Sunday, October 23, 2005

Ciao Ciao!!!

Every once in a blue moon I actually find time to sit down and update this cursed stepchild bog of mine. But this time it's different. You will see a concerted effort on my part to "sound" professional and intelligent. No more cursing or damning the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. No! Now a possible future employer might be reading my blessed blog. Yes, I've included a link on my resume and CV. An intelligent and professional decision? Probably not... but I'm not professional or intelligent anyway :(

So I have a lot to add. First I must say that I have no time: I am still working and must spend every free moment searching for a new job and satisfying my two polygamous wives. I am also trying to make the best of my remaining two months here by traveling (Spain this Wednesday for a week, hopefully Ireland later, Kulmbach Germany sometime, the opera in Stuttgart, and possibly a visit to my illegitimate children scattered all over the continent).

So, I was at another trade fair, this one actually organised by us. I worked at the IBEF (International Business Exchange Forum) pavilion. I mainly answered stupid questions like: "Did it rain tomorrow?", "Is the bathroom under that 'WC' sign overthere?" and "Do you enjoy sneezing?" or something to that effect. But on the intelligent and professional side I did things like: business matching, propitiating exhibitors and conducted numerous strategy meetings with potential partners.

Anyway, here are a few photos.





Oh, I also led an excursion to Oktoberfest with the General Director responsible for non-conventional (renewable) energy sources at the Turkish Ministry of Energy. Just so you know: Muslims rarely drink alcohol and never eat pork. What is Oktoberfest almost exclusively? Beer, schnitzel and wuerst (alcohol and pork). But the excursion actually went quite well.



So, after 12 days straight of work, we all went out drinking at the Stuttgart equivalent of Oktoberfest called "Volksfest". Meaning "People festival". The festival rocks! It's about 1/3 the size of Munich's event (only 2 million visitors) but includes basically the same things: huge beer tents, rides, vomit, etc.





The boss paid for everything:
Thankfully I'm professional and intelligent or else I would have ended up like this guy:



Then I decided to take a vacation to Italy. Not just any old Italy, Venice Italy! Let me quote you a few lines from that famous song "La Donna e Mobile" the gondolier always sing in Venice.

The melody goes like:
Laaa da do do do, leeee do la la la

and the lyrics:

La donna e mobile
Qual piuma al vento,
Muto daccento - e di pensiero.
Sempre un'amabile
Leggiadro viso,
In pianto o in riso - e menzogner.

Esempre misero
Chi a lei saffida,
Chi le confida - mal cauto il cor!
Pur mai non sentesi
Felice appieno
Chi su quel seno - Non liba amor!

English:
The women are unsettled
As feathers in the wind,
Each moment changes their minds.
In tears, or even smiles,
Yes, women's lovely face,
Forever beguiles us!

The men that is so mad
To trust a women's heart
Forever must be sad.
But still there is no bliss,
Upon this earth compared
To that of a sweet kiss!

Magnifico!

There is actually a lot more land Venice than one thinks and the city does not stink!








Next it was on to Verona to visit Laura - an old Tuebingen friend. Got to meet her whole entire family (i mean ENTIRE family). Verona is actually, in my opinion, one of the best cities in Italy.





It is also where Romeo and Juliet takes place:





and the home of Casanova.



Finally it was on to Milan to visit Francy - another Tuebingen friend. She actually lives in Pavia, a city which, out of any city I’ve visited in Italy, typifies true Italian culture the most. There are no tourist and the streets are alive with magic.


McDonalds Magic!

Interestingly, there used to be a tower next to the main Domo until it collapsed unexpectedly in 1989 - primarily due to negligent or possibly a late maintenance request.



We also visited Milan for a little shopping (didn't buy anything except this baby carriage)





and a little clubbing.



So now off to warm weathered Spain. I'm in vacation mode right now because my traineeship should have already been finished but I accepted a contract extension due to my professional and intelligent manner.

Employeers: let me know what you think about this blog and its effect on your decision. Has it helped, hurt, or done nothing to affect your decision whether or not to hire a clearly competent, intelligent, internationally experienced, quick learning, sexy and confident team-player? Make an anonymous post and let me know what you think!

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

New Post!! Wow!

No, I have not died. I am just the busiest I've ever been.

I'll post sometime soon but to kill a little time, click the "next blog" link in the upper right corner - it actually is quite interesting...