Sunday, December 03, 2006
Pfotos
I just put some new photos up on my photo page - http://glentyler.fotopages.com/. check it. (before you wreck it al).
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Send me post!
Yesterday I registered at the Burgerampt, so I'm now officially a resident in Steglitz (a bizirk/suburb of Berlin), so I thought it might be fiting to finally get around to posting my postal address...
Leydenalle 35
12167 Berlin
Watching a home renovations show at the moment, and they just threw out a perfectly good sofa, because the colour didn't fit the room (as in broke it up and then threw it in the dumpster). That sucks because I need a sofa, and it sucks because now some factory in china is going to have to make a new one filled with more chemicals (we hates them). It is quite amazing how nearly every home's furniture is made by Ikea. Reckon they're the McDonalds of furniture. They are swedish however, so maybe they've got some awesome environmental standards going on. And I bought a beanie from sweden and it's super warm. Nice.
Okay, I've gotta go and sort out some stuff before work. Have a good weekend and who knows, you may soon see me stocking up on Marmite in a Pick 'n Pay near you.
Oh, and will try and post some photos of my room later...
Leydenalle 35
12167 Berlin
Watching a home renovations show at the moment, and they just threw out a perfectly good sofa, because the colour didn't fit the room (as in broke it up and then threw it in the dumpster). That sucks because I need a sofa, and it sucks because now some factory in china is going to have to make a new one filled with more chemicals (we hates them). It is quite amazing how nearly every home's furniture is made by Ikea. Reckon they're the McDonalds of furniture. They are swedish however, so maybe they've got some awesome environmental standards going on. And I bought a beanie from sweden and it's super warm. Nice.
Okay, I've gotta go and sort out some stuff before work. Have a good weekend and who knows, you may soon see me stocking up on Marmite in a Pick 'n Pay near you.
Oh, and will try and post some photos of my room later...
Friday, November 24, 2006
Back to Cape Town...
Well, yes, I am indeed going back to Cape Town.
I have been offered an interview for a Chevening Scholarship, and unfortuanetly I can only have the interview in Cape Town, so after much deliberation I have decided to fly back for 5 days (!?!?). Very crazy I know, but gotta live life without regrets, and the course that I would study with the scholarship (Applied Environmental Economics) is something I'd really like to do, so as eminem says some opportunities comes once in a lifetime, yo.
Until then life carries on here, with working at the ice rink going well. Tomorrow I'm off to the second seminar of a series that Holle and I are attending on Psychoanalysis, Colonialism and Decolonization. The first was really interesting, and the reading for this one has also been good.
I have been offered an interview for a Chevening Scholarship, and unfortuanetly I can only have the interview in Cape Town, so after much deliberation I have decided to fly back for 5 days (!?!?). Very crazy I know, but gotta live life without regrets, and the course that I would study with the scholarship (Applied Environmental Economics) is something I'd really like to do, so as eminem says some opportunities comes once in a lifetime, yo.
Until then life carries on here, with working at the ice rink going well. Tomorrow I'm off to the second seminar of a series that Holle and I are attending on Psychoanalysis, Colonialism and Decolonization. The first was really interesting, and the reading for this one has also been good.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Something for your Sunday morning...
because sunday mornings are all about spreading love...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2689DultCE
if i was with you you'd definitely get one too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2689DultCE
if i was with you you'd definitely get one too!
Saturday, November 11, 2006
German sayings...
As my german rapidly expands (I fear somewhat like a helium baloon slowly floating upwards towards the sun...) I come across some things I like and some things I don't. So here's one of each:
I don't like "doch". There is no english word for doch (thank goodness), but it is basically used to tell someone they're wrong. So if I said there are no more trains to Berlin, but you knew or thought there were, you'd say Doch, there are (or just doch). Bit too abrupt for my english sensebilities.
I like "feierabend". Again there is no english word (that I know of), but it is basically the time after work. So the customers at the end of the day say "Schön Feierabend!" to the person serving them, and all the people who work together say "Ich habe jetzt feierabend" (I now have finished wrk time) once they're finished work and are refusing to do anything more their boss tells them.
I'm currently enjoying a Berliner Pilsner (fast becoming a firm favourite) and contemplating my moving into my new (super cool) room tomorrow after work.
I don't like "doch". There is no english word for doch (thank goodness), but it is basically used to tell someone they're wrong. So if I said there are no more trains to Berlin, but you knew or thought there were, you'd say Doch, there are (or just doch). Bit too abrupt for my english sensebilities.
I like "feierabend". Again there is no english word (that I know of), but it is basically the time after work. So the customers at the end of the day say "Schön Feierabend!" to the person serving them, and all the people who work together say "Ich habe jetzt feierabend" (I now have finished wrk time) once they're finished work and are refusing to do anything more their boss tells them.
I'm currently enjoying a Berliner Pilsner (fast becoming a firm favourite) and contemplating my moving into my new (super cool) room tomorrow after work.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
A place of my own..
Just a quickie (oh behave!) to say that I haven't heard from the flat people I was hoping to today... they are going to phone me tomorrow.
Monday, October 23, 2006
How Much Reality Can You Take?
An excellent article by George Monbiot on climate change that I think everyone should read...
http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2006/09/21/how-much-reality-can-you-take/#more-1015
I'm going to try and find a 2nd hand bike... pictures follow!
http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2006/09/21/how-much-reality-can-you-take/#more-1015
I'm going to try and find a 2nd hand bike... pictures follow!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Conferences and meeting
Been going to a couple of conferences and meetings for green things.
Went to a conference on "The G8 dead end energy agenda". Basically all the big NGO's getting together to formulate a response to the G8's energy policies. Nice networking. There was some idiot from the Chancellors office saying that they can't do anything because it's all politics and that'll upset everything 8like airline taxes). **insert strong language here** One lady said that we'll speak to him in 10 years time and hold him accountable and remind him of what he said. And kick his ass (okay I said that). Nice.
Also been to a couple of meetings on school gardens. Really cool to see the situation here. Lots of similar problems like vandalism and children not wanting to eat vegies from the garden because they're not "real" (shop bought) vegies... Interesting.
Went to a conference on "The G8 dead end energy agenda". Basically all the big NGO's getting together to formulate a response to the G8's energy policies. Nice networking. There was some idiot from the Chancellors office saying that they can't do anything because it's all politics and that'll upset everything 8like airline taxes). **insert strong language here** One lady said that we'll speak to him in 10 years time and hold him accountable and remind him of what he said. And kick his ass (okay I said that). Nice.
Also been to a couple of meetings on school gardens. Really cool to see the situation here. Lots of similar problems like vandalism and children not wanting to eat vegies from the garden because they're not "real" (shop bought) vegies... Interesting.
Skateboarding
Berlin rocks for skateboarding. Lots of smooth pavements - very cool. So as much as possible I skateboard around and once I learn how to jump pavements I'll be virtually unstopable (excpet by a bus). My new sweatshop produced shoes are also great for skateboarding.... hmm, still haven't gotten over that one...
First day on the job...
Well, the first day was a bit. Boring, but the people are really cool (until they realize I actually have no idea what they are saying) saying yes all the time can only get you so far.
So the idea isn't to become a pro ice rink manager, but learn some German and pay the rent. Nice.
So the idea isn't to become a pro ice rink manager, but learn some German and pay the rent. Nice.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
New job, new blog
YAY! I got a job! I am now an official ice-skate sharpener and ice-skate renter. Okay, so it's not international director of Greenpeace, but i'm getting there :-)
It's in a really nice place and the people seem cool. It is a bit worrying that they hired me even though I didn't have a clue what they were saying. I just kind of nodded and said Ja! to everything and they seemed to buy it. Should be interesting when they want me to work tomorrow - ha ha!
I got a free long sleeved polo shirt as well, very nice of them. So I'll try and tell you how it's all going tomorrow.
I've started a blogger blog as well after some complaints from non-myspace people. Just cut and pasting these posts at the moment, but will see one is more popular. I've also started a fotopage (can you keep up?) which should make it easier for those with fast internet who want to view photos and comment.
The blog is: http://glentyler.blogspot.com/
and the fotopage is: http://glentyler.fotopages.com/
It's in a really nice place and the people seem cool. It is a bit worrying that they hired me even though I didn't have a clue what they were saying. I just kind of nodded and said Ja! to everything and they seemed to buy it. Should be interesting when they want me to work tomorrow - ha ha!
I got a free long sleeved polo shirt as well, very nice of them. So I'll try and tell you how it's all going tomorrow.
I've started a blogger blog as well after some complaints from non-myspace people. Just cut and pasting these posts at the moment, but will see one is more popular. I've also started a fotopage (can you keep up?) which should make it easier for those with fast internet who want to view photos and comment.
The blog is: http://glentyler.blogspot.com/
and the fotopage is: http://glentyler.fotopages.com/
Celling out
Yep Dave, I tried to hold out for as long as possible, but I now have a cell again...
So whenever you need me urgently, you can get hold of me on +49 177 935 6289. From outside Germany, I think you need to add 09 on to make it 0949 177 935 6289.
Weathers lekker outside - nice sunny day, and off for my first interview... sorted.
So whenever you need me urgently, you can get hold of me on +49 177 935 6289. From outside Germany, I think you need to add 09 on to make it 0949 177 935 6289.
Weathers lekker outside - nice sunny day, and off for my first interview... sorted.
Monday, October 16, 2006
welcome to my new blog
Hi, sorry about the changing sites, but myspace was useless because people had to sign up to see photos or comment, so I'm hoping this will work out better.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Shoes
So a few of you may have known of my grand plan to save the world by buying shoes (sounds good hey?). So I went to the trouble of reserving my organic hemp, no sweat shop sneakers about two months before I left. But alas when I got here and got to them they were to tight for my feet (even the biggest) :-( I swear all European shoes are because they don't walk around barefoot and therefore have narrower feet.
So I couldn't get my great shoes, and after hours of searching had to swallow my pride and walk around feeling very depressed for the rest of the day with a new pair of, yes, nikes. I hate shoe shopping from now on.
However there is a happy ending! You (with narrower feet than me) can save the world as well by ordering blackspots @ http://adbusters.org/metas/corpo/blackspotshoes/home.php. When you buy, you automatically become a shareholder of the company and can decide on all important decisions, including how they spend their profit. COOL hey? And they look good. So go on, be the hippy I couldn't. Save the world. Buy shoes. and then argue about the pros and cons later (pete).
So I couldn't get my great shoes, and after hours of searching had to swallow my pride and walk around feeling very depressed for the rest of the day with a new pair of, yes, nikes. I hate shoe shopping from now on.
However there is a happy ending! You (with narrower feet than me) can save the world as well by ordering blackspots @ http://adbusters.org/metas/corpo/blackspotshoes/home.php. When you buy, you automatically become a shareholder of the company and can decide on all important decisions, including how they spend their profit. COOL hey? And they look good. So go on, be the hippy I couldn't. Save the world. Buy shoes. and then argue about the pros and cons later (pete).
Turbines
Much respect for all the windturbines dotted around the landscape! It was really cool to see them turning around and doing there thing. And all the local districtsare bound by law until 2007 to buy a percentage of there power from renewables.
Coolio, I see a light!
Coolio, I see a light!
The rise and fall of german beer
German beer is fantastic. Let me not lie.
So I do have to ask why oh why,
Do the friendly people (especially the young)
Insist on poisining a beer lovers toungue
By adding vile flavours to the yeast and hops
Some even insisting that banana flavour is tops
No seriously. They put banana flavouring in beer. Truely vile, but it doesn't end there, they also have tequila flavoured beer. Qinisikile. I mean, raise your hands those who drink beer for the flavour? (Okay, except you Bob!)
So I do have to ask why oh why,
Do the friendly people (especially the young)
Insist on poisining a beer lovers toungue
By adding vile flavours to the yeast and hops
Some even insisting that banana flavour is tops
No seriously. They put banana flavouring in beer. Truely vile, but it doesn't end there, they also have tequila flavoured beer. Qinisikile. I mean, raise your hands those who drink beer for the flavour? (Okay, except you Bob!)
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