monuments men

A couple weeks ago buzz feed posted something about a whole bunch of military artifacts that are being kept in storage. I didn't have any interest until there was a little blurb about actual artwork from Hitler himself. I thought this was compelling so I clicked further. There was a little video clip from the documentary that shows this art work, which has been seen by very few people (I mean really....where and how does one post such things, but one also cannot destroy them). The documentary, the rape of europa (great name, considering this is also a famous work of art), details the story of nazis stealing treasured art works during the war and the resistance against this. It was soo interesting. I give it a high recommendation.

The film monuments men is based on this same story. I literally just looked at the cast at christmas, saw the tag line and I was sold. So tonight, I was able to see it, in english, in Germany.

I will start off by saying - the story is so interesting and the whole concept of the film is amazing. Somehow though, it all seemed a little bit to Disney (although not disney), and very sensationalized.

Some observations:
There was no need for a love story. That is not what this story was about.

The film in general had a very "f yeah, america!"-vibe. I had initially invited a friend to go with me but she expressed hesitation, because she is sick of seeing movies about how americans are the heroes. I felt quite sympathetic towards the Germans during this, and understood now what my friend said. There were definitely jokes that would go over much easier in North America, but I think that everyone here knows enough of the devastation that Germany experienced during the war that little jokes seemed cruel. I recognize the hostility, but I felt rubbed the wrong way, and I am sure I wasn't the only one in that theatre.

Further on that note, there never seems to be movies that are Pro-German in the war. I would like to see more about people who were scared and didn't know what to do and didn't have the courage to resist. I think that would be an interesting story. To experience some of the manipulation and the thought pattern of the people being influenced by propaganda.

I think it is interesting that the americans became the champions of art. When you think about it today, europe seems much more cultural and historic than america. This makes it interesting that they were the ones here preserving. I mean, if not them then who? Thanks for saving the art, but I think there was a distinct lack to what the europeans did for themselves, especially the italians, and the french who were hiding works from the louvre throughout the countryside. Then I think about the art of america and importance there. Significantly less funding. I think this is why such a difference is noticed between these continents.

So would I recommend this film. Not really, but I do not regret seeing it.

lessons for insurance sales

I am in the midst of changing my insurance here. Interestingly all "public" health insurance in Germany costs the same thing, but each carrier naturally has different benefits. Also, this gets automatically taken off your paycheck.

When I first moved to Germany I started with AOK because that was the first one that I found, and they had a campus representative. Easy was all I cared about. Even back when I decided to stay here I found that I had some difficulties, even living 2 months (unknowingly) living without insurance (which is illegal).

Over the course of some lunches, colleagues and I have talked about insurance, and it seems the consensus was that no one was insured by AOK. I decided, hey why not make a switch because there are some other benefits that interest me.

I finally stopped being lazy and wrote an email asking how far in advance I would need to cancel my insurance. The response...sehr geehrte Herr Schmidt - Dear Mr. Schmidt. grrrrr

I sent off my cancellation letter and received a phone call last week from the sales rep who would need to come by and drop off my papers of cancellation, and I knew naturally would try and convince me not to leave.

He just came by, and sir....I am at home with some killer headaches and you show up with a dual combination of cologne and cigarette smoke. It's clear he is an auto-smoker which is so disgusting. I just wanted him to leave as fast as possible. Instead of inviting him into my house I just let him stay in the foyer. I didn't want my house to smell like him after. There were some last ditch efforts he made in trying to change my opinion, but to no avail. I have some literature but I really do not care to read it. On of the other points he made was that there were many more people insured by his firm than the one I am going to switch to....so what. It could just mean that 24 million people are unhappy.

The impression of the people that AOK hires leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

17-01-14

So yesterday was the day i heard about ellen page coming out...literally my first reaction, was who cares!! I saw the headline and scrolled further. I mean good for her, but it really doesn't make a difference. Later on in the day one of my friends posted the video of her speaking at a human rights convention. I decided, hey, why not, I'll watch. Her speech was just fantastic, and I really appreciated her desire to want all people have fair treatment. She talked about the pressures that she has experienced to be a certain way due to the nature of her job. I thought, at the very least she is a good actress and can do that. Acting however is awful for the soul.

I do think she could have picked a better platform. Everyone gave her a standing ovation after her announcement. Good choice lady. My reaction - I was happy for her, but it still changes nothing in my life.

I thought it was really funny because after scrolling down and reading some of the comments, I got the impression that no one else cared.

I think at this point, there are enough people that it could soon just be normal. Like her casually mentioning in an interview that she and her girlfriend or whatever, or just show up on the red carpet with her partner. Celebs keep their relationships s secret for the most part anyways that it doesn't really matter what sexual orientation you have.

The smallest world

I have another crazy small world story

A colleague of mine has a friend living in whistler

One of my friends from winnipeg has now also moved there...

guess who have become friends!

the need to learn

I often find myself feeling quite guilty just to actually sit and veg out and relax. I think that it would be really cool to be on of those people that simply just knows so many things and can converse in every topic. This is a reason that I enjoy travelling so much, because I get to learn and see and experience.  I also feel like the more I learn about these places the more I gain from it. Often times after I see something I end up doing research after I go somewhere. I wonder if I actually learn to appreciate more after I have been somewhere.

My dad also loves to learn and has been doing some online exploring of mennonites in Amsterdam and sharing some of these insights with me and I am even more appreciative. I wonder if knowing everything makes an impact on how much a visit to a new place will touch and affect you.