2010 Weihnachtsmarkt/Christmas Fair in Cologne

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Glass balls and glowing lights.
Dead tree in living room.
Killed to honor birth.

Ron Loeffler
Taken from Haiku for People

Granada, I'm falling under your spell!

"Granada, I'm falling under your spell. and if you could
speak, what a fascinating tale you would tell." So goes the
song but I'm not posting here about the city but about one of my
favorite winter fruits - Granada, Pomegranate or Granatapfel.
Turkish fruits stands start displaying them starting
early September, some still yellowish and small. The
displayed fruits go rosier, redder and bigger as the year
ends.
I love these fruits. Just looking at them brings me back
to my childhood memory of my neighbor's one Granada tree
with its few hanging fruits, and how this woman neighbor of
ours would looked at me suspiciouly the moment I stopped to
admire her rare tree with such a dramatic name.
I would love to believe to this day that as a little marauding
child I really imagined what would happen if the fruits would
open up and how would they taste?

What tales do they bring?
Here are the perks of eating these Granadas as explained in
the fruit tags accompanying these miracle fruits:
*Balances your blood pressure
*Protects your heart and helps it work regularly
*Protects and increases your resistance against infections
*Gives energy and removes fatigue
*Strengthens your immune system and protects
against diseases
*Regulates your cholesterol and blood sugar levels and
prevents them from increasing
*Prevents diarrhea and helps its treatment
*Good for the skin and provides a smooth appearance

Now, don't take cover. Grab your Granadas and
keep yourself under their spell.

Raclette Dining and bits of discussion on Pin@y Identiy

For our Eat and Meet Group, we decided to hold it in a private
place to be hosted by Christie. Every guest brought something
for the raclette dining: steaks for grilling, marinated chicken
meat,cooked shrimps, champignons,cornichons, red,green and
yellow paprikas,bottled asparagus,aioli sauce, baquette rolls,
cheese for raclette dishes, red and white wine.
Our hostess prepared for the Eat and Meet women squash soup,
potato gratin, drinks, sausages, tiramisu and cheesecake.

While Cologne city was shaking with Shakira's Wakawaka, we were
getting heated in the room from the raclette pan and the instant
discussion on our identity as Pin@ys, regionalism, history of the
country, why Philippines has not moved up as compared with
other similarly colonized countries in Latin America,
on Heiratsvermittlung or marriage/introduction bureaus,
and who is to be blamed for the "backwardness" of the country
we left behind...the government or the people? Quite an evening
of chewing, drinking and emotionally loaded rounds of individual
viewpoints and insights.


End part of the raclette dining...instead of the traditional
exchange gift, Christie introduced a game of throwing the dices
to get the brought gifts comprising of gifts, new ones and
recycled items.
I got an even number which allowed me to get one gift for
that round. At the end of the game, I won a free brunch
courtesy of Sol but with an addendum saying it is either in
her place or mine. Next Christmas Eat and Meet, I will
vehemently suggest to have one traditional exchange gift
and one "stealing" the gift game to keep the spirit of
giving - and receiving.

The Big Freeze Holiday in NL...Day Three

Some wintry days in Rotterdam...what to do

What's this Asian food doing in this blog on some wintry
days in Rotterdam? I finally braved the drizzling snow outside
to look for this Korean eatery to have a late lunch of bibimpap,
a rice dish made with shredded beef and carrots, spinach, fried
egg, mixed with spicy peppery red sauce and served with
a typical miso soup and kimchi. A piping hot Ginseng tea made
one forget the bitter wintry temperature raging outside, all for
10Euro only.

On Saturday, this open space would be filled with all sorts of
stands and shops selling wares from fresh Tilapia (wonder where
all the freh fish would come from with this kind of weather?)to
old used photo frames.

As a dessert not only on such bitterly cold day, try poffertjes -
Dutch mini pancakes served hot and dolled up with butter and
covered with caster sugar to go with creamy hot chocolate
or your favorite tea, all for 5Euro.

It's December and time for this traditional George's
ad hanging in many European parks.

It's December and time for these delicious but notoriously
fatty Oillebollen-oily balls rolled in caster sugar.
Each delicious mini ball costs around 85 cents. What a cheap
way to get heavy on equally heavy wintry day in Holland.

A version of snow storm hitting Europe since decades

Global warming is surely not the issue this week
when Europe has been under snow since the start
of December. I'm posting a short video clip
here to record this wintry day in Rotterdam.
TV says winds from the east bringing more
snow. Brrrrr.
Here's the short video.

Getting Creative on First Sunday of Advent

Was in the market the other day thinking of what to buy to
add a bit of festive spirit in my flat now that the first
Sunday of Advent is coming. As usual, just a bit of greens
and some commercial candles of all possible colors cost
a fortune and they all look the same. Prices range from
15 up if one wants a good to look at holiday decor just
in time for the start of Christmas.
I normally make my own simple Christmas decor using
nuts, fruits, greens and candles. This time I have two
Kakis ready to eat for the Sunday brunch. Next Sunday,
I might have oranges or apples...pineapple might be too
huge for the Teller (plate) but maybe you have bought
the new breed good for Christmas decoration and flown in
just for the season.
Advent, Advent, the season of expectation, of waiting
and here's a quote I saw this morning regarding
expectation:
Brian Tracy: Expectation Quotes
"Your attitude is an expression of your values, beliefs and
expectations."

Send me some photos of your own creation. Let's share
them. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Celebrating Nov. 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women

Wir Fordern Die Nacht Zurueck! Reclaim the Night!
With this political slogans, women in Cologne celebrated
the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against
Women on November 25.
For the protest march, they were shouting:

Wir sind Frauen
wir sind viele
wir haben die Nase voll!

We are women
We are many
Fed up are we!

Frauen, hoert ihr Frauen schrei'n
lasst die andere nicht allein...greift ein!

Women, if you hear woman screaming
Don't leave her alone
Strike back, help her!

Wir sind Frauen, welch ein Glueck,
wir fordern uns die Nacht zurueck!

We are women and lucky we are
We want to reclaim the night!

Frauen gemeinsam - sind nicht einsam
gemeinsam sind wir Stark!

Women together are not lonely
Together we are mighty!

The protest march was organized by the women network
Lila-in-Koeln and supported by the Frauenverband Courage
and rhythms of resistance Koeln.

Please see the attached video of the protest march of Nov. 25.

Visit to Koelner Dom/Cologne Cathedral

If you're around in the city and want to hear a high mass
with all heavy and heavenly church music, then come to
Koelner Dom just beside the central station or Hbf...very practical
as one tourist commented.
High Mass is on Sundays at 10:00. Check also the site
I participated this morning at the Holy Mass and
was able to film partly the Gottesdienst. Secretly, of course.
Here's my short video.

Supporting the neighborhood economy

My first act when I returned to my village after a brief holiday
in Budapest was to buy a kilo of these locally harvested
walnuts. I saw the sign Walnuts for Sale for 3.50Euro per kilo in
front of a house on the street near our local post office.
I thought time has really changed. Even my neighbors are now
selling nuts from their backyard. But the nuts taste really
fresh, sweet as compared to the imported nuts from USA which
cost only about 2Euro a pack from the supermarket. The ones
from the USA are bigger and cleaner but taste a bit old and
moldy. I wonder how long have they been stored in some German
import houses and released just in time for Christmas season.
Well, I have my locally harvested nuts for consumption and the
US nuts could be used as Christmas decors. Nothing is lost.
Bayanihan ala Alemanya. The difference is that I paid for the
nuts. Didn't get it free, didn't work for it either.

Integrationsknigge: New Word Learned "Eiersollbruchstellenverursacher"

(Source of Photo:googleimage)

Just in time for the renewed debate on integration of foreigners
in Germany, I learned a new German word while attending
a seminar on "Internationale Handlungskompetenz". A seminar in
English with this topic could include: decision making and
responsibility, negotiating skills, hands-on expertise,
performance capabilities, occupational competence,
leadership skills, action competence, authority to do,
professional skills, social and inter-cultural communication
talents, etc.
For my fellow migrants in Germany, don't worry, this is not
a required seminar to get a permanent permit of stay nor
a part of that compulsory integration course.
Yes, you might think this should be rather a compulsory
seminar if not a course for many public and government
officials who are back to making capital out of
the renewed integration debate. Remember a high ranking
CDU official who had the gall to say "Lieber Kinder als
Inder" (better have children than have Indian migrants)
during a debate on the granting of especial migrant
visa status for IT experts for Germany.
For an updated info, see this link for the current state on the
debate on integration.
Now back to what I really want to blog on the newest
German word I learned...Eiersollbruchstellenverursacher
a word which came out of my friend's mouth
during our brunch after our seminar on hands-on
expertise i.e. Handlungskompetenz.
It is a compound word consisting of egg and cause of breaking
point which is just impossible to translate. Minutes later, I found
this English translation, not egg tickler nor beheader but
an egg clacker.
Eiersollbruchstellenverursacher.
Who needs it?
If it's one item on the language proficiency exam for
obtaining a German passport, I get one correct answer.
At least hindi itlog sa exam!

Looking for a MOB ...Mail-Order-Bear

(Photo: Taken from Wikipedia)
Remember Knut? Saw the other night a feature on him on a German
TV. It said the zoo is now looking for a partner for this
media star polar bear who seems to be having stress with female
bears. See the posted news below I found in
Stern magazine.

Eisbär Knut: Noch ein langer Weg bis zum neuen Zuchtbullen

Knut hat es nicht leicht. Zuerst der Ärger mit der Münchener Eisbärin Gianna, die ihn mit einer krachenden Backpfeife begrüßte. Und jetzt setzt ihm ein älteres Damen-Trio zu. Aber es gibt Hoffnung: Die Direktion sucht in ganz Europa eine junge Gespielin für Knut.

Sorgen um Eisbär Knut: Dem Publikums-Liebling im Zoologischen Garten Berlin geht es nicht gut. Seit seinem Umzug auf den großen Bärenfelsen sieht sich der vierjährige Jungbär gefährlichen Attacken des betagten Damen-Trios Nancy (21) Tosca und Katjuscha (beide 24) ausgesetzt. Aus Angst vor Bissen und lautstarken Drohgebärden kauert Knut meist allein und in die Ecke gedrängt auf einem winzigen Felsvorsprung. Manchmal zittert er und wirkt verschreckt. Die Fans leiden mit dem Liebling, der aus ihrer Sicht zum Mobbing-Fall geworden ist. Den Erwartungen der Zoo-Leitung, als eine Art Zuchtbulle für Nachwuchs zu sorgen, entspricht Knut jedenfalls noch nicht.
Anzeige

Bären-Betreuer Heiner Klös gibt Knuts weltweiter Fangemeinde jedoch einen Hoffnungsschimmer. "Wir sind intensiv dabei, in ganz Europa eine jüngere Gespielin für ihn zu suchen. Wir schaffen das und sind auf gutem Weg", sagte er am Dienstag der Nachrichtenagentur dpa. Einzelheiten nannte er nicht.

Es sei ihm schon zu Ohren gekommen, "dass die Kritiker sagen, wir würden Knut bei den alten Schreckschrauben verheizen", räumt Klös ein. Doch der Eindruck sei falsch: "Wenn Gefahr bestünde, würden wir die Tiere nicht zusammen ins Gehege lassen", sagt Klös. Gewisse Raufereien seien normal. Ziel des Zoos bleibe weiterhin, was Direktor Bernhard Blaszkiewitz vor einigen Wochen so formulierte: "Knut wird unser neuer Zuchtbulle."

Im nächsten Frühjahr soll der von bisher mehr als zehn Millionen Menschen besuchte Publikumsmagnet Knut eigentlich die Rolle seines Vaters Lars übernehmen, der alle drei Eisbärinnen gedeckt und mehrfach für Nachwuchs gesorgt hatte. Lars war an den Zoo Wuppertal abgegeben worden, wodurch der Platz frei wurde für Knut.

Doch mit den drei jetzigen "Damen vom Zoo" wird es wohl nichts - und das liegt nach Expertenansicht nicht daran, dass eine davon, Tosca, Knuts Mutter ist. Der Eisbär sei mit seinen jetzt 270 Kilo auch noch zu schmächtig. "Um sich im Revierkampf Respekt zu verschaffen, muss er noch einigen Speck drauflegen, es fehlen ihm noch die Muckis", sagt Klös. Die Körpersprache der molligen Eisbärinnen hingegen ist klar: Das Trio hat sich gegen Knut verbündet. Sie streifen zu dritt, Fell an Fell, stets eng zusammen im Felsengelände umher und thronen demonstrativ auf dem höchsten Punkt. Von dort beäugen sie Knut am Wasser, gut sechs Meter unter ihnen. Fachmann Klös: "Das ist das typische Königsspiel, wer sitzt oben?"

Das Gehege ist wie aufgeteilt, wobei Knut nur eine bescheidene Fläche in unteren Regionen bleibt. Dort posiert er wie früher allein fürs Publikum und sucht stets Kontakt mit den Menschen. Für Klös sind die Fans an der tristen Situation nicht ganz unschuldig. "Für die Leute baut Knut Männchen, wie er es gewohnt ist. Er ist da, wo die Menschen sind." Die Bärinnen spielen dabei keine Rolle.

Der im Dezember 2006 geborene Knut war von seiner Mutter Tosca nach der Geburt verstoßen worden. Er wurde von einem Pfleger mit der Flasche aufgezogen und stieg bald darauf zum Medienstar auf. Sogar zusätzliches Fressen, meist Croissants, wurden ihm immer wieder zugeworfen, obwohl es verboten ist. Doch selbst die Futterlage hat sich für Knut verschlechtert. Als pünktlich um 11.30 Uhr der Tierpfleger mit großen Eimern kommt, Fische, Fleischstücke und Brötchen, ins Gehege wirft, bedienen sich die Bärinnen zuerst. Knut muss warten und kommt als Letzter dran.

See also this posted news info taken from The Daily Telegraph

Polar bear girl gang bully Knut

* From: AFP
* October 20, 2010


KNUT, the polar bear in Berlin's zoo that shot to global fame as a cub, is reportedly being bullied by a trio of older females, causing the country's media to worry about the superstar's love life.

"Knut, the public's favourite, has become a heap of misery," said Germany's mass-selling daily Bild. "Instead of enjoying himself with the three ladies, he cowers fearfully in a corner," added the more staid Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

For several weeks, the three-year-old bear has shared his zoo enclosure with his mother, Tosca, and two other females, Nancy and Katjuscha.

But hopes that Knut might form a romantic attachment with one of the females appear to have been dashed as stories emerged of violent maulings.

One video posted online showed Katjuscha hurling herself at Knut's throat, in an apparent attempt to bite him, before tipping him into the water.

"These sad images of Knut are pulling the heartstrings of people around the world," said Bild.

But Heiner Kloes, Knut's keeper, downplayed the affair, telling AFP it was "only two minutes in the life of a bear."

"It was a small altercation that is completely normal among bears," he said, underlining that the four bears were still getting used to living together.

"For the time being, Knut is not yet an adult male and doesn't yet know how to get respect like his father did. But day by day, he is imposing himself and with time, this type of problem will go away," he said.
End of the news.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Don't let Knut be mobbed. Find him a MOB...even if this means
a mail-order-bear. Spread the news!

Ecumenical Conference on Filipinos in Diaspora

26th Ecumenical Philippine Conference
in Eisenach, Thueringen
Theme: Filipinos in the Diaspora
Important Agents in the Social Development of Their Home Country?

Congratulations to Hagen Rether, Winner of Deutschen Kabarett Preis 2010

(Photo taken from www.lerone.net)
"Mit zwölf Jahren ist man in Asien zu alt zum Teppichknüpfen, weil die Finger zu gross werden. Du darfst aber erst mit 14 bei Nike anfangen, Turnschuhe zu kleben. Da entsteht eine Versorgungslücke von zwei Jahren, die meistens durch Prostitution gestopft wird... Oh Herr, wir haben keine Ahnung von Sklavenhandel mit Kindern, Zerstörung ganzer Volkswirtschaften durch Börsenspekulationen, und Umweltkatastrophen durch Ressourcenausbeutung. Herr, wir wissen nichts von Hermes-Bürgschaften für Staudämme und Turnschuh-Produktionen in Südostasien. Herr, die meisten von "uns" sind froh, wenn sie sich ihr Autokennzeichen merken können. Kein Schwanz kennt aus dem Stehgreif den Zusammenhang zwischen Aktienkursen und Leitzinsen, wir kennen ja noch nichtmal unsere Blutgruppe. Herr, wir sind so degeneriert, dass wir nicht bezahlen können, weil wir uns die vierstellige EC-Kartennummer nicht merken konnten, Herr. Herr, wir sind so hohl - wie wir voll sind. Die anderen hoffen auf Frieden - und wir hoffen, dass man uns im Urlaub nicht entführt. Die haben Angst, dass ihre Kinder verhungern, und wir haben Angst, dass unser Deo versagt, und dass man uns beim Telefonieren im Auto erwischt. Oh Herr, wir kaufen ihre Frauen und behaupten, sie würden uns unsere Arbeitsplätze wegnehmen. Unsere Beichtväter sind die Steuerberater, und Unicef ist unser Ablass. Oh Herr, mach hoch die Tür, die Tor mach dick- und die Mauern zu. Denn es kommt ein Heer von wütenden kleinwüchsigen Analphabeten und Hungerleidern über uns. Die Tutsi und Hutu werden sich gemeinsam gegen uns verschwör'n, und die nicaraguanischen Kaffeebauern und die Schafhirten aus Kaschmir und die kampferprobten Kindersoldaten aus Sierra Leone... Sie alle werden kommen, über die NATO-Zäune krabbeln und uns hinwegfegen wie El Niño. Sie werden uns mit Basmati Reis bewerfen, und mit Naturreis und mit Parfum-Reis, mit Wildreis und mit Langkornreis und mit Milchreis und mit Uncle Ben's Beutelreis und mit Puffreis. Sie werden in unseren Hobbykellern Dart spielen und in unseren Swinger-Clubs swingen, sie werden von unseren Tellerchen essen und mit unseren blonden Töchtern in unseren Ikea-Bettchen schlafen, sie werden auf unseren Teakholz-Möbeln gammeln, Cohibas rauchen, Darjeeling schlürfen und "wer wird Millionär" gucken. Oh Herr, sie werden mit unseren Geländewagen im Stau stehen und über die Öko Steuer fluchen. Herr. Wie kriegen wir in ihren Drittweltschädel rein, dass du ein Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender bist? Machen wir es uns gemütlich vor dem Herrn, lasset uns beten. Vater unser, der Du bist im Himmel. Gereinigt werde Dein Name. Wir sind steinreich (komm, ey). Unser Wille geschehe, wie in Chile, so auch in Schweden. Deren täglich Brot gib uns heute. Und vergib Du ihnen doch ihre Schulden, wie auch wir vergeben unsere Kredite. Und führe keine Untersuchung, sondern gib die Erlöse uns von den Börsen. Denn wir sind reich, haben die Kraft und die Herrlichkeit. Und die bleiben immer die - in Ewigkeit - Armen."
(Source: Youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k5LbtS4SXM

Inter-cultural Women Coming to Dinner

It was not planned to coincide with the approaching Inter-cultural
Week which is celebrated in Germany around this time. Our coffee
and cake women's group had just met barely two weeks before but
I scheduled this late "Merienda pow-wow" this Friday as the nest
would be "sturmfrei Bude" i.e. free. As you may imagine, it would
be free for all sorts of women's sharing: cooking, telling stories,
some instant dancings, music and lots of candles burning to reduce
the intensity of the delicious smell of exotic cooking coming
from the kitchen.
Despite my coughings and obviously miserable condition, my
friends came with me to my nest and we were ready to start
our own mini intercultural weekend.
As expected, the small kitchen was filled with laughters while
food preparation was going on. I learned how to sharpen my
knives professionally as the main guest cook was complaining
about my blunt knives.
We had Martabak, a traditional Indonesian
omelette with spiced ground meat, Empanadas or Panadas in Bahasa Indonesian with chicken meat.
We had djap jae, a Korean version of Pin@y chop-chuey in two
separate dishes to please our vegan friends. A bottle of iced-cold
Federweisser to toast was surprisingly welcomed and enjoyed by
these women of colors and tastes, and faith.
There was food for all preferences: for "non-beefer", "non-porker"
veggans, and possible Tee-totallers.
For dessert, my Indonesian girlfriend made Dadar, Indonesian rice pancake with sweet coconut fillings and
dipped in black chocolate sauce while I served turron , sweet bananas wrapped in egg roll wrappings and deep-fried.
When they left, I took another glass of Federweisser, put the
left-overs in the fridge, took a warm shower and cuddled my
laptop to bed.
It has been a wonderful dinner meeting. I coul still hear
my friends'laughters but also the faint coughings and
sneezings of some.
Mea Culpa!

Internationales und interkulturelles Kultur-und Begegnungsfest 2010

One summery Saturday on September 4, in Bonn Rheinaue:
international encounter of games, languages, food and
infos on the different concerns and themes presented by the
different organizations and networks around Bonn region.
Babaylan Germany/Philippine Women's Forum participated in
this yearly inter-cultural event. Here are some photos from
the event:

Un Brioche e un cappuccino, per favore! Brunch in Bar

Un Brioche e un cappuccino, per favore! I should say my first
Italian sentence or one of the many first expressions I learned
after those vivid and dramatic Italian swear words. My day won't
be completewithout this set of typical Italian breakfast taken
either directlyat the counter or on a table which calls for extra
table charge.
A set like the one above cost normally 2.60Euro(served on the
table)and 2.30Euro hurriedly consumed at the counter. I prefer to
have my B and C set on a table and enjoy it while watching the
traffic of people coming in and going out of the bar, ordering
coffee and brioche.
What would I do when I return to the local nest and won't have
any more brioche for brunch? Maybe I will try to use my
Plan B (Brioche) Baking as souvenir from this summer sojourn.
Here's a version I found today. Who will bake it for me?
Will provide the cappuccino. The found recipe is completed
with ice cream...not too bad an idea for brunch. O Dio!

Reprinted with permission from Gelato!: Italian Ice Creams,
Sorbetti and Granite by Pamela Sheldon Johns. Copyright 2000.
Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA.

Here is a delicious eggy breakfast bread, perfect for accompanying
sorbetto on a hot summer morning. A nice variation is to knead
in 1/2 cup raisins soaked in 1/4 cup rum, just before the last rise.
Makes 1 dozen rolls

Brioche

Ingredients
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm milk (105 degrees to 115 degrees F)
• 1/2 cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 egg yolks
• 4 1/2 to 5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg white
Directions
In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk. Stir in
1 tablespoon of the 1/2 cup sugar and the olive oil. Set aside
until foamy, about 10 minutes.
Whisk the egg yolks into the yeast mixture until well blended.
Whisk in 1 cup of the flour, the rest of the 1/2 cup sugar, and
the salt. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place
for 1 hour.
Whisk in the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, switching to
a wooden spoon when necessary, until too stiff to stir. Turn the
dough onto a floured work suface and knead until smooth, about
5 minutes, adding more flour 1 tablespoon at a time as necessary
if the dough is sticky.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and turn the dough to
coat it. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in
a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Divide the dough into 12 portions, shaping each into a ball. Place
each ball in a muffin cup and let rise in a warm place until doubled,
about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk the egg
white and sugar just until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
Bake the rolls for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Remove from
the oven and brush with the egg white mixture while still warm.
Let cool in the pan.
To serve, slice in half and fill with a scoop of sorbetto.

Printed from FoodNetwork.com on Fri Aug 20 2010

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/brioche-recipe/index.html

Summer Camp under the Tuscan Sun

Photos to share from my summer camping with dear friends,
Cecil, Irene, Laarni, Nads, Lorenzo and Amanda.
For whatever reason, photos won't post.
How about just a photo?