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Discoveries

I discovered many new things during my stays with Irina 😀 from snacks to stores to experiences, let’s get to the bottom of it!

She brought me to Xenos, oh how I love that place, can get Asian snacks! Hope it will be spicy, it’s not #What have I thought pffff. She is the queen of snacks, the good one are keep beckoning her to buy it. Not only Amsterdam is heaven for Asian snacks #Power of Colonization! but also for sweets, we accidentally passed by a new Cinnamon rolls shop #Lecker lecker

Visited Thrift stores where I finally can buy pants for my size: two of it + two tops. Funny how I need to go to the tallest populations in order to get what fits me #Ironic. It is really an appropriate good stores, not smelly or disgusting, they really do take care of it. You can find everywhere here from tableware to clothes to piano haha. I kept questioning myself “how can I carry these to Germany?” 😉

Wow look at that, the opening bridge for ships, I saw it twice. Word from Irina “Look at this building Marlyn, you are standing in front of history from 1689” Gotcha, snap snap.

She known I won’t leave Amsterdam until I ate in Indonesian restaurant. Well, to get rid of me haha she make sure it happened. She found a new one called Toko Bersama where we got to meet Novrie. Look at our portion, it is massive and it’s very delicious too! We got free Krupuk + water + located near Irina’s + we had to take it home (read: got food for next day). Without a doubt, this will be our new favourite place.

Not to forget going to Warung Made, the place where I always went, to see Zara again 🙂 on that day, we got a bonus aka two new friends: Poppy and Tari! Our conversation started from the very normal wishy washy talk such as “where are you from etc” to sharing a personal toilet experience?! What?! Irina has a lot of it! she even explained the difference between the USA, EU and Asian one whoaaa hygiene engineering to the max!

I always like to go to Amsterdam, it is a fun city to visit, especially with all of these new discoveries, the game changes to another excitement level. Irina even says there are thrift store where I can bring my stuff then they will exchange it with “Points” to be able to use in their store; blew my mind. Say goodbye to my handbag signature, I’m coming with my luggage from now on 😉

Smart takes:

  • Oh I took a FlixBus to Amsterdam remember? Guess what? two policemen came inside shouting “Passport control” yes it was written that I need to bring Passport, lucky me I actually listened. This was my first time I got ever checked; well….. to be honest, I usually took trains. He even asked questions like the Airport Customs: is it your first time in Ams, how long will you stay, where is your accommodation, are you on holiday or business. Bottom line, bring your passport everywhere even when you only crossing the border.
  • Activate your “Data Roaming” just as long as you’re inside EU or else you couldn’t use your German phone number. Thank you to the young lady in the Sloterdijk Station for your help!

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Tres B!tchketters

Amid my stress level, I knew I had to visit my biatch Irina, und zwar inmediatamente. When would it be? being #OnBudget you gotta calculate everything hey, before Easter that’ll be it, didn’t take long to got her confirmation, Fixbus here I come. One ripple sets off another to my other biatch Tereza, so great she’s also available to meet me! My serotonin levels got boosted by planning to meet my friends again, a great amount of endorphins release when I actually hug them.

When I arrived, she was surprised as I carried a proper carry-on luggage, yes this is what happend when you also do WFH therefore I couldn’t only come with my signature handbag haha.

Some requirements I briefed her, won’t leave Amsterdam until I ate in Takumi + Indonesian Restaurant, practically I still have to leave hey haha. She warned me that the Takumi is not that great, how come? she just came back from Japan #That’s why, everything is way better there! Even though they really do try their best to copy the taste, ain’t the same, Japan is whole another level. Their Menu is really different from what they have here in Dortmund or Düsseldorf, she encouraged me to choose a completely new flavor, was I disappointed? Nope! Plus point is they have Calpis! Bring back to my time with Eri in Shanghai or in Japan itself, I tried Calpis Cassis, both are good #Yum!

Prior to joining Tereza & her friends, Irina brought me to a veryyyy nice Australian Cafe called Five Ways, she mentioned all Cafe made by Australians are good, their cookies are to die for! #Figuratively. Irina still can’t take the Japan out of her, look at her Hello Kitty Leather jacket, so Japan! It fits her perfectly!

We gathered with our Terezaaaa ~ lady in pinkkk in Burger King, not so many restaurants options in the center that didn’t ripped your wallet hey 🙂 Then I wanted to go to Uniqlo so much as I don’t have it in Dortmund, do we have time? Yes because Tereza friends were only sitting haha I bought 2 pairs of clothing on Discount! yeayyy! #MoneyWins! Then we gathered with her friends, where to bring a tourist when you’re new in Amsterdam, obviously flower market.

We separated on the corner, we will meet again on Irina’s stand up comedy show 🙂 in Spanish #My first Stand up Comedy ever. Tereza got the jokes, while me…. no entiendo nada however I understand body language + facial expressions.

Who would have known that that evening could be my last time meeting Tereza as she will embarks on a new journey to New Zealand 🙂

Tereza, I know you are very looking forward for this move, strangely my heart feels a little heavy, I can only guarantee Irina’s felt 10 thousand times heavier. Rest assured we too are happy for you, it’s a double edge sword. Funny enough, you are geographically closer to my hometown! It makes me believe; somehow, somewhere, our paths will cross again.

I felt really recharged after spending time with my favorite bitches during the turbulent moments in my life. Irina kept reminding me that this is exactly the moment where my patience isn’t just an idea but something I actually have to live through. Even though it’s tough sometimes, I’m so grateful to have friends who help me laugh, breathe and keep going a little bit stronger.

To both of you: no matter where life takes us, to new jobs, new homes, or even new hemispheres, our bond will always stay. Here’s to friendship that distance can’t erase, bitches!

Love you loads <3

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Alohabora

I’m literally a victim of advertisement if anything related to Harry Potter #Guilty of charge 😉

Before Halloween 2024, there were a Werbung from Haribo in Instagram, showing they will have a Harry Potter series. Waited unpatiently until Halloween arrived, been to Rewe, checked the sweets sections many times, WHERE IS IT?!?! days after days, months after months, I “forget” about it, maybe it’s not in Dortmund.

Until it appears on the shelf in April! Aaaaaa! gotta have it! Too bad they didn’t have Slytherin version 🙁 How does it taste? Exactly good like any other Haribo haha what a smart que to tricked the die hard fans 🙂

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Double-double – Part 2

Just had a double-double celebrations! Lena’s 30th birthday plus their Baby Gender Reveal Party, all at once! #Celebrate good times, come on! at the place where Hainka celebrate his 30th as well as their wedding. Wo, so many doubles here 😀

Swantje + Alex picked me up at home since officially we are neighbors #Thank you Lena for contacting them auf den letzten Drücker. We arrived just in time before she started her speech. Submit our tip if the baby will be boy or girl. Who do I say hello at the begginning round? another Lena + Julius on Parkplatz, almost went with them had Swantje & Alex nicht funktioniert. It all began since PV so spät geantwortet, caused me bombarding other people for transportation haha. Arrived at the same time with Jana + Lars who put my jacket on the not Asian friendly rack, greets Thorsten, Anki, Lari, Lena’s parents, Papa Hainka literally his father not Andreas Hainka eventhough he will become Papa soon, Mick, cheeky rascals Hannes and Karl 🙂

First announcement, the Buffet is officially open! They not only look but also taste so good, I got each one #Nom nom. Jana asked if we should standing while eating or sitting? Obviously the later, we were the VIP as our table was right in the very front. Somehow we formed a group of 6 with Christopher, Thorsten said it was meant for Children seat. Valid for us too, we are all someone’s children 🙂 PV and Johanna arrived almost one hour later, thanks God I didn’t go with them, look at the food I could’ve missed #Priorität. Later, they joined our table too, from the smallest it became the biggest one to which got evicted as it was meant to be a dance floor.

Leute, this is my first Baby Gender Reveal Party I attended live, I’ve seen enough through the lens of Instagram to know usually they don’t do anything. However not the case for Hainka & Lena, they prepared a funny dance for us. What’s important is the correct song for when the Gender came “I don’t care, I love it” Then the clasical Simba! Nants’ ingonyama bagithi baba Sithi uhm ingonyama. Hmmmm seems the circle ain’t so circle #That’s why it’s called life. It took some time to hit the Pinata. Wowowowo, someone choose violence hahaha

I swear I saw somehow the color was blue, perhaps the light though, it’s a Baby Girl!!!! From our round, all women votes boys and other way around. Even though we know deep down, Girl is better 😉 #Who runs the world? GIRLS!

Right after the gender revealed, we were getting a Tüte with Schnuller went back to buffet to take some more sweets from the candy corners where Jana said “Marlyn, still no one cut the 30th cake” Someone has to do it #Challenge accepted! Hey Netizen, don’t judge me, I got an instruction from Hainka on the Messer whereabout. We are sometwo who has hearts, waited and said it should be Lena who cut it, when we came back for second round it still one piece, that’s a sign someone has to do something. She encouraged me “cut it Marlyn” I was so excited to be back to my 30, this is me defying gravity! Hey Jana, you’re also the accessories of a crime 🙂

We got back inside with our Tütchen this is where Jana found a GIRL PWR Gummibärchen, perfect for tonight, thumbs up.

Woaaa woaa, what is that? she could really bend it, then we started to twist our Zunge until Johanna said “I can do finger spagat is that count?” I said I can do real Spagat! From then on, I did too much Spagat in a day haha

We went dancing until time with Photo Wand, every Pair wants to have picture with each other, I can’t just let it happen hey? Spaagaaaatttt!

Thank you Lena for having me as part of this revelation and congratulations for Baby Girl, this baby will be loved so much! As a proud member of Club 30’s welcome to your best Era! As a supporter of Family, I’m happy a girl will be raised by you and Hainka, you’re gonna be a great parents.

Next time, I’ll see a little Leni 🙂

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Thank U, Next!

Our boss always inviting his team for a BBQ at his house once a year in September. That’s when one of our colleague ~ Christina initiated a Party Weekend in Willingen. It’s all sounds very interesting, never been there nor knew about it.

October came with realistic date that our Party Weekend will be in March 2025, November was the time where we all booked our hotel. I kept thinking to myself, Willingen is less than 2 hours away yet we booked the hotel as if it’s an Ausland Trip haha. To my surprise, the hotel where most Nordwestler stays are already full. How come?

Last weekend in March it was, 28-31.03. Being picked up at 14:45 ish arrived at around 16:30. We five: CB, Robinhood, Haribow, Monicita and I stayed at B&B Hotels. Went to Rewe, CB was very smart he said, let’s take the car eventhough it was only 200 meters as none of us want to schleppt it. Afterwards we walked to our Restaurant for dinner, following a romantic way of a young “couple” whom we saw at Rewe #Stalker!

Their appetizer was rather a what the hell experience, food wasn’t I expected but acceptable. First club of the day is called Vis A Vis. Entrance 5 Euro only cash, both place and dance floor is small. Me and CB need to change our position to avoid me being knocked out in the head from some people who were dancing as if they were in the Halle. Me and Monicita went back at around 23:00, it was more than enough for me, CB couldn’t let us walk by ourselves so he accompanied us. Milena said “you can book a Taxi” no way man, we are ~ well I am #OnBudget 😉

After breakfast we were chilling until it was time to meet up at 12 AM in front of the Sailbahn. Didn’t get place in Siggi’s Hütte therefore we stayed outside all the time, from 12-16:00. Thank’s God they closed at 16:00 or else they will still there. Cost up of Sailbahn is 9,50 Euro #You can really walk honestly.

While all other people drinking, me and Tanja were playing on the Spielplatz, visiting the “observation deck”, ate Bratwurst 4,50 Euro. People, bring cash! Without her, I couldn’t even buy anything. Later Monicita also wants to go to the Spielplatz, our final act were doing frog observation. At last walked down, took opportunity to play with some snows left, chill a bit at hotel while watching Gefragt Gejagt.

Moving on to Pörtner room, have Sekt, had dinner with Monicita alone. Evening arrives, proceed to second club: Brauhaus, entrance 6 Euro plus locker 2 Euro. I like this club way more than Vis A Vis, we have enough place to breath. Wanted to go back but after everything has been paid to enter this club, I said to Monicita “Wir haben es schon bezahlt, muss ja durch!” this became our Mantra 😀

Last day, only frühstücken before ab nach Hause #Hourray!

How does it feels like? As a non-drinker, it’s too much, we do nothing other than drinking. Probably better if we have some sightseeings activities. In my view, you can always drink everywhere, no need to specifically dedicated weekend in Willingen. Overall experience? only Good to Erleben aber nix für mich.

It was indeed a good time with my colleagues, gar keine Frage, it’s not a cheap holiday yet to spent time with them, thinking it would be my first & last, from the bottom of my heart: totally worth it.

#Thank U, next!

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Ice Rice Gummi

#Marnilla Ice

During the dinner of my belated birthday celebrations last year with my Freunde-Gangs, we discussed about Karneval 2025, how they have a friend who could get us the ticket. Hell yeah to my first Karneval! Julius immediately got a brilliant idea “Du kannst als Asiastischer Reis verkleidet” LOL. I kind of like his proposal, stay true to my roots plus experiencing German culture #Why not?!

That evening, I got serious, couldn’t sleep, was searching the possible Reissack material for my costume. Initially my concept was to buy a big bag of rice maybe 25kg one, cut the label, sew it on white T-Shirts. Or I could be a rice cooker? Claudia said, “no, people in Germany will think you are an Air Fryer”, back to Reis.

  • How about this packaging?
  • No, if you wear the real Asian Reis, no one in Germany would understand. I think you should go with the orange “Uncle Bens”
  • Mehhhh, then the Asians wouldn’t get it.
  • It was actually easy, your costume will be all white, take “Jasmine Reis” buy some alphabets and sew it on. Hmmm maybe not Jasmine or else people will think your name is Jasmine, Basmati Reis to the rescue!

Everything’s set! Feli came to sew my rice!

She was very dedicated!

Julius was “wow! Es ist wirklich gut geworden” yeap, all thanks to her 🙂

I’m very satisfied with my costumes, it’s a normal one, doesn’t have to invest too much money. We are not a crazy Karneval fans after all, perhaps….. I might can wear it again? or I become a hardcore fans? #Who knows?!

D-day, I did home office at Claudias, Alina arrived later, we inaugurated Karneval with Berliner then off to Stadt mit K! Alaaf. Arrived our Hotel, since our idea were only to drink, therefore had early dinner at Olymp.

Draumfess is the name of the place where we will go celebrate Karneval, about 300 meters away is our Hotel 😉 The celebrations starts at 19:11 but we weren’t there on time haha still on preparation. Claudia thought I could have the white hair spray too, as the color of the rice is white, turns out it’s only enough for hers haha

On the Draumfess itself, they have a system where we need to buy some coupon, no card transaction, everything is with Bar #Germany, come on. We exchanged it with the drinks bzw. Schnapps, Feigling, Kölsch und Wasser.

There were performance from Tanzgruppe Flamme vum Rhing and Porzer Dreigestirn that we didn’t see, that’s why we couldn’t beuerteilen. However we saw a very very superb band called Aluis! I like them a lot, they are all handsome too hahaha what a bonus 😉 They’re really good, not only their faces but also their music, swaying from left to right, jumping #Top top top.

Next band is Fiasko, I only like their last song, sadly I couldn’t find it anywhere on YouTube, the lyric was “machs Gut! bis zum nächsten Mal” 🙂 There was a kind of Coldplay moments where one or two giant balls were thrown away, confetti, etc.

In every Karneval, they have Princess, Bauern and someone else.

Then the Guggenmusik Zieefägge, I don’t know what to expect, they are coming with a Truppe. I felt a bit weird for the flag holder… I mean can’t you have a stander for your flag then play some instrument? Hmmm

Not forget to mentioned DJ Pultt for all the music in between live performances 🙂 Without you, who will accompany our drinking session?

After all of that, I’m d-o-n-e! When we return back home, we arrived exactly at 11:11, the special number for Karneval fans! I even sofort got back to Dortmund, need to lie down on my bed, getting old has never been real #Snozzzzeeee

Thank you my friends for the evening, I really like it! any events to let me turn a valve, let off steam, verkleidet, drink and dance to the…. Karneval music hahaha. Will join again! Perhaps I’ll upgrade myself by taking a day off on Rosenmontag! #Man immer schlauer werden.

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It’s Me, Hi!

I’ve got my first visitor ever from the Hungover Games, yeay! finally can show the city I called home for the past… ehem…. 4 years 5 months 21 days #Still counting ~ till the day Dennis arrived. I really needed this day-off more than anything therefore I was genuinely happy he visited me 🙂

On his first day, I showed him what Dortmund has to offer, which are: our version of 南京西路, instead of having 外滩 at the end, we went to Ubahn Station to visit our second destination, Dortmunder U. Dennis, the U is from the Dortmunder, not from the U-Bahn 的 U.

They offer free Museum entrance, it has two floors with quiet interactive videos or “sounds” instalation if we press the very well hidden button. At first we were confused on where does the sounds come from until the security told us then we proceed with moving our asses from one button to the next haha

There is a room where they explained about one specific painting, how they transported it around Europe. While we looked around Dennis realized “oh this is the real box”.

Dennis wanted to have a magnet of Dortmund, I brought him to BVB Fanwelt. When we’re done we went back to the Ubahn Station where I almost brought him to the wrong direction. He said “Darling, we just went straight, did you already forget when I said ‘such a nice path’?” haha

Off again to our version of 南京西路 to have coffee at Maximilian. Once recharged, continued our daytrip to Phoenix See, it is always good to show the manmade lake alongs with the big houses from rich Dortmunder. Closed the day by having dinner at Mukii. We weren’t convinced if we want to have All You Can Eat, our response was: are we gonna able to eat more than 36 Euros? Dennis answered, “well, we will make sure we reach it!” It was like a fun and strategic eating, in order to reduce food waste, we can only order 8 dishes within 10 minutes.

We formulated so many strategy such as “okay maybe not all rice, let’s do some skewers” Followed by “let’s have snacks like Edammame” Done it. No matter how perfectly our plan in the brain, the executing was a bit difference. After 3 full rounds, the Ipad will be unlocked within 10 seconds, Dennis said “Darling, we need to order again” Boahhh…. were really full. In the end we can only eat full of 4,5 rounds, they did forget one menu which we were so greatful #Thanks God!

On his second day, I do HO whereas he went to Düsseldorf, only to come back ontime to see our Proud Dortmund: Signal Iduna Stadion. Hainka picked us up at my place, we went to the Schwimmbad not for schwimmen, only to gangged up with his friend before the game started. Okay, this is the moment, moving on to inside the Stadion. We were there one hour before kick off, they have the Camera shot to audiences, I realized they shot our area but I didn’t see myself. Dissappointed…. no more! the camera rolled once again. Hiiiii, it’s me! me me me me, here! 😀

We did felt the Euphoria for 3 seconds before BVB Goal was considered as Offside 🙁 Nevertheless, it was a good experience, at least I was on the screen! although it’s not for people outside the Stadion, yet it’s good enough for my existence 😉

Tausend Dank für Hainka and Kowal um Ticket zu besorgen, 谢谢 Dennis for being my guest #Till we meet again 🙂

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Reel to Real

I spent too many times on my phone, saw one reel on IG where Mercado in Spain changing the way of dating, by simply putting upside down pineapple in their shopping cart for someone who open to date #I know, it does have another meaning in the USA. Sent it to Feli saying “I gotta go grocery shopping in Spain”, be careful what you wished for #Genie is hearing. Few weeks later she sent another reel showing the same concept in Edeka Germany. Do I have Edeka near me? Yeap about 1,5km away.

As if the distance is not a problem, it came literally to my Rewe!

They did put it in the middle, instead in the front where people getting in #OMG, complaining, proof I’m already eingedeutsch. Even Hainka texted me saying “you could change the basket”

It’s real, not reel anymore, didn’t I wished for this? After hearing Sophie grabbed the pink basket, can’t remember if Feli did that too hmmm… well, I’m not on any App, this is the traditional way where people got rejected for real and not with Emojis.

Proud me, I took it! did someone talk to me? of course not, they’re Germans! What do you expect 😉

Nevertheless I have done my part #Klopf mir stolz auf die Schulter.

First step is always the hardest, from now on I’ll be brave on taking any baskets.

#Anytime, anywhere 😉

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Good Karma

It was end of January when I #wie immer sleepover at Claudia’s, we were in the living room, Alina proposed an idea “let’s do Murmeltierlauf for 7,5km” it’s the virtual walking activity, you walk on your own then upload your results.

She meant to do it only for the three of them as they always do Sport on Saturday, the place was about 3 km away therefore they thought let’s walk to Sport and walk back. The Mascott is a very cute Murmel, Claudia even thought to buy the Medallion too, decided against it, cost too much money, let’s just pay the registration fee 5Euro. Alina clicked next “oh the Mindesteilnehmerzahl ist 4. Julius immediately “Marlyn, danke dass du da bist” #ins Schwarze getroffen. Haha Okay, let’s do it then, I’ve done the 12km Firmenlauf, I can do 7,5km lauf. “Willst du aber?” fragt Claudia, yeah, it’s OK but then we have to do it on a Sunday as we can’t really time the Saturday if the Bahn will be on time or not to catch your time after sport. With that say, I came back to Claudia’s the following week.

I’ve got the favourite number for every Chinese, 800! This will brings me luck!

Julius does have an extra tracker that he couldn’t wear anymore due to Metal allergie, he lend me #behaupte his Withings. We did the set up, at their place there are a lot of Bluetooth devices, “maybe this one?” nope it’s my watch “how about this?” also no it’s my phone.

We managed to find the correct Withings Bluetooth, we couldn’t connect it because Julius still have the App on his phone. He removed it and I said “don’t do that, I will only wear for today” of course not, it belongs to you now. Whooaaaaa!!!! good karma, what goes around comes around 🙂

I simply have to be on the right place at a right time so they can participate, in return I got a new watch with Fitness trackers! Thank youuuuuuu.

Since it will be like a normal spazieren at Nordwest, I wear jeans + leg warmer + sunglasses + heiße Veste + Jacket; while the three were sportier, they all have proper Wanderschuhe #Germans, always prepared!

Alina brought Wilma, a very smart dog! we walked on the Berg, the weather really plays a significant role, it was brezzy yet bearable. I did have a Gevelsberg view from the top. In the km where I thought already half done, only to get it shattered completely, was barely 2km hahaha oh nooooo. Julius commented “my friend, you need to walk” Hey I’m moving but I need to decide where to put my feet to the not so muddy grass.

Almost at the end, Alina found what could be my Lebensversicherung for this year Kirmes? Had it’s not broken, we already saved 13 Euro 😉 How long did it take me? Almost 2 hours haha FYI Father, don’t worry I’m not the last 🙂

Egal, Hauptsache we made it! #Sunday well spent, good job! Here is the compilation videos made by Alina 🙂

http://marlynpraseli.com/2024/06/30/lebensversicherung/

http://marlynpraseli.com/2018/09/13/daddys-rules-number-1/

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When and What?

It was just a normal Saturday, I’ve done my Yoga class, at the end of the course my Yoga teacher Anke said “there is a Demonstration against one politic partei in front of Reinoldikirche at 11:00 AM and BVB Spiel at 15:30” I thought she was just reminding us about traffic possibility or crowd to avoid. Little did I knew she asked me if I also joining the Demo. Hä? What?

I’ve never been participate in any Demonstration regarding anything, let alone Politic in a country where I’m not a citizen of. Well, I’m going to the city center anyway, read: to DM which is located around Reinoldikirche. “How about if we meet in the city center?” I’m thinking…… komm, give it a try, how does it looks or feels like.

Once we were there, she was satisfied that quiet people do showed up with their childrens, dogs, having some banners although the info was relativ kurzfristig. We followed a car a.k.a voice quelle where one lady keep screaming all the time, chill out gurl, all the people gathered there sind schon einig, there is no need for shouting.

The demonstration continues, while we biegen ab to DM for me and to Bank for her. She was so happy I participated otherwise she would walk alone, we also took some merch home 😉

What a turns out of an event O.O, can’t say if I really one step smarter in politic, was there just as a begleiterin for her.

Happy voting Germans, use your voice correctly!