Hallo there
The other day I was sitting in the park trying to remember the first memories I have about Wieland...thinking about his birthday.......and well.......there were so many. ......but one thing I remember verry clearly is that he was always there for me ......and that we laughed so so so much....hahahahahaha...painful at times.....

I decided to make this special page for his 40‘th birthday and am very happy and thankful for all the nice things you have send up to now !

Here are the first stories , thoughts, pictures and memories.
I have translated some into english, just after the original language.
If you like to add some more , send them to me.

Find More Pictures in the Gallery!

Schnick schnack-sabrina-das kriegen wir schon wieder hin!!!

Das ist mein lebensmotto seit dem ich diesen riesigen stinkfuss mann mit seinen riesigen stinke-schuhen in mein herz geschlossen habe.....

Ich war in tokyo und mir ist auf einer party eine gruppe aufgefallen die sich total daneben benahmen und stinkbesoffen waren.sie waren nur am lachen und gröhlen.und sie sprachen deutsch.mann,habe ich mich geschämt und wollte nix mit ihnen zu tun haben.

Dann lernte ich irgendwann ricily kennen und wir hatten eine schöne zeit.sie erzählte mir immer von ihrem bruder. Ich sagte: den kenn ich nicht! An den wänden in meinem kleinen zimmer hingen panoramafotos von schönen parties in japan und plötzlich sagte sie:da...das ist mein bruder!!!und zeigte mit dem finger auf ein foto von der der free tibet party.

Mittendrin und rausragend war ihr bruder. Der gröhlende,stinkbesoffene deutsche, mit dem ich nix zutun haben wollte.

Scheiß vorurteile. Gottseidank ist wieland in mein leben gekommen.

Als er mich einige jahre später in einer kleinen bar in köln angesprochen hatte fing unsere freunschaft eigentlich erst an.

Seine lebensfreude war für mich zwar oft erschlagend und sein kindlichlicher leichtsinn etwas wahnsinnig....aber ich habe seine possitivität gebraucht.

Er hat mir mut gegeben und mich unterstützt. Er hat mir ermöglicht mich selbstständig zumachen und hat immer nach geschaut ob ich das auch alles richtig mache.

Wenn ich mal einen durchhänger hatte hieß es nur: schnickschnack-sabrina-das kriegen wir schon wieder hin!!!!

Wieland hatte keine zeit für meine depressionen.er konnte nicht verstehen wie es einem dann geht und wie es sich auf ein leben auswirkt.

Nachdem ich ihm mal wieder kurzfristig am telefon eine einladung abgesagt hatte, weil es oktober war,grau und früh dunkel und sich wieder die schrecklichen winterdepressionen bei mir breitmachten,sagte er am telefon zurück: „okay...dann geh du mal in den winterschlaf.und vergrab dich zu hause. Ich ruf dich wieder im märz an,oder erst im april!“

30minuten später,er muss geflogen sein, stand er mit dem auto vor meiner tür und sagte: „komm, die mutter hat mir so ein tolles rezept gegeben das mußt du probieren und dann habe ich noch leckeren rotwein da.davon habe ich soviel,dann kannst du erstmal deine depressionen wegsaufen!“

Es gibt soviele geschichten.

Ich vermisse dich sehr wieland,

das letzte mal als ich dich gesehen habe kamst du in einem total schicken anzug, auf einem kickboard in meinen laden gerauscht und hast mir deine zukunftspläne ausführlich geschildert.die knie ware von einem sturz mitten auf dem rudolfsplatz ganz dreckig und angehauen.

Aber du hast nur darüber gelacht.....

Leider haben wir uns in deinen letzten monaten aus den augen verloren, weil ich mal wieder doof und sturr und stolz war.das verzeihe ich mir nicht.aber ich hoffe du mir!!!!!!!!!

Als du dich entschieden hast nicht mit deinen depressionen leben zu können, war ich stinksauer auf dich.ich habe auch so oft keine lust mehr gehabt......und du hast gesagt:schnick-schnack-sabrina!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eigentlich gehört Neid und eifersucht nicht zu meinen charakter eigenschaften, aber ich bin eifersüchtig auf die engel im himmel....denn nun bringst du sie zum lachen,hilfst ihnen wo es nur geht,machst sie glücklich und machst tolle parties für sie!!!!

Happy birthday my friend.

I love&miss you and always will.

sabrina

I was thinking about Wieland , Alison and you today as I
walked up the Great Wall near Beijing. My feet are
completely exhausted (after two days walking round the
Forbidden City and other places).
Wish I'd had a cool party to go to, but it was still a
great place, with the sides of the hills covered in
blossom.

Love

Lucy

Wenn man so liest wird einem klar wie viel Wieland in seinem Leben schon gemacht hat, wo er ueberall war und wen er dabei kennegelernt hat. Das ist mehr als vielen Menschen in einem viel laengeren Leben je vergoennt ist, auch weil die wenigsten so weit schreiten und Ideen und Traeume einfach umsetzen. Ich denke an ihn und auch an Dich und Ricarda.

Ganz liebe Gruesse Tobias

While reading one realizes how much Wieland realy did during his life, all the places he went to, the people he met......it is more than most people in a longer life will ever experience, especially as only a few go that far to realize their dreams and ideas.

Thinking about him .

Tobias

This is absolutely beautiful - so vivid, a work of art. Wieland's spirit must be thrilled.

xxx g

Have been thinking a lot about Wieland lately, spoke a lot about Wieland lately... he's here you know.... shining on us....

Yolaine xxx

Lieber Wieland

Ich sitze hier in Davos, in meinem Leben scheint sich in den Jahren nicht viel geändert zu haben, nur das Alter. Weiterhin bin ich der selbe Kindskopf mit dem wir zusammen so viele lustige und schöne Momente zusammen hatten. Ich denke oft an Dich. Auch jetzt hier in den Bergen, in denen auch Du so gerne weiltest. Ich bin mir sicher, Dir geht es gut. Himmel Hölle gibt es nicht, Dein Geist aber, der lebt weiter--. Dein Leben war kurz, intensiv und wunderbar- was willst Du mehr. Immer wieder hast Du mir gesagt, dass wir in unseren wenigen Jahren mehr erlebten als 100 Lebenszeiten. Wir haben gelebt!
Oft warst du ungestüm, aber immer herzlich und lieblich. Nie zeigtest Du gegenüber Menschen Vorurteile. Auch nicht gegenüber mir, als Du mich, einen naiven und unerfahrenen Jüngling in einer Hong Konger Bar spontan angesprochen hast. Zum meinem großen Glück: ohne Dich wären meine 10 Jahr Asien nie das, was sie waren. Du hast mir in meinem Leben so viel mitgegeben. Du hast mich geprägt und mehr. . . .
Für das und alles Danke ich Dir.

Michael

Dear Wieland

Right this very moment I am sitting in Davos,
there don`t seem to be any big changes in my life apart from age.
I am still the silly guy with whom both of us shared quite some funny and wonderful moments. I am thinking a lot about you .
Right now ,being in the mountains, which you liked a lot too. I am sure you are fine. Heaven\ Hell don`t exist, but your spirit, that lives on -----
Your life was short, intensive and fabulous - what more could one wish for.
You repeatedly told me that in our short time on earth, we lived more than a hundred lifetimes. We for sure did live!

You were quite impetuous but always lovely and kind. You were without prejudice towards others.
The same towards me when you spontaniously started to talk to this naive and callow fellow in a HongKong bar.
My good fortune : without you , my 10 years in Asia would have never been what they are.
You gave me so much in life.
You imprinted me and more ......

For that and much more I thank you .

MICHAEL

Petit mot pour Wieland,

Nous pensons beaucoup à toi Wieland.Tout comme moi tu aurais 40 ans aujourd'hui donc bonne Anniversaire,
tu nous manque beaucoup et éspere que tu ne te moque pas trop de nous d'en haut.
Nous t'embrassons bien fort Wieland et ésperons venir te voir à Cologne.

Stephane Dadou et Violette.2008

A little though for Wieland

We think lot about you Wieland.
Same as me , you would have turned 40 today : Happy Birthday.
We miss you a lotand we hope that you do not make fun of us up there.
We give you a big strong hug, lots of love and hope to come and see you in Cologne.

Stephane Dadou et Violette.2008

Für Wieland und Ricarda und Helga

Dinge im Herzen verlieren wir nicht - Ihr drei seid in meinem drin.
Ein Satz verbindet mich immer mit Euch, in meinem "Gegenüber-Zuhause"
habe ich viel gelernt und den Anstoß dafür bekommen, Dinge zu tun,
die bei mir zu Hause nie möglich gewesen wären.
"Keep all the good Spirits" - Wieland in mind

To Wieland, Ricarda and Helga
Thing that are kept in our hearts do not get lost - the three of you are in mine .
There is one sentence that binds me to you.
At my home "Next -Door", I learned a lot and got the inspiration to do things that would not have been possible without you.
"KEEP ALL THE GOOD SPIRITS", especially Wieland, in your minds and hearts.

Beate

No worries

Wieland and Ricarda had just come back from a long journey in Tibet. Weiland had had done his hair like the natives. The coconut cut . Hilarious! He made me do it!
He was standing in front of me with some old fashioned cutting device.
"Come on, you are cutting my hair!", he said.
"Well, OK, but not with this thing."
"Of course with this. Don't be silly!"
"Oh no..........."
Weiland was adamant, "Come on, this shouldn't be a problem for you. You've been using scapels every day for the last 20 years. So lets get on with it!"
The knife was a bit unweildy. My hands were shaking.
"Hold your ears out of the way," I said. The blade was shimmering. Razor sharp.
Went fine in the end if you call that haircut 'fine'.

Wieland often made people do things they feared. In his mind there was nothing to fear.

Cheeseskin

After their journey through Tibet, Wieland stayed with aunt Marga for a couple of months.
One evening, the family had supper together. At the end, someone placed a big piece of cheese on the table. Everybody cut a big slice and the skin was left for the garbage. Wieland took the crusty part and said:" If we had had this in Tibet, it would have been divided into little pieces and saved for Monday Tuesday Wednesday...you know. And then it would have been divided again, Monday Tuesday... It was against his nature to throw something that "delicious" away, There was still something to nibble on...for a while longer.

University

Wieland studied Engineering and on the first day the Professor said, "From the 800 of you in this room, less that 200 will make it to the final exams. This is one of the most difficult programs."
Later Wieland told me this and said with a big grin, "This basically means I have to be one of the 200."

A year after that Ricarda started to study in London.
Not wanting to stay in the small town of Aachen anymore, Weiland got this crazy idea to transfer to Berlin. I told this to my brother who just remarked that Wieland shouldn't do this because he would loose at least one semester. Only geniuses are able to do a change like that.
Later I told Wieland what my brother had said. Standing in the the bathtub having a shower, he simply replied, "Oh, then I am that genius!!!!!". And he grinned at me.
He finished his studies in the shortest time possible, 4 years with a grade of 1,7 which is pretty good!!!!

Love
Mum

So ganz spontan.....
Ich erinnere mich an Helgas 50.Geb.
Wir "Alten" schwirrten herrum,um dies und das und jenes noch zu richten.
Ihr hattet die ehrenvolle Aufgabe,schwarze und violette Ballons aufzublasen...mindestens 50 an der Zahl. Aber anstatt Euch dran zu geben, sasset ihr rum ;wart am quatschen; am giggeln ; am kichern....…: You name it..... ,aber ans Aufblasen war nicht zu denken. "Pusi,wir werden fertig!!! Wetten!? " und das war bereits kurz vor 6.......nun....ich ging zu Beate,wo ich damals schlief,um mich zu renovieren und mich vor allem nicht noch mehr aufzuregen ,denn I C H war der Meinung : das klappt nie!!!
Kurz vor 2o Uhr kam ich dann ganz toll rüber gestakelt......und ihr standed nur grinsend da: Die Ballons waren ALLE aufgeblasen....Hattet Ihr eine Luftpumpe ,eine automatische ..........das frag ich mich bis heute.....
Das faellt mir spontan ein....denn Wieland bedeutete auch Ricarda .... Ricarda war auch Wieland.

4o waere eine gute Zeit...nun sollte es nicht sein. Aber manch Lebender ist toter und unsehbar im übertragenen Sinn als WIELAND.

Eure Pusi

heute nacht hab ich von Willi geträumt.
: Irgendwo vielleicht
in Japan oder auch auf den Philippinen.
In dem Land bin ich zu Besuch.
Ich betrete einen großen Raum, in dem sich viele Leute zum essen
versammelt haben. Als ich an den Tisch trete, dreht sich jemand zu mir.
Wieland. Frisch und Munter.
Sagt, ich soll mich setzen.
Ich erschrecke total und freu mich dann sehr.
"Du bist ja gar nicht tot! warum hast du
das uns nicht gesagt? wo warst du die ganze Zeit?"

ja, so war das heute nacht ...
ach, ricarda, wir denken viel an ihn und die anderen freunde, die schon
nicht mehr leben.........

Last night I dreamt about Wieland.
Somewhere, maybe in Japan, or the Phillipines.
That country I am visiting.
I enter a big room where a lot of people are meeting for a big dinner. Wen I move towards the table, someone turns around.
Wieland. Happy and looking good.
i am in complete shock but then I am besides myself with happiness.
" You are not dead, why didn't you tell us ? Where have you been all this time ?"

that was last night....
we think a lot about him and the other friends who do not live anymore either........

Tritsche

hello my darling

Of course I would love to write a few stories about your brother.

The first one will be when we first met and I came to pick you up from nakano station and your brother was holding onto the biggest cans of beer and a few other stories.

Take care and chibuk gadol.

Schmulik

.....schau mal, was ich gerade gefuden habe

.....look what I just happened to find

Lia

Regarding a photo of Wieland, I have the one attached to this email. It was around late 95 or early 96 in Saigon.
Wieland and I were not close friends as he was with Stephane.
I kept some distance, probably because I was too impressed by him and his numerous talents. But I remember we spent good times in some bars on Pham Ngu Lao.
The last time I have seen him was in Paris, at Stef and Dadou's place. We exchanged some music I think.

Voila.
Matthieu

Dear Wieland, where ever you are.......

I loved it when you came to visit Japan, and brought your party spirit with you.
I loved it when you couldn't pronounce my name correctly - your mistake became my
new name at the time...... everybody called me YA-III-LE instead of Ya-el.
I loved the little magic tricks you always did. I still practice the RUNNING COIN TRICK
THAT YOU taught me, and I still have the 1$ coin you gave me!....... and by the
way, I still suck doing it.......
I loved your famous big black shoes.
I loved it that you were tall and a very good looking man.
I loved it that you could spit fire.
I loved it that you laughed at my Hebrew accent "laf lach lich lach"
I loved it that you could sleep almost everywhere, even with your big black shoes on.
I loved the great time we had in Vietnam. Without you I would have never gone there.
I loved it that my first and only Christmas I ever celebrated was with you in Vietnam.
I love you!!

I miss you so much.
I still did not erase your e-mail address from my address book, maybe I still hope that you'll send something. I hope that you are in a better place now and that you are happy there. Please send us a sign if you can.
- and if by any chance you meet my beautiful lovely snory doggie, please pet her on her behind, she loved it..

thank you for everything.

oh, and one more thing, I hate you for not celebrating with us!
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU TO MISS OUT ON A PARTY.......

Happy Birthday !!

YAEL

I went with Wieland to Duesseldorf to see an Opera of Richard Wagner which we enjoyed very much .

Back outside I couldn't find my car. It got towed .
Fortunately, Wieland had come with his own car because he wanted to meet a friend afterwards.
He took me to the carpound where the guy in charge bluntly said:" If you want your car back , you gotta pay 100 Dollar"....which of course I didn't have .
The man just looked up at Wieland and said;" Then you pay for it !!! "
" Why on earth should I pay ?"
"Well, did you ever think about how much money your mother spent on you during your existance ? I reckon this is a rather small amount.........
Wieland:" Oh God, yes of course , you are absolutely right." With a big grin on his face,he took out his card and handed it over .
He was lovely !!! What a good son .

HELGA

Ich denke oft an Wieland, gerade die letzten Tage habe ich ihm liebe Gruesse gesandt, bat ihn auch etwas auf mich aufzupassen. Er sieht doch von oben viel mehr als ich hier unten.

I often think about Wieland. Especially in the last couple of days. I did send him all my best and at the same time asked him to look after me a little, as he does see a lot more from above than me down here.

Liebe Gruesse Inka

......hab heute Nacht von Wieland getraeumt....hat mir ne wirre Geschichte erzaehlt und wir haben uns kaputt gelacht. :o) also viele Schmatzies sollte ich Dir bestellen,.....das weiss ich noch....

.....dreamt about Wieland tonight.......he told me some bizarre story and we laughed and giggled and laughed. :o) ...have to send you lots of kisses.....that I still remember....

Maria

Tu seras toujours le plus grand et le plus beau de Saigon !

You will always be the tallest and most good looking man in all of Saigon !

Edith

......und immer sind da Spuren.....

Edelgart

.....Wieland is feeling very peaceful , I know...
I still keep his last email you know.......and
remember him as happy and magical as ever.

Anne-Marie

Meine Gedanken an Wieland......

kaum ein Tag vergeht, an dem ich nicht an Dich denke lieber Wieland ! Und
Dich hier auf Erden so wahnsinnig vermiSse. Im November ist dieses Gefühl
besonders stark. Dann tröste ich mich mit dem
Gedanken, daß es Dir gut geht u wir uns am Ende eh wiedersehen !

Mit Dir verbinde ich soooo viel Gutes Wieland. Für Dich spielte es keine
Rolle, ob ein Mensch reich oder arm, gebildet oder weniger gebildet ist,
wichtig war nur,
daß Dein Gegenüber das Herz am richtigen Fleck besaß...diese Einstellung
hatten wir gemein ,-) Wenn ich an Dich denke, dann denke ich an ein
unbeschwertes Kind, was sich
lediglich in einem großen Körper befand. Natürlich hattest auch Du
Probleme u warst nicht unbeschwert, doch Deine Art die Du anderen
vermittelt hast, hatte etwas sehr naives, unbekümmertes, eben etwas
was nur Kinder besitzen. So gab es für Dich niiiiie ein Problem was nicht
gelöst werden konnte, zumindest wenn es um die Probleme Deiner Freunde &
Mitmenschen ging, da hieß es immer, ach Biljanalein,
das mußt Du so und so machen, dann klappt dat schon ,-) So wie Du die
Dinge betrachtet hast u einem selbst versucht hast zu vermitteln, schien
alles sehr einfach und unkompliziert. Wie oft habe ich mir gewünscht, daß
auch ich Dir dieses Gefühl in Bezug auf Dich selbst hätte geben
können...Habe dieses ewig KindSein an Dir sehr gemocht ,-) Es hat mich
zwar manchmal auch ziemlich in Rage versetzt,
aber das geschah nur deshalb, da ich mir Sorgen um Dich machte.

Ich errinere mich an einen Abend in der Harpune, als Du mir ein
wunderschönes Armband schenktest. Du standst vor mir u hielst dieses
Armband ausgestreckt vor mir und sagtest, hier Biljana
das ist für Dich. Da Du aber wusstest, daß ich nicht wollte, daß Du Geld
für mich ausgibst, hattest Du auf meinen Einwand hin, aber Wieland Du
sollst doch nicht, auch prompt eine Erklärung parat. Du sagtest, Biljana
das kannst Du ruhig nehmen, hat nix gekostet, war eh nur ein Musterstück
,-)) Das habe ich heute noch und trage es sehr, sehr gerne, besonders im
Sommer, da ich den Sommer
immer wieder mit Dir verbinde Wieland, deinem strahlendem Wesen und die
schöne Zeit, die wir oft am See verbrachten.

Auch Deine Spontaneität war wirklich einmalig !
Neben all dem Streß, den Dein Job mit sich brachte, hattest Du immer die
Zeit gefunden kurz durchzurufen und Deinen neuen Plan bzgl einer Party,
Grillen oder sonstigen Aktivitäten mitzuteilen.
Du hast es einfach immer wieder geschafft die unterschiedlichsten Menschen
zusammen zu bringen und sie für Deinen Plan zu begeistern ,-) Groß
überreden brauchtest Du keinen, jeder war gerne sofort
dabei. Daran denke ich auch oft, diese hochmotivierte Stimme, die einen
direkt mitgerißen hat. Ich vermiSse Dich wirklich in sehr vielen Momenten
und bin mir auch der Tatsache bewußt, daß ein so
einmaliger Mensch, wie Du es warst, selten einem im Leben begegnet. Daß
ich Dir begegnet bin, macht mich neben den traurigen Gedanken, dann doch
sehr glücklich ! Dieses Jahr hättest Du einen
runden Geburtstag gefeiert & ich bin mir sicher, daß Du es Dir nicht
hättest nehmen lassen ein RießenFest zu veranstalten. In Gedanken werde
ich dies für Dich tun lieber Wieland und Dir herzlichst
die besten Wünsche senden !!!!

Bist immer bei mir, denn ich trage Dich im Herzen !
Deine Biljana

My thoughts for Wieland

Hardly a day passes by without a thought for you dear Wieland ! I miss you terribly down here on earth, especially during the month of November, it is extremely strong. But then I think to myself that you are fine now and that in the end we will meet again anyway.

You always remind me of so much good, Wieland . For you it didn't matter if someone was rich or poor, educated or less educated, the only importance was that the person opposite you had his heart in the right place.......

When I think of you, I see a carefree child , who
just happened to be stuck with a tall body. Of course you had your own problems and were not really carefree...but your ways how you dealt with things ,especially getting them across to others seemed so naive, and easy, basically something that only kids posess. There was never a problem that could not be solved, at least concerning the ones bothering your friends & and people around you.
You just said : Och Biljanalein, you just gotta do it like this and then it will all work out just fine ,-)....
The way you looked at things and tried to show it to us, it all just seemed so damn easy. How often did I wish I could show this same feeling concerning your own inner self.........I liked this " kid forever " in you very much ,-) . It sometimes drove me nuts , but really only because I was worried about you.

I remember a night at Harpune, when you gave me a wonderful bracelet, You just stood in front of me , held out your hand with the jewel and said : "Here, that's for you !" Knowing that I wasn't happy with you spending money for me, you immediately had a response ready before I could even start to refuse : "Don't worry , you can take it , its just a sample , didn't cost anything......"
,-)) I still have the bracelett and love to wear it especially in summertime , because the summer makes me think of you, your beaming personalityand the wonderful times we often shared at the lakeside.

Another amazing and unique thing was your spontaneity!
Despite all the stress that came with your job, you always found a minute to quickly call and announce your newest plan, a party, a BBQ or any other activity that popped into your head.
You always managed to gather the most diverse characters and motivate them for your ideas ,-) Actually there was no need to persuade people.Everybody loved to be a part of it. I often think about your highly motivated voice that just carried one away in an instant. I really miss you in many moments and know that such a unique and special person , does not cross one's path in life very often. The fact that I met you , apart from the sadness inside, fills me with happiness!

This year you would have celebrated your 40'th birthday, and I am sure it would have been a huge party. In my thoughts, I will do that for you , and send you the best Wishes ever.

You are always with me , 'cause you are in my heart.

Your Bilijana

...................... ich vermiss den alten rocker sehr. mensch, was war das ne lustige und intensive zeit mit ihm - fast die schönste in meinem leben!

................I really miss the old bugger. God, what a funny, as well as intense time we shared - about the best in my life.

MARC

Wieland is in my heart....

R

...where to start…

Well, quite difficult to know where to start as there are so many memories to think of...maybe start with how we mostly supported each other with sometimes pretty bizarre ideas.

You were in the military and were suppossed to go to some assault training course over the weekend while we civilians were planning some big barbeque out at the lake. You were not happy, therefore we did some enquiries and found the perfect solution, "sauerkrautsaft" (concentrated cabbage juice). I am not sure if it was to be injected or drunk (I think you injected it with a seringe provided by our family homeopath), but the effect was acute vomiting and terrible sweats that would last for only about a couple of hours. You called your sargeant and then did the trick...it was amazing. Ten minutes later you looked absolutely dreadful, fifteen minutes later the military ambulance was there (the ambulance being the only way to get out of service). And there was no doubt you were not even close to being able to go out into the wilderness. They put you in the ambulance and commanded that I follow. Trying to look very concerned, off we went. What a laugh following the sirens in Heidi's little Honda Civic, through the red light and past traffic jams. At the hospital, they checked you and they hadn't a clue. They told me to go home and not to worry but that they had to keep you as they still didn't know what was wrong. A couple of hours later I was back to pick you up. Miraculously you had recovered fairly fast and were allowed to go home...off we went straight to the lake.

********

Then came our math exam in high school. Despite the fact that you were a genuis in the field, I could not really prove the same talent...therefor the easiest way was a little help...trying to look most innocent with a pink stuffed pig on my desk, I managed to fold the exam papers up and was on my way to the school yard, meanwhile you were strollign around looking most bored. The handover went with no disturbance, five minutes later you met me in the girls toilet (god knows how you managed that) and there I was with all the formulas. My tutors were a little confused but I passed with no worries.

********

Survial story here maybe

********

Tibet was next on the agenda. The fact that it was impossible to get into the country did not deter you in the slightest. When it came to the point that I had to prove my survival skills, I pretty much failed being that I resisted eating flies or chopping off some poor little chicken's head. But lucky for me, there were no other people available to go so you still took you me with you.

After we'd raided each others packs for unnecessary items (couldn't possibly rid you of your deck of playing cards and oversized coins), I still was pretty surprised and worried about the weight of my backpack on the way to the airport as the rule was: each carries their own! Arriving in Hong Kong, staying in Chungking Mansions, top floor, I was hit with my first encounter with Asia. Chungking Mansions, top floor, all we could afford, the worst backpackers you can imagine. Being completely disullionioned, I just wanted to grab my toothbrush. So, upon opening my backpack, there they were, sitting on top of my 'necessary' items were a can of raspberries, sardines, mushrooms, salami, black break and a bottle of whiskey that you and Arne'd snuck into my bag just before we'd left the house for home. Would I laugh or cry? So, with Weiland laughing, I couldn't help but laugh too.

After I'd collected myself, you said, 'Hey, Rickily, let's go up to the roof and watch the town.' Meanwhile, I was inching myself toward the edge on my belly, and you were flinging yourself about the roof like there were no barriers, fearless. There were no barriers. Because of you, being able to peek over the edge, I saw the most amazing array of criss-crossed neon signs in Chinese Kanji before me. Mindblowing.

Our first start into wilderness (after we'd managed, in an odd way, to get into Tibet) started at Namtso Lake where the "taxi" dropped us in the middle of nowhere at the only clay hut in sight. the owner convinced us pretty quickly to move on and we ended up with some nomads for hte night. The first huge crisis came in the evening observing the mother wiping our cups with the same cloth as she did her baby's dirty bum and with what devotion they picked each other's lice. I think I was just before a breakdown when you explained to me, in explicit detail, how I could get rid of a lice problem (I could see my bald head ridden of the long cared for hair). You said, 'No problem, we'll just dig up some clay, paste it to your head, dry you in the sun and whisk the whole mess off like it was a cap...my complaints diminished drastically after that.

I think the only time you ever opposed to one of my plans was when we had to get rid of our donkey. We'd travelled Tibet with him and being completely in love with this especially long eared fellow, I tried to convince you to split up for you to continue studying and for me to walk our donkey home to Germany. I was so determined and you knew it was a tough one to break, sitting, overlooking the river you convinced me it was just slightly more responsible to stop my economic studies (that I never showed up for) to go and do a foundation course in art and design in London instead. Actually, that didn't sound bad either. I still do miss our long eared 'Pongu'.

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With all your trust and support, I got accepted into art school. After all the joy came the realization that I was going to the big city and you were in Aachen. The plans were changed quickley. You changed location to go to Berlin, ignoring the fact that it was thought impossible to change universities. We made a deal: you were to visit me once a year and in return I was to come once a year to see you...and that was not to be broken under any circumstances.

Ricily