#also: no i don't only like germans; it's just that studying german made me consume a lot of german medias so i virtually consumed every -

[sternvonafrika]

Can you show a few photos of what your potential crush would look like? 🐭or just describe physical features you find most attractive in men?

if i had to describe my ideal man, ideal in the sense that i know i am never gonna have a chance with someone like him, i would mention someone like paul newman or young vittorio gassman. but we can't all look like movie stars so if i have to be real and describe more common features i find attractive from an aesthetical point of view: wide shoulders, strong hands, evident jawline + cheekbones, kind eyes, i don't mind eyebags or dark circles at all i find them very cute!, i love "crooked" noses and smiles, and in general someone who is not threatening and has kind & gentle traits

but i don't really value beauty a lot when it comes to relationships, mostly because what i pay attention to is the attitude: intelligent, kind, compassionate, honest, respectful, supportive, calm (as someone who hardly ever gets angry but throws temper tantrums every time he does i hate people who lose their temper like i do), has to share my interests or at least be interested in listening + someone who sees and perceives love in the same way i do (which is not..... uhh...... easy to find)

if you want to look around and see other people i like a lot out there just google: august wittgenstein, volker bruch, luca marinelli, george mackay, max schimmelpfenning, alessandro borghi, josh o'connor, louis hofmann, tom schilling

[mithliya]

Hey! Just wanted to ask you a few questions about Germany if it's not a problem! 😊

First things first, how are you doing there? I hope you're doing good, immigrating to a different country doesn't sound easy and personally I've been thinking about doing the same once I'll get my bachelor degree, but... I'm really scared and anxious...

I also wanted to ask you how did you learn German, if you studied it in school or if you took extra classes or something, because I would like to use an effective method to learn the language 😅

And also, if you don't mind the question, which level did you reach? (I mean the CEFR level, if you're acquainted with that scale)

Lastly, I wanted to tell you that your English is amazing and if you had any tips on how to improve my English skills (I speak English as a third language) I would be really grateful! ♥️

Have a nice day! 😊❤️

hey sure thing!!

im doing well, im really lucky that this time ive moved to a country where my gf is and where i also have family in the same city. being near my aunt has really helped make me less homesick! she will often invite us over and make bahraini food for us. she also often invites us to events about arabs in exile and middle eastern events which also make me feel not too far from my culture while also making me feel lucky that i can see stories that wouldn’t be allowed to be shared in my country.

i can imagine how you feel for sure bc i also felt similarly! but don’t let that angst and fear take over. focus on what you want to do with your life and what you want to achieve and remind yourself this is a good opportunity you wouldn’t want to lose out of fear.

for how i learned german, i finished A1 in university but didn’t have the ability to learn more german then. last year i learned some german in online classes while waiting to move to germany and once moving here, i started taking real life classes at a language school. outside of that id consume german media and read some books in german, as well as watching german shows and movies. also used the apps duolingo and drops on the side. things i didn’t understand i would search up on youtube bc there’s many videos of ppl explaining language stuff on there! also ppl on here would send me anons in german to help me practice and that also helped. in real life i also often will approach people in german, they’ll notice im not a native speaker bc im slower but when they ask me if i prefer english i insist on german instead and having convos in german with people also really helps!

im currently at the C1 level. last year around this time i was at A2! i hope eventually i can be at C2

id say in general with languages, it helps to just keep practicing it by using the language, reading stuff in that language, being acquainted with native speakers, and also writing in that language helps. find people who are very annoying about every mistake you make, my english only got this good bc i was among several westerners in middle school who would mock me whenever i made a slight mistake in english 😭 besides that, reading and writing a lot in english really helped me improve!

[longeyelashedtragedy]

how many languages do you know ?

not that many, sadly :( as far as like, understanding and being able to produce it in writing but also speak it only two--english and spanish (this was my major in college and i studied it for 14191514 years). i'm really good at (brazilian) portuguese other than the speaking part, a lot of the sounds are really hard to reproduce and i haven't had the reason to speak it out loud in a million years. but if i were put into a situation where i had to speak it daily i feel like i'd get on track quickly. i used to be in some brazilian whatsapp groups and completely held my own conversationally, complete with like relevant slang and internet terms, which is a really cool feeling, to be able to communicate effectively and relatively authentically in a language not your own.

so yeah basically just those 3 i feel confident saying i "know" (portuguese with an asterisk of course). I studied french for 2 years and that + other romance languages made me able to understand everyday french decently. i can't write or speak in it anymore but RIGHT after my 2 years of french study i went to Normandy and was able to have some basic conversations! i also studied german for a year my first year of college and LOVED it but didn't have time in my schedule to continue. german is like french in that i also don't have too hard of a time understanding the basics, i think some of that is bc i have consumed a lot of german media in my life so have picked up on a lot of vocab naturally from that. of course my understanding is pretty basic, but still. i think german is a really cool language and the grammar is very intuitive to me (other than the prepositions...i hate prepositions in all languages lol)

other than that uh i've self-studied, or tried to, a few languages in my time but only 2 i've been able to stick with so far. duolingo isn't very effective for learning grammar but ngl the gamification and shit does keep me from being too lazy to practice every day and that's worth something! of course, most languages i really wanna learn are not on duolingo lmaooo

basically for me idk obviously getting GOOD at a language takes lots of intense practice but like, sort of dabbling around in the beginnings of a language and seeing what i learn and remember and what i can intuit on my own about the grammar and stuff is like, the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off, yknow? there's nothing i love more than Learning and Knowing Things and any languages you can start to understand, even just random vocabulary words, just opens up more of the world to you and leads you down new paths 🥰

[bopinion]

2022 / 30

Aperçu of the Week:

“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”

(British historian C. Northcote Parkinson 1955 on bureaucrazy)

Bad News of the Week:

Plastic waste. I'm not talking about the small problem of bags full of recyclable packaging standing in our basement until I get to the recycling center, which is somehow only open when I have to work. It's the big problem that this garbage has become in the world's oceans.

There are currently an estimated 650 kilograms of plastic waste in our environment for every living person. Of this, up to 150 million tons float in the sea, mostly broken down into microscopic particles. And it's getting more and more: the Danube alone flushes 4,200 kg of plastic into the Black Sea every day. Asian rivers many times that amount. The consequences are fatal.

Animal keeper Sarah Male from Australia's Taronga Zoo looks after a small green sea turtle that was found on the beach in Sydney. Her entire gastrointestinal tract was filled with plastic, it took a full six days (!) at the animal shelter before she excreted none. She almost starved to death, although she ate - only unfortunately she cannot distinguish between food and garbage.

Since the food chain reaches all the way up to humans, they also consume more and more plastic particles: an average European ingests about 5 g every week. That doesn't sound like much, but with a life expectancy of 79 years, it adds up to more than 20 kg. What effects this has on health is still largely unexplored. But chemical compounds that the human organism is not familiar with cannot remain without consequences. Individual components that the body extracts from microplastics are regularly already detected in the bloodstream.

This cannot be good. I would almost like to hope that there will soon be dire findings that drastically demonstrate to humanity what we actually already know: irresponsible behavior cannot remain without consequences within one system. We are to blame ourselves. And should therefore actually have to suffer just as much as the little green sea turtle.

Good News of the Week:

In the years 2018 to 2021 alone, the direct consequences of man-made climate change had cost Germany 80 billion euros - heat waves, flood disasters, forest fires, storm damage, crop losses. Many of the damages cannot even be quantified, such as the loss of biodiversity. But we can certainly quantify the fact that we are paying for our inaction. For example, a wind turbine with an output of 5 megawatts costs about 4 million euros. So we could have built 20,000 of them for these 80 billion in damages. And today we would not only be energy independent, but also 100% sustainable. Someone please explain to me why we don't just do that.

But let's get to the positive, which is currently being lost in the shadow of the gas crisis. The Saturday before last, at 1 p.m., there was quite a sensation: for the first time, solar power with a capacity of more than 40 gigawatts was fed into the public power grid in Germany. This means that almost 80 percent of the electricity consumed in Germany at that time was generated by photovoltaic. Okay, on a Saturday in July, the energy consumption of German industry certainly amounts to a fraction of a Tuesday in October. But still. It's the right way to go.

And this way is worthwhile not only for the environment, but also for the economy. A recent study by Allianz predicts that achieving the Paris climate targets by 2035 will develop considerable economic momentum. 40 billion in additional value added each year is significantly more than the consequential climate damage costs mentioned at the beginning. And 440,000 additional jobs are significantly more than those that will be lost by winding down fossil fuel generation and nuclear power. I've always been bad at math. But it's just about enough for this: Climate protection pays off. And that's why it will happen. Let's go!

Personal happy moment of the week:

Since Friday evening, I've been enjoying a visit from afar. In two ways: first, my wife's friend is from Montréal, and second, she just arrived from Seoul. And takes the trouble to make a stop over at our place. It's fun to listen to "le Québecois" at home. And to have a chance to rediscover the beauty of home through her eyes: the view of the Alps, the sun on the lake, the selection at the bakery, the traditional music at the fairground, the architecture of the past, the art of brewing beer, the sky in Bavarian white and blue. Simply beautiful.

I couldn't care less...

...that the pilots of Lufthansa have voted with almost 100% for a strike. After just the ground staff with its strike (each division has its own union) was responsible for 1,000 canceled flights. Where the billions of the German state in the Corona crisis of aviation has saved all these jobs. And the gentlemen - and few ladies - of the skies already get more than 200,000 Euro annual salary. My sympathy is limited. My understanding too.

As I write this...

...I am waiting for the kickoff. Of a final. In which Germany can become European champion tonight. In soccer. Why many are surprised now is simply because these are "only" the UEFA championships for women. Which get far less attention than their male counterpart. Too bad. But at least free TV is broadcasting live. And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be there in London's Wembley Stadium, the cathedral of European soccer, to watch our girls beat the English. Hopefully. At least I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Post Scriptum:

Unrest is spreading. Those who previously knew supply chain problems only from the business news can now see them - on sometimes empty supermarket shelves. The reduced gas flow from Russia is reflected in firewood - because there is none left. We, too, wanted to light our fireplace next winter not for ambience, but as a source of heat. But not even our neighboring farmer can help us out.

In general, there is more and more "prepping against Putin". I, too, have already managed to reduce my average shower time to two and a half minutes. When it comes to stockpiling food, however, we are lagging far behind - at least according to the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance. It recommends keeping a permanent supply of food that will last for ten days without the need to go shopping. Specifically, 14 kilograms of food and 20 liters of water per person. I'm thinking of taking wine instead. It lasts longer and has a more calming effect in times of crisis.

[blackrippedskinnybeans]

I'm about to take such good care of you bitches but brace yourself cause this is a long post!

I'm going to tell you how to make the ultimate aesthetic and beneficial bath and I think we all need this after all the stress everyone has been going through this year and the last year.

Here's how to make a milk and rose bath which btw is the same shit pharaohs used to bath in and while it was expensive then, it's kinda affordable now and really anyone can do it.

• Add 1 to 2 cups of milk to a full tub of warm water. (You can use normal milk but to get the best results try Coconut Milk, Oat Milk, Almond Milk, Goat Milk, or Buttermilk.)

• Fill bathtub with warm water and add in the milk.

• Mix water and milk with your arm or foot to combine.

• 8-10 drops of a relaxing/rejuvenating essential oil of your choice.

• ½ cup of dried rose petals.

• Epsom Salt (Adding Epsom salt to a hot bath helps draw out toxins, calm nerves, cures headaches and muscles.)

• Olive Oil (Adding olive oil to a bath will moisturize and soften dry skin.)

• Soak and relax for 20 to 30 minutes and try to forget that the whole world is constantly bitch slapping us like a pimp.

• Once your done make sure you rinse.

Benefits of a milk bath:

• Soothe and hydrates skin.

• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

• Exfoliate skin.

• Improve skin firmness.

• Reduce dry spots and flare-ups.

• Ease sunburn.

• Improve inflammatory skin conditions.

• Ease tension.

• Relieve stress.

• Promote restful sleep.

Potential risks:

Really nothing but if you suffer from allergies to milk or have especially sensitive skin you should be cautious before taking a milk bath.

Benefits of rose water:

• Helps soothe skin irritation. (this includes both internal and external. It may even help soothe irritation of eczema or rosacea.)

• Soothes sore throats.

• Reduces skin redness and acne.

• Helps prevent and treats infections. (Rose water has naturally powerful antiseptic which is why it's in variety of natural and medicinal treatments! In fact, Its antiseptic and analgesic properties helped in treating the ocular disease.)

• Contains antioxidants. (Rose petals and rose oil contain a number of powerful antioxidants, which can help protect cells from damage. It was found that these antioxidants had potential lipid peroxidation inhibitory effects and that offers powerful cell protection as a result.)

• Heals cuts, scars, and burns.(Rose water has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that can help wounds heal faster. These properties can help clean and fight off infection of cuts and burns. They can also help cuts, burns, and even scars heal faster.)

• Enhances mood. (Rose water can have strong antidepressant and antianxiety properties. A study in 2011 found that the extract of rose petals can relax the central nervous system which resulted in antidepressant and antianxiety effects.)

• Relieves headaches.

• Has anti-aging properties.

• Soothes digestion problems. (In folk medicine, rose water has been used to aid in digestion and cure a upset stomach and a 2008 study found that there is some evidence that rose water can positively influence digestion and relieve an upset digestive system. It may also improve bile secretion, which can further aid digestion.)

Potential risks:

Literally nothing, the only exception is if you are allergic to rose.

Epsom salt benefits:

• Epsom salt is a natural pain reliever.

• Epsom salt is great for your body. (It helps relax muscles and relieve pain in the shoulders, neck, back and skull. For example, by relaxing the muscles surrounding the skull, the magnesium in Epsom salt may help release a headache or migraine. Sadly it doesn't remove the pain of this world but eh, at least your body feels nice.)

• Epsom salt kills bacteria. (This shit is especially useful nowadays because of the pandemic.)

Potential risks:

• Magnesium overdose. Some cases of magnesium overdose have been reported, in which people took too much Epsom salt. Symptoms include nausea, headache, lightheadedness, and flushed skin.

• Do NOT take an Epsom salt bath if you have high blood pressure, a heart or kidney condition or any circulatory problems.

Note: The bath is perfectly okay without Ebsom salt and doesn't change anything if it's gone so if your worried about it then simply don't put it in. Better safe than sorry!

Essential oil benefits:

Note: These are the actual scientific benefits not that antivax bullshit and I spent like a whole 5 minutes trying to find the real benefits because all those websites kept showing up. That's 5 minutes of my life stolen by Karen's so I hope your happy.

• Lavender oil. (Lavender is prized for its ability to calm and relax.)

• Eucalyptus oil. (Eucalyptus has a cooling effect on muscles and reduces pain and inflammation.)

• Roman and German chamomile oils. (Chamomile oils can help with pain and inflammation.)

• Peppermint oil. (Peppermint contains menthol, which has a cooling effect on sore, achy muscles. It also has analgesic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties.)

• Helichrysum oil. (Helichrysum relieves muscle spasms, inflammation, and pain.)

• Marjoram oil. (Marjoram relaxes muscle spasms and tension. It’s known for its ability to ease pain and inflammation.)

• Rosemary oil. (Rosemary is noted for its ability to ease pain and inflammation.)

• Yarrow oil. (Yarrow is used to reduce pain and inflammation.)

• Cypress oil. (Cypress calms and relaxes muscles spasms and works to soothe inflammation.)

• Sandalwood oil. (Sandalwood alleviates muscle spasms, tension, and inflammation.)

• Ginger oil. (Ginger has a warming effect on sore muscles, which helps relieve pain.)

• Black pepper oil. (Black pepper alleviates pain by warming up your body.)

• Clove oil. (Clove is often used to treat pain. It also has a warming effect on sore muscles.)

• Clary sage oil. (Clary sage alleviates muscle tension and spasms while promoting relaxation.)

• Juniper oil. (Juniper eases tension and eliminates muscle spasms.)

• Arnica oil. (Arnica relieves inflammation and swelling while soothing the skin. It’s often recommended for bruising.)

• Lemongrass oil. (Lemongrass works quickly to reduce inflammation and swelling.)

Potential risks:

• Do NOT consume.

Essential oils are not safe to consume and can cause significant poisoning even if small amounts are ingested. If you try to eat this I will find you and spray you with febreze, don't try me.

Olive Oil benefits:

• It moisturizes your skin. (Olive oil is well known to moisturize and hydrate your skin.)

• Fights bacteria. (If you're prone to acne, using a soap made with olive oil may help decrease your acne by killing off the bacteria that causes the acne.)

• Olive oil is a natural anti aging option. (Nearly 73% of olive oil consists of monounsaturated fat, which is associated with increased skin elasticity and firmness.)

• Olive oil helps protect against sun burn. (Animal and lab studies suggest it has strong anti-inflammatory effects on the skin and may protect it from sun damage.)

Potential risks:

• Olive oil is honestly a double sided snake because while it fights acne, It also might cause acne.

To quote Dr. Gohara “Olive oil is a naturally heavy oil, making it a breeding ground for bacteria that can clog pores and cause acne.” but of course, everyone's skin is different, and some acne-prone people may have no problem doing this while others may find that it breaks them out.

• You might end up smelling like a Olive Garden if you don't rinse that off probably.

• Don't use daily, once a month is completely fine but honestly even that's kinda pushing it. Constant treatment with olive oil significantly damages the skin barrier, and therefore has the potential to promote the development of, and exacerbate existing, atopic dermatitis. This said, the use of olive oil for the treatment of dry skin and infant massage should therefore definitely be discouraged under any circumstances.

Note: Just like the Epsom salt, Olive oil is optional. You don't have to risk smelling like a fucking walking olive if you don't want to.

Now, let's move on to how much this will cost aka let's move forward to the part I hate.

Roses typically cost about $10-$15 but I have seen cheaper so don't worry.

I'm pretty sure we all know how much milk cost but if for some reason if you don't, $3-$4.

Olive oil is typically $15-$20 so thank god that's optional and besides you probably already have some in your kitchen somewhere or maybe that's just me since my mom's a retired cook but eh, you probably do so look before you leave to get it!

Do not buy essential oils in person, trust me it's fucking easier that way! Anytime I had tried to buy some in person it was like $30 for just one of them but online I got like 12 of them for the same price so just save your bank account the crying, and get it online. If you do this it should be about $15!

Epsom salt is around $10-$12 for a supply of 454 grams, depending on the pharmacy or walmart you visit.

So, let's move onto the pricing of showing yourself this much love.

If you choose to use all the ingredients then this whole real life aesthetic bath is probably at the most around $53 - $81 and that's kinda a big yikes but you can find it for cheaper depending on how and where you shop and I know this because I have done it.

If you choose not to use the Ebsom salt and olive oil which once again is perfectly okay then this should be around $28 - $43 at most because once again I have done this for cheaper before, it honestly just depends on how you shop so be smart about it!

Tip: try and find coupons through apps or newspapers if you still think you can't afford it.

This one is completely up to you but consider stopping to buy some chocolate, because I feel like that will taste even better when your treating yourself like this.