Instances in life as I know them
in which Kira marries a giant.
One of the things you’re warned about when first moving to Denmark is how difficult is it to make friends with Danes. Part of the reason is due to the culture; they aren’t overtly open and outwardly friendly like North Americans. The second is because foreigners tend to move. Why attach yourself to someone who’ll eventually leave? In a stroke of luck, I did not face this difficulty.
Continue reading ➞ Destination Wedding #2: The Nielsen-Andersen Copenhagen Cruise
I hadn’t noticed it at first, but at some point during the journey from Macedonia back to Berlin a seed had fallen somewhere in the back of my mind. The menac project had kept me preoccupied, so while I could feel something happening, it wouldn’t be until the quiet days after that I’d notice something beginning to grow.
The ideas started of fragile and meager, as seedlings do; possibilities that could very well come to be or easily perish. Some did, but the ones that remained continued to grow. Strongly at that, into unwavering suggestions. Interestingly, these suggestions fed not on what reserve I had of hope, but off the energy I’d been expending into my life in Berlin. As they grew bigger, I became increasingly detached. Done before I knew I was.
Taking stock of my two years in Deutschland at that point, I was certainly better off than I’d been at the beginning, but not close to where I wanted to–or could-be. And I had a sneaking suspicion that, living there, I wouldn’t ever be. As I was coming to terms with the realization, an expiration date appeared on my flat agreement. This made the decision easy. I didn’t want to move again, but “if I had to,” I said to myself, “it’ll be into my own place or out of the country.”
The instability that is freelance journalism meant that independent living was out of reach. And while I believed it was possible to replicate the happy home life I was leaving behind, the thought of going through that process again and being at yet another’s mercy made me sick to my stomach. Never again. This left me with one viable option. The very outcome my subconscious had long alluded to: 2 months, 6 parcels (4 large + 2 small), and 6 suitcases later, Joyous Abroad found herself happily seated on a British Airways flight out of Germany.
Or rather, I picked up my visa today! Apparently it was approved back in mid-January and an email was sent out to me. Only it was incorrectly addressed so I never received it. So patiently I waited until the end on my three-month period–which happened to be yesterday. So today I went it to inquire, and lo-and-behold, it was waiting for me. Bonus is that I only had to pay half the noted fee. Further to my surprise, the lady assisting me just handed it over without me having paid for it. After asking her if it occurred to her that I might run with it, she laughed merely stated that she’d run after me.
It’s valid for two years 🙂
Last Wednesday was my visa appointment. I had arrived with native company and more than well prepared, yet I couldn’t shake my nervousness. With all the horror stories I’d heard, it was difficult not to be. But in the end, it proved to be unwarranted; my case worker couldn’t have been nicer, nor more satisfied with the documents I supplied.
In the end, this visited resulted in a renewed temporary, three-month visa with which I am now free to resume travel in-and-out of Germany and the EU. During this time my file will go on to the authorities who grant the longer term work/living visa for review. Should they also deem it satisfactory, I’ll be granted one to stay/work in Germany for the next one or two years. In the meantime, I’ll be spending Christmas & NYE here in Berlin.
How do I feel about all this visa stuff? Utterly exhausted. But you just gotta keep chipping away at it. As I sat in that office looking around at all the other applicants, I couldn’t help but dwell on how (often) comparatively easy we North Americans have it. For now. While many were hustling to acquire permission to remain as refugees and political asylees, there I was seeking permission to stay because I’m not satisfied with how things are going in my first-world home nation, and am not ready to return. There are other factors of course, but this is it in a nutshell. While I certainly don’t feel entitled, I definitely felt spoiled.
“Dude, you need to push out your content while you can.” said Pjones to me sometime during the summer. “Eventually, think will pick up and it’s going to be harder to find the time.” True words from the mouth a wonderfully crazy woman. This one fits the nutty professor stereotype to the “T”.
I had quite a few pans on the grill as of late, or is that not even the expression? I no longer remember. Although I have not to enroll in Germany language course, the fact that I studied Danish and her Deutsch on a regular basis helps me pick up bits of it nearly everyday. This also means more rules to remember and confuse my native comprehension of English. But there are worse trade-offs in life.
So what’s been going on? Let me tell you!
VISA – As you’ve been following, I’d been working on acquiring British citizenship through paternal connections (if at all were possible) for much of the year. Turns out it wasn’t on account of a small technicality. The news was frustrating, but I screamed, biked myself exhausted, showered and carried on. This wasn’t the only option, but the best of them. Plans B, C, and D weren’t awful either.
For the next step, I ended up registering with Germany to apply for my visa. As an American this grants you a three-months during which you can apply providing you have the necessary items. The last item I awaited arrived at the end of these three-months, and I went in just a few days after. This isn’t something I recommend, but sometimes all you do is roll with the punches. I went in when I could and was shown grace: they kindly extended my stay for another three months and scheduled me an appointment (at noon nonetheless) for December. Hopefully I will be approved. In the meantime, I am confined to Deutschland. Even if I’m approved, I’ll be here for Christmas as tickets will be much to expensive then.
THE PHILHARMONIC – A couple weeks ago I attended the Berlin Philharmonic once more to watch Ira Levin, husband of my friend Ana-Claudia, conduct the Berlin Philharmonic for the first time. In addition to conducting, Ira also played the piano, and the show was a great success. Afterwards I wandered backstage to mostly to snoop, but also to say “hello” to homegirl. I found her beaming ear-to-ear with pride. Sadly I was being waited on and didn’t have much time to poke my nose where it didn’t belong.
If you’re in Berlin on the 21st of December, or happen to be passing through, Ira will be giving a free concert at the Kirken. Donations received will go to two very worthy causes!
Interesting fact: He isn’t the only musical prodigy in the family, Ana-Claudia is also gifted. In addition to two master degrees in music, she’s classically-trained as a pianist and has four produced albums. As is that wasn’t enough, she also an incredible artist (painting and drawing). Below is one of the pieces she created entitled, “Brazil in Blue”. It’s absolutely lovely, but not even my favorite.
During a bowling event last month, she expressed dismay at how poorly she was doing. Having never bowled before, I told her that is was to be expected, and just a matter of finding ones “rhythm”. Besides that I also told she was already great at enough things and didn’t need to be greedy and good at bowling as well. She laughed and ended up coming it third the second round. Of course she turned out to be good at that as well.
PROJECTS – It’s been a while since I’d taken on any video projects, and I had two recently that have reminded my how much I enjoy them. The first was a project for coodo. The goal was simply to portray the stressful scenario illustrated on the first page of the catalog. So I drafted up a storyboard. The thing about video though, is that it sometimes never works out how you plan it to.
Bossman Schmiedel has an actor friend we wanted for the video, only the fellow–a German actor by the name of Kirk Kirchberger–was leaving for vacation the very next day, so they improvised by shooting some “scenes” on a smart phone and sending me the footage. You can watch the result of it here: Kirks Bad Day. Yes that is my voice. And no I’m not a voice actor. Obviously. But I took this one for the team.
The second video project I’m currently working on is for Trustable Gold. I started a post on these guys and their impeccably furnished office months ago, but never finished it. Actually while I’m confessing, I have between six and 10 such posts. #badJoycey #Iknow. I’ll get there. Anyway the video explains Vaulted Gold. Unlike the coodo video, this one is a composite of stock images and drawing that I am animating in After Effects. So far it’s looking pretty good.
It addition to those two, I’m also working on my website. Finally. Pjones has also be scolding me about this for quite some time. “Dude, you need a space for your project.” she nags (:)). “It needs to reflect you.” she hounds. And she’s right. Of course. It won’t be anything super special, but as a freelancer, it ought to suffice.
HEALTH – After reading report after report of toxic and genetically modified ingredient in food, I decided to return a vegetarian/plant-based diet. I. Just. Can’t. I’d been a vegetarian for some time prior to moving to Europe, having neve been super keen on the taste of meat to begin with, but resumed the occasional consumption of poultry, because meat, or animal parts in paste form, seemed to be in everything and after a while it just seemed easier to learn the words for chicken, “kylling”, and turkey, “kalkun”, and ask for that. Sure I could buy the obvious vegetables at the store, but it took quite some time before I could understand much ingredients, and with constant walking/biking, I was whittling, and weakening fast. So included they were, but not anymore. The occasional fish is fine though, providing it has fins, isn’t named “cat”, and wasn’t raised on a farm.
How’s it going so far? Well I nearly passed out in the last week underground, from a combination of skipping breakfast–actually I had two cookies– and not having enough iron, which was my issue the first round– but I’ve adjusted my diet and picked up some iron supplements so all’s (vegetarian) gravy now.
j
Last night, my evening comprised of three of my favorite things: Philippe Jarroussky, Baroque classical, and chamber music. Yes Philippe J returned to Berlin to perform pieces from his latest album Farinelli: Porpora Arias.
I’d found out about the show only three days prior, and purely by coincidence. It was Saturday evening, I’d just left the flat of a friend who’d spoiled with a Jamaican patty straight from the island. Interestingly, homegirl’s a diplomat for the nation and current acting Ambassador until the new one arrives. Given her ties and connection, she often has tasty goods from native lands I sometimes get to gorge on. Another enjoyment includes riding in her car and conjuring up naughty ways to test the diplomatic immunity granted by her licensee plate. So far I haven’t acted upon any of them.
Anyhow, she and another friend decided to catch a movie, but I bowed out. Unlike most of my Berlin peers, I was en route home just after 7 o’clock. And while I was standing next to the metro doors, they opened at a stop I can no longer remember, and there he was. In poster form of course, with October 8th printed in bold. I wouldn’t have seen it otherwise, and ultimately wouldn’t have known.
Given that it was late in the game, the pickings were slim. But that mostly meant the cheap tickets were gone. This also meant that I’d have a better seat, and unlike last time, I totally did: right wing, second level. Though naturally I enjoy the slower arias, the performance was overall divine. Word is he’ll be returning to Northwestern Germany early next year and will be sining from Stabat Mater–my favorite opera album to date– and I’m already on it. Lemieux and Spinosi won’t be with him (a real pity) but I have no doubt it’ll be great. When it comes to contre tenors, in my very humbled opinion, no one comes close.
My favorite of the evening was Polifemo: Alto Giove. It’s below at the 1:10:14 mark Do take a listen. It’s absolutely lovely.
I reunited with the guys to ring in the new year. It was a mostly chill time, and I had a blast. How very far away it all seems now.. Per usual, the guys got their kicks teasing me. The German, very much like my brother, especially enjoyed pushing me down with one hand whenever the opportunity presented itself. He finds my short stature (at 5ft.7) and comparative weakness especially hilarious. The Finn is more amused by my frequents flubs. On several occasions I caught him watching me and erupting into chuckle. In one particular incident, I was perched on by bed chomping of a snack when I missed my mouth and lost it in my sheets. I can’t remember exactly what it was, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was chocolate which then melted, making a mess. Out of the corner my eye, I see the Finn’s head turn towards the German, not doubt to see if he saw the episode. “You’re only looking over there to see if he saw so you could both laugh at me.” I said to him, calling him out. This only made him laugh harder, and would be the first of many laughs at my expense. I won’t even get into the hell they gave me for wanting to see the ferris wheel they didn’t believe existed. (For the record, it does!) But unlike the August trip to Berlin, this time I had backup.
Of all the photos taken during the trip, these two are by far my favorite. For NYE 2012, I reunited with the German (center) and the Finn (right) in Deutschland’s second largest city. In between my two holiday trips, I had a 24-hour intermission in back in Copenhagen. It was by far the most depressing day I’ve had here in CPH to date. The city was completely vacant of familiar faces and the friends I hold dear. Sure I know a few Danes, but their ties to the city and country are rooted deeply and branch wide, the holidays isn’t a time for focusing on foreign friends, not that I sought out any to play with. This led to an emptiness which was both surprising and overwhelming.
Joyous Abroad 