">Smiling at Strangers</a>) And I believe that,
even if it is only a small good deed, it can make a huge difference. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are
people who say that one single person can’t make a difference anyway, that this
is all just idealism and that it would be better to just care for yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course,
my action doesn’t make a huge difference for humankind. But you have to start
somewhere, after all. Furthermore, it might make difference for a few people,
and even if it does only for one person, it is totally <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes,
perhaps, in this regard, I am a dreamer or an idealist. But having dreams doesn’t
mean that I don’t know reality, or what seems to be reality. It doesn’t mean
that I don’t know about all the horrible things happening on earth. I might be
young, but I have made some experiences that I would not wish for anyone to
experience and I know that there are happening things that are even a lot
worse. So, believe me, I do know reality and I do know that I can’t change it
all. But I do also know that there are a lot of opportunities to spread a little joy and to brighten someone's day.</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe in a lot of things, love, friendship, kindness.
I believe in caring families, although I know the "ideal" family hardly exists. I believe in changing lives for the good. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have
hopes and dreams, but that doesn’t mean I live in a world of dreams. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-56066318155894605102012-10-21T15:45:00.003+02:002012-10-21T15:45:54.711+02:00What does happiness mean to you?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1SnBl5SsMPZ8J3W-eqiq8Aj3EucB4sQM_ppjnEcr4HqljucyzFfsnSPizsM4ugMB2UrP5Vc90qDGna74sBO_h_mZ7R7QZ7bjiRKzM45P-bcvHG_BWYLU5pgh9bZ8r__gF7-LaZXjXzQ/s1600/are-you-happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1SnBl5SsMPZ8J3W-eqiq8Aj3EucB4sQM_ppjnEcr4HqljucyzFfsnSPizsM4ugMB2UrP5Vc90qDGna74sBO_h_mZ7R7QZ7bjiRKzM45P-bcvHG_BWYLU5pgh9bZ8r__gF7-LaZXjXzQ/s200/are-you-happy.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few months ago, someone asked me: What does happiness mean to you?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I still don’t
have a definite answer to that. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My first
thought is always that it might be all the small things in life that make us
happy. These things we happen to see at a usual day, like a genuine smile, or some
beautiful flowers, or laughing with friends. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But isn’t this rather joy than
happiness? In my opinion, it is. So, what is happiness?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it all
these things together? Are we happy if we have a lot of joyful moments in our
lives? Is happiness the ability to enjoy these moments?</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happiness
seems to be a rather permanent state. When someone asks you “Are you happy?” it
is usually meant “Are you satisfied with your life?” rather than “Do you
feel joyful at the moment?” At least, that’s how it would be understood in
German. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But can happiness really be permanent? Is that even possible? If we were in a state of permanent and infinite happiness, would we even know we were happy? To know what being happy means, we must also know the opposite. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Furthermore, humans seem to have infinite
needs. Given this, can they ever be perfectly happy? </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While
writing this, I remember the differences between English and German. In German, there is more or
the less the same translation for luck and happiness, that is “Glück”. Being
happy would be translated with “glücklich sein”. But “Glück haben” means to be
lucky, whereas happiness in “What does happiness mean to you?” is also
translated with Glück. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If this is
so closely related, does that mean happiness is something we have no influence
on? Can’t we affect it at all? Does it only depend on how lucky we are?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or is it
rather a way of how we see things? Does it depend on one's ability to focus on the good things in life? Is it a combination of both?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is there
someone in this world who is perfectly happy? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, to
answer this, first there should be an idea of what happiness is. If it really
is something like a permanent condition, happiness cannot be the same as joy, because
joy is not permanent, provided that there are not just ups but also downs in
life. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then
what is it that makes us happy? Is that different for everyone, is it totally
subjective and relative? Or are there certain things in life that decide on
everyone’s happiness? Is it love, friendship, family? Or success? What about
money? What I always considered quite interesting is the fact that the pursuit
of happiness is mentioned in the US Declaration of Independence. According to
an American lecturer of a seminar I had last semester, this refers mainly to
property. Clearly, for that you need to
have money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my
opinion, money can certainly make a lot of things easier and by that I mean
that it helps if you have enough to be able to pay for your bills and all the necessary things
in life without having to worry about it permanently. However, I would never equate money with happiness. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I really don't think you need to be rich in order to be happy. Anyway, if you had to be rich to be happy, the majority of people would never be happy and this is something I refuse to believe.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtik9kNW7FYIqTPDIl4-iI1v17RSuopLCbmfwF9MgY9hNim6TFjzKlurJZF37LCsio2HHhggUjbYfRmdo4lMY2JXlB-ZVIUEZ9ZWDwWHzzep4bKIFZ1JVgCz4ZJOpxTj-Uw0ILwsVq-M/s1600/happiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtik9kNW7FYIqTPDIl4-iI1v17RSuopLCbmfwF9MgY9hNim6TFjzKlurJZF37LCsio2HHhggUjbYfRmdo4lMY2JXlB-ZVIUEZ9ZWDwWHzzep4bKIFZ1JVgCz4ZJOpxTj-Uw0ILwsVq-M/s200/happiness.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, maybe what makes us happy is just everything that makes us smile. Maybe
it is indeed all the simple things in life, or rather things that we too often consider as self-evident and given and that are actually not at all simple. Things like having true friends or a supportive family, or being healthy. Maybe it means to enjoy life and its good moments.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does
it mean to you? What makes you happy?<o:p></o:p></span></span>Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-9687707561093575582012-10-17T20:03:00.001+02:002012-10-17T20:03:09.848+02:00Are you proud of your country?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v-CYjZ5FVhoHHaF3155b9az5KvzJNFlL6YQmWqgbQe8TJ7V2JdpqU14SeSMrWX0zuXfSattM7h5Of_2fgS_EIp_z5FV1WfSDKEjFaw0FZNtA4x_lHDky1J1JdRTYDYqqpsF9v2w8Z2g/s1600/patriotism-germany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v-CYjZ5FVhoHHaF3155b9az5KvzJNFlL6YQmWqgbQe8TJ7V2JdpqU14SeSMrWX0zuXfSattM7h5Of_2fgS_EIp_z5FV1WfSDKEjFaw0FZNtA4x_lHDky1J1JdRTYDYqqpsF9v2w8Z2g/s320/patriotism-germany.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While
walking across the town I go to university, I can often see people with German
flags or caps with the German flag on it, especially during summer time. Seeing
these signs, you can be sure they are tourists. Germans don’t wear such things,
except during the time of the World Cup. Actually, while the German football
team plays, you can see flags everywhere, especially on cars, but these flags
disappear as soon as the event is over.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also
observe the American elections. By doing this, and by studying and reading </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">in general, I noticed
that patriotism seems to play an important role in America and also in Great
Britain. In fact, I think it is specifically important for Americans and, in contrary to Germany, it is considered as something absolutely positive and indespensable.</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is
very different in Germany. Due to our past, we became extremely careful with
things like national pride. Although these times are gone and most people who were living
that time are dead, this has not changed. Most people don’t feel proud when
they think of Germany and patriotic statements are always handled very
critically. At the same time, there are people who say that this is all
exaggerated and that Germany should start to feel something like national pride
again, as long as it doesn’t convert into nationalism. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> am not really sure
about what to think of all these discussions. On the one hand, our generation
is not responsible for what happened during the National Socialism. On the
other hand, it is definitely a good thing to be sensitive regarding these
topics. It seems that Germany knows only extremes. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Should Germans develop patriotism again?</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My personal
point of view is the following. I don’t really feel proud of my country.
It’s not that I don’t like it though. Nowadays, there are definitely a lot of positive
things here. I mentioned that there are a lot of tourists in my university town
and I must admit that it is a quite beautiful town, especially during summer. But
I don’t really understand that concept of national pride. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my
opinion, to be proud of something, you have to achieve something or you must
have had some influence on the thing you are proud of. What exactly are people proud of when it comes to Germany? </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moreover, there have already been so many problems in this world because people somehow think their country is superior to others. I do not understand why people keep thinking this. After all, they didn't even choose to be born in that country.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe it is not bad to support the country you are living in by being proud of it, as long as this doesn't include debasing other countries.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, although I like that
town, I am not proud of it because there hasn’t been any contribution on my
side. However, somehow it doesn't seem to be inappropriate when other people are proud of their country, it seems to be natural for other nations. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do you
think of patriotism? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you
proud of your country? If so, why? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would
love to hear some other opinions and I am willing to change my mind, so please feel
free to share your view. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-4012238284548369052012-10-13T18:05:00.001+02:002012-10-13T19:39:15.751+02:00Are you extraordinary?<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few days
ago, I talked to a friend about university which somehow turned into a not very
serious discussion about whether he was exceptionally smart (he said he
wasn’t). Eventually, we ended up arguing about the meaning of being
extraordinary.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, in his
opinion, to be extraordinary you have to belong to the absolute top of
something, regardless of what we are talking about, for example, you have to be
a Einstein or Newton or Shakespeare to be really great and extraordinary in
what you do. His definition was rather very exclusive. In contrast, I said I
believe that there are a lot of ways to be extraordinary and that we can all be
extraordinary in something.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This whole
discussion made me think a little further. I mean, is there really something
like being extraordinary? Are we not all at some point extraordinary? No one of
us is the same and especially for friends or loved ones we are unique. In fact,
we are all unique. But, on the other hand, what about persons like Einstein?
Would you say they were ordinary, nothing special? You certainly can’t say that
either.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, what
is ordinary? There certainly is an average height or age of all persons you can
measure, but it is more difficult when it comes to the personality or abilities
of people. Besides, what does an average age say? Relating to this, are you
extraordinary when you are younger or older than the average number? I am
certainly not a statistics expert but you don’t have to be one to know that the
mean average of something doesn’t necessarily indicate much without further
information. And even if there is, this is not about statistics. How would you
measure a person’s uniqueness?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moreover,
do we really have to be extraordinary? Do we always have to belong to the
absolute top? Do we have to be better than everyone else? There is always
someone that is “better”, so if you really want to be the best at everything, you
will never be happy.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That friend
also said that to be content or proud of himself, he would need to be the best
and, for instance, not just the best in his university but in the whole world.
He also admitted that this is very unlikely to happen but that it is a good way
to improve his accomplishments constantly. Maybe it is, but I think you can be
happy with what you have achieved and improve at the same time.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead of
being the best compared to everyone else, would it not be better to focus on
your own aims? I think we automatically always compare ourselves to others, I
do that too. And maybe this is the only way to evaluate ourselves and improve
what we do. But instead of looking at the other ones, sometimes it would just
be better to focus on our personal aims. When my friends and I graduated from
school, we had all very different grades, but we were all happy because we had
all managed to reach our own personal goal (or at least most of us). And isn’t
this enough? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />On the
other hand, of course, without comparing, there wouldn’t even be such things as
grades, thus it is necessary to value anything. </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my
opinion, it is in human’s nature to always strive for more, but in the end
we’ll just have to accept that we can’t always be the best. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, even if
we can’t be the best, can we be extraordinary? </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are we all extraordinary persons because everyone has something at which he or she is especial compared to others? Or is this something that refers to very few persons only? After all, the term extraordinary indicates this.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is there such a thing or are we
all unique? Or is being unique something totally different? Maybe everyone is unique but not everyone can be extraordinary. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you
think you are extraordinary? Do you want to be? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does
being extraordinary mean to you? </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My friend and I still
didn’t agree in the end and although there is probably no right answer and it
all depends on different definitions and points of views, I would love to hear
some other opinions, ideas, experiences or whatever you have to say.</span></span>Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-31286471580417627552012-10-09T20:03:00.000+02:002012-10-09T20:03:35.088+02:00My Liebster Blog<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, a little side note here: I'm back at university at Friday because the new semester begins and although I had a holiday job during semester break (so I wasn't just sitting around either), I'll have less time from then on. Good news is, I hope to have a lot of inspiration for new posts. But I'm going to have less time to write them, being at university all day. However, I'll try to post at least once a week.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Secondly, I felt honestly surprised but honoured and happy to be nominated for the Liebster Blog Award. Thank you
so much for nominating me, Epsita! This is a link to her blog: <a href="http://writer-ifyoudontlikesomething-learnit.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://writer-ifyoudontlikesomething-learnit.blogspot.com/</a></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gdTtUEC1mQbr_huAEvbnzTWDMu0ILWCqJf1JrvYTuKGb7OUUeALjUzFQZeJSf-YqbGbNcjiXPEQ5i96OV1aZgmgZn_8UokkUOPteuJOIhFBeL1OO8vwXFFy7JTE9n2f1YMFPrNr1_iM/s1600/liebster-blog-award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gdTtUEC1mQbr_huAEvbnzTWDMu0ILWCqJf1JrvYTuKGb7OUUeALjUzFQZeJSf-YqbGbNcjiXPEQ5i96OV1aZgmgZn_8UokkUOPteuJOIhFBeL1OO8vwXFFy7JTE9n2f1YMFPrNr1_iM/s200/liebster-blog-award.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Liebster
Blog is actually German and means something like dearest or favorite blog.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According
to the rules, I am supposed to answer the following 11 questions:</span></span></div>
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
genre do you usually write in?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is difficult, I write about everything that comes into my mind and
that seems to be important for me. I would say it is mainly personal but about general topics.</span></span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
is your favorite book and why? <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I like to read different kind of books , so that's hard to choose. But one that I really like is Macbeth
from Shakespeare. It’s fascinating and every time I read it I discover
something new. Plus, I just love Shakespeare’s use of language. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Which
color best describes you? <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Difficult again, I have no idea what color describes me best. I like
blue though.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
makes you feel blessed? <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It makes me feel blessed when I visit the children I used to coach and
they are happy to see me. And laughing with friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cake
or Chips? <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not sure what kind of chips this is referring to (chips as in fish
and chips or crisps) so I choose cake.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your
favorite quote?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t have one favorite quote but I’ll choose this one from Macbeth:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> That struts and frets his hour upon the stage <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> And then is heard no more: it is a tale<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Signifying nothing.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If
given a chance what would you like to change in you and why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am sometimes very insecure and not really self-confident in big groups
with people I don’t know, I would like to change that.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love
writing or reading?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Both, I couldn’t choose between one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
tops your shopping list?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Food and things for university. I am trying to save money so I avoid
buying any unnecessary things.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
keeps you busy? <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My studies at university.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
best thing you have learned as a Blogger?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are a lot of wonderful people with great and interesting opinions out there and
there is really a lot I can learn yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next thing I have to do is list 11 things about me. Here they are:</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
dream of visiting as many parts of the world as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Actually
I have been thinking about moving to the UK some day.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
used to draw a lot but it takes me a lot of time until I am content with my
work, so I became too impatient to draw anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
find it difficult to tell something about me that is not totally boring.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When
I was a kid, I didn’t want to ask other people about things I didn’t know, so I
just invented a lot of crazy but creative theories in my mind (which later
turned out to be nonsense) to explain things to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although
I love travelling and getting to know other countries, I am really bad at
geography.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
don’t like playing soccer (which is the most popular sport in Germany), but I do judo.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In
my family, I am the only one with green eyes (or green blue, I'm not sure), all the other family members I
know have brown ones.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When
I was a little kid, my father used to read from a book to me before I went to
sleep and most of the time it was the same book. I still know parts of it by
heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friends
are the most important thing for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although
I am a quite good swimmer, I am totally afraid of jumping into water. I am
scared of heights but only if there is water below me, which makes of course no
sense, as there are greater chances of surviving than without water.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now comes
the best part, which is nominating the other blogs. Unfortunately, some of my
favorite blogs have more than 200 followers and I have to choose blogs with
less, but nonetheless these are some really great blogs. They are awesome and
definitely worth a visit! So, my award goes to (and there is no particular
order):</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://rumpunchdrunk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rum-Punch Drunk</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://abrainlessnod.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Brainless Nod</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://genutsu.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Inspired by Gabriel</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.childrenofthethreesuns.com/" target="_blank">Children of the Three Suns</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://theamericanrose.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The American Rose</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you want
to accept it, these are the rules:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Answer 11
question given to you by the person awarding you.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>State 11
things about yourself<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Nominate up
to 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Inform them
of the nomination.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And my
questions to you:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. If you could meet anyone, living
or dead, who would you meet?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. Is there something or someone
that inspires you?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. What are you afraid of?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. What do you like most about
yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. Do you prefer living in the city
or in the country?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6. Who is your favorite author?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7. In school, did you ever copy
homework from someone?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8. What was the last thing that made
you smile?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9. What is one of your biggest
dreams?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10. Why did you start blogging?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11. What would you do first if you
won the lottery?<o:p></o:p></span></span>Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-2279245288534638162012-10-07T21:57:00.000+02:002012-10-07T21:57:04.489+02:00Quote of the week #8<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">The fact
is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back
shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through
as well as we can.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Robert Cushing </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all have
or had moments in our lives where we were unhappy about certain things, we
wanted them to be different, we wanted change. But at the same time we are
afraid of taking a risk. We think about the consequences, which is of course
necessary. But don’t you think that sometimes you have to risk something? Do
you rather choose the more comfortable way? Do you think of everything bad that
could happen and then decide not to “jump in”? Or do you agree with what the
quote says? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, I
went through some of my old diaries, or whatever you can call them, as they
were just books where I wrote down some of my thoughts before I had a blog. The
oldest ones are from 2002 and contain just some very insignificant stories from
a little child. But there are also more serious entries from the last years.
While reading some of them, I realized that there have been a lot of changes during
the last year that are mostly invisible for other persons. I have learned so much in this year.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Exactly
a year ago I moved away from my hometown to begin with my studies at
university. There were a lot people that tried to convince me it would be
easier to not move away and to stay at my parents’ house. Besides, some people
were saying I shouldn’t choose a Chinese course and instead learn another
language because Chinese is too difficult to learn. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought a lot about it
and I came to the conclusion that this one time I would do exactly what I
thought would be the best for me and do what I wanted to do. I have never
regretted once that I made this decision and I am glad to be responsible for
myself. I knew it was not going to be easy, as my parents made very clear they wouldn’t
support me if I moved away, nonetheless I am absolutely convinced it was the
best decision I could make. Certainly, I’m having some hard times as well,
especially when I have to pay my tuition fee, as I don’t get any financial
support at the moment and it’s hard to find a job while being at university
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days. But it could definitely be worse. I mentioned in some
earlier posts the difficult relationship to my family, so there was no way I
could have been happy while still living there. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When reading my old diary
entries, I can see that I really went through some personal growth this last
year. I was surprised at how I have seen things before and how unhappy I was
and I am happy I did something to change it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And about
Chinese, it turned out to be the course in which I have the best grades, as it
is something I am really interested in.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There have
been several moments in my life where I had to make the decision of taking a
risk and try something I was afraid of because I have never done it before or
because I knew it could be difficult. But whenever I chose to do it anyway, it
turned out to be the right decision. Are these not the moments that make our
lives exciting?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you
rather like to choose the safe way that you already know everything about or do
you take some risks? Did you ever regret your decisions?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my
opinion, a lot of people want to change something in their lives, they want
things to become better but they don’t want to do something about it. They want
progress but they are afraid of change. They are afraid of the unknown. I think
you have to dare something, you have to take some chances to move forward. As
the quote says, you just have to jump in and scramble through as well as you
can. And this is what I am trying to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-77717116550272717792012-10-04T17:50:00.001+02:002012-10-04T17:50:44.088+02:00Do you seize the day?<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my
former schoolfellows died last weekend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was involved in a car accident, he was just
the passenger and the driver probably drove too fast, but there is no proof yet. </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He used to
be in the same form I was, but he didn’t pass the final exams last year, so he
just graduated from school three months ago. He was 19 years old.<br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t know him well, I am not even sure whether I ever spoke to him, as we were a lot of pupils
and he was not among my friends. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I
was shocked. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My sincere
condolences go to his family and friends.<br />
I can’t imagine how they feel.</span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all know
life is short; I know it. I knew that those things happen, I know young
people are dying all the time. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But this made me really realize it. Life can be
over any time. One minute you’re planning your future, you’re planning how to
move to your very first own apartment, to begin with your studies and the next
minute you’re just dead. It’s scaring.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems silly that we are worrying about all
those little everyday things all the time. We are getting upset because of
little details, things that don’t matter. We are wasting our time complaining
about the most unimportant things while life is in fact a precious gift. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 396.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are annoyed at something? Think about
whether this is really so important. Is this really worth it? Somewhere in this
world there is someone that just lost their child or their best friend. Now
think about it again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A good friend of mine once told me that
whenever she is annoyed at something she thinks about how this will affect her
in two or three years and if the answer is that it won’t at all, it’s just not
worth it. I think this is the right approach.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 396.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, seize the day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know this is not possible every day, in fact
I don’t really know how to do it, as we all have so many duties. We have to go
work, we can’t just stay at home because we would like to do something else to seize the day. But I
think there is always a way.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 396.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are a lot of sayings that try to convince
us that we should live every day as if it was our last one, because some day it
will indeed be the last one. I totally agree with the idea of that. But I think
it is impossible to do that every day. If this was your last day, would you
really spend it at work and maybe clean your house and do the laundry when you are
at home? I don’t think so, but yet you have to do it. We can’t just neglect all
of our obligations because we would like to have fun instead. But you can attend
to your duties and enjoy life at the same time. You can try to focus on
everything good that happens in your life, you can appreciate all those things.
And you can try to change the things you are not happy about.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 396.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you ever realize that all those little
things you are complaining about are actually not that bad at all? (By the way,
I am no exception, this also addresses me.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 396.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you have your own way to live your life to the fullest? Is there something you
love doing that you do every day? Is there something you really enjoy doing and do
you do it often enough? Is there something you always wanted to do but haven’t
so far?</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you really enjoy every day, or better still, every minute of your life?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you seize the day?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 396.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite of all the problems you might face and
all the duties you have, take a minute and think about how valuable life is,
think about the good things you have. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 396.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And don’t forget to tell your loved ones to
tell them you love them from time to time.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 396.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life is so short, don’t throw it away. Regardless
of your age, it could be over any time. Try to focus on the good things, no
matter how small they are.</span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-7839762949195656292012-09-30T11:35:00.002+02:002012-09-30T11:35:56.697+02:00Quote of the week #7<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">What's in a
name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">William
Shakespeare<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s
topic is all about names. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Certainly,
a rose would be the same if it had another name, although it is the same in
German and French, each with a different pronunciation. Anyway, I don’t want to
explain the tasks of language here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I am
more interested in is the names of persons. It is only recently that I have
realized that I have an unordinary relation to names, you might even say it’s
strange. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apparently,
the name of another person is something very intimate for me. Of course, this
is illogical, as everyone has a name and everyone can call you by that name. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I meet
people and make friends with them, they very soon address me with my name all
of the time. I have realized that I actually only call my closest friends with
their names and that it takes me a lot of time to address someone with his/her
name in real life, but when I do it, I like to do it and mention their names very
often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think at all it’s
inappropriate when people say my name, I think I even like it, it’s just that I
don’t do it. For example, someone asks me “[name], do you want to go the cinema
tonight?” If I ask that question, I only use the name when it’s a close friend.
Maybe I’m crazy.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, it
made me think about names and their importance for us.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least
for me, names indicate a lot of intimacy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, what’s
in a name?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does
our name mean for us? Is it just a word? Is it us? </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After all,
we identify ourselves with that name. </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would you
like to choose another name for yourself? Would that make a difference? How
important is the name you choose for your children?</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s
another quote:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="huge"><span lang="EN" style="color: #6fa8dc; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><em>In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the
rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are not only what they are. They
are, in very important respects, what they seem to be.</em></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Hubert H.
Humphrey</span><span class="bodybold"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things are
what they seem to be, but does the name determine what we seem to be? Or does
our personality and our behaviour have an influence on how our name seems to
be? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is the cause and what is the result or is it reciprocal in a way? Is there any connection at all?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would you feel different about yourself if you had a completely different name, would other people expect someone differently? How much of your name determines what you seem to be?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or, ultimately, does it only depend on who uses your name? Does it not make any difference what your name actually is but what people make out of it?</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For that purpose,
a last quote. It’s one that I really like and it is from a little child called
Billy who was asked to define love. Can you believe he was just four years old?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Calibri;"><em>When
someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that
your name is safe in their mouth.</em></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you
ever realize it makes a difference? I did. There are people who pronounce my
name in a way I don’t like and there are other people that make it sound
valuable. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
They make your name sound unique. </span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-17116716472662482582012-09-25T17:45:00.001+02:002012-09-25T17:45:41.729+02:00Parents - What do we owe them?<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“After all
I’ve done for you…”. A popular sentence and I am sure some of us have heard
this sentence from our parents. But what have they really done for us? </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HITbxj8-zcRYfGPMkt01MnoCXbO7UycKp1oL4IW7EGoy6TjaDRqVl0O2FqjwKjvt-yNhH7OwKBXMb9CLDcGCZDgGN4nJhyFVy7rm1S0ghsIEfDi7Tysi3_gtVcgl-R8ff5Z1z7f9f2o/s1600/hand-child-parent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HITbxj8-zcRYfGPMkt01MnoCXbO7UycKp1oL4IW7EGoy6TjaDRqVl0O2FqjwKjvt-yNhH7OwKBXMb9CLDcGCZDgGN4nJhyFVy7rm1S0ghsIEfDi7Tysi3_gtVcgl-R8ff5Z1z7f9f2o/s200/hand-child-parent.jpg" width="180" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The reason
for us existing in this world is that at some point of their lives our parents
decided to have a baby. In some cases, it might not have been a planned child,
however the decision was made to bring up the child. They raised and funded us
for years. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does that mean we owe them our lives? Do we have a debt to pay for
the rest of our lives? </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The common opinion is that we are in their debt because
they raised and loved us regardless of what we did. Having such parents you should definitely be thankful.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But what if they didn’t?<br />
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Certainly, we should be grateful and respect them to a certain extent. But do
we really have to accept all of their statements? Do we have to obey and love
them unconditionally?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me tell
a story of a little girl, just a small insight. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She’s sitting in her room,
thinking of how she can make her mommy proud of her, but she can’t imagine
anything else than she has already tried.<br />
Christmas is coming and she’s writing a wish list. All she writes is this: I
wish that my mommy loves me. Then she hides the note in a drawer, never showing
it to anyone. <br />
A few hours later, her mother tells her she hates her more than anything else and she wishes she would
never have been born. She tells her she is a slut and the worst child one could
imagine and that she doesn't even deserve to be alive. She’s yelling at her for about an hour and strangling her for a couple of seconds, getting caught up in her
contempt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason for this is that
the girl told her it was cold in her room whereas her mother thought it to be very
warm and she hates too much warmth. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The girl tries to be strong, as she always
does, she hides her tears until she is back in her room. There, her brother is
already waiting for her, naked, as if he wanted to proof her being a slut. She screams,
but nobody would ever listen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can see no love or respect here. There are so many cases of domestic violence and they shouldn't be tolerated. Unfortunately, parents do not always know what is best for their children, despite this so often mentioned argument.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can you imagine how long it takes these children to recover any self-esteem?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So why do we still keep in touch with them? Why do we not break off all contact after having been grown up? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In spite of all that happened, we still feel a certain liability, a duty or a guilt towards our parents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Society tells us we should be grateful. After all they have done for you, you don't want to come home for Christmas? How can you be so selfish?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Above all, we can't erase family ties. It's still our family, after all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When our parents
betray our trust, abuse us, intentionally hurt us, do we still have to be
grateful? Parents should love their children, they should show them their love,
but what if they don’t? What do we owe them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuY8i1LobNt9gXVFXjA7O-H4ARkM_Rf2giMUOWHSJipgwPSYJQD0QaC3T9fqDhNFISt0jtQzESQwxv_xZKMyjYxpEIIx1tvfkYjqmDUKKM8jXB31N9tu1_uwfNdO8zQFAqCBponhcsDyI/s1600/love-parents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuY8i1LobNt9gXVFXjA7O-H4ARkM_Rf2giMUOWHSJipgwPSYJQD0QaC3T9fqDhNFISt0jtQzESQwxv_xZKMyjYxpEIIx1tvfkYjqmDUKKM8jXB31N9tu1_uwfNdO8zQFAqCBponhcsDyI/s1600/love-parents.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When they
wrong us, we might be willing to forgive them more easily than others, but injustice
stays injustice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Basically,
we should respect all human beings. But I don’t think we owe them our unconditional
respect and gratefulness. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Respect
should be mutual. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, it is a good thing to respect our parents, but
shouldn’t they pay us some respect too? Once we are adults, we make our own
decisions and naturally sometimes (or often) we disagree with other people,
which also include our parents. We have a right to form our own opinions and
our parents should respect this. They should accept us as autonomous
individuals with possibly different views.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most of all, they should love and support their children when they are little, providing a basis for the respect and appreciation to be mutual.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If our
family bond hurts us more than it does anything else, it is maybe time to loosen
the ties and forget about the predetermined obligations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After all, blood
relationship doesn’t necessarily heal everything, it doesn’t convert injustice into
fairness.<o:p></o:p></span></span>Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-16818577076545270132012-09-22T21:05:00.001+02:002012-09-22T21:05:18.525+02:00Quote of the week #6<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Without
leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. </span>Dreaming,
after all, is a form of planning.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gloria Steinem</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, I happened to listen to a
song that always reminds me of hope for the future. It was played during our official
graduation from school. We had to walk on a red carpet, me and my two best
friends together and afterwards we were given our certificates. During that walk the song was
played. I remember exactly how I felt that day. We were exceedingly happy to
have passed our final exams with good grades. It was our last day as pupils and
it felt like our whole future lay ahead of us. After 12 years of school, it was the
threshold to a new life. We had so many dreams and hopes. In that moment, we
felt as if we could reach anything, as if we could change the world. I know
that it was totally exaggerated and unrealistic and it might even seem stupid,
but this is what we felt, or it was what I felt. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, there is nothing much extraordinary about
graduating from school, but for us it was the way to our future, it was like a
magic moment. Whenever I listen to that song, it reminds me of that hopeful, exciting feeling and
I begin to believe that there is still a lot I can accomplish. It makes me
remember my dreams and hopes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it of any good to have dreams? Is
it starry-eyed, naïve? Would it be better to not dream at all, to be more realistic? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is dreaming a way to define and achieve our goals or does it prevent us from living our life?</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNozFi0Y_Xl5p3H3afR5ieyyyWbykF-iz7dAsnfEz-FgBXqB2ZJB7ph4JU-M0i9xfZDlNXrlaAdhNwE0xuPYLPzSYt0W-6oUqCYLk5_Ob0C6eP3CDnD4fpUhftnJRU5oBXsxImiuz_0Q/s1600/graduation-dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNozFi0Y_Xl5p3H3afR5ieyyyWbykF-iz7dAsnfEz-FgBXqB2ZJB7ph4JU-M0i9xfZDlNXrlaAdhNwE0xuPYLPzSYt0W-6oUqCYLk5_Ob0C6eP3CDnD4fpUhftnJRU5oBXsxImiuz_0Q/s200/graduation-dreams.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my opinion, it</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> is good to have dreams and, as in the quote, it is even a form of planning.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even if they never come true, at least they give us hope for the future,
they make the present a better place. They make us hope for a better future and
in some cases they make us do something for this future. Most of the time I am
down-to-earth, but in my heart I will never stop having some of those dreams. In
my opinion, we should have dreams that are not too unrealistic and then we
should try and make these dreams come true.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you still have dreams? Did some
of your dreams come true when you grew older? Or did you give up your dreams?
</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do we change when we grow older? Do we see things in a more realistic way, do
our views change? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, I think I am still young and I
don’t know whether my point of view will change when I am older. Anyway, I don’t
feel like that all of the time. There are a lot of days I feel completely
different, but I am grateful for those hopeful days.<o:p></o:p></span></span>Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-72401790081254573752012-09-18T13:58:00.001+02:002012-09-18T13:58:51.618+02:00Would you break the law to save a loved one?<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently, I
stumbled upon this question.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It
instantly made me remember a workshop at university concerning cultural differences.
The teacher, a woman from England, who has already been travelling to a lot of
countries doing her workshops, asked us the following question: If
you knew your friend was driving way too fast with his car and the police asked
you about it, would you lie and not reveal your friend’s fault? We all agreed
we would in order to protect our friend, although he has been doing something wrong.
Then she changed the question. It’s the same situation as before, but this time
your friend killed someone because of driving too fast. This time, no one
wanted to lie to the police. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apparently,
this is typical for Germans. The woman told us that whenever she asks this
question in another country, there are usually a few people that would still
cover up for their friends. In Germany, rules and laws are usually more important.
In my opinion, you can’t reduce it all to cultural differences, but I think
there is a tendency due to cultural backgrounds.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway,
should we put laws or allegiance to a friend on the first place? If you knew
your friend was doing something wrong, would you cover up for him? And does it
make a difference whether there are any bad consequences due to his behaviour?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So far to
this question which isn’t exactly the same as the one in the headline.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would you
break the law to save a loved one? This is also a question we discussed at
university and I remember the following problem. I think there is even a
popular theory behind it, but I don’t really remember the name of it. It was
about stages of moral development. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, let’s
say your wife/your husband is deathly sick and there is exactly one medicament that
can save him/her. There is also only one pharmacist that sells this drug, BUT
to a price that is absolutely exorbitant and way more than you can afford.
There is no chance you will get this money soon enough. The only way to get the
drug would be to steal it. Would you do it and why/why not?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me give
you a few hints. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a very
easy basis, should you not steal it because you might get into prison or should
you steal it because your wife/husband is an important person to you? Should
you steal it regardless of the importance of this person to you, because we should
always try to help others? Should you steal it because the right to life is
more important than property right? Or should you act according to law, because
after all it secures our all individual rights against those who disobey them?
Or should you steal the drug because the dignity of human life is above all
other values? Should you not steal it because theft should never be the basis
for any universal rule of action (as in the categorical imperative according to
Kant)?</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, in your opinion, is there a difference between what you should do and what you actually would do?</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would
love to hear some opinions, thoughts, ideas or answers to any or all of these
questions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-91798267981959885742012-09-15T14:56:00.000+02:002012-09-15T14:56:22.600+02:00Quote of the week #5<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>There is
beauty in truth, even if it's painful. Those who lie, twist life so that it
looks tasty to the lazy, brilliant to the ignorant, and powerful to the weak.
But lies only strengthen our defects. They don't teach anything, help anything,
fix anything or cure anything. Nor do they develop one's character, one's mind,
one's heart or one's soul.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">José N.
Harris<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is it
that we are all lying, all the time? I don’t want to make an exception for
myself here, all I say is that I am trying to avoid lies, but I am sure I have
lied many times in my life, as we all have. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems as
if people want to be lied to, they enjoy the lies, it seems to me as if there
was an unspoken agreement that says we should lie whenever it is possible. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We lie all
the time, regardless of what we are talking about. We even lie to ourselves and
sometimes we even believe these lies. It seems as if a lie becomes the truth,
once it is told often enough. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I sincerely
try to tell the truth, or rather I tell what I think to be the truth, as no one
can ever be sure what the truth is. However, I have made the experience that
the truth is not what people want to hear. Nonetheless, I believe in being
honest, it is of value for me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I really
don’t want to say that I am better than anyone, I am not, but this is my point
of view and I believe in it. I trust everyone until there is a reason that
proves this person should not be trusted, I believe in the good in people and I
believe that people tell me the truth, because I would tell them the truth,
especially when it comes to friends. Maybe I am naïve, but then be it so.
However, once I know about people telling me significant lies, it is hard for
me to forgive, it is hard for me to trust them ever again. Honesty and confidence
in someone belong together, I trust because I have faith in my friends, but
once the honesty is lost, the faith is lost, too. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is the
point of inventing great stories about something that could be told in one
little candid sentence? I understand that people do lie sometimes in order to
not hurt someone. But if we are totally honest, most of the lies we tell are
told because it’s easier than telling the truth, because it seems to be more comforting
to ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First,
there are those lies we all agree upon. It’s when someone asks you how you are and
you tell him you are fine. You meet people in the street you have not seen for
many years, you are both busy and you both agree silently that you do not want
to hear of all the problems of the other person. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then there
are the big lies, lies that are told because it is easier to tell them, because
we just don’t want to tell the truth, lies told in order to intentionally
deceive someone. Lies that we tell because we want to appear better, greater,
more successful than we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are the
lies some people even seem to believe for themselves. Besides, there are also lies that are created to make
people believe in something that doesn’t exist and the creator knows about their
falseness but tells them anyway, lies that are told in order to achieve
something, lies that can even be told to a whole state.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, there
are even false statements that are told for no apparent reason. They are absolutely
unnecessary and they are the reason making me believe that we are all just big
liars, that we enjoy the untruth. Why do we tell these lies? Is it because we
are afraid of being hurt if we were totally honest? Do we even recognize anymore
that we are being dishonest? Is there really an unspoken agreement in not
telling the truth? Why can’t we all try to be honest?<o:p></o:p></span></span>Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-46563391364566222532012-09-11T21:17:00.000+02:002012-09-11T21:17:58.254+02:00Children - between cruelty and honesty<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot of
people say that children can be extremely cruel. Indeed, it is a terrible thing when children
are bullying one another. Often there is one child that is “different” and
therefore it is being bullied. I think these bullies don’t even know what harm
they inflict upon their victim. These children may be marked for the rest of
their lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>But who should we blame? Is
it the parents’ fault, because they have failed in their education? Is it
society’s fault? Or is there no one else to blame but the children?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I do not
know the answer to that question. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the same
time, children are usually such honest little beings. I have assisted as a coach
for some years and I have made so many wonderful experiences there. You soon learn that you are not only the
children’s coach, but also their attachment figure, their role model, their
friend and sometimes even their psychologist. They tell you about school, their
family, their friends, their problems and what makes them happy. It is amazing how much responsibility you already have for them, although just seeing them at most once or twice a week for two hours. </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course,
you need to keep some distance though.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even their
parents talk to you about their children’s problems and want some advice. Considering that I am
not a mother and that I had so many problems with my own family, it was
actually a strange thing to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you know
that big, sincere happy smile that only a child can give you? And do you know
these things only children seem to recognize? There were actually two children that
told me I had pretty teeth. Who looks at the teeth of another person? Moreover,
I think my teeth are just very ordinary. But it made me laugh, it was such a
sweet compliment. I particularly appreciate compliments from children, because
they usually just say what they see and you can be sure that they don’t tell
you because they expect something in return.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I moved away from my home town a year ago, so
I wasn’t able to coach them anymore. I had to promise to visit them regularly and
one little girl even cried. It touched my heart, they were so sweet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can there be
anything more heart-warming than little children that are all excited and happy,
just because you visit them? They are lovely little creatures. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway,
what I wanted to get at is that children are often so much more honest than
adults. But at the same time they can be so cruel. But are they really? Aren’t
adults crueler sometimes? There are so much terrible things in this world that
only adults are able to commit. Children are extremely straightforward and just
tell what is in their mind, which can be a good but also a bad thing. In
contrast, adults can be very furtive, which isn’t a good thing either, or is it
worse?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the
other hand, when I don’t like someone I try to avoid him but not to bully him.
That is maybe something that only adults do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So are they
cruel or just honest? Or are they both? And what about us? Are we better, after
all?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-17984973390466381082012-09-09T19:59:00.000+02:002012-09-09T19:59:39.755+02:00Quote of the week #4<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>We must be
willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is
waiting for us.</em> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph
Campbell<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my
biggest weaknesses is probably that I am a really bad organizer and planner, at
least when it comes to my own life. When I ought to do something for others, it
is very important for me to be reliable, but when I should plan something in my
own life, I tend to be a bit chaotic and spontaneous. As I have explained in
some earlier post, I never watch the weather forecasts and just go outside to
see how the weather is. That is basically the way I have handled a lot of
things in my life. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the
last year in particular, a lot of things have changed in my life, I have
developed personally and I started making some plans in my life though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have
noticed that most people feel comfortable in planning everything and that a lot
of people don’t like changes of plans. I do understand the reasons for it and I
can also see the advantages of planning.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I still
wonder if it is better to schedule every detail in our lives or to take things
as they come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think one
has to distinguish here between things that should be planned and things that
we have no influence on.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I have
mentioned before, I used to plan hardly anything, although I have always waited
for the future to come, so that I could move away and start my own life. This
might seem contradictory, but as I always just had this big plan, I didn’t plan
the details that came before. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nevertheless,
I have learned that you should have some plans in your life and that it is
nearly impossible to continue with such an attitude that I had, once you are a
grown up and once you are fully responsible for your life.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But is it
really necessary to plan every detail and most important, is it possible? In my
opinion, it absolutely isn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At first,
there are things like preparing for a test, for example an exam at university.
Obviously, you should know how much time it takes to learn the different topics
and then try to learn it continuously and not keep it all for the last day, so
scheduling here is necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Secondly,
there are the big plans in life. Admittedly, I have to say that I still don’t
have concrete plans here. I rather like to see it as options you have in life
and ways you would like to continue. For example, I would like to have my own
little family one day, but can I really be sure that I will ever find the
partner for this? It is also my dream to visit as many places of this world as
possible. Furthermore, I want to graduate from university and find a job that I
like. But I have no idea about the details yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You always
have to keep in mind that there is no way of foreseeing the future and things
usually don’t turn out as we have expected them to do, so these are rather not
my plans but some of my aims in life. At the same time, I can see that it is
important to know your options and to have some plans in mind, so that you can
try to reach the best possible outcome. Moreover, a good organization is often
necessary and helpful to reach your goals.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Besides, it
is a great and important thing to have some visions and dreams in life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we should
have some plans for the important big things in life, but we also have to
consider changes and developments, so that we can modify our plans and the way
we could reach our goals.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But still I
see no point in planning every detail of my life. You can’t plan the little
things you have no influence on. There are so much wonderful things to explore
every day and I like to keep all options open.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In fact,
starting this blog was a very spontaneous decision and when the idea arose in
my mind I immediately implemented it. Of course, some planning would have been
useful. But on the other hand, without being spontaneous I would never have had
this idea.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is
just my personal point of view and I am aware of its great imperfectness. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, as
my journey just began, I am sure there will be more development.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, this
whole text didn’t completely refer to the quote. But I think it speaks for
itself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5565595409211773785.post-46189825932138077532012-09-05T17:55:00.000+02:002012-09-05T21:41:29.000+02:00Are we all basically selfish?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine you
were a boy in a big and quite house. Your parents are not at home, but your
sister is. Great, you’ll wait for her to come out of her room, after all she
must come out some time, so that you can abuse her, yes, sexually. Don’t worry,
she won’t tell your parents, they wouldn’t believe her. You are mommy’s little
boy, she’ll do anything for you. If your sister tries to tell your mother, you can
still cry and tell her how bad your sister is, so that she is going to be
punished. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, you
have been doing this for years, there really is no need to worry. Your sister
is crying? So what?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can’t
imagine doing this? I hope so. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the
last few years I have realized something that I find terrible. There are people on
this earth that are extremely selfish, people that don’t care at all about
other people’s feelings.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The saddest
part of it is that these people get away with what they do too often. Too often
they are more successful in what they do than people that are honest and try to
help others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been
thinking about this a lot and I really wonder whether one has to be selfish to
get along in this world. Do you have to be unscrupulous, unfair and devilishly selfish?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is this the
only right way to be successful in whatever you do? </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are most
people actually selfish at heart and is it good or even necessary to be so? Is it the
easiest way?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However the easiest
way doesn’t have to be a good way. But who determines what is good and what is
bad? Isn’t moral just a necessary construct in our society?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And what
are the consequences of such a behavior? Do these people really feel
comfortable with themselves?</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You could
also say it in a more positive way. Is it a good thing to take care of yourself in the
first place?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Should we be selfish, because we should love ourselves? </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After all, someone has to look after you and maybe there is no one
else. Isn’t it a good thing to pursue your dreams? It is, but what about the
dreams of other people, what about their feelings, their hopes, their rights? </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is our
society really so self-centered? </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are we all born selfish? From the biological point of view, we want to reproduce. Maybe it is in our genes, so that we are all basically selfish. But I think this explanation is too easy and I am not a biologist anyway. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is helping others just a selfish way to feel good? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then again, what about love and I mean true love? Shouldn't it be totally selfless?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about generosity and altruism? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about the human values we have? We should be able to find a balance between loving ourselves and caring for others. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am asking myself all those questions, but in
the end the answer doesn’t make a difference anyway. I know I wouldn’t feel
comfortable.</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So is it
better to help others? For what good?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t
even know how to explain. I am not a very religious person, or rather I don’t
believe in some specific church, so this is not the reason. I just feel we
should help each other. Our world could be a much more wonderful place if
everybody cared for others. Of course, there are a lot of people that do and I
am really happy to know some. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remember
donating some money when I was about 15 years old. My brother just laughed at
me, he couldn’t understand how one could be so stupid to give away their money.
He even admitted that all he cared about was himself. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have now
a godson in Africa that I support with some money, although I don’t have much
of it either and I work hard for it during semester break. I didn’t tell
anybody, because I know people wouldn’t understand, especially not my family.
Isn’t it terrible that one has to feel ashamed because of doing something good for others? </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that
for this child the money is much more worth than for me and I love that I can
contribute to his chance of going to school. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, he is just a little child and it
really isn’t his fault that his parents were not able to take care of him. So
why not support him when I have the chance to? </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why not
always help others when we have the chance to do so? And I don’t mean by
donating money, but in our everyday life. You could brighten someone’s day or even
more, and isn’t this totally worth it?</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Kleopatrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670239124771015678noreply@blogger.com11