#booksIlove: Intimations

Title: Intimations, by Zadie Smith
When did I read it: just last week

Zadie Smith is one of those authors who lets you into her "Herzraum"... into her innermost being. I love the word "Herzraum" because it represents a space to while away in. A room where the richness of thought and imagination creates a colourful mosaic for discovery. This book's mosaic depicts a special time of her life, as well as that in the world.

Fashion statement

Bought a new suitcase

New home for my apparel

Looking so spiffy!

Books I love... new series

Recently, Nomad Son mentioned how little I share about the books I read.

Once again, I discovered a source of "feeling small" that I would like to change. I compare myself to my mother, who read a book a day for most of her adult life. As well, I follow numerous podcasts and bloggers who write so eloquently about books. So, I'm throwing these feelings aside.

The fact is, reading is a part of every day. Not that I read a book a day, but it is fair to say I usually read a book or two a week. Yet, I very rarely share this part of me with anyone.

So, this will change. I will keep it simple, though, just mentioning the title and why I like the book.   

Off on an adventure

Raps fields roll away

As the sun peeks behind clouds

I ride the bus north.

(Written nearly two months ago.) 

#lifehacks: windex

Now, I might not be quite on the level as the father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but this stuff is great on any surface to clean away stains or dirt of every sort. It is especially good on upholstery.  

Learning German in Germany as an adult (part 1)

Welcome to the first post in a series that will explore the challenge of learning German as an adult in Germany. In this series, I'll discuss the shortcomings of the current system of language training programs before exploring strategies you can adopt to learn a basic command of German more effectively.

To learn a new language quickly, you need to focus on two areas: passive language and active language. Passive language skills are like the part of an iceberg beneath the water, while active language skills are the visible tip of the iceberg above the water.

Passive language skills involve understanding the language without actively using it. This includes listening and reading comprehension. For example, recognizing vocabulary, understanding grammar rules, and processing spoken and written texts are all passive skills. These skills form the foundation of language learning, providing the necessary input that helps learners understand the language structure and usage.

On the other hand, active language skills involve the actual use of the language in speaking and writing. These skills are essential for communication and involve constructing sentences, expressing thoughts, and engaging in conversations. Active skills require practice and interaction, which helps reinforce and solidify passive language knowledge.

The way most language schools teach German as a second language is often unsuccessful. These schools focus on teaching students how to speak German "properly," much like the traditional methods used in schools for learning foreign languages. They believe that to learn a language, you have to expand that area under the water as much as possible before attempting to develop your speaking skills.

 
Unfortunately, the language training programs are generally only four months long, which is not enough time to build strong passive language skills, especially if there is little focus or opportunity for developing active language skills. The training programs are four months long, five days a week and usually five hours daily. The teachers work through one textbook after another throughout this time, focusing on getting the students to pass their next language exam.

Most language lessons follow an outdated formula. In a typical 45-minute lesson, 30‑35 minutes are spent listening to the teacher work through the exercises with the students. This leaves only 10-15 minutes for the students to participate in role-play exercises or practice general conversation. This means that each student might only get a chance to speak for 1-2 minutes per lesson or 5-10 minutes a day.

Language schools are required to teach German this way due to constraints placed on them by agencies paying them to teach immigrants German (e.g., the unemployment agency). The school focuses on gaining recognition and proper compensation from the agencies. They employ trained teachers, use standard textbooks, and follow set learning plans that comply with industry standards. They are concerned with doing what everyone is doing and not whether the students leave the program being able to speak German.

 
They need to prepare their students to pass exams because the success of the programs lies in their students' passing rates. The students fear the exams because they often need them for resident and work visas. So, they attend the classes, acutely aware that their spoken German is not improving and in a steady state of frustration on how slow they are in understanding German grammar rules. While the language school methods are not inherently bad, they are not the most effective or efficient for most adults wanting to understand and speak German in day-to-day situations.

 
If the schools were allocated more time or resources, they could adopt a blended approach. They could assign more preparation and homework to students, allowing classroom time to focus on active learning through group exercises and role-playing games.

By understanding how you can balance your efforts between acquiring passive and active language skills, you can begin to explore more effective ways to learn German as an adult in Germany. Future posts will delve into these strategies, helping you navigate the journey of mastering a new language. 

Open window

A circular saw
Drones on top of the street sounds
I miss birds singing.

#lifehacks: green dishwashing liquid

The miracle of green dishwashing liquid can not be underestimated. It can be used in many ways beyond cleaning dishes.

• Cleaning greasy hands - let's say you have repaired your bicycle and have grease on your hands. Pour some dishwashing liquid directly into the palm of your hand (do not add water) and rub the liquid around the greasy spots until it turns white and then grey. Rinse off with warm water.
  
  
• Getting rid of oil stains—If you get oil stains on your clothes, immediately apply dishwashing liquid liberally to the spot. Tap it so the liquid sinks into the material. Do not rub the material. Let it soak into the material for at least twenty minutes before putting it in the washing machine.
  
  For some reason, washing machines work better than handwashing. But if the material is too delicate,of course, hand wash in as hot a temperature as the material allows.
  
  
• As a lubricant for the manual pump of the toilets in boats - a few drops of liquid on the shaft of the handle once in a while makes it easier to pump.
  
  
• Cleaning a greasy, dirty bicycle chain - apply the liquid sparingly to the chain links. Wipe excess grease and dirt away with a rag. Add oil or clear lubricant once the worst is off, and wipe off more of the old grease and dirt. Once the chain is clean, apply the new lubricant sparingly. No water is used in this process.

I am... an avid reader (2/2)

My life as a reader began with library books, then books we had to read for our English literature classes, which I found so boring compared to the library books. It is not that I did not like the books; it is that I did not like picking them apart. 

Reading, at that time, was an intimate solo pursuit. Sometimes, my sisters and I would share books if they were especially riveting. Yet, we did not speak about what we liked or did not like about the books we read.

Sometime during our childhood, we started getting books as presents. My father built bookshelves in our bedrooms. Slowly, my favourite books grew like a family populating the shelves over the years. When I left home at 14, they were left behind.
My mother sent me "care packages" wherever I was living, with a selection of books to tide me over. This continued until I moved to Germany. The bookstores would have a small selection of English books. They were dear in price as well as eclectic in selection.

 
Thankfully, there were always the classics. Therefore, I bought and reread a large selection of books (Jane Austin, Bronte sisters, and Charles Dickens) of the books we read in school. Astonishingly, they were not in the least bit boring. They were brilliant and have remained a constant read in the proceeding decades.

One bookstore had a selection of Beckett, Wolfe, Camus, and Kafka, which became the dark horses in my family of books. Another store had Russian classics and works of dissidents. I loved every single one of them. There is nothing more precious than finding a good book in the corner of a bookstore in a foreign country.

Not being in a rush

Bending down my head
Breathing quietly in-out
Hairdresser's yoga.

#lifehacks: train travel

Train travel is my preferred method of transport. It used to be air travel, but that is long gone. These are things that I do to make my trips less stressful and more enjoyable.

• If I absolutely need to arrive at a specific time, e.g., for a business appointment or have a connecting train to catch, I tend to take an earlier train.
  
  The DB (Deutsche Bahn) used to have a better record for being punctual. Now, it is not so, yet the DB app and passengers still schedule trips with 5-10 minutes to transfer from one train to another. When they miss a connection, they get really upset. I prefer to go one train earlier, so the likelihood of catching the second train or arriving for the business appointment is better.

• Always reserve a window seat. You do not know what beauty you will experience watching the landscape pass by.

• Book a seat in a department near the first-class department. I have no empirical data, but the bathroom tends to be cleaner in the first-class department.

• Bring a selection of snacks to eat along the way. Nothing too healthy, nothing too large or cumbersome to hold, nothing that is smelly. A bento box of delights and a few crispy or crunchy bits.

• (I'd like to say bring plenty of water. But I don't tend to drink while I am travelling because I do not really want to go to the bathroom. I know this is not healthy.) 

• It is better to pack two small suitcases rather than one large one. 

• This is especially true for older short people. Lifting a large suitcase up and down stairs can be particularly bad for your back. 

• Since I have short legs as well, one of the bags is so packed that I can sit on it while waiting for a train and then store it on the floor of my seat so I can rest my feet on it. This also means I can take off my shoes if I am resting them on the suitcase.

• The other small piece of luggage can be stored overhead. Generally, people will help more easily if you have a small piece of luggage to put overhead than they will if it is large.

• Make sure to have a notebook and pen on hand in case ideas pop up in your head.

• Download several podcasts and audiobooks because you might take a while to find the right thing to listen to. Your mood can change during a train journey. The same thing goes for selecting which books you bring.

• Sometimes, I bring something to work on. I find that working at the beginning of a journey for an hour or so is productive as well it helps me to get into the flow, the slowness of time whiling away.

• I like to bring some knitting with me. It keeps my hands occupied while I look out on the passing landscape, listening to a podcast or audiobook.

I feel as if a long train journey is partly an outward journey of being the observer. Looking out the window or people-watching. It is also partly an inward journey of sinking into a good book or even into a state of daydreaming.

I once met someone who took a seat beside me, put his attache case on his lap, stared ahead, and did not move a bit. After an hour or so, we got into a conversation. He said he travelled back and forth from Hamburg to Munich every week. He worked in Hamburg. His family was in Munich. He had tried everything to make the trip go quickly. In the end, he decided to make a list of things he wanted to think about, and that is what he did; he just let himself think. Amazing. 

I am... a pensioner

 

It is grey outside

In my heart there is brightness

Nothing to do now!

#lifehacks: metal sinks

If you are cutting up anything smelly, like onions or fish, and you want to get the smell off your fingers, just wet the bottom of a metal sink a bit and rub your fingers back and forth. The smell will disappear instantly.  

I am... an aspiring bookbinder

(Lia's first notebook)

So, my dear friend Christine heard from a friend about a bookbinder who offers courses on bookbinding. Did I want to take a course with her? Sounded like fun, so I said yes, but I did not have any idea what it was going to be like.

Instead of spending the weekend with a group of elderly housewives in a trite community center trying to make small talk, all the while struggling to adhere to the simplest of instructions... 

Christine and I spent a magical few days with Silke, the bookbinder, working in her studio at the side of her house. She was so calm and excited at the same time and told us endless stories about the world of bookbinding. All the while, she gently walked us through the process of making our own notebooks. We couldn't help but become more and more entranced by the art of bookbinding. Now, this is a hobby I would love to do. 

We're starting slow. We've booked another few days in August. I'd like to do some sort of visual overview, a mix of photos, text, and drawings. Let's see if that happens. 

In the meantime, I am looking at all of Ido Agassi's Skillshare videos. Here are a few videos for you to get a taste of how wonderful his work is. 

I'm hooked! 

Last weekend as an employee

This is very weird
There is no more need to sleep in
Every day is same.  

#lifehacks: icecubes

Icecubes that are not made of water are a really good way to cool things down quickly.

• Carrot juice - a little carrot juice is good for babies because of the added vitamins. By placing a carrot juice ice cube in a hot bottle, you can cool it down quickly to the right temperature.

• Ginger shots and freshly squeezed lemon juice - add to boiling water and instantly have ginger lemon tea in the morning.

• Vegetable broth - add to a hot bowl of soup to cool down quickly

• Smoothie - instant mini popsicle 

The wonderful thing about ice cubes made with other things is that you only have to do it once, and they last a long time. 

#lifehacks: plane travel

Before I start, please look at videos about how to pack your luggage, how to get good deals, and how to spend your flying miles. There are so many good channels out there that deal with such matters marvellously.

This post is for older people travelling by plane long distances. I will mention a few tips in random order.

• Arrive at the airport at least three to four hours early because the problem isn't checking in but how many millions of passengers are waiting to get through security.
  
  If fast lane security is possible, buy it, but even these lanes are not full-proof.
  
  
• Use the extra time you have before the flight in a lounge. The prices for these lounges can be very steep, depending on the airport, but you have to minimize your stress before going on a flight. Having fewer people around you and less noise is always good. 
  
  
• If you have checked-in your luggage, carry at least two days' worth of clothes. Two swimsuits are a must if you are going anywhere warm.
  
  
• This next tip is for anyone who is short. After passing through security, I transfer all of my electronics and purse into my carry-on luggage. Then, I put clothes into my small backpack, place the backpack under the seat in front, and pull it out later on and use it as a footrest. For some reason, having my legs raised helps me get into a relaxed/sleep state during long flights Especially, if I can turn a bit on my side.
  
  
• I wear silicon earplugs with noise-cancelling headphones. Reducing the amount of noise during the flight is one of the game changers for arriving in good shape.
  
  Obviously, if you can sleep that would be wonderful, but I cannot. So quiet is almost as good.
  
  
• I order a special meal. This usually arrives first. So I can eat, close my eyes, and pretend to sleep while the whole process goes on with everyone else.
  
  (The engineer in me makes it hard to look at the flight crew serving drinks and food because they so often do it without any love, as if feeding cattle, and some of them are so inefficient.)
  
  
• I drink a lot the day before a trip, not so much on the day I travel, and then drink a lot on the day after I arrive. Maybe this goes against common practices, but it usually means that I do not have to go to the toilet so often during the trip.
  
  
• I eat before going on the plane. Sometimes, the airline food can be very poor quality, so it is better to wait to eat until after arrival.
  
  
• I have a small spray bottle of water that I spray my face with every 30 minutes or so. If you breathe in while spraying, you moisturize your nasal passages. This reduces the damage dry air does and, therefore, potentially reduces the chance of catching airborne illnesses.
  
  
• After sitting down, I wipe down my seat and the table in front of me with disinfectant. Someone who knows their stuff told me that the air is actually very clean; it is the surfaces that are not.
  
  I carry a package of wipes, as well as one small container of liquid disinfectant. I have a second small container in my check-in luggage for the trip back.
  
  
• At the beginning of the flight, I go to one of the toilets near my seat. I always wipe down the toilet seat before using it. I also wipe down the sink and surfaces around the sink with paper towels before I leave the toilet, which means all surfaces are dry. Each time I leave the toilet, it looks like it was not used. I continue to use only this one toilet throughout the flight.
  
  I do not have any scientific data, but my experience is that people are less likely to leave a mess behind in a clean toilet than they are if it is already messy when they come in.
  
  
• Finally, I leave my seat as orderly as possible. I put the blanket and pillow on the seat. I bring a bag to put my garbage in and place everything there. I also wipe down the surfaces for the next passenger.