Sunrise over New York City

Liebe Freunde,

kurz vor Sonnenaufgang bin ich wach geworden um diese Bilder der New Yorker Skyline mit euch zu teilen. Nach über 9 Jahren zurückzukommen war eindeutig zu spät für eine Stadt diesen Kalibers. Ich bin froh, dass ich sie in einem der komfortabelsten Reisebusse mit Internet und Stromanschluss in gut 15 Std erreichen kann. Wenn ich dann noch ein Auge zubekomme, dann lohnt sich der Trip auch für Frühstück mit Addy oder Agnes.

Es grüßt Euch ganz herzlich,

Euer Matti

Toronto

Dear friends,

I am less then four weeks in the country and I already had to go again. The call of my friend's wedding was simply too strong to let the opportunity go by. So I booked a bus ticket all the way from London, ON to Richmond, almost 1000 miles to go explore the US. But before I headed out of Canada, I first had to go to Toronto. Catching an earlier bus gave me 2 hours of undisturbed quality time to explore this beautiful city. Here are some impressions of how old sandstone facade meets commercialized downtown shopping. It is only a very brief snapshot, since shortly after sunset I had to go on to New York.

Have a good day,

Mat

UWO Campus

Liebe Freunde nah und fern,

ich hoffe ihr habt ein wunderschönes Wochenende und seid alle wählen gegangen. Ich grüße Euch heute mit ein paar Bildern meines Schulweges. Der Campus der Universität Western Ontarios gleicht einem großen Park, mit vielen alten Burgen uns Schlössern. Wer würde nicht gerne umringt von Sandsteinfassaden und Parkanalgen studieren? Einzig die Business School tanzt mit ihrer Glasfassade etwas aus der Reihe. Da wir unsere Büros leider im Keller haben, bekommen wir noch nicht einmal viel mit von dem Lichteinfall. Aber das wird sich in wenigen Jahren auch schon wieder erledigt haben, denn letztes Wochenende war Spatenstich für das neue Gebäude der Richard Ivey School of Business, ein gut CAD 110 Millionen Projekt, was unseren Elfenbeinturm gegen einen futuristischen Glaspalast eintauschen wird. Dann wird das Mosaikspiel auf dem Campus, mit vielen verschiedenen Anlaufstationen auch etwas besser koordinierbar. Ich hoffe ich kann euch davon auch einst ein paar Bilder schicken.

Bis dahin schicke ich euch

Alles Liebe und Gute,

Matthias

447 Platt's Lane

Dear friends and family,

here comes finally the post that I should have shown as early as Sep 2nd, when I set foot into Canada again after almost precisely 11 years. Thanks for your patience! What you see is the little townhouse I am staying at, very close to the University, actually owned by the University. My nice room on the second floor has four corners (surprisingly) three of which are displayed here. Only the door was not worthwhile showing. If the nice digital picture frame was running, you would probably find your picture up there :-)
I like this place a lot! My roommate is very friendly and a good cook, that is important as you might imagine :-)
The internet connection is secure and stable, no more Chinese firewalls, I also enjoy that.
Even more do I enjoy the chance to share all my happiness with you, as happiness is one of the few things that keeps becoming bigger and bigger as you share it!

All my happiness for you!

Your Matti

At home in the US

Dear Jones, dear readers,

I hope my few pictures find you very well. I wanted to share the wonderful time I spend with my US-family in Missouri before I continued my student life in Canada in this small post. At the same time it is important for me to say thank you again to the Jones, who after as much as nice years are still allowing me to use their fridge as if it was mine :-) !
It is always a blessing to come back to this great place at 4090 US Hwy 61 that smells so nicely like lavender. The feeling of being at home again sets in as early as I see them at the airport!
This summer we spend some time in the pool, some in the lake, some in the Fox theater but most in discussion in the back bedroom. Like in the good old days during my high school exchange, I did not catch any big fish, but enjoyed the sunrise over the Lake of the Ozarks!
Thanks Mary, Mike, Tim and Jess for making those few days with you so eventful, fun and refreshing!
I hope I have a chance to welcome you in Canada soon!

All the best and all my love,

Matti

The Blanco Wedding

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

once in our lifetime, things turn so happy that you have to cry! I wish it was at each of our weddings, like it was at the one of Luis and Michelle. Having been on the top of a hill (mountain is a pretty big word for the midwest) skiing together in the US, climbing through riverbeds and underneath the waterfalls in the Colombian Jungle in search for some real coffee trees and finally I get to see my friend from Highschool marry the girl of his dreams... what a happy day for me, much more so for them! We guys stared out the day at Paul's, from where we went for a photo shoot around the old town in a party-bus that Luis had arranged for the entire wedding party.
At the actual reception, standing at the front, gave me a first real life impression of how it is to be so close to the rings that will change your life forever.
Afterwards the entire crew started to dance and I was very happy to see Lela (bottom right) and Nancy (not captured) again, friends from the old days! How nice it is to stay in touch for more than 9 years by now!

All the best for you Luis and Michelle, may your bounds be blessed!

Matthias

Berlin

My dear friends,

during my short time at home I did a short stopover in Berlin to arrange for my Student Visa to Canada. Initially unfitting into my schedule, the trip turned out to be a success, not only from the touristy point of view, because I got to see the "Island of the Museums" and some other famous sights, but much more importantly, because I got to meet with two of my very best friends that I had not seen for so long. It was great when Robert and I went to the Biergarten and had time and peace to catch up on old times. I also enjoyed sitting on the steps of a Church, overlooking the busy plaza, while enjoying dinner with Philipp.
Without you two, this trip would have not been as sunny and happy as it was!

Thank you and until soon,

Matthias