Alles Gut by Dela Breyne

ALLES GUT

ALLES GUT FOOD CULTURE FASHION TRAVELS LES MODES DESIGN // THE MOUTAINEER NEW PERSPECTIVES // INTERNATIONAL LOVE

2012

INTERNATIONAL LOVE DÉLA BREYNE

ONE WALLFLOWER +

FIFTEEN KIDS FROM THE EUROZONE =

A TRANSFORMATIVE WEEK IN DELIRIOUS LIÈGE.

PLAYMOBIL FIGURES |

LIÈGE, BE 04.13.12

25 DESIGN BUILDING |

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PORTA NIGRA |

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ALLES GUT

I’ve always been quiet. In fact, that’s the thing people usually notice first about me. Ever since I can remember I’ve been teased about just how little I talk. In grade school my teachers’ number one complaint was that I didn’t participate or assert myself enough. Starting when I was very little and continuing in to adulthood, I’ve had anxiety about meeting new people and being in unfamiliar social situations. All my life I just accepted this as the way things were. I almost always turned down party invitations and hardly ever tried to seek out new friend groups. I just assumed that’s the way I was, a hopeless introvert. The problem was though, I wasn’t. When I was at homeor with my best friends I always wanted to be the center of attention. I loved cracking jokes and goofing around. I loved voicing my opinion in our family discussions and not backing down when I was challenged.

But any time I got out of my comfort zone, something shifted. I got so nervous around other people that I COULD HARDLY GET A WORD OUT. When I moved to Trier, Germany, I kept this same misguided assumption about myself. I talked to my family and friends back home but since I didn’t anticipate making a lot of friends, I focused on school. The first month, I spent a lot of nights alone in my room. I met a girl that lived in my dorm and we did a few things together. But as far as being a part of a big social group, I just shied away. I was content sharing time with this one friend however, I couldn’t help the feeling that I was missing out on more. I didn’t really know any of the Europeans I was going to school with, but I could never get up the courage to start a conversation. As always, I just got nervous.

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WE HAD THE COMMON ENEMIES OF CRAPPY FOOD, EARLY MORNINGS, AND OBNOXIOUS TEACHERS. SOON WE WERE ALL CLOSELY BONDED.

JUST S AY Y E S All of that changed when our class travelled to Liège, Belgium for an experimental design workshop. Students and instructors from nine different countries gathered to work simultaneously on independent and group art projects. At first I did what I’ve always done and focused on my work, choosing to create a project by myself. However within the first few days of the trip, something in me changed. For whatever reason, I made the conscious decision to let go of my neurosis and just start saying yes. For those two weeks, all of the international students lived in the same hostel, ate all of our meals in the same cafeteria, worked at the Academy all day together and socialized as a massive group at night. We had the common enemies of crappy food, early mornings, and obnoxious teachers. Soon we were all closely bonded. My American friend and I became closest with the Architecture and Design students from Trier and the group of Irish Landscape Architect students form University College Dublin. Right from the start they were some of the nicest, most genuine people I’d ever met. They were all so accepting and inclusive. They didn’t care who we were, they just wanted to have a good time and they wanted us to be a part of it.

CIGARETTE AD |

LIÈGE, BE 04.13.12

ALLES GUT // INTERNATIONAL LOVE

EVERYONE T HINKS OF C H A NGING THE W ORL D, BUT NO ONE TH INK S O F CHANGING HIMS EL F. LEO TOLSTOY

ALLES GUT MEUSE RIVER BY NIGHT | LIÈGE, BE 04.11.12

FA MILY I KEPT GETTING THE FEELING THAT I’D KNOWN THEM BEFORE, LIKE I SHOULD’VE GROWN UP WITH THEM EVEN THOUGH WE WERE BORN ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PLANET.

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FIGURINE |

ALLES GUT // INTERNATIONAL LOVE

LIÈGE, BE 04.13.12

I found it so amazing that over such a short time, I became so incredibly close to these kids. They felt like family. I had more fun with them running around the eccentric city of Liège then I’d had my whole life. I kept getting the feeling that I’d known them all before, like I should’ve grown up with them even though we were born on opposite sides of the planet. Around them I could be myself. My natural state of happy, bubbly, sarcastic Déla was able to come out quicker with them than it ever had with anyone else. Our new friendships with the Germans and Irish didn’t end after we went home to Trier. The kids who lived in Trier became our core group of friends that we hung out with on a daily basis. One of our closest friends, Rainer, even invited us to his parent’s house for regular movie nights. And we always used “The Anns’ House” as a gathering place for dinner parties. Our two closest Irish friends Richy and Joe visited us in Trier about a month after Liège. We stayed with them when we went to Dublin and vacationed with Richy in Barcelona. I began a particularly special relationship with Joe, that started in Liège and continued throughout the summer culminating in a visit to his hometown in Cork, Ireland. If I had never met Joe, Richy, Rainer, Thomas, Lisa, Lea, Joanna, Andy, Karen, Collie, Christine, Ben, Ann, Anne, or Max in Liège, I would never have know that side of myself. The side of me that’s capable of having conversations with strangers, dancing on tables, or taking an international holiday on a whim. Without even trying to or knowing it, they showed me that you’re only limited by the box you put yourself in.

Without even trying to or knowing it, they showed me that you’re only limited by the box you put yourself in.

You would think, of anyone in the world, you should know yourself the best, but that’s just not always true. If you get it in to your head that you are a certain way, you could make yourself blind to some pretty stellar opportunities. If you allow yourself to believe the stereotype that other people have created about you, you’re going to miss out on a lot of amazing experiences just because it’s not CIRCUS |

LIÈGE, BE 04.13.12

something you would usually do. I’ll be the first to admit it wasn’t easy at first. I had to purposely put myself in social situations that I had been used to running away from my whole life. But by doing things I never thought I would enjoy doing, I changed my life forever for the better.

ALLES GUT // INTERNATIONAL LOVE

/ / I CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER

F O R THE BETTER

PASCAL AT THE FLEA MARKET |

EXHIBIT OPENING |

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A DAY IN TH LIFE DÉL A B RE Y N E ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCES ARE PLENTIFUL IN THIS SWEET LITTLE GERMAN TOWN, BUT HERE’S AN AVERAGE DAY AS AN EX-PAT IN TRIER, GERMANY.

ALLES GUT DESIGN BUILDING

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9:00 WAKE UP Grab a cup of tea or coffee, maybe some toast with Nutella and off you go to school. The classes are all taught in German so be sure you have clear communication with your professor to get the information you need. If your professor speaks English, meet with him after class, if not, make friends with a German student who can translate for you.

12:00 CITY CENTER After class make your way to the city center. It’s where the majority of shops and restaurants are located as well as being a beautiful area. You’ll see the Porta Nigra (the large Roman gate at the begining of Simeonstrasse) practically everyday because there’s always something you’ll need from town.

BALDWIN OF LUXEMBOURG |

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ALLES GUT // CULTURE

12:40 DEUTSCHE POST Keeping in touch with friends and family back home is a great way to combat home sickness. If a package from the States is too big to fit in your mailbox you’ll get a notice instructing you to pick up your parcel directly from the post office. Getting letters is great because they’re so much more personal than e-mails or Facebook messages. Being able to see the person’s hand writing and their stationary is much more sentimental and it’s something you can hold on to for a long time. By the same hand, your loved ones miss you just as much and would love getting something from you too. Sending German candy or knick knacks from the Euro Shop are an inexpensive way to share your international adventures with others. Before you leave for Europe, pick one person to send a postcard from every country you travel to. It’s a fun way for them to track your journey.

13:30 HAUPTBAHNHOF In your travels you’ll more than likely travel by train at some point. DB Bahn has a website to book your journey but I always found it to be less confusing to just go to the station. Most of the people at the ticket counter speak English or will find someone who does for you. Be sure to show them your student ID card as there is a certain distance surrounding Trier that you can get to for free if you are a student.

HAUPTBAHNHOF |

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WAN DE RLUS T P L AYL IST Some tracks to give you a beat to bounce to as you explore Trier.

EUPHORIA Loreen // Sweden EASY CRo // Germany AI SE EU TE PEGO Michel TelÓ // Brazil LOCA PEOPLE Sak Noel // Spain RIVERSIDE Sidney Samson // N.Lands EINMAL UM DIE WELT CRo // Germany MIAMI 2 IBIZA SHM // Sweden YOUR GIRL Kakkmaddafakka // Norway TECHNO FAN The Wombats // England MIDNIGHT CITY M83 // France ALL MINE Republic of Loose // Ireland

CULCHERA

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ALLES GUT

DOM ST. PETER

15:00 HAUPTMARKT After running errands all day take some time to enjoy your city. There’s lots to see in the Hauptmarkt, the center of the city center. There’s usually produce, flowers and other vendors around as well as street performers. It’s a great place to enjoy a kebab and people watch.

15:30 CULCHERA The people of Trier take great pride in their ice cream. Wherever you are in the city there’s probably somewhere to get a frozen treat close by. Little old ladies walking their dogs with a cone of gelato in one hand are a common sight. At Culchera you can get a cone for 80 cents, an offer too good to pass up. If you’re looking for something a little more extravagant they also have specialty dishes covered in a rainbow of fruits. It’s just as lovely to look at as it is to eat.

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CITY CENTRE

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ALLES GUT // CULTURE

I T RAVE L NOT TO GO A NYW H ERE , BUT T O GO . I TR AV EL F OR T RAVE L’S S A K E. TH E GREAT AF FAIR IS TO MOV E. ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

KLAVIER AM PAULUSPLATZ

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17:00 MARTINSKLOSTER Studentenwohnheim Martinskloster is a student dormitory located across the street from the Mosel river. It’s less like a traditional American dorm and more like an apartment complex. The buildings are situated around an enclosed courtyard. It’s only a ten minute walk to the city center with easy access to the design building and nearby restaurants along the river. The rooms are quiet and cozy, the perfect space for late nights of school work. Stop by for a quick rest before you head out again. ABOVE: THOMAS, LEFT: MAX |

TRIER, DE 04.30.12

18:00 MOSEL RIVER Trier is located on the beautiful Mosel river. It’s a great place to have a picnic and soak up the sun along its verdant banks. All you have to do is buy a cheap disposable grill from the Euro Shop, pick up some bratwurst from Netto, and call up the homies for a laid back afternoon.

RAINER |

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MARTINSKLOSTER DORM

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RE ME MB E R W H E N GROC E R Y SHO PPI NG B R I N G Y O U R O W N B AG S / / In an effort to be eco-friendly and keep costs down, German grocery stores do not provide grocery bags free of charge. Reusable canvas bags are usually your best bet. If you do forget, then they have some there for purchase.

U N R E F R I DG E R AT E D E G G S / / If you’re looking for eggs they won’t be in the dairy section. More than likely they’ll be on a shelf near the register.

DO N ’ T F O R G E T Y O U R EMPTY BOTTLES// Germans are big on recycling. If you bring in your empty plastic or glass bottles you can exchange them for cash at an easy to use automated machine inside the store.

I T ’ S HAR D T O M AK E TAC O S // Mexican food isn’t as common in Europe as it is in the U.S.. If you’re trying to make a Mexican dish, it’s much harder to find the right cheese, tortillas, or correct seasonings.

E AS Y DO E S I T / / In Europe in general, big grocery stores are less prevelant. It’s much more common to have smaller ones scattered around the city, and there’s usually one within walking distance. You wouldn’t buy a weeks worth of groceries at a time like you might in the States. Instead you go every day or so and just get what you need for your next meal

HAVE Y O U R M O N E Y R E ADY // Tax isn’t added on to prices in Germany so you should have a rough idea of how much you’re going to pay before you get to the counter. It can be a stressful experience if you’re not used to using the Euro. Getting your money counted out ahead of time can help you fumble less when the time comes to pay.

THANK YOU AND GOOD BYE

DANKE SCHĂ&#x2013;N UND AUF WIEDERSEHEN

A sincere thank you to University of Kansas Professor Patrick Dooley and Fachhochschule Trier Professors Andreas Hogan, Anna Bulanda-Pantalacci, and Edmund Zeltinger for their support and guidance while abroad in Trier. Without help from the faculty and students at both schools, this magazine would not have been possible.