There Once Was An Island – Film Night

In colloboration with Giselle Kallenbach (member of the Saxon state parliament) and the Bundnis 90/ Die Gruenen party, Leipzig Zeitgeist is proud to bring you another chance to see the fabulous 2010 documentary by New Zealand director, Briar March.

Following the screening there will be a discussion with Kim Rupp-Gregory (a Chief Editor of LZ), Gisela Kallenbach, Michael Koelsch, the Director of the Peaceful Revolution Foundation, and Juergen Kaseke, spokesman for the Green District Association (Gruenen Kreisverbandes).

The film lasts about 90 minutes and is shown in the original language with English subtitles. Admission is free.

WHAT: A fantastic documentary to watch – for free!

WHEN: Thursday 19th May, 19:00

WHERE: Cafe Knicklicht, Dresdner Str. 79, Leipzig

thanksgiving weekend, leipzig style

Wow! I think this was one of my busiest Thanksgivings ever. In the past, it consisted of traveling for hours to reach family where we had so much food we popped. In the afternoon the men watched football while the women searched the ads. That way they were better prepared for their shopping excursion the next day. Mainly there was visiting and relaxing. This year I worked through mine, but I had lots of social activities as well.

It all kicked off when I went with some of my long-time students to Leucht Cafe for Thanksgiving dinner Thursday night. I was very happy to find this place. In Berlin I used to go to a wine bar where you paid a euro deposit on your glass as you entered and then after drinking your desired amount, you paid what you thought was fair. The Leucht Cafe works on this same principle. This made for the perfect Thanksgiving; those with more helping those with less. There was lots of yummy food, including turkey. The atmosphere was warm and cosy and it was easy to engage with other people in the room.

Then Friday evening was Unexpected, the Reading. This was the first collaboration between LZ, the English Room and so social club. It was great to have people come together as a result of the various organizations. They came to hear the works of published authors;  Kat Steiger (US), Rachael Clugston (Aus) and Svetlana Lavochkina (Ukraine). The listeners experienced a range of emotions. Afterwards there was lots of mingling and eating and drinking. A big thank you to Christina who beautifully read Svetlana’s work and to Svetlana for giving us permission in her absence.

Saturday was a party to celebrate the biggest Indian holiday of the year, Diwali or Festival of Lights. We feasted until the food was gone and danced until the last song had been played. Everyone was happy and having fun.

Sunday was November’s so sunday brunch. We filled and refilled our plates time and time again at one of our favorite brunch buffets. Shady’s never disappoints in surprising the tastebuds. There were about 15 of us from different countries with a singular goal, feeding the soul and the body.

Then after brunch I met some other students/friends at the Christmas Market. How else would you celebrate the first advent? We tested the hot libations and tried our hand at activities in the Middle Ages section of the market. Then we were all freezing so we had to go!

I must admit that usually there are several points during the Thanksgiving holidays when I am bored. This one was definately different. In fact when I got home from the Christmas Market I went straight to bed.

Many reasons to party…..

A Big Thank You to His Excellency Ambassador Mr Peter Rider (3rd from left) and his secretary, Daniela Rigoli (far right), and also to Stefan Roehrbein (far left) and the Club International for the great venue!! Photo credit: Christian Lehmann-Eschenhorn

Life should not just be about hard work and the daily grind, but also about celebration.  Last Friday evening we took the time to celebrate – with 100 guests and the New Zealand Ambassador.  We had various things to celebrate; the second birthday of Leipzig Zeitgeist – Leipzig’s only authentic English magazine, the city’s Interkulturelle Wochen festival, a great venue at the Club International’s elegant villa and, anything but last and least, my country New Zealand.

A classic Tourism NZ clip saw some misty eyes and as they cleared the New Zealand Ambassador, his Excellency Peter Rider, transported us to the Land of the Long White Cloud via a wonderful presentation with some nice personal touches.  Sima Urale’s short film Coffee and Allah brought home the importance of human interaction – whenever, wherever – and our truly international  guests picked up on  this theme while savouring the outstanding Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc generously provided by the Embassy.  We’d like to thank our sponsors, Boomerang Reisen, specialists in travel to New Zealand and Australia; and Stadtwerke Halle for their support of the evening.   Cheers!