Jucandu-ma de-a gazda...

Cum va spuneam in postul anterior, am avut placerea sa fac un pic pe gazda. Un pic la modul propriu! Pentru ca Alina a ales a stea doar o noapte la mine (acum regreta asta, stiu! :P), dar chiar si asa, am fost extrem de bucuroasa sa o am aici.

Am recuperat-o din statia de autobuz, ne-am plimbat putin prin oras, mi-a parut rau ca nu am luat camera cu mine (ma bazam pe a ei, dar se pare ca nu are baterii "loiale"), am trecut pe acasa sa isi lase bagajul, apoi am pornit din nou spre centru.

Evident, Catedrala a fost prima destinatie si chiar am intrat in Turnul celei vechi. WOW! Am urcat o groaza de trepte, din alea inguste "spiralate" (exista, totusi, o zona de refugiu pe la jumatatea drumului) si am ajuns la nu-mai-stiu-cati metri altitudine, de unde puteam vedea aproximativ Coventry-ul si imprejurimile. Am putut merge de jur imprejurul Turnului, la fel ca in Domul din Berlin (evident, Turnul este mai mic si nu iti ia 10 minute sa il inconjori, ca la Dom, ci doar vreo 2 :D). Gabelu, sper ca te bucuri ca nu ai ales sa urci in Turn! La coborare a fost mai usor, dar tot aveam frica sa nu cumva sa ma rostogolesc (sau Alina peste mine) :)

Am mai hoinarit putin prin oras, prin zona medievala, unde am stat de vorba la un caffee latte/o ciocolata calda intr-una din cele mai placute localuri din oras, apoi am poposit din nou acasa, la o portie de carbonara (varianta Oana). Trebuia sa mai avem grija si de aspectul asta, caci mai tarziu aveam planificata o iesire in oras. Nu o sa va povestesc, totusi, despre experienta noastra legata de umflatul saltelei...Asta ramane informatie clasificata!
Iar daca va intrebati cum am avut timp de atatea lucruri, o sa va lamuresc acum: Alina a ajuns in Coventry la ora 12.

Mancat, aranjat, plecat in oras! Normal, in Phoenix (via caminul unor prieteni francezi), unde era extrem de multa lume, ca in fiecare vineri seara, de altfel. Am putut astfel observa ca Alina si-a pierdut antrenamentul (sau a imbatranit, nu pot preciza exact :P). Nu am stat prea mult in bar, eram amandoua destul de obosite, iar Alina avea a doua zi un autobuz relativ devreme si mai voiam sa vizitam si noua Catedrala pana sa plece.

Asa ca am fost destul de matinale sambata, ne-am trezit pe la 9 (incredibil, nu?), am luat micul dejun si am avut timp sa vedem ceea ce ne propusesem (nu-i asa, Alina, ca ai fi regretat daca nu intram?), plus sa facem niste cumparaturi, suveniruri & cadouri (de fapt, doar Alina a facut asta, eu inca nu :D).

Iata, deci, ca intr-o zi (mai mult sa mai putin) poti vizita cam tot ce e important in Coventry. Atat de mic este (centrul) :)


Acum pot doar sa sper ca am fost o gazda buna, ca Alina s-a simtit bine si ca va duce vestea acasa, in Romania, ca Oana stie sa gateasca si ca nu moare de foame :D

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Playing Hostess...

As I've been telling you in my previous post, I had the pleasure to be a hostess for a little while. Literally! Because Alina chose to stay over just one night (she regrets it now, I know! :P), but even so, I was thrilled to have her here.
I picked her up from the bus stop, we walked a bit around the city, I felt sorry I didn't take my camera (I was counting on hers, but it seems she doesn't have "faithful" batteries), so we passed by my place for Alina to leave her luggage and then we went back to the city centre.

Obviously, the Cathedral was the first destination and we even went to the Tower of the old one. WOW! We ascended many narrow "spiralled" steps (there is a refuge zone, though) and we ended up I-don't-know-how-many-meters above, from where we were able to see approximately the whole Coventry and the surroundings. We could walk around the Tower, like at the Berliner Dom (naturally, the Tower is not that wide and it doesn't take you 10 minutes to bypass it, but only 2 :D). Gabelu, be glad you didn't choose to go up into the Tower! getting down was easier, but I was still afraid that I might roll down the stairs (or Alina over me) :)
We wandered around the city a bit more, through the medieval area, where we had a chat over a caffee latte/hot chocolate in one of the cosiest places downtown, then we went home again, to eat some carbonara (Oana's version). We had to take care of this aspect too, as we planned to go out later. I won't tell you, though, about our experience on inflating the mattress. This remains classified information!
And in case you wonder how come we had so much time to do so many thing, I'll clear it up now: Alina arrived in Coventry at 12 o'clock.

Eating, getting ready, going out! In Phoenix (via the student hall of our French friends), naturally, where it was extremely crowded, as every Friday evening actually. I was able to notice that Alina has lost her practise (or she's getting old, I can't really tell :P). We didn't spend a lot of time in the bar, we both were pretty tired and Alina had a quite early coach the next day and, furthermore, we wanted to visit the New Cathedral.

So on Saturday morning we were bright and early, we woke up around 9 (incredible, right?), we had breakfast and time to see what we had planned (you would have regretted not entering the New Cathedral, wouldn't you Alina?), plus some shopping, souvenirs and presents (just Alina did this actually).
As you can see, during one day (more or less) you can visit everything that's important around Coventry. It's that small (the city centre) :)


Now I can only hope that I've been a good hostess, that Alina had a great time and that she'd spread the news home, in Romania, that Oana knows how to cook and she's not starving :D

Pe Scurt

O sa fac o recapitulare rapida a celor mai importante lucruri din ultima vreme:

- in seara zilei in care m-am intors de la Berlin a ars o masina pe strada noastra. Panica initiala - pt ca era pe partea noastra si vedeam doar refexia flacarilor in gemurilor caselor de vis-a-vis, deci nu stiam daca arde o casa sau o masina - s-a transformat apoi intr-un amuzament general. Dupa ce am indraznit sa iesim afara, unde deja toata strada se stransese "ca la urs", am inceput sa filmam si sa facem diverse glume, pana cand pompierii si politia ne-au spus sa intram in casa. Oricum, banuim ca nu a fost un accident, ci o reglare de conturi ceva - Chris, polonezul, care are camera inspre strada, a auzit mai intai o lovitura, apoi a vazut niste persoane fugind. Dar nu avem cum sa probam varianta asta sau sa aflam rezultatul final al anchetei legale. Iata dovada:




- mi-am recuperat vocea, relativ usor (nu am mai vorbit asa des saptamana trecuta, a fost foarte greu sa fac asta), dar inca mai tusesc, desi nu a fost (si nici nu e) vorba de vreo raceala.

- week-endul trecut am fost la o petrecere intr-un club de aici si am fost tare suprprisa de ce muzica misto au bagat (techno & electro), aproape la fel de tare ca in Berlin...aproape! :D

- am terminat si am predat prima lucrare pentru cursul de International Terrorism! Tema a fost destul de interesanta: trebuia sa citim 3 articole si apoi sa decidem ce consideram ca este mai periculos acum - Al-Qaeda Central sau grass-roots terrorism (terrorismul la nivel local). Am facut destula cercetare si am vazut ca nu e asa dificil sa scrii ceva (relativ) original si sa vii cu idei si argumente bune (repet, trebuie sa citesti mai multe materiale!). Nu stiu totusi exact la ce rezultat sa ma astept, mai ales ca nu prea mi se pare ca as avea un limbaj prea academic, ci mai degraba lucrarea mea mi s-a parut potrivita pentru presa...Nu am idee exact cand voi afla punctajul obtinut, dar am inteles ca aici nu e ca in Romania, nu curge cu 9 si 10 (nici nu e aceeasi scala)...nu ca m-as fi asteptat la altceva...Oricum, am aflat ca daca faci prea multa cercetare in domeniul terorismului (de exemplu: sa te uiti la multe filmulete pe Youtube cu mesaje ale teroristilor) esti localizat si s-ar putea sa iti bata cineva la usa! :)) La cat am cautat noi zilele astea pe net...:D

- am primit si eu, in sfarsit, o vizita din Romania, a Alinei Smigun! Asteptam momentul asta inca din Berlin hahahahaha. Caci atunci cand ai mei au venit "sa ma recupereze" din Germania nu se pune (era obligatoriu sa vina) si nici cand au venit Alex si Gabel m-au vizitat de ziua mea (au calatorit din Danemarca, nu?). Dar despre asta o sa va povestesc in alt post...

- nu am fost sa votez, in final. O sa scriu despre asta in curand, tot pe scurt...

Am incheiat transmisiunea!



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Briefly

I'll do a quick recap of the most important things that happened lately:

- in the evening I came back from Berlin a car burned on our street. The initial panic - it was on our side of street and we were able to see just the flames reflected into the windows of the houses across the street, so we couldn't tell if it was a car or a house - turned into a general entertainment. After we dared to go outside (all the neighbours where already there) we started filming and making jokes, until the Firemen and the Police told us to get inside. Anyways, we suspect it wasn't just an accident, but a gang thing - Chris, the Polish guy whose room is in the front of the house, heard first a stroke and then saw some persons running away. But we can't know if our version stands or not nor to find out the result of the legal investigation. However, you can see the proof above.

- I got my voice back, quite easy (I didn't speak so much last week, it has been pretty difficult to do that), but I still have a cough, though there wasn't (and isn't) any sign of flu.

- last week-end we've been to a party in a club downtown and I've been so surprised of the great music they had (techno & electro), almost as good as in Berlin...almost! :D

- I finished and submitted my first assignment for the International Terrorism lecture! The theme was interesting: we had to read 3 articles and decide what do we consider is more dangerous nowadays - Al-Qaeda central or the grass-roots terrorism. I did some research and I've seen it's not that difficult to write something original (more or less) or to come with good ideas and arguments (I repeat, you have to read as many sources as you can!). I still don't know what score I should expect, especially since I don't think I have a too academic writing style, rather my paper seems more appropriate for press...I have no idea when I'll find out the result, but I understood that here it's not like in Romania, to get only 9s and 10s (it's not even the same grading system)...not i would've expecting it any other way...However, I heard that if you do too much research regarding terrorism (for e.g.: watching too many movies on Youtube concerning messages of terrorists) you are being tracked and someone might know on your door! :)) And we did quite a research these days...:D

- I finally got a visit from Romania, of Alina Smigun! I have been waiting for this moment since i was in Berlin hahahahhahaha. Because when my family came to "pick me up" from Germany doesn't count (it was a must) and also when Alex and Gabel visited me on my B-Day (they travelled from Denmark, didn't they?). But I'll tell you more about this in a future post...

- I didn't go voting in the end. I'll write about this soon, briefly as well...

Transmission ending!

Sa incercam!

Nu obisnuiesc sa transmit mai departe mesaje de tipul celor umanitare pentru ca de cele mai multe ori nu sunt convinsa ca intr-adevar este vorba de o cauza reala. Insa in situatia de fata stiu ca lucrurile sunt "pe bune" asa ca incerc, cumva, sa dau mai departe un strigat de ajutor. Sper sa nu fie prea tarziu...

Buna mea prietena, Gaby, mi-a spus despre povestea Cosminei Paun, care la 14 ani sufera de Leucemie Acuta Mieloblastica M1. Pe site-ul www.paun-cosmina.eu puteti afla mai multe informatii despre acest caz si, de asemenea, puteti suna la nr. de telefon afisate pentru a dona 2 euro.
In plus, pe data de 28 noiembrie, la ora 19:00 va fi organizat un concert caritabil, sustinut de Alina Manole, A.G.Weinberg si dansatori de tango. Vor fi si concursuri, premii, licitatii si bere pe gratis + afterparty, totul la Jewish Comunity Centre (JCC), pe Str. Popa Soare nr 18. Intrarea costa 20 de RON.

Puteti da mai departe mesajul sau, mai bine, mergeti acolo!

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Translation

For my foreign friends, this is a humanitarian call, in order to save a 14-years old girl's life. I do not consider it makes any point in translating it...

20 Jahre Mauerfall

Acum un an eram in Stockholm, inspirand aerul celui mai nordic punct in care am ajuns pana in momentul de fata. Anul asta, in aceeasi perioada, eram in Berlin, inspirand aerul unui loc pe care il cunosc si il iubesc atat de mult...

Nu o sa va dau detalii multe despre drumul pana acolo: am plecat pe la ora 13:00 din Coventry, avionul meu decola pe la 18:45, am avut senzatia ca o sa il pierd pt ca la ora 18:15 anuntau deja ultimul apel (dar nici macar nu deschisesera poarta de imbarcare, asa ca am stat la o coada foarte lunga). Am fost atat de emotionata si nerabdatoare in privinta calatoriei per ansamblu, dar cand am ajuns in Berlin totul mi s-a parut atat de natural...Mai putin faptul ca mi-a luat o ora si jumatate sa ajung in casa lui Daniel (pt un drum de aproximativ 45 minute), caci BVG-ul a inceput lucrari de reparatie, iar traficul dinspre Schönefeld a fost dat peste cap (practic, fiecare statie era ultima statie, asa ca trebuia sa cobor si astept trenul ce venea pe cealalta linie).
Ce-i drept, a trebuit sa o astept si pe Lidia in Schönhauser Allee, caci ea nu stia drumul si nu aveam timp sa ma duc la Daniel si sa ma intorc la statia de S+U-Bahn sa o recuperez...

Telefonul a inceput sa sune destul de repede - prieteni ramasi/sositi in Berlin. Am cunoscut-o si pe mama lui Daniel, o persoana deosebita, iar in scurt timp m-am reintalnit cu Tamara si Jesus! A fost incredibil! dar, din nou, atat de normal...Pana si atunci cand Daniel ne-a deschis usa mi s-a parut ca nu ne mai vazusem de o saptamana, nu de 4 luni...Poate ca asta inseamna prietenia...

Am stat de vorba, am primit complimente pentru accentul imbunatatit (pe bune?) pe care il am acum in engleza, ne-am pregatit si dusi am fost in club! Am ajuns mai tarziu decat ne prospusesem (oricum plecarea a fost pe la ora 01 00) pentru ca am mai asteptat niste persoane pe care le cunosteam. Am reusit sa imi pierd vocea in seara aia - am ales unul din putinele cluburi din Berlin unde fumatul este permis - dar atmosfera a fost super, ca intotdeauna. Nu am reusit sa vedem rasaritul, asa cum ne obisnuisem, caci soarele acum se iveste mai tarziu, dar ce sentiment de satisfactie am avut cand am ajuns "acasa" pe la 06:00... :)

Doua fete cu flori in par :)

A doua zi ne-am trezit destul de tarziu, cum era de asteptat, iar dupa o masa copioasa (si ieftina!) la un restaurant indian, am fost in Mauerpark, unde inca se tinea Karaoke. Desi spuneam ca as fi vrut sa cant si eu ceva, parca melodia pe care as fi ales-o nu se potrivea cu tema (neoficiala) saptamanii - Libertatea. Asa ca ma pastrez pentru data viitoare :) Insa nu m-am putut abtine sa imi iau ceva din Flohmarkt: o (alta) brosa original DDR si o bratara überlcool :D

Dupa ce ne-am intalnit, din nou, cu Tamara, Jesus si cativa alti prieteni, ne-am indreptat catre centru, spre Poarta Brandenburgului, de urma sa cooptam alte persoane - Eva (din Republica Ceha) si Celine (din Franta). Pe ele le-am cunoscut tot in Berlin, dar cand am mers in iulie (caci au fost Erasmus in al doilea semestru) si nu am avut ocazia sa ne apropiem foarte mult atunci. Insa acum sunt foarte incantata ca am avut ocazia sa le cunosc mai bine si sa imi confirm opinia: sunt doua persoane extraordinare!




Am mancat apoi din nou, pentru a doua oara in aceeasi zi intr-un restaurant indian (cred ca dezvolt o pasiune pt astfel de mancare).

Eva si Celine (de la stanga la dreapta)

Brosa mea original DDR

Cum zilele si noptile sunt lungi in Berlin, am mers, mai tarziu, in casa unor prieteni (pe care ii stiu din Schlachtensee, de anul trecut), sa (mai) bem ceva...Ne-am intors in casa lui Daniel mai tarziu decat planuisem, caci am pierdut un tramvai...





Luni a fost ziua cea mare: Festivalul Libertatii - Fest der Freiheit! Pentru ca ne-am intalnit pe la ora 16:00 in Potsdamer Platz, am putut sa ne plimbam in voie pe langa Domino, pana sa se aglomereze, cel putin pana in fata Portii Brandenburgice (desi Dominoul mergea mai departe). Am vazut doar o parte din cele 1000 piese, pictate de diversi artisti din diferite tari...Nu cred ca as putea sa aleg o bucata ca fiind preferata - toate aveau o semnificatie atat de importanta, toate transmiteau un mesaj atat de puternic...

Erau si ingeri pe cladiri...

Noi ne-am pozitionat pe partea celalata a Portii, unde au pe la ora 19:00 au inceput festivitatile, printr-un concert de muzica simfonica. Un concert exclusivist, doar pentru inaltii oficiali, as putea spune, pentru ca noi, publicul, nu puteam auzim mai nimic (in ciuda sistemelor de sunet amplasate acolo). Asa ca, la un moment dat, toti am incepout sa scandam "Lauter, lauter" ("mai tare, mai tare") - fara succes, insa. Boxele au inceput sa functioneze abia dupa finalul concertului, cand a inceput transmiterea televizata.

O multime de lideri politici - o Angela Merkel drept gazda (alaturi de Klaus Wowereit, primarul Berlinului), un Mihail Gorbaciov care a facut istoriA, un Lech Walesa memorabil, o Hillary Clinton mult aclamata, un Gordon Brown foarte serios, un Nicolas Sarkozy intens huiduit, un Silvio Berlusconi care a adormit la un moment dat, un Traian Basescu in spatele lui Gordon Brown...

Cei mai importanti dintre oaspeti (si gazde) au tinut discursuri, desi mi se pare ca reactia publicului nu a fost proportionala cu evenimentul in sine. Lumea tinde sa uite semnificatia caderii Zidului si a anumitor nume, aducand in scena unele personaje pe care le transforma automat in eroi, desi inca mai au multe de dovedit. Mai exact, Hillary Clinton a fost primita cu mai mult entuziasm decat Gorbaciov, desi parca nu ea a fost cea care a "deshis" portile Europei de Est prin anumite reforme la finalul anilor '80. Nu mai spun de intampinarea mesajulului presedintelui american Barack Obama - acelasi Obama care a fost laureat recent cu Premiul Nobel pentru Pace (?), probabil pacea lui sufleteasca, alta n-am vazut in politica lui externa - parca ar fi fost al doilea JFK in Berlin.
Pe de alta parte, Sarkozy a stranit reactii negative, desi clar nu era momentul. Mai ales in contextul in care declara ca a luat parte la evenimentele de acum 20 de ani (ma rog, asta e versiunea lui, in presa s-a nascut o intreaga controversa...). Inteleg ca poate Franta nu trece prin cea mai buna perioada a istoriei sale recente (dar care stat se afla intr-o pozitie excelenta acum?), insa seara era dedicata berlinezilor, libertatii, unitatii etc, nu unor francezi nemultumiti de presedintele lor. Eu i-as fi invitat politicos sa il astepte pe Sarkozy pe aeroport in Paris si sa il huiduie acolo, nu in Berlin!

Au fost invitate sa ia cuvantul si diferite personalitati ale miscarii de dizidenta est-germane, s-a amintit de momentul Leipzig - 9 Octombrie, s-a cantat din nou (Jon Bon Jovi, Paul Van Dyke, Adoro), s-a mentionat de efortul de atunci al celorlalte state comuniste (numele Romaniei nu a fost pronuntat nici macar o data, desi a avut cea mai sangeroasa revolutie anti-comunista a anului 1989...) si, evident, Dominoul:

Am reusit sa pun cap la cap cateva dintre filmarile pe care le-am facut in timpul daramarilor succesive ale bucatilor de Domino

Nu imi pot gasi cuvinte care sa exprime ceea ce am simtit pe toata durata festivitatilor...Poate ca pentru turistii veniti din Vestul Europei nu a fost decat un motiv in plus de a vizita Berlinul. Dar pentru mine - o persoana nascuta intr-o tara comunista si crescuta intr-un stat fost-comunist, o persoana care a studiat Razboiul Rece si stie ca Berlinul reprezinta Alfa si Omega a acestei sumbre perioade (totusi, cea mai interesanta din istoria umanitatii, in opinia mea), o persoana care apreciaza curajul unor oameni care vor o schimbare - evenimentul a avut o alta semnificatie. Si sunt mandra de mine ca am fost acolo, precum o piesa din marele domino...

...

Noaptea am terminat-o cu mancare thailandeza si cu luat "ramas bun" - de fapt, "La revedere" este expresia cea mai potrivita. Am dormit putin (din nou), asa ca de dimineata - zborul era la 09:30 - am fost tare ametita la aeroport: scapam in continuu pasaportul din mana (noroc ca peste tot sunt persoane din din Servicul de Securitate al aeroportului si mi-au atras atentia), dar, pana la urma, am reusit sa imi pierd/uit ochelarii de soare in avion...Nu va mirati ca ii aveam cu mine, in Anglia era soare cand am plecat, plus ca la miile de metri altitudine la care zboara avioanele automat dai de soare si ai nevoie de ei. Am sunat si am lasat un mesaj la departamentul de Obiecte Pierdute, dar nu am primit nici un raspuns (nici nu cred ca mai am vreo sansa de acum incolo). Asta e..macar o sa am ce face in Bucuresti, cand vin acasa - sa imi caut rame pt o noua pereche!

...

Am lasat mai mult sau mai putin voit o pauza pana sa scriu despre calatoria la Berlin. Am fost si putin ocupata, dar am si vrut sa imi sedimentez gandurile. Nu stiu cat de mult am reusit si nu stiu cat de mult va puteti voi da seama de asta - oricum, nu am planuit niciodata ca prin (sau in) acest blog sa imi transpun sentimentele online. Astea raman pentru mine sau sunt impartasite in discutii directe, blogul ramane strict pe rol de jurnal (in sensul clasic al cuvantului).
Insa mi-am dat seama acum ca "primesc" fiecare desprindere de Berlin cu mai multa usurinta, devine un gest firesc, pentru ca realizez ca pot(aproape) oricand sa calatoresc acolo, nu e un lucru imposibil. Nu mai exista atata tristete cand avionul paraseste spatiul aerian german, ci doar mai mult optimism: ma voi intoarce acolo, candva, poate pentru totdeauna (sper ca, in timp, alt oras sa nu ma "corupa" si sa imi schimbe visul), dar pana atunci am alte prioritati si locuri de bifat...
Intre timp, aproape in fiecare noapte visez ca sunt la Berlin, uneori retraind momentele in care imi iau ramas bun de la prietenii pe care i-am cunoscut acolo (chiar aseara am visat ca o imbratisam pe Elena), dar dimineata cred ca ma trezesc, intr-o oarecare masura, cu zambetul pe buze - nu este asa greu sa mentii legatura cu persoanele dragi, care au lasat o amprenta asupra unor momente frumoase ale vietii tale...

Chiar si la 20 de ani de la caderea sa, Zidul Berlinului inca mai aduce oamenii impreuna! :)


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20 Jahre Mauerfall

A year ago I was in Stockholm, breathing the aer of the northernmost point I have ever been to by now. This year, during the same period, I was in Berlin, breathing the air of a place I know and love so much...

I won't give you too many details of the trip there: I left Coventry at 13:00, my plane was taking off at 18:45, I had the feeling that I'm going to lose it because at 18:45 they were already giving the final call (even though they didn't open the gate so I had to queue). I was so nervous and excited about this trip, but when I reached Berlin everything seemed so natural...Except the fact that it took me an hour and a half to get to Daniel's place (for a 45 minutes road), because the BVG started maintenance work and the traffic towards Schönefeld has been blown away (basically every stop was a final stop so I had to get off and wait for the train on the other line). I also had to wait for Lidia in Schönhauser Allee, as she didn't know the way and i had no time to go to Daniel's place and back to the S+U-Bahn station to pick her up...

The phone started ringing pretty early - friends who stayed/came to Berlin. I've met Daniel's mother, a lovely person, and shortly I met again Tamara and Jesus! It was unbelievable! But again so normal...Even when Daniel opened the door for us it was like I haven't seen him for a week, not 4 months...Maybe this is what friendship means...

We started chatting, I received compliments for my improved English accent (really?), we got ready and down the clubs we went! We arrived later than we planned (anyways we left home around 01:00) because we had to wit for some more people we knew. I managed to lose my voice that night - we went for one of the few Berliner clubs where smoking is allowed - but the vibe was high, as always. We didn't catch the sunrise, like we were used to, as now the sun comes up later, but I had a great satisfaction coming "home" around 06:00...:)


The next day we woke up pretty late, as expected, and after a delicious (and cheap!) meal in an Indian restaurant we went to Mauerpark, where they were still having Karaoke. Although I said I would like to sing something, I felt like my song wasn't appropriate to the (unofficial) theme of the week - Freedom. So I'm saving myself for the next time :) But I couldn't help myself and buy something from the Flohmarkt: (another) original DDR brooch and an überlcool cuff :D

After we've met again with Tamara, Jesus and some more friends, we headed to the city centre, to Brandenburger Gate, where we were supposed to pick up some more people - Eva (Czech Republic) and Celine (France). I've met them in Berlin, but in July (they where Erasmus for the second semester) and I didn't get the chance to become closer then. But now I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to get to know them better and I must say: they are two extraordinary persons!

We ate again Indian food, for the second time in the same day (I think I'm developing a passion for these dishes).
The days and nights are long in Berlin so later we went to some of our friends' place (I know them from Schlachtensee) to have some (more) drinks...We came back to Daniel's place later then we planned because we lost a tram...

Monday was the big day: Festival of Freedom - Fest der Freiheit!Because we've gathered around 16:00, in Potsdamer Platz, we were able to walk along the Domino before it got crowded, at least until we reached the Brandenburger Gate (though the Domino was going further). I've seen just a part of the 1000 pieces, painted by different artist from various countries...I don't believe I could pick one as favourite - they all had an important significance, they were all sending such a strong message...

We settled on the other side of the Gate, where the festivities begun around 19:00. First there was a classic music concert, an exclusive one, I may say, just for the officials, since we, the public, weren't able to hear something. So at some point we started to chant "Lauter, lauter" ("louder, louder") - unsuccessfully though. The speakers started working only after the concert finished, when the TV broadcast commenced.

Many political leaders - Angela Merkel as a hostess (along with Klaus Wowereit, the mayor of Berlin), Mihail Gorbachev, the man who made THE history, Lech Walesa, memorable, Hillary Clinton so much acclaimed, Gordon Brown very grave, Nicolas Sarkozy intensely hissed, Silvio Berlusconi falling asleep, Traian Basescu behind Gordon Brown...

The most important guests (and hosts) held their speeches, although I believe that the public reaction was not proportional to the event. The world seems to forget the meaning of the Fall of the Wall, bringing into light some characters and automatically transforming them into heroes, even if they still have to deliver. Precisely, Hillary Clinton has been greeted with more enthusiasm than Gorbachev, although I remember that it wasn't her the person to "open" the gates of Europe through some reforms at the end of the '80s. I should mention the welcoming of American President Barack Obama's message - the same Obama who recently received the Nobel Prize for Peace (?), probably for his inner peace, otherwise I haven't seen any in his foreign policy -as if he was the second JFK in Berlin.
On the other hand, Sarkozy aroused negative reaction, even if it was the proper moment. Especially considering that he stated that he took part of the events 20 years ago (well, this is his version, in the media there is a big controversy...). I understand that maybe France is not in its best period of the recent history (but which country is in an excellent position now?), but the evening was dedicated to Berliners, to freedom, to unity etc, not to some discontented French people. I would've politely invited them to wait for Sarkozy on the airport in Paris and boo him there, not in Berlin!

Some personalities of the dissident movement of Est-Germany had the opportunity to say some word, the 9th October-Leipzig moment has been remembered, then again some music (Jon Bon Jovi, Paul Van Dyke, Adoro), they mentioned the effort of the other communist states (Romania's name has not once been pronounced, though we had the bloodiest anti-communist revolution of 1989) and, obviously, the Domino.


I have no words to describe what I felt throughout the entire festivities...Maybe that for the tourists from the Western Europe this was just an extra reason to visit Berlin. But for me - a person born in a communist country and raised in an ex-communist state, a person who has studied the Cold War and who knows that Berlin is the Alfa and Omega of this period bleak period (nonetheless, the most interesting in the human kind history, in my opinion), a person who appreciates the courage of those who seek for a change - the even had a different meaning. And I am so proud of myself for being there, as a piece of the big domino...

...

The night ended with some Thai food and with "good byes" - actually "see you soon", this should be the proper expression. I slept just a bit (again), so in the morning - my flight was at 09:30 - I was so dizzy in the airport: I just kept on dropping my passport (lucky the security personnel of the airport is always there), but I still manage to lose/forget my sunglasses in the airplane...Don't get to surprised that I had them, it was sunny in England when I left, plus that you definitely need them when the plane is high above the skies. I left a message to the Department of Lost and Found, but I didn't get any answer (and I don't think I have any more chances from now on). Well...at least I'll have something to do in Bucharest, when I'll go home - to search for frames for a new pair!

...

I took a break, more or less on purpose, before writing about my trip to Berlin. I've been a bit busy lately, but I also wanted to clear my thoughts. I don't know to which degree I actually managed to do this or if you can tell - however, I never planned to put my feelings online. These are for myself or to be shared in face to face conversations, the blog is strictly a journal.

But now I came to realise that I "receive" more easily every detach from Berlin, it becomes a natural gesture, because I know that I can travel there (almost) anytime, it's not impossible. There's not so much sorrow when the plane leave the German airspace, rather more optimism: I WILL go back there sometime, maybe for ever (I hope that, by then, another city will not "corrupt" me and change my dream), but till then I have so many thing to do and places to see...

Meanwhile, I dream about Berlin almost every night, sometime living again the moments when I'm saying good bye to the friends that I've met them (last might I dreamt I was giving a hug to Elena), but in the morning I wake up somehow smiling - it's not so hard to keep in touch with dear persons, the ones who left a mark on great moment of your life...

20 years later after its fall, the Berlin Wall still bring people together! :)

22 de Ani si 10 Zile...

In ultima vreme nu am fost prea mult prezenta prin intermediul blogului, dar am avut motive destul de intemeiate. O sa incerc, pe scurt (desi presimt ca iar o sa scriu un post de un km), sa rezum ultimele doua saptamani.

PETRECEREA a fost fenomenala. Pregatirile le-am terminat pe ultima suta de metri, am primit si ceva ajutor de la colegii mei de casa, deci am avut suficient timp cat sa ma si aranjez. Cativa invitati au fost extrem de punctuali, asa ca i-am primit in papuci pentru ca nu apucasem inca sa imi pun cizmele (asta era practic ultimul "retus" pe care il mai aveam de facut). Am fost putin stresata pt ca nu stiam daca Alex si Gabel mai ajungeau sau nu in noaptea respectiva in Anglia, apoi, dupa ce am aflat ca da, nu mai stiam cand...Bine ca au venit, pentru ca la cat de ametita am fost (nu de la bautura, ci din cauza statutului de gazda), nu am pus tortul intr-un loc sigur si mi-a fost mancat de "forte misterioase", asa ca am avut nevoie de un bucatar priceput care sa incropeasca repede ceva din materiile prime de care dispuneam. In fine, multa lume, muzica, galagie mare in interior, fara ploaie afara (chiar ma temeam de asta) - ce sa mai , mi-am castigat popularitatea in Coventry! Am primit numai comentarii pozitive dupa petrecere, inclusiv de la invitati cu care m-am intalnit pe strada.
Iar a doua zi, dupa ce ne-am trezit ca oamenii, am reusit sa facem casa mai curata decat a fost vreodata - am scos chiar si o guma de mestecat ce se lipise de covorul din sufragerie. In rest, nimic nu s-a spart, nimic nu s-a furat (ne temeam un pic de asta pt ca nu putem sa ne incuiem camerele pe exterior, dar eu oricum aveam laptopul jos, deci ar fi fost chiar evidenta o evenuala lipsa a lui :D), nimeni nu s-a batut, nimanui nu i-a fost rau etc.









Dupa toata curatenia, i-am scos pe "musafiri" in ORAS, le-am aratat aproape tot ce era de vazut in Coventry (nah, intr-o zi nu ai ce face...). Am intrat astfel si eu pt prima data in noua Catedrala, construita chiar langa ramasitele celei bombardate in Al Doilea Razboi Mondial (in mod similar cu Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirchen, in Berlin). Cred ca Alex s-a simtit fooooarte bine, caci a facut o groaza de poze (pe care le vedeti voi acum pe blog), dar sa nu cumva sa va asteptati sa il vedeti si pe el in vreuna (sau pe noi, fetele)...



















Seara am organizat o cina pt toti cei din casa. Ma rog, Alex si Gabel au gatit ca, nah, d`aia era ziua mea (poate am uitat sa precizez, dar dupa mine ziua mea a durat cam o saptamana anul asta :D)!

A doua zi, luni, ne-am trezit de dimineata si ne-am indreptat spre STONEHENGE, locul unde am decis sa mergem, pentru ca Alex si Gabel nu sunt mari fani ai castelelor sau obiectivelor de genul asta. Am inchiriat o masina asa ca Alex a avut sarcina de a conduce pe partea dreapata (nu pare asa de dificil, doar in oars trebuie sa fi mai atant). Bine ca am luat si un GPS, asta ne-a scutit de mult efort si probleme de orientare! Am prins si ceva aglomeratie pe drum, deci nu numai in Romania se circula bara-la-bara la un moment dat (pe un segment incomparabil redus, totusi)...

Nu stiu daca sunt multe chestii de zis despre Stonehenge - e intr-o zona de pasune, pe un mic deal, la intersectia a doua drumuri. Poate ca nu e chiar asa de mare cum mi-am imaginat, in nici un caz impresionant (cum poate ma impresioneaza arhitectura nu-stiu-carui castel), dar, in orice caz, interesant...Planurile de viitore legate de acest monument includ construirea unui tunel pentru a inchide drumurile care trec pe acolo - mi se pae necesar, caci intr-adevar nu poti contempla Stonehenge-ul sau imprejurimile cand auzi zgomotul masinilor (desi e un fel de drum local, cu 1-2 benzi pe sens, este foarte aglomerat, dar nu stiu din ce cauza, unde duce).
Ca mai toata lumea, am luat ghiduri audio, asa ca am aflat cate ceva despre posibilele metode prin care a fost ridicat complexul, despre legendele lui etc. In final, la Stonehenge ajungi sa pierzi mai mult timp decat ti-ai planificat initial, e destul de captivant. Si arata cam asa:









La intoarcere aveam deja planuit sa oprim si vreo 2 ore in OXFORD. WOW! Ce oras! Desi are jumatate din populatia Coventry-ului estu cu muuult mai vibrant. Pare, totusi ceva mai mare (poate pt ca in Coventry eu nu cunosc decat centrul, care e destul de mic, cum poate am mai spus), are si un castel, arhitectura extrem de frumoasa. In centru (banuiesc ca era centrul) era plin de studenti, probabil ca oricum procentajul de studenti este foarte ridicat. Ne-am oprit sa si mancam ceva intr-un local foarte misto, in care eu mai fusesem cand le-am vizitat pe fete in Luftbra. Insa nu am reusit sa inteleg care e toata faza cu Universitatea asta, cum de e atat de bine cotata cand toti stateau in baruri. Poate ca acolo or fi biblotecile in Oxford...
Ce pot sa spun, totusi...Oxford-ul este un oras super, cu siguranta ai nevoie mai mult de doua ore sa il explorezi, minim o zi cred. Am fost extrem de incantati cu totii!












Ma bucur ca am avut inspiratia sa propun traseul Coventry-Stonehenge-Oxford-Coventry (in ordinea asta), caci a fost o zi foarte buna, chiar si vremea a fost de partea noastra!

Cum marti a fost cu adevarat ZIUA MEA, am decis sa fie relaxanta asa ca ne-am plimbat prin oras, am facut niste cumparaturi, mi-am luat o camera foto noua (cea veche chiar nu isi mai facea treaba bine), am mancat o prajitura asa cum a vrut Alex, dar pe banca, nu in cofetarie (i-am tot spus ca pe aici nu prea am vazut cofetarii, eu cunosc mai mult baruri). Apoi ne-am intors acasa, am mancat pizza, iar seara am iesit cu totii (insemnand si colegii mei de casa) la o bere Guiness. Chiar ne-am simtit bine!



Cu ocazia asta o sa si multumesc tuturor celor care si-au amintit de ziua mea si care mi-au transmis urari si felicitari, indiferent prin ce mijloace!

Sa continuam...Miercuri eu am mers la cursuri, iar Alex si Gabel in Birmingham, la verisoara ei, caci nu avea rost sa mai piarda o zi aici, nu mai era nimic de vazut, iar eu oricum nu as fi putut sta cu ei, plus ca Birmingham-ul chiar merita vizitat (este, in fond, al doilea oras ca marime din UK).
Nu imi mai amintesc ce am facut joia si vinerea urmatoare, sunt date mult prea indepartate in timp si spatiu :) Probabil ca nimic interesant. Ah, da! Am fost CERUTA DE NEVASTA vineri! De catre nigerianul de care v-am spus in postul anterior. Nu, nu e amuzant! L-am intalnit intamplator pe strada, cand am iesit din Jaguar Building, era intuneric si nu prea ne-am recunoscut reciproc prima data. Mai bine nu reactionam cand m-a strigat...A inceput cu faze de genul: mi-am dat seama ca esti o persoana inteligenta si frumoasa de cand te-am vazut (ma vazuse doar o singura data inainte!!!), as vrea sa te scot in oras, ca intr-un cuplu (aici eu am bagat celebra fraza: sa vedem ce spune prietenul meu), cred ca esti fata potrivita pt mine si as vrea sa te iau de sotie si sa te duc in Nigeria sa te cunoasca familia mea. A ajuns si sa imi explice niste obiceiuri de-ale lor care se practica in momentul in care iti duci viitoare familie in tribul natal - de genul mama lui iti da haine traditionale, te invata sa gastesti chestii specifice, apoi tu trebuie sa gatesti pt familia lui (Nu zau? Eu abia gatesc pt familia mea!!!). Incerca sa ma ia de mana si cu vrajeli gen "dupa ce o sa ma cunosti mai bine o sa vrei si tu sa te casatoresti cu mine".
Am incercat sa fiu cat mai politicoasa, dar se pare ca diplomatia mea a fost interpretata gresit ori nu am folosit tactica buna - trebuia sa merg mai mult in ofensiva, decat defensiva...acum stiu...

In fine...sambata a fost HALLOWEEN-ul, va imaginati ce nebuie pe aici, din moment ce lumea iesea costumata pe strazi, seara, inca de la inceputul saptamanii. La ziua mea am primit o invitatie la o petrecere in casa unor germani, asa ca pe la 22:30, toata casa (plus cativa "asociati") s-a urcat in taxiuri si dusi am fost! Petrecerea incepuse ceva mai devreme (persoanele importante se lasa asteptate! :D), multa lume, multe costume. Eu am fost Zana Cea Corupta si am aratat cam asa:



Mi-a placut mult petrecerea, chiar a iesit cum mi-am imaginat, evident, nu mai bine decat a mea :D Mai nasol duminica - s-a stricat total vremea, a inceput sa bata vantul cu putere si sa ploua..Tocmai de asta am petrecut-o in casa, ba dormind, ba citind...Ba ignorand telefoanele tipului din Nigeria..Ma suna cand dormeam! Si stiti ca nu raspund la telefon cand dorm, decat in foarte putine cazuri. M-a deranjat si mai tare ca a utilizat nr lui, un alt nr si un ID ascuns... L-am sunat cand m-am trezit si am avut o discutie destul de...neutra, sa spun asa. Voia sa ma invite la o petrecere, dar am refuzat politicos, folosind scuza ca abia m-am trezit.
Dar a doua zi (luni) m-a sunat din nou, foarte de dimineata (nu era nici macar ora 9). Iar eu din nou nu am raspuns si l-am sunat cand m-am trezit si cand am avut o alta discutie normala. Insa la 2 minute dupa ce am inchis m-a sunat sa ma intrebe de ce nu vreau sa ies cu el, pt ca e negru (eu si rasismul, baba si mitraliera)? A inceput sa debiteze tampenii gen: eu vreau 3 copii si doresc sa fi mama copiilor mei (surpriza, eu vreau doar 2!), esti o persoana unica (fiecare e unic in felul sau, iar eu sunt doar diferita fata de ce a intalnit el pana atunci), daca maine te-ai desparti de prietenul tau ai iesi cu mine?
A incercat chiar sa ma verifice de cat timp sunt cu asa-zisul prieten...Am inceput si eu ofensiva: a venit in Europa ca sa invete ori ca sa isi gaseasca nevasta? Ar fi normal sa ies si cu "prietenul meu" si cu el in acelasi timp? De ce insita cand vede ca avem perspective diferite asupra a ceea ce vrem de la viata?
Intr-un final, am reusit sa il conving sa isi vada de viata lui si am terminat conversatia, nu inainte de a imi ura succes in relatia mea si de a ma asigura ca ma iubeste. Mare e gradina Domnului!
Sa nu credeti ca nu a mai dat nici un semn - marti dimineata iar m-a sunat, dar nu am raspuns si nici nu l-am mai apelat apoi. Iar data viitoare cand va mai face asta ii voi spune sa nu ma mai caute, chiar nu ma voi intalni cu el, nici macar intr-un cerc comun de prieteni (nici nu exista asta, spre norocul meu). Ma voi rezuma sa ii spun "Buna" daca ne vom intersecta la facultate, la un curs comun. Iar daca subit dispar, tata, te rog trimite recuperatorii pe urmele mele in Nigeria! Sau cum spunea Chris, unul din colegii mei de casa, trebuia sa ii spun, pt a rezolva problema, ca prietenul meu e din Uganda si daca nu se potoleste, tribul lui va invada Nigeria! Super tare, frate!

Miercuri, slava Domnului, nu a venit la cursul asta comun, asa ca am avut si eu parte de o zi normala...Toate bune la facultate, discutam despre chestii interesante, mai putin la cursul despre Metode de Cercetare, care mi se pare destul de plictisitor, caci nu facem nimic legat de studiile noastre. Dar daca trebe, trebe...
In continuare se anunta o perioada misto: o sa vedem niste filme, o sa avem invitati care or sa ne vorbeasca pe diverse subiecte, la sfarsitul lui martie mergem in Sicilia. Am inceput sa imi caut un loc pt practica, in Anglia si nu numai, incerc sa gasesc si niste idei pt dizertatie, dar incerc sa ma concentrez acum pe lucrarile pe care trebuie sa le fac pentru perioada urmatoare...

Una peste alta, maine plec la Berlin, abia astept! O sa ma reintalnesc cu Daniel, Lidia, Tamara si alte cateva persoane. O sa avem parte de multe evenimente, trebuie doar sa ne hotaram cam ce vrem sa vedem, caci timpul este limitat. Numai ca am inteles ca e destul de frig acolo (a si nins putin acum cateva zile), iar eu am doar un bagaj de mana...Dar ma voi descurca - fix acum un an mergeam la Stockholm, cu aceeasi geanta!

In mod cert nu voi mai avea timp sa scriu ceva pana plec, asa ca ne "citim" de marti incolo!
V-am pupat!




...............................

22 Years And 10 Days

(To my Romanian readers please read the English version as well, there are some thing that happened at the party and that I couldn't write in Romanian for objective reasons)

Lately I haven't been too much around through my blog, but I had quite good reasons for my absence. I'll try, briefly (though I have this feeling that I'll write a kilometre long post), to resume the last 2 weeks.

THE PARTY was fantastic! I finished the preparations in the last minute, I had some house from one of my housemates, so I had enough time to get myself ready. Some guests have been pretty punctual, so I welcomed them in my slippers. I was a bit stresses out since I didn't know if Alex and Gabel where coming or not to England anymore and after I found out the will, I didn't know when...It was great they came, I was so dizzy (not because of the alcohol, but due to my hostess status) that I didn't put the B-Day cake in a safe place and some "mysterious forces" ate it. So I needed a good chef to make something really quick and with the things that I had. Anyways, a lot of people, music, noise outside, no rain (I was afraid of that). The neighbours started to complain really soon after the party started (though I had talked to them in advanced) so they called the Noise Abatement Department from the City Council, who further called the Police. But both of the authorities saw that there was absolutely no problem with the music, it was just the people talking in the back yard. After some of my guests left, they were waiting for a cab in the front of my house, they made some more noise, so other neighbours called again the Police. I found out about this the next morning, when I had a discussion with my landlord. As you can imagine, he has received several calls from my next door neighbours and even though at the beginning he was pretty calm and relaxed, a few days after he became very irritated because of the outcome of the party. He was convinced that I've destroyed the house (well, it was just the new living room carpet that had some chewing gum on it) but he didn't believe me that everything is fine nor want to come and check it out himself...English people!

In the end, the neighbours have moved out the next week-end (I'm pretty sure that not because of the party) and I gained my popularity in Coventry! I received only positive feed-back after the party, including guests that I've met on the street.

The next day we managed to clean the house better than it was before. I got out the chewing gum from the living room carpet, but otherwise nothing got broken or stolen 9we were a bit afraid of this because we can't lock out rooms on the outside, but I had my laptop downstairs so I would've felt its absence :D), no one got into a fight, no one got sick etc.

After all the cleaning procedure I took my other "guest" DOWNTOWN, I've shown them almost everything that there is to see in Coventry (you can do its tour in one day). I entered for the first time in the new Cathedral, built right next to the one bombed in the World War II (similar to the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Berlin). I think Alex felt reaaaaally good there because he made loads of photos (that you are able to see now on my blog), but don't imagine that you'll see him in any of these (or us, the girls)...In the evening we organised a dinner for everyone in the house. Well, Alex and Gabel actually cooked, it was my B-Day (maybe I forgot to mention, but my B-Day lasted about a week this year :D)!

The next day, on Monday, we woke up early and headed to STONEHENGE, the place where we decided to go, since Alex and Gabel are not too found of castles or other similar sightseeing. We've rented a car so Alex had the task of driving on the right side of the road (it doesn't seem that difficult, just that you have to be more careful in the city). We've also rented a GSP which kind of speared us of a lot of effort and orientation problems. There was some heavy traffic, like generally in Romania (but on a smaller segment though)...

I don't know if there's much to say about Stonehenge - it's in the middle of a grassland, on a low hill, at a crossroad. Perhaps it's not as big as I imagined, in any manner it's not impressive (as impressive as the architecture of a castle), but, anyhow, very interesting. The future plans for it include closing the roads that pass by there - it seems necessarily, you can't contemplate Stonehenge or the surroundings when you hear the noise of the cars (although it's kind of a local road, 1-2 lanes, it's pretty crowded).

Like everyone, we took audio guides, so we found out a bit about the probable building methods, about the legends etc. At Stonehenge you end up losing more time than initially planned, it's very captivating.

On our way back we stopped in OXFORD for about 2 hours. WOW! What a city! Though it has only half of the population of Coventry it's certainty more vibrant. It's seems, though, a bit bigger than it (maybe because I know only the city centre in Coventry, which is small enough, as I said before). it has a castle, really beautiful architecture. The centre was full of students, probably the students percentage is very high. We ate something in a cool place, where I had been before, when I visited the girls in Luftbra. I didn't quite manage to understand what's all this thing with the Oxford University though...It's so high ranked, but everyone is hanging out in bars...Maybe that's where they have the libraries in Oxford...

Anyways, Oxford is a great city, you definitely need more than 2 hours to explore it, minimum one day, I'd say. We were all delighted! I'm glad that i came with the idea of the Coventry-Stonehenge-Oxford-Coventry itinerary, it has been a great day, even the weather has been on our side!

Since on Tuesday it was really MY B-DAY, I decided to make it quite relaxing so we've walked around the city, we did some shopping, I bought myself a new camera (the old one wasn't able to do its job well), we ate some cakes as Alex wanted, but on a bench, not in a pastry shop (I told him that I haven't seen too many shops of this kind here, I mainly know the bars). Then we came back home, we ate some pizzas and in the evening we (us and my housemates) went out for a drink, a Guinness. We really enjoyed it!

I'll take this opportunity and thank to all those who remembered my B-Day and who sent their wishes and greeting, no matter the channels!!!

On Wednesday I went to the Uni and Alex and Gabel to Birmingham, to her cousin, since it was useless for them to waist another day here, there was nothing left to see and I couldn't have stayed with them anyways. Plus, Birmingham is a nice city, it's worthed a visit (after all, it's the second largest city in the UK).

I don't remember exactly what I've done on Thursday and Friday, these days are too far away in space and time :) Probably nothing interesting. Ah, yes! I'VE BEEN PROPOSED on Friday! By the Nigerian guy that I've mentioned in a previous post. No, it's not funny! I've bumped into him o n the street, when I exited Jaguar Building, it was dark and we didn't recognised each other in the first place. I shouldn't have reacted when he called...He started saying thing like: I realised you are an intelligent and beautiful person from the very first moment (he had seen me just once before!), I'd like to take you out, as a couple (I served him the famous phrase: let's see what my boyfriend thinks about this), I think you are the perfect girls for me and I want to marry you and take you to Nigeria to meet my family. He told me about some local customs when you bring you future wife in your native tribe - his mother will give you traditional clothes, she teaches you how to cook specific meals and then you have to cook for the whole family (Really? I barely cook for my family!!!). He tried to take my hand, saying stuff like "after you'll get to know me better you'll also want to marry me".
I tried to be as polite as possible, but it seems that my diplomacy has been misinterpreted or I haven't used the right technique - I should've gone more into offensive, rather than defensive...now I know...

Whateva...on Saturday we had Halloween, so you can imagine the craziness here, some people started to dress up since the beginning of the week. At my B-Day party I received an invitation to a party in the house of some German people, so around 22:30, the whole house (plus some "associated persons") got into cabs and gone we were! The party had already started, many persons, many costumes - I was the Corrupted Fairy! I really enjoyed the party, it ended up as I imagined it, not as good as mine, obviously! :D

On Sunday it was pretty bad - the weather got worse, it was a terrible wind and it started raining. This is the reason why I've spent it inside, reading and sleeping...And ignoring the phone calls of the Nigerian guy. He was calling when I was sleeping! And you know I don't pick up the phone when I sleep, only in a few cases. I was really bothered by the fact that he used his number, another number and a hidden ID...I called him when I woke up and we had a pretty neutral conversation, let's say...He wanted to invite me to a party, but I declined, saying that I had just woken up. But the next day (on Monday), he rang again, really early in the morning (it wasn't even 9). I didn't answered again and I called back after I woke up and we had another normal chat. But 2 minutes after I hang up he rang asking why I don't want to date him, is it because he's black? He started saying stupid stuff like: I want 3 children and I want you to be the mother of my children (surprise, I only want 2 children!), you're an unique person (everyone is unique in its own way, I'm just different from what he met by now), if tomorrow you'd broke up with your boyfriend, would you come to me?

He even tried to check me out for how long I'm in a relationship...That's when I started the offensive: did he come to Europe to study or to find himself a wife? Would it be normal to go out with him and with my "boyfriend" in the same time? Why is he insisting when he sees that we have different perspectives on life? Finally, I managed to convince him to go on with his life and I ended the conversation, not before he wishes me good luck with my relationship and reassuring me that he loves me.

Don't you think he didn't try to contact me again - on Tuesday morning he called again, but I didn't answer or ring him back. And the next time he'll do this I'll tell him to stop calling me, I won't date him, not even with friends around (thanks God that we don't have common friends!). I'll just say "Hello" if I see him at the Uni, at a common lecture. And if I suddenly disappear, dad, please send the trackers in Nigeria!
Or as Chris, one of my housemates, said, I should've told him that I have a boyfriend from Uganda and if he doesn't stop calling me his tribe will invade Nigeria!!! Cool, huh? On Wednesday he didn't show up at this common lecture, so I had a normal day...


Every thing's fine at the Uni, we discuss about interesting things, except on the course on Research Methods, which is a bit boring to me, it's not topic-related. But if we have to do it, we'll do it...

Next I predict a cool period: seeing some movies, have some guest speakers, going to Sicily at the end of March. I started to find some opportunities for my placement, in England and abroad, I'm trying to find some ideas for my dissertation topic, but now I'd better focus on the papers that I have to do for the following period...

Tomorrow I'm going to Berlin, I can't wait! I'll meet again Daniel, Lidia, Tamara and some more people, There'll be many events, we just have to decide what we want to see, the time is short. I understood it's pretty cold there (it even snowed a bit few days ago) and I'm only taking a hand luggage...But I'll be fine - a year ago I was going to Stockholm, carrying the same bag!

I'll definitely won't have tine to write something else until I go, so we'll "read" each other from Tuesday on!
Kisses!

12 ore

As fi vrut sa va dau informatiile astea "la cald", dar dupa cum o sa vedeti in continuare, miercuri chiar nu mai eram in stare sa fac asta...


Am inceput ziua pe fuga, ca de obicei..Dormisem putin, pt ca voiam sa imi termin prima "tema" (era chiar ceva neimportant, puteam sa nu o fac, dar am zis sa nu incep cu stangul si cu obiceiuri proaste), plus ca nu reuseam sa adorm cu o noapte inainte (desi chiar nu era vorba de emotii). Am incercat sa iau un mic dejun cat mai consistent, stiam ca va urma o zi lunga. A fost si momentul primei cafele in noua mea casa, iar mirosul raspindit in bucatarie la deschiderea pungii mi-a amintit de diminetile cand obisnuiam sa imi beau cafeaua cu Kaisa si Lidia (mai putin cu Lidia, ea nu se trezea prea devreme in mod normal :D). Cred ca de fiecare data cand voi bea cafeaua dimineata, la micul dejun, imi voi aminti de acea perioada. Pur si simplu mireasma cafelei la ora 7-8 asta imi evoca...Cu ele am invatat sa beau cafeaua si atunci a devenit o obisnuinta (ce a urmat dupa intra in categoria "trebuie sa beau o cafea ca sa rezist azi")...
Se spune ca o zi buna incepe cu o cafea buna...Ma rog, nu intotdeauna - trebuie sa recunosc ca nu a fost cea mai buna cafea din viata mea, pentru ca mi-am amintit si am realizat destul de tarziu ca nu pusesem zahar. Se vede ca mi-am iesit din mana...

Am ajuns la timp la facultate, de fapt chiar mai devreme cu 5 minute, la fix cat sa imi scot la imprimanta "tema". Sala unde se tinea cursul, Research Methods, era plina la ora 09:00, pe multi chiar nu ii cunosteam, dar era vorba de tot departamantul de de Humanities and Social Science. Cursul e interesant, desi nu are nici o legatura cu subiectul studiilor noastre. Practic, te invata cum sa scrii o lucrare: cum sa te documentezi, cum sa faci referintele critice etc. Notarea se va face pe baza unei lucrari despre ce vrem noi din aria noastra curriculara (deci va fi folositoare), caci scopul evaluarii este sa observe daca stim sau nu sa facem o cercetare. Ma rog, nu prea stiu cum sa va explic, nici eu nu sunt tocmai lamurita acum, mi se pare cam abstract in anumite privinte.

A urmat o pauza de doua ore, in care am stat de vorba cu Mihai, romanul din program, si am facut un "schimb": ne-am povestit unul altuia ceea ce fiecare nu reusisem sa citim in totalitate (caci ne-am potrivit la chestia asta). Am descoperit o cantina mica (nici macar nu se numeste asa), unde am luat "pranzul" (era abia 12 si mancasem cu 4 ore inainte)...

Alt curs (International Terrorism), alta cladire...ne-am inghesuit vreo 20 de persoane intr-o sala cam mica (pentru data viitoare profesorul a vorbit pentru o alta camera). Am cam pierdut putin timp cu detaliile despre modul cum e structurat cursul, cum vom fi evaluati si altele, dar am discutat putin si despre topicul seminarului. Cam acelasi lucru s-a intamplat si la urmatorul curs, International Organised Crime, doar ca aici discutiile au fost ceva mai ample (pentru ca am avut mai mult timp la dispozitie). La un moment dat, profesorul (italianul de care v-am povestit deja) a adus in discutie traficul de persoane din Romania, iar eu am vrut sa il completez ca reteaua era mai mare, cu femei din Moldova si Ucraina, iar el probabil ca a inteles ca am fost ofensata de ceea ce spunea si nu mai stia cum sa dreaga situatia si se scuze intr-un fel...iar noi am inceput sa radem! :D

Am mai avut cateva momente de respiro, pe care l-am petrecut la o cafea in compania unui tip din Kenya, apoi am mers la receptia organizata pentru tot departamentul. La inceput toata lumea statea mai mult alaturi de cei care erau in acelasi master, abia spre final am inceput sa ne amestecam. Colegii mei s-au dat la fund si au plecat destul de repede (asta si pt ca majoritatea nu stau in Coventry, asa cum am mai spus), deci a trebuit sa ma multumesc cu persoanele ramase pe acolo hahahaha. Asa se face ca la un moment dat m-am trezit inconjurata numai de persoane de culoare (nu sunt rasista, stati linistiti, dar asta am constatat atunci), dar cel putin am socializat intens. Oricum, intr-un fel sau altul toti erau interesati de mine: unul, din Nigeria, vrea sa ma scoata in oras (o sa imi folosesc toate instrumentele diplomatice ca sa il refuz), altul, din Congo, isi face doctoratul pe tema serviciilor de inteligenta din noile democratii si a ales ca studiu de caz Congo si Romania! Chiar vrea ca la anul sa obtina bani de cercetare si sa mearga in Romania, dar pana atunci vrea sa obtina contacte (ce m-a nimerit! hahahaha).

Intr-un final, "gasca" s-a spart, asa ca dupa 12 ore am ajuns si eu acasa, culmea!, nu foarte obosita (desi am carat dupa mine toata ziua doua suporturi de curs foarte "serioase"). Acasa deja lumea (francezi, normal!) se stransese pentru bauturile premergatoare iesirii in club. Au vrut sa ma ia si pe mine, dar i-am refuzat politicos si oricum au inteles ca statusem foarte mult timp la facultate...

Pentru curiosii din voi, cam asta a fost prima mea zi de facultate! Acum ma pregatesc intens pentru petrecrea de maine seara, sper sa iasa bine, evident ca sunt foarte stresata, caci stiti ca mie imi place sa controlez orice detaliu :D Azi am primit din Romania si niste "materie prima" numai buna pentru petrecere. "Mirosisem" eu ceva cand am vorbit cu tata aseara...sincer, la toata experienta ta, tata, ma mir cum poti sa te desconspiri asa usor!!! hahahaha

Probabil ca zilele astea nu o sa am timp sa mai scriu ceva, stiti si voi foarte bine ce urmeaza: party, Alex si Gabel in Coventry, luni mergem la Stonehenge (da, da, ati citit bine! hai, recunoasteti, am idei geniale! :D), marti e cu adevarat ziua mea, miercuri iar la cursuri...Sper doar sa ma pot bucura cu adevarat de perioada ce vine...

Gata, va ajunge!
Pupici!


...........................

12 Hours

I wanted to provide you the following information as soon as possible, but you'll probably be able to see next why I couldn't do that on Wednesday..

I started my day in a rush, as usual...I slept a bit, because I wanted to finish my first assignment (nothing too important, I could've not done it, but I didn't want to get a bad habit since the beginning), plus that I couldn't manage to fall asleep the night before (and it wasn't because I was nervous). I tried to have a big breakfast, I knew what was coming ahead. It was the time of my first coffee in my new house and the smell that spread around the kitchen when I opened the bag reminded me of the mornings when I used to have my coffee with Kaisa and Lidia (less with Lidia, she never used to wake up too early normally :D). I think that every time I'll have a coffee at breakfast I'll remember those times. It's just what recalls the smell of coffee at 7-8 in the morning...With them I learnt how to drink a coffee and it had become a habit back then (what followed was just a "I-have-to-drink-a-coffee-if-I-want-to-resist-today" mood)...

It is said that a good day starts with a good coffee...Well, that's not always valid - I have to admit that this wasn't the best coffee that I've ever had, because I realised pretty late that the sugar was missing. I noticed then that I'm losing my habit...

I got on time at Uni, even 5 minutes earlier, just perfect to print my assignment. The classroom was quite full at 09:00, but this course, Research Methods, is designated to all the students of the department of Humanities and Social Science. The course seems interesting, although is not topic-related. Basically, we are being thought how to write a paper: how to do the research, how to do the reference etc. The assessment consists of a paper about anything in our field (so it will be useful), since the aim of this is to observe if we can or cannot do a research. Well, I can't really explain more, it's not too clear for me either, it seems a bit abstract in some aspects.


After that we had a 2 hours brake, when I've chatted with Mihai, the Romanian guy, and we made an "exchange": we told each other what the other didn't get to read (we "matched"). I also discovered a small canteen (it's not called like that), where we had "lunch" (it was only 12 o'clock and I had eaten 4 hours before that).

Another course (International Terrorism), another building...we all (about 20 persons) crammed in a small room (for the next time the professor already arranged to have another room). We've lost some time because the professor had to fill us with details about the structure of the course, the assessment method and some other stuff, but he got to talk a bit about the topic itself. Kinda the same thing happened at the next course, International Organised Crime, just that now the discussion have been a bit broader (we had more time). At a certain moment, the professor (the Italian that I've already talked about) pointed the human traffic from Romania and I wanted to expand the idea telling that the network was actually bigger, including women from Moldova and Ukraine, but I assume he felt he was offending me by what he was saying and he was trying to make it up and to apologise...and we started laughing! :D

We still had some spare moments after this and I spent them in the company of a guy from Kenya, the we went to the reception organised for the whole department. At the beginning, everyone stayed among the familiar ones, only later we started to mingle. My colleagues left pretty early (because most of them don't actually live in Coventry, as I mentioned). so I had to switch to those who still remained there. So at a certain point I got surrounded by black people (I'm not racist, don't get me wrong, it's just what I realised that moment), but at least I socialised intensively. However, one way or another, they were all interested in me: a guy from Nigeria wants to take me out (I'll use my full diplomatic instruments to refuse him) and another one, from Congo, is doing his Phd on Intelligence Services in the new democracies, opting for Congo and Romania as case studies! He even wants to get some funding in order to go to Romania to do some research, but until then he needs to find some contacts (he got me wright on this one! hahahaha).

In the end, everyone started to leave so i got home after 12 hours and, strangely, not that tired (though I had been caring all day two heavy handbooks). At home there was a lot of people (French, obviously!) already, having the warm-up drinks. They wanted me to join them in the club, but I refused in a polite manner and they understood that I've been to the Uni for a long time...

So for your inner curiosity, this has been my first day of lectures! Now I'm getting ready for the party tomorrow night, I hope it ends up well, I am a bit stressed out, of course, you know I'm a bit of a control-freak :D Today I got from Romania some "raw materials" just perfect for the party. I actually "sniffed" something when talking to dad last night...honestly, with all your experience, dad, I wonder how can you betray yourself that easily!!! hahahaha

Probably that the next days I won't have time to post something new, you know very well what's coming up: party, Alex and Gabel in Coventry, on Monday we are going to Stonehenge (yes, you've read well! C'mon, admit it, I have brilliant ideas! :D), on Tuesday it's my real B-Day, On Wednesday I've got courses again...I just hope I'll be able to truly enjoy all the up-coming moments...

OK, that's enough for you now!
Kisses

Ce mai zi!

Initial planuisem sa scriu despre cu totul altceva, dar cum imprevizibilul s-a produs, va voi povesti despre cum a decurs ziua de ieri.
Inceputul a fost destul de banal: trezirea, micul-dejun, dus, spalat rufe, citit. Apoi am hotarat sa merg sa iau suportul de curs de la biroul unui profesor, asa ca am ajuns acolo pe la ora 15 (trebuia sa merg dupa 14 oricum) si m-am ales cu o ditamai culegere de texte si articole, pentru tot semestrul.

Cum aveam deja o lista pregatita cu ceea ce imi propusesem sa fac ieri (pe unde sa merg si ce sa cumpar), m-am indreptat catre Nat West, banca la care am cont aici. Trebuia sa imi activez cardul si sa le spun ca am o problema cu Online Banking-ul. Am reusit doar sa imi activez cardul si am mers spre un bancomat de-al lor, sa retrag bani de pe contul din Romania si sa ii pun pe cel britanic. Asa imi va fi mai usor sa platesc chiria, sa fac cumparaturi, sa retrag bani fara comision etc, ma gandeam eu.

Scot o suma considerabila de bani si fac, din nou, aceeasi operatiune, pt aceeasi suma de bani. Bancomatul imi arat un mesaj de genul "Tranzactia este in efectuare", apoi "Va rugam sa luati cardul. Banii dvs sunt in curs de numarare". Ia banii si cardul de unde nu-s!!! Bancomatul piuia, cardul nu iesea, banii nu se iveau, pasarile ciripeau, copacii inverzeau, viata e frumoasa...SAU NU!!!

Normal ca m-am panicat, l-am rugat pe un domn, care tocmai isi terminase tranzactia la bancomatul de langa mine, sa ma ajute, pentru ca nu puteam pleca de langa aparat. Pana s-a intors, deja bancomatul era "Out of Service", deci nivelul de panica crescuse considerabil. Insa domnul acela m-a asigurat ca daca aparatul nu mai functioneaza este imposibil ca cineva sa aiba acces la cardul si/sau banii mei, asa ca am intrat "linistita" in banca.
La ghiseu de informatii am primit ajutor imediat, desi initial una din doamnele de acolo mi-a spus ca problema trebuie rezolvata cu banca din Romania, insa altcineva mi-a spus ca ma va ajuta si asa a si fost: m-a intrebat ce card este si mi-a cerut un document de identificare. In doua minute am primit cardul inapoi, cu asigurari ca tranzactia nu a fost procesata.

Nu stiam daca sa respir usurata sau sa imi fac griji incontinuare. Voiam sa ies mai repede din banca pierdusem deja prea mult timp si chiar nu mai doream sa mai stau acolo. Dar trebuia sa imi pun pe cardul Nat West banii pe care apucasem sa ii retrag, asta daca nu voiam sa ma plimb prin oras cu o groaza de lire. Macar aici totul a fost usor, in regula si destul de rapid...

Cum mai imi ramasesera o groaza de lucruri de facut, parea ca urmeaza sa ploua (iar hainele mele erau la uscat afara) si se facuse deja ora 16 (iar majoritatea magazinelor de aici inchid la 17:30), am accelerat putin cursa prin locatii, am cumparat cam tot ceea ce imi propusesem si ceva in plus: o superba pereche de cizme :D

M-am tot uitat in diverse magazine pt cizme sau botine: in Primark erau destul de ieftine, dar nu aveau nr meu; in alta parte aveau modele prea batranesti; in Dorothy Perkins vazusem modele interesante atat pt cizme, cat si pt botine, din piele, la preturi rezonabile; in Bhs cam la fel; in Next chiar am probat niste botine, din imitatie de piele, cu 10 lire mai ieftine decat cele din Dorothy Perkins. Ma hotarasem deja sa nu mai lungesc treaba (mai ales ca suportul de curs si lenjeria de pat abia cumparata atarnau foarte greu) si sa iau o perechea gri de cizme vazuta la Dorothy P. - nu era chiar ceea ce cautam, dar erau frumusele si m-am gandit ca 65 lire pt niste cizme din piele nu ar fi o investitie proasta.

Insa chiar inainte sa intru in magazin, am zarit un altul vizavi, exclusiv de incaltari si mi-am spus: "De ce nu?". Cand am pasit acolo am vazut-o: perechea mult visata, stil cowboy, DAR pe negru. Chiar nu voiam cizme negre (ori maro), eram mai degraba orientata catre gri sau alta culoare care sa dea alt aspect tinutelor mele. Plus ca perechea asta era 90 lire, chiar depasea cu mult orice buget auto-impus. Am mai aruncat niste priviri prin magazin si asa am descoperit coltul cu REDUCERI! :D Si, de la ceva distanta, am zarit ceva albastru (ultima mea obsesie in materie de culori). Ghiciti ce era? Aceleasi pereche de cizme negre, dar pe albastru! O minunatie! Chiar a fost dragoste la prima vedere!!! Si la prima vedere a pretului, evident: de la 120 lire, erau reduse la 60!

Cizme stil cowyboy + albastru + piele + 50% reducere = 60 lire mai putin in contul meu.

Dar cred ca este cea mai buna investitie pe care am facut-o in ultima vreme. Serios! Imi venea sa plec direct incaltata cu ele, doar ca nu aveam nici un fel de sosete sau ciorapi. Le-am scos, totusi, la o plimbare prin oras aseara :D Asta dupa ce am mai cumparat niste lucruri esentiale pentru petrecerea de sambata (gen pahare, farfurii, servetele) , m-am intors acasa si am mancat...

Iar cand ma uit acum pe geam si vad cum ploua marunt, imi confirm ca a fost si o buna sincronizare.

Totul e bine cand se termina cu bine! Relativ - mai trebuie sa rezolv problema cu Internet Banking-ul de la Banca Transilvania, caci se pare ca nu numai mie imi da erori...Urmeaza o saptamana plina pt mine: incep cursurile maine, trebuie sa organizez petrecerea, ma vad cu Alex si Gabel, trebuie sa imi organizez bine timpul ca sa ma pot pregati si pt facultate saptamana viitoare. Va fi coplesitor din mai multe puncte de vedere, dar este vorba de lucruri care imi plac (revederi, vizite, petreceri, terorism :P), asa ca sigur voi face fata! ;)

Acum ma intorc la citit!
V-am pupat!


.............................

Hell of a day!


Initially I was planning to write about something else, but unpredictable things have happened so I shall tell you about my day of yesterday.
The beginning has been pretty common: waking up, breakfast, shower, doing laundry, reading. Then I have decided to pick up the handbook for a lecture so I arrived at a professor's office around 15 o'clock (I was supposed to go after 14 o'clock anyways) and I got a really big book full of texts and articles, for the whole semester.

Since I already had a to-do list (where to go and what to buy), I went first to Nat west, the bank where I've opened an account. I needed to activate my debit card and to tell them that I'm experiencing some problems with the Online Banking service. I only managed to activate my card and I went to an ATM, to withdraw money from my Romanian account and to put them into my English one. It would be easier to pay the rent, to shop, to withdraw money without paying any fees etc, I thought.

So I withdrew a considerable amount of money and I was doing, again, the same thing, for the same sum. The cashmashine displayed a message like "Ongoing transaction", then "Please remove your card. Your money are being counted". But no card and no money!!! The ATM was beeping, the card wasn't out, the money were invisible, the birds were singing, the trees were blooming, life is beautiful...NOT!!!

I started panicking, I asked a gentleman for help, who had just finished his transaction at the machine right next to me, because I couldn't leave the ATM. Until he had returned the machine was already "Out of Service", so the panic level had increased considerably. But that gentleman assured me that if the machine doesn't work anymore it's impossible for anyone to gain access to my card and/or money, so I was able to enter "relaxed" in the bank.
At the information point I received help immediately, although initially one of the ladies told me that the problem must be cleared with my Romanian bank, but someone else said she will help me and so it was: she asked me what type of card is it and she required a photo ID of mine. In 2 minutes I got my card back, with reassurance that the transaction has not been processed.

I didn't know if I was supposed breathed easy or still worrying. I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible - I'd lost too much time and I didn't wanted to be there anymore. But I had to put on my account the money that I already had if I didn't want to go around the city with that big amount. At least that time everything went well, easy and quick...

As I still had to do loads of things, it seemed that it was about to start raining (and my clothes were drying outside) and it was already 16 o'clock (and most of the stores here close at 17:30), I speeded it up the race through the shops, I mainly bought all I had on my list and even something more: a superb pair of boots :D

I've been looking through several shops for boots or ankle boots: in Primark they were pretty cheap, but not my size; somewhere else they were too old-fashioned; In Dorothy Perkins I've seen interesting ones (both boots and booties), made out of leather, with reasonable prices; in Bhs pretty much the same; I even tried some booties in Next, they weren't leather, and 10 pounds cheaper then the ones in Dorothy Perkins. I had already decided to cut it short (especially since the bed sheets and the handbook were pretty heavy) and to but the grey leather boots that I've seen in Dorothy P. - it wasn't quite what I was searching for, but nice and I thought that 65 pounds for some leather boots it's not such a bad idea.

But right before entering the shop I saw another one right across the street, an exclusively shoe store and I've said to myself: "Why not?". When I stepped in there I saw it: the most-wanted pair of boots, cowboy style, BUT in black. I really didn't want black boots (or brown), I was actually decided to go with grey or any other colour that would give a twist to my outfits. Plus that this pair was 90 pounds, a bit to much for my budget. So I was looking around the store when i saw the SALES corner! :D And, from a distance, I saw something blue (my latest obsession when it comes to colours). Guess what it was? The same black boots, but in blue! A miracle! It was love at first sight!!! And the first sight of the price, obviously: they were 60 pounds, instead of 120!

Cowboy boots + blue + leather + 50% off = 60 pounds less in my account.

But I think it's one of the best investments that I've made recently. Seriously! I wanted to go home wearing them, just that I didn't have any socks or tights. But I took them for a walk later that evening :D After I bought some more essential stuff for my party (like glasses, plates, towels), I went home and ate...

And now that I look outside and I see a soft rain, I confirm to myself that it was perfect timing.

All's well that ends well! Not quite - I still have to figure it out the problem with the Internet Banking from Banca Transilvania, because it seems I'm not the only one experiencing these issues...Now I can foresee a busy week: I'm starting the classes tomorrow, I have to organise the party, I'll get to see Alex and Gaby, I must organise my time in order to be prepared for the courses next week. It will be overwhelming in several aspects, but it's about things I like (meeting people, sightseeing, parties, terrorism :P), so I shall surely survive it! ;)

Now back to reading!
Kisses!

Nimic nou pe Frontul de Vest

Nu s-a intamplat nimic prea interesant zilele astea, nici nu ar fi avut cand sa se intample. La inceputul saptamanii am mai rezolvat niste lucruri administrative, cum ar fi sa ma inregistrez la Serviciul Medical (asa ca pot sa ma imbolnavesc linistita). 50% din casa este racita, nu a inceput de la mine insa, si vad ca se raspandeste si la cei care doar vin in vizita (va invit pe aici, nu plecati cu mana goala, garantat!).

Abia astept sa incep si eu cursurile (stiu ca in cateva saptamani o sa regret ca am spus asta), dar vreau sa ma simt si eu studenta, ca restul lumii, plus sa ma intalnesc mai des cu ai mei colegi. Marti abia am mai interactionat cu ei (chiar au fost niste fete noi), caci am urmarit impreuna, la facultate, filmul "Munich". Trebuie sa recunosc ca este una din cele mai bune productii pe care le-am vazut, cel putin in ultima vreme. Destul de dur, dar cu multa esenta, chiar daca in mare parte este fictiune. Mi-a ridicat multe semne de intrebare pentru ca nu l-am vazut doar ca pe o simpla pelicula, ci din perspectiva terorismului si contra-terorismului.

Oricum, primii pasi spre viata de masteranda, in sensul clasic al cuvanului, i-am facut deja, caci mi-am cumparat o carte, "Inside Terrorism" si am descoperit mai multe titluri interesante la libraria din fata bibliotecii. Astept, totusi, unele recomandari de la profesori pana sa mai fac alte achizitii.

Daca stau sa ma gandesc, ultimele doua zile (ieri si azi) au fost destul de productive...Am facut niste cumparaturi, caci am descoperit ca un Lidl este destul de aproape de casa noastre (15 minute de mers pe jos), asa ca am umplut un raft cu dulciuri pe care le stiu din Germania; apoi am aflat ca Alex si Gabel vor veni sa ma viziteze mai devreme decat stiam, trebuia sa fie o supriza, dar s-a dat tata de gol (serios acum, chiar nu ai invatat nimic din experienta Berlin, tata? :P). Pentru mine nu e nici o problema ca totul e public (imi plac lucrurile transparente hahahaha), mai ales ca vor sosi la timp pt petrecerea de ziua mea. Asa ca acum am doua lucruri importante de organizat: petrecerea si traseul pt "danezi".

Si azi am facut lucruri notabile - am comandat o saltea pt ei si pt viitorul meu oaspete, Alina; am primit, in sfarsit, comanda de la Yves Rocher (am inteles ca a sosit la 07:30 de dimineata, astia nu au somn!!!) si, mai ales, cardul bancar de la Nat West(era cam ridicol cand primeam o groaza de alte chestii de la banca si nu aveam cardul inca), plus vederea din cel mai vechi oras al vikingilor :) Ma rog, daca era dupa mine, nici acum nu af fi descoperit toate lucrurile care mi-au fost livrate azi, desi chiar ma uitam dupa corespondenta noua si nu am observat o ditamai cutie si toate plicurile, cu toate ca erau sub nasul meu :D

Probabil ca nu v-am spus pana acum, dar Pauline mi-a solicitat (mie si lui Sonali, de fapt) sfatul in bucatarie...mai exact m-a rugat ca data viitoare cand gatesc ceva sa o chem sa vada cum se procedeaza, caci vrea sa treaca de stadiul de paste. Este destul de ciudat, caci acum un an abia descopeream tehnica fiertului orezului, iar acum cei care ma vad gatind spun ca fac asta foarte bine...Degeaba le spun ca eu nu stiu sa gatesc, ei insista ca ma descurc foarte bine. Prespun ca acum condimentele fac diferenta :)

O sa cobor acum in bucatarie, sa ii mai "impresionez" un pic pe francezi, dar nu inainte sa va multumesc tuturor celor care imi cititi blogul! Imi pare foarte rau ca nu am mereu timp sa vorbesc cu unii prieteni si prin alte mijloace de comunicare (gen Skype), dar am fost foarte impresionata cand Tamara mi-a spus ca imi urmareste postarile. MULTUMESC!

V-am pupat pe tooooti!!!

PS: Puteti comenta oricand, daca simtiti nevoia ;)


.............................

All Quiet on the Western Front


Nothing interesting really happened these days, not that there has been any time for new things. At the beginning of the week I took care of some administrative stuff, like registering at the Medical Care Service (so now I can get sick easily). 50% of the people in the house is sick, I didn't start it though, but I can see it's spreading around to the ones who are visiting us (so you are invited here, I can guarantee you won't leave the house empty handed!).

I can't wait to start the classes (I know I shall regret saying this in a few weeks), but i want to feel I am a student, like the rest of the people, plus that I want to meet my colleagues more often. I've only interacted with them on Tuesday (I actually got to see new faces), when we watched together at the Uni the movie "Munich". I have to admit that this is one of the best production I have seen, at least recently. Pretty tough, but with a lot of gist, even if it's mostly a fiction. It has raised a lot of questions because i haven't watched it only as a movie, but I approached it from the terrorism and counter-terrorism perspective.

However, I took the first steps towards my Postgraduate life (in the classic sense of the world) and I have bought a book, "Inside Terrorism" and i have discovered a lot of other challenging titles in the book store in front of the library. Still, I would like to wait for some recommendations coming from our professors, before making other purchase.

If I get to think about it, the last two days (yesterday and today) have been quite productive...I did some shopping as we discovered a Lidl pretty close to our house (15 mins walk), so one shelf is full of sweets that I used to buy in Germany; then I found out that Alex and Gabel are actually coming to visit me earlier than I expected, it was supposed to be a surprise, but dad spilled the beans (really now, haven't you learnt anything from the Berlin experience, dad? :P). I have no problem with the fact that everything is public now (I like transparent business hahahaha), especially since they'll be here right on time for my B-Day party. So now I have to organise two important events: my party and the trip for the "Danish" ones.

And today I did some noticeable things - I ordered an air mattress for my future guest, Alina, I finally received my Yves Rocher products (I understood that they arrived at 07:30 in the morning, these people have no sleep!!!) and, more important, my Nat West card (it was quite ridiculous that I was receiving loads of other stuff from the bank without having my card), plus the postcard from the oldest city of the viking people :) Well, if it were after me, I wouldn't have noticed all these stuff until now, even if I was actually searching for new mail and I didn't notice a big box a lots of envelopes right in front of me :D

Probably I didn't tell you this until now, but Pauline asked me (me and Sonali, in fact) advices in the kitchen...precisely, she asked me to call her next time I shall cook something so she'll be able to see the process (she wants to go further than cooking pasta). It's pretty weird because a year ago I was just discovering the technique of boiling the rice and now the people who see me cooking tell me that I do it very well...In vain I try to tell them that I don't know hoe to cook in fact, they insist on saying that I do a good job. I assume that now the spices make the difference :)

I'll go downstairs now, to "impress" the French people a bit more, but not before I thank you, all the readers of my blog! I am really sorry that I don't always have the time to talk to some of my friends using other communication means (like Skype), but I was so impressed when Tamara said that she follows all my posts. THANK YOU!

Kisses to everyoooooone!!!!

PS: Feel free to comment ;)

Diverse

Ultima data am promis ca o sa va mai povestesc unele lucruri, asa ca o sa incerc sa fac asta acum...Sper sa transmit esentialul si sa nu uit ceva important:

- Casa s-a populat in intregime. Locuiesc cu trei francezi (1 tip, Guillaume, si 2 tipe, Pauline si Fiona), 1 polonez (Chris) si o indianca (Sonali). Ma bucur ca ne intelegem foarte bine, cel putin pana acum si, chiar daca doar eu si Sonali suntem la Master (ceilalti sunt inca la ciclul de licenta), diferenta de varsta nu prea se simte.

- In Coventry francezii sunt precum spaniolii in Berlin - multi! Si se cam cunosc intre ei. Asa ca de multe ori ajung sa imi petrec timpul cu francezi, nu ma deranjeaza, sunt foarte de treaba, desi nu e aceeasi poveste ca si cu spaniolii. Adica nu ii inteleg prea mult, deci ar trebui sa ma reapuc de franceza.

- Insa ei, francezii, au instituit o regula: daca cineva vorbeste franceza si nu engleza in casa, trebuie sa plateasca (circa 10 sau 20 penny, in functie de statut - daca locuiesc in casa sau nu :P), intr-o cutie pe care am amenajat-o special. Evident ca a doua zi au regretat chestia asta! Si, mai rau, nu se tin de ea...Ma rog, e pierderea lor ca nu isi practica engleza, desi chiar fac eforturi uneori(iar Pauline incurajeaza mult vorbitul englezei)...

- Am vrut sa iau cateva cursuri de lb straine aici (in plus fata de cele din programul de Master), in speta germana si franceza (pt ca spaniola imi este mai simplu sa o invat singura), insa de pare ca acest lucru nu este accesibil studentilor de la Master. Mi se pare o prostie asta, mai ales ca la zilele de orientare, toti cei care ne-au tinut discursuri au spus ca trebuie sa profitam de perioada asta si se ne dezvoltam pe mai multe planuri (voluntariat, invatarea unei lb straine blabla). E adevarat ca pot oricand avea acces la biblioteca de la Centrul de Lb Straine si la toate facilitatile de acest gen, dar chiar nu se compara cu o lectie oferita de un profesor, mai ales in cazul germanei...

- Joi am fost la o intalnire informala (intr-o cafenea) cu unii dintre profesori si colegi si am descoperit ca exista totusi in roman care face acelasi masterat ca si mine. Este din Galati, dar a terminat anul trecut SNSPA-ul in Bucuresti. In plus, sta chiar foarte aproape de mine (daca vrea sa ajunga acasa pe o scurtatura trebuie sa treaca pe strada mea) si mi-a vandut un pont: sa zbor cu Aer Lingus pe ruta Londra - Bucuresti, caci e mult mai ieftin decat Blue Air (am verificat pe site, chiar asa e; acum astept sa aflu cand luam vacanta - este de vreo 3 saptmani, din cate stiu - sa pot sa imi rezerv biletul).

- Apropo de romani, cred ca aici sunt mai multi decat am estimat eu intital, pt ca multa lume imi spune ca mai stie pe altcineva din Romania ori ca a mai intalnit un roman/ca etc.

- Nu stiu daca v-am spus, dar aici magazinele sunt foarte departe. Sunt cateva minimarket-uri pe la colturile strazilor din zona, numai bune cand ai nevoie de o paine sau lapte, dar sunt in general mai scumpe. Insa putem sa luam un autobuz chiar de la coltul strazii si sa ajungem la Tesco, un hypermarket, dupa o calatorie de 30 de minute, ce-i drept (si asta doar dus)! Iar apoi, la intoarcere, ne rupem mainile, normal, mai ales daca nu vrem sa facem drumul asta prea des! :P A fost foarte foarte amuzanta faza cand am vrut sa mergem in Tesco, eu, Sonali, Guillaume si Valentin (prietenul lui, tot francez), ne-am asezat in statie, asteptand autobuzul, iar, deodata, baietii au traversat strada spunand ca de fapt trebuie sa luam autobuzul de vizavi. Noi, fetele, mirate, o tineam pe a noastra, ca suntem in statia buna. Apoi ne-am dat seama ca ASTA E ANGLIA si ca totul e pe dos!!! Baietii erau suparati ca autobuzul trecuse cu 3 minute inainte (desi l-am fi vazut), insa le-am spus ca nu sunt mereu punctuale mijloacele de transport, ghiciti de ce - pentru ca ASTA E ANGLIA! hahahahaha (o sa va povestesc intr-un alt episod cum sta treaba cu ASTA E ANGLIA!).

- Am descoperit magazine unde poti cumpara o groaza de lucruri (pt casa, mancare, rechizite etc) cu 1 lira sau cu 99 pence (in functie de magazin). Deci aici nu e problema de preturi (evident, e un pic mai scump decat la noi sau in Germania, dar nu exagerat), ci doar de proximitate. Si cand te gandesti ca eu nu mai stiam cum sa imi indes capsatorul, pixurile etc in bagaj...

- Am aflat deja cum functioneaza lucrurile pe la facultate si la biblioteca (printatul, imprumutatul cartilor) si, zau, sunt asa fericita ca sunt in Anglia (nu in Olanda, Germania etc) si ca, practic, nu am nici o problema de comunicare. Asa ca deja am ceva de citit, dar trebuie sa returnez cartea luni (probabil ca o sa fac o prelungire de termen). Oricum, un profesor ne-a recomandat sa o cumparam, asa ca probabil voi face o comanda pe Amazon.co.uk, am vazut ca e mai ieftina si chiar am reducere cu un card de la Uniunea Studentilor! ;)

- Cum am primit pachetul de acasa (miercuri) sunt foarte fericita ca Manishtushu este si el in Anglia, plus o rezerva de palinca! Multumesc, tati! Asa seara de miercuri a inceput cu bautura romaneasca si s-a terminat cu paste gatite la 03:30 a.m.! Iar la mijloc a fost o "portie" de club (in sfarsit am gasit unul mai pe gustul meu, rock'n'roll, fara popareala si muzica prea comerciala), unde am cunoscut, pt prima data, doi tipi nascuti si crescuti in Coventry! Tot atunci am cunoscut si un tip din Estonia, Teet, mi-am "exersat" estona si, culmea!, el mai stie o romanca pe care tot Oana o cheama...

- Am facut curat in camera vineri si sunt tare bucuroasa ca eu am parchet si nu mocheta (asa ca nu trebuie sa car aspiratorul pe scari) si in casa, dar de acum va trebui sa fixam o impartire a sarcinilor pt zonele comune. Curatenia asta a picat la fix, caci in aceeasi zi a sosit proprietarul (vizita anuntata, ca de obicei), mi-a pus un fel de cuier de interiorul usii si mi-a reparat zavorul (nu mergea pana acum) si sper sa revina curand sa unga usa, caci face un zgomot oribil cand apas pe maner. Ma gandeam ca as avea nevoie de o mica piesa de mobilier (din aia cu rama metalica), pe doua nivele, sa imi pot pune incaltarile jos, iar sus geanta si alte lucruri pe care la folosesc zilnic, ca sa nu le mai arunc in pat de fiecare data cand ma intorc acasa. As putea sa ii cer asta lui, caci Sonali i-a cerut o oglinda, o a doua noptiera si o masa de birou mai mica. Fetele imi spun ca nu ar fi nici o problema sa ii spun asta, mai ales ca platim o suma mai mare in comparatie cu alte persoane (ce-i drept, avem o casa super si proprietarii chiar se ocupa de noi, la nevoie).

- Week-endul asta l-am cam pierdut pt ca nu m-am simtit prea bine, cred ca racesc (mi-e cam somn, ma doar un pic in gat si am o tuse seaca uneori, dar nu am febra sau altceva). Sper sa fie o simpla raceala si nu gripa porcina, nah, la cati studenti internationali sunt pe aici, totul e posibil (desi nu am auzit de astfel de cazuri, iar peste tot sunt anunturi legate de prevenirea virusului). Am totusi pofta de mancare, deci nu toate simptomele corespund! :D

OK, acum v-am pus la curent cu tot ce trebuia sa stiti, in mare. Daca am uitat ceva, va povestesc data viitoare!

V-am pupat!


................................
Miscellaneous

Last time I promised to tell you some stuff, so I'll try to do this now...I hope I'll transmit the essential stuff and I won't forget anything important:

- The house is fully booked. I live with 3 French people (1 guy, Guillaume, and 2 girls, Pauline and Fiona), 1 Polish guy (Chris) and an Indian girl (Sonali). I am really glad that we get along well, at least for now, even if just Sonali and I are Post Grads students (the rest are Undergraduates) and the age difference is not noticeable.

- In Coventry the French students are like the Spanish ones in Berlin - many!! And they kinda know each other. So there are many times when I get to spend my time with French people, this doesn't bother me however, they are nice, but it's not the same story as with my Spanish friends. I mean I don't understand too much of what they're saying, I should start all over with French language.

- But the French people have settled down a rule: whoever speaks another language but English in the house must pay (about 10 or 20 penny, depending on they're status - if they live in the house or not :P) in a box that we've made especially for this. Obviously they've regretted this the next day! But what's worse is that they do not stick to this rule...Well, it's their loss that they're not practising their English, even if sometimes they're really pulling an effort (and Pauline encourages them a lot to speak English)...

- I wanted to take some foreign languages classes (apart from the courses in my MA programme), mainly German and French (coz it's easier for me to learn Spanish by myself), but apparently this this is not possible for Postgraduate Students. I find it quite stupid, especially since at the beginning, when some important people held some speeches, they said we should take advantage of this period and develop our self in many areas (volunteering, foreign languages). It's true that I can always have access at the library of the Languages Centre or any other facilities alike, but this doesn't compare to a lecture held by a professor, especially when it comes to German...

- On Thursday I've been to an informal meeting (in a coffee shop) with some of my professors and colleagues and I've discovered there's a Romanian guy doing the same Master indeed. He's not from Bucharest, but he graduated there the National School of Political and Administrative Sciences (last year). Plus, he lives quite close to me (if he wants to take a shortcut to his place he has to pass my street). He gave me an tip: to fly with Aer Lingus from London to Bucharest, since is way cheaper than Blue Air (I checked on their website and it's true; now I just have to find out then is the winter break starting in order to book my ticket home).

- Speaking of Romanians, I think here there are more than I thought at the beginning, because a lot of people tells me that they know other persons from Romania or that they've met other Romanians etc.

- I don't know if I told you, but here the shops are really far away. There are some mini markets at the corners of the streets, very useful when you need some break or milk but they're a bit more expensive. Anyhow, we can take a bus from the corner of our street and get to Tesco, a hypermarket, after a 30 mins journey (only one way)! And then, when returning, we'll just carry loads of stuff, especially since we don't wanna go there too often! :P It was very funny when we wanted to go to Tesco, me, Sonali, Guillaume and Valentin (his French friend), we got in the bus stop, waiting for the bus and, suddenly, the boys crossed the street, saying that there was the right station. We, the girls, were very surprised by this and kept on saying that we were actually in the right station. But then we realised that THIS IS ENGLAND and everything is upside down here!!! The boys were upset that we've just lost the bus, by 3 mins, but I told them that the buses aren't always on time here, guess why - because THIS IS ENGLAND! hahahahaha (in another episode I'll tell you all about this thing THIS IS ENGLAND!).

- I've discovered some stores when you can buy many stuff (household, food, stationary etc) with 1 pound or 99 pence (depending on the store). So it's not a matter of prices (though it's a bit more expensive than Romania or Germany), just of proximity. And when you think about the fact that I had problems with cramming in the luggage my stapler and the roller balls...

- I found out how things work at the Uni and at the library (printing, loaning books etc) and I am soooo glad I'm in England (not Holland, Germany etc) and, basically, I have no communication problems. So now I have something to read, though I should get the book back on Monday (I'll probably renew the loan). Anyways, a professor recommended us to buy this book, so I'll probably order it from Amazon.co.uk, I've seen is cheaper there and I even have a discount with a card from the Students' Union! ;)

- I got my packet from home (on Wednesday) so I am excited that Manishtushu is here in England, plus a stock of palinca! Thank you, dad! Accordingly, Wednesday evening has started with Romanian drink and it has ended with pasta at 03:30 a.m.! In the middle we had some clubbing (I finally discovered a club that I like, more rock'n'roll and less popisch stuff) where I've met, for the first time since being here, 2 guys born and bread in Coventry! I've also met a guy from Estonia, called Teet, so I was able to "practise" my Estonian and, unbelievably, he knows another Romanian girl named Oana...

- I cleaned my room on Friday and I am happy to have a wooden floor instead of a carpet (I don't have to carry the hoover upstairs) and the house, but from now on we should make a task division for the common areas. This cleaning stuff was right on time because on that very day the landlord came (it was an announced visit, as usually), he put a hanger on the back of my door and he fixed the locker of my room and I hope we'll come over again soon, as he needs to oil the handle (it makes a terrible noise when I open the door). I am considering to ask him for a furniture piece (one with a metallic frame), two-levelled, as I would like to put my shoes on the lower one and the bag and other daily stuff on the higher one (so I won't throw them on the bed each time I come home). I could ask him for this, since Sonali has asked him a mirror, a second night table and a smaller desk. And the girls say that it shouldn't be a problem - we pay more in comparison with other people (well, we have a super house and the landlords are really concerned about our life here).

- I kinda waisted this week-end on doing nothing because I wasn't feeling too good, I think I'm catching a cold (I'm a bit sleepy, I have a throat ache and I'm coughing, but no fever or something else). I hope it's not swine flu, you never know with so many international students around here (though I haven't heard of any cases and everywhere there are announcements about the prevention of the virus). I still have my appetite, so not all the symptoms match! :D

OK, now I've updated you with everything you were supposed to know. If I forgot something, I'll tell you next time!

Kisses!

Fetele din Berlin

Pentru ca nu ati avut parte de nici o alta telegrama ori de alte vesti din partea mea, o sa ma revansez dandu-va mai multe detalii despre week-endul trecut.
Am plecat destul de odihnita de acasa, asta si pentru ca nu a trebuit sa merg la facultate prea devreme. Dar normal ca, in stilul care ma caracterizeaza, am ajuns pe ultima suta de metri la statia de autobuz, cred ca nu m-as fi simtit bine daca faceam altfel...Eh, si autocarul care m-a dus la Leicester a intarziat, asa ca nu a fost panica.
Acum am calatorit in East Midlands care, momentan, mi se pare ca are peisaje mult mai frumoase decat ceea ce am vazut in West Midlands, cel putin cat am calatorit de la Londra in Coventry. Ma rog, am mai si adormit in autocar atunci, deci nu trag inca o concluzie in acest sens.

Din Coventry catre Leicester

Leicester este un oras cam de marimea si populatia Coventry-ului, la o ora distanta. Atat cat am apucat sa vad din autocar mi s-a parut foarte interesant si cu siguranta merita o vizita de o zi (mai ales ca biletul costa 6 lire/calatorie). Ceea ce m-a socat foarte mult a fost cartierul prin care am trecut la iesirea din oras: era plin de indieni, iar pe bulevardul principal erau PESTE TOT (nu exagerez) magazine cu haine specifice (evident, foarte "sclipicioase").

Banuiesc ca este Catedrala din Leicester

Spre Loughborough (Lufbra de acum incolo), destinatia mea, am luat un autobuz local ce oprea in mai multe statii si astfel un drum de 20 km a durat cam o ora. Bine, era pe punctul sa dureze dublu, caci mai aveam putin si ieseam din Lufbra, inapoi spre Leicester, si eu tot nu coborasem din autobuz, caci nu a oprit in statia indicata pe traseul pe care l-am gasit pe internet (a virat la dreapta chiar inainte de centrul orasul...nu ca mi-as fi dat seama ca ala era centrul). Noroc ca soferul a fost foarte dragut (englez, nu?) si a tras pe stanga chiar inainte de iesirea din oras si mi-a explicat drumul.

Practic a trebuit sa merg cinci minute pe jos, in linie dreapta. Asta ca sa va imaginati cat de mic este orasul. Oricum, mi-a placut mai mult decat Coventry (o sa va povestes cu alta ocazie de ce nu imi place Coventry, din punct de vedere estetic), chiar daca este un oras foarte mic, in care (probabil) m-as fi plictisit si mai mult - practic, nu e nimic de vizitat (abia am facut cateva poze), ceva cu tenta istorica, asa cum ma atrage pe mine la un oras, dar nici nu era asta scopul calatoriei :)


Dupa cum probabil stiti deja, am mers acolo pt ca tocmai sosise Kaisa din Berlin, inainte de a zbura catre Tallin. Ea nu era informata de venirea mea acolo, stia doar ca urma sa ma viziteze in Coventry sambata. Asa ca banuiesc ca va puteti imagina fata ei placut suprinsa cand m-a vazut intrand pe usa cafenelei unde era la momentul respectiv!!! Cred ca e un lucru extrem de placut sa iti revezi prietenii intr-un mod atat de neasteptat :)

Totul a parut asa de natural: reintalnirea cu fetel din Berlin - Kaisa, Krissy (care a fost gazda perfecta) si Grace (ea a sosit un pic mai tarziu, trebuia si asta sa fie o supriza pt Kaisa, dar cineva a stricat-o din greseala...). Noaptea ce a urmat a fost si ea destul de naturala - am petrecut-o intr-un club, evident! :D Asta dupa ce am asteptat o ora la coada, nici nu cred ca va puteti imagina cata lume era, deoarece era Returners' Night sau ceva de genul, plus ca a mixat Calvin Harris (asta da britanic care arata bine!). Poate ca nu a fost 100% perfecta noapte, dar ma bucur ca am petrecut-o cu persoane dragi si asta conteaza in final.



A doua zi (sambata) urma sa mergem in Coventry, dar fetele (Kaisa si Krissy) urmau sa se intoarca in Lufbra in aceeasi seara, caci duminica la pranz Kaisa avea avion spre Tallin, iar biletele de autocar spre Londra era deja rezervate, dar nu din Coventry... Insa nu am reusit sa gasim nici o modalitate de a ajunge repede si ieftin in Coventry, caci planul era sa avem ceva mai mult de 2-3 ore la dispozitie ca sa facem un tur al orasului, ca fetele sa vada unde stau etc. Asa ca am decis ca eu sa mai raman inca o noapte in Lufbra, mai ales acum cand Kaisa ma reintalnise...

Kaisa trebuia sa plece din Lufbra a doua zi de dimineata (la ora 4 a.m.), asa ca am considerat ca e ma bine se plec si eu o data cu ea, macar am impartit acelasi taxi (caci nu era de mers pe jos la ora aia) pana la locul de unde trebuia sa luam fiecare autobuzul sau si sa nu o punem pe Krissy de doua ori pe drum (nu ne-ar fi lasat sa plecam singure, separat). Kaisa a mers spre Leicester, de unde a luat un autocar catre Londra, iar eu spre East Midlans Airport (care, apropo, e muuult mai aproape de Coventry decat Londra!), unde am asteptat cam o ora sa iau autocarul spre casa...

Am ajuns in Coventry pe la 08:30 dimineata, era pustiu prin oras (doar era duminica), doar o veverita s-a gasit sa traverseze strada la un moment dat :)

Am realizat ca mi-am luat "La revedere" de la Kaisa de 4 ori pana acum, asa ca nu mai este atat de dificil, mai ales ca de fiecare data se adauga mai mult optimism. Am inceput sa imi doresc sa mai spun asta curand, pt ca inseamna ca ne vom intalni din nou. Cred ca acum e randul meu sa merg in Tallin :)

Hai ca aproape ca am scris un roman si s-a facut tarziu, chiar si aici. Voi reveni curand cu noi postari, pentru ca sunt muuuuulte lucruri pe care trebuie sa vi le povestesc.

Noapte buna!


..............................

Berlin Girls


Because you didn't get a telegram or any other news of me, I'll make it up to you and I'll give you more details about the last week-end.
I had pretty much rest before leaving home, that's because I wasn't supposed to be at the Uni too early in the morning. But obviously that, in my own characteristic style, I reached the bus station at the eleventh hour, I think I wouldn't have felt alright otherwise....Eh, the couch to Leicester was also late, so there was no panic.
Now I travelled to East Midlands which, for the moment, seems to have more beautiful landscapes than what I've seen in West Midlands, at least from London to Coventry. Well, I've been sleeping then, so I won't draw any conclusions in this matter.

Leicester is a city similar to Coventry in terms of size and population, a hour away. As far as I got to see from the bus it looked very interesting and definitely is worth an one-day trip (especially since the ticket is 6 pounds/one way). What shocked me a lot was the neighbourhood that we've passed by before exiting the city: it was full of Indian people, and on the main street there were EVERYWHERE (I am not exaggerating) stores with specific clothes (obviously, very "sparkling" ones).

To Loughborough (Lufbra from now on), my destination, I took a local bus that stopped in many more stations and so a 20 km road took almost a hour. Well, it was about to last double, because I was very close exiting Lufbra, heading back to Leicester, and not getting off the bus, because it didn't stopped in the station showed on the routing that i found on the Internet (it has turned right just before the town centre...not that I would've realised which is the centre). Luckily the driver was very nice (English, right?) and he pulled over before the town boarder and the explained me the way.

Basically I was supposed to walk 5 minutes in straight line. This is to imagine how small is the town. Anyways, I liked it more than Coventry (I'll tell you some other time why I don't like Coventry, aesthetically talking), even if it a very tiny town, where I would have (probably) got more bored - practically there is nothing to visit (I barely took some photos), nothing historically, as I like to see when I'm travelling, but this was not the purpose of the journey :)

As you probably know by now, I went there because Kaisa had just arrived from Berlin, before going to Tallinn. She wasn't informed about my arrival there, she only knew that we would've met in Coventry on Saturday. So I assume that you can imagine her pleasantly surprised face when I entered the door of the coffee shop where she was at that time!!! I think is extremely nice to see your friends once more in such an unexpected way :)

Everything was so natural: the reunion with the Berlin girls - Kaisa, Krissy (the perfect hostess) and Grace (she came a lil later that day, although her arrival was supposed to be a surprise as well, but someone else spoilt by mistake...). The following night was also pretty natural - we spent it in a club, where else? :D That was after we queued for a hour, I don't even think you can imagine how many people were waiting, because it was Returners' Night or something like that, plus Calvin Harris mixing (now that's what I call a good-looking British guy!). Maybe it had not been 100% perfect, but I am so glad that I spent it with dear persons and that's what matters in the end.

The next day (Saturday) we should've travelled to Coventry, but the girls (Kaisa and Krissy) needed to go back to Lufbra that very evening, as Kaisa had a plane to Tallinn on Sunday and the couch tickets to London had been already booked, but not from Coventry...We couldn't find any way to get fast and cheap to Coventry, because the plan was to have more that 2-3 hours available to visit the city, my place etc. So we decided that I would stay another night in Lufbra, especially now that Kaisa had met me...

Kaisa was supposed to leave Lufbra the next day in the morning (4 a.m.), so we considered it would be better that i should go the same time as her, at least we've shared the same taxi to the place where we took the buses and not to force Krissy to go two times in the same spot (she wouldn't have let us to go alone, separately). Kaisa went to Leicester from where she took a couch to London and I went to East Midlands Airport (which, by the way, is waaaay closer to Coventry than London!), where I waited about a hour to take a couch home.

I arrived in Coventry at 08:30 in the morning, the city was empty (it was Sunday), just a squirrel decided to cross the street at some point :)

I realised that I said "Good-Bye" to Kaisa 4 times by now, so it's not very difficult anymore, especially that every time we add some more optimism. I started to wish to say this soon, because it would mean that we're going to meet again. I think now it's my turn to go to Tallinn :)

OK, I almost wrote a novel here and it's getting late, even here. I'll return soon with new post entries, since there are sooooo many things that I want to share with you.

Good night!