Broken Mirror

I just came home and nearly stepped into my broken mirror. I can't believe it!! Approximately 3 months ago, I glued the mirror against the side of my tall closet. I thought I did a great job. Before gluing the mirror to the wall, I cleaned both, the wall of the closet as well as the back of the mirror, so they were free of grease and dust. I also used special glue pads for mirrors. I though it will last for ever. Well, it seems I am very bad in judging everlasting situations...
Does it now mean I will have seven years of bad luck? Or does this superstition only come true if you have smashed the mirror by yourself or at least have been present when it happened? What do you think? Will I be damned?
Since I arrived so late this evening, I couldn't hoover (vacuum-clean for my American friends) my floor. I don't wanna weak up my neighbors. So, I could only collect the bigger pieces and I have to hoover the whole floor tomorrow morning. Great start into the day, don't you think? =(

The Gym

This evening I went to the gym for the first time of this year. The gym is very nice and well equipped. They have this Miha training circuits. There you get a smart card which contains all settings for each machine. So you simply have to go to the machine you want to use and insert the card. Then automatically the machine finds the right settings for you such as seat height, optimal range of motion and the weight you used the last time. The latter was the reason why I was so devastated after the training. Well, I must confess that I didn't really go to the gym in Dezember. After all what happend in the begining of Dezember, I was not really "motivated" ... So the weights today were still the ones I used in November when I had gone to the gym twice a week for several months. Whose of you who do some sports might know that the muscles will degenerate quite fast if you stop the training. I can confirm this. Today, I was barely able to lift the weights. I even had to reduce some of them. After the training I was so excaused that my knees were shaking and I had to sit down for more than 10 mins. I guess tomorrow all my muscles will be really painful. I am really looking forward to this. :/ So if you hear a pained groan tomorrow, turn around it might be me. ;)

It is time!

After Bernd broke up with me in the beginning of December, I thought I wanna die. But I didn't. I survived the first Christmas and the first new years eve without him. It was really hard since the last three years I spent these days with Bernd only. It was such a special time for me. I guess I still do love him. I can't change my feelings so fast. But I start to accept that he doesn't love me anymore. Well, I don't have another chance, do I? I can't change it and nothing will come back. He is back in the states and it should be easier now. But it isn't. Well, everybody tells me that it will be better with time. I guess they are right, even if I can't believe it right now.
At new years eve, I figured that I can't wait until it is better. Hence I decided that it is time to change my life! I wanna travel around, I wanna meet all my friends, I wanna do something exciting, something special, something new ... I wanna have every day something I can appreciate. No waiting anymore, no postponements anymore ... just here and now ... Let's see how it works!

TOEFL

I forgot something! Today, I also got the results of my TOEFL test. I took the test in the beginning of December 2006. The results took an awful long time to arrive to my home. In Germany, they changed the TOEFL tests. I think you could to the computer based tests until the end of September. Now, you have to do an internet based test. The two tests differ a lot, e.g. in the new test also the speaking is rated. More information you can find here. I think the new test is much more difficult than the old one. I had a quite bad feeling when I leaved to testing room, so I was very nervous when I opened the letter with the results today. First, I was shocked from the picture of mine staring from right upper corner of the letter. You don't want to see this! Then, I search for the results and couldn't believe it. I got 109 out of 120 possible points! That's great and more than I needed for the universities in USA. =) So, I was very happy and proud. I would like to copy this result and send it to my old English teacher from school. I think she would faint right a way. ;) Well, personally I think they accidentally permute my results with another. But if you don't tell them, I won't ever. Ok? ;)

New Apartment

Today, I moved from one apartment to another. Well, actually I didn’t wanted to move since living with my two flatmates, Jens-Peter (alias JP) and Stefan (alias Langi) was really nice. We were laughing a lot and you never had the feeling to be alone. Thanks guys for this great time!!

So why did I move if I liked the old apartment?! Well, it was not my decision since I rent the room from Jan, who is doing his PhD in cooperation with our university and a Germany company. Thus, he wasn’t really often in Ilmenau and I could live in his room. However, now he is returning to Ilmenau in order to finish his PhD thesis. Since I am still not finished with my thesis, I had to look for something else.

I was very lucky that Reinhard, a friend of mine, doesn’t need his room for the next two months. So, I could move in to finish my thesis and prepare my defence without any further trouble. =) A big hug and kiss to Reinhard!!

I also want to say thank you to Aylin and Stephan who helped me a lot today. Thanks for driven, having time and carrying!!!!!!!! Thanks also to Langi and JP. =) I also don’t want to forget my parents, who came this afternoon and took some stuff I won’t need anymore back home. Thanks for the nice lunch and the great afternoon.

Now, I am in the new apartment. Unfortunately, my two new flatmates are not here this weekend, so I am alone. L I always become depressed if I feel too alone. One of the two guys I know already quite well, we have been studying together for years. Yeah, he already finished his studies. L I am to slow!!

As you can see, the net is already working, but the TV doesn’t want to work. There might be some problems with the cable. But, maybe this is good so I will better concentrate on my thesis. You never know?! On the other hand, I have to admit, I am addicted to moving pictures. So it is like a detoxication at the moment. =)

I am sure, you will hear soon from me again. ;)

I am back in Germany

I left San Francisco more than one week ago and I already miss Bernd like hell! The time in the USA was really nice but has gone by much too fast. We visited a lot of nice places, not only the Fisherman’s Wharf, China Town, Union Square, Coit Tower and Twin Peaks in San Francisco, but also some really nice places in the country side. We also went for some short hikes during my time in California. I would recommend the bear valley trail at the Point Reyes National Seashore, which is a national park in the north of San Francisco. It is next to the San Andreas fault and there you can also walk the “legendary” Earth quake trail. =) The bear valley trail starts at the seashore information centre in bear valley and leads to the Archers Rock at the west coast. The roundtrip is a little bit more then 8 miles, but doesn’t have big differences in elevation. We had a nice time there and saw a lot of deer, which was not shy at all. The best was the view from Archers Rock at the coast. I am normally not a hiking person, but I really liked this hike even we didn’t have a lot of food and we were nearly starving in the end. However, we had some hot tea and so we survived the trip without any irreparable damages. ;)

In the first week, Bernd rent a car that was a really good idea, since a car is really convenient and for some things essential in the USA, such as groceries shopping. Compared with the European definition of distance, everything is really far a way from each other and it just takes a lot of time to come from place A to place B. I think I will get used to it after some time.

For New Years Eve, we went to San Francisco with some friends. For dinner, we went to an Italian restaurant and discovered China Town for a second time. It is really informative if you go with Chinese people there, really great. Then we had some drinks in the Jungle Bar close to the legendary Pier 39, where you can see the seals. From the Pier, we watched the fireworks. It was really a nice night and we had a lot of fun.

My conclusions of the trip: American people always smile back, Dim Sum (the Chinese answer of Spanish Tapas) is more than delicious and Bernd is simple gorgeous. Thank you very much for this amazing time, your great cooking and your patience, help and encouragement. =)

We wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Last week, we went to San Francisco and made this picture in front of the Golden Gate bridge. We hope you all like it. =) I will write a detailed report later today. Until then, we hope you all have a great day and enjoy the time with your family, friends and loved ones.

Kisses and hugs,
Bernd and Anja

17th WWRF meeting in Heidelberg

Yes, I know I haven’t written for ages. I already feel really bad about it. So don’t be angry with me, please!!!

From Wednesday to Friday, I went to my first conference/meeting in Heidelberg. The 17th WWRF meeting was very nice and well-organised. I heard a lot of very interesting presentations and meet many remarkable people. The hotel, where the meeting took place, was very nice as well and the food was gorgeous.

My own presentation was on Thursday afternoon, and everything went okay. Well, I was very nervous and simply forgot some entertaining parts I planed to say. However, I think my professor was satisfied with my presentation and I think I put my message across. =)

On Thursday night, we had a four course menu in the Prinz Carl Palais. I never saw anything like that except in a movie. It was amazing, the environment, the conversations, the food and the vine … in short it was a nearly perfect evening. Why only nearly perfect? Since Bernd was not there to share this nice evening with me.

Well, last night I came back to Ilmenau. To summarize the trip, I would say, very interesting, very impressive, very instructive … but also very exhausting. I hope I will have in future again the opportunity to go to such events.

work work work

Uff, do you know the time after lunch when you are not motivated to do anything, you just want to sleep and do nothing? It is terrible in Spain, normally I was in this mode for half an hour but not 1-1.5 hours. :( That's why I am working so long every day. Well, my supervisor is going on vacacions in 2 days and I am still waiting for some information so I can start my simulation and get my results. :( And the worst thing, I think I will not get them before she is going on vacacions! AHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAA, what shall I do then? Well, I could start writing ... but did I meantion the thing with the motivation? Uff, it is summer and I am working. The only good thing is, that it is to hot to leave the working place ( :) in Spain we have air condition at work, not like in Germany!) and you cannot go to the beach since they have a problem with jellyfishs at the moment. So I rather stay at work then going home and sweating to death (only 31ºC but 65% humidity).

Anyway it is quite boring at home since my flatmates went already back home to St. Sebastian, Spain. Uhhh, I should make a party ;) Yeah maybe on Saturday.

Well, I guess I should work a little bit more and read some complicated papers about throughput bounds. :(

Mi querido va a vistarme!!!!

This night Bernd booked his ticket to Barcelona!!!! I cannot wait to see him! Well, now I can start and count the days! He will be flying on the 14th of August and he will stay 2 weeks!!! The best news I have heard today! :) :) :)

Tonight, I went for dinner to two colleagues from work. Anna and Carles made Gazpacho (see the photo of Anna and the Gazpacho) and I made a cake and Rouladen. Well, the cake is already tradition, but the Rouladen were new. I was stealing the idea from Annika, a friend who is now in Australia. She reminds me in her blog that these are traditional German food. At the end, we were really full and couldn't move anymore, thus we watched a spanish movie. Unfortunately, the movie was without subtitles, so I would have understand very much. But my colleagues translated all the parts where I had some problems. However, the best thing at this evening was not the delicious food but the old German gramphone which Carles got from his grandfather who lived 20 years in Germany. It is still working!!!! He also has several records with old German songs. It was great to hear the old music.



















But now I need to go to bed. Tomorrow I have to work again. :)

Did I already tell you that Bernd is coming? :) I am so happy!!! ;)

Vamos a la playa ohooo jeeehhee jooooo

Again, beach afternoon .... today, I went with Celeste and some other friends to Mataró. It is a nice city with much nicer and even cleaner beaches as Barcelona. The water was really great, not to cold and not to stormy. We only went for three hours in the afternoon, so I didn't get a sunburn :) Thus, I am still sunburn-free in Barcelona. Well, okay I got one in Germany, but this doesn't count. :)
I know now why Barcelona is packed. The reason are the mountains. Yes, you read right, here are many big mountains. Between the mountains and the sea there is only a small area, where you can build house etc. . Due to the mountains, Barcelona cannot be easily extended. Hence, the people live really close to each other. Sometimes I find it too close and too full. I am just not used to it, I guess. :)
Well, after the beach, we went out tonight for dinner to a really fancy place. It is called basílico and was very good, but also quite expensive. Ruth and Celeste, my two friends had two friends from Denmark to be visiting. This was the reason we went to a really fancy restaurante.

JJJJJJJJJJJAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! :) I did it! I was in the water and was "swimming"!!! The first time here in Barcelona! And I can tell you, it is salt water. The first minutes, I was felling like a potato shortly before it will be cooked. :) But it was great. Well, the weather was not so nice today, quite stormy. The baywatch people put the red flag which means you shouldn't go in the water at all. But everybody did it so I went as well. Not swimming but jumping into the big waves. It was great, except the point where I nearly lost my Bikini. I should buy a new one which fits better. This shouldn't be a problem since in Barcelona they have summer sales at the moment. Well, the summer sales end at the 31.8.!! So I have plenty of time to find a new one! *smile* Barcelona is great!!

Live in BCN

It seems that life in BCN gets better and better. My thesis work is progressing, I am finishing my student's report and I got to know nice people. My spanish is improving as well, every day I understand more and more. However, I still have problems with the conversation, especially the grammar is difficult, mainly since I cannot remember anything. Actually, I can only speak in the presents tense and the simple " going to" future. ;) So, I should practice every day. :)

Next week, Thursday, I am flying to Helsinki to visit Bernd, my boyfriend. I haven't seen him for more than a month. I do really miss him and I am very excited when I am thinking of the trip. Well, the weather will not be as good as in BCN, but it doesn't matter. ;)

Yeah, well what did I do in the last weeks? Hmm, let me think ... not really much, since I was working on my thesis and the German report. Well, there was the birthday party of my flatmate, BCN won the Campions League and this weekend there were some parties as well. But besides them, I was really working. You can believe me! I haven't done any proper sight seeing yet. Thus, I haven't put any new fotos online yet. But this will be changing soon, I hope at least.

Ah, yeah, I nearly forgot. My German package finally arrived, after I tried one week to reschedule the delivery. It was horrible! But now I have it. I also bought a table and a small shelf for my room (we have 2 IKEAs in Barcelona!!). Well, now my room is completly full, but I have anything I need. I am getting used to the small room. Anyway, I spend most of the time in the living room and since my two flatmates are not often at home or sleeping the whole day, I can do whatever I want. ;)

This is all. I think there are no more news at the moment. So hopefully, the next time you will see some pictures again. I will do my best.

Take care,
Anja

Red Bull Air Race

Yesterday, I was at the red bull air race. It was amazing! It was a really good show. First there were some helicopters and some sky divers which did a lot of crazy stunts. I often thought there will be a crash, but fortunately nothing happend. Later there was the race between different airplanes. No, the planes were not flying at the same time, only one each time and in the end the fastest won. Here are two pics from planes.




















There were so many people that you nearly couldn't see the sand at the beach. I tried to meet two friends, but it was not possible. You couldn't connect to a net, since there were too many people with mobile phones. I think they said there were more than 1 Mio. persons.
And you won't believe who I met per accident! My flatmate Inigor with his friends. Here is also a pic from my flatmate:
As you can see, it was quite warm. :) Well, it's Barcelona. For all of you who don't know how this race works: the planes have to fly a certain route which is indicated by big blow-up cones on each side. The planes have to fly as fast as possible between this cones. If they "touch" them, they get a penaltiy of 10 s. So the planes are really fast and quite close to the water, since the cones were swimming on the water close to the beach.

If you want to see more and better pics then go to
http://www.air-races.com/city/2006/barcelona.es.htm
There are also the results from the race. The German pilot Klaus didn't win. :( But the Hungarian guy was really good!

more pics

Well, I guess you wanna see more pics, okay here they are. First of all, the house in which I am living at the moment:
it is the light pink one in the back ground :) As you can see, there is a small park with a play ground in front of the house. Please note the fence!!!! I think the function of the fence is to protect the dogs from the children ;) Yes, the dogs are running free in the park, but the children are behind the fence. Crazy Spain! You wanna see the park? okay, here you are:
Did I tell you, that I live opposite of the Barcelona Stadium? No? Well I do!

And of course you wanna see my new room. Don't be surprised, I told you it is small!!

... and if you look to the left

The view from the Palau Hostel if you look to the right ....

First week in Barcelona

I did it! I went to Barcelona to do my diploma thesis. Yes, Barcelona in Spain, well better Catalunia. ;)
The first nights, I spent in a Hostel with the name Palau and it was very nice. Quite central and I meet great people there. Unfortunately I didn't have much time for sight seeing since I was looking for a nice flat in BCN. However this was much more complicated as I thought.
Well, now I am living with two guys from St. Sebastian, Ibai and Inigor. They are nice and they also speak english. ;)
My room is quite small and but not cheap!! It has a window and I can see the sky! This is not naturally in Spain. A lot of the rooms I saw where interior, that means you look at a dark, mouldy and depressing duct. :( You do not want to have a room with a window like than, believe me!

You wanna see some pics, okay.

My first blog

Well, at the moment I am in Helsinki and living together with the greatest man of the world. I really do love him ;)