Travelling

Today I have a letter in the newspaper concerning a suggestion from the oppostition in Denmark, where newly qualified have to pay back their otherwise free education if the leave Denmark for too long. Have fun reading. :-)

Sun

I finally remembered why i decided to move to Bonn.

Sunday

Strictly speaking it's not Sunday today, but since it's Ascension Day today I still can't go grocery shopping. Not that grocery shopping is number one on my list of favorite things to do, but for too long I have not appreciated open supermarkets on Sundays.
Since I now live in an catholic country I will have to get used to it. I have to plan! A horrible prospect for a student....or just someone like me, who remebers what she needs five minuts before she needs it.
Actually supermarkets in Germany do open on Sundays....four times a year. But even that is too much for the German catholic church, they actually call it a sacrilege.
Wich me, the anti-religious atheist, good luck! 

Exhaustion

After one and a half week of work I still only barely manage to do my 8 hours in the lab. One of the reasons is that I run from one end of the lab to the other looking for substances and labequipment. Since there is a total lack of methodology in the location of the chemicals, I have to check on the computer every time I need something. Moreover I have to borrow a computer from one of my colleagues, since all the group-computers were taken. Also all the desks were taken, so my workspace is a narrow "room" with an old chair and my own old laptop. Not very cosy!

All of this makes work sort of unpleasent and tough and at two o'clock I could lie down and sleep on the spot. I hope in time, when the lab becomes more familiar to me I can actually start working effectively.

Wish me luck!

Fire

The first Saturday in May every year is a special day for the cities along the river Rhine. The day is called Rhine in Flames. Ships with lights on travel along the river, bridges are lit up and music is playing. Several cities along the river arrange a gigantic firework to a music theme. In Bonn a big funfair mixed with discomusic and beer entices most of the minors in Bonn and surroundings to come to the Rheinaue.

As an "almost grown-up" 14 year olds lighting up deodorant is not the essence of a nice evening. However we manged to have a lot of fun, trying every food booth and sqeezing siz people on to one blanket. 

Home

May

In the this part of Germany the first of May is a holiday which is also known as: "Tag des Bekenntnisses zu Freiheit und Frieden, sozialer Gerechtigkeit, Völkerversöhnung und Menschenwürde". Get that!

Behind this voluptuous phrase a mulitude of events take place. The mandatory demonstrations of the workers result in riots, followed by the inevitable clash with the police.

However this day also has a more peaceful aspect. In the north of Nordrhein-Westphalen young men get a hold of a small birch tree (mostly by stealing), and decorate it with coloured ribbons. This results in wonderfull sights like this:


The tree is then placed in front of the house of your beloved. Three trees means you get married (I don't suspect, that they take that last part very seriously).

So while the police is preparing for the big battle with the protestors, young men with open hearts drive ornamented birches trough town.