Das Wort zum Dienstag:

"Am Abend dieses ersten Tages der Woche, als die Jünger aus Furcht vor den Juden die Türen verschlossen hatten, kam Jesus, trat in ihre Mitte und sagte zu ihnen: Friede sei mit euch! Nach diesen Worten zeigte er ihnen seine Hände und seine Seite. Da freuten sich die Jünger, dass sie den Herrn sahen.
[...]
Thomas, genannt Didymus (Zwilling), einer der Zwölf, war nicht bei ihnen, als Jesus kam. Die anderen Jünger sagten zu ihm: Wir haben den Herrn gesehen. Er entgegnete ihnen: Wenn ich nicht die Male der Nägel an seinen Händen sehe und wenn ich meinen Finger nicht in die Male der Nägel und meine Hand nicht in seine Seite lege, glaube ich nicht. Acht Tage darauf waren seine Jünger wieder versammelt und Thomas war dabei. Die Türen waren verschlossen. Da kam Jesus, trat in ihre Mitte und sagte: Friede sei mit euch!Dann sagte er zu Thomas: Streck deinen Finger aus - hier sind meine Hände! Streck deine Hand aus und leg sie in meine Seite und sei nicht ungläubig, sondern gläubig! Thomas antwortete ihm: Mein Herr und mein Gott! Jesus sagte zu ihm: Weil du mich gesehen hast, glaubst du. Selig sind, die nicht sehen und doch glauben. (Joh 21, 29-29)

Thomas, der Zweifler. Das ist eine der Figuren, mit denen ich mich am besten identifizieren kann.

Gestern und heute hab ich an ihn gedacht. Der gestrige Eintrag direkt danach spiegelt das nicht wieder, aber in mir dachte ich den ganzen Tag: Kann ich wirklich so viel Glueck haben? Kann es so einfach sein? Ich werde es erst wirklich glauben, wenn ich die offizielle Vertragsverlaengerung in Haenden halte, wenn ich das erste Mal das extra Geld am Konto liegen habe. Tja. Recht hatte ich. (Kommt jetzt nicht mit Self-fulfilling Prophecies. Es ist genau umkehrt. Die Dinge laufen nicht so weil ich zweifle sondern ich weiss wie die Dinge hier laufen und deshalb zweifle ich.) Gut, es ist nicht alles anders. Die Verlaengerung passt (zumindest heute noch). Aber, anstatt mir das zusaetzliche Geld auszuzahlen moechte man es mir mit Freizeit abgelten. Also bekaeme ich weiterhin das gleiche, und haette im restlichen halben Jahr 6 Wochen frei oder so. Prinzipiell - ein bisschen mehr Freizeit schadet nicht. Ich hab mich schon sehr eingespannt gefuehlt. Aber ich hab eigentlich nicht vor, im Dezember ein Monat lang nach Hause zu kommen (wie der Boss sich das vorgestellt haette). Und was mach ich mit 6 Wochen Zeit im Winter? Ein Kompromiss, 2, 3 Wochen, Ok. Aber das? Tja, jetzt steh ich wieder da. Im Grund ist es Soll ich es riskieren, morgen wieder hin zu gehen und zu sagen: Mir passt dieses Arrangement eigentlich nicht? Ich will das Verhaeltnis zum Boss ja auch nicht ueber die Massen strapazieren. Vielleicht sollt ich einfach mal Zufrieden sein. Es ist zwar nicht was ich wollte, aber es ist fair. Also, vielleicht sollte ich nicht alles wollen. Vielleicht sollte ich es akzeptieren und das beste draus machen. Ich haette dann Zeit um die extensive Bibliothek zu nutzen, um irgend etwas eigenes zu recherchieren, zu schreiben. Irgendwas. Was? Wuerd ich das durchziehen, ohne Rahmen, ohne Betreuung, nur einfach so, in der Hoffnung dass was herauskommt? Zweifel. Ich haette lieber was ganzes. Ganz Arbeit und ganz gut Geld. Und wenn der Job um ist, dann ganz Zeit und ganz Energie fuer was anderes. Aber so scheints mir eine halbe Sache zu sein und das passt mir im Moment gar nicht. Ach ich weiss nicht. Tja, mal schaun..

Ich will diesen Blog natuerlich keineswegs in einen oberflaechlichen Machoblog verwandeln - und schaetze die Gefahr, dass mir das gelingen koennte, < image "2088-christina" deleted > relativ gering ein - deshalb wage ich heute, wieder mal einen inhaltsleeren Beitrag, rein fuers Auge. TMBG (The Most Beautiful Girl) von gestern Abend (wieder einmal ein Geburtstag innerhalb der International Community). Christina aus Mexiko (wenn ich mich richtig erinnere). Nette Ausstrahlung, geschmackvoll angezogen - und ueber's Gesicht brauch ich nichts zu sagen. In Wirklichkeit sieht sie sogar noch huebscher aus als auf dem Foto. Wie aus einem Gemaelde. Und deshalb auch die Art von Frau, an deren Anblick ich mich einfach nur aus der Distanz erfreue..

Now, I've already been in Rexall Place (the Edmonton Oilers' stadium). This Tuesday, two months earlier than expected. Eric caught special sale tickets for a pre-season game - for 5(!) bucks from Elephant&Castle. Wicked!

So there we were, watching a 3:1 victory over Phoenix Coyotes, who are coached by the legendary Oilers' player Wayne Gretzky (the only name of an NHL player I knew before coming here and probably the only one I'll still know after having returned home). Thanks to Eric I passed another lesson of "Hockey Rules for Dummies" - so now I finally know how off-side works in hockey..

The stadium is nice although that day there were plenty of free seats (what's the point of selling the tickets for about 30 bucks - which is not so much cheaper than during regular season - instead of having a full stadium?) and of course it was just a friendly game - so the atmosphere was not overwhelming. But man, now I'm even more looking forward to the Calgary game. That's gonna be awesome!

Also we got free Oilers T-Shirts (well, we earned them by filling out some promotion forms). There is just one problem. The design I prefered (and chose) was only available in size "L", which obviously is too large for me. So I need your help. I know, as a man I should actually be quite proficient in ruining laundry.. yet.. help wanted: "Shrinking Clothes for Dummies". No kidding, I'd really appreciate suggestions: How can I effectively and systematically shrink the T-Shirt? It should be quite a bit smaller (size "S" or "M" instead of "L" I guess), but of course I still want to wear it (i.e. it shouldn't be size "XS" afterwards) and of course the design shouldn't be destroyed either. Shall I wash it 60C instead of 40C? Or shall I rather put it into the dryer choosing "hot" instead of "delicate"? If I wash/dry it too hot once and it's still too large can I repeat the procedure, or will the material reach the maximum shrinking after the first time? Any deliberate or undeliberate experiences?

Never thought it could be so easy: I'm going to watch the Oilers! I've just heard that the book store in the Student Union building is selling tickets (for 50 bucks) and I thought, I'm here in Edmonton, so I have to take the opportunity and get a live experience of the Oilers. Big surprise when I arrived at the store: There was no queue at all and I even had a wide range of matches to choose from. (So maybe it's very bad seats?) Guess what I decided for? Calgary, of course! Tuesday, 21 November 2006, 7pm Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames. I'll be there! Wiiicked!!!!!

This week was crazy! You know, I've been here all summer and I got used to the fact that the campus was pretty much deserted. But this week the term started, and suddenly it was just crazy. People everywhere! (Which makes it much more difficult to cycle on campus.)

Looking around was a little bit depressing - I've just finished my studies and am already 10 years older then those kids who're just starting now. Kids. Gosh, they look sooo young, well they are, and I felt really, really old.

It was a bit like this already the week before, when Transition Week, the welcome programme for the international students took place. Most of them are undergraduate exchange students on their big adventure, like I was four years ago - (is it already such a long ago???) - which may not a big difference in age but still, I felt very different. The most telling situation occurred when we (Kinga, Premek and I) took part in a downtown walking tour: I started chatting with a Chinese guy, asked him what he is doing (starting undergraduate degree in engineering) and he asked me what I was doing. "I've just finished my master in history and am working here as a research fellow." He: "I see. Yes, I've already noticed that nearly our whole group is adults." I laughed and asked him whether he doesn't consider himself an adult, but of course I knew perfectly what he wanted to express. The same feeling I experienced the other way round..

Yet, I plan to keep myself informed about the International Centre's activities because I think it's a good way for seeing more of Edmonton and Alberta as well as for reasons of socialising. (Also, I suppose that in these circles it would be easier to obey Grossis command that my wife to be has to accompany me to Austria, or at least to Europe. :-)

Aditionally I intend to attend the Faculty Club regularly, which is a bar on Campus where professors and PhD students meet on Friday afternoon, have some drinks, and socialise from joking and chatting to serious discussions. The first time I went there (about two weeks after my arrival) I felt quite inhibited, a young and unknowing boy among all those old, intellectual men and women. I still listen more than I talk, which I think is a probably the best thing to do anyway, because these people know so much and it's interesting just to listen. The last two times I had a really good time and although I saw those people three times at most, there are some whose company I quite enjoy.

So I guess my life here will be continuing between the two worlds. One day I'm having drinks with Eric and his friends, students, and another day I'm having drinks with their professors. Which sometimes can create quite funny situations. On the occasion of our farewell drinks with Lucka I had invited Eric and Mariko as well, and at first it was just the two of them and David and me. Then Darek, Luckas boyfriend was approaching and as David and I were waving at him Eric asked in a mixture of surprise and panic: "You know HIM!?! He is one of my teachers.." (And it was very obvious that he didn't feel well about that.)

..an den/die 1000. Besucher/in! Glueckwuensch, wer immer es auch war! (Und natuerlich Gratulation an mich. *g*)

Mehr gibt's jetzt nicht.. keine Zeit, keinen Kopf, keine Nerven.

< image "1621-haircut" deleted > Es ist wieder einmal soweit. Die Haare ueber meinem rechten Ohr belieben leider haeufiger und haeufiger, sich nach aussen zu drehen - fuer mich ein untruegliches Zeichen, dass ich bald zum Frieseur gehen sollte. Bei meinem ersten hiesigen Haarschnitt fragte Ilona (eine Dame aus Tschechien), ob ich jemals lange Haare hatte, was ich verneinte. Sie meinte, an meiner Stelle wuerde sie sie auf schulterlaenge wachsen lassen. Aha. Interessante Idee. Ist mir noch nicht in den Sinn gekommen. Nun jetzt wo es fast soweit ist, die Frage an euch, Friends and Family. Was meint ihr? Koennte das gut ausschauen? Wuerde das zu mir passen? Ich bin sehr unentschlossen - wie so oft wenn's darum geht, was Neues auszuprobieren.. (Alternativvorschlaege auch willkommen, aber ich sag's gleich: Stoppelfrisur, faerben und aehnliches ausgeschlossen! Faaad!)

Mission accomplished! The two tasks are done. - Unfortunately that was it, apart from them, my to do list is still exactly as long as before the weekend.

I just loooove grocery shopping! It would be even more expensive fun if I had somebody here who could cook with me things of all those things I don’t buy because I don’t know what to do with them. (For example fish, seafood and all the exotic ingredients.) Actually this shopping tour was already a bit exceptional as I abstained from some of my usual choices: Leech (good for soup, sauces, Chinese style dishes), mushrooms, eggplant and courgette (good to combine with minced meat and for pasta). Here’s my complete list of yesterday’s raid through Safe-on-Foods:

• 3lb carrots
• 3lb potatoes
• 2 chorizo sausages (These first three are meant for a so-called Garden Stew, one of zitali’s and my cooking favourites. Unfortunately I forgot to buy herbs and soup cubes.)
• 1 head of salad
• 475ml bottle Caesar salad dressing (Am thinking of adding some bacon - yummy!)
• 180g can of tuna (emergency reserve for another week like this one.)
• 2 apples (Golden Delicious)
• 2 nectarines
• 378ml can of pineapples – always good for a curry or a sweet and sour (or rather hot) chicken.
• 2 peppers (1 green, 1 red) – peppers, like carrots are a must for my fridge.
• 390g broccoli – I’ve hardly ever bought broccoli, but I like it, so why not include it into some Chinese style dish or the like.
• 2 packs of instant noodle soups (spicy chicken, oriental) – Sometimes it just has to go as quick as possible, and a small meal for 33c isn’t bad either.
• 370g imitation crab salad (flavoured Pollock) – just looked nice so I picked it.
• 180g piece of herb & spice cheese – ditto.
• 1kg brown sugar – safety for two more months..
• 1l milk (Homo - by accident. When I realised the choice at home I at first wondered: What on earth was I thinking when picking it. But as soon as I had opened my fridge I knew the answer: Safe-on-Foods’ Homo is yellow, just like Safeway’s Partly Skimmed which I bought last time.. And by the way, Safe-on-Foods too does not sell real full fat milk.)

Total: CDN $35.91 (ca. 25€) – Not bad isn’t it? Converting it now, I’m actually quite surprised. In general I have the impression that Edmonton prices are a little bit higher than the Austrian, especially what concerns cheese and ham. (Shall I give you the price of the individual items so that you can compare? :-)

That stuff should bring me through the whole week, right? So I thought as well, after I had put all these things into the basket. And suddenly I realised: There is no whole week this week. Thursday in the middle of the night early morning David and I will already be flying to Vancouver and we’ll return Monday evening. So better prepare yourself for a couple of days without your favourite blog. (Although your endurance in reading is flattering, don’t complain now; rather ask yourself how many days have passed since you last wrote me an e-mail and use the days accordingly! :-)

Do you also want to know what I had for dinner? I had one of my "Put some more or less random things together and see how it works out" – creation. I bet you all know this situation: You suddenly have an idea of something you could paint or do by handicrafts. You develop the idea in your mind. Than you try to put it into reality, and realise that your hands just can’t follow your mind. The mind’s great picture ends into a feeble experiment. That is sooo depressing, isn’t it? (Usually with my cooking experiments it’s something in between. The results are quite edible – at least for my not very spoiled palate – but I don’t feel confident enough to cook them for somebody else.) However, there are also these scarce occasions when it just works out. This, fortunately, happened yesterday.

I inherited a glass of sour cherry sauce from Lilla. Actually the label says it’s meant for dipping, but I thought, I should try to experimentalise a bit: Chicken meat, carrots, onion, curry, salt, pepper, a bit of hot chilli – and sour cherry sauce, apple pieces and nectarine pieces. It would be David’s nightmare because he hates the combination of fruits and meat – but I was very, very satisfied. Yuuuuummmyyyy! In the end I think it didn’t taste much of the cherry sauce, apart from the fact that the sauce was as sweet as I wanted it to be. Well, maybe I’ll try dipping plain meat net time. Or what about trying to include the sauce into the batter or.. (Actually I quite like cooking, I would just need some professional guidance...)

I was at sitting at "Ala's" computer, right next door, when Lilla left the office yesterday evening. I could so feel what it felt like: That moment, when you've emptied your office, which from now on won't be your office anymore. You step out. You have a last look back. You breathe in and switch off the light. And although you can't really believe it you still know that all those little things you've just done, you did them for the last time. You are leaving this behind and you are leaving forever. It is over. Over.

It's such a strange, strange feeling: Lilla was the one unlucky person who had the den office without a window, without daylight. The room's wall towards the building's main corridor is partly a glass front, closed by blinds. As a consequence, already when approaching the institute I could see whether the room was lit (Yippie!) or not, whether she was in (Yippie!) or not. The light was a warm welcome, a promise that it was worth to enter the institute. I still can't fully believe that for the next two weeks this window will always stay dark, and even afterwards the light won't be the same again..

Furchtbar ist es mit der Zeit: Ich habe das Gefuehl das Wochenende ist gerade erst vorbei und auf einmal ist schon wieder Wochenende. Was an sich eigentlich das perfekte Leben waere - wuesste ich nicht, dass alles, was ich in den dazwischenliegenden, so schnell verfliegenden, Tagen erledigen wollte, noch immer unerledigt ist.

Inklusive einer beaengstig langen Liste zu beantwortender E-Mails. Und bezueglich Wochenend-Aktivitaeten gaebs auch Stoff fuer vier oder 5 Berichte. Das nur die beiden angenehmsten unerledigten Dinge. Den beiden wichtigsten werde ich mich gleich heute abend und morgen (nach dem auschlaaaaafen) widmen.

Der Abwasch.

Das Foto ist von vorgestern, aber es sieht heute noch immer genau so aus. Und vor dem Wochenende hat's auch nicht viel anders ausgesehen. Dazukommen kann naemlich nichts mehr, weil das bereits das ganze Geschirr ist.

Einkaufen.
Abendessen bestand dieser Tage aus der verzweifelten Suche nach essbaren Resten im Kuehlschrank. Im Gemuesefach herrscht seit dem Wochenende gaehnende Leere - abgesehen von Zwiebel und Knoblauch, mit denen allein man halt wenig mehr anfangen kann als Spaghetti Aglio e Olio. (Hatte ich eigentlich eh schon ewig nicht mehr..) Das Tiefkuehlfach bietet einen aehnlich tristen Anblick. Abgesehen von der Rubrik "Wann kriegen wir endlich wieder Fleischhhhh!" (© Lord of the Rings II) - Huehnerfleisch, Faschiertes, Speckstreifen, Wuerstchen - beschraenkt sich die Auswahl auf Toastbrot und Eis. Die zwei Packungen Cereals sind auch schon aus, was bedeutet, dass ich seit der Loesung des "milk probleme" bereits 950 Gramm davon vertilgt habe. Zucker ist auch noch immer aus. Gestern, am Heimweg von Eric war's gerade 5 nach 12, der Safeway war schon zu - aber ich hatte ja fuer heute noch eine Ein-Heferl-Tee-Menge Honig uebrig.. Hier uebrigens ein Teil des gestrigen Abendessen bei Eric (Beilage war ein exzellenter Salat und das Dessert Chips): Ich entschied mich dafuer, Brahma mitzubringen. Was waere passender fuer einen Besuch bei Eric als brasilianisches Bier? Das (die vier um genau zu sein) tat gut! Wenn ich's recht ueberleg: Was brauch ich da noch Lebensmittel zu Hause..

Taeusche ich mich oder gab's da nicht mal jemanden, der es in seinen ersten Tagen in Kanada tatsaechlich wagte, auch nur die leise Hoffnung zu aeussern, hierzulande die Disziplin seines hausmaennischen Wirkens verbessern zu koennen?