About 10 years ago, going study abroad was a “decent” thing for most Vietnamese to do. You had to be either outstanding in terms of academic ability and lucky to compete for a scholarship, which was scarce or your parents had to either be financially rich or have access to some kind of political power so that there would be somebody to support you even if you are stupid. Things are different now. Anyhow, the point is when something is or was difficult to get you tend to appreciate its value and the memory of it always remains sweet, sweet, sweet. And I guess not everyone can afford to return to the exact places he was for sweet memory to be refreshed. A couple I know who worked in the Czechoslovakia and came back to Vietnam more than 15 years ago now long for a visit to Czech but constraints like money, time and visa to name a few but most important, have made their trip delayed for years. Anyhow, I tried, and I did it. On a good-weather day.
Firstly I went to Elke Schneider’s –the manager – room to say hello. I don’t know if it was because I had informed them before that I would drop in, that there was a large picture of our group at an easy to see place in her room. Surprisingly, on the day I came and took this picture I was wearing (of course under my suit) the same T-shirt I wore in the picture.
Then I walked to the dormitories. This picture was taken from the bridge connecting the campus and the Allmandring.
And this is the pond 6 years ago on a day the temperature was -14 C degree so that the water was frozen and I could stand on the pond surface.
This is Allmandring 12C, the house I used to live. Come on in!
Now there is a lock in the second door so that strangers and postmen can only come to the buffer room but not further. I didn’t know if I could come in the house, but my old room can be seen from here. Let’s take a picture.
I pressed the bell button for my old room. So so lucky, that the new guy was there and he opened the second door only after 2 seconds. I came in the house. An Indian guy stuck his head out of my old door and gave me an unwinking look. I told him what I want. He said Ok but you have to remove your shoes. Aber natürlich. By the way, I didn’t use to remove my shoes when I lived in this room.
Now, a picture from this window in spring 2007.
The same scene but taken in autumn 1999 (by a film camera and scanned).
In this picture it was winter 2001. Note that it is not a black&white picture.
A girl in the campus that is so good in terms of body measurements.
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