Since Monday, thousands of teachers are on strike in Poland and a wave of solidarity covers the country. Read this article about the background of this strike, its meaning for the political culture of Poland and about solidarity.
The avant-garde of queer culture on the rise: drag in North Macedonia
Four courageous young people fight their creative battle for an open-minded society in one of the most homophobic countries of Europe. An interview with the drag queens from Skopje.
Thinking inside the box: the Balkans as construction
“I can’t stand it anymore”, I hear a friend complain, “This constant need to label us as the Balkans , whatever that’s supposed to mean.” And she is right to grumble, because somehow everyone is talking about it and at the same time nobody: The Balkans. The term brings back memories of the Balkan Wars and not often it …
What’s in a name? February 2019 Update from (North) Macedonia
A few weeks ago I arrived to the Republic of Macedonia, “former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” in international documents, and in just a few days I will be leaving from the Republic of North Macedonia. Have I changed countries? No, of course not. But the country has changed its name. It all started last year …
I don’t think it’s love: Skopje and me
Before I packed my bags in the beginning of the year to live a few weeks in Skopje, I was suddenly in the grip of a grand fear. A thoroughly irrational, panicky part of me was to 100% certain that I would not be able to live and work in Skopje without this leading to …
Back in Skopje or: the continuing astonishment about my free choice to live in “the East”
Oops, I did it again – I am back. For five short weeks I live – again – in Skopje, capital of Macedonia (the Republic of North Macedonia as of most recent). This time the country is not neck deep in state capture and national crises (read more on my blog about the deadlock in …
Smog Wawelski – smoggy sights in Krakow (part 1)
[Original Version: GERMAN] It’s this time of the year again: I wake up in the mornings feeling a little chilly, and have a first look out of the window, only to ask myself, frowning: “Is this fog – or is this smog?”
Krakow by bike
Since early September I am the proud owner of a bike in Krakow and since the day I bought it I am wondering how I was able to enjoy Krakow without a bike. To thank me for this climate-friendly investment the Krakow weather rewards me with summer-like sunny days and golden shimmering, autumnal parks to re-discover the …
The female body as a public good or: the battle for women’s rights in Poland
In Poland, women‘s organisation have – once more – called for a general strike. On Friday 23rd thousands are expected to take the streets in Warsaw to scream out their anger against the restriction of the abortion law and with it the restriction of women’s rights in Poland. The protest is labelled “czarny piątek”, Black …
Living the French Way: Wine, Friends & Happiness in Bordeaux
Bordeaux – award-winning city in Southwestern France, known all over the world for dark red shimmering wine and for old architecture. A city where medieval gates, Gothic churches and streets in the style of classicism nestle against the banks of the Garonne river and where 18k m² are listed as UNESCO-world heritage. That sounded like …