El Returnado

Insalata Tomassoo

2010-03-08T15:22:00.000-08:00

2 Tomatoes

1/2 Cucumber

1 can of Caracoles Chilenos (Chilean Sea Snails), coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

TJ's Organic Flaxseed Oil (High Omega-3 Fatty Acids)4-5 Tablespoons (my "other" anti-cancer regimen)

Juice from 1/2 Lime

1 small bunch of fresh cilantro

Pepper (freshly ground), 6-7 turns of the mill

Instant Beef Bouillon (throw two fingertips)

Several splashes of hot sauce to taste.

1 teaspoon dried Cumin, 1 teaspoon dried Sumach.

Mix

Enjoy

In summer: white wine. Now its snow outside, so I go for read Bordeaux. Black olives are on the side not in the salad. The Caracoles can be substituted by Feta Cheese, green onions fit well too. And so does Avocado. Mint leaves might add too. But I haven't tried with this one.

A German Lunch.

2010-03-05T05:40:00.000-08:00

This one goes without much comment, and, sorry: translating would spoil the tone & authenticity. Germans in the US will appreciate this one I'm sure! I found it on the lid of my takeout dessert in our cafeteria! Just in case you ever wondered which nationality of immigrants brought the nonsensical US-disclaimer notes.
What surprises me is that I did not have to sign a counter-agreement that I will store the food properly or eat it right away. So, this is probably not legally binding !!! ;-))

And: Guys, read it thoroughly, there is so much in there, German is such a rich language ;-)

Shopping experiences and mental "re-germanification"

2010-02-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

Chinese Supermarket. Hamburg, St. Georg, near the central railway station.
Long Line at the cashier, I got my stuff (frozen dumplings, rice, various hot sauces, a few hard-to-get vegetables) on the little conveyor belt to the cashier. When it is my turn, an asian lady in front of me is grabbing my stuff. I interfer, "excuse me, I believe this is mine". She keeps on packing into bags. I am confused! Since I try to get my stuff together and she keeps on packing into bags... I am getting nervous, that I may loose my stuff. So I try to insist: "excuse me, I think you are packing my groceries in your bags"
Well , finally the customer behind me clarifies: "she is packing FOR YOU""they do that here, I had to get used to that too at first"

*****

BOAH!!!!!BUMMER!!!!!!!

*****

HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE!!! OMG!!!!

I am back too long!! I got used so much to the German-supermarket practice, you pay and at the very same time you are supposed to have your stuff packed away, because if you don't you will have the next -annoyed- customers stuff pushed right on top of your groceries and you have a hard time to find out what belongs to you or to him/her.

Hell, I am SO STUPID, already this German supermarket -thing has settled SO much into my habits that I do not recognize anymore, if it is different, actually if its the way I had it for the whole 9 years in San Diego!!!

Guess I am rapidly re-Germanizing ;-)) Well, THATS a novel way to make a fool out of myself!!!

First winter is LONG

2010-01-15T04:42:00.000-08:00

well, maybe too early this entry about a long and cold winter, but if you see the pictures in the news (NEWS? difficult in the US, I know) you can tell that currently the whole northern hemisphere is freezing cold, I sincerely hope these stories about low solar activity and lack of sunspots (small ice age, Maunder Minimum) turn out wrong and hysteric. Either way, I completed my second (and hopefully last excursion to IKEA on tuesday, IKEA Moorfleet, located at the END of the inhabited world!!): snow was falling hard, so I could have postponed. but the urge to finally get it over with is too strong (I wanted to go last fridayalready, I am getting tired of liveing between boxes, and need furniture/closets/shelves for storage, finally!) Alex also needs stuff and is accompanying me. AS the snow fall gets worse I am calling Star Car the rental agency: " Do your cars have winter tires?" Answer: "they have year-round tires" Ah well, this must be a "Hamburgism". At least in Bavaria , in winter people are now required by law to have winter tires , to reduce accidents and chaos on the streets. When we pick up the car and leave the parking lot a bicyclist slips on the icy road in front of the parking lot and falls flat on the road, but who rides a bicycle in this weather???? (and what idiot rents a transporter with rear-wheel drive and "year-round-tires" in this weather????)

BTW, the lady at Star Car gives me a long story, how it would be too expensive for the company to change tires every winter. Hell, how about the repairs when people trash their cars??? and about buying cars and tires in the first place??? "sorry , we cannot offer you a car with tires, imagine how expensive that would be for the company if we would actually have to buy tires for all our cars" ????? What kind of argument is that, please???

Well, I do not want to bore you guys with a detailled description of a long ride on icy streets in a snowy Hamburg, sliding tires in every curve, failing to get intoi the institute driveway (uphill 0.3% incline).

The whole ride we listen to the traffic reports "careful for a non-secured accident with a truck in Freeway soandso" this sentence is repeated for literally EVERY freeway in the larger Hamburg area. Coming back we take the regular road: we pass through harbor area, and should we get stuck, God help us, there are no bus-lines here. (Neither people, just container-loading areas and storage halls) the deserted areas pass without accidents, the first Aldi-stores and rather raunchy looking "Automatenkasinos"

(gambling machine etablissements/halls, don't know a good word for it, they call these things "casinos", they are typically run down, smell bad and you don't wantto spend your time there. period.)

re-appear, back in "civilization"!!!! after passing through Hammerbrook, a harbor -associated suburb with mostly big bureau buildings, we almost have reached Hamburg again. Every curve is associated with sliding tires maximum speed reached is probably 30 km/hour. Some carts get annoyed, but I always see the 700Euro deductible in my mind, so I don't care about some smartass Hamburg-driver being annoyed about me being slow. They can pass and trash their cars without me.

First we have to unload at Alex's place. despite of an almost level street, the car gets stuck when I try to make a U-turn(!), with tires spinning through freely in the snow, and believe me I drove in snow MANY times! I have to sacrifice my newly purchased doormat to get the damn car going again. after unloading by stuff I am sending Alex home and take the car back to star car I resist on peeing into the car, to voice my opinion about the "year-round-tires". No more desaster, but when I am home, of course it is past midnight. We left at 4pm.

But now I'm all set and will post pictures when the apartment is finally done!

All over I will be happy when I can siton the grass in the sun and have my beer at the beach again (The"Strandperle" beach-bar should be reachable on foot from my new place now!)

Take care more soon as things happen!

Delayed Entry

2009-12-19T04:03:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody! I wrote this blog entry on thursday, after coming home from my hosting-institute (the HPI) Christmas Party, but then I forgot to press the "publish" button. (well it was late). -ANYWAY, better late than never: so here the delayed entry:

First Snow in Hamburg:

NO, its not the first snow EVER, but the first snow THIS WINTER!

before I go into detail, and as an explanation: Hamburg is situated in the north of Germany, and as such gets a glimpse of "oceanic climate" (the North Sea is close by), which means the Gulf Stream keeps ice and bitter cold away, at least usually:

It has been unusually cold the last couple of days, but not enough: Tonight-SNOW is falling!!! I have spent the evening at the Christmas party of the HPI-institute. (While attending the entertainment program outside the weather changes (yes, different from beautiful Southern California, actually Hamburg has WEATHER, means it CHANGES ALL THE TIME!!): It STARTS SNOWING, having lived here before I know already : trouble lingers tonight. Having to get up early tomorrow, I'm heading to the bus with two other early-takeoffs (shame on me), two of my lab-mates: Alex, my tech, and Magda a new technician in the lab. I am looking into an 8am mouse-appointment tomorrow, so I'm not up to late night drinking and dancing. The streets are icy and the cars move at about 5 km per hour. No bus. Usually they come every 5 minutes. Finally (after 20 minutes in the cold) a bus arrives. Halfway down the road the bus surprisingly turns into a side street. At the next intersection it turns back on the mainroad just to stop 50 meters down the road: "Final Stop" comments the driver through the speakers. COME ON!! its 11:30 and the bus stops halfway to its destination in the middle of nowhere!!! Guess that was an order form the boss. It seems, we have to get a cab! So much for winter services in Hamburg.

0.5 cm of snow and all traffic collapses, drivers get out of their cars hugging in tears facing such "unheard-of natural disaster", and the city is in paralysis. Finally we arrive in Altona. I wonder what happens if ever ¡helpusgod!, there might be 5cm(!) of fresh snow (a very common thing to happen in Bavaria for instance). Well the winter service is on the roll and salt is dispensed onto the frozen asphalt. Kind of insufficient. Not what would happen in Bavaria. It feels more like the guys from the cafeteria wander around with their little salt dipensers for the French Fries. It was the same 9 years ago when I left Hamburg. learning curve? I' say: There IS room for improvement here.

I wonder if I can make it to my mouse appointment tomorrow morning: I put my alarm to 6am.Will keep you posted! Goodnight for now!

(-actually, I made my 8am appointment! And the streets were clear, so not all bad. -added at time of posting. T.)

Home_Not Home?

2009-11-29T07:55:00.000-08:00

Coming back from San Diego (the long-announced thanksgiving "vacations") I realize I am subconciously confused about where I am: I realized this during an early-morning discussion with Hui, which was about if it makes sense to call my mother at 7 am SD time: me insisting that my mom "lives in the same time zone now"!!

OK, true for HAMBURG, but Thomas: Discussing with Hui means I am in SAN DIEGO and that is minus 9 hours to Germany!!!! But I was SO sure I am right, telling me I was seriously confused. For the last 10 years travelling overseas and meeting old friends always meant snowy Christmas and Germany. Now it was sunny Thanksgiving and San Diego. The Keywords:

Holidays-eat-a-lot
Travel-far-away
meet-with-friends

Seem sufficient to create a time warp and deep confusion about my origins and whereabouts. Just this time with an "inverse prefix" (can you say that in English?)

Is it the Green Card that magically creates a "Home" for the Thomas, the "Resident".... Hey, this time I got the "Welcome Home, Sir"-treatment at the border. In fact I will, as things develop (scientifically) try to create work-related reasons to come here several times a year. Weird how one becomes a divided personality between two countries after a while. I would have never expected that I become so attached to San Diego. But yes, of course a lot of things have happened here. Enough to easily fill twice the number of days. For me at least.

The main benefit of being a scientist: The "Travel Options".

I have to admit the departure was difficult this time. Not only the uncertainty with Hui and trying to get her somewhere near enough that a relationship makes sense. Also I had more time to think about things: The "first departure" in June was dominated by incredible hectic-ness and this kind of dwarfed by all the fore-bearings of new things to come: means, I did not have much time for reflection: very different this time.

Coming back and driving the all-too familiar, bumpy & poorly-repaired freeways (almost forgot) of San Diego and seeing people, business and all other life go on as before I left (...well, of COURSE!), is a very strange feeling, I can tell you. Like wearing an old pair of jeans which was forgotten in the closet for a long time. Frozen time. Oddly familiar. "Captain Thomas is experiencing a temporal anomaly". Actually I heard this before from others coming back the first time, but being in the situation is very different from hearing about it.

How sings Morrissey/The Smiths?

...I've seen this happen in other people's lives

And now it is happening in mine.

...I've seen this happen......

(that Joke isn't funny anymore. "Meat is Murder, 1985")

In my life since 1985 ;-), I had plenty of occasions to think of this song. Both Good and Bad.

Coming I realize how much I miss people, and the fact that with some very dear friends I haven't even had the chance to meet with, is very sad.

The Great Big Waber

2009-10-24T13:45:00.001-07:00

Ok just came back. And I have to say I'm a little bit disappointed. The "Great Big Waber" The poster is great and lets me expect the big thrill. I think the picture is somewhere between a 1930's mystic show and Saddam Hussein being tortured and executed in a movie theater . And probably that is what I was hoping for this evening, naturally my expectations are not fulfilled. Getting there is (at least for me, easy, thank God I know the way). On the other hand: wandering at night into the 7th floor of an unlit, abandoned office building is not everybody's piece of cake. It awakens memories of "Clockwork Orange". Luckily I'm not a woman. Also luckily I'm not on the search (Hello, Hui!) because this is NOT the place to meet single women, each of whom has likely failed the test of courage.

When I get upstairs it is rather empty. After walking through the exhibits, I make my way to the bar. One beer is 2 Euros "suggestion for a voluntary donation" I love the art world! The exhibits are a bit disappointing, last time I was here I have seen some more interesting stuff: I like the line of dirt connecting two flower pots through several rooms:

Maybe not too impressive on the picture but in reality it certainly has something.

The branch of leaves is nice too, note my beer at the window, blending in seamlessly.

No, honestly, I do like this kind of artwork, although it is hard to grasp initially.

I have another beer: Comfortable couches and red/blue/green oscillating paper balloon lamps invite for a stay. Its not too cold either, as the organizers have set up a gas stove. The music is very nice actually some offbeat-latin-brazillo-funk-electro-jazz. I like it very much. I try Shazam: "Unrecognized" I try three more songs, same result every time. OK. Conclusion: when "Shazam" knows it, it must be terribly boring mainstream. Unfortunately nobody is with the music. Only metal boxes. To hell with MP3!! Where are the times when one could just ASK, hey, who is playing that?? Resolution of the evening: Next time I will be more investigative.

My only conversation with somebody new is with a short-haired MD student, she sits next to me on the couch. Hell, all those art people and I get to talk with an MD!!

Good thing : my new place will be really close, so I can come more often before it will be leveled for the new IKEA building. That might keep the "Waber"in the house, but then it will be the name for a bookshelf. Or a lava-lamp. ;-)

BTW already there is protest forming, the artscene doesn't want to loose its latest hideout (=art studios for free!!): They distribute adhesive stickers (in blue-and-yellow: "IKEA- Idioten kaufen echt alles (Idiots buy really everything). Although it is filling up gradually, I decide to leave, also because I'm still a virus-shedding coughing misery (not as bad as yesterday or even worse wednesday and thursday). So I have time to type this little report for you guys before I go to bed now. Goodnight!

Street Music on an Autumn Day

2009-10-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately I did not really understand what the name of the band is?

"Formattia Djormi/Jormo???" Anybody with a better ear?-its at the very end of the video-

I'm sure they would appreciate a record/CD contract too, I'd be happy to be the agent/producer, maybe THATS my true destiny, not being scientist.....!!!!

BTW, when they are not being filmed they have more of a genuine gypsy-folk selection, which I prefer over the "classics" they played for me here, but since they did me the favour to pose, I won't complain. ;-)

....this is "Radio Redundancy"...this is...

2009-10-14T02:30:00.000-07:00

A short entry about listening to radio, normally, German radio tends to be pretty good. Every state has several, usually high-qualiy public radio stations (think of NPR/PBS, just one for every state of the US). However, poor me here in Hamburg, I am living off an inherited boombox, which only seems to be able to get ONE SINGLE radio station without static noise: "Radio Energy". Unfortunately this radio station is a great example of what could be summarized as falsely understood Americanisms in Germany, as it has the annoying habit of trying to do what people think is "modern broadcasting", which means: every minute of programming is constantly interrupted by their jingle: "Radio Energy: The BEST Radio Station for the BEST city". I remember this WAS exactly the same jingle before I left.

Obviously, some things do not change, even when they're suck really badly, I wonder who, with a sane mind, can listen to this???? A few weeks ago, short after my arrival, when I had just missed the "Gossip" Concert, they obviously had declared "heavy cross" (at the time my favorite song on the album) to a "local hit", resulting them playing it literally EVERY 10 minutes (NOT exaggerating!) and on top of that to prove how knowledgeable they are, they always announced the song as "Beth Ditto with Heavy Cross", OK that IS the name of the singer, but isn't it a band? At least on the album it says "Gossip"??? But what does little Thomas know, compared to the ultimate hipsters of "ENERGY"??? The repeated association with REALLY dumb and annoying programming ruins the song for me. In the morning, when I'm rather sensible (early hours are not for me) they have the "Toastshow" and the jingle "The toastshow with Max and Matze" repeats in 35-seconds intervals ad infinitum: "The toastshow with Max and Matze-blablahblah-The toastshow with Max and Matze-blablahblah-The toastshow with Max and Matze-blablahblah-The toastshow with Max and Matze-blablahblah-The toastshow with Max and Matze-blablahblah-The TOASTSHOW with Max and Matze-blablahblah-The toastshow with Max and Matze-blablahblah--The toastshow with Max and Matze-blablahblah--blablahblah--blablahblah--blablahblah--blablahblaaaah-Max and Matze-blaaablahblaah"-interspersed are fragments of "Heavy Cross by Beth Ditto" and some embarrassingly rudimentary news-flashes (hey, don't get me wrong! usually Germany has great news programming, some of the best in the world!!).

Hard to stand at 8am. Now I do not use the boombox-radio anymore, but rather listen to "Deutschlandfunk"over the internet (!) from my laptop (!!), which I also have done from San Diego sometimes, its kind of humorous how some things repeat themselves.... But, honestly, I have NO IDEA, why this fucking radio seems unable to receive anything more than one radio station!!! And, Dude, I have the goddamn BROADCASTING tower straight view from my balcony?????

Anyway, lets not talk about it anymore. Radio Energy is the worst radio station on air anywhere I have lived so far. Actually, looking back in my blog you will find these were the very people taking a picture of me at the "Disco Boys" concert. No wonder I had a fishy feeling about these people! Had I known, I might have "explained myself" to them.....and given my regards to "Max and Matze".

Urban Impressions

2009-10-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

Wandering around the city on a sunday afternoon I discover an art gallery in a "rediscovered" office building, and take some scenic pictures of "urban wilderness" on the way:

The "Frappant" Building , possibly one of the most disastrous architectural failures of the Hamburg 70's, has -through its sheer massive presence- defined the "right" and the "wrong" side of the Altona Railway Station, as you can guess from the paint and the graffiti, life has re-conquered it -kind of. Check out the "dripping" paint close to the very top....

Some squatting artists have taken over the empty building and established a Gallery in the 7th floor.

Getting there opens some unexpected views:

.....I love the little white deer behind the weeds.....

"urban wildlife" ;-)

on the former parking deck (2nd Floor)

Personally, I think there is some pretty good stuff here! Look at the dog (or Hyena?) in the back

More Deer (is it drinking?)

Finally in 7th floor there actually IS an art gallery

"Fenster mit Zimmer"

"Window with a Room"

Is the title of the exhibition....

some exhibits came with the building

(Unemployment Office Hamburg)

Unfortunately I did not take pictures of the real exhibits, sorry , guess I was more impressed by the whole thing altogether, life is art anyway, no?

This is next Saturday, I will go there and report, so check back on the blog from time to time!Of course I have no idea WHO or WHAT "The Great Big Waber" IS?????

One last one:

No Fish (yet)!

Maybe I'll bring some next time....

Little things.

2009-10-09T00:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday night the lab went out to celebrate Alex' (My tech) birthday. Of course I am going too. We go to Einstein's where they have that good Mojito Happy hour special. :-)

We are having a good time and lough a lot. Its 6 of us: Alex, Florian, Monsi, Julia, Alex and Sebastian. All the techs (Julia/Alex) and graduate students (the rest). I do get home around 1:30, I call Hui on Skype. Nice to be able to have a goodnight chat around the globe. I love the internet (unnecessary to say, look what I'm doing) ;-)))

I am having thoughts about "socializing with employees", but I decide to not let that get to me. I want to act myself and not assume a stupid artificial Boss-attitude. Sorry, if this is wrong, so be it. In my "carreer", I made so many mistakes (such as being a postdoc in a lab that is not along my interests (cancer research) and obviously did not make me happy for 9 years! Logically without significant output.

Surprisingly despite of the Mojitos, getting up in the morning is easy today. I decide to stop by the "Bezirksamt" (its on the way to work anyhow) to pick up my German ID card ("Personalausweis"), I applied 2 1/2 weeks ago they told me it takes about two weeks. If I don't pick it up within a certain time period it will be "sent back and destroyed". Don't want that to happen. Of course they are closed all friday. Old rule: Never visit a German office without checking the hours. But as the sky is blue and the sun is coming out I am in a good mood and small things such as office hours do not bother me. I ask the guy at the entrance about the procedure. "Will I be notified, when I can pick it up?" Surprisingly he doesn't know (WHO should, if not he?), and becomes a bit defensive, probably because he expects me to get annoyed. But I'm in this easy mood where nothing can get to me. So I am very polite and friendly. Sometimes I can enjoy consciously acting against the expectations. (you remember "Der Himmel über Berlin"?) Unfortunately this mood is kind of rare and usually out of reach when it would be needed most. There is "Cafe Allaf" across the street down the road. Being up early I have my favourite drive-by (bicycle!) breakfast: a "Mettbrötchen" and coffee. The "Mettbrötchen" is a typical Hamburg -thing and will probably gross out the average non-local eater: its a roll with ground pork (raw) on butter, topped with a few chopped onions. Very basic and I love it. Together with coffee (milk, no sugar) its one of my favourite early morning breakfast things. YEAH! I'm strange.

Its strange how little things can make you feel good.

I love living in a city. A busy, crowded European city with PEOPLE on the steets and cafes and public transportations and riding a bike, not only in the sun as today, but even in the wind and puring rain. It makes me feel alive.

I feel very much at ease with myself. I am glad to be out of my old Lab at Salk.

I only realize this now that I am gone, just how bad l felt there. And how much I enjoy to be appreciated professionally. Don't get me wrong, people in my old lab were nice and liked me too, but there were too many things going on "underneath". And somehow, I never felt anyone (some exceptions apply, especially towards the end of my time) appreciating my work.

Hey I'm a scientist. Still! And I am enjoying it! And I'm alive. Very much. And no, I'm not on drugs, just feeling good! ;-))

Schanzenfest 2.0

2009-09-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, I was a lazy blogger lately.

but as I expected, my life here got more busy and less time is left for blogging. Some of you wrote me mails, if I witnessed the "unrest -again" at the "Schanzenfest" Indeed I was at the fest, but not at the streetfights, sorry. But I can give you some impressions of what happened nevertheless.

OK: last saturday:My bicycle needs some minor repairs, so I take it to go out to the next bike store, which are plenty:

-its Hamburg after all-

When I ride through the "Schanze", I am surprised: all the streets are packed with people, and a big fleamarket is taking place, together with food stands and DJs playing music in the streets..... Its very nice! And I had no idea, or I would have come earlier! here some initial impressions:

No, the smoke is NOT from burning barricades or tires or cop cars. Its from the turkish food vendors preparing Köfte and Adana Kebap. ;-)

So my plans with fixing my bicycle quickly change towards wandering the fest/flea market. Its not as much fun alone, especially when it comes to drinking beer in the streets

(YES!!! its EUROPE!!!)

so I am texting a few people to see if anyone is up for it. Alex, my tech is replying and we arrange to meet at the S-Bahn station. Also Manuela is interested in coming, she has to accomodate her kids first though. I met Manuela at the institute outing about a week ago and we stayed in loose contact. She's a tech working in the "clincal half" of the institute, has three girls and is originally from Portugal. She's fun. I am glad she's coming.

While waiting, I am browsing the stands. A guy pushing a cart walks next to me in one of the side streets, he's just getting started. I decide to be his first customer, which he appreciates: "Danke! Da mach ich mir auch gleich eins auf" "Thank you! I'll have one for myself as well!" Thats the right attitude! ;-)

When the others arrive, we have more beer and some crepes. In front of the "Rote Flora"is a political stage, people giving speeches about gentrification and the likes. I kind of sympathize with that part, but I do not see how anything they say will change a thing.

On the stage is a big poster, it says:"Schwarze Blöcke statt Runde Tische"="Black Blocks instead of Round Tables", which refers to announced talks between the city and the local inhabitants. As I am mentioning the "Black Blocks":

After a while a rather strange band is starting to play. At the end of the performance, a group of people in black Jackets, some with motorcycle helmets enters the crowd through the stage. Immediately the disappear between the people. I just saw it from afar: "Hey, have you seen?Entry of the Black Block"...I am commenting to Alex and Manuela. Some guys we see late have a special gear: face mask (like in the OP, at the hospital, however in black and with steel SPIKES(!) guess its from a sextoy-store in St Pauli. Manuela makes faces as the guys pass us by, they do not look friendly and obviously believe to be the coolest guys in the world. I do not take pictures, don't think they would like that. And do not want my canmera trashed, because som weirdo thinks I am an undercover-guy taking pictures for the police. A -pretty drunk- woman (middle -aged) starts yelling indiscriminately at the crowd:

"WHATS THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE? YOU ARE SO LAME! YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS"

I guess she's dissappointed that the whole thing is so peaceful. However depite of her efforts the evening stays peaceful and after dinner and some hanging out in the "Dual Bar" (Dual being a German Record player-HiFi Company from the 60's into the 80's, at about 1 am we decide to head home. Up to then I am convinced nothing will happen, however when I'm home I can see a helicopter circling the area... (well actually THAT brings back memories of my first year in San Diego, when a PB party was ended by the police using maze spray and a Helicopter circled the area, advising people to "go home now" and "The party is over" In Hamburg, however, the "party" is still ongoing. I do not go bak for observation, sorry to disappoint you guys! But in the motrning I am reading online that the cool guys from the "Block" have tossed a heavy concrete sidewalk plate ito a policecar-window, which agitated the cops enough to move their entire 2000 people waiting forces into the "Schanze" and end the party. I found a video in YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0WO4wa28cg

Because nobody at the party witnessed the policecar-stone-action, everybody is rather confused/angry about the police marching in so vehementtly.The end of the video with the water cannons is pretty much the same what I have seen the first time, so the "tradition" is kept alive. But personally I don't like the "Black Block Guys", essentially they ruined a nice party to get their piece of action. :-(

A Saturday at the Grand "Dockville Festival"

2009-08-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

..I really like the "Non-Established since 1910" ;-)))) (...that one may be a bit hard to get for non-Germans...)

outside on the dike, the beer is cheaper, and across the street is the campground for far-travelled-hardcore- festival-freaks!

cranes and industrial views dominate the scenery at Dockville and contrast nicely with the blue sky

Saturday, its the main day of the "Dockville Festival" Its expensive, but what the heck! I am going!

Ina, our "Bachelor Student" from the lab will go as well and we can meet up, I have her cellphone number ("Handy" in German: in case you guys do not know, yes, in Germany we have our own english words! And we made them up all ourselves!

I am leaving home after shopping around 1 pm. The iPhone is my guide: "Alte Schleuse" is the destination, its in the middle of the harbour (say, in the middle of nowhere!), I have to cross the river, which takes me through the "old Elb-tunnel"

A tunnel built in 1910, also an important historic landmark. I have been here before, but only for "exploratory" reasons and not recently. I take my bicycle down the elevator. since its a festival I am not the only one. On the other side I am surprised by the complete absence of any signs to guide the way. iPhone be thank I cannot get lost. The harbor is the second biggest Container-landing-site in Europe (after Rotterdam) and thats also what this area looks like. Impressive cranes and cargo containers piled into four-story-high towers; I have to think: somewhere here should be my furniture! I hope someone knows. The whole south-of-the-river part of town is largely "terra incognita" to people in Hamburg. Everybody knows its there and that it provides a good part of the city's wealth, but actually GO THERE? NAH! No surprise subculture expands there (not sure if this is still "sub"culture though, probably not.)

Indeed, as I could have guessed from the map, its far to "Dockville" after crossing numerous bridges made for trucks and cars but not for bicycles, passing strange dwellings made largely from brick. There are actually PEOPLE living here!! between piles of containers and canals where freighter ships pass by. The center of this Out-of-Hamburg quarter is the suburb of Wilhelmsburg, recently featured as the home of small-time-criminals in the "Madboy" movie I wrote about before in one of the earlier entries. Some say, Wilhemsburg is the "next big thing" in Hamburg, but its too far, so I personally bet on St. Georg (just mentioned on the side...)

When I arrive its 5 to 2pm (=55 minutes ride, uff). The Festival is, as festivals are: several stages on a big level field, in this case set between industry -style buildings and cranes with gates outside, to keep the non-paying spectators away. I pay my 40 Euros (Fuck!) and get a wristband. After locking my bike (story to come) I am heading in. I manage to get a timetable. Don't know any band except for "Turbonegro" from Scandinavia, but they played yesterday; OK, I have seen "Element of Crime" before (more about them later) I can hear some promising sound from the "Tent-stage" The band playing there is German, and actually, I like them very much. The name is:

"Malakoff Kowalski".

You can even find them on iTunes (!), in case this little video doesn't impress you. I'm not a good bootlegger, I guess. My camera microphone was overwhelmed too. :-(

After a while the sun and the beer do their job and I feel kind of heavy. I put myself to rest in the shade outside. Ina (the bachelor student) sends an SMS they will be coming but only later. No problem. After a while I wander around to explore. there is an "experimental" building "The Horn". Its supposed to be shaped like a horn (the musical instrument) and has all kind of little drum-and percussion tools inside for people to make noise with. People have fun and create some-not always- "funky" rhythm).

Later Nina arrives and she has the summer student with her. the girls want to head to the Tequila-Bar first. Its hot and I am tired already. Tequila would not be my first choice. But I am invited and cannot say no, obviously. The biggest act tonight is "MGMT" They play on the main stage at 11pm, and its their only show in Germany. I do not know them. (I had listened a bit on iTunes yesterday, not bad, but nothing really new and interesting) Ina explains "they sound a bit like "XgkhgfX XhgjhgX" (forgot, sorry , but I didn't know them either.) the only band I know tonight are "Element of Crime" Nina likes them but will listen only to the first few songs because "my mother likes them" Ah well. I in fact do own a CD from them. It was a gift(Fact!). Actually I haven't listened to the CD often. Anyway, since I know them, I decide to watch them and then head back. The singer is a kind-of-celebrity from his book "Herr Lehmann" which describes life of a thirty-something in Berlin before the fall of the wall. OK , thats my generation, nothing for Ina. Later on, during some talking of the girls, I overhear that Ina is BORN in 1986(!!!!!) Shit!!!! Shitshit!!!

I am starting to search my memories, which doesn't make it better: 1986? 1986? Hey,

that was probably roundabout the year I actually listened to this very band (Element of Crime) at an open air festival in Berlin at the "Waldbuehne" (NOT kidding, I can call witnesses!!) (there was also Iggy Pop and Siouxsie and the Banshees.) Now that I think of it all the memories all come back, it was a pretty wild, fun and rather unhealthy (as they used to be) long weekend in West Berlin) And YES, the Wall was still standing!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! I am a freak! I am Methusalem!

So now here I am at the "Dockville Festival" with some Kids in their early days of nightlife, who like to booze up with tequila to get into the night-out-mood. I find myself contemplating about age and in mind I start fraternizing with every grey-haired guy I am seeing (which are, as I realize, frighteningly few.... ).

Well, there are crossroads in life: Looking back there used to be these old "Rocker Guys" (mostly men in fact!) who had this "seasoned heroic look" (Kind of "Keith -Richardsy"characters (to be polite, one could also say: fucked up old drunks): wrinkly, grey unshaved faces, weathered by too many years of Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll, cowboy boots, heavy silver rings, leather bands and the likes) Being a teenager they seemed kind of impressive to me. Something like: "The Respected Elders"

Now I am asking myself: Is this the path I'm on????? or should I rather stay in the age group I belong in, and spend the nights in mellow Cocktail Lounges and Jazzbars or meet for dinner with the few friends who still do not have kids????

Do I become a Weirdo? Am I out of place?

Anyway. Despite of having had about 4 beers in the course of the afternoon/evening, I decide not to try and bum a cigarette, (my typical urge after having more that 2-3 beers and being in the messy mode) as I feel I don't want to ask those kids for such an expensive gift that I for sure can better afford myself than they can from the little money they have.... better anyway, maybe I finally stop smoking completely again now.....

Well, back to the story. When Element of Crime start to play, I try to get a beer , the bar guy skips me three times (!) for cute girls with cute boobs and a low hanging top. I remember the summer student's friend mentioned something like "Its easy to get drinks fast, just pull down your top a bit and look into the barkeepers eyes.

HELL!!!

I still remember the ONE TIME I tried such a strategy (just the looking-in-the-eye part of course) on a bar woman..... I DID NOT GET ANYTHING TO DRINK AT ALL!!! In fact I had to ask a friend to get me that beer. Yes, its true!! This is NOT a fictional story, though its many years back and probably covered by the "young-and-stupid-waiver". It also goes in the category *most embarrassing memories*. Of course, I haven't tried it since. Although...., Maybe now, as the "seasoned rocker guy"....? No, rather not!!!

STILL: ITS NOT FAIR!!!

After being skipped three times I get pissed off and , since "Element of Crime" do not sound too wild and exciting either (in fact rater lame) I send a short SMS to Ina , who is lost in the crowd. "I think I don't like "Element of Crime" that much either, I'm heading home now, see you!"

So, thirsty as I am I am heading out. Just to find the entrance area FLOODED with bicycles. DAMN, how could I forget, I am in GERMANY!!

those of you who have witnessed my post-surgery problems in FINDING things, have a feel for what THIS means for me.... it takes me goddamn 45 minutes (!!) to find my bike (it has a light/neon green lock! Thanks to the foresight of Susanne from the institute!!!)

The way home (its a warm midsummer night) almost makes me regret my decision to leave.

But only almost. Hamburg is Beautiful, no?

talking about crossroads........maybe I should call up Ina's mother and see, if she wants to go for a beer?

;-)

The Daily Ride To Work

2009-08-01T02:33:00.000-07:00

Here is my dear "trusty old bicycle" (Don't have a name for it yet, any suggestions?) My own , more fancy bike is still travelling the world in a dark container, across the vast Atlantic Ocean, giving my beloved couch some company....

As you know, I have lived in Hamburg before. This week, while biking to work I realize, its curious, how memories re-emerge, as if the body, not the brain, was the organ of memory....

In my first time in Hamburg, every morning , biking to work, I had a project going on: to find the prettiest way to work! (NOT the shortest or the one costing least effort, or even the fastest!)

Straight from my house there is still room for improvement beauty-of scenery-wise, although it could be worse (you can see, general elections are coming up in fall: Hey, I can vote again!):

at the end of "Bundesstrasse" the route is from my temporary place merges with my old project, so without thinking my body takes my bike down the old path into the park, its still nice, especially the part along the canal:

, here's a view from the little bridge down the canal:

... next my favorite spot of the trip:

Back in the days I often made a little "meditative stop" right here sitting on the little wooden pier, still looks inviting, no? maybe I'll catch up on that tradition..

Some roads and intersections cannot be avoided:

Further on are four little cross streets of an older residential project called "Falkenried" , my favourite one is #2 (I tried them all back then.) This is my personal number 1 for the flowers:

...around the corner of "Falkenried #2" is also the little "hole-in the-wall" italian place from lunch the entry the other day (Puttanesca!) Still closed of course: they specialize on lunch Back then it used to be a little turkish place:

....and then a school, the clock is still very much in my memory, it says: "Die Zeit eilt" (=tempus fugit, time flies) which seems to remind me, after philandering around pretty places: after all you'r on the way to WORK, Thomas. Move your butt!

These schools make me say, American schools look like prison camps. (sorry, Yolanda)

..and then, finally, the entrance to the UKE Hospital area (and the natural end of "project pretty path")

..last,but not least: my "cute little institute":

well, the meditative resting place was nice too, no? ;-)

Enough for today, more soon! I need to DO something in order to have something to write about. Blogging is a strange thin, it kind of cahnges your perception, you should try yourself!

Puttanesca!

2009-07-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Nothing big, but today, -no actually yesterday (thursday) we go out for lunch, to a hole-in-the-wall Italian place. they serve spaghetti in all variations, and no, Meatball is not the most prominent one (although, to my surprise they ARE on the menu, I was SO sure they are an american invention:"meatball" as the archetypical italian food ingredient????), they have all the classics. I decide on "Puttanesca" (anchovies, tomatoes, capers, and black olives). Man, I didn't have those in 15 years at least, I think. (yes!!its true, and no exaggeration. I'm an old man, in case you forgot....)

Tonight we are going for cocktails in a place called "Einstein's".. gotta leave now, don't want to be late! More soon!

Laundromat, Internet, Triathlon, Sundays

2009-07-26T03:29:00.000-07:00

My every-sunday occupation:"NyBORG, sounds Swedish...." With only 7 T-shirts/Underpants/Socks (rest still on sea) what can you do? At least it all fits into one machine!

I realize, I am getting lazy with blogging: The first excitement has worn off and slowly, slowly, the "daily grind" raises its ugly face. Most things start falling into place and I feel, I want to get my project going.

One thing to learn/remember, is the sunday: Sunday everything (except bars/restaurants/theaters and the likes) is CLOSED "on the seventh day thou shalt rest!" Reality at home. I forgot: in the US one gets to expect, that shopping is a 24/7 thing and that services are available all the time, and that planning ahead shopping is a thing only very anal and old-school people do. Different here: Becausestores are not open until 12am, and one usually works during the week: Saturday is the day to get things done. Means I went downtown to get that "Splitter" (a box required for a DSL Installation) that the guy from Telekom forgot to install, and that is necessary to have my internet going finally (still on the neighbour's!). Downtown is a big disaster, as Hamburg is the place of some important triathlon tournament, and the whole city is dominated by racing biker girls in spectacularly tiny stretch outfits.

OK thats nice (yeah, make fun of me: it IS, at least I admit to it...) but it also explains the hordes of spectators along the streets who make it close to impossible to reach the downtown "T-Punkt"store.

Female triathlon participants in tight, tiny sports-suits attract huge crowds in Hamburg!

-strictly for sportive reasons- (of course!) ;-))

Who would not like to watch sweating close-to naked perfect female bodies racing around downtown. (I have seen Anna Kournikova in the US-Open in La Costa, same idea) Still I stay focussed and get my "splitter"from the beleaguered T-Punkt store (the race passes right in front!). On the way home I am checking out the local Chinese supermarket. They are still open although it is saturday 6 pm, in Germany essentially already part of that "seventh day": Weekend shopping needs ORGANIZATION and PLANNING AHEAD. New things to learn/ old things to remember. Also: SHOPPING BY BICYCLE (no lockable trunk to drop off purchased items) So I learn, I should better consider THE ORDER OF PURCHASES in my saturday-shopping: Big things last:

I assume: nobody steals toilet paper, and I leave it on the bike while in the store. Indeed the toilet paper is still there.

likely I look like a total idiot with the big toilet paper on the bike: next time better planning!!

That part is bad, but it has the benefit of creating one wonderful thing I have always treasured, but almost forgotten in the land of comfort, distraction, "customer confidence" (important economic indicator in the US, unheard of in Germany-doesn't this tell us something?) and instant gratification:

A DAY OFF!!!!

Sunday is a day of rest, reflection, recuperation. And it feels GOOD. I spent the whole day reading, listening to radio, drinking tea, thinking about things, talking with my mom on the phone (iPhone: flat-rate to landlines all over Germany). in my humble opinion, its definitely worth the "saturday hassle"!

One thing disturbing my peaceful mood: the apartment. (Oh, isn't there always something?)

I learned that the small place I am in now, is already rented out to a middle-aged woman, who works closeby. Means I have to move out soon. Of course the girl with the wonderful place in Altona did NOT get back to me "by end of the week" I will have to call her now to discuss her time frame. Luckily, the new tenant is friendly and says that she can delay a month or two. This might do. I cannot move into yet another transient place. This wears me out. I wish I could finally settle in. it is draining to always feel the "second half of the move" is still ahead of me.

OK now, back to my tea! TTYL! Thank you for reading! It's a good feeling someone thinks of me over there! I know, Hui, you do all the time, thank you for that! :-)

"home is where the heart is"

In that regard I still have a split-home.

"Another Saturday night...

2009-07-19T04:38:00.000-07:00

......

... I've got some money 'cause I just got paid" (Sam Cooke) ;-)

Since its saturday and I'm in the mood for activities, I decide to go out: As I believe in the magic of posters in the streets this is how I decide: already a while ago I came across a poster of the "Disco Boys" two VERY nerdy looking, slightly chubby DJ guys whose style looks promising to me. they are playing tonight (So in fact yesterday night, too tired yesterday to write).

Here comes the first thing I have to adapt to: The concert starts at 11pm (23h). I am spending the time until its late enough watching "The Third Man (Orson Welles)"using my still functional Netflix account (VPN is the magic word). Hamburg is a late town. No dinner at 6:30, 7ish like in the US (well, maybe 6:30am, THAT could be happening...)

They are playing in a place called "Übel und Gefährlich" (roughly: "Nasty and Dangerous") which I look up on my iPhone (YESSSS) "Feldstrasse 66" It turns out to be that enormous WW II bunker, which held anti-aircraft cannons back in the days. (FLAK-turm) It was never removed, for the sheer monstrosity of the building: Concrete walls, several meters thick. breaking this thing down would cost millions and take years. No way to blow it up, it would take half of Hamburg along. So this is the home of the "Disco Boys" for tonight. And also for me!

I arrive and the line is long. Good sign. After about 45 minutes I'm at the door: Admission is 12 Euro, not so bad, I had expected more.

Its crowded and hot. The stairwells are impressive (Foto). I have never been inside here, although everybody in Hamburg knows the building. The "Ballroom" is on the top (elevator) and has a little rooftop patio with a gorgeous view of the city (picture). I dance a little, the music is good (since I like electro and dance music). I have beer (3 Euro, not bad at all!). surprisingly its easy to get although the place is packed.

Surprisingly its not bad being out alone: In a club, one never gets to have conversation anyway -too loud!

At 3 I am starting to feel a bit like I am waiting for something to happen, and before I develop stupid ideas I decide, time to leave. I make a stop at the bathroom: when I get out again a girl approaches me: "We're from "Energy" Can I take your picture?" I say, "sure"

"We are looking for cool people" I am flattered, of course. Well, then; I'm probably a good piece older than 90% of the people here, guess that makes me stand out. (nonsense! its because I'm "El Tomasssoooo"!!!!) ;-))) Or is it the hat?

As a "reward" I receive an envelope with a condom (!)

Hm, am I missing out on something here?

"Here on my own" had to go!! I could not figure out how to turn off the "autoplay" feature, sorry, you can still find it on YouTube though.... Its a great song, good dancing! German music, after all! ;-)

(Thomas)

I removed "here on My Own", sorry, too loud for people who read blogs durting work.

My iPhone arrives, however....

2009-07-18T01:02:00.000-07:00

After 2 weeks waiting (the G3 16Gb is on back order, too popular, go figure!) I receive another mail that my iPhone is still on back order. in the afternoon the receptionist calls me:

"Herr Sternsdorf Ihr iPhone ist angekommen, können Sie mit ihrem Pass vorbeikommen?" (Mr. Sternsdorf, your iPhone has arrived, can you come downstairs with your passport?

I had it sent to work to avoid the thing going back because nobody is at home when they deliver (random weekday, random time in the day, Don't these people know, usually weekdays are working days???

Anyway, the receptionist calls me (she is instructed: "was there a package from T-Mobile for me today?" was my version of "Good Morning" for the last week or so. So she knows and tries to help) HOWEVER:

Turns out :T-Mobile has instated a high-security fraud -protection program to "help" customers to avoid identity theft, and when I arrive the delivery man asks for a valid registration or an old ID card (!!!!????) with the address on it. Problem, since I am not going to live permanently in this apartment I am not yet registered, and I do not have anything official. After 9 years in US my old ID card would not show my current address here in Hamburg, 2009 either, let alone I usually don't roam the city carrying old and expired ID cards with me... "No, I cannot deliver then, if you cannot verify your address". PANIC STRIKES!

HEY, T-mobile has my BANK CONNECTION, This is my WORK PLACE, I am there IN PERSON, holding my VALID PASSPORT, how much more can I prove its really me and I do live and work in Hamburg???????

I am telling the guy , I just returned from 9 years abroad, live in a temporary place, and have not registered myself with an address I will only stay at for a few weeks, just to line up again when I'm at the final place. (residence registration is mandatory in Germany and involves about half a day sitting around in overcrowded rooms, for the US, it corresponds roughly to an unreserved DMV visit. You don't do it more often than absolutely necessary. Stressed out receptionists and state employees. Not the most friendly of places, at least in bigger cities. The receptionist is as surprised as I am "Das kann doch nicht angehen??"

Believe it or not, despite me and our receptionist both talking the guy into delivering the package, he is about to TAKE IT BACK!!! I am getting desperate, I guess the delivery guy sees the panic in my eyes, and, miraculously, he SHOWS MERCY (or common sense) " OK: Mir ist das jetzt zu bloed! Ich lass das jetzt trotzdem hier" "OK: This is too stupid/I've had enough, I leave it here anyway" Which is a bold thing to do for an employee. Well, in fact he's not German. He comments that they deliver about 20 iPhones a day right now and, no wonder, its the same circus every time/every place. And when they cannot deliver they have to TRY AGAIN another time!!

He is worn out and way behind his work schedule.

THANK GOD FOR FOREIGNERS WORKING IN GERMANY!!!!!!!

Late night dinner

2009-07-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had take-out indian food from the "Weidengrill" A little takeout place with "Indian and German Specialties". Odd? YES. I wonder: The owner (Khan) seems to have some dry sense of humor: A woman comes into the store; "Hey, Khan, did I pay you for the tobacco already?" she yells to him in the back. He comes up front: "Alzheimer" is all he says. We have a short conservation about German and Indian food and the relationship between Chicken Curry and the German iconic takeout food "Currywurst". Khan: "Yeah I know the Germans like to eat their sausages.. I don't sell too much indian mostly currywurst and the german stuff. I do get the Lamb Curry though (yes, spicy is OK). At home I relize :its GOOD!!!!!

I DISCOVERED A NEW STAPLE FOR MY LOCAL LIFE.

Today it is late (after the park& blogwriting) but since I didn't have dinner, I leave home and ride my bike back into the "Schanze" (my neighborhood). Khan is closed already. I am surprised, after all its only 11:15. Thats what happens if the blogwriting takes over. But the "Falafel-Factory" is still buzzing from life. I am ordering a falafel and an "Alsterwasser" in a can (its like a "shanty": beer and clear lemon soda). A girl orders after me, she's on the phone: Mac Donald's is closed, I am getting a Falafel, shall I get you a Falafel too? Its GREAT to live in a city where Mac Donald's closes before the local middle estern takeout. Watching the people, there are some quite interesting characters out on the streets here on a semi-late wednesday night. An older guy, potbelly, with long grey hair, and a felt hat is trying to order a Lahmaçun (turkish Pizza, as some call it...) But its a Falafel place. He doesn't get it. The guy behind the counter explains to him , but he doesn't seem too receptive. A guy without shirt and tight pants walks along, he is tattooed all over. Three guys who look like the dumb-but-goodhearted gangster characters from "Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels" enter the local "Spielhalle" (Gambling hall). its a greasy looking place with a yellow sign. they come back out after half a minute.

A flock of 15-year-old teenage girls is crossing the street towards the subway: By US-standards this place is Sodom and Gomorra. I feel very much at home. ;-)

Goodnight, gotta get up early tomorrow!

Lab Outings and Hamburg Rituals

2009-07-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

At 6 pm the girls in the lab spontaneously decide: we are all going for beers into the park, so thats what we do. (At the "Ise-Canal", 5 minutes by bicycle is a big lawn with an idyllic view of the water, families BBQing, kids running around naked, groups of families and working colleagues doing the same thing we do: drinking beer in the park on the lawn and enjoying a beautiful day ) Its amazing how one forgets to appreciate the beauty of sunny weather and blue sky in a place like San Diego. It's like having ice cream every day.

Today my technician, Alex, had his first day. Beer in the park, thats a good start as ending the first day. The whole afternoon I loaded the poor guy with all the details of my project, past and future work. He's probably still reading the papers I gave to him today as I am writing this (I feel bad) He was a bit exhausted/worn out in the end. Beer in the park is the ideal recovery plan. Actually, he got some good insight and already came up with some very good comments: the right guy for the job! And he drinks beer. ;-)

One special thing about Hamburg: warm summer evenings are considered "holy gifts from nature", and the thankful worshipping must be performed outside in the sun (its the north so sunset is late) "This is the Hamburg summer, enjoy it, it may be over tomorrow".

On the canal I see people standing on surfboards and paddling with a long paddle. Kevin (postdoc) comments: "see, Thomas you can go surfing in Hamburg! Standup paddling is very popular in Hawaii." (he went half a year ago). I am a bit jealous, since I wanted to go to Hawaii before I leave San Diego! Chances are I will never live that close to Hawaii again. (Japan? unlikely, but then, never say never!)

Old Friends

2009-07-14T01:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday night I am going to Kiel, a small city right at the Baltic sea. Not for bird-watching but for meeting an old friend and drinking some cocktails. When I arrive at the station Berti picks me up. Its not much more northern than Hamburg but the day seems to last much longer, its still light outsuide at 10:30pm (or 22:30h) before I enter the train, I am buying a really great waterproof jacket.its a German brand: Name is "Jack Wolfskin" Hum, I wonder what book has inspired THAT??????? (J.L.??? and NO its NOT Jay Leno!) Quite Outdoorsy, no? the cocktail -Party is nice but I'm not really in a drinking mood, guess I miss a bit of the old parties in PB and wheereever. No dancing of course, time passes by, people get older(me too , I know). Berti is the kind of guy who spends half of his life in "second life" (great sentence, actually!! THINK about it!!!)
Berti is´s moving in with his girlfriend, Steffi, after having survived a pretty bad breakup. (why does it always hit the nicest guys?) Anyway, now he found a new soulmate in second life (!) so some real people meet real people there, and not every attractive woman in "second life" is in the real world (ITRW) an overweight chips/pizza/coke-consuming nerdy-slacker-GUY..... As you can see from the picture above, Berti is a scientist and not afraid of dry ice drinks. I am taking the last train home to Hamburg. Tuesday I am supposed to help him move his stuff into the place in Kiel. Not ideal to spend a weekday afternoon carrying boxes and computer parts, instead of getting stuff done in the lab. But thats what old friends are for, no?

Talking about old friends: Yesterday I met Andreas, another old friend, who lives in Berlin now. He´s in Hamburg for a Symposium on "emerging viruses" held by another old friend, Stephan at the BNI (Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine. I could go too, especially because it would be a great chance to meet Stephan bút in light of Berti´s move today, I decide not to. yesterday we sat and ate at a little asian place around my neighborhood, after starting to talk about old times we decide to call up Hans, our both Ex-Boss, to join us. 30 minutes later he is there. The guys are talking about their kids, which is nothing I can contribute much. But its great to see them both again!!! After 2 beers we move on to another place down the street (its new, name: "Diwan"), where I finally get that "Hefeweizen" that was lingering in my expectations the whole evening. After this Hans says goodbye. Andreas and me move on to another "historic" Hamburg place the little bar "439". The barman is still the same and greets us like old friends. (I honestly doubt he really remembers me, I was a regular but not THAT regular, it was 9 years ago, after all. We used to call the guy "Fussel", for his signature hairstyle, in the post-punk tradition. (all standing up vertically and VERY disordered) most importantly, the tradition of having the best poured whiskies in town is still alive!! I am touched, after 9 years still some things are unchanged!!!!!! Thank you Fussel!!!

"between 8 and 1" where's that German efficiency?

2009-07-10T00:17:00.000-07:00

Finally I will have a telephone and internet. Well I do now (no phone, but internet, thanks to my water-pipe-smoking mellow neighbor, who gave me his wireless/Wehlan password. I went over to say thank you yesterday night, he was wearing a pretty cool african robe. He's from Mauritania. His wife seems the one who is in charge of the internet: yesterday he had to wait for her to tell me the connection settings/network name/password. They left a note on my doormat. Its great to have nice neighbors!

which means at least I have some distraction, while I wait for the Telecom-guy.

9:51, no Telecom.

To be perfectly honest, the weather right now asks for memories of perfect sunshine in Hillcrest. But then I know, Hamburg may not have the best of weather, but it makes up for that. But not RIGHT NOW, be patient, Thomas. OK, I'll watch a movie now, having nothing better to do.

Matjes Herring and Fried Potatoes

2009-07-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Having satisfied my hunger for Turkish food, I decide to go eat GERMAN!

Which is not easy, on my way home I am passing: Lebanese; 3 or 4 types of asian, Italian, Australian (!!), Spanish. French. It is very German NOT to eat German. But I feel the urge, finally I rediscover a little place I saw a couple of days earlier: The "Ratsherrn Stube" (roughly the "City Council member's Inn" Ratsherrn Pilsener was, in my humble opinion, one of the finest beers in Hamburg, possibly in the country, unfortunately in the year before I left Hamburg, the "Elbschloesschen-brewery", a tiny brewery along the Elbe river was bought up by "Holsten" the big and nasty brewery, which made itself known to me by odorizing my old neighbourhood in Altona with a obnoxious brewery smell also typical for their beer "Holsten knallt am dollsten" "Holsten, biggest bang for a beer" So they say here. Naturally, Ratsherrn Pilsner was never the same afterwards. Anyway I am ordering a Hefeweizen (Weissbier). Its summer after all!! and guess what? the Hefeweizen is from the "Koenig Ludwig Brewery" close to my hometown in Bavaria!

all tastes wonderful and I am very much at peace with myself. For dumb luck I find an unlocked wireless right in the beer garden so I can do some life -reporting here!!! Guess the innkeepers must think I'm a high income Consultant who works nonstop heehee!!! ;-)) The Matjes (marinated herring, aged in barrels, is not the best one I ever had (a bit dry) but still overall this is exactly what my stomach asked for!!!! GREAT!!!

German food is notoriously underrated! There are plenty of good things you guys should discover! ;-)))

Lets see what the evening will bring.

a Windows world in German Academia.

2009-07-06T23:59:00.000-07:00

I'm having a bad day, finally, yesterday, my IP address was provided from the Hospital computer department. Well, thats good news no?

However, when I'm finally back online, I realize that I cannot get my emails from Salk (remember, I still have my salk.edu address) When I ask, I learn, "noooh, sorry this address cannot be used. We are accessing the internet through the UKE and they do not support out-house mail servers. "So I cannot read my mail??""I am afraid, no" GREAT. First, they use STATIC IP addresses (which NOBODY does anywhere since the 80's) second, they somehow tie your fixed IP to the computers own MAC address (you can see it under the network configs) which means people can never change computer themselves without asking the system admin. NAZIS!!!!! let alone my VPN, to be able to get all the Cell/Science/Nature articles for free through Salk -and use the Mac Vector software!!!! Also when I try to print, I produce 15 pages of source code or something, but not the webpage I am trying to print out. I feel like a complete idiot. Asking doesn't help, since I'm using a Mac and "those Macs, they're always trouble!" Hell, no, not before a Microsoft-Borg messed around with my network-settings.

EVEN worse, when I finally come here into the safe haven of my milk bar, MY INTERNET CONNECTION DOESN'T WORK!!!! Panic strikes me: I am totally disconnected with no means to get things fixed!!!! But then, the automatic "network diagnostics" somehow fixes the problem leaving me with the uneasy feeling that I am at the mercy of some processes I have only incomplete understanding of.

OK for now: my mail is here and the connection is working. Not so bad after all.

My sister wold find her old opinion confirmed: "you are addicted to the internet" "you have withdrawal symptoms, when you cannot use it" "Maybe you should think about this?"

-Maybe she is right? Hm. ;-) *noshe'sNOT* ;-)

Ah well, lets get this printing thing working today. Plus I am determined to get some cells thawed from my shippment to finally start DOING EXPERIMENTS!!!! YESSSSS! Thats what I came for, no?

The sunday was quiet (ALL stores are closed on sundays, only coffeehouses, bars and Restaurants are open), I am having coffee and sweet pastries in one of the Portuguese cafes at the "Schanze" and find myself in a whole crowd of Brazilians. Ciça and Patricia would love it here. However, I end up chatting with an older guy from Persia, who asks me about the book I'm reading, ("Die Vermessung der Welt" by Daniel Kehlmann) he's a translator of literature into persian. the book he's working on right now: "Venus in Furs" by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. (from this stems the word "Masochism", BTW).

Venus in Furs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The copy he is reading is heavily annotated. I never read it myself, sorry to disappoint you guys!

Well, I guess he's a bit of a freak. I comment: "not sure if this book will go well in the bookstores of nowadays Iran..." He replies its for Iranians outside Iran.

He makes some comments that some important literature "such as the Marquis de Sade was never translated into Persian, and that "the Perisan people need to be educated about this". While I agree, that knowledge should be available to those who seek it, I am not sure that I would devote my life onto bringing Sacher-Masoch and the Marquis de Sade into Iran. But he may have a long-term agenda, you never know...... ;-)

We talk a bit and he invites me to a reading of an Iranian writer in the University tuesday at 7. I'm not sure, but I'll see how my schedule runs today, but OK thats it for now: I gotta start working finally. Sorry for lots of computer talk today, but thats what affects me these days!

"Is ja ganz Schön Leben an der Schanze heute, was?"

2009-07-05T02:52:00.000-07:00

..back at the Milkbar.

here my little report about the "Schanzenfest"yesterday night. First for dinner with an old friend (yes, there are some left here,most have moved away though: 9 Years, what can you say?

While walking through the streetfest area: plenty of police all around at one spot a row of about 10 cops in heavy body-armor (-helmets, shields, shin protectors, heavy gloves- good for them its not as hot as it was yesterday...)unfortunately I don't have my camera with me, my friend (she's blonde) would have been a nice addition to this menacingly-looking group of uniforms. Not sure if these guys are up for ironic actions though, so better that way.

After dinner, I can smell smoke, there are sirens and occasional loud noises from big firecrackers. No, its not from burning cars! (last year they had that) just a paper-recycling bin on fire: smoldering smoke and a firefighter-car. However at the street-festival the "traditional" annual riots have commenced. My friend is worried, so we take the long detour. plenty of police, the streets are closed for traffic into the quarter. My bicycle is right in the middle, so after dropping her off at the subway, I make my way back. Nobody stops me. plenty of kids with beer are sitting on the stairs on the side of the street, waiting for the spectacle. After a while the big green trucks with water cannons arrive. A single guy is arrested and surrounded by maybe 10 cops, I can barely see him. Some passers-by start a chant: "LET-HIM-GO-LET-HIM-GO!" another squad of armoured guys moves "coordinated" down the street. It looks like they are running away (of course they got some orders) people clap in the rythm of the cops feet running.... ;-)

5 minutes later the water-cannons arrive. Loudspeakers ask for people leaving towards the subway and "bystanders, please clearly distance yourself from the troublemakers, or we will use physical force including the water cannons." "people , move back to the subway, yes also you two guys to the left with the plastic bags" After a few beer bottles hit on the truck, the watercannons fire, and some kids stand in heroic poses soaked in the water: the cellphones still seem to work, two minutes later I hear one of the soaked guys reporting: "Boy, here's full the action going on, you guys gotta come on over!!"

Some trailer is rolled in front of the watercannon-truck. The police asks for removal: "Remove the trailer immediately, yes, you guys there, help a little!!" I guess they are worried. the trailer is sprayed aside by the force of the water-cannon. I am contemplating to get my camera, but then decide to leave the battleground. its maybe a bit too voyeuristic. And the water comes dangerously close. I am resisting the urge to get my camera from home, buy another beer and join the other spectators.

At home on the balcony, I meet the neighbour from the other side: Pointing to the sirens and yelling voices across the buildings, he smiles and comments:

"Quite lively, the "Schanze" tonight, hm?"

"Is ja ganz schön Leben, an der Schanze heute, was?"

http://www1.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/schanzenfest100.html

As I said , its a spectacle/game, not a revolution. But some do get hurt, thats not OK.

Right now I am waiting for my laundry.

More soon.

iPhone/Internet:..seems I'l stay customer at my milkbar.

2009-07-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

First weekend

2009-07-04T03:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday, I try to sleep in but since I'm still time-shifted I wake up at 7. Breakfast at home. Toast (thanks to a generous donation from our caring secretary Susanne, (she's an angel!!!), I have a TOASTER!! I am re-initiating my teapot. Now I am really here. No tea-candles though and the water is boiled in a cooking pot instead of a water-and-water-only-waterkettle. Well these are the start-up compromises. Being a tea-snob is hard when not settled in.

Then I take my -currently one and only- nice shirt to the cleaner: turnover time one week, not really impressive. 1 Euro 10c, thats good. The elderly lady spends the first 5 minutes trying to fix the paper-roll of her cash registry.

HERE A WARNING:CREDIT CARDS ARE RARELY ACCEPTED IN GERMANY, THE COMMON FORM OF PLASTIC MONEY IS THE "EC-CARD" which can be used essentially like a debit card (money comes off the account directly) Unfortunately, one needs a PIN for it which is sent separately from the card and cannot be changed even at the bank... and I DO remember seeing the paper with the PIN short time before I left SD (my friend Wolfgang even pointed it out: "hey, that looks important", because I was 100% sure (yeah , right!) I wrote it down in my "Important numbers" file in my laptop. Therefore I just put the paper in a "safe place , that I will remember for sure!" (Oh, Thomas, will you ever learn????) Unfortunately, didn't turn out that way... guess what? (see previous post): 10 WORKING DAYS for a new card!!!!! CONSPIRACY!!!! I knew it!!!!! Well, I'll save money that way, because its harder for me to spend. So it forces me to think twice about unnecessary purchases. Ah well. even bad things have a good side if you force yourself to discover one!

After the cleaners stop, I wander by the little shops of the neighborhood: The "Outlet King" offers an impressive variety of little items with no obvious common theme. I am buying a lighter, a triple-outlet-socket ("Mehrfachsteckdose"), address labels (for the doorbell and the mailbox, after all I am eagerly awaiting a DSL Modem) I am tempted to get incense sticks, but I resist: "Outlet King" is not the place. I do get teacandles and a lighter for 70c though. I decide to ask my nice and mellow neighbors (Radna, I forgot her husbands name, I'm so bad! her name is on the doorbell, so thats easy.) for temporary access to their wireless. But then, they will miss me at the Milkbar, now that I finally became a fixed item of the furniture. Lets see, if I meet the neighbors, I'll ask if not I'll wait for the "real" thing, and keep on drinking Lime/Lemon smoothies. And "Caramel Lattes" (my little US-perversion... yes, some things stick to you after such a long time). But no: I will NOT visit Starbucks here in Hamburg! Support your local coffeehouse!

Yesterday, (Friday night, after all!) I went to the movies: at the 3001 cinema (picture on top), I watched "Madboy", a very raw, semi-amateur, but very entertaining local movie about a want-to-be-musician/small-time-criminal from Wilhelmsburg, a rather run-down working class-low income quarter of Hamburg. I would love to send it as a DVD to some friends who (I know) would appreciate this one VERY much!

Go check it out:

http://www.madboy-derfilm.de/

WATCH IT when you have the opportunity, there is a lot of unexpected talent in new German Cinema.

And hey, I forgot the best: FINALLY I CAN HAVE A "MOVIE-BEER" AGAIN, one of the things I REALLY missed in the US, the land of misunderstood "Family Values"...

Today is also the "Schanzenfest" a street festival at my local neighborhood, which is a grafitti-laden alternative, left-wing-unrestly-kind of neighborhood. I only learned about the festival from the radio:

"2000 Policemen were put on call to secure the peaceful course of the "Schanzenfest" tonight. Last year at the same occasion, there was a large amount of unrest and police and demonstrators engaged in lengthy stone-trowing battles".

I'll check it out, but of course I'll stay out of the "activities". But I will have a beer during the peaceful part for sure (maybe I will meet some old friends there?)

At least my time here does not seem to become too boring, I only wish I had a phone to be reachable.

Out there and back again

2009-07-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

I wanted to start this on the very first day of my return, but this is already part of the experience: The first days of my return to the "old world" (Germany) I spent totally "incommunicado": internet: 10 working days, iPhone: 10 working days, telephone, comes with internet: 10 working days. Laptop at work needs a static IP address- Sysadmin in vacations, IP distributed from central services at hospital (where I work, kind of):guess.......??? ;-)))) I smell conspiracy! No I am exaggerating of course: so far it was only since tuesday (=4 working days ) and my iPhone should have arrived today (or latest tomorrow), but stupid me had it sent to work, nobody there on saturday, so I will hopefully get it on monday....

But listen, before you open the box to put this in. NOT everything is better over there across the pond. This is just a public diary to record some unique experiences: coming back after 9 years in California. I really hope I can keep this up and have the time to keep this blog going.

Two things first: I forgot we can have a hot summer in Germany.

Which is great! No more "retirement climate" like in SoCal. Currently I am sitting in my new favorite place, a little milkbar with wonderful smoothies and free Wireless (or W/LAN *pronounced: wehlan* as they say here). it didn't exist when I left 9 years ago, so how could I know the word?? Initially I always said "Schnurlos" which is a bit of a childish literal translation of "wireless"into German... I still think its MUCH cuter than W/LAN which sounds absolutely "1982 MS-DOS"- geekish (in the very worst sense, believe me I'm quite a geek myself). OK now I'm back, in a REAL city again, which feels GREAT!!! But of course I miss a lot of things and today walking back from the bank (Haspa), thinking things over, I realize for the first time (!) that I am thinking in english (BOAH).... well 9 years ARE a long time. But when did that happen? I do not have a conscious memory of officially swapping language. Strange that I only find out after coming back and that it takes a German-speaking environment to realize that change in my head, you would thing I am thinking all the time and should know which language I use for the process???

Obviously NOT... Hm.

Another little observation: in the streets, Germans don't look into each others eyes when passing by on the sidewalk. What is a good, rational behavior in US-east-coast inner city areas (you might get beaten up.), here it is a national trait. Back in San Diego, I used to look at people even without knowing them and sometimes even smile, like a short "hello, how are you?" without words and less effort. 90% of the time I would get the same thing back. Americans are a friendly, open people who meet the stranger with a certain amount of trust. germans are not like that. Not that they are unfriendly. At my new job I met the friendliest most wonderful colleagues one could imagine!!!

I also found out that "ALDI" might be the owner of Trader Joe's in California, but the items they sell are far from the quality of TJ's (TJ's markets more "upscale Euro-centric" But heck, this IS Europe!!) Hey, its not bad I just miss some of the wonderful items they have there and that are missing here