Viktoriapark, Berlin

Yesterday, I decided to go for a walk and ended up in another jewel of Berlin. It's amazing all those hidden pieces of nature you can find all over the city.
I went to Viktoriapark, in Kreuzberg, where flows a waterfall (artificial, but still).
It dates back from the end of 19th century and is on the highest hill of Berlin. On the slopes even grow some vineyard which are still used to make wine.
On top of it, you got a pretty nice view all around and also a monument dedicated to the freedom after wars against Napoleon, on top of the monument is the cross that actually gave the name to the district. Kreuz = Cross Berg = Hill, Kreuzberg = Hill of the Cross.
6 months I've been working in Kreuzberg and was looking for this damn hill, I found it!

It's very nice, seating under the shadow of the tree and bathing your feet in the waterfall is so delightful with the heat right now. Plus the whole place is very pretty.

>>>PHOTOS<<<

== Greetings from Berlin ==

Blind Booking

Today, I discovered the Blind Booking by Germanwings. For around 60€, you can get a "surprise flight". You choose a departure airport (Cologne-Bonn, Stuttgart, Hannover or Berlin) and a theme (party, shopping, culture, nature, East, West), there's a list of destinations, you can delete those you don't want to go, and you know your final destination once the booking's done. Isn't it amazing?! I just love the idea! I always have trouble in choosing where to go, that's perfect for me!
Unfortunately, I can't afford it now, but well, when it gets better for me and if I'm not too far from one of the departure airports, I might give it a try!

== Greetings from Berlin ==

Getting dangerously close

Due to a lack of job offers in Berlin, I expand my research area.
On Sunday, I applied for a job in Luxembourg, not in video games, though. But in the offer they said, outside of media, you should be interesting in other stuffs, like shoes for example. Well, that's it! :D

The good thing is I could live with my parents in France (close to the border) while looking for a flat either in France or Luxembourg. France would be cheaper but further, Luxembourg more expensive but closer, but well, 1st, let's see if they'll contact me.

When I think about it....

... I had a couple of cool jobs so far.
I started working when I was going to university, I 1st was cleaning woman, hated it since I hate cleaning, but well. I also gave some private lessons of English and Spanish, even if I hate teaching and don't really like kids, but it was for teenagers, just one at a time, it was ok, didn't enjoy it but better related with my studies.

Some other cool jobs I had:

- Cabin Hostess: Working on a cruise on the river Rhône (south of France), full of German retired (they give good tips), was very hard for me, physically, working 12h/day, cleaning the cabins, washing the dishes, helping for the plate dressing,... But the atmosphere was very nice, and I got to see some nice places.

- Hostess/Guard in a museum aquarium: Was cool, walking around all day long, chatting with colleagues, "running" after the children "don't shout" "don't run" "don't knock on the glass" "watch our your kids they're gonna hurt themselves". The boss was funny, I remember once he got down the stairs wearing a monkey head and screaming...

- Receptionist in a youth hostel: That was so cool. I remember a Czech family offering me some cakes as they were so delighted to speak Czech, some guys coming almost naked (just in towel) to the reception as they had forgotten their key in the room before going to the shower, that teenager who came from an island south of Africa, studying in France and had to stay at our hostel every week end, seeing him looking with awe at the snow falling down (1st time he saw it) or asking to help for his homeworks or gently trying to hit on me...
I really liked that position , except the shitty working time. 7:00 AM- 10:00 AM & 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM every week ends.

- Translator-writer for a blog about celebrities' gossip, I hate that kind of bullshit, but well that was fun.

- Localization tester of video games in Ireland, being paid to play video games is a dream for some people.

- And now video games translator: always the same reaction when I say what I do "oh that's so cool!" The atmosphere is great, the job interesting and challenging.

But now I know I wanna go on with video games translation , I really love my job, I do hope the next one will be as good!

== Greetings from Berlin ==

Well done, doc!

Sometime ago, I discovered this track, I really like it and watch it quite often on youtube, while waiting to buy it.


And after sometime I realized, Nena, I know that name, isn't she the Nena of the Luftballons?!

Yes, the Luftballons song, maybe you know it:



Hard to think 27 years have gone between the 2 videos, she even looks younger in 2011 than in 1984!

== Greetings from Berlin ==

Let's give it a try!

Some days ago, I was on Facebook and my eyes were caught by an add. An add for a website: Meet at the airport.
It's a website to connect people traveling from/to the same airport, on the same day, at about the same time. It's kinda dating oriented but I wanna give it a try. Can be nice to meet some people while waiting for my flight. I'm too shy to start and talk to someone just like this, but I'm always open for chatting if someone comes to me.

Well, I don't think I'll meet my Charming Prince, but well, let's see...

== Greetings from Berlin ==

Always nice to hear

My contract is soon coming to an end, I am starting the last month in my company. So the other day I asked my chief if I could ever leave the office for a few hours and work later in the evening if I ever had job interviews.
He told me that was ok and added that he wanted to keep me since I am reliable and a hard worker, but he has to motivate the decision and unfortunately there's no project coming up for French.

That's something quite nice to read, that means that if they don't keep it's not because I'm bad but because there's no job for me. I have to admit it lightened up my day... I knew it, I'm the best! ;)

== Greetings from Berlin ==

Berlin walls n°2

Remember my 1st post on Berlin walls?

Well, last week while walking around I found 2 other interesting graffitis:

This one can be found on several houses in Prenzlauerberg district:

Strip-tease!

There seems to be a strange phenomenom happening when a friend of mine comes to visit me in a new place, she's the 1st and we go to CouchSurfing meeting, it always end up with strip-teases.

Maybe a kind of unconscious ritual...

Case n°1: A. comes to Brno in 2009, she's the 1st to come and see my Czech life. On the day of her arrival, a friend of mine tells us, through CS, that he's giving a gig in a pool bar. Ok, let's go then! When we entered the "pool bar", we thought we were wrong (other friends met there had the same feeling) as there were hostesses with tiny red dresses, the deco was kinda sexual and there were strip-teases poles in every corner.
Well, he did his gig, and then came the (female) strippers.

Case n°2: J. came to Berlin last week, she's the 1st to visit me here. We go to a CouchSurfing meeting, in a bar, so normal stuff. Well, there was also a female stripper and a bellydancer! There was supposed to be a male stripper coming, but his car broke down! :S

So, well just making the connection between 2 events made me smile. Well, but guys don't rush over to Berlin, as it's only with the 1st visitor, you'll have to wait for my next destination! :D Or maybe if the 1st visitor is a guy, maybe we'll have a male stripper! Yummi! ;D

== Greetings from sunny Berlin ==

Germans date subtly...

That's what explains this song. It's about a French girl who's sad not to have found a boyfriend, surprised not to be flirted on as much as in France.
So the singers explain that here, in Germany, it's way different, that guys do look at her but she doesn't notice since they don't whistle at her.



== Greetings from Berlin ==

My fave German singer

I really like German modern music, all kind of them, I think that German language can also give some beautiful and great songs.

As I was living in France very close to the German border, I could get easily German TV and radio, and there's one artist I have always liked: Xavier Naidoo.

I don't understand everything, but his songs are very nice, and can be quite emotional. He's really great, see, or better hear:

Heading to Lorraine

My contract comes to an end on May 22nd, as it's on a Sunday, my actual last day of work will be on the 20th.
And from the 21st to the 30th, I'll be in Lorraine. Mainly in Metz, by my parents, but also in Nancy, where I have some friends.
I hesitated before booking the flight, since I still hope they would renew my contract. But I got a few days off still available, and maybe I could also see if it's possible to start the new contract on June 1st...

I found cheap flight from Berlin to Saarbrücken, so I decided not to wait too long before it gets more expensive and full.

I'm really looking forward to it, that's the 1st time I stay that long abroad without coming back for a visit (will be 5 months), and I really miss my family and friends.
And also a good way to drop a 1st suitcase if I ever go back "definetely" in June.

== Greetings from Berlin ==

When looking at me working...

... my collegues must be really laughing.
I'm kinda expresive with my body, some remote Italian roots maybe. ^^ When I speak, I gesture a lot.

When I'm working as well, making funny faces, like imitating fish, putting my head in my hands, "throwing" my arm forward, putting my finger on my lips,...

But now, I have to proofread a translation from someone else, this someone can't possibly be a professional translator, hard to think he/she's native Frenchspeaker as well. It's really horrible, so horrible that sometimes makes me wanna cry, so my gestures are even funnier. Can you picture Homer Simpson's Doh with hand slapping forehead? Well, I do it. I also have horrified looks, I burry my face in my hands, put my two hands arounf my nose and mouth and close my eyes, looks of despair,I sigh a lot, angry sighs,...

That must be really funny to watch I guess! :D

== Greetings from Berlin ==

Once again...

So as I might end up jobless by the end of May, I'll have the joy to start with the jobhunting process again...
That's something I really wasn't missing.
I just finished updating my CVs in French, English and German, just those in Spanish left. I think a good thing to write CV for another country, when you don't really know the rules is to use Europass, European tool to write CV, I find it really convenient.

At first, I'll look for a job in Berlin, I'd like to stay in the video games industry, I know there's lot of gaming companies out there, then I'll extend to the rest of Germany and Europe, why not out of Europe also?
I'll also soon register for competitive examination to work in French ambassies, I failed last year, but I'll try again. So far nothing at UN or EU, but I keep an eye on it.

And if I really can't find a job, I still have the option of going free-lance earlier than expected, in France will be better since there I'm pretty sure to get social aids to get me started, as I have no savings.
I'd really like to stay here, I'm getting tired to move 2/3 times a years, I'd  really like to settle somewhere for some time before hitting the road again.


== Greetings from Berlin ==

Where?

If I don't stay in Berlin, I'm wondering where I'll end up next.
After Dublin, I came to Berlin, which rhymes.
So, I'm trying to think what next "rhyming" destination could be mine and I thought about the following:

- Medellin, Colombia
- Szczecin, Poland
- Tallin, Estonia,
- Santorin, Greece
-Darwin, Australia
- Aberdeen, Scotland,
- Austin, Texas
- Moline, Illinois,
- Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Any other ideas? :D

== Greetings from Berlin ==

Delighted

Some time ago, I told you I was looking for body jewels. I couldn't find any in shops in Berlin, nor on German websites, so I found a very nice on-line French store. Avec passion, for those who can read French.

So last week, I decided to order two body jewels and a pair of earrings. They are re-usable, you can also order some special glue, which I'll order next time. I ordered on a Friday, late afternoon, and by the following Friday morning, I got them. So quite quick. On the invoice, was manually written "Wishing you a nice day" in both French & German, I found this very nice.
So on Saturday, I tried the Snakes on (both earrings and bodyjewel), it does stick hard, with my 2 left hands I kinda struggled, but I'm very happy about my purchase. :D

== Greetings from Berlin ==

They gotta keep me!

My contract is soon coming to an end. One month or so left. I would really like to stay there, and they gotta keep me!
Why?
Because I'm the best! ^^

No, really, first I'm working fast (and good), almost everytime I finished a translation, my boss was like: "wow? already? good job!"

Then, out of the so far 5 months now, I've never been sicked. I need to be really sick (like have to stay in bed with high fever) not to come.

And well, I'm just the best, as simply as that! :D

But well, it seems there's no project coming up in French, so not sure about it at all...

The only series that can make me cry...

I'm not really the kind to cry for a book, a film, a series,... I can be captivated, really into it, my heart can beat faster while waiting to know what'll happen next, but crying, not likely,...

I'm more the kind to laugh when in Titanic a man jump out of the boat and bounce on the propeller. Or to laugh out loud when in Moulin Rouge the girl is caughing to death,...


When I was a teenager, I loved Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, and out of the 8 seasons, only 2 episodes brought one or two tears to my eyes.

And a few years ago, while I was studying & living in France (it seems so far away now), I discovered Grey's Anatomy! And every season, several episodes can make me cry! Really! It's always so intense, the creator of this series is a genius! How many times did I go to sleep so late because of this? I'm like, ok, this is the last one, and at the end, there's something big happening and I just need to watch the next one! Even if most of the events are so unrealistic and too much, it's made in a way that made me quickly addict.

Do you have any series/book/film bringing a river of tears to your eyes?


== Greetings from Berlin ==

Break

Travelling is like a drug for me, and I kinda gotta go to rehab! ^^
Well, I have to slow down with travels, I decided to travel less and save more money. My trip to Sardinia was one of my last trips for 2011, in May I'm going for a visit to Fance, in my family, and end of Summer/early Automn I'd like to visit my friends in Czech Republic.

I really have to save money (money I lately spent in heavy travelling) to achieve a few projects: this trip to Greece with a friends we've been talking about for 4 years now (quite big budget according to our plans), this trip to Peru I've been dreaming about for years, I'd like to see Machu Pichu before I turn 30, so I got 2 years left. And I'd also like to save money for my free-lance project. I'd like to work at the same place during 2/3 years before going free-lance, as a translator I can work from anywhere as long as I got my laptop and an internet connection. I can pretty picture me being 1 month away, 3 months at home, 1 month away, and so on,...

Plus, I find travelling alone less enjoyable, so maybe after quite a long break, I'll know how to appreciate it again... Well, I'll try to stick to it if the travel bug isn't stronger than me! :D


== Greetings from Berlin ==

Cagliari, Sardinia

Bastione San Remy

After Villasimius, I spent 3 and a half days in Cagliari, which is indeed a very nice city. I was staying at Hostel Marina, in a dorm for 6. The room was very big, with a mezzanine, where I settled right away, and the 2 first nights I was alone! ^^
On the 1st day, I went walking around in the morning, I started with the Bastione San Remy, you can not walk up the stairs, but there's an elevator to go on top of it, and the view on the city and the sea is just breathtaking! Even early in the morning, it was warm and got hotter and hotter during the day. Then I just walked among the tiny streets and discovered some very nice places. the old town is built up hill, very charming.

Spiaggia Poetto

In the afternoon, I took a bus to go to the beach, Spaggia Poetto, Poet's Beach, and there I heard 2 girls and 1 guy talking in German and the man mentioned CouchSurfing, I don't like to interrupt people when they're talking so I was waiting for the right moment. We got off at the same station, and an old lady who thought I was with him told to the both of us (in German) "The beach is over there, look", so I took this opportunity to start talking with this guy, Ravi, an Indian, we spent the afternoon together, it was really nice. And the beach is so wonderful, blue water, hills, blue sky,... A dream! The sun was there, it was so nice !

On the second day, in the morning I decided to go to see the Roman Amphitheater, it was closed for visits but you can see much of it from outside, it's now a mix of ancient stones and modern steel with plastic chairs since it's used for shows in summer time. Then I followed the signs to some Botanical Gardens and was quite disappointed, it was 3€ to get in but it was nothing special

Roman Amphitheater

 In the afternoon, I went back to the beach, and you got those guys selling junks. One came to talk to me and was like "oh why are you alone? You're so beautiful" and so on, so I decided to have fun and started lying about me, I was suddenly Isabelle, broken heart, living in Prague, just broke up with her boyfriend who cheated on her and not trusting guys anymore, that was kinda funny... When I came back from the beach, I went to grab some ice cream and then a guy stopped me and asked me for something, after I told him I don't speak Italian, he switched to English, he was asking for the time, and then to walk with me. We sat on a bench and started to talk, but well, he asked if I was single, I again lied, because I know from experience that's the best way to get rid of such guys, otherwise they insist and insist... So I walked away and a few meters further he joined me again, asked to take a picture of the two of us, and while putting his arm around my shoulder, he tried to touch my butt! Well, no! Put your hand up, take you pic and ciao!
In the evening, I met for a drink with a guy from CouchSurfing, nice but nothing exciting.

cosmopolitan + book + sun = :D

So after came Saturday, the last day. In the morning, I walked around again in the city and in the afternoon I went back to the beach. It was almost 30°C, the sun was high and bright, the sea was deep blue, just like the sky and I was covered with solar cream. I got to find a beach chair in one of the beach bars, and laid there with my book. I then walked along the beach and by the marina, sat again on the beach, it was hard to leave, this place is so wonderful. While I was on the bus, I got a SMS from a Couchsurfer who invited me for a dinner with other people. But I couldn't send any SMS (I thought I had not enough credit but actually I had), so I managed to find a phone and as I had some time I went to do something that came up to my mind while I was leaving the beach and I kinda enjoy to do when I am alone: go to a bar, outside, with a cocktail and a book, the sun was still there, that was really nice. Later, I join Marco, I thought we would go to some restaurant but actually it was someone's place and I was feeling quite bad to arrive empty-handed. But it was fun night. And on sunday early morning I took a flight back to Berlin. Game Over.

This trip was really enjoyable. Sardinia is so wonderful!

Sardinia from the sky