eMAG 29: The first time

eMAG 29 | WS 2016/17

The firsttime emag-uni-augsburg.de

Dear Reader When you think about first times, there’s usually one thing that comes immediately to mind – THE first time – right? But there’s so much more to first times than it would appear at first glance, and they really matter to us. Not only when we’re kids, but also now as students.

You may think that first times get less important as we grow older. I mean, just remember how big a deal it was back then riding your bike for the first time, going to school for the first time, or just turning one year older. In eMAG 29, we focus on some of the first times we experience when we’re older – trying out new things, jumping into the unknown and challenging ourselves.

Maybe, this eMAG will motivate you to try new things and to provoke more first times in your life. Or you just take it as a uni break and let our authors’ stories entertain you. Whatever it is, I hope you enjoy eMAG 29.

Your editor-in-chief,

Author, Layout & Pictures: Luisa Köhler

Luisa Köhler

eMAG is an independent non-profit magazine published twice a year, by students, for students. It is part of a University of Augsburg Language Center course. Everything related to the production of the magazine is conducted in English. The aim of eMAG is to entertain and inform the university community about international, intercultural and local topics in the English language. As part of its philosophy, every semester eMAG donates an advertisement to a local charity. We also regularly publish articles on our website www.eMAG-augsburg.de.

The content of individual articles does not necessarily reflect the team‘s view and opinions. print run: 1,200 | price: for free | published: Jan 23, 2017 | printed at: Senser Druck GmbH | copyright: 2017 eMAG. All rights reserved. | www.eMAG-augsburg.de

8

18

5

The First Time Five people you‘ll meet in your first job

It‘s the little things

40

Servus from Down Under

20

Peru, a country for everyone!

21

Sex – Sex – Sex

22

Watch – Read – Listen

23

Living abroad

24

Art is for everyone

26

Perfect Strangers

28

42

Keep It Local 31

How to solve a crime in three courses

32

8

Dive into a golden age

33

9

Leberwurst, Obazda and Schwarzbrot

34

‘It would be fun,‘ he said.

He was right.

36

Learning has never been so much fun

38

No place like home for a holiday

40

Heavy hands and shins of steel

42

6

Entering Oz with sunglasses

31

How does it sound if we spend the night out?

5

No meat - no milk

Meet the Parents

Whole Wide World

21

28

10

Become a Strong Viking!

12

Don‘t dream it – go see it!

13

Leaving home – finding home

14

A blind date

16

Expectations and opportunities

18

26

Five people you’ll meet in your first job An incomplete guide for office newbies Landing your first job is an amazing feeling, but the first few weeks can be quite overwhelming. You’ll learn a lot of new stuff and get to meet a lot of new people - especially if you end up in an open-plan office. When I was talking about co-workers with friends and family recently, there were a lot of types of people that seemed common in nearly every workplace. Here are the top five people you’ll most certainly meet in your first job.

3. The mystery

1. The chatterbox

4. The team mom/dad

Whenever a representative of this group enters the room, you can basically stop whatever you’re doing because you won’t get any work done for the next couple of minutes (or hours). Instead, you’ll find out about the newest bar in town, who’s getting married and all the newest office gossip. This can be as entertaining as it can be annoying, but remember: this might not be the best person to talk with about personal stuff in case you don’t want everyone to know.

They’re essential for every standard office, as they always give you good advice, food or other life essentials. But there are cases when they tend to get on your nerves, for example, when they ask you for the tenth time whether you really don’t feel cold without a jacket - just like real parents.

2. The messy desk

You won’t make the mistake of telling them about your brilliant ideas twice. Their comment will probably be something like “Mm, not sure what to think about this. I would probably not suggest this to the boss…,” before they proudly present it themselves in the next meeting.

This one is quite self-explanatory. Here a paper tower, there some paperclips, and don’t even dare to take a look into their drawers, as you never know what you’ll find there, or if it’s going to bite. They seem to have everything you can possibly imagine on their desk except that one thing they need, of course.

Whenever they enter a room, everyone else tries to make a good impression. They seem important, but a few weeks into your job you’ll notice that you have no idea what they’re actually doing. You feel a bit embarrassed asking your co-workers about it until you realize that they don’t seem to know either.

5. The credit stealer

Obviously, there are a lot of other types - like the person who always stands a little bit too close, the one who always brings smelly food to the office or yourself (obviously the only co-worker that doesn’t serve any stereotypes). But the best thing is to go and experience these types yourself, and maybe even add some interesting personalities to the list.

Author: Laura Annecca Layout: Yo Vogel Pictures: Laura Annecca

5

it’s the little things When was the last time you did something for the first time?

What comes to mind when you hear this? No, I’m not talking about sex! But what else!? Probably all your associations with first times are about important stuff: THE first time, your first kiss, your first flight, your first holidays without your parents, and many other milestones.

But is there really nothing left? Has your life really become so boring?

I have never...

But I’m convinced that you still experience lots of first times in your everyday life. They just become less significant and you don’t wait for them to happen like crazy - they just happen. And most of the time you don’t even realize it’s a first time: you go to a new bar, make new friends or fail an exam for the first time. So I paid attention and noted down some of the little things that happened to me for the first time.

6

One single weekend First I had lunch on my own at uni because none of my friends had to stay after lunchtime. And baking cakes or muffins is something I do quite often, but I’d always messed up the topping until I tried for the 1001st time and succeeded. Watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts One and Two was another first. I know that it’s way too late, but better now than never, right? Monday morning was another first, but actually a pretty poor one: I was ready to leave the house when I had to, but punctually. Try it! Your Monday will start a lot more peacefully.

A day without social media But the most extreme thing was my “No-Smartphone-Day”: I turned off the internet connection on my mobile voluntarily. Sounds easy?

Well, try it! Knowing that you could just turn on your Wi-Fi or mobile data to see what’s happening in the world’s a freaking temptation!

I’m sure it would’ve been less tempting if my phone was broken and I couldn’t change it either way. But in the end, I felt kind of relieved without having a look at the display every two minutes to check whether someone had sent a new meme. And – surprise! surprise! - I really got a lot done!

Now it’s your turn So what about you? As a student, you just fall out of bed, trudge to the bathroom, and to uni and back. Then you party all night and sleep. But in between you learn new stuff, meet people, discover new places and often you don’t even notice how exciting all this is. So open your eyes! Pay attention – you’ll be surprised how many things you do for the first time, especially the small things! Even if it’s only choosing a different way home from uni or not eating pasta five times a week.

Author: Eva Sitzberger, Michaela Bachmaier Layout: Michaela Bachmaier Pictures: Eva Sitzberger, Michaela Bachmaier

No meat - no milk Being vegan for a month There is this new lifestyle called veganism. Actually, it’s not that new, but it’s becoming more and more common. Vegans argue that their lifestyle is the healthiest one, for them, and especially for the animals that do not end up on our plates. So, why did I want to try this and eat vegetables only? First, there are these sweet animals that are kept in terrifying conditions – the ethic argument. Another ethic argument is that if everyone ate only food that is based on vegetables, no one on earth would starve anymore. If we eat a plate of vegetables, for example soy, it’s about eight times less food than the same portion meat, because the animal had to eat the soy for years before ending up on our plates.

A healthy lifestyle Moreover, it’s proven by scientists that meat and milk boost cancer, harm our cardiovascular system and in addition can be the cause of diabetes and adiposity. The calcium in the milk harms our bones instead of strengthening it. Some say that people are going to be ill and overweight with them in their nutrition. I started to be vegan four weeks ago and it’s amazing how my body sensation changed. My physical fitness has risen and my stomach doesn’t know the word ‘fullness’ anymore. Fortunately, I’m not as often hungry as before.

My transformation feels very exciting and that’s why I’ll continue this new lifestyle.

Nothing to eat beside grass?

First it was very difficult to find one’s way in the supermarkets, but they are getting greener and greener and by now there’s a huge variety of vegan products and the so-called super foods are all over the media. Funnily enough, I noticed that many of the things that had landed in my shopping trolley earlier had no ingredients produced by animals. It cannot be denied that going out for a meal is difficult, but hopefully, more vegan restaurants will open over time and to find one in big cities is no problem anymore.

Author: Isabel Roth Layout: Isabel Roth Pictures: veganheaven.de, Jonas Meier

I learned cooking in four weeks and I finally succeeded in defeating my addiction to cheese. Have you noticed that our university is offering vegan meals? Mostly one of the pasta sauces is vegan and there’s at least one vegan meal in the mensa at lunch. There’s even a group at university called Vegane Hochschulgruppe Augsburg.

The thing with B12 There’s only one vitamin that is discussed among vegans. We still don’t know if vitamin B12 can be received by eating plants, but such a deficiency is spread among meat-eaters too. However, what is with all the other minerals and vitamins we need? Here, the vegan guys are far ahead because they get everything the human body and mind needs by plants directly and this is all we need to stay healthy.

Anyway, it’s all about varied nutrition.

How to jump in at the deep end There are a lot of tips and 30-day programs that accompany people who want to try this. As a matter of course, being vegan means more than just eating vegan, it’s a way of life. By the way, there’s this great blog called veganheaven.de by Sina and I swear that your mouth is watering when you have a look at the photos of her cooking. In my opinion, it’s a cool way of living in peace and harmony, to be healthy and fair and the best is that you have nothing to lose and save the world at the same time. Try it. You’re entitled to form your own opinion!

Entering Oz with sunglasses Oz and color-blindness

The Wizard of Oz is one of the first color movies. However, the first fifteen minutes are only black and white. The movie literally changes when Dorothy, the main character, leaves Kansas and arrives in Oz – suddenly everything is colorful and cheerful. The scene when Dorothy opens the door to Oz is one of the most famous movie scenes of all time. But how is it perceived by color-blind people? Do they even realize that Dorothy has stepped into a different world?

A color disease, but...

First of all, people who aren’t suffering from color-blindness don’t know much about this disease, although it’s a very common problem. One in twelve men and one in 200 women have some type of a color vision deficiency. But they don’t perceive the world in black and white, as most people would assume. Most affected people have problems distinguishing between red and green. Mark Zuckerberg, for example, is red-green color-blind. For him, blue is the “richest” color, which is why Facebook’s famous layout is blue.

What has that to do with sunglasses?

In the past few years however, a new technology - in the form of sunglasses - has been developed that helps color-blind people to see color. Although it sounds great, wearing the glasses isn’t suddenly going to change the world around you like in the famous scene from The Wizard of Oz. It takes a while until your eyes adjust and get accustomed to the new sensory impressions. And, even with this new technology someone who’s color-blind will never be able to see as well as people with ‘normal’ vision, but it’s still a huge improvement.

There are several companies that sell these “Color-blindness Correction Glasses” like O2Amp or EnChroma. The California-based EnChroma is thereof the best known. Their product derives from the work of Don McPherson who was trying to design protective eye wear for doctors performing laser surgeries. When he tried a pair out for himself, he noticed the world looked more colorful. He himself has normal color vision, but he didn’t learn they could help color deficient people until a friend tried the glasses on by chance. Since then the new-founded company sold over 10,000 pairs of glasses, and the internet is full of videos of people trying them on for the first time.

Why doesn’t everybody have one?

Sadly, though, the glasses do not work for every type of color deficiency; only about 80 percent of users notice a difference. For the remaining 20%, there currently isn’t any help available. Another downside is the price. One pair costs about $400 or more, depending on whether there’s a prescription. What might also be important is that none of these glasses is able to cure color-blindness, just as reading glasses won’t cure far-sightedness.

Of course, the technology is still in the very early stages, but it’s exciting to imagine how much it can help, especially with a little more time.

Author: Philipp Soballa Layout: Isabel Roth Pictures: Philipp Soballa

9

Meet the parents A nerve-racking Hollywood comedy?

The first thing that occurs to me when I think of the first meeting with my maybe future in-laws is the movie Meet the parents. It’s a comedy with Ben Stiller as the future son-in-law and Robert De Niro as the bride’s father playing the leading roles. Ben’s different attempts to impress his rather skeptical future father-in-law fail and several unfortunate events make the good-hearted boyfriend even less likeable. However, meeting the parents (in-law) in real life doesn’t have to be like a Hollywood comedy.

It’s a big step in a relationship, a milestone.

You´re not dating casually anymore; instead you’re taking things a step further. You’re committing yourself, officially demonstrating your interest in a person by presenting yourself to the most important people in his or her life and allowing them to scrutinize you. Not only is the pressure to please and make a great impression enormous, but it can cause awkward moments too. Who can blame their parents for being somewhat protective of their children? They want to feel comfortable with the idea of the newcomer, possibly even the future partner in their son or daughter’s life, and hence their own.

Some do‘s 1. In order to prevent a worst-case scenario, it might be good to know something beforehand. Find out about the parents. It’s always good to “throw the ball” and keep a conversation going. However, stay away from topics that polarize, such as politics or religion to sort of avoid saying something “wrong” or embarrassing you might regret.

2. This should be obvious: be polite! Say “thank you”, “yes, please” and compliment whoever prepared the food. And if you meet the parents at home, try to be attentive, see whether or not you can help in the kitchen, and say something positive about the house - show interest.

3. Depending on where you meet, dress for the occasion, but try to feel comfortable. It is not beneficial if you constantly have to pull on your clothes. It might be helpful to meet somewhere neutral - a nice restaurant or cafe.

So… Yes, meeting the parents for the first time can be terrifying, but instead of panicking and thinking about what could go wrong, think about how to make the best impression. Two words: be yourself! They also want to present themselves in a positive light, and are eager to meet you and want you to feel comfortable. They most likely will want you to like them, since their child, your partner, obviously likes you for who you are. So try to take it easy - the chances that the first time meeting will go well are high. After all, in the end Ben Stiller got along with his father-in-law. Only when the parents were planning to meet each other did things get interesting again - but that’s a different story.

Author: Elisabeth Stützel Layout: Angie Czygann Pictures: Elisabeth Stützel

10

Become a Strong Viking!

Once a Year all Warriors Unite Don’t you also sometimes wish you could go back in time to the ‘good ol’ days’? And I’m not talking about travelling back to the week before exams started to punch yourself to finally begin studying, nor do I mean that now regretted one-night stand with your ex. No, I wish I could go back to the really good old days. Back when you could just gather your friends and set sail to Britain to fight heroic battles, plunder their villages, slaughter their people and rape their women (or men, just to be politically correct!) and simply have an amazing adventure like the Vikings did a thousand years ago!

The origins of the Strong Viking Unfortunately, scientists today disappoint us as they still haven’t managed to invent a time machine, but don’t lose hope! We may not be able to actually relive early medieval times, but Jan Reijs, founder and CEO of Strong Viking has found a solution to at least simulate a Viking experience. He works with former marines with the aim to organize the best obstacle runs of the world! Originating in the Netherlands, the Strong Viking Obstacle Run also finds its way to Germany regularly, to a village called Wächtersbach near Frankfurt, and so I gathered my friends, packed my tent, shield and hammer, and journeyed up north to challenge myself and meet fellow Vikings.

Time to get dirty!

Becoming a Strong Viking is also a great excuse to get dirty.

Nothing sounds more like an adventure than walking kneedeep in mud with a 20kg shield in one hand plus a heavy wooden hammer in the other! Some areas are completely covered in mud, so it can get very slippery and you might need a helping hand to get you on your feet again. Even with all the teamwork, you might feel exhausted after a while, but you can always stay motivated in the knowledge that, once you have finished the run and climbed the steps of Walhalla, a free beer will be waiting for you!

Official Strong Viking slogan:

Join the Viking brotherhood!

• • • • • •

The run itself is divided into a 7km, 13km or 19km route and thus offers a challenge for athletes, as well as the less sporty ones, to which I count myself. There’s a wide range of different obstacle runs to choose from, but what I enjoyed most about Strong Viking was that most of the obstacles required some sort of team work. The first one, for example, consisted of a wall that was maybe four metres high and completely smooth, so the only way to get up was to give another person a step-up, who could then grab your arm and pull you up as well. In another station, I had to carry my Viking friend through a short mud track and then switch position midway.

Strong Viking is not a race but a challenge Vikings never quit Vikings conquer their fears We leave no Viking behind Vikings will drink their beer in Walhalla Oorah!

Author: Jonas Meier Layout: Jonas Meier Pictures: Jonas Meier

12

Don’t dream it - go see it!

Author: Solveig Paulsen Layout: Jonas Meier Pictures: Solveig Paulsen

In the velvet darkness of the blackest night Thunderstorm and pouring rain – obviously not the best conditions for an open air event by the sea. However, even the worst weather cannot ruin the mood of the people who appear in various costumes.

Many are dressed as party guests, wearing weird glasses and fancy hats, combined with their rain capes. And a few guys are even cosplaying none other than the legend “Dr. Frank N. Further”, including a corset and fish net stockings.

Don’t judge a book by its cover

on the audience. A few moments later, the first people rummage for their newspapers to hold them protectively over their heads while Brad and Janet run through the rain, towards the castle. Actually, there are quite a lot of similarities between the weather on screen and the climate conditions we have to deal with.

Follow me into the Time Warp – I’m sure there’s a light over the Frankenstein Place waiting for us

You’re probably wondering, what that nightly gathering of odd-looking people could mean. A conspiracy? Or even a sect? I’m sure there are several abstract ideas coming to your mind. But don’t worry - I can put your mind at ease. Today, nobody is trying to instigate a revolution or summon daemons, we’re all meeting for one simple reason: to celebrate a screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

With a bit of a mind flip

Science fiction – double feature

Nobody has the feeling they’re just watching a movie. Instead, it feels like we’re part of the story, reacting to the plot on screen. Even after the movie ends, the atmosphere is fantastic and everybody talks about the event. There is no doubt: the evening is a complete success, and we would highly recommend watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show to anyone interested in music, comedy, drama…well, there are no limits.

The main protagonists of the movie are Brad and Janet, a recentlyengaged couple on their way to visit their old friend Dr. Everett V. Scott. Due to a car breakdown, they’re forced to look for help in a nearby castle, where they quickly get to know the curious residents and their guests, who are celebrating an Annual Transylvanian Convention.

Overwhelmed by the situation, Brad and Janet become part of an extraordinary spectacle under the lead of Dr. Frank N. Further, who is presenting his newest scientific creation, Rocky, a muscular blonde man, and – as if that wasn’t enough – causes many mysterious incidents.

Cards for sorrow, cards for pain Apart from the plot, the movie is well known for the audience’s interactions which match the story line in detail. Before the actual screening starts, everybody has the opportunity to buy a special fan bag, including items such as a newspaper, confetti and some playing cards – admittedly, for a rather inappropriate amount of money. In this sense, it isn’t surprising that most of the viewers carry their own articles, most of them being basic things we all have at home.

In the wedding scene at the very beginning, some rice slowly trickles

Throughout the entire movie, the viewers have the chance to participate actively. During the most famous scene, “The Time Warp”, a few people are even brave enough to run in front of the audience and dance in sync with the characters on screen.

Leaving home – finding home The ups and downs of moving out

When you start university, you do so many things for the first time, such as going to lectures, meeting new people and just the general feeling of “everything’s new”. But for many, this is not the only thing going to university means; it also means going to another city and therefore having to move out of your family home. And especially the “moving out” part often isn’t as easy as it might at first seem.

search for a flat or a room you realise there might actually not be several people waiting for your application and you probably can’t choose whichever place you want. It’s a lot of work writing e-mails, being rejected or driving there and then being rejected (how could they?! Well – good luck to them finding someone better than you!), or just rejecting, because it isn’t the place you want to live in. But in the end you find something you like, get accepted, sign the contract and finally you hold them in your hands: the keys to your own place!

Here I am: the tenant you’ve been waiting for!

Now when the stress of moving takes over, you don’t have time to think about your feelings any more. You need to get your furniture into the new place and put your entire life into boxes (you’ve probably never even realised how much stuff you own.) When you finally arrive at the new place you have to carry everything up a staircase which is much too narrow. And after putting up your bed, wardrobe and table, and having thought about killing all of your friends and family members - because they just don’t do it right! – you can finally see why you wanted to live in the apartment. And, by the way, I don’t think anybody can fall asleep immediately the first night. But remember people say that the dream you have in the first night at a new place comes true!

Mom, Dad, I’m leaving.

When it becomes clear that you’re actually going to move out - you become euphoric and scared at the same time because you know that this is something really important. Then, when starting the

14

Your own little shoebox,…

If you’re thinking about living in a student hall, you might have the image of an old room which is so small you can’t even turn around properly. But still, there’s the price. And, of course, you have your own place which nobody can just enter and annoy you. But you still don’t have to be all by yourself: you live together with hundreds of other people studying all different kinds of things you would never have met at university. …locked up together,…

Of course, sharing a flat may be challenging but also has its advantages. Even applying is quite difficult: when you’re invited to a casting you have about half an hour to make the others want to have you as their new flatmate – and, of course, you have to want them as your flatmates as well. If the chemistry between people doesn’t work, life can become really hard for everyone. But if it does work, you might just have found some of your new best friends or even a second family. …or forever alone?

Living on your own in a small flat might be the most difficult type of accommodation because you only have yourself to rely on: if you don’t go to the supermarket, there’s no food; if you don’t clean, it’s dirty and if you don’t invite anybody, you’re alone. But don’t forget the advantages: you don’t have to get up half an hour earlier in order to get into the bathroom, you don’t have to clean up after anyone else and nobody eats the food you specifically bought to treat yourself.

So…the whole process of moving out is extremely stressful, annoying and intimidating. Nevertheless, it’s an important, exciting step in your life, and after some time has passed you will hopefully think that it’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to you!

Author: Sophia Brandt Layout: Michaela Bachmaier Pictures: Sophia Brandt, Eva Sitzberger

A blind date

Or how to find your way through a three-course meal It’s pitch black, your senses are alert, and you can feel the anticipation rising while you try to find your way into the darkness.

No, this isn’t my first attempt to write a thriller, but my very first dinner in the dark. It’s exactly what you would expect, but at the same time completely different. To state the obvious first, the dinner takes place in total darkness, meaning you’re not blindfolded, but actually wide-eyed staring at the blackness in front of you trying to figure out where your fork might just have gone.

Entering the darkness In retrospect, it would’ve been more than amusing watching us while we were trying to eat. I say trying because it becomes apparent very fast that losing the sense you rely on the most is close to lethal, well, at least for your coordination. Sitting at what I imagined to be small tables set next to each other, similar to those we see in fine dining restaurants, we grope around for our knives and spoons, and apologize every time we knock into one another. All this time surrounded by the waiters wearing night sight devices, who are most likely trying to stifle their laughter. But let’s start from the beginning: being led into a dark room by a waiter, clinging to one another so as not to get lost in the darkness. They lead you to your table and help you get seated before giving you exact instructions as to where to find your plate, glass and silverware. The concept is as simple as it is ingenious. In total you get three meals, and every time you have absolutely no idea what you’re eating, but every time they make you guess. After every course, you’re told a small anecdote, a story or a riddle, though I thought the biggest riddle of all was guessing what you had just tasted.

In the end, they do give the secret away. At this moment you realize that the German expression das Auge isst mit takes on a whole new meaning. In my defense, these were very elaborate meals, with different spices and ingredients, so naturally it’s more difficult to distinguish them from a simple burger n‘ fries. But still, there’s no getting around the fact that we absolutely rely on our eyes for everything and a simple thing such as eating becomes slightly more challenging. For example, how are you able to figure out if you have eaten everything on your plate or if you have ‘overlooked’ a tiny bit of that delicious gratin you would’ve made sure to devour before anyone else stole it off your plate.

No thieving The only advantage you do have in this situation is that nobody will be able to sneak anything off your plate, but just because they can’t find it. So overcoming the problems of finding, eating and finally figuring out what you just put in your mouth leads you to the next issue. How to pour yourself a glass of water. The most efficient method is to put your finger into the glass and wait till it gets wet. It sounds weird but it’s actually pretty clever and most effective.

16

Outside the box Finally, the lights switch back on, making sure you don’t look like a toddler who is enthusiastically digging into his red berry sauce, you take a look around. I’m sure you know that feeling of having read a book and finally seeing the movie. Most of the time, it’s slightly disappointing. Here, we weren’t sitting at cute little tables but at several large tables in a tiny room, and without the elaborate decoration I had imagined while eating. I guess since nobody could see it anyway, they figured they would save some money on the decoration.

Despite the disappointing awakening, after such an experience one can’t help admiring how blind people among us manage to navigate through their everyday life so smoothly, when we’re already completely overwhelmed by a simple thing like eating a meal. By the way, this enlightening event can be booked under mydays or Jochen Schweizer.

Author: Daphne Strain Layout: Daphne Strain Pictures: Adrian Martinez, Daphne Strain

Expectations and opportunities Are first times overrated?

Well, we really don’t know. If you expect to get an answer in this article, it’s probably going to disappoint you. Whereas if you’d like to know more about ‘hedonistic amines’, why small talk should be celebrated and what chasing the dragon means, you should definitely go on reading! Why are first times such a big deal, anyway?

Brain functions Did you ever wonder why first-time experiences are so present in your memory? There’s an easy answer to that in neurology: the dopamine level in your body increases whenever you do something you’ve never done before. Mostly associated with addiction and other taboo pleasures, dopamine seems to be the Charly Sheen among amines and neurotransmitters. But the hedonistic chemical also plays a crucial role in the learning process.

Whenever there’s a dopamine peak, our brain makes a note to remember how to replicate the experience. So in order to learn from the first time, our memory has to archive it.

Growing up When you’re young, doing something for the first time means you’ve accomplished something you couldn’t do before, for example, when a child says its first word or takes its first step. From there, we learn faster and faster and we’re no longer aware of the many first times we experience. Parents try to capture the most important steps of growing-up but at some point no one can really keep track of the events. Adolescence brings the next big changes.

Parents are no longer part of the experiences we have. This is when we personally recognize first times. What makes it special is that now, we take our own decisions. What influences us, namely friends and Hollywood movies, puts pressure on us.

What about sex?

The obvious example is having sex for the first time. But why do we expect it to be perfect? When we do something for the first time, and it’s not a great success, we think we’ve failed, although first times don’t usually end up the way they’re planned. Most of us will agree in retrospect that the second and third and fourth first times got better

and better, because of experience. Love at first sight is only one of the unrealistic standards the movie industry has set.

“I don’t like small talk” The first time we meet new people, we hope to bond instantly or never. In the first conversation with someone we don’t know, we try to avoid the dreaded uncomfortable silence. Small talk is also for people who aren’t capable of deep, sophisticated conversations.

But to be honest, sometimes when meeting new people, we’d rather babble on about the cloudy sky than listen to their political interests and to hear about their migraine. In fact, small talk makes everyday life easier. It creates a little time bubble for us to decide whether to accept or decline a relationship without hurting someone’s feelings.

Chasing the dragon Some first times are so special, people can’t stop chasing the sensation of this first experience, such as using recreational drugs. Using addictive drugs floods the brain with dopamine, taking it up to as much as five or ten times the normal level. Drug addicts often say that they got addicted to hard drugs because they tried to get the same high as the first time, a phenomenon called “chasing the dragon”. And if drugs are continually used, one’s brain fights the excess dopamine by making less of it. This reduces the high a person feels, which is called tolerance. A similar pattern can be found in extreme sports.

Arguably, every experience, good or bad, helps you develop and learn about life. When you stop having first times, you stop moving forward and life gets repetitive. All that’s left to say is: if you never try, you’ll never know. Even if the first time isn’t the best time, you learn something for the future. And if you want, there can be a second time and a third time and maybe it gets better, maybe it gets worse; every experience is worth something in your life, no matter if it’s a first time or a 108th time.

Author: Melanie Pflanzelt, Linda Zietarski Layout: Luisa Köhler Pictures: Melanie Pflanzelt, Linda Zietarski

18

Servus from Down Under Interview with graduate student Fabian Schmied What about the interaction with supervisors?

It’s very good! I have regular meetings with a postdoctoral research fellow at QUT. Besides, I’m still in contact with my master thesis supervisors from the FIM Research Center in Augsburg via Skype. Sometimes we even have Skype meetings with the entire team from Augsburg and Brisbane. In such cases, the time difference of nine hours between Brisbane and Augsburg can be a quite a big challenge.

eMAG: Fabian, tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Fabian Schmied and I’m 25 years old. I’m a student of the Finance and Information Management graduate program which is offered by the University of Augsburg together with the University of Bayreuth and the Technical University of Munich. Previously, I completed an undergraduate program in Business Administration in Augsburg. During the undergraduate program I already spent two semesters abroad. Like many other students from Augsburg, I studied at the University of Rennes 1 in France.

You’re currently writing your master thesis at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane. How did that happen?

Thanks to the personal scientific network of one of our professors, I was invited to the QUT. Starting with a research stay in Brisbane in 2012, Prof. Dr. Maximilian Röglinger established a strong relationship with the Information Systems School of the QUT. As a result, several students of our graduate program have had the great opportunity to gain insights into research in Australia over the past few years.

Brisbane is part of Australia’s fastest growing metropolitan region.

What’s it like?

Brisbane is a fantastic place. As there are many schools and universities located in the city, a lot of young people from all over the world live there. It has a population of more than two million but the city center isn’t that large. So many important places are within walking distance of one another. By the way, Brisbane was the second city in the world to appoint a Chief Digital Officer responsible for the digital transformation of the city.

Did you notice any differences compared to academic life in Germany?

Yes, there are some differences. For example, many doctoral students in Australia are not employed as research assistants by the university, but are sponsored by scholarships. And there are many international researchers, not only from different European countries, but also from Asia and South America.

Do you plan to travel in Australia afterwards?

When I’m done with my research project, I’ll spend another two weeks traveling around Australia. I’m planning to see the Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, and the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks. Before heading back to Augsburg, I’ll also travel to New Zealand to explore the two islands and the breathtaking natural world, as I’ve heard many positive things about New Zealand. I’m very curious to explore the country myself.

What plans do you have for when you’re back in Augsburg?

Currently, I’m thinking about working as a doctoral student and research assistant at the FIM Research Center. During my studies, I already had the opportunity to work there as a student assistant. Among other things, I was responsible for the undergraduate course Customer Relationship Management tutorials. I always enjoyed the pleasant, motivating work environment and would like to spend some more years at the University of Augsburg.

Author: Stefanie Frank Layout: Stefanie Frank Pictures: Fabian Schmied

20

Peru, a country for everyone! ¡Hola desde Lima!

¿Hablas español?

Life in Peru isn’t just about Machu Picchu, Cuzco, the Andes, the rain forests and the beaches - it’s a lot more. Yes, as a European you may experience some culture shock, especially regarding the Peruvian lifestyle, but it won’t take long for the beautiful country and the friendly people to make you feel comfortable living there.

The best thing you can do before travelling to Peru is to make sure you have some Spanish, because once you’ve settled, you’ll need to communicate if you want to becom part of the community. Many citizens don’t speak English, especially people who are not members of the country’s upper classes, and many administrative and governmental websites and services are only available in Spanish.

Peru’s mixed ethnic heritage

Peru’s food culture!

What you will probably first notice after having arrived in Lima is the big mix of ethnicities in all parts of the city. People from different parts of the world – China, Africa and Europe, for example - have been a feature of the Peruvian capital for hundreds of years. Most limeños (the name for the people living in Lima) are mestizos, a mix of indigenous people and those of European descent (predominantly Spanish and Italian).

You’ll discover a feast of new flavors! Whether in Lima or Cuzco, you’ll experience a fusion of tastes originating in Andean, Asian, and Spanish culinary traditions. And I’m not kidding when I say that Peruvians take food very seriously, because it’s a way of expressing our vibrant multiculturalism and the love for our families.

The Chinese are also an important group in Lima. In fact, the city has the largest Chinese community in all of Latin America. Chinese Peruvians are known as Tusan, and they usually live in a Chinatown (barrio chino), where the market food is popular for its excellent taste and diversity.

Don’t forget to try ceviche, the official Peruvian dish, which is eaten on very hot days with a cold Incakola. I know that hearing about raw fish that is “cooked” in lime juice and seasoned with onions and hot chili peppers may sound strange, but if you don’t try it, you’ll be sorry!

Everything is possible Telephones, internet, television, and electricity are available everywhere, so don’t believe in the stereotype of Peru being so under-developed! But don’t forget that the prices can be higher compared to what you may be used to paying. However, the cost of these services is compensated for by the low price of food.

Author: Liss eth Gallard o Layout: Jo nas Meier Pictures: Lu cy Hehl

Whether you prefer peaceful relaxation or an exciting night life, living in Peru will not disappoint you. The beaches north and south of Lima are easy to get to when the weather is fine, and there are loads of different kinds of restaurants and clubs. But if this isn’t for you, you can always try hiking in the surrounding hills, where you’ll be greeted by beautiful views and landscapes that will take your breath away and take you to another world! Most travelers to Peru are very happy they’ve been. So what are you waiting for?

SEX – SEX – SEX That’s all they think about Oh boy! 2017! What a time to be alive. During the last couple of years, every movement of Western society seems to have reached its peak. The good, the bad and the ugly. PETA, the LGBT community, the racist and the homophobes, religious groups and cults, the atheists and the whole film industry based in California.

They’re shouting from everywhere in every direction Because he who shouts the loudest must be right, right? However, there’s this one organization that doesn’t take part in all the egocourtship behavior and still manages to be successful. Secretly and quietly, one of entertainment’s largest branches has sneaked out of the shadows into our everyday lives: the porn industry.

They sell their main product And we’re all consumers. Sex is selling better than ever before.

Billboards, TV commercials and shows are filled with bare skin.

Sexual innuendos have crept into kids’ movies. Everyone seems to be obsessed with the train of thought that goes round this GrandCentral-Station. We want sex! We need sex! You’re not a man if you don’t get laid every two days. You’re not hot if you don’t get hit on by at least two different guys a week.

We want action and less conversation So naturally, we chase cheap thrills and small flings. An attractive girl sits next to you in class? Just grab her by the pussy! Cause, you know: that’s what all honest men should do. Feelings? Love? Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Don’t get me wrong I like sex just as much as the next guy and I do think we should talk more openly about our sexuality. But we don’t need to turn every beer commercial into a soft-core porn film, in which the main actress lasciviously plays around with the opening of her bottle. That’s not sexual freedom. That’s oppression. Our oppressors tell us what to look like, what to buy and how to socialize. They want us to believe that being the perfect-size model with big tits but no tummy and no brain is the answer to our never-ending task of finding meaning in life. We should all be six-foot-five mean machines with biceps three times the size of an average thigh and an ego as huge as the twin towers and twice as prone to collapsing. If you’re not sexy, you’re worthless. You might as well get depressed or develop an eating disorder. I heard bulimia is trending right now.

Author: Yo Vogel Layout: Yo Vogel Pictures: Elena Landschützer

22

Watch. Read. Listen.

Lucky Number Slevin is an impressive action crime thriller, dealing with the case of mistaken identity of Slevin Kelevra, which lands him in the middle of a war between the city’s most dangerous crime bosses, the Rabbi and the Boss. To save his life and pay back ‘his’ debts to both bosses, each of the two bosses forces him to take revenge on the other. The first 20 minutes might be a little bit confusing because of the fast-paced plot, but the body count climbs steadily as the movie progresses, keeping up the suspense until an epic plot twist at the end. The dialogues are the perfect mixture between funny and razor sharp, and the action is excellently shot. The director, Paul McGuigan, manages to keep you suspecting how everything is connected until the end of the movie. Don’t try to guess ahead of the plot; just let it unfold naturally! All I can say is if you’re into complex movies where you really need to pay attention to get all the clever little plot twists, Lucky Number Slevin will give you 110 minutes of full entertainment!

Amethyst thought the Blooms were the perfect hosts… until they disappeared. They wouldn’t just leave her. Or would they? Now she’s alone in their house, her dream house. But where did they go? Where did she come from? Why was she even there in the first place? Dozens of questions occur to her that her head started pounding, as though it was in some way wrong of her to want to know the answers. Dream House is Marzia Bisognin’s debut novel, aka CutiePieMarzia on Youtube. I usually stay away from novels written by Youtubers, but this was the first one I’ve read and I don’t regret doing so in the slightest. It’s written like a diary, and is full of mysteries, secrets and plot twists, just waiting to be unravelled by you. So if you’re into mystery, a bit of horror and you’re OK with shedding a tear every now and then, trust me, you’ll love it.

I came across Boy & Bear on my road trip in Australia this summer and immediately fell in love with them after the first few chords! The band originally comes from Sydney and was founded in 2009 by the lead singer Dave Hosking. What started as a solo project quickly developed into a proper band with five guys after Dave uploaded his first song The Storm to an online platform run by radio station Triple J, where it then got featured. After being popular in Australia, the band signed an international contract with Nettwerk in 2013. In 2015 they released their third album, Limit of Love, which is another classic example of their beautiful indie rock-folk style. My favourite song is definitely Southern Sun on their second album Harlequin Dream. So if you need some evocative, heartfelt jams in the vein of contemporaries like Bombay Bicycle Club or Mumford & Sons, you should really check them out!

Author: Michaela Lappler, Sarah Hilbich Layout: Michaela Lappler Pictures: Michaela Lappler

23

Living abroad A family adventure

Being married to a service technician who builds and services printing machines all over the world means that you have to travel back and forth if you don’t want to be separated for several months.

In this article I want to tell you about our “adventure“ when we moved to England as a family of four.

Preparations for the big day Four people, including two very young girls, one two years old, the other not quite four months, eight suitcases, five pieces of hand luggage, one stroller for two children and the child safety seats.

This was the heap of luggage we had as we were about to leave our home for a stay of some six months in Oxford. While waiting for the transfer service to the airport in Munich, we were a little nervous.

Had we thought of everything? Just in case, there was a key at my grandparents’ place, and another at the neighbours’. Of course, we’ve all been there, leaving on vacation and entrusting the people living next door who you hardly know with your keys. You want to make sure everything is spotlessly clean and that the tax bill isn’t left open on the kitchen counter. Anyway, leaving for such long a time is a lot different. It’s a whole new level of having to make sure everything is being cared for.

Basics first Of course, if you’re going to a country whose language you’ve learned for at least two thirds of your time at school, you feel quite comfortable, don’t you? We learned to interpret Shakespeare and discuss the Magna Carta, so the everyday stuff shouldn’t be a challenge, right?

Let me tell you this: you have no idea! Even simple things such as shopping for groceries can be quite challenging. Certainly we all know the basic food like potato, tomato or salt and pepper. But as soon as it comes to the other foods, it’s a completely different story. It’s very likely you won’t find what you need. So, let me give you this advice: look up the words of those herbs and spices you most frequently use.

And be thorough, as there might be some regional differences with the names. But try to taste new stuff as well. After all, you want to enhance your experience by looking beyond your own nose.

24

Connecting to the world Not only could the groceries give you some surprises, but there are bound to be other things that will make you think you’re on an adventure. And it’s the small things that might surprise you.

For me, it was getting a telephone with British Telecom (BT). As we were going to stay for about half a year, we obviously wanted to have the comfort of a BT landline with internet. There’s no time like the present, I thought, and contacted the provider. At least I tried to. Well, it started with someone from Scotland on the line with a really strong accent. As soon as they noticed that I wasn’t a native speaker, they started talking faster and more Scottish – if that was even possible.

On my second attempt, I was lucky – there was a Welsh person and I understood less than the first one, which I hadn’t thought possible.

However, that wasn’t the only problem. They wanted us to show a reference from our previous landlord, which wasn’t possible, as we owned an apartment back in Germany, so there wasn’t a landlord.

And they wanted to know our previous address in England, which we couldn’t provide. That’s when we ended up chasing our own tails.

Luckily the landlord was kind enough to talk to the telephone provider, so only four weeks after our arrival we finally had our landline.

Settled in finally We surfed the Web and called home happily, we went about our daily lives in the well-known yet so foreign country. We got a library card and had our favourite playgrounds to keep the kids entertained.

Author: Angie Czygann Layout: Angie Czygann Pictures: Manfred Czygann, Angie Czygann

These are only a few of our experiences moving to another country as a family. The most important thing that we learned during that time, though, is: always expect the unexpected. Then you‘ll be well prepared.

Art is for everyone Or so they say I’ve been to a lot of art galleries in my rather short life. I remember my mother dragging me through creepily quiet halls with marble floors, past brownish paintings of people dressed in old-fashioned clothes or not dressed at all, past canvases full of bold colours and statues in all shapes and sizes.

Blind to art?

I’m not saying that all my visits to museums were boring. Far from it!

My sister and I had a short but intense period of creativity, copying every painting we saw into our sketch books. On other occasions the museums would offer special activities for children that were mainly designed to keep us far away from all valuable art. But I have to admit that I’m not one of those people who can intuitively understand what a piece of artwork is meant to express. I don’t see the story of love and loss in the black square on white canvas and I don’t see the milestone in impressionistic art in the painting of a haystack. My mother has that gift, but I’m afraid most of us were born without it.

So, does that mean art is wasted on us?

Should we stay away from the museums and leave the cultivation of artistic talent and the appreciation thereof to the few capable people? Well, you can imagine what comes next, because I wouldn’t be writing this article if the answer were yes. So, congratulations, you guessed the right answer: NO! I honestly believe art was not made for the gifted few, but for everyone! Here are two examples to prove it…

Floating Piers by Christo You might have heard of Christo’s massive installation of floating objects covered in yellow fabric spanning over Lago d’Iseo in Italy.

The work could be visited for two weeks in July last year. Millions of people came to walk across the water on Christo’s golden piers. My mother made us get up at 5am and we waited for three hours to step onto Christo’s masterpiece. Was it worth the wait? Yes, definitely. But it wasn’t so much the artwork by itself that grabbed me. It was the whole atmosphere. You could see people walking across the piers with the happiest smiles on their faces, taking off their shoes to feel the fabric and the movement of the water beneath their feet. There were kids crawling along, disabled people being pushed in their wheelchairs, dogs sceptically sniffing the brightly coloured ground and barking at the ducks waddling along the edge. It seemed like the whole world had come to Lago d’Iseo to do what only one person had ever done before: walk on water.

26

Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa The Crown Fountain is located in Chicago and consists of two large glass brick towers facing each other. And facing is certainly the right word because each of the towers displays digital, close up videos of faces that change every few minutes. In between these towers is a shallow pool that is fed by two water fountains which seem to be coming out of the mouths of the faces every few minutes. The whole arrangement is an open invitation to water and art lovers.

It was a hot day when we visited the fountain and the pool between the faces was full of people cooling off their feet, or even their whole body. Untold numbers of kids were running around in the shallow water, throwing themselves into it and rolling around, while their parents were yelling at them from the side of the pool. But the most exciting part about it were the fountains of water coming out of the faces’ mouths. As soon as they started a horde of screaming children ran to it, all wanting to stand underneath it for a few precious seconds, before being pushed away by another child.

Feel like joining?

I did and I can promise you, I haven’t looked back since. So, don’t hesitate! No expertise is needed to enter the wonderful world of art. Everyone’s welcome, even if it’s your first time!

Author: Noemi Hehl Layout: Marlene Hupfer Pictures: Noemi Hehl

Perfect Strangers How I met my father “What do you mean, you haven‘t seen your family in almost 20 years?!”. That‘s a common reaction to me telling people that I‘ve never seen my Canadian family in person ever since I moved to Germany with my mom in 1998. Most of the time, I didn‘t really know what to say next; there wasn‘t much to say besides “I‘m sure I‘ll meet them soon”. I didn‘t really know my family, so what was there to talk about?

My dad‘s a former soldier, I guess? But it all changed this summer.

Reconsidering my life choices On July 29th, my adventure began. The day before, I’d written two three-hour exams, which really didn’t help me calm down, and I had barely slept when I got up at 4 am the morning of departure.

This day would mark the start of something entirely new, and I was excited but somewhat scared of what would happen next. By 2 pm, I had finally boarded my flight to Montreal – eight more hours to think about how I would greet my father at the airport. What do you say to a person whom you saw the last time 15 years ago? I mean, where to even start, right?

That wasn’t so bad now, was it?

When the plane slowly started its landing, I had to pinch myself several times to make sure I wasn’t caught in some weird dream.

For the first time in forever, I was about to breathe the air of my home country and – more importantly – to see my father again.

After what seemed to have taken hours, I finally left customs.

Tired and exhausted, I stumbled out of the customs, only to be met by dozens of faces I didn’t recognize. I squinted, trying to find my father in the crowd, and I slightly panicked for a split second, before I heard someone cry out in French “Oh my God, it’s her!

Mimi, we’re over here!”. My dad was frantically waving at me, and Nathalie, his girlfriend, was holding up white and blue balloons so I could find them more easily. I sighed in relief and hurried over to them. All of this seemed unreal, and neither of us knew how to approach each other, so I went for an awkward big hug.

28

How to cram 20 years into 24 days – A beginner’s guide After being up for more than 24 hours, I finally got some rest in my room. But I really didn’t get too much sleep, and the next morning, we would start catching up the lost time. There was so much I still had to learn about my home country. The day we finally visited Québec City, walking the streets felt as if I had never left and I felt a bit melancholic. Funny how you can get homesick about a country you barely have any memory of, right? We went to restaurants all over the region, visited my great-uncle’s maple syrup farm in the woods, and even went trout fishing, to only name a few things! Some day trips took us to the Aqua Park or even the casino, and in between, I helped my father with the small business he runs. Despite my somewhat crammed schedule, I still managed to meet the rest of my family as well.

My big fat Canadian family reunion The second week of my visit, we rented one of my father’s cottages, to re-celebrate my 21st birthday. My stomach twisted each time the door rang and the unfamiliar voices of my family members filled the salon. My aunts, uncles and cousins, even my grandma, they had all come to see me, and jokingly told me to stop crying. Later at dinner, my uncle told me that this was the first time all of them had come together since 1998. There had always been someone missing, apart from me, obviously, so this reunion truly was something special.

But unfortunately, I couldn’t eat my birthday cake, as I’m allergic to pineapples, and my family, knowing I love fruit, had bought a fruit

cake – with pineapples on it. But hey, it was a birthday cake I’ll never forget!

All things come to an end... but not forever Although I never wanted my time in Québec to end, I had to face the harsh reality of my departure on August 22nd. It hit me even harder when I was back in Germany. My father and I ended up not being total strangers, in fact, I had unknowingly grown up to have lots of things in common with him. I know this whole thing reads like a poorly written soap opera, but unfortunately that’s the story life came up with.

Today we’re still in contact regularly, and are preparing my semester overseas. And who knows, maybe one day, I’ll return for good. I don’t regret having taken this step in my life, and I hope it inspires you to take matters into your hand that you’ve been neglecting for too long.

It’s never too late to have new experiences - I’m sure you can do it!

Author: Mélanie Fournier Layout: Angie Czygann Pictures: Mélanie Fournier

29

How does it sound if we spend the night out?

It’s all about that bass…

One day a friend asked me if I wanted to go to party with him. When I said yes, he answered: “Not in the usual way, this time you’ll be the DJ.” I didn’t hesitate for a second, without knowing what to expect.

Time went by and the big day finally came. After I’d found my way through the city centre of Augsburg (with the help of my good friend Google), I was a bit shocked when I saw the venue. It was called Kradhalle, so I expected it to be big but not that huge! I entered and looked for my friend, who was helping to set up the stage. He was quite busy because the bands hadn’t done their sound checks yet.

I went back to my car and carried my equipment inside. Unfortunately, I was done after three minutes and so I stood in the middle of the big concert hall, waiting for someone to pick me up for my sound check.

I was watching the sound check of the first band when I noticed the smell of pizza in the air. Some guy came in with about four or five huge pizza boxes and I saw the other people running towards him. I didn’t want to seem rude, so I joined the others.

When it was my turn to check my stuff, I set up my equipment. I don’t use either a laptop or vinyl. It’s just a controller with a builtin screen and software. I plugged my two cables in and the guy at the mixers told me to start some of my tracks to adjust the boxes. I looked for a big tune and pressed play (even if this expression has quite a negative connotation when it comes to DJing, you still need to do that). When the bass dropped in, it was quite scary to stand on the stage. Since the bass boxes were under my feet, I could not only hear the bass, I even felt it. It was a bit like experiencing an earthquake simulation. Then the technician wanted me to turn up the volume, so I did. I got more and more comfortable on the stage with my favourite music coming out of the massive speakers.

After setting everything up, I watched the two previous bands and really enjoyed it. When it was my turn, it was already quite late, a lot of people had gone smoking or home during the reorganisation break. But the people, who had stayed, told me I had done a great job that night. It was quite hard work, but I spent one of my best nights out.

Author: Alexander Gallwitz Pictures: Sebastian Trinnes Layout: Yo Vogel

31

How to solve a crime in three courses A murder mystery dinner I ring the doorbell. My childhood friend, dressed as a young French lady in a black corset, opens the door and says, “Welcome to Salon Rouge”. It‘s the year 1924 tonight. I enter the hostess’s dining room, which is usually bright green and white. But tonight, it seems dark and mysterious, the only sources of light being two massive candles and a chain of lights in the corner of the room, shimmering red. Our other six friends participating tonight are already sitting at the table, as the French lady leads me into the room. Two of them - already playing their characters - are having a heated discussion about the murder that took place earlier this evening, two are still talking about their upcoming term paper deadlines, and the last two are admiring the table setting and sipping at their cocktails.

The hostess, disguised as a French burlesque dancer, raises her voice, “Thank you for attending tonight’s murder mystery dinner at my apartment. Let’s play.”

The first round begins. Each participant presents their character to the others. It’s an exciting moment for me when it’s my turn to spin a vivid story around my persona. After all, it’s my first time at a murder mystery dinner, and I don’t want to forget to mention any important clues, but I don’t want to say too much either.

As the appetizers are served, everyone‘s allowed to turn to the next page of their booklets and find out more details about the incident and the characters. I’m shocked when I reach the end of the page.

Did that really happen? It can’t be, or… can it? My curious glances at my fellow actors remain unnoted. What did they find out? As dinner goes on, there will be more clues, theories and accusations with every round. But will the evening party finally identify the killer and figure out the motives? Find out for yourselves on www.krimitotal.de!

A guide to murder dinners: Dive into a secret world and spend an evening putting your acting and detective skills to the best. The goal is to solve a crime that happened according to a specific scenario during the course of a dinner. The best thing about it you can organize it privately . Each one of your friends receives a booklet with information about their character, costume suggestions and more. During the night more and more secrets are revealed. Most scenarios are for up to nine participants.

“It was the wife, I’m sure of it,” says Max, the Salon Rouge barkeeper, a small, dimly-lit vaudeville theatre where Carl – the owner – was murdered earlier this evening. “It‘s always the wife,“ he continues.

Thus, the young French lady asks Sophie, the victim‘s wife, directly if she murdered her husband. Sophie squirms and writhes under our piercing stares. Is she telling the truth? Or is she lying through her teeth? I’m not ready to judge just yet.

Author: Caroline Müller Layout: Luisa Köhler Pictures: Norman Hembach

Dive into a golden age What to do on a lazy Sunday?

Most students would say something like “Netflix and watching series”, but I was brave and left my cozy couch on a rainy Sunday afternoon to discover something new.

Architectural treasures Augsburg has many old buildings with lovely facades, but have you entered any of them? Of course, we all know that a fair face may hide a foul heart. But you should take a closer look at what’s behind the scenes. I chose something nearly as comfortable and safe as my four walls.

General opinions I asked some other students for their opinion, and all of them said the old baths are worth a visit. You can spend an hour or two just swimming and enter the sauna area, too.

It’s obviously not very big and there are no exciting slides like in water parks, but it’s full of old charm. They don’t have too many loungers, but some of them have heat lamps hanging above. So if you just want to swim your lengths or paddle in the water, you’ll be fine.

So give it a try - support local institutions. Never forget: just keep swimming.

Come around Let me take you by the hand. The architecture of the Augsburger public baths (Stadtbad), which is over 110 years old and in the city center near the ‘Dom’ and ‘Pilgerhausstraße’ tram stops, is unique.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, men and women used to bath in separate swimming pools and these pools – which differed in size – still exist. Of course, the baths are no longer separated by gender. Compared to other baths, the water is warmer, as the average temperature of the water is 28.5 degrees. So, on cold winter days you’ll be indulged.

Good to know: Address: Leonhardsberg 15, 86150 Augsburg Opening hours: Monday: 8am - 7pm Tuesday: 8am - 7.30pm Wednesday – Friday: 8am - 9pm Saturday – Sunday: 10am - 6pm Ticket prices: Students: 3,00€ Adults: 4,40€ Children under 7: 0,60€ Children over 7: 2,60€

My point of view The entrance and the hall down to the swimming pool with its green tiles and old doors are incredible picturesque. However, the changing rooms might seem tricky to use, but you only walk in and get your swimming gear on and walk out of the cubicle on the other side. The big swimming bath is imposing with its high ceiling flushed with light from the windows, as well as the antique balustrade. The smaller bath isn’t open to the public, as it’s used for swimming classes or by schools. I enjoyed the visit because I felt I’d been thrown back in time; the simplicity as well as the historic details are worth seeing.

For further information, look at the website of Augsburg city.

Author: Marlene Hupfer Layout: Marlene Hupfer Pictures: Marlene Hupfer

33

Leberwurst, Obatzda and Schwarzbrot Finding your way through a German supermarket A huge number of refugees came to Germany last year and even my village, Berg im Gau, gave some of them shelter. The community needed volunteers to help them to settle in. My father and sister volunteered instantly and so did I. We started collecting clothes and furniture, namely tracksuits, shoes and chairs, while others helped them with bureaucratic tasks like opening a bank account. In the end, I volunteered to go shopping with them every third week or so. I was very excited about the first time.

A cold winter day in January 2016: 11am Right on time, I walk around the house to check if anyone’s out already, but there are no signs of life. As my colleague arrives, we ring the doorbell, but it takes quite a bit of time until Mustafa opens the door. The others aren’t ready to go, he says. Neither is he.

11.30am One after the other wakes up and offers us coffee. We decline politely. They get their shopping bags and collect some returnable bottles before eventually making a move towards the car.

11.30am–12pm Apparently, some of them feel uncomfortable sitting in a car. The seatbelt makes them feel like prisoners, so it seems. As soon as we hit the road, one of them isn’t feeling very well and is holding her hand in front of her mouth. They tell me that she always feels like that when sitting in a car and roll down the windows, which transforms the car into an igloo.

12pm–2.30pm The ride was an occasion for them to take several photos. I’m now officially on smartphones in Iraq, Syria and Iran; that’s where their families live. I decide to take a shopping trolley, since they spread out all over the supermarket instantly, excited about all the unfamiliar things.

I’m not sure if they have a plan about what they need. It doesn’t seem to be the case, given the huge piles of wraps, preserved food, yoghurt, not to mention all the fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and even pomegranates in the trolley. And the next trip will be in three days!

Their English isn’t good enough yet, let alone German. Our conversations mostly consist of mime. They change my smartphone keyboard to Farsi to translate the groceries they’re looking for. However, we don’t find the sort of coffee or tea they need, but they’re still happy with what they choose.

34

A razor is what they need next. My colleague collects several types of razors, but they aren’t satisfied with his selection; “One for body, one for face, and blades,” they say and we find the right one eventually.

That’s the tricky part about it, not being able to get them what they want. Sometimes it’s just guessing and running around collecting the wrong items.

They kind of flood the checkout. There’s tons of everything on it, so it takes a while for the cashier to scan. All these things don’t fit in their bags, which is why we have to add seven extra plastic bags from the supermarket. Unfortunately, they don’t know how to handle all their cash yet because no one has the faintest idea about the currency rate. The screen shows 127,89€. They just hand a random banknote to the woman at the checkout. I’m glad that she’s obviously kind and keeps calm and very friendly, just like the refugees.

2.30pm At the car park they light a cigarette and smile. Everyone’s very grateful that we can help them back to their place, and they offer us coffee once again, which may be kind of their equivalent of an afterwork beer – great feeling. It hasn’t gone all well, but since it was the first time we’d been shopping with them, that’s not so difficult. You don’t say “First time lucky” anyway, do you?

Author: Thomas Kienast Layout: Luisa Köhler Pictures: Mustafa Porkabi, Noemi Hehl

you losers,’ he yelled but he didn’t stop, which is why some people got angry with us. ‘How could you be for that artificial loser club?’ they screamed, and I was embarrassed and tickled at the same time.

MY FIRST ICEHOCKEY GAME I think everyone knows the feeling when you get a present you don’t actually like. In these situations we don’t want to be nasty or impolite, so we try to hide our lack of excitement with a smile. I had this experience on my last birthday when one of my best friends invited me to a special sports event in Augsburg.

Mixed feelings about the upcoming event A few days before my birthday, one of my best friends Thomas asked me to keep 28th October free. On my birthday I finally got the news that we would be going to an ice hockey match in Augsburg. Admittedly, I’d never been really crazy about sports and I would’ve been much happier about an invitation to the zoo or a restaurant, but I didn’t complain even if I was a bit scared. All I’d heard about ice hockey was that the fans were very aggressive and that they often ended up in a big brawl.

Nevertheless, I didn’t show I was worried. ‘It’ll be fun,’ my friend said. ‘Give it a try,’ I told myself and thanked him.

A few hours before the game, he handed me an enormous ice hockey shirt with EHC Red Bull München emblem on it. Only then did I realise that we would actually be shouting for the Munich club and against Augsburg. My other friend, Teresa, who was actually willing to come with us refused after getting this news. I was upset; the friend who had offered me the ticket made matters worse by telling me that we would be standing in the EHC fan block. ‘I can’t do that,’ I told him. ‘I live and study in Augsburg; I love Augsburg and I have absolutely no emotional connection to Munich.’

‘Too late,’ he answered and he was right.

Having a great time at the match When we finally arrived at the stadium, we reserved two seats by putting our scarves on them before buying two papercups of apple juice. I was really surprised how cheap it was compared to the high prices at the WWK Arena, the soccer arena in Augsburg. In no time at all, we’d already made some new friends in our block; first there was Anthony – a Ghanaian refugee – and his mentally handicapped friends from the AWO who he was taking care of. Everyone was cheering, laughing and singing and when the players scored a goal, we all hugged each other. It was amazing to see how deep the connection between the fans was; it was a spirit I can hardly explain. Besides me, there were only two other women in the block, but I didn’t care; all the men were so polite and helped me out of the crowd whenever I wanted to. In the second break I was even given a beer because ‘not having a beer is not an option at an ice hockey match’, a man insisted. Finally, the EHC won 3:1 against their Augsburg rivals, but my night wasn’t over yet…

Why the people in Augsburg got mad at us After the match, we were – of course – both very hungry and so we decided to look for something to eat and drink because neither of us wanted the evening to end. We found a restaurant in the Maxstraße, which is – and this is especially addressed to all the freshmen at University – probably the most popular and coolest street among students. But what I totally forgot was that we were still wearing our shirts, and even if people hadn’t seen them yet, my friend did his best to remind them of the EHC victory! ‘We won, we won,

36

It was totally worth it All in all, I really enjoyed our night, but what I will remember most is that people in Augsburg take it personally if you’re for the ‘wrong team’.

But I had no choice, so I decided to see even the hostilities in a humorous way, and in the end I had a great night. It’s like Aristotle said ‘The secret to humor is surprise’. So I think we should leave our comfort zone more often and try things for the first time. Believe me – it’ll be fun! Try! You might have the time of your life!

The Augsburger Panther are an ice hockey team which was founded as early as 1878, making it the German ice hockey team with the longest tradition. By way of comparison, The EHC Red Bull München wasn‘t established until 1998.

They both play in the German ice hockey league and are two of the best teams in Germany.

Author: Carolin Steinke Layout: Sarah Hilbich Pictures: Carolin Steinke

Learning has never been so much fun Visiting the Lerncafé in Augsburg

Situated in a former bus and tram garage of the nineteenth-century, Café Tür an Tür in Augsburg is our destination for the eMAG interview with Nicolas Banholzer. The door opens. People are sitting at their tables, sipping hot drinks and chatting pleasantly. At first, it looks like an average café. But it is not. This one has something special about it, a different atmosphere that strikes a chord with the unaware visitors. The Lerncafé is a student initiative in cooperation with the Tür an Tür organization that was established to help refugees to learn. eMAG: Nicolas, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Nicolas, I’m 23 and I’m studying Finance and Information Management in my third Masters semester.

How did you come up with idea of the Lerncafé?

It’s part of our study program in cooperation with Tür an Tür. Some of my classmates and I thought that we could do something to help the refugees. We wanted to make the café a place where everybody could come to learn with the help of volunteers: German, English or Math, or anything that may help them establish a life here in Germany.

What have you found interesting while being at the Lerncafé?

Getting to know the stories of the people who come here, who have risked so much to settle in Germany and leave behind hardship in their home countries.

How can students get involved?

It´s very easy, they just need to send me their contact information or just come here every Saturday from 12.00 to 4.00, see how they like it; and if they have fun teaching something, they can come as often as they like.

In the meantime, the Café begins to fill up. In a corner Marlies, a physics student at University Augsburg, is explaining the Futur to her Somalian learning partner.

38

Marlies, tell us about your experience.

At first, I expected to give Math tutorials. However, I immediately noticed that German lessons were essential; sometimes we needed to start from the German alphabet. All the people I’ve met here have very different backgrounds and interesting stories to tell.

Has being part of this project enhanced your personal life?

Being involved in the Café Tür an Tür means changing one’s perspective on life: switching from learner to teacher or just putting yourself into somebody else’s shoes, which can be harder than it seems. This activity is also a way of balancing my daily study routine, as I rarely have much to do with languages or teaching.

The travel-insurance assistant Sabine (56) is sitting at another table; she has just popped by for the first time, intending to take part in the project. She and Semibel, who left Afghanistan ten months ago, are going through the recipe of the famous Swabian Zwetschgendatschi.

Sabine, what has motivated you to come here spontaneously today?

I want to help refugees to learn and improve their German, so that they can find a job and start shaping their future here. My aim is to promote the integration of people seeking political asylum and within my abilities and possibilities.

On the other side of the room, Hussein, 27, former Economics student from Iran, is waiting for his tutor.

Hussein, what do you like about the Lerncafé?

The pleasant environment of the Café makes you sit and relax. I like the way people come in and say they want to help us. I’m here to improve my German, it is the fifth tutoring session today. A friend told me about this place, and if someone wants to learn German, I would certainly recommend the Café Tür an Tür.

So, don’t wait any longer! Come by on Saturday, it’s totally worth your time!

Author: Veronica Armellini, Annelise López de Schwarzer Layout: Michaela Lappler Pictures: Veronica Armellini, Annelise López de Schwarzer

Useful information: Café Tür an Tür Wertachstraße 29, D-86153 Augsburg 0821 / 650 754 50 www.tuerantuer.de/cafe

No place like home for a holiday How about a staycation? your home town just so they can take photos of the cute houses and the town hall dating back to 1520, you barely notice these aspects.

You’ve seen them all your life, passed the town hall every day on the way to school and the tourists just annoy you. It’s about time you opened your eyes and started seeing, instead of just looking.

Do you know your own country?

Don’t you think it’s just sad that most of us have visited exotic places, have been to Australia, Indonesia or South Africa, but have never been to, let’s say, Bremen? I mean, yes, of course, at first glance Indonesia sounds a lot cooler than Bremen and at least since Eat Pray Love Bali is on everyone’s (well, let’s say every girl’s) bucket list. And don’t get me wrong - I don’t want you to stop exploring the world, but I think it’s just as important to know the place you’re from.

Only if you have some basic knowledge about your own country are you able to embrace both similarities and differences in foreign countries and their cultures. I know, what’s far away is often more magnetic as destination than what’s near, but we should at least give it a try and, from time to time, go on an adventure ‘at home’!

Let me ask you something: how many countries have you travelled to? 20, 30? I bet you’re proud of it! But how many German cities have you visited? One great aspect of globalization, technology and modern means of transport is that we’re able to travel to pretty much every place on the planet (well, assuming that you saved up your money for the plane ticket). But what we forget while enjoying cocktails on a beach in Cuba or bungee-jumping in New Zealand is that our own country has lots to offer, too!

It is a well-known paradox that you’re incapable of noticing the beauty of your own place. Maybe it’s because you’re so used to it – while others admire the sight of the Alps or visit

40

Back to the roots Let me get this straight – I’m not better than you at all. I’ve been to Mexico and Canada, but my own country? No. I went to Ulm for the first time only a few weeks ago and it’s a one-hour drive from where I go to school. And you know what? I loved it! It’s such a cute little town. Once again, I realized how little I know about Germany.

Every single time I hear exchange students who’re spending one or two terms here in Augsburg talk about Regensburg, Freiburg or Nuremberg, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never been there.

And that is just the South! I’m from Hesse and I have to say it’s a shame I’ve never been to Wiesbaden, its capital.

A plea for Germany as a holiday destination Next time you can’t afford a trip to Spain, Greece or, very popular, New York City or South America, don’t get mad. Why not make the best out of the situation and explore Germany for a bit?

Since everyone moved to different places after school, I bet you know people all over the country. The term break is the perfect opportunity to visit some of them. Know someone who studies in Kiel? - Why not visit her? Your best friend from elementary school lives in Mainz? - Sounds like an interesting weekend trip! Germany has so much in store, so get out there and get to know your own country! You’d be surprised what you find!

Author: Henrike Wilhelm Layout: Stefanie Frank Pictures: Henrike Wilhelm

ONE DAY OF TRAINING FOR MY FIRST FIGHT

When my kickboxing coach asked if anyone was interested in competing, I knew that the next two months would be tough. I knew that they would be filled with changes, hard work and pain. But I also knew that they would be worth it.

It’s morning already? Feels like I just went to sleep. There’s slight soreness in my legs from yesterday. No pain, no gain - that’s what they say. No comparison to last month, though, when a stricter diet and the workouts were conspiring to kick my butt. Speaking of diet, time for breakfast. Oats with low fat-milk (aka dyed water)... I’m not having lunch at home, so I’d better go easy on the carbs here. Eating out is a nightmare now. You can’t exactly pick everything apart and weigh all the ingredients to make sure you aren’t overeating. I’ll go for scrambled eggs instead with a few veggies on the side to fill my stomach. Just weigh everything, note down the numbers and I should be fine. Brush my teeth, take the shower I couldn’t force myself to take when I dragged myself home yesterday and off I go.

Family planning Home again! But not for long. Time to get ready for training. On the menu today: sparring.

These training fights in the ring are incredibly important. We’ve ramped up the intensity quite a bit over the last few weeks to get closer to fight pace. The work we’ve invested in technique is starting to show. I’ve been a kick fighter for as long as I can remember, but now I’m finding more and more success with my hands. That alone has boosted my confidence like crazy. Alright, shin guards, gloves, hand wraps, mouth guard... Where the hell is my groin guard? That’s, like, the most important piece of equipment. I can’t be late today. The punishment push-ups are going to kill my arms for real. Jesus Christ! There it is.

And I’m off again.

Setting my head straight My normal daily routine hasn’t gone just because I had to adjust it to the four training sessions in the studio and the additional ones I do on my own. Getting used to it all was tough, especially when the weight cut really kicked in. I felt burned out and all sorts of negative thoughts crept to the surface: doubts about my ability in the ring, about whether I could make the weight (63.5 kg; I last had that when I was 19), about whether I could handle it all. Without my coach I might have tossed it all away right there. As soon as he noticed what was going on, he pulled me to one side to talk. I owe him for that. When I think of the event now, there’s still a healthy dose of nervousness, but doubt? That word doesn’t even exist in my vocabulary anymore.

The ones I used up there, you ask? I looked them up. For the story.

Ready to rumble I got paired up with two heavier guys (not that there were any lighter ones) and we stayed in there for 7 rounds, alternating after every minute to keep the breaks short. I think I did pretty well. Really happy with my footwork.

I managed to cut angles and get out clean when they trapped me against the ropes. Kicks, especially those targeted at the legs, worked well, as always, but I got over-confident and copped a beautiful cross counter. Had to turtle up for a moment to find my bearings and took two nasty low kicks in the process, right on the inside of the thigh. Stairs are going to suck tomorrow. But the pain sets in later anyway, so I kept working for the rest of the session. Weight is on target. 64 kg, with a bit under one month left to go.

43

Homecoming Home again. Now I’m starting to feel it. My shoulders are burning, my leg stings like hell when I put weight on it and the light in my place really brings out the purple in those marks on my forehead and under my eye.

All that’s left now is to prepare my delicious dinner of chicken breast with broccoli and guacamole, plop myself down in front of my laptop to watch some fights of my idols Nieky Holzken and Karuhat (God, I wish I could be as cool as that maniac) and maybe, just maybe, I’ll even manage to fall asleep in bed this time.

Author: Andreas Böhm Layout: Sarah Hilbich Pictures: Andreas Böhm

eMAG 29

TEAM

2016 /17

Luisa Köhler Editor-in-Chief

Layout

Angie Czygann Deputy Editor

Peter James

Course Coordinator

Advertising

Layout Team Leader

Jonas Meier

Michaela Bachmaier

Stefanie Frank

Mélanie Fournier Ads Team Leader

Cigdem Beyaz

Sarah Hilbich

Marlene Hupfer

Michaela Lappler

Caroline Müller

Solveig Paulsen

Isabel Roth

Daphne Strain

Yo Vogel

Melanie Pfanzelt

Linda Zietarski

Promotion

Noemi Hehl

Website

Promotion Team Leader

Veronica Armellini

Lisseth Gallardo Vera

Annelise López de Schwarzer

Philipp Soballa

Carolin Steinke

Cover: Luisa Köhler Pictures: Lucy Hehl Models: Noemi Hehl, Benedikt Kirsch Table of Contents: Luisa Köhler Pictures: Luisa Köhler Last Page: Angela Czygann Background Picture: Sarah Hilbich

Henrike Wilhelm

Website Team Leader

Elisabeth Stützel

Andreas Böhm

Thomas Kienast

Section dividers: Main Topic: Daphne Strain, Michaela Lappler, Model: Antonija Vuijica Whole Wide World: Sarah Hilbich Keep It Local: Stefanie Frank

Sophia Brandt

Laura Annecca

Alexander Gallwitz

Eva Sitzberger

Proofreader: Peter James Special thanks: Press and support: Klaus Prem Finances: Michaela Kottmayr