KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE GERMAN LANGUAGE
AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED
3 SESSIONS - READING & COMMUNICATION PRACTICE

On Wednesday, 22nd March - Wednesday, 29th March - Wednesday, 5th April
Time: 6.00p.m. (sessions x 2 hours each)

Topic: The play "Biedermann und die Brandstifter" (Max Frisch)

LED BY DR RÜDIGER GIEBEL: Retired Gymnasium School teacher and visiting lecturer/instructor at the University of Heidelberg (Germany), at the Central Missouri State University (USA) and at the University of Montana (USA)

SESSIONS ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE TO OUR MEMBERS

THOSE WHO INTEND TO ATTEND MUST NOTIFY THE OFFICE AND BUY A COPY OF THE BOOK "Biedermann und die Brandstifter" (available from the Circle's office - Cost: LM3.00) PRIOR TO THE FIRST SESSION

  Gerlinde schreibt . . . . . . . . . 

GERLINDE KUPP (in the photo with her husband Hans-Jürgen) has, since she left our Island in 2002, been living in Gotze Deltschev (formerly known as Nevrokop) approximately 230 kms from the Bulgarian capital Sofia.  Frau Kupp who has contributed to our Newsletter during her years in Malta and who still  regularly reads our Newsletter online enquired as to whether she is still welcome to write to us - this time from Bulgaria where her husband is working for a German textile factory.  Naturally our reply was a big YES!

Here is her first bi-ligual contribution from the Eastern European country.

Oft lacht der Mund und das Herz weiß nichts davon -  Very often the mouth is laughing - but the heart does not feel it. 

Das bulgarische Volk hat viel gelitten in seiner langen über 1300 Jahre alten Geschichte - mehr unterdrückt als frei. Leben hieß also überleben. So war Lachen und Weinen ganz nah beieinander. 

Und es hat die Fremdherrschaft überlebt: Mit einem lachenden und einem weinenden Auge.   - With mixed feelings! 

Eine kleine Auswahl aus: WORÜBER DER BULGARE LACHT; von Tscheremuchin, Sofia 1990, nachdem auch der Osten sich dem Westen öffnen konnte. Man war damals über Nacht ebenfalls befreit, doch lange noch nicht “frei”!  Und jetzt im Jahre 2007 wird auch dieses Land, eingebettet im Pirin- und Rhodopengebirge zum Schwarzen Meer sich “europäisieren” wollen und in die Union aufgenommen werden. Die Zeit ist kurz, doch der Weg dorthin ist noch sehr mühsam und beschwerlich, und es gibt noch viele “Stolpersteine” zu überwinden! 

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“What do you think? Journalists, who are writing for the newspapers - what are they responsible for?” “Of Course - for their own writing and what they have said.” “But in my opinion, they also have a responsibility for all they keep quiet about”.  

In a village a teacher is explaining to the farmers that the character of a human being is easily recognizable through his hand-writing. Somebody interupts by shouting: “Stop this teacher, I am not able to write - so does this mean: I do not have a character?”  

Eine Freundin zur anderen: “Was willst du denn mit all den vielen Büchern?” “Na, lernen! Das sind alles Wörterbücher für Englisch, Italienisch, Französisch, Russisch...” “Was denn, so viele Sprachen willst du lernen? Wozu denn?  “Weil ich mit meinem jüngsten Sohn keine gemeinsame Sprache finden kann. Ich sage ihm was, und er redet was völlig anderes. Deshalb suchen wir jetzt eine Sprache, in der wir uns verstehen..

“Großvater Goze, reicht dir eigentlich deine Rente?” “Ich kann nicht klagen.” “Und wieso arbeitest du denn noch?”  “Weil sie den Enkeln nicht reicht....”  

Zwei Suppen, bitte! Bestellen zwei Gäste in unserem Gasthaus.  Der Kellner bringt ihnen zwei Limonadenflaschen voll Suppe. Die Gäste wundern sich und wollen den Besitzer sprechen: “Warum servieren Sie die Suppen in Flaschen? Haben Sie hier denn keine Teller?”  Achselzucken! Unser Kellner ist die ganze Woche über betrunken, wie kann ich ihm Teller zum Tragen geben!”  

Ein Bauer wollte sich scheiden lassen, weil seine Frau im ganzen Dorf als mannstoll bekannt war. Das Gericht war auf seiner Seite. Da fragten die Eltern der ungetreuen Ehefrau den Richter: “Alle Männer im Dorf können mit unserer Rada schlafen, nur Mitjo nicht. Ist das nicht eigenartig?”  

Logik: “Mit seiner eigenen Frau geht man nicht ins Lokal”, sagte Marco. “Man gibt doppelt so viel aus, dabei ist das Vergnügen halb so groß.”   

d  d  d  d  Corporate Members 2006  c  c  c  c  c 

Ariane Hartje
Librarian at  the German-Maltese Circle 
Interviewed by Ingrid B. Kidder

It is nearly half a year now since Ariane Hartje took up the position as librarian at the German-Maltese Circle. Many of the readers will have met her already when asking for books or films. She “resides” in the office of the Library literally looking down on every person climbing up the old staircase of Messina Palace leading to the mezzanine and upper floors. 

Ariane came to Malta one bright tenth day of February – i.e. at time of writing exactly fifteen years ago. It was St. Paul’s Day; in her case, however, it was her explicit choice to come to Malta, accompanied by three suitcases and the wish to stay and work here for her livelihood.

She was born and grew up with two sisters in Celle (Lower Saxony), a small city known for its quaint half-timbered houses (Fachwerkhäuser) and quiet lifestyle surrounded by the beautiful Lüneburger Heath. After schooling she completed an apprenticeship in hotel business in Nuremberg in Bavaria, and thereafter trained as industrial clerk in Freiburg im Breisgau (in Baden-Württemberg). However, due to an allergy requiring a change in climate, a friend convinced her that climate and conditions were just right on this tiny island in the Mediterranean called MALTA.  Consequently, in November 1990, Ariane spent her first two weeks in Mellieha and fell in love with the island. In fact, she was so much impressed that she only went back to Germany to sit for her examination as industrial clerk, and then made her fateful journey back on St. Paul’s Feast Day – to stay for a longer period. 

At first Ariane found work in the sales office of a time-share company. A few months later she was offered the position as courier for the guests of the Maritime Reisedienst which she would hold until 1993. Then the local TUI Agent employed her first, as courier, and eventually as Groups Manager. She enjoyed her work and the life on the island, found new friends; however, fled regularly from the Maltese winters by taking unpaid leave from TUI and working in less windy climates like the Maldives or even Italy. Her life was very satisfying and she most probably would still be there today, if changes in company structure were not taking place and amalgamation of TUI and Thomson made her look for a change.  

As fate has it, just then a friend informed her of a position of a Sales Manager for Groups and Incentives at the Royal Mirage Hotel in Dubai. Of course, she accepted, and found out just how different Dubai was from Malta. Daytime temperatures surpassed the 50 degrees C mark, nights were a mere 10-15 degrees cooler, with high humidity. She worked hard every day of the week except Friday, up to 70 hours a week, so there was little time for hobbies or entertainment or contact with the local population. She said: “The management of practically all hotels were Europeans, personnel and guests were very international bringing with them different traditions and religions”.  And she emphasised: “Where ever I moved in Dubai, women were always treated with great respect, providing even separate counters at banks. Dubai is a very secure place for a lady”. She raves about tours into the desert nights, when she had to accompany a group for an adventure in the wild with magnificent starry skies, while local entertainment with food, music, dance and fortune teller was provided by the tour organisers. The fortune tellers spoke to Ariane of her past and present life with great accuracy, and predicted her for the near future a hospitalization as well as change of country, career, and promising news for her private life. 

Ariane did not have to ponder about this for long. Due to new war threats in the Middle East international tourist groups avoided the areas around the Gulf, hotels stood fairly empty and her job became redundant. A return to Germany was imminent, hospitalisation took place – all as predicted. She started a course in Natural Healing Processes while working in the office of a small clinic for Naturopathy.  

Yet, she yearned for Malta and in fact started to regret ever having left the islands. So when the opportunity arose in October 2004 she accepted the job as Project Manager in an incentive agency in Malta. She was by chance referred to the advertisement of the German-Maltese Circle looking for a librarian. The German-Maltese Circle’s website impressed her and made her say: “Tolles Ambiente” – exciting ambience – resulting in her immediate application and -luckily for her and the German-Maltese Circle she was chosen.  

She still pursues the subject of natural healing as her main hobby, having recently attended a course on homoeopathy in Germany. She has a passion for books and reading. Yachting comes next, and she spends weekends with friends sailing on their boats around the islands.  

The Good Old Letter 

Snail mail in Germany is pretty safe and fast but if you are living in Germany, the rates often take all the fun out of sending gifts to your loved ones at home.  Germany’s postal service operator, Deutsche Post, carved out of a government agency in the 1980s, still holds a de-facto monopoly on most letter delivery. It claims that over 90 percent of letters within Germany reach their destination on the next day.  

After reunification, Germany introduced new zip codes (Postleitzahlen), which cover comparatively small areas. One city or even one street can consequently have several zip codes, so you need to know the exact address to figure out the five-digit code. Then again, P.O. boxes and large companies have special codes. A zip code directory is available at local post offices. Deutsche Post’s web site (www.deutschepost.de) offers an on-line zip code search function (PLZ suchen) and information on all sorts of postal services and rates.

Stamps are only available at post offices and the occasional vending machine. Deutsche Post’s website offers a branch search (Filiale suchen), providing not only opening hours and services of each branch but also its exact location on a city map.

A regular letter weighing up to 20 grams currently costs €0.55 within Germany and Europe and €1.55 to all other destinations via air mail. Postcards are €0.45 and €1 respectively. Reduced rates are offered for books (Büchersendungen), merchandise (Warensendungen) and letters to and from blind people (Blindensendungen).

There is no differentiation between 1st and 2nd class mail, only between surface and airmail. Within Europe, mail is always transported the fastest way, and you do not have to specify airmail or surface mail. For international mail, you should invest in the higher airmail rates and specify “Airmail” on your letter.

Courtesy of www.young-germany.de

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