Deppert.se

Dear friends, family and well-wishers!

Good news: my life has taken a great step forward. I have been offered an unpaid internship position at the Swedish Embassy in Zambia. This truly is an unique offer and I am happy that I will have the chance to experience not only the African continent again, but also learn more about the official governmental work in Zambia and build relations within the embassy.

This all came very sudden. And today everything became official: As of September 13 I will be in Lusaka, Zambia.

So, my life has now totally changed. I had to cancel all my plans for the fall (and you all know that I of course already was fully booked out) and quickly make new plans. I received the news while on vacation in Geneva – so there was some difficulty in reaching my superior. But now I am back in Sweden and making list after list of things to do, buy and fix before I leave. Like tickets to Zambia, for instance.

Yes, so with this quick update I will leave you. With all the things I have to do, I better get started right away!

Cheers,
Ulrike

Some weeks ago, I was in Åtvidaberg. This is a small small place, which used to be of importance during their mining phases and while they had a huge industry making calculators. Now, however, their is not much left.

But is it a real perfect place for a Sunday excursion. We took a small boat trip around the lake and ended up at the so called sun cannon. Such a remarkable thing – a cannon where the sun lights it. We were fortunate enough to have enough sunshine and witnessed this event.

I can only recommend this for all travelers passing through Åtvidaberg. If it is close to 1pm go to the tower (can be reached on foot as well, not only by boat) and watch the sun light the sun cannon.

Cheers,
Ulrike

Even though we are not really into football, we are Germans and therefore always enjoying a good game. Watching the games with all the family present is special and we often discuss interesting subjects, which in a way are related to football.

Such as the matter of nationalities. The entire team, 23 footballers, are of the same nationality. But the coach, however, does not have to have the same nationality. Is that not weird? Sure, Germany and other teams do have coaches with the same nationality, but the Ivory Coast and Nigeria both had Swedish coaches, for example. Switzerland and Greece had each a German.

I am no expert on these rules, and all you input is welcome. Because if it is a a matter of nationalities, the coach should be included in these rules. Or?

Schland, oh Schland! :)
Ulrike

Basically, when you talk about the southern parts of Sweden and winter you always say something like this:

“Yes, everybody expects us in Sweden to have a lot of snow. But the truth is, that is pnly valid for the northern parts of Sweden. Down here in Skåne we usually only have some snowflakes once in a while and we consider ourselves really lucky if any lakes freeze over. Snow here is mostly slush, dirty slush.”

Well, once again, I am proven wrong. The winter already came before Christmas and has stayed on. Yesterday I made an attempt to attend a kick-off in Tomelilla (small town in the eastern rural areas of Skåne) and did not make it. For the second time within 1,5 month I could not go there because the Swedish Road Service said that they could not clear the streets and that they due to the expected snowfall in the evening warned everyone from going out in these parts.

While we still had a good kick-off at my place instead I started to think about snow. And could not help myself in making comparisons with Vancouver last year – even though we had much much more snow in Vancouver they did not manage to clear the streets either. Still, Vancouver somehow made the snow feel ok and more or less gave it a romantic touch – who would not want to have a beautiful white cover in the morning on a day that you are off? Giving you lots of material to build figures with and an exceptional view of the mountains surrounding Vancouver. Even if you would need to go to work, you would not complain about the bus being late.

In Lund, snow just becomes an obstacle. You cannot bike, everything takes for ever, people are reluctant to go out and some unlucky ones even had problems with the power supply and the telephone lines. I just somehow get more comfortable here and refuse to change just for the snow.

Still, I am admiring the wonderful that I have from my window, all small the small houses with white roofs and the quietness that comes with people not moving around as much. I think I might as well enjoy it while I can!

Cheers,
Ulrike

Often I write about the culture clash that takes place when I go to another country. This time I will turn it the other way around. I was fortunate to have visitors from Uganda last week and they certainly questioned some very usual things here in Sweden.

For example: Why do people ride their bike around here so much? In Uganda, riding a bike is a sign that you are not rich enough to by a motorcycle. Well, sure, the students in Lund are poor, but not that poor. The argument that biking is good for your health and an easier means of transport did not really convince my visitors. And once we saw a bike with a cart for kids behind it, which really triggered some discussions.

The other astonishing fact was that we have tarmac roads to basically every little house on the countryside. In Uganda, building a road to the house is the owner’s responsibility and he will then be thanked by some hefty road taxes. And tarmac is mostly non-existent in Uganda, only the main traffic roads in the country have tarmac.

While giving lectures at different school, my visitors also experience some shocks. Not only was the lunch heated in the microwave but also was a class made up of about 15-20 students and a variety of teachers. In Uganda the equivalent is 70-90 and very few teachers in general.

In all, it is very useful to get some provoking thoughts about your own situation and lifestyle. And it has not made my urge to visit the African continent go away.

Cheers,
Ulrike

Yesterday, I did one of the most courageous things I ever have done. I donated blood. Not for the first time in my life, in fact it was visit number 11, but it is always the same fear that strikes me. I get nervous about a day before and the 15 Minutes (tops!) in the chair are the most horrifying in my life. Even though nurses guard me the whole time and I always bring a friend/family member to keep me company. I just can’t do it without being afraid.

But yesterday, I had the big revelation. While going through the procedures, I wound myself saying that “but I am at least not afraid of raiding trains anymore”. And realised, that yes, that was true! After almost 27 years of riding a train, well lets say that I have been feeling that fear for maybe 24 years (I can’t really count the earliest years in my life), I am no longer afraid of entering a trains. Yes, I am still nervous, but no longer afraid of being left alone on the train or anything else.

And with that hindsight I can make some calculations: I have been donating blood for 8 years. Overcoming a huge fear for something takes approx. 24 years. That leaves me with a meagre 16 years before I will happily walk to the blood donations centre! Not bad, I must say. And I will hopefully catch malaria before that and be relieved in less than 16 years! ;)

Cheers,
Ulrike

Lange war der Familienausflug geplant, lange sollte er zum Meereskundemuseum in Stralsund gehen. Aber als der Tag endlich da war und sämtliche Mitglieder der Familie endlich im Auto saßen, gab es neue Pläne. Güstrow und Fischland. Gut, die Sonne schien, die Jüngeren schliefen sich erstmal im Auto aus.

Bei der Fähre in Gedser gab es dann Debakel. Die Pläne wurden noch mal geändert. Wismar stand nun auf dem Programm, au, fein, Kultur und Geschichte auf hohem Niveau. Aber der Hunger machte sich in Puttgarden breit und es wurde kurzerhand beschlossen, in Lübeck Mittag zu essen. Wismar war dann die nächste Anhaltestelle.

In Lübeck wurde das Kartoffelfest gefeiert, alles nach dem Motto: Schick in Schale. Kultur gab es auch, Kirchen und Thomas Mann, Erich Mühsam und die große Einkaufsstrasse. Dann war es auch schon Zeit für Eis und Kaffe und es war schon später als wir im wieder im Auto saßen.

Irgendwie gelang es uns, die hinten saßen, wieder alles vollständig zu verschlafen. So auch die Abfahrt nach Wismar, mit der Begründung, dass es schon dunkel wurde und wir Wismar noch bequem morgen schaffen würden. Wäre man doch bloß wach geblieben.

Der Abend verlief spielend, erst haben wir Bä bä vita lamm gespielt, der Lachfaktor war hoch und Spaß hat es auch gemacht. Dann war Trivial Pursuit an der Reihe, mit seinen Wissensspeichern und Wissensecken. Geteilter Platz für Bruder und Mutter, Tochter wurde letzte hatte aber dafür wahrscheinlich die meiste Schokolade gegessen.

Nach einem sehr ruhigen Morgen mit frischen Brötchen ging es los in Richtung Güstrow. Ernst Barlach, Holzschnitzer, hatte dort sein Atelier und viele seiner Stücke sind hier ausgestellt. Wir besuchten auch den Dom, mit ”dem Schwebendem”, und das Schloss.

Ein spontaner Abbruch war das kurze Baden im See; kalt und nass aber doch sehr erfrischend, vor allem weil wir vor dem Regen wieder raus waren.

Dann weiter Richtung Wismar. Endlich! Was uns da wohl erwarten wird? Aber wie verzaubert, es passierte schon wieder und wir gestehen: die hinteren Sitze im Auto formen eine Schlafbank. Plötzlich war Wismar schon wieder außer Reichweite. Und der Zweifel wurde groß, gab es diese Stadt wirklich? Ja, sie ist auf der Landkarte vermerkt. Ja, der Reporter im Radio brachte gerade eine Liveübertragung von einem Sonntagskonzert in Wismar. Und die Straße hat vorbeigeführt.

Aber gesehen habe ich nichts!!

Ich habe neulich mich über das Internet schlau gemacht, und doch so einiges gelernt. Am lustigsten fand ich da das sogenannte Meier-loch; das ist einer rundförmige Region in Deutschland wo es keine Leute wohnen, die Meier/Mayer/Maier etc als Nachnamen haben.

Lest doch selber nach bei der Süddeutschen, auf Seite 9.

As promised, here is a short travelog from my trip to beautiful Southeast Alaska. For all of you who have not been there – go! I am not sure how long the nature will be “untouched” but it is absolutely amazing. Many have told me it looks a lot like Norway or even northern Sweden, and yes, if you are short of money and live in these regions, discover your own country. Otherwise: get out there.

I will not bore you by telling you all the fantastic things I saw and did and experienced but instead give you a short recap of the best:

When travelling through Alaska take the ferry! Just cruising through the archipelago and fjords was amazing, snowy mountains to the right and the left, eagles cruising above and the highlight always was when the captain made whale-announcements! I have now seen both humpbacks and orcas and lots of porpoises, just amazing. And of course, sleeping outside on the solarium deck of the ferry, cold but what a feeling to awake to a blue sky!

Climb every mountain you see, explore all forests and go kayaking. Alaska is for nature people and the ways for adventures are unlimited. Every trip offers something new; just remember to bring your bear spray and bear bells. I did not see any bears, but they where close.

Look out for porcupines (mostly called North American porcupines to distinguish them from the other, more common known ones)! Most amazing animals. They look like fluffy beavers and climb small trees and sleep up there. And once they are asleep they are not bothered by people walking just below them. Mountain goats are fun too, but not that much.

Meeting different people in the hostels, trade books and ideas and places. I did not realise how much I had missed backpacking until I did it again. Avoid the cruise ships, they do not make life fun.

Alaskans are further quite obsessed with Sarah Palin. Sure, they have elected her, but they do seem to talk about her a lot. Maybe not for other reasons than the fact that this has put Alaska back on the tourist map. It also seems like Alaska has not been hit that hard by the recession either, but still has the same structural problems as I discovered in Vancouver, regarding homelessness and other social and ethnic problems.

Anyhow, I am not sure I have been able to convince you all to go to Alaska, but you should. There is so much more to discover, and I will go back, at one point.

This is my last letter to you all, my trip has ended. But you will be right there again, on my next, right?!

Cheers,
Ulrike