Time for Two of Us

It felt like ages, that we didn't have time just for two of us... I realized that there were always somebody else in our weekends. Friends and mostly Thomas' fam, of course, because we are staying at their house. Even last time during holiday, we were almost always with Thomas' uncle and his girlfriend. Not saying that I don't like them. In opposite, I like them so much. But I just realized, how much time we have to tell our story when nobody is around.

Last weekend, Thomas' parents visited Mosel for wine and good weekend. So, Thomas and I stayed in the house and took care of the house and animals from neighborhood. Such a privacy. We spent a lot of time talking, we fed animals in the mornings and afternoons, BBQed, we made our first ever bike tour (only around Linnich, though, but I didn't know the way, haha). There were Schützenfest in Linnich, but we just went around the kirmes and went home again. Once we stopped by Netto, one man came to me and started to ask me where I come from. I was not sure, what he actually wanted from me, because he talked slowly, mixed languages, didn't find connections of what he was actually talking. Well, he said, he just met my parents *crazy man* and talked about christus order. Thomas recognized this man and he just pulled me in to Netto and said to the man that my parents aren't in Germany, we are already catholic and we want to do some groceries, so bye. Imagine how long this man could avoid me to get into Netto, if I were alone. Lucky me to have Thomas :) He said, this man was a history teacher that turned to be a bit crazy after his wife died. And yeah, this man brought his cart to speak to me, so I could see what was inside: ALCOHOLS. *sigh*

In the evening, we spent time talking, watching videos, marinating chicken *we made KFC on Sunday ;)* and we watched fireworks from the balcony *haha sound romantic*.

I just love it and I miss the next time we will have this kinda time again. :*

La Voix Humaine/ Trouble in Tahiti

Huih! The first opera for this semester. It contained of two stories: La Voix Humaine - The Human Voice (Francis Poulenc) and Trouble in Tahiti (Leonard Bernstein). The theme of these two was similar: communication. The first one was a monolog, telling about a woman who talks on the phone with her ex-husband, who now has a new wife. This woman keeps calling him 'Mon Cherie', so it shows that she is actually still in love with him but keep blaming herself as the main cause of their divorce. At the end, this woman killed herself with the telephone cable and by jumping off of the balcony. Tragic. But luckily, who is still using that old telephone with cable? :)

The second one told us about one married couple who lives in a big white modern house. The husband is obsessed with being rich and famous. The wife visits psychiatrie because she feels depressed. Their communication don't go so well, they don't really greet each otherm don't do things together, they don't discuss like a healthy couple. As soon they start to talk with each other, it turns out to be a fight. But then, they realize that, and tried to repair their relationship. It was Leonard Bernstein's, so it reminded me a lot on West Side Story. It has similarity, of course, on music, stage settings (one stage and they played a lot with the stage lighting). And of course, I love it!

This is the first time we went fullhouse. Last two times I went with Matthias and Annika, but this time our other flatmates Ann and Julie (hey, new flatmate!) were joining us as well. This is a WG with kinda weird hobby: watching opera. LOL. I tried my selfie stick for the first time. woh! See my red face! Yeah, I should say, using selfie stick is quite embarassing ;P

Fullhouse: Ann, me, Julie, Annika. Matthias is somewhere in the room behind us with the glass window

Happy 2 years!

It is nice to see, that we've reached so far.. Well, at least for us :) Those two years were lovely and tough at the same time. Sure culture and long distance relationship didn't make everything easier. But both of us are still able to support each other. I think, we try to build a relationship like two mature adults. Each of us put effort, so that our communication stays stable.

Last Saturday, Thomas took me on a dinner. He booked Pinnochio before telling me. I was surprised and happy for the whole week. Thomas had never reserved table for our date. Before we went together for a mass in the hospital chappel in Jülich. Guess what! We had to sit right behind the altar. My head was full of uncertainty and fear, because I don't think Thomas would like it. But that was the only place left for two! At the end of the mass, the priest came to us and asked, whether we felt okay sitting behind the altar. So nice of him! I think Thomas did enjoy the mass somehow ;) Dinner was also nice. I got my risotto and Thomas ate house speciality. We were so full :) And yeah, we were so lucky, that despite of having no tickets, we were allowed to enter the 'concert' (casting for jazz day in Düren). Christian and his new girlfried were also there. There were 5 performances. The first was from Stimm So, an acapella group. They did pretty good! I love them. The second was uh-oh... over self-confident. The third was a girl from Dormagen playing guitar. She sang really well and was cute. The fourth was The Tideline who performed at Jazz Day in Düren last year. The last was a David Bowie tribute band. They fulfilled the stage. Gosh. I think they were ok (but they were quite loud), but I didn't expect them to win. I prefered the acapella group. But ok, if this tribute band won, what should I do. I won't go to the juries and influence them to choose the first group. Haha. However, I don't think I would ever like David Bowie's music.... Sorry, David... We took taxi from Jülich to Floßdorf and I have to say: I underestimated the taxi cost. I used taxi from Linnich to Jülich and it cost me around 15€. But that night, we had to pay 24€! Ooops, sorry, Thomas. The rest of the night was also nice. We watched the mentalist, but after 1,5 episodes I (as always) felt asleep. Thomas woke me up and didn't get off my back and giggled  me until I gave up. Menno.

Thank you to have understood, loved and supported me with all your heart during these 2 years.

I am grateful to have met you in my life and that you're part of my life. I learned so much from you, and hope I can learn more...

Cheers, for us and amazing years ahead!

Our First Holiday Trip: Alkmaar

This is it! Thomas and Dita finally went for holidays together. No moms, no dads. I was kinda depressed the last few weeks, imagining that I might have no summer holidays in Indonesia this year, which is for me, kinda no holidays for the rest of the year. I asked Thomas to spend some time with me, just for us. Not at home.

I know our financial situation is actually not that good to afford long holidays in a good hotel including transport and foods etc. So, Thomas kindly asked his uncle who lives in Alkmaar (NL) whether we may stay over for a few days in his house. And he said YES! So, this is a start of our journey :)

We caught up on our train on Thursday, March 17th at 7:50 in Lindern. Change trains in Herzogenrath, Heerlen and Utrecht. We arrived there around 12. Thomas was in Alkmaar 10 years ago. And Alkmaar has been changed within these years. However, Thomas finally found the way to Jürgen's house. So, his house was so neat and pretty and clean. I love it. We looked around the house and put our stuff in the guest room, which was quite small with the double bed, but I totally love it. Somehow. Nice, colorful (eventhough lil bit pink dominant) room and bed sheet. Thomas said, the house hasn't change so much after more than 10 years. I was really hungry, so we went to Alkmaar city center. I haven't been in Holland for 4 years, was quite shocked seeing the prices in front of the restaurants (I forgot to bring cash with me! Stupid me. Haha). Anyway, we decided to eat in a Greek restaurant. I think it was delicious (or I was too hungry ;)). Then we walked around the city center. Thomas showed me some places he knew from the past. Jürgen wrote us a letter that he would be back at around 17:30. So, we actually wanted to sit in a small cafe, enjoying tea and dutch dessert. But suddenly Thomas got stomachache. So we decided to run away back home. After a few time arriving at the house, Simone (Jürgen's girlfriend) came home. Around 17:30 Jürgen arrived home as well, but he still needed to go to see his therapist first. So, Thomas and I took a small walk to a small supermarket behind the house that also hasn't changed after 10 years.

on the way to the supermarket

Jürgen was back and he brought us to the beach (Egmond aan Zee). He actually wanted to eat in a restaurant right on the beach, but full. So we went somewhere there on foot. Restaurant De Oude Clipper. I love the place. They have ship inside the restaurant as the bar, surrounding with water with some gold fish in it. Nice fine dining restaurant. I ordered fish platte and dame blanche as dessert. Yummy! Then we went back home.

We finally went to the beaaaaccchhh!!! We love see! 

On the next day (Friday, March 18th), Thomas and I stayed in bed longer after waking up so early on Thursday. And I was basically K.O after those days (I worked the whole day on Monday, travelled directly afterward to Aachen for the DAGA, so yes, I was at DAGA for the whole Tuesday and Wednesday, and still went to the band practice on Wed night). Jürgen came back after half-day work and took us to Zuiderzeemuseum. It was unfortunatelly closed. So we went further to Batavia Stad. It was like in Wertheim, factory outlet heaven with a Batavia ship on the other side. We decided for a tour on the ship. The tour was just for four of us (Thomas, his uncle, his uncle's girlfriend, and me) guided by a middle age dutch man who speaks also german. So he explained everything in german (as Simone understands german quite well). Batavia Ship is a ship that used to bring the Dutches from Amsterdam to Jakarta and spices and indonesian slaves or women from Jakarta to Amsterdam. The ship was remade and had not the original size. Though, it was still impressive and to operate such a ship, you need LOTS of physics and mathematics. Sounds like fun. But no, I don't want to travel with that ship to Jakarta. No thanks. Hahah. So, we continued our journey to Enkhuizen find something to eat (I was starving). And yeah again, we went for fine-dining there in De Drie Haringhe. Note: we didn't pay a cent. The food was soooo delicious. I love my roast beef appetizer with truffle mayo and breast duck for the main course. So well cooked!

on the Batavia Ship

Eckhuis

Jürgen challenged me to cook some indonesian food for dinner. I took the challenge and cooked opor ayam with tofu and eggs as well. With no instant spices. Yeah, I was good. LOL. So yeah, we went shopping for the dinner in Alkmaar city center on Saturday. We went first to a toko. And I felt like in heaven!! Indonesian food everywhere!! But I knew what I want: Spekoek! (Ind: Kue Lapis or Lapis Legit).Thomas made Bakwan Jagung(proud girlfriend lah!)and Jürgen was responsible for the appetizer (Thai soup). The opor was at last successful, after worrying because the opor tasted so plain at first.

Alkmaar city center

On Sunday, Jürgen invited us to watch Cirque du Soleil Amaluna in Amsterdam. I was surprised and told Thomas about the price of the tickets we got from his uncle. Amaluna was super cool. Lots of Chinese people doing the acrobatics. Amazing show. Then we splitted. Thomas and I continued our trip to Leiden to meet Jenov and Christoph there. It was so nice of them to show us Leiden. Leiden is nice, very dutch (you know, windmills, grachtfahrten, bridges and even sold cathedral...). They have also a small burg, where you can see Leiden from above and the oldest university in the Netherlands. Then we ended in an italian restaurant V.I.P (Very Italian Pizza). They had a very delish salmon pizza and tartufo! Jenov ordered Ravioli with truffle sauce, it was delicious!

Amaluna, Amsterdam

Double date in Leiden

 Monday is the day to go back. I was kinda sad. The trip was so nice and that day we couldn't meet Jürgen before our departure. We had said goodbye to him the night before. Nevertheless, we met Simone, said goodbye to her. We went first to the supermarket, bought something for home, headed to Linnich again and can't wait for the next trip :)

Bye Alkmaar! Til next time :)

And it ended with some good words....

Hier sind ein paar Bilder vom letzten Wochenende. Jup, mein Bruder hat bei Tom übernachtet. Das lange Wochenende fühlte sich dann irgendwie ziemlich kurz :( And guess what? Es hat wieder geschneit... O_O

Ich bin am Montag Mittag zurück gefahren, aber direkt nach Hamburg, da ich meinen Pass noch verlängern musste. Anne hat mich netterweise den ganzen Dienstag begleitet. Wir haben ne Runde Spaziergang gemacht über den Red District und mitm Schiff. Die Frau im Konsulat hat gesagt, dass mein Pass um 15 Uhr fertig sein würde. Dann kamen wir da ja pünktlich an. Dann kam noch eine Frau mit einem Karton Kuchen von Tchibo an der Hand. Sie hat erzählt, dass sie auch am Vormittag ihren Antrag abgegeben hat. Als die Frau am Schalter von ihrem Versteck aufgetaucht ist, hat ihr die Frau, die nach uns gekommen ist, den Kuchen gegeben. 10 Min später bekam sie ihren Pass. Ich ohne Kuchen, kriegte erst um 16 Uhr meinen Pass... Wow. Hab total vergessen, dass viele Indonesier Bestechung mögen...

Mittwoch arbeiten. Donnerstag-Samstag Seminar in Bremen. Heute hab ich nur faul gelegen :) Müde.. War allerdings schon gestern in der Messe. 22 Messdienerinnen! Wow. Und der Predigt war auch toll:

Leben ist analog zu einer Wanderung auf die Berge. Man möchte immer den Gipfel erreichen. Klar. Man vergisst aber oft, nachdem man ganz erschöpft den Gipfel erreicht hat, dass man noch den Abstieg vor sich hat. Abstieg kann bedeuten: alt werden oder krank werden (usw.) Man soll gucken, dass man noch genug Kraft haben für den Abstieg haben, denn Gott wartet da unten auf uns und nicht oben..

Weekend well spent

Monday shows reality. Bleh. But at least, I have recharged myself for the next two weeks. I was in a horrible mood due to the reality that I may not have any winter break at all. I have therapy, seminar in Bremen, 2 assignments, papers for the thesis, no chance of internship, renew my visa and passport,etc. Feels like all come at once and the imagination of having no holidays scared me!

I decided to come home to Thomas last weekend and feel like not going back.. How can I. You are unseparable from the one you love. We watched The Mentalist, drank Glögg, ate that delicious kacang bangkok, made time to go to salon, cuddled and the one you love even cooked for you :* What else do I need :)

Counting down for the next two weeks! One exam to go..

This week finally comes to an end

This week was a little bit weird. There were so many bad news eventhough there were also good news.

The good news were that at least I was quite well prepared for my presentation on Thursday and it went quite well, I must say :) Our project with ASR went also quite good. I finally have time to make something good to eat and finally the time to exam preparation comes. ^_^v

The bad news are that Jakarta was bombed on Thursday by some terrorist. But Indonesian policemen were not bad at all, they could handle the problem within a few hours. Even Thomas admitted it :) Thumbs up and hat off, Sir! Alan Rickman is dead  due to cancer :( Nadia's father passed away on the same day. Celine Dion's husband also passed away due to cancer.

Too much happened on Thursday...

Hopefully this was the only weird week for this year. As the priest said yesterday: "may we could find happiness and joy of life through this -(politically)seem to be hard- year". God bless us.

P.S: bought pepperspray. Martial art is coming soon in the new semester. Watch out!