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The Moment I Knew – Trial Version

Tonight is The OG vs The Rookie’s, shall we kick things off?!

It’s 3rd round of Allerheiligen Kirmes! Had Hainka didn’t told me, I would’ve missed it, obviously this comes first other than some singing #Sorry not sorry #Not the only one who feels bad. Traditions are meant to be followed, otherwise what’s the point?

Since Feli always want to come, I asked her if she could join us this time, Dom is on board too. So we were a gang of 5 this year. Once we arrived, waste no time to have our mandatory picture, watch out ~ only the OG here, although our pose were only stand, we need to confirm the position & angle with comparison pictures from previous years #Efforts!

Hainka & Lena were steady as always ~ very good guide, told the Rookie what is what + what we’ve done + where all the attractions were before: how they changed the locations, swapping here and there.

Our essentials throughout the years: AMPEL! 7 Euro for all three flavors ~ my favourite! We cannot skip Froggy! why? Because Lena won it! BOAH!!!! The OG really has experienced in comparison to…. video will do the justice 😉 Promat Hammer still there, wonder if they would ever change to Tecwerk’s #Werbung.

Honey schnapps where the owner sing or tried to talk with customers and he announced: “oh this couple are coming from far away, can anyone guess?” being a German they weren’t the type of answering those kind of questions, from Bodensee. Hainka wasn’t impressed, eh komm, du kommst theoretisch aus Indonesien, es ist doch weiterer als nur Bodensee. Sag ihm doch mal, he did say to the colleague of the owner while he was too busy on his microphone to noticing us. Well, I didn’t gave him my Beitrag anyway so it’s OK for him to ignoring me hahaha. Next in line is Langos 🙂 Food Tour is done, for Schnapps Tour, one more station: Augenbulle.

Strolled around pointing the historical place where I was gekotzt haha which pavements, alley, bar and church #Facepalm. Oh, consecutively met another Lena!

Dom kommt überall mit, he joined Hainka on the Super Supferl #My Wendepunkt Carousel + joined Feli on Voodoo Jumper. Right on the end, we stumbled upon Big Monster Carousel, Lena said it’s the OG, from hundred years…. as if I want to change the prophecy, let’s try. First minute was OK then it was too much, seems age didn’t lie hey? Komischerweise, Achterbahn for me is not caused so much troubled as this one.

Our To-Do List:

  • Ate what needed to be eaten #Nomnomnom
  • Schnapped what needed to be schnapped #酒鬼
  • Played game what needed to be played #Smashed
  • Rode what needed to be ridden #Dizzy
  • Met who needed to be met #Hi
  • Had all the fun that needed to be had 🙂

My boyfriend bought me a Lebkuchen that I was contemplating if I need to eat or use it as Decoration? Well it has 2 years of expiration date, it’s enough to decide until then 🙂 Can you see it? can you can you?

For the past two years, I always rode home ALL BY MYSELF! This year and hopefully for the next years to come, I won’t be ALL BY MYSELF anymore! Why? For I have a big heart now 🙂

Thank you for the evening Hainka & Lena, store your clothes again because those outfits are not going to retirement anytime soon, it’s our OG trademark, watch out!

The Moment I Knew – Safe Version

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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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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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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!

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It Ends Tonight

Nordwest would give a Lotto for the employee who had their Rundegeburtstag. Didn’t know about it but Julia did, she contacted Personalabteilung when I still haven’t received mine. At that time, Hainka & Me were the two who already works at Nordwest while had our Rundegeburtstag. He told me to download the Aktion Mensch App therefore they would inform us if we win it.

I looked at the Lotto, “Julia, if I win, does it means I got 3.000 Euro Netto each month for 20 year?” Yes, du kannst sofort NW kündigung. “Oh, mache ich! ihr werdet mich nieeee wieder sehen. Chao Kakao!” 😀 she said “don’t forget to invite someone ~me who make sure you got your Lotto” Never Julia, never! #Promised.

It became a habbit that every week I received a notification from Aktion Mensch to see if my number is winning.

It never does, 52 weeks are over 🙁

It ends tonight!

Seems I need to go back to work work work work work #Phew!

Or…. try my luck 😉 buy another Lotto mwahaha #Two sides of everything

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The Moment I Knew – Safe Version

A peculiar traditions millions of German do on NYE is watching a black and white English language television sketch called Dinner for One. First time I watched it in year 2020 with Julia, they were all laughing ~ only one not. It’s safe to say “we have a different kind of humour” don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad or so, it’s just not as funny as what the Germans thought.

The whole sketch was about 2 same sentences repeated by James the Butler to Miss Sophie and her answers. What are those two sentences? You’ll see 😉

One day, Hainka texted me regarding Kirmes Soest in November, ah yes! need to remember the dates; Gevelsbergs is end of June, Schwelm is at beginning of September while Soest ist November. We decided to go on the first day because other than that day I would be in Berlin, when I’m back the Kirmes is finished. Me, Hainka and Lena were the fixed member, Hainka said Monicita & gangs will join too. Well, in that case I’ll ask Feli + PV. I know PV is not a big fans of Kirmes but I don’t want him to feel left out. In the end….. it doesn’t even matter ohhh ohhh why? Only the fixed member made it 🙂

This guy inspired me! I told both of them we need to dress the same like last year. Check our photos!

We reminisce our last year path; repeated the one we liked : Ampelschnapps + try the Bullenaugeschnapps #Lecker! + skip the one we don’t #No crazy carousels #Safe Kirmes I want

My favourite game which I cannot restrain from: Froggyyyyyy still with Promat Hammer. I will keep playing until I got the froggy!

Oh gosh 😀 was very confused as to why the frog is still there when I know I hit something, I could hear the sound yet no Frogs jumping haha #Nicht den Tisch kaputt machen

What was the two sentence from Dinner for One that they said over and over again?

In less than 24 hours we will step into new years, will we have same procedure as every year in 2025? 😉

Salute to the next 365 journey ahead!

#Let’s do this!

http://marlynpraseli.com/2023/11/25/the-moment-i-knew/

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Yeah, Its Not Happening Bro – Part 2

My mom has a wide broad collections of fridge magnet for every places she or anyone in the family visited, it’s an absolute souvenir. I do not want to start with the same item / keychain or whatnot because once I did, I need to keep it durch #Couldn’t resist. What kind of Mitbringsel I opted for? mal earrings mal books.

In our family the one who always loves reading is Sissy, almost all books at our house belongs to her, I on the other hand only read Comics Doraemon or Detective Conan, even that’s very little. However, around 14 years ago, can’t simply remember where I bought it, perhaps Singapore ~ got myself two very interesting books consist of short “story” / “activity” although I’d never wrote it down on the book #Don’t want to mess it up haha anyone got the same point of view?

Anyway, out of nowhere I want to sort out my life by getting reading as my new hobby. I knew right away I wanted to start with those two books collections. Number 5: Where will you be five years from today? & Number 7: How many days in a week can be extraordinary? Organically I thought there will be 1-7. Then I realized on the bottom corner there is the website live-inspired.com

What?!?! it has been there all along yet I literally acknowledged it more than a decade later?! pffff if that takes me that long, don’t bother to think where will I be five years from today mwahaha #Hope not, jokes aside 😉

Unfortunately the customs + delivery cost to ship from USA to Germany is more expensive than the books itself. Amazon it is, a used version. Ordered Number 1: How many people does it take to make a diffference? & Number 2: How will you create something beautiful together?

Number 2 arrived, well it’s a book for appreaciating your partner #Don’t have any, can’t say much about it.

By chance, this book shattered me #Tragic. I thought my collection completed, nope! there is a number 10: What’s on your top 10 list?

Dude come on! Cant complete my stash now hey?

Back to their website, didn’t sell it anymore, feasibly they stopped printing it. The used edition from Amazon year 2013 cost 24 Euro! Aiyoyoooo monopolize at its finest. Nevertheless, I should buy it, otherwise FOMO will kick in!

Someday you’ll see my all-inclusive compendiums #Just not happening now bro 🙂

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I’m Next – Adjacent

Ding ding ding….. sounds of a wedding bells <3

Very excited to witness my colleague Hainka tied the knot to Lena in Propsteikirche then party at Wimbern Schützenhalle. The church ceremony starts at 14Uhr, Monicita picked me up at 12:30, dropped Itzel, went through Sperrung after Sperrung, made it to Werl super on time aka 15 minutes before. We sat at the next first rows after their families.

Comes Hainka’s nephew bringing a shield “Onkel Andy, hier kommt die Liebe deines Lebens. Hier kommt Leni” followed by kids from Lena’s sister carrying wedding candle, wedding ring, flowers. Last but not least, the person we are waiting for, Lena accompanied by her father.

On the church courtyard they have a symbolic Baumstamm sägen to reflect the necessity of working together in their marriage. Germans, everything has to be about work 😉 We got our Bubbles, Autoschleife even though I don’t have one, tried to put the Schleife on my head, didn’t work, wasn’t creative enough.

We were trying to snap a photos on the alley, where I positioned myself in the middle of the crowd. I’m 100% confidence I won’t be in the picture #Invisible.

Had circa 2 hours gap, we thought there will be a tapas etc in the Schützenhalle, wronggg! PV said “wir können nicht die erste sein oder?” Ehemmm yes we are. Monicita and Ignacio decided to go to the other wedding only to come back in the evening for the party. While PV and me tried to find some places to eat, we saw two Imbiss #Shäbig, instead a Tankstelle was our choice. Once both Auto and ourselves tanken, headed back to Schützenhalle.

There are some reserved tables, some free ones, like the Germans, we marked our seats by placing our souvenirs haha good that PV realizing it. We blocked the seats for 4 of us with Maik and Celina.

There is also a photobox I aimed to get the sign “I’m here for the cake” yet Maik already took it, OK, let me grabbed I’m next! that’s gotta be it!

Monicita came back from the second wedding just in time before the wedding dance. Their couple dance consist of many songs, it was ended with Mamamia which means the dance floor has opened!

Learning from the church experience where no one notice me, I go right on the first line during the throwing wedding flower things, no way in hell I’m not seen. Two probabilities though, I was really in front or they don’t have many singles left haha rather the second I guess 🙂 Whatever, not my problem!

They need to know I’m exist therefore must help me getting it. Larissa and Monicita asked “Marlyn, soll ich dir helfen?” ja bitte! Standing adjacent to Monicita who actually got the flower, she gave it to me, I acted as if I won an Oscar #Always something to celebrate.

#What an evening, thank you for sharing your special day with me. Thank you also to my colleagues who make sure I got transported from one place to the next 😀

Who’s the next ding ding ding gonna be? The next “I’m Next!” or the “I’m Next – Adjacent” Meghan Markle’s friend introduce her to Prince Harry, no pressure but I guess it’s time for my friends to do something hey 😉 #don’t you think so?

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Yeah, Its Not Happening Bro

My hair is a like a double edge swords, blessing and a curse, too thick, too straight plus too many. Sure Sissy would agrees…

Last week, Andrea sleptover in my place, she brought her Dyson! People! it’s DYSON! The Dyson Curling Dingsbums #Starstruck! I gotta put my hands on it yo, must use this super expensive curly hair style thingy.

My first encounter with THE Dyson was in Shanghai when I borrowed Dennis’ small / sofa vacuum cleaner. He was a bit worried because I took the Metro. He said “hmmm be careful” “of course I won’t let anyone touch this…. what… 500 RMB…” before I finish my sentence he cut it with “3000” reflects I responded “Oh! I will guard it all the time, don’t you worry about it, will return it in one piece”

Second encounter when I visited Helene in Belgium for our Harry Potter Ausstellung, she has a hair dryer! Originally didn’t have any intention to wash my hair but since it’s Dyson! Gotta do it!

Third encounter was just now when Andrea bei mir übernachtet. I’m almost reach my Schnapszahl yet only had 3 chances with the holly top tier Dyson! Not gonna waste any opportunites!

Andrea curled her whole hair in 30 seconds, when I did mine, she realized…. hmmm, I think your hair is too heavy, need to take bit by bit. Tried again, it does work! However… took me about 25 minutes haha

It still not complete btw, I somehow don’t have the ability to curl my right side pffff. Reached the points where all the curls are pleasant enough for the eyes then head to NW Sommerfest only for it to not last haha #Hopeless.

Yeah…. curling my hair with a curly iron stick stuff even the most expensive brand….. it’s not happening bro!

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The Moment I Knew

Andreas is kind of Kirmes’ fans, me on the other hand was only OK, apart from the public knowledge such as the biggest Kirmes is in Soest, I don’t know any ‘property’ of Kirmes: when its starts, where to get what from which stands etc therefore when he asked if I want to come to Kirmes Soest on the first day it started on 08.11.2023, my answer was yes!

We took Eurobahn from Dortmund Hörde to Soest. After several attempt to ask our colleague Maik or hoping Mike ~ yes thats 2 different person 😉 if he can drive us to Hörde failed, took the matter on our hand ~ take Bus instead. Lena joined us in some stations before arriving Soest.

Wiiiii! it’s indeed bigger, the location is direct on Soest’s Altstadt, surrounding by many old Fachwerkhäuser, makes the atmosphere even more beautiful! Like a Christmas Market minus the Glühwein + Christmas Baum.

As an introduction to Soest Kirmes, we had the rote Ampeln-Schnapps! It’s literally the translation of traffic lights ~ meaning 3 schnapps in one go with color red-yellow-green. I shared it with Lena, according to her we need to drink from the least favorite to the most, starts with Green. Had to agree with her, I do find green is the less tasty than the yellow & red. I like them both!

Moving to Langos, not this one, the Langos that parked near the Honig-Schnapps-Laden. Wokei, follow you! On the way there Andreas showed me Mr. Honig guy ~ he’s pretty famous in Kirmes area, owing to his singing ability that attract people to drink Schnapps with him, not all Schnapps, it has to be his Honig-Schnapps in his Laden.

I saw a girl holding a microphone in front of the Honig-Schnapps-Laden, playfully said “hello” to it, she proceeds with “oh do you want to say something to our DJ? you can say let’s come to Kirmes here is all great” during which Lena already on the way to the Laden, grabbed her arm, pull her to me as my morale Unterstützung. OK let me say some few words, after me it went to Lena then Andreas. I mean yo, you can’t just leave me #all by myselffff 😉

Wait, we haven’t even bought the Schnapps haha after our Radio-intermission, we had our Honig-Schnapps. What can I say? it’s sticky….the glass is cute which made from ice cream cone where we can eat, have to be honest, this Schnapps….gefällt mir überhaupt nicht iyeeeeyyyy -_- Anyway, the song! gefällt mir, something with cuk ku cuk ku cuk haha

Once we were out from his Laden, Lena met a famous 1Live DJ aka Daniel Danger, asked for a selfie, of course I also involved!

Besides food, there were some games, we played Frog. It’s 5 Euro for 12 frogs or so, I counted it was only 11 frogs! hey we are missing one! #Good job Marlyn. If we are able to put the frog to the bucket, we will get a gift, what could it be? a frog doll 🙂 did we get it? nope! there were some hits that was closed enough haha.

Even though the frog was not in our favor, we received a pleasant surprise when I found out the hammer we were using was a Promat hammer coming from one of my order!

Enough with the play, moving on to the carousel slash Achterbahn. Lena didn’t want to ride it, I was tempted simply because I don’t have this kind of carousel when I was younger. Before I became too scared or not interested anymore, it’s time to tried it. You can see how we ~ I meant me, still innocent before it starts.

I didn’t fell down except I got “kicked” from the girl next to me as we were all kind of jammed to each other and her legs were kicking my leg etc. We kept sliding over and over.

In comparison when I’m dropped dead afterwards. I felt soooo shitty not sure what could be the reason…. maybe I went after I eat Langos? Should I went before I had anything? hmmmm… not willing to test this theory #definitely.

I always carry an umbrella together with a plastic bag to put back the wet umbrellas into the bag. I told them I felt bad yet still walking until I can’t anymore…. I need to sit somewhere, on an Eingang of the Geschäft, me don’t care! I have my own Geschäft going on on my Belly right now. Andreas said “are you really want to do it?” Yes! we need to go to the dark alley since here is many people hin und her. I managed to do it, very little but it was good for the start! #facepalm

Walked around again, I do feel slightly better but there was still some unfinished business. Told them I think having a tea would helps, went to Kühbar and there is where I did quiet a number on the toilet, I was all out! Came out totally healthy again 😀 We closed our trip with finding a Bobatea-Doll! even as big as me! Life sized Boba!

Next year = no carousel! Not gonna ruin the Kirmes experience. Told QQ about it he replied “Remember your age, we can’t do that anymore” Yes! this conclude the moment I knew pffff not again! I had to stop or else it stopped me!

Oh remember I said few words on the microphone from 1Live? it got aired on Saturday, the Chef from our Kantine recognize my voice he said “I was listening to Radio on Samstag and suddenly Liebe Grüße aus Soest!” he said to his wife “this voice, I knew her” I don’t need to listen you say your name, I knew it immediately hahaha.

Insgesamt, it was a good outcome coming to Soester Allerheiligenkirmes 😀 Vielen lieben Dank Lena & Andreas!