Random thoughts

Summer has gone away to let room for the Autumn to kick in. Leaves are changing to colours ranging from green to red and orange and yellow, and the brown leaves are covering all the streets.

Can’t believe it’s already been more then a month since my last post.  Feels like someone has put my life on 45 rpm (45 giri – ITA) vinyl record.

Today is moving day. This morning at 9 I got the keys to my sweet new apartment in Kreuzberg – Berlin. East side yeah For who is not familiar with Berlin, Kreuzberg is the most happening place in town. Awesome night life and art/design scene which co-exist along with a major Turkish community. My new apartment is situated between a lovely park, and an extremely nice water canal. So I am officially open for visitors as of today

It’s the first time I’m moving to my own place in a foreign country. which is an exciting and frightening experience both at the same time. It feels like closing a chapter in life. Back in Turin, living together with other people has brought Diego in to my life, along with Massi, Sabi, Luca, Erica and Ale into my life in via Perosa. So many good times together. so much joy. then in Via san secondo 101, the mythic apartment who has brought in my life yet again some really important people: Sami and Lior who I miss both and so happy to have shared a piece of my life with… Orren, which didn’t really have it planed out to share an apartment with me, but I think both of us share the feeling that it was great for both of us, sharing 4 months together in his apartment. Living together with other people can be difficult for sure, but It is a wonderful and irreplaceable experience which I now leave behind. So a new era begins. and I will upload some photos as soon as I will get an Internet connection there.

Orren, you are a marvellous person who should really acknowledge that fact, and you only made me see how I should be better, and how much I have to learn from you. No wonder the people around you love you so much. You just need to find more time for them :p

Yom Kipur and Sukot passed for the first time in my life without me even noticing them, and if not for the calls and messages wishing an easy kipur and hag sameach, I would never would have guessed. My only Israeli connection in this moment is the new Aroma espresso bar that opened in Berlin, For real, right near Check point charlie, where you can hear people ordering their coffee in Hebrew, just like you would in Givatayim.

I have to admit, that routine has kicked in, and all the things that seem so fabulous at the beginning, you get used to. Of course I sometimes look at the lake in-front of the office and think how nice it is, and I really enjoy riding my bicycle through the forest in the morning when I go to work, and enjoy clean air and amazing nature. At the end, it’s not how nice the building is, or how lovely the road is, but it’s the little experiences, and the people you meet, and how you deal with each day. and that’s what I’m learning here.

I will be glad to keep on writing, but actually I’m right in the middle of moving, and I have to pack my computer, and say goodbye to the Internet community for a while. no more facebook, no more messenger until I get my connection at the new place.

Hag sameach

10 weeks

It’s incredible how much change in my life has happened in just 10 weeks since I’ve first stepped out of Arkia flight, with an over-weight of uncertainties. I remember seeing Alex (Berlins famous TV tower) from the airplane, The long line in the border control, Orren coming to the airport to accompany me to his apartment (Where I still stay until this very day), the long way home with my two suitcases, my disappointment when I realized that no place is ever going to be as beautiful as Italy, exploring the city for the first times… German lessons, pubs, tours, more people, more tours, more German, getting all the documents and permits, first days at work… A romance with Anna which ended just a few days ago. 10 weeks, flashed in a blink of an eye, packed with emotions. And now I realize that after years of part-time jobs, temporary things, being a student, and the constant feeling of waiting for something – moving out on my own, finishing the army service, waiting for exams, waiting to fly, waiting to finish my degree… There was always something that I was waiting for, I was telling my self that when that moment comes, everything would be great; and now, I finally have the feeling that I’m not waiting for anything, that I only want to enjoy what I have, enjoy life. I got my first pay-cheque last week. An incredible sensation of Independence has flooded me. Even though my first two pay-cheques will be dedicated to paying old debts, the feeling of liberty is immense.

I love my job! :D

And I still can’t believe how amazing it is to be here. I go around the company with a smile glued to my face, so happy that I’m here. Doing what I have been studying for, and for fulfilling my dream to be a designer. Everything is just incredibly amazing here. I am assigned to work on a show car. I’m surrounded by amazing people, everybody is so nice, professional. Our job is to create fabulous objects. To be creative. To invent. And suddenly to work on real projects, and not another university project that no one will look at, but something real, something that will have the VW logo on it. So many things to thing about, it is so challenging, so much fun!! and now comes the the topping on the ice cake. Twice a week, we have a yoga lesson in a glass room in-front of the lake. I couldn’t believe my own eyes! I was there, doing yoga, looking at the lake, and still not believing! I just can’t help it from using words like great or wonderful or amazing all the time. Seeing all these company projects, learning about the processes of design and marketing, learning never stops. I am really happy.

Italy seems so far away now. It’s weird how you get used to a new environment so quickly. You get used to the people, to the mentality. Everything becomes normal again, and you don’t even remember the taste of the life before. it’s all just a vague memory. Of course Turin is so important for me, and will always will be. I miss everyone there. I miss the city. I miss almost everything about it. But Germany has taught me some things about how simple can be good. And about making the people happy creates a better place. A country that takes care of it’s citizens. At the beginning so many things seemed odd to me, now it makes sense.

This last week I have been dedicating my self for apartment scouting. I still don’t know whether to choose Berlin or Potsdam, but without getting in too many details, I think I prefer Berlin. At work they say that only if you have a wife and kids you have an excuse to live in Potsdam. I think it quite sums it up. And you get used to travel one hour in each direction. You just sit on the underground/train/tram and read your book. not a bad way to start the morning. much better then to be stuck in traffic.

I’m really happy to hear from everyone. I miss you guys a lot.

And I wanna thank Orren again. Because I would never would have done this without his amazing help. he has a wide heart (and a wide-something-else as well but we will leave that for another time lol) and he is truly like an angle right now. I cannot thank you enough.

I have died and gone to VW Potsdam design centre

VW design centre Potsdam

As you can already understand from this headline, first-day-at-work went amazingly well. Accept for the fact that I could not fall a sleep at all, and I woke up an hour before the alarm clock went on, the stress excelled new levels, and so I wasn’t so fresh in the morning. I have taken the dog out for an early walk, prepared a huge breakfast, shaved and showered, and I have put on the clothes I have prepared the night before. packed my lunch and headed to the underground station that took me to the train station. good thing I have been up so early, because (of course) I waited for the wrong train, and so I missed my train, and had to wait another half of an hour. But I got to work on time.

Peer Witt, a legend in his own life, aka my team leader, was coming to get me in the front desk, after I got my employee pass, and deposited my cell phone (with a camera) and my disk-on-key, which are not allowed in the premisses.  He took me on a guided tour to see the company, introduced me to the people working there (those who are not on vacation at the moment), very nice people I might add, showed me all the equipment inside, 3d printers, milling machines and more (I think it’s better not to say too much…). Then we have seen all the models they are working on, future models for production and show-cars, and explained me about the various projects.

Then we arrived to my desk, with a top-of-the-line computer, fully accessorised, beautiful screen and a huge Wacom were all waiting just for me few moments later arrived the system guy (and after he made me sign a whole bunch of security measurements) and gave me my user/password, and after a small set-up, my computer was ready… almost. I have complained about not having all the soft wares I need, so the systemist asked me for a list of softwares I use, and after 20 min I had everything installed.

I followed Peer to the next room where they keep all the drawing supplies, and after a short description, he just told me, feel free to take whatever you need. a wall of Pantone, AD markers, Letraset blocks, pencils, pens… Heaven. I was heading back to my desk with the goods when they called me to the administration office, to explain me that I have to sign a document that say that I will get extra money for my rent, and partial refund for my flights. too good to be true! but it doesn’t end there. I also found out that as part of the project, Peer will take me along to Turin, Italy… My Torino!! How amazing is that?! Incredible! They really made me feel welcomed. On Monday I will know on which project I am assigned. of course I will not be able to share with you guys this information, but it is sooo exciting!!

Then I received a booklet called Potsdam for dummies, you get all the information about the company, about the city, restaurants around for lunch, pubs and places for after work, information about the banks, car leasing from the company, German schools, places to see… amazing. They really impressed me. Now what is left is for me to impress them. This is what is expected from me, after they went through all this hassle, I need to meet the expectations.

Anybody say presure?

A day to remember

Big day today… for a bunch of reasons. but mainly because my mom just turned fif%#… yeah well it’s my mom’s birthday. and I wanna write you a little bit about her, for those who don’t know her, or those who don’t know her like I do. I’m not gonna start by throwing sentences like: “the best mom in the world” or anything… I have a wonderful mom, but above all, I have a great friend, and an amazing example. A sage woman, who always lights my way, even without her knowing it. It’s enough for me to think, what would my mother do in that situation, what would she say, and I find the right way. So much experience, such a strong woman, who will always and forever be young, and will always know how to make you smile. It’s always the great people that make everything seem so easy, and this is what she is to me. Having you as a mother has definitely made me who I am, and I wouldn’t change one single moment. not the hardest, not the saddest, not a thing. Our life is perfectly imperfect (like Zaira used to say), and I’m thankful for it. I just hope to make you happy, and make you proud, everyday. I know you will have everything you want, you have proven it. Happy birthday mom.

Mom and I

It’s a special day for me as well. Tomorrow is my first day at work! A trainee interior designer at the Volkswagen Design Centre in Potsdam-Berlin. Today I got my official work permit, I have registered at the city hall, so now I am officially a citizen of Berlin, and it is amazing how different experience you get when you are dealing with bureaucracy (I totally needed a dictionary to spell that word out) between Italy and Germany. I remember getting to the interior minister (known as the awful “Questura”) where you had to stand in line at 6.00am just to be there at 8.30 when they open and start giving numbers. If you come at 8.30 they have no numbers left. and if you are lucky, you will get in before 13.00, because then they close it for lunch (of course, we are in Italy) and then they reopen at 15.00, but then you might find out that the computer is not working, or that they have lost your documents (Both happened to me) and you will have to do the line again another day. that’s without mentioning the police officers that yell at you, or just choose to ignore you when you ask questions. Here in Berlin, I went to register myself at 12.30 and I was leaving the building smiling at 13.30 with a booklet that explains about all the services of the city, and places to see… incredible. Everything is so easy here. Everything is in order. Tomorrow I start at 10 O’clock, so I just go on bvg.de and it tells me exactly at what time do I have to be in the tube station so I get there in time. So easy.

Berlin's symbol

I’m getting quite nervous about tomorrow. So maybe it’s better not to think about it too much… I had my last German lesson today. 86!! I got 86 on my exam! of course it is the basic begginers course and I’m not even capable of pronouncing the name of the street I live in, but its an acomplishment Of course no German will be needed as everyone is obligated to speak English at work.

I know its been three weeks since my last post. I know it because my grandmother called me yesterday and told me so So I’m not gonna let this happen again! expact a post tomorrow as I tell you all about my first day as a VW designer

Miss you all. Have a great party mom! g’night.

Updates

I need to get used to this… It’s like having a second job now… people are starting to ask me why don’t I write now posts, I’m starting to hear people say: “Oh I knew this wouldn’t last long, this blog thing”… I’m trying here!! I told you, I don’t know how this is going to work, but just a little confidence

I’m dog-sitting again… I think it’s my own way of compensating over the fact that I really want a dog of my own, and every time I see one on the street I just have to pet him (until I start to get impatient looks from the owner)…

After Ciccio (half dog half wolf), the dog I was watching in Italy – which was a masterpiece of the creator, The dog I’m watching now is really different. But this is exactly why I want to write you about her. She only has 3 legs. yes, this three legged dog was adopted by Sandra (the girl you have seen earlier in the picture) 12 years ago. She found her in a dog shelter when whe was a puppy, with only 3 legs. Think about it. It would take some very special girl to adopt a dog with only 3 legs. I think it’s amazing. I think there aren’t a lot of people in the world that would do something as admirable as this. Sandra, I take my hat off.

My German is getting better. I’m sorry, I will re-phrase. I have no German. But I’m starting to understand some words here-and-there. I’m not staring at the teacher that hopeless as before. well I do, just not that often. Before, I was just praying to god whenever the teacher was searching someone to respond a question. I was like: “not me, not me, please not me”…

The class mates are nice, tonight after class we are going out for drinks all together (Of course I will not let Hong drink any alcohol!)

Well, now I’m officialy living at Orren’s place. So I have an easier start, untill I will stubmle upon a great opportunity that will come along.

I want to thank everyone for the comments, they are appretiated a lot! Thank you Havi, Ramon&Franci, Hagit.

I have a lot to talk about with you, But I have a to leave for school and do my homework (Can you believe that? I’m 28 and I still get homework… What a life) So I will post to you soon!

Cheers! and great week-end to you all!

Ich verstehe nicht… (I don’t understand it)

Yeah, Germany did not win… They got to second place.

But I still enjoyed watching the match with other 599,999 fans on a giant screen and I have to say they took it better then I expected, and parties were carried on as planed around town… well as my dad said, German love to celebrate

Today I had my 1st German lesson. The lesson was of course in German, and I totally did not understand a word. The sad thing was to sit next to this 14 y/o Vietnamese kid named Hong, who actually translated things in English for me! I was so lost! apparently they put me in the best beginner class, and I’m the only one who does not speak German at all… Well after the 3 hours the lesson was over, I went over to speak with my teacher, and he was extremely nice, he felt sorry for me that I did not understand anything, and he took me to a bar near the school and just gave me a private lesson and explained everything we have done in the class and translated everything for me. And so as of today, I will have 3 hours of German lessons every evening, 5 days a week.

I know its bad to compare, but I cannot help it. The Germans eat such awful food!! Somebody should tell them… I mean, we should have Angela Merkel in on this! They go mad for Hot dogs!! btw, If you call it a hotdog they might become hostile apparently there is a name for each type of Weiner I mean, a typical German would just enjoy eating a hot dog with fries on the side, and actually believe that it is the best the world could offer! Come on!! Get some culture people!! This is not food!! And not to mention the coffee!!

The good thing is, that the second biggest foreign community in Berlin is Italian (after the Turkish one-0.5million) and so I can find everything from Italy, and loads of Italian restaurants and cafés all over the city.

Well it is time I talk a little bit about Berlin…

Berlin is FANTASTIC!!! It is an awesome city!! It has EVERYTHING to offer. It is so frenetic, yet so friendly, easy, big, green, logic. centre of world culture! Living History… you have the east and west, each one with it’s own character… It is so different from the rest of Germany. The people are totally different. It is so easy to make friends here! English works almost all the time, in some places even Italian worked… Transportation wise, I think it is the best city in the world. They are incredibly organized! (please, no train jokes again) And you have life running around the clock, 24-7: There is this supermarket in the centre (of the east, each side has it’s own centre) which is open on Sunday(!) and it is the most amazing supermarket, you can stand in line and just hear people speak in 7 different languages. This city is filled with people from all nationalities, all colours, races, sexes… Everything. You can meet the most strange people walking down the street. What I don’t appreciate in this city is the advanced Americanism, but I guess I will just have to live with it and accept it. I can’t wait to get to know the city better.

I miss Turin a lot. Turin and Berlin are two opposites. But it’s a wonderful experience. And I’m really happy to have the chance to taste Berlin. I had a perfect start, and I really thank all the great people that are around me here. Orren per primis, Sandra, Anna, Norman, Shiri… These guys really helped me feel so good here.

Here is what went on during the match courtesy of http://www.drk-berlin.de/

So here’s the status

So I’m staying in this apartment now, with a very great guy who I’m lucky to have as a friend… his name is Orren, and I guess you are gonna read about him more in the future…

Orren does a lot (!) for making me feel at home, and he just gave me the living-room of his apartment, and I really really REALLY appreciate what he’s doing for me!!

Tonight we are going to see the finals of the European championship Germany-Spain in this one-kilometre-long out-on-the-open public space where they put like 6 giant screens and half a million people are going to see the match and hopefully celebrate after… I know Ran, what are the odds of being in Italy when they win the world championship and then in Germany when they win the European championship… But wouldn’t it just be awesome?!

So this is it…

I’m blogging… for the first time in my life… Feels strange

I was thinking a lot about this… I mean, it’s actually writing about your self, and putting it for the world to see. And when you come to think of it, my grandmother is gonna read it (Hi grandma!), and my folks, and maybe even my little sister and (Oh dear god!) ex-girlfriends…

But, as my mom used to say, writing a blog is like going to therapy… And I don’t have the money to see a psycologist right now! so here we go…

So excited as I am, I’m starting blogging today… 10 days after I landed in Berlin… And I’m gonna tell you all about that…

And about the English… It’s a really big issue for me, it really makes things different… But it’s the only one I could really use to get all the people I love to understand… I hope this will work out…

Okay… so this is it :] first post… OMG!