Wednesday, April 9, 2008
My Personal Testimony (I)
One of my regular readers is I. M. Schneider, married to a German national. She left a comment before and suggested I should write more practical things on “how” to ’survive’ more or less as an ex pat in the Philippines
Already in Germany I got a lot of hobbies… . These favourite pursuits or pastimes have been i.e. collecting stamps, playing cards with friends, reading good books, oil painting, writing/writing/writing - and music.
Music from the Greek “mousikos” and pertaining to one of the nine muses in the Greece mythology - is the art of combining sounds or sequences of notes into harmonious patterns hopefully pleasing to ears and satisfying to our emotions. Emotions - here we are?
I experienced a lot of ex pats, ’sitting under a palm tree’, grumbling and complaining, that they have nothing to do. Guys, why didn’t you bring your hobbies with you? I can do all my favourite things also here in the Philippines! Every sand beach, every sunny day, every bar hang out, every first class dining, every “nothing doing” is becoming boring one day. And then???
One thing eases my nerves very successfully: music! As I mentioned before: I took my whole record collection from Germany with me moving to the Philippines. It’s a part of my home country, of my former life and my present situation now here. I also brought with me my three keyboards. It’s wonderful diversion from daily life struggles. It worked before in Germany, why it shouldn’t work here?
The church reformator Martin Luther (1483-1546) explained it as follows: “Many times, when I was in terrible darkness, especially when people ‘left me without reason”, I prayed - and I listen to music, which delivered me and refreshed me!”
The great German composer and poet E.T.A. Hoffmann said 1801: “If you start to be simple speechless, music can take over!” And Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), without doubt one of the true and great and just awesome Western composers narrated: “Music is utmost revelation then all the wisdom and philosophy!”
“I feel like flying after entering a church, praying, and listening the music of heaven!” the German poet Friedrich Schiller (1759-1809) philosophized about music in his drama “Maria Stuart”.
As I stressed in one of my former posts: A simple melody can make us feel happy, sentimental, smiling or crying or relaxed. A form of light entertainment in which songs, dialogue, dance, and humour are combined with a not too serious plot is a much as important then a dramatic Italian opera or the single musician or street singer, not being a man of culture
, but enjoying us people.
More on “how to survive as an ex pat” next time… . I am busy travelling again and taking care my stamps collection, before relax again on a white sand beach … .
Related Posts:
My (personal) legal battles and experiencesMy Personal Testimony (II) - or…
Entry and Stay of Foreign Students in the Philippines (I)
Season is Thoughts
When to keep your mouth shut
The guilt…
Life goes on…
Philippine-German Relations (XVI)
Philippine-German Relations (VII)
Work hard but dream harder!
# 1 rick b said:
Klaus
Some of your writing is very poetical, i can see how you enjoy it so much, regards to music, yes i agree with you, let it become part of you, best regards
# 2 Klaus Doring said:
Hi Rick B, thanks for your kind words… And thanks for stopping by…
God bless!
# 3 macky said:
so true. this is why i have a sketchbook with me wherever i travel or move to.
i have plans to move to central mexico for just a year. to live life. but i do plan to try learning new hobbies while i am there. spanish lessons, maybe a guitar or sculpting class. learn the cuisine & know the culture.
i think this applies to what you wrote.
you make a very valuable point.
# 4 MarcelinaWW said:
Hi Klaus,
Hobbies tell others who you are - what makes you tick, so to speak. Have you been to some people’s home you thought you knew, then found out you really have nothing in common?
Herb Gardening is one of my passions… can you imagine going into someone’s home who despise getting their long finger nails dirty? Or, no reading materials that you see? Indeed, many interests in life give us an opportunity to relate with others of many cultures.
BTW, I read one of your previous post to have studied Publishing Management. I just signed up for my first block of 10 ISBN’s and am shooting to sefl publish my Set of Book/Cards, and a book hopefully before the end of the year. Any advice?? Wish me luck!!
# 5 Bob said:
HI macky - learning the cuisine is a great hobby. You really have to work very hard to do that. It requires multiple sampling of every bit of food that you can possibly get your hands on. It’s hard work, but somebody has to do it, right? I just want to thank you for your future contribution to humanity in learning the cuisine of Mexico!
Ha ha…. 
# 6 Klaus Doring said:
Hi Macky, thanks for stopping by and thanks for your kind words. Good idea with the sketchbook. I usually do this also, even now being on travel some days. Good idea to stay in Central Mexico. I am sure you will enjoy your hobbies. Good things you mentioned: especially live life, learn the language and so something cultural… this really applies to what I mean, because it open doors AND hearts of the people you are living with…
# 7 Klaus Doring said:
Hi MarcelinaWW, you are so very true with your first sentences. Or, you even found it out later…
- Any kind of gardening (landscaping) was also always one of my hobbies. Now my family is doing this instantly, because we all love nature and enjoy our green surroundings.
Yeah, I studied publishing house management. Congrats for your first ten (?) ISBN’s… Of course I wish you good luck. Any advices would be out topic HERE, so please just click CONTACT KLAUS and I could give you some advices my email. One of my American friends will publish also a book in New York in June hopefully. Common interests in life really give us an opportunity to relate with others…
God bless…
# 8 MarcelinaWW said:
Thank you Klaus! I’ll send you my questions in a couple of days - I need to get my thoughts clear …
Both my husband and I had always wanted to publish our work since our first bookstore in 1986…. he writes theorital physics while I like the mystical side of life. (for our granchildren to read) 
I registered for 10- ISBN’s since I have 3 ongoing writing projects and so does my husband. I said “first” block of 10 because I feel ambitious
besides of being less expensive than registering for only one ISBN.
Does your friend ever go to the ABA convention? Now, that’s really a place that you get to know big authors, publishers, etc. It’s so amazing!
Thanks again!
# 9 Klaus Doring said:
Hi Marcelina, sorry for my late reply. I have been travelling for a while and will do this again, while also being teaching German now and completing some other writing projects. Thanks for your kind words. let’s keep in touch… Best regards to your husband and your whole family…