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| September 2008 Newsletter |
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I WANT TO BE INFORMED OF THE NEXT NEWSLETTER AS SOON AS IT IS ONLINE |
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Gesprächsrunde - Veranstaltungsabende 2008 Unsere Gesprächsrunden erfreuen sich immer größerer Beliebtheit, und wir setzen sie mit den hiernach aufgeführten Diskussionsleitern/Innen und Themen fort. Die Teilnahme für Mitglieder des Deutsch-Maltesischen Zirkels ist kostenlos. Jeder erste und dritte Mittwoch im Monat ab 18.30 Uhr.
03. September
Sirka Facklam Deutsch in der DDR
von Rennpappe bis ..... |
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Wednesday, 24th September at 19.00 hours Mary Anne Zammit (read interview below) will be presenting her latest novel “Torn Velvet” at Messina Palace in Valletta. The evening will include narrative reading by Marylin Attard and a presentation by forensic psychologist, Kevin Sammut Henwood. A discussion will follow. Drinks will be served. Our members are welcome to attend. About the book: When Francine's case notes land on the desk of Dr Michelle, a forensic psychologist, the doctor is shocked by what she sees. Francine is a victim of rape, but she in turn has become a criminal - a killer. Francine's resolve in the face of her ordeal and its tragic aftermath, and her response when her assailant again enters her life, command our sympathy and demand a reconsideration of this vexed issue. Mary-Anne Zammit writes from the heart, yet her careful analysis of the mindset of offenders and the problem of recidivism make Torn Velvet a highly valuable social and criminological study.Electronic Library We wish to remind our members that the German-Maltese Circle is offering the service of online browsing through our databases of material available at our Library. The CD's Database and the Videos/DVD Database are completely available, while the Books Database covers only the novels and literature sections for the time being. These are state-of-the-art databases complete with pictures of the front covers, synopsis of contents and other relevant information on each item. You can access these 2 databases from our website: www.germanmaltesecircle.org Please note that this service is available for paid up members only and hence, you need to apply for the User Name and for the password to access this information. Just send us an email with your full name and membership number and we will forward your user name and password. New Language Courses |
| Attention all Members!! - Exciting Events for May at Messina Palace | ||
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Mary Anne Zammit |
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Originally she wanted to become a medical doctor, but unfortunately her school marks for science were not sufficient. Instead she enrolled in a Nursing Course and got employed at St. Luke’s Hospital. Noticing what was going on amongst many youngsters around her, she got interested in and applied herself in social work amongst the patients. One day one of the doctors noticed this and reprimanded her: “You are a nurse here and not a social worker!” Surely correct as far as discipline was concerned, but for her this meant a turning point. At that time there was a group “Youth for drug-free Youth” attached to the Caritas Organisation, the aim of which was the prevention of drug consumption amongst students. Joining this organisation on a voluntary basis was her first serious step of involvement. Mary Anne then thought it fit to quit her nursing position, and began a four years’ course at the University of Malta, qualifying in 1996 with a Diploma in Applied Social Studies (Social Work). As if this was not enough to keep her thirsty mind busy, she completed a two years’ part time course in Criminology. During these years she also carried out voluntary work at the prison, teaching the inmates literacy and listening to their problems. Her endeavours were noticed by people who cared, and in 1994 Mary Anne Zammit was awarded the Maltese trophy of “The Youth of the Year”. A post-qualification Course of one year in Probation Services at the University of Malta followed. Of the knowledge and experience gathered during this course she says: “I found this extremely interesting – a remarkable and spiritual experience which enhanced my personality.” And instantly after receiving her last diploma in 1997, she was employed as a Probation Officer with the Probation Service in Valletta - this was the position she was aiming and studying for and still holds today. I asked her to tell me more about a “normal” day of a Probation Officer. Apart from the fact that there are no two days alike, she unfolded the typical sections and elements of a working day: The Criminal Court assigns a case – whereby the person can be from 12 to 80 years of age, can be male or female - to Probation Service for two to three years. These persons – from then on called “clients” could have been sentenced for drug related crimes, petty theft, juvenile delinquencies (mostly theft), petty crime (like driving under the influence of alcohol), sexual offences including prostitution. The idea behind this is to give more convicted people a better chance under probation than serving prison terms. Mary Anne says: “With control and care we manage in many cases to rehabilitate the offender, giving him / her back a balance and thus having a positive effect on the community.” “While carrying out my duties, this job plays an important part of my life and has inspired me to writing.” she adds. So far she produced three novels written in the Maltese language, namely Id-Dell ta’ L-Ezmeraldi and Ir-Ragel I-Iswed. Whereby the third Stupru she re-wrote in English with added information and research based on professional experience giving it the English title Torn Velvet. This book has been exhibited in the section The New Title Showcase at the London Book Fair in April, 2008 (see photo above). Incidentally, this book will be officially launched in Malta at the German-Maltese Circle on Wednesday, 24th September, 2008. “My ultimate aim is to be an instrument or agent for change”, she reflects, talking about her next book. This novel will examine and consider basically the elements of child pornography, human and organ trafficking, interwoven with suspense-packed plots. It should also serve as an information pool for parents. Another method of communication, with deep feelings are her poems, which she writes in Maltese as well as in English. A convincing example will conclude this interview. Now, where in all these activities does the German language feature? Mary Anne passed her O-Levels with very good marks in 1984. She fell in love with the German language and the people; and her first story written in Maltese was about Germans! “Whenever I heard German spoken, I felt there was something missing in me – wanting to catch up with.” Finally she made contact with the German-Maltese Circle, participated in the course “German for Fun”, and inspired by her teacher, she enrolled for further courses leading to the Certificate B1 which she completed in 2007. She is still following a language course at the Circle leading to the Certificate B2. In January, 2008, she was elected to serve on the Board of the German-Maltese Circle. Mary Anne’s hobbies are as versatile as her career. She enjoys yoga and meditating, likes reading books on spiritual growth and improvement, concerns herself with metaphysics, and likes to draw nudes in charcoal. “We are here in this world to leave a mark – to make it better, and our true fulfilments come from the love within.” The Love Within
I crossed the
ocean, travelled far to the Himalayas, |
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Blockhaus Nikolskoe & the Chapel of St Peter & St Paul by Carmelina Grech |
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A year later Nikolaus I and his wife, the Empress, came to visit Berlin and Potsdam, and the King took them to the Blockhaus. “Look” the king said to his daughter “a Russian wooden house, it is a true copy of the farmhouse where we spent such a happy time together while I was visiting you in St. Petersburg. You wished to own a house like it…” From that day the Blockhaus was called “Nikolskoe”. On the 19th June 1984, the timber construction burnt down but it was restored and reopened a year later as a restaurant for Berliners and their guests. Princess Charlotte, expressed the pious thought “how edifying and beautiful it would be to find a chapel for peaceful prayer”. Frederich-Wilhelm as lord of Peacock Island ordered a typical Russian chapel to be built, near the wooden house. The wooden porch at the entrance to the chapel resembles the wooden house of Nikolskoe. The interior of the chapel though, contrasts with the “Russian” exterior appearance which is so picturesque. Completed in 1837, the interior with its semi-circular chancel and galleries represents the only remaining example of a typical chapel in the Berlin suburbs. Two bronze statues of Peter and Paul, who are the patron saints of the chapel, stand on the altar, the apostles carrying their symbols, according to the gospel of St. Matthew. The four brass candlesticks on the altar were given to the chapel by an east Prussian refugee congregation after World War II. The altar frontals were woven in the Convent of the Holy Grave at the end of the fifties. The wooden pulpit is supported by four octagonal pillars with Corinthian capitals. On the pulpit there are two medallions with portraits of the apostles Peter and Paul in Roman mosaics, donated by Pope Clement XIII to the Prussian King Frederick the Great. The chapel has a baptismal font made of marble the hollow of which is surrounded by a golden carved inscription. A memorial tablet put up by the Knights of St. John in 1981, reminds the viewer of the crypt under the chapel, where the Prussian royal family is buried. Today the crypt is walled up because in 1919 and in 1945 the coffins were vandalised. The chapel of Nikolskoe is dedicated to St. Peter and Paul [June 29 is the name-day]. It is not known why the chapel is named after those two apostles. Perhaps it is named so because of the two medallions on the pulpit? Or is it a demonstration of Russo-Prussian friendship? The St Peter and St Paul Cathedral within the fortress of the same name is the oldest Russian-Orthodox chapel in St. Petersburg! The positioning of the chapel in the landscape around the river Havel between Peacock Island and Potsdam has established St Peter and St Paul as a self-contained work of art. Since 1932, the doors of this chapel have been open to all visitors! |
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| Skola Sajf and the German-Maltese Circle
Skola Sajf is a project run by the Education Division whereby children aged between 8 and 11 attend in state schools in all villages and towns to cultural, sport and educational sessions aimed at occupying in a positive and productive manner the free time these children have on their hands during this period of school holidays. Every Summer a theme is selected by the Education Division. This year the theme is Cultural Diversity in one Europe. The co-ordinators of these Summer Schools at Birkirkara, Ghaxaq and Kirkop requested our President, Frau Ingrid Kidder to visit their classes and to give audio-visual presentations on Germany and on the work of the Circle to these kids. The feedback was very encouraging. STOP PRESS: The German Embassy has informed us that the new electronic passport for holders of German passports are now being issued from the German Embassy in Sliema. Further information can be obtained from the Embassy – Tel. 21336520 or by visiting the website www.ePass.de |
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Mary
Anne Zammit was born in 1967 and brought up in Qormi together with
two younger brothers. She says, she always “mothered” the boys and
with this habit being part of her life for years, she outlived her
maternal instincts. “Today I have no wish for own children anymore”,
she adds. Instead she devotes practically all her time and energy in
trying to prevent affected individuals from falling deeper into the
mire of their various addictions. 
On
13 July 1817, Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prussian King
Friedrich-Wilhelm III married the Russian Prince Nikolaus
Pawlowitsch. In 1825 he ascended the Russian throne as Nikolaus I.
The Prussian King visited his daughter and son-in-law in St.
Petersburg and on this occasion the royal family went together on a
trip to a Russian farmhouse. Upon his return, the Prussian King,
had a Russian blockhaus, with all the typical features built by a
Russian builder, on Peacock Island on the River Havel, to a
plan he had sent over from St. Petersburg. 
