Teamwork is Dreamwork

The attendance of Captain Scott Kelly at Trinity, a retired NASA astronaut who commanded the ISS on some expeditions, was a very special event. No empty seat was left. However, I did not expect the roaring applause and standing ovation when he went on stage. Honestly, I thought his speech was not that overwhelming because I personally would have loved to hear more details about his expeditions and research. But he definitely has high potential for being a child's or student's role model. He is motivating young people with his non-stereotypical story of a child with a dream and of an average student becoming an acclaimed scientist, who reached up to the orbits by means of ambition and belief. By motivating us to follow and believe in our dreams, however unlikely they may be, and having the privilege to look from a far distance to our small planet and remembering us how much mankind will be able to achieve, if we work together and not always compete, by that he proofs his leadership qualities.

''There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.''
- Aldous Huxley

Windy Salute - Tower of the Americas

Late Night Discourse - Homo homini lupus?

Homo homini lupus - a man is a wolf to another man. A quote of the leviathan, a book written by Thomas Hobbes and published in 1651 as one of the earliest social contract theories. It is very late and I am chronically sleep-deprived, but I just cannot get rid of that thought. That human nature was bad and the state of nature would be a war of all against all. These thoughts occur to me after thinking about the lecture ''From Neo Nazis to Jihadists'' and about our world. It is a very pessimistic approach, but thinking of extremism and how people alter into their own ''state of nature'', how Hobbes would call it. He was advocating the rule by an absolute sovereign, which is obviously not up to our times of democracy, at least as it seems to be.

One person who would take control and responsibility for everything. Sounds so easy. But Kant tought us to be autonomic, be responsible for our own actions, to be educated. So where is that spirit? Why are we allured so easily by theorys that give us the tunnel-vision? Or just a better feeling? I think all extremist ideas have something in common. They polarize, they look for a scape goat, they set off emotional reactions, they offer a community, they formulate rules, they enhance your feeling of strength, they provide orientation (or should I say navigation). Especially young people are vulnerable, because they are disorientated and still have to choose their own way. The content of the lecture of Dr. Saltman concentrated mainly on Islamic extremism, the recruitment of ISIS and the measures of preventing young people from becoming attracted or mobilized. So if the title of the presentation represented the task, she missed at least the half of the point of it. That is why I try to share the other half on my blog. My experiences with right-wing extremism.

In my class were some boys, who are from a village near my hometown Erlangen (Bavaria). Their opinions were sometimes very racist, but we could discuss it together and they have respected and liked me, because they knew me. My classmates education was determined by their parents, grandparents and their friends living in the same village. So no increased horizons before attending high school. They also told us of some of their friends, who were members in groups or fraternities at university (which also have often a right-wing reputation) that operated in the underground. The less immigrants live in a place, the more racism can be spread, because there is no direct contact to 'foreigners'. Such places could be the Bavarian villages or cities in East Germany. Nowadays, you can observe the increasing popularity of right-wing parties like the AfD (Alternative for Germany) or the NPD (National Party of Germany) as a trend in Europe.
Another European Country that cannot be considered as a democracy anymore (in my opinion) is Hungary. Enforced conformity is taking place, critics and journalists disappear mysteriously. The educated youth is trying to flee, because they see no future, no perspectives. Of course, a lot of people are also attracted by the extreme patriotism. The aim of Viktor Orban (the president of Hungary) is to make Hungary great again. Kind of reminds me of Trump.. So there is a lot more going on in the world.. Next to our doors in Europe, there are resentments that could unsettle the European Union we should not underestimate.

I am finally going to sleep now and am glad about the opportunity of such a great education that we Fulbrighters receive. Do not repeat, think on your own!

A colorful day

Yesterday I went to a place that a lot of Trinity students might not know, although it's in San Antonio.

In the morning Dr. Noor took us to West Side and showed us a marvelous place full of color, hope and creativity. Two artists gave us the opportunity to learn about the stunning murals and public art pieces created by residents. Artists, young and old, deal with daily problems like crime, abuse, neglect and depression by expressing them in organic forms and applying warm as well as cold color tones combined. The addressed issues exist in every society and the West Side's neighborhood referred to education as the universal solution. So these murals carry a message: Don't turn your back towards a future by going astray. Be aware of the difficulties of life. 

On our way to the historic Market Square, we were listening to Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and adjusting to the following.
Once arrived at El Mercado, it seemed as if we have crossed the border. Latin music, Mexican flavors, traditional pottery and so many cheerful pictures and memories of it.

In the evening, Mary, me and other students were invited to dinner by a very generous lady, who attends one of our classes. I can't tell, when it was the last time I felt so grateful for inspiring conversations and enjoying each other's company. I apologize for gettin' kinda kitschy. But not to forget: for the first time I tried kettle corn and Japanese Mochi ice cream... (you see, the 'land of opportunity') ... and it was delicious.

To draw a conclusion: During that day, I was followed by art. The murals in the morning, music and laughters at noon and 'culinary art' in the inspiring surroundings of a hobby-art-collector's apartment in the evening.

Billy Schenk, spurs and feminism

Kitty Cat

Entertainment glasses, Billy Schenck and the revealed myth about Tex-Mex food

 Dear hot Texas, your welcome was more than warm! 

The last days were full of surprises and first experiencing of the American lifestyle.

Yesterday, we went to the center of San Antonio and visited the Briscoe Western Art Museum, where a lot of exhibits were unknown for us. Special objects like glasses (in the picture below) were used To watch old slides more comfortably. I wish my old Art teacher could have used these instead of his huge, complicated and most unhandy maschines to visualize his slides. Our guide told us a lot background knowledge about different paintings and drawings. I was really impressed by the sketches of Billy Schenck.

After leaving the Museum, we went to the famous riverwalk and enjoyed a boattour. Despite the mosquito bites, I thought the scenery was even more lovely than Venice (not kidding, but I have to admit, I stayed only for one day in Venice and it rained aaaaaall day long).

We were brought to a nice restaurant, where we had Tex-Mex food and a really nice evening.