So, that was it! An interesting trip has come to its end. For me, it was quite an experience to share with so many people my thoughts and views.  I just hope it was also interesting for you. During this last month a lot of things had happen in my life, in your life and in the world. Some of these were bad, some others were good. Some made us happy, others made us probably sad or even gave us a hard time. What matters, however, is the trip and not the final destination. They were all experiences that made us wiser and stronger.

Tomorrow, I start my new German course and I expect to meet some of my classmates from the previous course along with some new and as always interesting people. New knowledge and new experiences in the constantly transforming Berlin!

Last but not least, in our“ live in -usually- Berlin“ session, my favorite group of all times… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9cbyeDx8Ac&feature=related

Today was his birthday. Luka became six years old and he looked like he was having a good time. It wasn’t a usual kid’s party. In fact, all his guests were above 20 years old. Some of them even above 30 or 40 years old.  But all of them share something in common: their love for this 6 year-old kid that was diagnosed with autism 4 years ago. It’s a team of 10 volunteers that  spend a few hours per week to play with him following an innovative therapeutic approach.

It was obvious in their faces that Luka’s happiness is their happiness too. But most importantly, this  happiness is reflected into Luka’s eyes. These big blue eyes that when they look directly in to your eyes you realize what unconditional love means…New members are always welcome in the team, so if you are interested visit http://www.fuer-luka.de/.

So, tonight another exception –they tend to be the rule- the live is from my home town and despite the awful sound quality it worths seeing it to the end…So, für Luka http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRwx9W0eFJU&feature=related

Tonight I felt as if I was in London. It was drizzling and windy and I was walking in Kreuzberg and steering in a hurry to the super market. And this is how I started thinking of the similarities between Berlin and London. Well, except the obvious ones- Berlin and London are both capital cities and they are both written with six letters – I didn’t find any! It’s probably me, but I believe that they are two completely different cities. I am not saying that Berlin is „good“ and London is „bad“ or the other way round. I am just saying they are different. Completely different. I know people that swear they couldn’t live anywhere else in the world but London. I feel sorry of them :) but on the other hand I think I can understand them. London’s „transitional“ atmosphere is something unique – for those who appreciate it…

For tonight, speaking of London I felt like I had to pay a tribute to a   great, great, great musician…. long live Morrissey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6kNYuhdX-U&feature=related

That was it! The B 1.2. course in Deutsche Akademie has finished and we are now moving forward to B2.1. Such a small difference in written, but such a big difference in the actual level…To be honest I never really liked the labels such as B1 or B2 etc.. However, it’s a practical way to make a general classification although sometimes, this actual level varies considerably. And this is where the teacher’s job becomes really difficult but tat he same time important.

I feel that I have to congratulate our teacher, if not for anything else at least for trying so hard -and succeeding- in keeping everyone interested and in the „loop“ of learning. It can be extremely difficult when one has to deal with ten different personalities and -despite the fact that we were all at the same class- ten actually different level of understanding and language knowledge. Keep up the good work Michael..

For tonight, a song that I felt identified yesterday night after the end of my favorite’s football team match…Long live Panathinaikos!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PORQVyZrB8c

Some of us are using highlighters when reviewing an article or just reading the course material. Highlighting is becoming increasingly popular nowadays. Not just literally but also metaphorically: with so many information available to us every moment in every place, the option of virtual-highlighting could solve some problems. The idea is simple: keep the substance, leave the rest.  Browser favorites, Twitter, Facebook like button, liking are just different forms of „highlighting“ what we find important, what we believe is worth sharing with others. It is like a road map for our brain with signals of different meaning. Without it we would be lost. But the question is who is highlighting what…

An interesting live is taking place tonight. The Norwegian electro-terrorists MoHa! team up with Idan Hayosh & Anu Vahtra in what they call a “Fire & Ignorance” performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J6RmIUKOy4

Last but not least, a small something from the youtube closet. Ladies and gentleman, the most famous Australian live in Berlin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k479ct48ZW0

Another gray cold winter day became „past“. It’s one of the days that Berlin is showing its melancholic yet incredibly charming face. I feel like an „extra“ in a black and white silent movie that is playing on the background of a Berliner cabaret… The idea of a passer-by that observes without being observed was always an attractive-one for me. Not really hiding but rather becoming one with the surroundings and living in the creative routine of the metropolitan anonymity. In Berlin I have found all the necessary conditions to experience this way of living. I don’t know for how long but then again I am not really interested to know. For the moment I am just trying to experience it to the maximum…Foreground or background is a totally personal decision. The choice is yours.

For tonight ’s music section a stunning performance from a young but promising group…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25df8d1dQgY

I hear from many people that they are really interested to move to Berlin and make a fresh start in this city. Almost all of them, after five or ten minutes of conversation are asking me whether there are available jobs in Berlin. And the answer is not an easy one: according to my limited experience – which anyone with basic net surfing skills can acquire in 15 minutes- there are available jobs in Berlin but mainly for qualified and experienced German speaking people.

For those who do not posses adequate German language skills, job hunting in Berlin is literally „hunting“, because on the one hand the non-German speaking jobs are scarce and on the other hand the supply for this type of jobs is extremely high. Therefore, the only real option is to…learn German. Of course, it sounds easier to say it-or also to write it- than actually doing it. And then comes the second question: „is it really difficult to learn German?“ Well, although, the issue of difficulty is a subjective one, being Dutch or Norwegian could give you an advantage comparing to be Spanish, Italian or Greek. Syntax, pronunciation and grammar could be just some of the obstacles when trying to learn „descent“ German and unfortunately there are not easy solutions – at least for me.

So, it’s really a question of how much is someone willing to try. There is only one definite prerequisite for success: motive. If there is a strong a motive, then..alles ist moglich!

For tonight, „keep the streets empty for me“… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAQnngjqCP4