Travels

Writing as a profession is quite diverse. Luckily. On the other hand, it is somewhat confusing for many people that there are so many different names for this activity. I notice this again and again, for example, when I tell people that I am an author. "Ah, you write novels!", it says then. Or when I say that I am an editor. "Ah, you work at the newspaper!", is usually the answer. Or when I talk about my blog. "Oh, you’re an influencer!" then comes. No, no and no again. I think it’s high time for some clarification.

Writing as a profession: here’s how the different job descriptions differ

I have studied business administration and have a degree in business administration. My first and only job took me to a specialized publishing house, where I worked as an editor. (Although I was hired under the job title "editor". But that’s another story.)

P astior is not the first Romanian-German author to be exposed as an informant for the Securitate, but he is the first for whom leniency seems to be universal. At least it looks like it at first glance. Dieter Schlesak, the colleague from Bucharest youth years, already announces by title in the ZEIT: "I understand my friend, the poet and Securitate informer Oskar Pastior". Even Herta Muller, who usually passes harsh judgment, and rightly so, found kind words in the Pastior case.

This may seem surprising, but it is also explainable. Pastior was close to her, his experiences in the Soviet forced labor camp of the post-war years flowed into her great novel "Atemschaukel", but his informant activity has hardly anything to do with the camp, in any case it took place much later, in the sixties – and thus still before the entry of the "Aktionsgruppe Banat" and Herta Muller into the Romanian-German literary scene. Pastior’s informant activity had nothing to do with Herta Muller, nor with the other authors of our generation.

A roar like the sound of an approaching airplane resonates ominously through the air. Then thundering masses of water from huge waves grab at everything in their path. Trees collapse, people scream and try to escape from the floods, others disappear in the waves. Finally, the tsunami has run riot and is taking everything that is not nailed down with it back into the sea.

These or similar were the descriptions of the survivors after the tsunami catastrophes mostly. And there were quite a few of them. The Hawaiian archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean alone has been rocked by major tsunamis 13 times this century.

What actually are tsunamis? What causes can they have? Can you predict tsunamis? We will try to answer these and other questions on the following pages.

The Pleiades, also known as the Pleiades, "The Seven Sisters", the Gluckhenne or the Ladder Car, have a different but always special meaning for many cultures. It is always associated with a dove and the Pleiades are also called the "dove flock.

The Pleiades, which also Pleiades, "The seven sisters", Gluckhenne or ladder wagons are called, have for many cultures a different however always special meaning.

In Greek antiquity they were considered daughters of Pleione and her husband, the Titan Atlas, the one who carries the vault of heaven in the north. In some places it is said that Aphrodite herself was the mother of the Pleiades, whom she gave birth to under the name Pleione.

Who doesn’t know this situation – you are packing for the return flight and suddenly you ask yourself if you are allowed to take all of the following back to Germany legally. If you want to be on the safe side, read this post. Here you can find out everything about the applicable customs regulations for your return trip to Germany – without any officialese. Whether you are coming back from non-EU countries or from the Schengen area: the appropriate customs regulations are right here.

Customs regulations for the return journey to Germany from an EU member state

As an EU citizen you have the right of free movement within the European Union. This includes, for example, "borderless travel". This means, among other things, that you can import goods for your own use from another EU country duty-free into Germany. However, this does not apply to all goods. For stimulants such as tobacco products, alcoholic beverages and coffee, maximum quantities have been set. These are necessary, among other things, because otherwise the criterion "own need" is difficult to define. Excise duty is uniform throughout the EU.

However, you may also bring more than the exemption limit. If you exceed the guideline values, the customs officials will assume that you are not only importing the goods for your own use. In this case you have to declare the goods at the German customs and pay duty on them.

Some would like to sip delicious cocktails at the pool in a luxury hotel, others would like to go on a cruise, others swear by round trips through one or more countries and some simply go off on their own with their backpacks. No matter which trip you have in mind, and which country is the destination, it is important in all cases to plan the trip accordingly.

The offer of activities, sightseeing, accommodation, etc. is very interesting. is incredibly versatile, and many a traveler may be a little perplexed by the topic of travel planning. In this article we would like to take a closer look at this topic together with our readers.

Even though I have been working with podcasts for many years, my main job is as a reporter in an investigative editorial department. And somehow people think investigative journalism is a great adventure and something glamorous. This may be due to movies and series and is not bad (most of us probably even find it flattering), only: it has little to do with reality.

The column

Podcasts have long deserved to be discussed, praised and criticized as seriously as other media. Every two weeks Marcus Engert and Sandro Schroeder take turns doing this for us.

Different traditions shape Advent and Christmas season. But not every country and every family celebrates in the same way. In this series, people from around the world tell their personal Christmas stories.

Dermot O’Grady celebrates Christmas this year like all Swiss do: with a real fir tree and the Christ Child bringing the presents. (Picture: Corinne Bischof)

In Australia, where I come from, December is special. But not because of the Advent season, but because then the summer begins. The big summer vacations are here, you go to the beach and swim in the sea, while the sun shines hot from the sky. Of course I’m looking forward to Christmas, but the atmosphere is very different from Switzerland. Snow, Guezli and punch, you know that only from the Christmas songs. By the way, these are the same songs as we know them from America.

Errors in the ESTA application can have serious consequences! Not only can it result in a denial of entry clearance, but in the worst case it can also mean a lifetime ban on visa-free entry to the U.S. How to avoid problems with your ESTA application!

The official entry permit for the USA!

Error messages in the ESTA application

Providing phone number, email address or address often results in error messages on the ESTA website of the official US authorities. As this is an automatic data check, it can happen that even correct data is wrongly classified as incorrect and you are therefore not allowed to continue the ESTA application for the time being.

In the east of the Arabian Peninsula lies the relatively unknown state of Oman. Unlike the much better known United Arab Emirates with Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Oman is not (yet) so overcrowded and overdeveloped. The Arabian country captivates with endless deserts, dreamlike oases, white beaches, rugged mountains and a thereby unique landscape.

The country with the capital Muscat is therefore suitable for a luxurious break in one of the numerous resorts as well as for nature lovers who would like to spend their vacation under the open sky in the fascinating mountain scenery. Oman as a destination offers numerous leisure activities and also culinary you will certainly get your money’s worth there. In this article we would like to introduce you to the country of Oman and give you some reasons why you should consider Oman as your next travel destination.