2015 review: Their borders are not my borders

Foto: Emese S.

When looking back at year 2015 we can definately say that it wasn't a boring one. Or let's put it differently: Our world seemed and still seems to descend into total chaos. There's so much happening at the same time: Wars, migration flows, terrorism, climate change and much more. Nobody knows, if 2016 will be better or worse.

But while 2015, taken as a whole, was a really bad year for Europe and a successful one for nationalists, for me personally it was the most European year I've ever had in my life! I've never had so many friends and facebook-contacts whithin the European Union and beyond. Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Turkey, Italy, France, Britain, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, USA, Ukraine, Iran, Russia, Georgia ... And indeed, I'm still texting with some of these people and I'm still thinking a lot about them. I've never met so many warm-hearted people from different nations than in 2015. I'm really grateful and I wouldn't like to miss this wonderful experience.

Christmas present - Personal, Vegan, Sweet

Schoko-Cranberry-Crunchies

Each year, many people ask themselves what to buy as a christmas present. But often shopping is no fun, it's crowded and expensive.

Forget about rushing around shops in order to find the one and only, the right present at the last moment. Instead, be creative! Most people are really happy, if you give a gift that comes from the heart. Being creative can be rather time-consuming, but it means you are giving time and attention to others. Can you imagine a more personal and valuable gift?

Billig fliegen ist (k)ein Genuss

Wer hat schon mal Stille Post gespielt? Als Kind bestimmt fast jeder. Aber als Erwachsener? Am Flughafen kann bzw. muss man dieses und weitere Spiele spielen.
Das geht so: Nachdem man sich nach Leibeskräften bemüht hat pünktlich am Gate zu sein, (dazu mit der Metro durch die ganze spanische Hauptstadt gefahren, quer durch den ganzen Flugfafen gewetzt ist, den Sicherheitscheck über sich ergehen lassen, bzw. die Arbeit der Flughafenpersonals noch mit erledigt hat (keiner befand es für notwendig die Gepäckkörbe richtig aufs Band zu schieben, sodass die Passagiere auf der anderen Seite vergeblich auf ihr Gepäck warteten, das noch gar nicht losgerollt war) und davor noch schnell den letzten Schluck Wasser ausgetrunken hat (auf der anderen Seite kann man ja die Flasche auf der Toilette mit Chlorwasser wieder auffüllen)), steht man sich zu guter Letzt am Gate die Beine in den Bauch (ach und hier erfährt man, dass für das Handgepäck der letzten Ankömmlinge oh Wunder kein Platz mehr an Bord ist. Das Handgepäck darf zwar kostenlos aufgegeben werden, verusacht aber am Zielflughafen Wartezeiten am Gepäckband, was das Verpassen der anvisierten S-Bahnen nach sich zieht).
So weit, so gut, äh schlecht. Hier in der Schlage vor dem Abflugsgate beginnt dann das Stille-Post-Spiel oder jedenfalls eines, das ihm ähnelt, aber noch keinen eigenen Namen hat.

Paris

Three days after the deadly attacks in Paris on Friday, 52 out of 608 of my Facebook friends still take part in the social network's "French flag campaign" by applying the filter to their profile pictures to show their support for France. So did I.
Why? For the moment it's not a gesture of politics, but of humanity. Of course one could ask, why I don't use a Syrian flag filter or other filters.
Well, firstly, I couldn't find other filters. Secondly, campaigns like these are only active in special circumstances, in Syria for example people are dying almost all the time. When exactly should I change my profile picture? Thirdly, France is a neighbouring country and in some parts of Germany Paris is closer than Berlin! Fourthly and most important: I really feel sorry for my French friends and people I spent time with during my Erasmus semester. These are the ones of my Facebook friends who mainly use the Frensh-flag-filter. In second place are the ones who spent a considerable time in that country.
Thus, applying the filter is a lot about personal consternation. I think at first there is nothing wrong with declaring one's solidarity right after the tragedy happened. You shouldn't blame people for doing so.

Scars of War

While standing infront of this house at Ulica Jakice Altarca in Jajace, Bosnia and Herzegovina, I was wondering about the people who lived here. Maybe a family...? What did their life looked like? Why didn't they come back after the end of the Bosnian War in 1995 to rebuilt their former home?

To put it short, scars of war are deep. Some are visible, others are not. Outsiders are astonished why the country still is not cleared of mines. To the present day, it's dangerous to go hiking in some parts of the mountains. At the sight of beautiful nature in Bosnia you can hardly imagine the hidden danger.  

Anyone at home?

Somewhere in Bosnia-Herzegovina. No sign "Do not enter", that's unthinkable in Germany. You can go sightseeing, but "ruinseeing" is much more fascinating. Even if it's depressing at the same time, because it reminds you of war.

Bosnia and Herzegovina - a young country after the bloody war

Lethargy, distrust, but also hope
In Germany, many people don't know where to find Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on the map. Well, it's the neighbouring country of Kroatia, where many tourists spend their summer holidays at the beach.

20 years after the Bosnian war in 1992 to 1995, people in BiH still struggle with the aftermath of war. At the theatre, like at the Sarajevo war theatre, they try to come to terms with pain and hate.