4.30 am - India

as promised, here are some stories related to the fotos I am putting into paper albums.

Yesterday, it was India´s turn. Every foto going into that album is full of colour, life, poverty, contradictions and opposites, joy, sorrow, you name it.

My trip to India took place in 1994. I was prepared for everything:
-hunger
-illness
-beggars
-insane circumstances
-clashes of any kind from a religious, ethnics and political perspective.

my journey took me from New Delhi to Agra, Jaipur, Darjeeling (some hiking), Calcutta, Goa and Bombay.

I will never forget the moment of setting foot into India by arriving in Bombay I think, where we took a flight to our first destination Delhi. The humidity in the air, the heat. The first rupies in Delhi, the almost violent smell that overran my processing capabilities in conjunction with masses of people, colours, language.

It is hard to describe this. But what surprised me personally the most: It felt familiar even though I knew the enormous amount of experiences to be had until the brain can even start to follow that intuition. Let alone the political situation, religious war paths and the worries about personal health. Mosquitos to the day terrify me since then, for a second only, but still...

Somebody in the Himalayas put a bindi on my forehead whilst blessing me. Such a touching gesture, that red dot left me with the sensation of a cold coloured circle on my skin. I left it on out of respect for the blessing that came with it, but it felt strange to have it in the first place. Back in the day I did not sufficiently about hinduism and it made me focus too much on its pure significance instead of enjoying the blessing. cold mass on skin.

We saw so many temples, forts, modern architecture, british influences, the Taj Mahal and yet there are thousands of miles to walk on indian grounds.

I mostly felt safer than in some areas in my world. And even though the colours, smell and (I forgot to mention the ever present) music was there, it had something clarifying about it. I do remember looking in people´s eyes and sometimes seeing a depth that might have been the result of their darkness. But put in combination with some people´s composure, and the fact that a greater part of these people did not know if they would have something to eat on that specific day, it simply - and still - humbles me.

I am a child of materialism. I am used to having the basics of life, and so much more than that. I do like dressing up, looking nice, I have a nice life style. But I have to admit that less choice would make things easier.

If anybody ever saw "before sunset", you will hear Julie Delpy´s character say something like: "I went to a communistic country, and after a few days, I had the clarity I have been missing for such a long time. I realized that I felt so focussed i could write again. and all of this beecause there were simply no distractions. No advertising, no bombardement with information you don´t want in the first place."

That´s what I am talking about.

Bea might remember my reaction when I came back to Germany. I got the cultural shock here. People with everything seemed in part so joyless to me. Frankfurt airport with the shiny floors, almost sterile. And up to the current day I don´t like those shops with too much nic-nac and bling bling.

Don´t get me wrong, there ARE shops I like, and I do have a hand for quality. It might be about clarity, and something missing a greater appreciation for what I have. I think I am aware of it sometimes.

Going to India has been the most rewarding trip I ever went on. I am being told that it has been changing a lot and I hope to go back to see the change.

I am sure that today is a special day where I will dedicate the dreams I will fall into within the next 30 minutes to remember and relive what I remember and like about life. And some images from that specific trip: The Himalayas, Nepal, Monsoon time, people we encountered and talked to.

I feel blessed for have seen India.
And for having seen and talked to some of you yesterday. i do miss you guys so you are spread all over the place.

I feel blessed for knowing all of you and so many more adventures to come.

A big hug,
B

to all of you

You guys,

the last few days made me think of the world´s logic which led me to soonissimo.

How exciting is it to meet new people you have a connection with, It is rare, a challenge and you know when they are right.

A couple of weeks ago, I have been invited to a book reading from Susuki Perret, having a lovely evening in Köln. The spirit of kindness and authenticity within. That were I met Susuki, her husband, and Liliana. Liliana and me met on Sunday again, luckily with Simona and lovely people from the opera in Bonn.

A few hints on how to deal with surprising things say so much about a person, and I was really amazed about what I saw last Sunday. Feeling blessed with such experiences, I think we will have new visitors here at soonissimo soon, I must prepare them first and Sam hasn´t met them yet, but I guess he will approve when they come to dinner some day in September.

In this spirit, there are further people I would like to mention but I haven´t got their permission yet, so bear with me on this one, too :)

Here are some further messages to all of you, my dear friends whom I always keep in mind! Anisa, Dee, Nouska, Luis, I will skype/call asap, I miss you guys!

@ Lorena, we wanted connect your friend to soonissimo, I think now is a good time, I am not that grumpy any more :)
@ Corina and Peter: I haven´t contacted you guys in ages and hope all is well with you, let´s meet soon!
@ Keren, dear, I am keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of your project
@ Marksi: you will get them, one by one :)
@ Rob: what is the deal with Italy? I am so curious :)
@ Anina: I am so happy about your new life for you, even though the mundane things don´t seem to work, I am thrilled about the rest :)
@ Mon: Allo allo is getting better and better, right? I couldn´t believe you liked it so much too! Loved our Saturday :)
@ Hilli: where are you, hope all is well with you and that the Monday greetings help :))
@ P-A: another bow to world (and skype), I will visit you guys asap even if it takes some time!
@ Paul: you are great, keep the track :)
@ Roby; we are sticking to your gifts you sent us!
@ Bea, Sam and me miss you guys and are keeping fingers crossed

Kisses and hugs to you and your families and beloved ones I will write some more messages to those of you I have not mentioned yet but I have you in mind, but I cannot keep my eyes open now any more

to be continued

Besote,
Birgit

Bridget

my contribution to the world

Hi there,

apparently Sam has been very diligent here blogging these days, thanks dear! *giggle*


Apart from work - I wil spare you the details - there are so many things to think about from my side. What is tickling for 20 years already:

- aged 18 I wanted to live in Israel and still consider it an option, admiring a country that risks so much to be and to stay where it is now, later on also India for different reasons and Spain is something for the heart :)

- careers and charismatic personalities, I love following what we get to know about them. Are some of them happy, do you think they found THEIR thing?

- the inhabitated woman by Gioconda Belli is a fantastic story about a woman who lives a normal life until she falls in love with somebody and joins him regarding a political goal he wants to achieve (the result is a little extreme, I am aiming at what she discovers inside of her :) )

- the Daniel Pearl foundation

-some friends started getting involved in Africa projects, others are thinking about going into arts and religion

It is very difficult to express this with a few examples. Especially I don´t want to sound spoiled (the shere thought makes me giggle), bored from life or pathetic. I know that there is something outside there that will make me happy (which is now more probable since the circumstances of my life are more in balance than they were two years ago, I remember a day in Chicago when such thoughts would have been a delight instead of being close to a depression, sorry Keren and Ben you had to deal with my moods!). I still haven´t found my thing to focus on and whenever I am reminded of it, I feel like not really having contributed to the world.

So, in the spirit of soonissimo, I will start working on finding something that makes me happy. What is yours? Do you feel there is something to do, be it small or big, is there a chance for you to do that? Sorry for being a but fuzzy when explaining this, I will try to be a bit clearer any time!

A big hug,
Bridget

Buster Keaton, cyclones and being famous

Well, well, well,

last weekend was filled with funny movies, laughing our heads off went it came to "the haunted house" with Buster Keaton, one of the silent black and white films in the old style...

After a little research, I found out the following about him:

"On a relentlessly hot day in July 1898, Buster Keaton, not yet three years old, lost part of a finger in a clothes wringer, had several stitches after a stone thrown into the air gashed his forehead, and was carried off by a cyclone."
His parents were scared leaving him alone after that and therefore took him to their work, both of them actors. That was the beginning of his career. I wish my clumsiness would lead me somewhere professionally...

Well, at least I can put this on my wishlist: If once in my life I am able to make people happy like Buster Keaton did (1 minute!), I guess I will be happy, he has given us 45 minutes of our lives crying from the laughter and having stomach aches without saying word!

But, much more important, I wish happiness for you all, no matter the shape!

Big hugs,
B

ps: my English feels weird lately, please apologise, that is another wish of mine - writing well :)))

I think its time to go back to Spain....

throughout he last days, I have been talking to spanish people in my specific branch regarding work in Spain and they really cheered me up regarding my working experience and what the possibilities are...

I felt confident:



...and in this very minute I am scared as hell.....

I wish to see you guys for "Karneval in Köln" next year

Dear all,

1 million people can´t be wrong, visiting Köln for Karneval.

My part of Köln looks like this in this very minute:


some people mightsee it like this, also this very minute ;-)


In the old fashion, people in the processions you can see here distributed/threw hard candies around, and other stuff. When I wished for as many of you coming to Köln next year, somebody threw a bar of chocolate with the spitting image of 500 Euros right in front of my feet, what does that tell us? Travelling pocket money! I will save that for you :-)

Make it one million and one, or two, or 10 visitors!

Huggies,
B

ps: Samuel, thank you for lending me your camera

my top drawer contains...

All, since the pets have started, I have to follow adressing my wishes...

Since I have accomplished starting with Tennis and being a passionate dilettant on the piano, here go my wishes:

going down the path of Santiago de Compostela.
learn water-surfing, sailing on a Catamaran and I would like to go to Tibet.
A second trip to India is already scheduled :-) and I will see Keith Jarrett in concert soon!
Once in my Life, I would like to play the complete Goldbergvariations by J.S. Bach.
I would like to meet in person Hélène Grimaud, the pianist who lives close to New York.
less politics and more common sense and heart in the world

Fellows, I am impatient to see your input.

A big hug,
Birgit

Samuels comment

Hi guys,
this is my first blog EVER.

I am Bridget´s pet and my name stems from Chamuel, the protecting arch-angle.

I heared we can express ourselves when it comes to wishes? Here is mine! For my birthday on December 1st, I would like to go to Munich, there are Teddy-Bear reunions and activities all year long, here is the link: http://www.teddy-in-munich.com/index.html

And I urgently need my own blogging ID, Bridget, pleaaaaaase

Please help me convincing her :-))

Fluffy hug to all of you,
Samuel