Sis's profileSisPhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
SisAlways look on the bright side of life...
|
Public folders
August 26 Blogging :)Hello dear blog readers and blog freaks!
I guess I am blog addicted.
Because I am blogging since March 2006.
Because I like, love, adore reading blogs :)
So, I almost promised that I might change my blog...
And I definately decided to do so, when one day I opened my blog and saw this: (as long as I know MySpace, the picture I uploaded will not show where I want it to be, so please check at the end ;)
Aha, my blog. On the first look - nothing different. Wrong! Somehow I was recognized as Bulgarian and my blog is on Bulgarian now. Not that I am not a proud Bulgarian or something, though Bulgarians can understand me - I do not know how to work with this stuff any more...
And as addition, MySpace keeps too much in the oldies as it doesn´t support many features...
So: It´s maze time and time to move :)
New-old beginning, new-old blog :)
Welcome back on stage:
Hope to see you there :)
Thank you!...to my Bulgarian friends....
Thank you…
I wanted to write this blog much earlier, but did not take the time for it…
I spent 10 months in Switzerland. Before I left for Switzerland, I spent 3 other months in Germany. So, it´s more than a year now since I was permanent away from Bulgaria. Still hard to believe that it was so long time… A lot changed with me, in me, around me, far away from me in these months. And I feel so blessed that some did not change: friends. It went beyond my expectations. I did not expect that I will be able to keep and stable friendships 2000km away. Furthermore, I was not sure which people will be able to keep these friendships as well. Thanking people for being next to me throughout this time, for their support, love, caring, for sharing, discussing, sleeping less and missing each other will be too nothing. Guys, you know that you changed me a lot. That you taught me that people can rely on each other and care for each other, no matter that they haven´t seen each other for months. I hope that I was able to give you the same in return, at least as half as good as you did.
I guess I will not be able to list every Bulgarian friend/relatives/acquaintance I had contact in the last one year, thanks to my laptop, msn, skype, mails, icq…
I should start with my family – mum, daddy, my brother. The people who kept encouraging me, supporting me, giving great advices… Thank you, Blago – yes, I am starting the list with you, as in the meanwhile you got the person who knows me really well. The crazy one, who dared to visit me in both Germany and Switzerland (even to travel accidentally to Romania). Despite some arguments from time to time, you kept always such an unbelievable, true and crazy friend. Thank you, my dear Toni – live abroad for one year changed us both a lot. Most amazing – I feel like nothing has changed between us. Thank you for our Sunday’s tea chats, the craziness, spontaneity… happy that we both are back and for sure we have a lot to discover about each other again ;) Looking forward to it J To Ivo – so thankful for having you as a person, who I can call friend! Thank you for the chats, provocations, online laugh, your unbelievable support, calmness and sharing, sharing, all the hard moments we went somehow through together (or I got this feeling)… Happy to meet you soon for more than a café break ;) To Mira – for being always there! For your patience, friendship, smile and keeping going on and growing up! I am so happy for you now and I know that I will give all my best so that you feel the same – through your live journey in Germany J To Maya – for the sleepless nights, advices, jokes, everything… Looking soo much forward to meeting you in few days J To Nevena – my unbelievable, party and soul mate forever! To Ivan, Slavena – for the support, time around in Switzerland, all the nice time together and chats that made me think… To Bosho, Ivan, Deni, Rado, Eli, Tsveti, Lenny, Emo, Steli, Didi, Milena, Mitko, Tsvete, Rosen, HRisto, Ani, Jani, Ivo, Iva, Iliya, Nasko, Kircho, Ivan, Vesko, Nasko, Ira, Ted, Valio, Tina, Misho, Pav...
THANK YOU! Stay tune for more personally :P ---> or just click here: http://sis.nomadlife.org ;) August 14 UpdateUpdate....
I was thinking that it should be time for some update now. Absolutely not in the mood for blogging, though it may help to take me out of my "not-interested-in-anything" mood...
5 days since I came back home, in Bulgaria. Of course, I am happy. No, I am not leaving again, I am staying here. Yes, I still have to study. No, Milka is not a Swiss chocolate. Well, what to tell you about Switzerland - "explain me everythig" is not a question... That how my first days were... Feeling like an attraction...
So, I am home now. Adaptation though seems to be harder than I thought. Damn, I was one year away...
No, people do not greet each other on the elevetor, even when they know each other. Nooo, you shouldn't cross the street on the zebra - let the cars pass by first!
I still keep my smile on the face. Thinking about many things:
1. you always imagine home the best possbile way: the golden, warm sand under you feet, hearing the birds, swimming in the water, sunset over the stones... what you missed on this picture: the crowded beach, huge amount of garbage on the road to the beach and for g.. sake, why these grandmas do not put their swimming wear on..discusting...
2. you start feeling a bit uncomfortable when you think that the people around you shout to each other- although they keep explaining you that thet are just talking (they are talking indeed, just a bit louder than you are used to...)
3. the only place when I am able to eat only shopska salad (tomatos, cucumber, paprika, onioin and a loot of tasty white cheese - called "feta" in the western world), watermelon and banitsa over 3 days and to feel so happy with it :)
4. still gettig more sms on my swiss number than on my bulgarian one
I love this country. I am born here, I speak its language, knows its tradtions, culture, mantality... it is just still taking time till I feel really me back and happy because I am back.
Thanks for your patience.
Taking few days off - with friends with similar destiny, going southern, to some beloved palces (or these were at least, 1 year ago..).
Take care ;)
P.S. After surfing today I landed on the offcial website of my university (UNWE). They've just created a link called " Jobs at UNWE" - I was quite surprise to see it and opened it, of course. Guess what: there were few job offers. The first two: looking fora gardener; looking for a mechanic... cool, the best economic university in Bulgaria. Or why did I actually expect some career center? Brain-washed from Uni St.Gallen?
August 07 Last days...Time for update :)
Yes, I finally managed to pack up my stuff - you do not want to see the result, believe me... All I could say is: "Thank you, friends, for beeing such great to drive me/pick me up!".
So, I am sitting right now in my competely empty room (I mean, no books, gadgets etc. all around) - just me, my luggage and waiting for the housekeeper to come and control the flat.
Ok, the guy just came: about 50, with shorts (hää, strange for a swiss) and spent not more than 2 minutes to look around... Ok, and I spent 6hours today to clean around the whole huge flat... egal
So, yes... leaving tomorrow. You can ask me again how I feel in few weeks. So far - no difference.
In order not to spend my last days worring about the amount of luggage I have, I decided to make my last trip for this year.
Yes, the best choice ever - I couldn´t even thought on such a nice Bye from Switzerland..
I went to Luzern and spent an amazing day on my own: walking around, a bit shopping, drinking a relaxed hot chocolate at Starbucks on the lakeside. I was sightseeing as well: the famous "Dying lion" and visited one from the most fantastic, craziest places I have ever been in Switzerland: The Gletschergarten (if you decide to click on the link, check the "The journey of Discovery" to find the amazing history of this place over the last 20 million years).
It´s amazing to see evidences that on the place of beatiful Luzern, there was tropical beach and palms 20 mio years ago, huge glaciers 20000 years ago and to compare this all with the reality in 2007. Mind-blowing!
No better way to finish my stay here. Yes, I am in love with Switzerland. Just unique country and way of life. I have never found such spirit and life in other European countries. I know I will be back for a while again... some day...
August 05 Saying good-bye*I was not prepared for the moment when I noticed that it is at about to come. Time to leave Switzerland. To pack up all my stuff, to see some beloved faces, to close my account etc...
The first huge bye was when Tim left for Argentina, 2 weeks ago. Marc and I faced that our cozy and nice WG is about to be over. We lived about 10 months together - sharing the same flat, cooking and eating together from time to time. Everyone has seen the others after hard party night, in a bad mood, sick, whatever.
I was not ready.
I went to the Swiss MC transition party and took bye with many people...
Afterwards Oana left for Romania, Mario for Germany... Lana left for Russia.
One week ago Baha and Alex left for Usbekistan.
All of the people who I spent plenty a lot of time with within these 10 months...
Marc left as well.
My time is running out as well. 3 more full days.
I did not want to accept it somehow. I just did not want to see people in order to separate from them... It took me few days to get control over myself. To be taugh and take the challenge to see many people before I leave.
Although I have always the good feeling that I am going to see these people again, it is still hard. And of course, it will never be the same. Though who can predict whether it will be better or worse? Why when people continue to repeat that "well, you know, it will never be the same" always put so much tragic into these words?
Yesterday was my last working day.
I felt even the previous day that it will be tough. I mean - I spent soo much time with my colleagues within the last 5 months and we went through so much...
I got up at 5 o´clock. Wanted to get up early and wasn´t able to sleep more. I was just lying and thinking about the day... Trying to give myself a huge doze of power to survive it. I lied and thought about all the great moments in the last months. How much everything changed me. How I grew up.
One great stage of my life is at its end. Unique time. I am so pleased, thankful and happy to have had the possibility to live THIS one year on THIS way, with THESE people. And I decided: I should be happy because of all that happend and not sad because it will not continue the same way.
I managed to keep calm during the whole day, although there were few tough moments that I could hardly keep my tears... I enjoyed the day, every single second of it. I wrote a group mail to about 90 people to say bye (I couldn´t believe that I really knew so many people after just 5 months in the company) and got many heart-warming responses. I got an unforgettable and touching BYE from my team...
Maybe I still don´t realize what is going on. Or maybe it´s just the way I take it - I want to see all those people again. And I know that I will meet some of them, somewhere else, again. I know I am not going to see them all again. But it can not stop me believing that it is possible - you know, the truth is out there ;)
Two more tough byes today - I travelled the whole way to Locarno to spend few hours with Anja and Masha. We had to say bye. Well, I managed it better than them both :P Too well trained in the meanwhile...
Out of order for today... trying to get some sleep and finally finih with this packing...
* this will not be the last blog on this subject. I hope you do not mind - at the end, it is a blog about me (ouch, I am such a narcissus)...
August 01 01.08.07Today is the Swiss National day. Congratulations, dear Swiss people - you´ve created really unique country, spirit, cultures, traditions...
Well, I dedicated this day to me...
First day for some time, when I am allowed to sleep late on a working day. Dealing with some blood presure problems (oops, my body remained me that I have to take more care of me and my health, eat more vitamins...). Ate my beloved muesli breakfast on the terasse...mmm. Checked mails, wondered how many people are only in the morning. Chatted a bit. Sat around and done nothing. Yes, I am unproductive in the morning.
I decided to start packing a bit. Separating some stuff in "going to take", "hm, should I take this" and "ok, I can throw this". Quite nice feeling - despite of the mess in my room now, a small part of my huuuge wardrobe is a bit empty. I managed to pack all my books, gadgets, @ stuff...
Need to start with the cloths. Gosh, how did I manage to have soo much stuff around, gathered in just 10 months?! The "going to take" and "I can trow this" hills have almost the same height.
Last night, I had some really nice chats. Not only because of the content, but because of the great feeling to arrange some time with beloved people... in a week :) I still can not believe it. More than an year since I am away - for longer time. And soon I will hug my family, friends, random people - and I don´t mean by sending some (hug) on skype, but being really with them!!! And knowing that it´s not going to be the first and last time in the next few months...Only the thought makes me smile now!
I still don´t feel in reflecting mood. Want to do some reflection, but still no clue why I don´t feel like this now. Hmm, seems that I need a mentor... I´ll be happy to finally have one :) Although I have some great mentors among my friends, though still not in the way I want it...
Thinking about how to spend my last 6 days in Switzerland. Do not want to take good-byes. Don´t feel able for such moments and overwhelming feelings. Though there are few people that I´ll for sure meet. Unfortunately, only in St.Gallen, as I don´t have the time to travel around CH now. So, guys, time to pass by in St.Gallen!
My traineeship(I just needed to write this blog. The idea is stuck for weeks in my mind now.)
When I got my traineeship, I remember writting in my blog that "getting this traineeship seems like a dream come true".
Well, I have just 2 days until I finish my traineeship in AXA Winterthur.
My traineeship was REALLY a dream. A dream which I lived, loved, developed. Sometimes unbelievable and uncomparable. Sometimes challenging and stressed. Sometimes unclear and complex. Though this was my dream traineeship.
What was it actually?
I worked in the headquarter (one of the buildings) in the biggest all nsurance company in Switzerland, acquised by the second biggest finance assistance concern on the globe - AXA. I had the amazing chance to work in the quickliest developing, growing and strategic department of the company - Distribution and Marketing, in the Head Sales Department. If you dig more into the company structure, you´ll find me in the Projects & Systems department in the project office management structure of the second biggest project of the company.
I had variety, responsibilities, duty to keep strategic secrets, changing colleagues and structure, change from Winterthur Versicherungen into AXA Winterthur. I was responsible for the planning, controlling, tracking, quality management of reports on the project, communication, data collection, cost centre admiistration, different other tasks...
I have learned:
I still haven´t learnt:
I had an incredible experience. So enriching, colourful, funny... MY DEAR COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS UNIQUE TIME!!! To Marcel - for being such great boss and role-model. Yes, you really are. And I learnt so much from you!! You were the person who always supported me, had wonderful attitude towards our whole team. Amazing individual, amazing team player, so skilled and so on-earth! To Michael - for taking the time to explain me many complex tasks, for being so friendly and speaking on high German because of me in front of 100 other people To Gerd - for everything we developed together! I am so proud of our work! We went through so many challenges, problems, never ending learning by doing, discussions... Thank you! To Marco - for keeping calm and "always looking on the bright side of life" no matter what happened and against all the obstacles we face in the project day by day To Raphi - for the jokes, your IT-help, nice chats - I know we´ll meet soon again ;) To Nina, Jan, Andi, Tobias, Toni, Lorenzo, Peter, Nicolas, Reto, Claudine, Francy - for being sooo great office colleagues during these months, constant lunch company, for the crazy fridays and AWBs (no matter whether scheduled or not) To Olaf, Gisela, Sandra, Pascale, Phillip, Jacky, Claudia, Markus, Thomas, Roli, Daniel, Anika, Silvia, Roger, René, Daniela, Tom, Ivana, David, Pino, Thomas B., Luzia, Peter B., Regula - for being always so helpful, positive, open. Thank you for the nice common work :) To my dear P. team - Gerd, Marco, Raphi, Michael, Markus, Stefan, Barbara, Corinne, Nina, Adi, Jöri, Carsten, Bea, Axel, Britta, Michael and all the other over 70 members of the team - for the wonderful time and work together, for the challenges, the happiness, the support, the arguiments from time to time ;) I know that you have and will do great job!!! I am glad I had worked for and with you! To GA Bülach - especially to Barbara and Michi for the amazing day, knowledge transfer, attention... everything in life has its reason to happen, right ;) So, guys... time to say bye soon. I have the feeling that I´ll meet some of you again soon :) Which brings a smile to my face. I hope it´s a right feeling. Thank you for making this dream true!!! Thank you for being part of my Swiss family in the last 5 months! Thank you...
July 31 7 daysI still can not believe it...
I am leaving Switzerland in 7 days for... now.
There are so many thought running through my head. And so chaotic, so extremely different and similar at the same time.
I catch myself dreaming of home.
I find myself "absorbing" everything around - the interesting structure of Marktplatz in St.Gallen, the air after rain, early in the morning in Winterthur, the voice of the lady on the train saying me twice a day where am I actually travelling to...
I feel more and more depressed by saying so many byes.
And I don´t know how to handle it with the amount of people I got to know in these 10 months.
7 days left. Less or much?
Time to find out.
Time to pack up - not only my luggage, but my thoughts, beliefs, plans, ideas...
Hopefully some time for myself as well.
July 27 Българско в Швейцария.....български вкуснотии във фурната, Белослава пее в Уинампа, а в хладилника чака студена диня.....
....ммммм, блаженство :) Само моренцето, мама, тати, бати и бутилка "Бургаско" липсват... July 23 Three daysI should be sleeping for some time now...
But I still can not.
Just got back from after 3 unique days. With a company with people, in an atmosphere, which will never be the same.
It was our last weekend together - Mapow team and Mapowskis. If you want to know more about us and this uncredible project: click HERE (sorry, on German...).
These were three warm, sunny, happy, smiling, funny days, full of talks, laugh, sharing, swimming, travelling on a boat, Italian all around...
Three days of tasty food, travelling, eating together, shopping (with Branka and Anja)
Three days which made me fall in love more and more in Russia and Ukraine, discovering my unexpected skills in Russian... (yes, Lana, I will be trying to read your journal ;))
Three days of thinking, emotions, pure memories, shared lives...
Three days of trying not to think that this story will be over soon...
And I just couldn´t get enough...
Still don´t know how to feel...
Still not able to say bye to those amazing people, who brought so much into my life...
HERE are some pictures from these three days.
Guys, I hope you´ll upload yours soon as well ;)
Can´t wait to see you and have a cozy dinner at my place together... hopefully not for the last time...
Love you... soo much!!
July 19 Rejection, changes - something more this week?It´s a strange week at work. Tough one. From the very seldom ones which makes me understand why I liked this changing company.
Yes, we are changing a lot now. Not only in meaning of growth, name, goals, stategies, but people as well. Everyone knows that fluctoation in companies in change is bigger than normal. For me, since the very first beginning, psychology of people was very interesting and how do people react on changes. And what better place to see it than in A. W.
The question is how to deal when at some point all the changes just overhelm you. You feel like not being able to breath any more. Sticky air in the offices. And not because it´s hot.
So, yesterday was a tough day. And today it was even tougher. At least for me.
After yesterday´s problems I started the day with a huge smile and willigness. Morning mails response, communication within the project, meeting arangements, continuing induction of J. as my sucessor.
And than I got a mail from my HR: ..."problems... working permit... rejection... last working day on 3th of August... otherwise fines".
I was supposed to work till the 10th of August. Now you say - so what - you got one week less work and you complain about it?
I was shocked and totally down.
Not only because it was unexpected. But because exactly in this last week my project, or the phase I was working on, is ending.
If you have ever worked on a project, you´ll understand me.
If you have ever worked on a project and managed to coordinate, co-plan and doing controlling on a project with over 70 people (some twice older than you, or even trice), with a budget which will be enough to live happy in Bulgaria for at least 6-8 years, you will understand me.
If you have ever felt huge responsibility and unbelievable trust and recognition, you will understand me.
But I still can not handle with it.
After 5 months of intensive work, so much learning by doing, so much progress and so amazing, challenging, unbelievable experience I am not allow to see the result and most paintful, I am not allowed to fulfil my work and happily leave the project, heading for the next huge phase (of it without me and me without Switzerland).
Tough day, I tell you. I spend about on hour with my boss, thinking how to change the situation and not being able to find any legal solution, meeting important colleagues and trying to bring the news positively, trying to keep calm... And after 2 resignations in our projects in the last 2 days, I kept the series going on...
I don´t blame the swiss institution for it.
It´s just ironic, right...
Leaving for Lugano on Friday - last days with MAPOW and MAPOWskis - time to say good bye to them as well.
I hate taking good byes.
Though that´s life, folks...
July 16 Life nowLife is strange sometimes - ups and downs, ups, ups and then again downs... I hope you have noticed it as well
Well, right now it seems to be more up than down. Yes, it is definately up :)
Exactly one month is left.
Don´t know how to feel. So I just keep trusting the process and enjoying everything on maximum.
Of course, I am happy to go back home. And soo excited what will happen with/in my life :)
The best part about Bulgaria right now is that the first people I will see and join for a beer will be people who I loove.
Thank you, my dear Blago, Steli, Aga, Ivo (and hopefully Milenski) for welcoming so warm the idea! You can not imagine how much it means to me!
And yes, I will miss Switzerland. My friends here, my friends leaving far away after our project ends, this unique piece of land...
As we arranged it with Lena, we met on the Weihern again today - to swim at the evening.
I was climbing up (this time from another, easier, but longer way), looking at all the joggers, bikers, nordic walkers around. Just smiling at the amazing view from the hill, over whole St.Gallen till Bodensee. Thinking about why we Bulgarians are mostly soo lazy. Why do we prefer to spend the whole evening in front of the tv, watching "black statistics" called news instead of just going out, walking, talking... Enjoying life!
So, I found Lena and we went swimming. Gosh, it was colder than yesterday, but so fine, calming....mmm
We decided to move on under the sun (if there was still such one at 7 o´clock...). So, we were lying on a hill, maybe just as cliff as Pirin mountain. We cannot stop laughing when feeling like sliding down :)
We made us some kind of a picknick - with pasta salad and fruit cake - jammii :) And just lying there, under huge, old trees, looking at the blue sky and thinking about nothing... I love such moments
On the road back home... I was feeling the last sun rays on my face, absorbing the surroundings, the old houses, the patience, smiling at the huge red tree in front of our house... I guess I will be back here some day... who knows ;) At least for visiting friends :)
1 month time to enjoy it more and more... This weekend´s highlightsIt was an amazing weekend. Again :)
Saturday
Waking up early again. It´s getting some habit already - even on weekends to wake up by the alarm clock...at least 7 o´clock this time.
Running to the bus stop again and feeling released for catching again the right bus, going to the station, on time for the train (means not less than 2 minutes before leaving).
So, heading to Bern and afterwards Thun. The idea was to take afterwards a boat on the lake till Interlaken to watch the planes´race.
Here is the place to say that I LOVE my hikemate Anja - not only for always having train timetables, but for being always ready to go and explorer Switzerland together.
We met on the road to Bern and discussed a bit the plan. Got out in Thun, checked the tourist info desk (to get a map and some ideas) and went through the city. To our surprise - exactly now, there was the International festival for mechanical music instruments (no clue how to translate it). I don´t remember to have ever seen soo many laterns, electronic laterns etc. on one place. The city was loud, alive and soo nice :) Some pictures HERE
We took a boat, but decided just to hike around - it was expected th most of the trains will be belated because of the air show and we didn´t want to leave too late.
So, to keep it short:
- looking on the fabilous Mönch (4099m), Jungfrau (4158m) and Eiger (3970m) from a bit away, in this sunny day was more than wonderful
- walking through the wood, talking, laughing
- comparing Bulgarian and Ukrainian: Zajo Bajo and Zaets Bajun
- the first time in my life running to catch... a boat
-mmm, and those mozarella sandwitches...
Because of the wonderful weather, I decided to spend the next day different - some relaxx in SG
After all - I found out that I travelled more than 15000 km in the last 7.5 months (no flights counting)...
Sunday
Sleeping till nine was a good beginning. Home alone - not bad usually, but not now - knowing that almost everyone left away...
The sun is shining, so the plan seems to get in action soon - die drei Weihern
After looking luckiless for some company, I just got my bag, a tower, my daily book for the next week (Microsoft Porject, about 700p. of software explanations...), something to drink, eat, sun cream and went up.
I love this place. The only thing I dislike and the thing that needs special motivation - the way up there.
So, if you had climbed Shipka already, you can understand me... O, the stairs are not that much, but you don´t climb Shipka in flip-flops and just to go swimming.
Yeees!! Swimminnngg!!
The first thing I done when I was on the Weihern. The water was quite "fresh", but I handle it. I can not discribe my joy - to be swimming again! And not in a pool!
This is my first summer in life when I lived for so long in the summer without swimming outdoors. So, I swam through the bigger lake and back, relaxed, catched some sunshine, swam again... After 2 hours, I just noticed a friend and went swimming together.
At the end, Lena came (finally :P) and we... went swimming again. It was already 5 o´clock, but it was soo nice :))
So, after 5 hours on the lakes for me, some nice chats with Lena and the promise to go swimming together tomorrow, I came home.
Soo happy :)
And soo tired!! I overestimate myself with so much swimming without training.
Finally summer in Switzerland - we´ll see how long it will last ;)
So far it means time to enjoy the warmness and get in form again :))
July 10 Ma tour de SuisseYes, it is coming!! 11-17.08.2007
Targets: still to be defined
Company: still looking for
Hosts: still looking for - all around Switzerland :)
Not that I have stopped travelling around. I really looove this country, its nature, culture, differences..... mmmm
I have already some places in my mind, still looking for more.
I discovered something funny yesterday: I was searching for the "hundered must-see in Switzerland" (as every country has such list) and the only stuff I found online was: the TWO hundered must-see in Switzerland". According to my flatmate´s interpretation: "Well, Switzerland is so small that it has only 200 must-sees. But people didn´t realized that they have to choose only 100 from them and put everything on the list... or maybe the referendum failed" (*no to be misunderstood: my flatmate is Swiss).
If you want to get some insights (and get a bit jelous of me :P): check http://www.myswitzerland.com/de.cfm/reisen/rundreisen
So, weekend´s target (after some discussions with my hiking mate Anja):
- Interlaken - some aviation show, according to the other hiking mate, Baha
- Chateau de Gruyeres (no french keyboard to write it down, due to my perfect french skills) - http://www.chateau-gruyeres.ch
Soo wanting to travel at least once with this one: http://goldenpass.ch/GPL/produits/gppBRU1.asp
Ok, stop dreaming.....
Trying to start packing a bit - so that I can spend as much time as possible on the road after I finish my traineeship.
All of you: still have 5 weeks left to visit me ;)
Montreux :)Yes! I was there!
I quess one from the first times when I heart about the festival was when I was trying to learn "Smoke on the water" on the guitar (of course, I never suceed in it). So, 7 years later I step out of the train in Montreux.
Amazing - not only because of the wonderful, sunny weather (when I am writting this blog, in´s about to start raining again in St.Gallen, and it even snowed today - in the mountains, above 1400m.) and not only because of the Geneva lake. Nice city with atmosphere :)
Anja, Baha and me went on the early saturday morning, Oana and Marcello joined us at the afternoon. The festival was just "waking up" - As it was the second day (out of 2 weeks). We didn´t have tickets, but we wanted to see some of the open sky concerts and they looked quite promising. We went for a walk around, wondering why there are so many indian, brazilian, turkish stands all around.
But you definately get the feeling that you´re on a place with festival traditions - you can feel it from everywhere - music notes on the We made a bunch of fotos(too lazy to upload them, sorry), enjoyed lunch on the water (+one melted chocolate) and headed back to the stage.
We sat on the huge lawn, in front of the stage.
The first group: student jazz & gospel choir from Southampton, UK. They brought so much spirit with their songs: I just love watching people who live and love what they do. Just sitting there, on the fresh green grass, feeling the sunshine, dressed in my 41th Montreux Jazz Festival t-shirt for 10 year old children (don´t ask...) and flying around with the music.
One hour break to the next concert - time to walk in the other direction, to enjoy the mixture of palms, the Alps with some snow on the tops, and the lake....
Second one: some "heavy" jazz from the US, brought by some university orchestra. Nice as well, but meeting the others and some chatting made it nicier :P
As the place was getting more and more crowded, and the less sleep after Züri Fäscht (the night before) had its effect, I decided to cherish the great time and leave back home :)
So, conclusion for the weekend: More and more travelling through Switzerland in the next, last 5 weeks!! Especially to the south, when the sun is shining and the land is dry ;) July 09 Next onesOk, I just noticed that I forgot the best blog party yesterday.
So, updates soon about:
- Montreux Jazz Festival
- LeavingS
- Ma tour de Suisse July 08 Muddy fairy-tale?!I was on the 41th Montreux Jazz Festival yesterday. Because I was suposed to catch the last, normal scheduled train to St.Gallen, I left earlier.
I took the train to Lausanne and from there the IC to Zurich. I was sitting in the train, enjoying the view through the window and thinking how much I actually like this country. The train was partly empty. Or till we reached Fribourg. Stop after stop the waggon was getting fuller and fuller - mostly with teenies going to Züri Fäscht. Züri Fäscht should one from the most beloved fests in Switzerland, as it gathers over 2 Million people in 2,5 days. I was there on Friday as well - catching the time when it wasn´t still that crowded, watched the feuerwehr and travelled away with Anja to Pieterlen (nier Biel/Bienne).
So - back on the train story... Train full of young people, everyone has at least one bottle/dose in the hand, everyone drinks, shouts, etc... Totally typical train atmosphere during weekends... And this is the point to say that I strongly disagree that you can see something like this in Bulgaria - neither on the trains/buses, nor on the streets...
Everything was partly ok, till I notice that a guy across my seat, on the other row, prepared his thin line of cocain and snuffed it in his nose!! I couldn´t believe what I just saw!! But mostly, I couldn´t believe that evyone noticed it and just looked on the other side. Not a single reaction. You think it´s normal, dear Swiss inhabitants? During the following 1.5h this 16-18 years old guy managed to drink 3 beers, half bottle of vodka red bull, loudly went to smoke in the train toilet (yes, it is prohibited in Switzerland as well) and managed to snuff 2 more lines. And during these 1.5h at least 10 more people joined and left the seats around. And yes - there was not a single reaction!!!
I was shocked. No, shocked is too mild explanation of how I felt. So many thoughts run through my head.
1. Why does an 16 years old, trendy dressed and good-looking guy take cocain in public place? What kind of problems can such a person have to want to solve them with drugs?
2. Why people do not react on such act?
3. Where is the Swiss society feeling and (re)action?
So, ok, you might ask yourself why didn´t I (re)act?
Well, partly wrong question. If you really know me, you should know that I react in such situations. The same when I gave first aid to a lady in my company a week ago: she just collapsed during lunch-time in the cantine and all the people were just sitting on their tables, watching... No, I don´t feel like a hero, I just think that I am a person who cares.
After I felt almost sick by watching this guy, I decided to do something. The only reasonable idea I thought of was to get off the train in Zurich (last station), stop the first policeman I see (or security, or whatever common person) and make him accomplish his duty.
And do you know what happened?
I stepped out off the train on the over-crowded Zurich main station, looked around and noticed only 1 security guy. When I walked nearby, I noticed that the guy was giving fist aid to a man who was lying lifeless on ground... His drunk friends around him, looking a bit stressed of the situation. I looked around and I couldn´t see not a single other guard... I watched my drugged guy walking away, streight to the 2 million-party...
I couldn´t do anything. And why for G.. sake should I do something when the community doesn´t? When the community even tolerate such behaviour?
Here is my hypothesis:
Switzerland in the summer: openairs, festivals, fests all around!! There are more then 100 huge events all around the country during the summer this year (check HERE for details). My small statistics: let´s assume that at least 0.2% end after Züri Fäscht in the hospital or get professional first aid.
0.2% x 2000000 = 4000
And at least 5% will be totally drunk at the end:
5% x 2000000 = 100 000.
Ok, now multiply it by 100 events.....
I know that this statistics is wrong. But just think about the dimension...
And why are there so many festivals within a country, 3 times smaller than Bulgaria? Yes, it is for sure cool to have Placebo, Wir sind Helden, Foreigner, The Chemical Brothers and etc. playing around... But is it normal to tolerate such uncouncious booze of a nation?
... I was leaving to St.Gallen, happy that these time there were only older people on the train... Looking through the window - Saturday Feuerwehr over Zurich and another thousands of drunk people through the streets...
Should I go to Montreux Festival next weekend again? And stay for the whole day and after party?
No, I am not taking part this time...
And this incident definately took away from my head the idea to be a helper at some festival in Switzerland.
July 01 30 June & July morning IIWell...I guess I have to finish the story from yesterday...
July morning - that wasn´t the reason of the party last night, Though some similarities: near water, fires and maany people arond, drinking, having fun. I woke up at the same time (and even later) after a typical July morning. I didn´t really see the sunrise, just a bit of it when I woke up in the train back to St.Gallen.
Thanks for the nice time guys - especially J. for eating Gipfeli and dancing on the Zurich airport at 5.30 a.m. this morning :P June 30 30th June & July morningSaturday morning.... Of course, because of my permanent waking hour (6.20 a.m.) I couldn´t sleep so long. And of course, in spite of it, I was waking up and sleeping again. And I dreamt so much!!
My brother and I woke up finally at about quarter to 8, had some chocolat breakfast, he packed and left for Italy. He left.
And I stayed.
Typical saturday morning, when there are no early travelling plans: I took a shower, took my time to read some mails. Took some time to pass by some friends´blogs and discovered new bloggers. It always make me smile when I see other people blogging.
Today is 30th of June. Another month passed. Some new experience, new places, new discoveries...
In 2 hours Slavena, Jasper and me are leaving for the transition party of Aiesec in Switzerland...
I guess this will be a nice time to say bye to many people. Unfortunately, many of the people I wanted to see are not attending. Well, I guess I´ll be able to see them during my Tour de Suisse - yes, I´ve started planning my last week in Switzerland. Still looking for more explorers to join me between 11-17.08.07.
30th of June - Mira is heading for July morning.... Mmmmm
I remember those times... my first July was back in... 2000. When my mum didn´t kow that I was there and saw me the next day on tv (I still can not forgive Skat for having me somewhere there on the background :P) It was just amazing. Maybe one of the last really amazing July mornings´in Bourgas. For those who remember it, will definately agree with me. For the newer generation (hehe..) - July morning on the Eva´s beach in Bourgas was the place to meet some people - people who you meet there only on this day, only here. I wasn´t introduced to skype and msn at that time. It was time to sit around the fire, sing and drink together. Spend the whole night like this and be excited about the morning. About the sunrise.
The one and only... And the ultimate feeling of everyone singing July Morning by Uriah Heep and most of the people getting into the sea. Just amazing. Comparable with some new year eve´s excitement.
2001 - Bourgas again, greaaat time together!!!
2002 - as long as I remember, it was raining at the evening and we spent most of the night under the bridge (not by Red hot :P), but was quite nice as well.
2003 - hmmm....remind me? Oh, yes - I was in Germany, Coburg and as long as I remember I tried to see the sun throught the badroom window... Afterwards, my bro called and made me cry by playing July morning on the phone...
2004 - I was now searching the net for some more info for you about July morning. And I crushed on this blog. Just unbelievable! Not only that this is a blog of a really, really old friend, but this is a blog about our July morning together!!! #Metal re-unioned, yey!! hahaha...
And I feel a bit proud as well - Ivan and me invented the Samba bar ultimate July party (well, I try not to say that it was just me): at this summer, that was the only possibility for us to selebrate the day together - he, on his DJ pult, and me, together with so maaany people I know randomly on the beach with him. There are still some crazy pictures on the net (I´m not telling you where :P).
2005 - I overslept it. Yes... I was on Fehmarn, with its white nights. Although I woke up at 4 a.m. and went out, the sun was already there. It doesn´t matter - I called Ivan and Zu to check how the spirit in Bourgas is.
2006 - I decided to stop welcoming the July morning sunrise... I mean, one more time on Fehmarn, I didn´t know which time the sun rises. Surprisingly, I was called by Zu at this morning (or was it at the evening) with the question on which beach in Bourgas am I now... :) :) ....
2007 - my dad asked me last night where am I going to be on July morning. Well, on party in Bern, I answered. No seaside to be on sunrise´s time. Mmm, no... but they have a river there, I answered.
So, guys, if I don´t manage it - please, I am looking for your posts from the event!
I miss you! I miss being there with you!!
|
|||||
|
|
