Mr. Borghes, whose rather bold quote this blog remembers - and agrees with - is a great writer. Him, Marquez and Pessoa had proven to me that spanish literature is a force to be reckoned with and an experience to be seeked.
My new obsession is Mario Vargas Llosa. Herta Müller, who got the Nobel prize last year, was given to me as a Christmas present, and as enthusiasm accompanied my read, it soon diminished as she quite clearly is nothing for my taste.
Also, a recently made aquintance who seems to know very exactly what he is talking about, expressed his general scepticism on the recipients of the Nobel prize in literature.
And as Llosas development and mastering of the description of mind, weaving of narrative and creating a suspense that just doesn't let you put the book down, no matter it's number of pages and your limited sleeping time - the experience is just great.
I will talk about this in a more thorough way in the estonian book blog I keep, probably next week.
Just to let y'all know, though - here stands a firm admirer of Llosa.
Almost a month has passed since I reported where life has taken me these days. This is partially... well rather primarily because the begin of a semester, the participation in an internship and the research for two papers for seminars whose professors I like and therefore wish to impress - summa summarium, I've been in and out of the library in these past weeks.
My internship ended and altogether it has been a great experience, teaching me about newest literature (and among other rewarding literary excursions, lead me to Llosa), introduced me to some interesting people and further improved my german.
I still hear the surprise every time I mention german is not my native tongue (coming here I used to proudly exclaim it, now I prefer to ignore the subject of origin for as long as possibe), but the truth I get from the professors is that for someone who studies german literature, my expression is astonishing if one considers I'm not a native speaker, nevertheless if considered with the same expectations they have for the german students, lacking a bit of something. Being the perfectionist I am, my wish is to terminate these problems. The progress towards this goal has been gradually coming along since my very first written paper, and really good lately.
Winter is officially here and since Marburg is inside a valley between mountains, I have and have used the opportunity to climb up a mountain for 20 minutes and enjoy a beautiful view of the landscape while enjoying freshly made lapsang souchong from my thermos.
I have also, as is customary when the climate suddenly flips, aquired a flu, a cough and a slight fever accompaning these last trips in the silent nature, however I say with confidence that it is worth it. The human body gets accustomed to anything, so a little cold shouldn't do anything serious to a girl from almost-Scandinavia.
As many of you, I, too, have been to see the newest Harry Potter movie, which can easily be dubbed the best of the bunch so far - finally there is a firm balance between cinematical effects, authentic narrative and development of character. I very much look forward to the last movie and to watching the whole seventh book together. The ca. five hours will be rewarding, I am sure of it.
The experience was even greater because I watched the movie in the biggest movie theatre I have yet been in, and me and Amer were the only guests that evening. That could have had to do with the fact that it was an english version and the time was almost midnight when the movie began. So really the best movie experience so far.
I have at last made Frankfurt my own as well - it has taken me a year to finally start freely roaming around in the subway and on the streets of the capital of Hessen. For Estonia Tartu is not considered a small town and I know my way around most of Tallinn, too (although the old town still provides the option to get lost - fun, not irritating), and Frankfurt doesn't even have a million inhabitants, but still, until now, meant unknown territory for me. The last week has changed that and I think from now on I will use the opportunity to travel inside Hessen for free much, much more.
I have been on the move quite a lot, actually - in addition to Göttingen I visited Dana in Leipzig. And it is interesting how every conversation we have had over these times in Germany when we so rarely see each other proves to be of such quality emotionally and intellectually. It is given, really, because when we were in Estonia we met at least once a week, sometimes daily, and always had the world to talk about, never stopping for silence, and this for the last fourteen years. This is what friendship feels like.
And this is also the answer to my recently haunting question: do I really need to find new friends everywhere I go? Is it necessary to go and chill with a bunch of people in a bar or anywhere on the weekends?
I love exchanging links with an undertone and plans for the next time home with my two best girls in Tartu. I know Anne will be the first person I see after I arrive in Tartu, as I know Ingel will very probably spend New Year's with me and if not, have tea with me on more than one occasion. As I love talking to Dana in Skype, even if that nowadays sometimes happens only once every two weeks.
When one has established such good friendships, to each a specific and strong connection, I think it's normal not to be on the lookout for more.
So this is why in Germany my few hobbies include Amer and my bookshelf.
Why am I even laying this down right now? Because last Christmas when I went home the first question about Germany I got was: have you made many friends there? This question came from the younger sister of my then-boyfriend, whom I hadn't really ever talked to more than a couple of sentences, but somehow has been haunting me ever since.
I didn't make the effort to explain to her that my goal coming here is not to make many friends but to evolve and to keep my existing friends. She is a bit young, I know she would've understood, but I kept wondering if this makes me somehow odd in a negative way.
I've finally come to the conclusion it doesn't. I'm happy in the midst of my books, corresponding with my few real friends, and that's that.
Generally it's a quiet life over here anyway, especially now with the snow and the cold - better to stay inside with a warm cup of cozy than to go on the town in a short dress. As always, I have a million books to read - for my bookblog, for my seminars and the ones I discover along the way and also want to read. So for those of you to whom reading a book a week presents itself as a challenge, I advise you to just carry it around with you at all times - waiting for a bus/train/person or just between seminars it proves to be a very good friend.
But now you know I'm still alive and well - off to my two favourite pastimes once again.
Enjoy the snow!
