Milchkaffeefarbenes Leben

If I had to choose one reason to love my job, it would be that I have more opportunities than I might otherwise, to see the world. Gladly when given the chance I escape to have look. Most recently I visited my family on what has become one of my yearly rounds. (I hope this pattern is repetitive) There is nothing annual I look forward to in the same way.  

"When you look you see, when you see you think, when you think you've really been somewhere."

But when I look, do I see what you see?

Like a camera with different filters and lenses, people do see the identical sights or situations and have different interpretations, anywhere from mildly to substantially unalike. Since my trip was laced with coffee, as a trip to Austria should be, I chose to tint my afterthoughts (photos) with caffeine. Look at them how you want, because you will anyway. 

We got to talking and discussing and so forth. I love all the ideas and passion I find in these hobnobs over a hot beverage or a cold raddler, around the table with a bench or along a trail to a mountain peak. Interesting people make for thoughtful times. And absorbing and intriguing things to fill my future. One of the subjects were the documentaries of Erwin Wagonhofer ("Let's Make Money", "We Feed the World" and "Alphabet"), the sort of exposés that force profound consideration, and ultimately conscious discourse.

What is ethical? Can the making of money (tonnes of it) be ethical? Is that concerning? Do you trust, for example, investors of your money (national funds, your pension fund, your personal wealth, etc.) to act responsibly? All questions for which we might not all agree upon the answers, but certainly provoke a pause for thought. 

Would anyone care to guess at what nations are at the head of our world economy in 10 years? In 20? Economics on the grand scale aren't my area, but I would also be interested in any insight into (my favourite thing about Americans) making economy within your own country or region. So 'buy local', the '100 mile diet' and 'farmers markets' have been examples of this everywhere (in western culture), albeit recently and for reasons non-economic, but the Americans have been supporting 'Made in the USA' as long as they have been able to, and they are, undoubtedly one of the current superpowers. Your thoughts? 

I also just finished devouring Bill Bryson's "At Home, a short history of private life", for the second time, and I note the final phrase on which he leaves the reader (after talking about all the fast paced changes during the nintienth century that together built the ease of current daily life): "The greatest possible irony would be if in our endless quest to fill our lives with comfort and happiness we created a world that had neither." 

Hummmm...

On a more comical note, do you ever feel like this wee mädchen? 

I am convinced in order to learn a language as an adult or an older child, you must try to learn just like a baby does, at every opportunity. Practice, pronounce, try and don't be shy to seek the help from everyone willing. That is easier said than done, I agree, but there's nothing more embarrassing than simply not being able to say anything.