I made this book for my girlfriend ^^

My Awesome Handmade Book

Xiao's Books

The picture above shows the books I made. I used green paper to act as a cover because I love this color. I cut the paper into two pieces ,one is smaller and one is bigger so that I could make two books and send one to my boyfriend Li Heng. I made them simple because we all like that style, what's more there are many papers inside so that we will have more space to write our love story. On each book writes a name with the use of letter sticker, which of course stands for me and Heng. On one book it says "care", on the other one says"today". I put these two words on my books trying to show I really want us to treasure each other's care ,and value every "today" we have together.




As you can see, it's really simple inside, but I'm sure we will make it more and more colourful as the time goes on. On the cover, there's a letter X which shorts for my name Xiao. I like the picture most, which was taken when our first time went out travelling together. Whenever I see it, beautiful memories will come into my mind.




Maybe it's not easy to notice. On the bottom of the left cover side, there's a letter L, which is short for my boyfriend's family name Li.




I love the blue paper with the beautiful flowers on it very much, so I put them into the books. By the way, have you noticed the stickers? It says: “Our love will last forever."




Although the books are simple and seem nothing special ，I bet Li Heng will like them. ^_^ Do you agree with me?

Homero´s Books

My first book was like a personal notebook:



The second one was very meaningful because is my story, I printed it and make a pocket book with it, it´s the same e-book from the blog but in black and white:

My firsts three days in Munich

After finished my studies in chemistry in december 2000 i did not know what to do with my life. Then, i decided to work with a professor in some coal research projects. but after one year i was bored and had the feeling that my dreams  of studying and traveling over the world were fading. So, i started applying online for a PhD position in chemistry. At the end of August 2001 I got one in Germany but I did not speak german. However I accepted it and started with my visa application which I got in december that year.

I arrived in Munich on 14 of February 2001. At the airport I wanted to call one friend who was going to pick me up. So I got out my wallet to buy a phone card. After the call in a phonecalls store I forgot to take my wallet which had all my documents and money inside. My friend picked me up and took me to the hotel. After 2 hours I realized that I have lost my wallet.  What can a person without money, undocumented and who does not even speaks the language in a strange country?  

 Photograph 1. Losing my wallet in a store.

The next day I went to the university where I was supposed to stay the next four years of my life, I felt fear. When I came inside it was a big building bigger than the chemistry building at the National University of Colombia in Bogota where I was finished my undergraduate studies. At 9:30 I meet Prof. Lercher, who is the leader of the Institute II of Technical Chemistry at the Technical University of Munich. My first impression about him was: this guy is not just a teacher of chemistry, he is a business man. Then, he started to talk but I did not understood any word he was telling me. Of course he felt disappointed and started looking around asking for a Hispanic person to get a translation to me. Finally he found Bertha who was doing her PhD with him, through her he explained me that I would have to learn either English or German, otherwise I would be fired. The same day I meet all the institutes’ staff, 4 supervisors, 2 secretaries and about 30 PhD students, all of them working under the guidance of Prof. Lercher. Later I lived great and unforgettable moments with them.

Photograph 2. With my friends in Munich – Germany

At the afternoon I was introduced to Mrs. Hermann who was talking with Prof. Lercher about what should they do with me because I did not have money to buy food or to pay the hotel. I was supposed to get a job contract with a salary of 1800 DM. But, as I did not have any legal document in order to sign it, they decided to give me a scholarship which I signed without any document. What a good surprise? The most amazing moment of that day was when Mrs. Hermann told me that the amount of the scholarship would be 3600 DM/monthly and that I would get the money in cash for the firsts three months immediately.

Two days later I received a phone call, it was from the lost objects office at Munich airport. They have found my wallet with all the documents and money inside. I did not expect that so many good things were going to happen to me. These situations never occur in Colombia.

Photograph 3. Getting my wallet back.

I finished my PhD in natural sciences in September 2006. These years that I have lived in Germany were really, really great. 

Photograph 4. Having fun in Munich at the New Soccer Stadium.

Photograph 5. Traveling to Berlin.

Three years ago Pablo had to go to Athens to visit a friend who was in hospital because he had a surgery. Pablo was from Pienza, a small town in Italy, so he had to take a flight from Italy to Athens. He visited his friend, they discussed. Pablo wished him a good and fast recovery. After two hours Pablo left, and went to find a hotel.

The Flight from Italy to Greece

He was looking for it for two hours during the night. He couldn’t find anything. The time was eleven, he was still on the road. He found a square and he sit on bench. Suddenly he heard a sound of steps behind of him. He looked behind and he saw a beautiful girl coming to him. At first he was afraid of her, because he was at Athens a very big city, he didn’t know anyone, and he was in a square during the night.

The girl went close to him and asked him if he need help. Pablo didn’t answer because he couldn’t understand her. She was speaking Greeks while Pablo could understand only English and Italian. He said:

-I can’t understand you. Do you speak Italian or English?

-Yeah. The girl answer. What’s your name? where are you from?

-I’m from Italy and my name is Pablo. What’s yours?

-Xenita. She said..

-Are you from Greece?

-No.I’m from Albany but I born and I growed up here in Greece. Greece is my second coutnry.

Pablo and Xenita staied there for one more hour. They had an intresting discussion. They were trying to learn as more as they can for themselves. Then Xenita asked him if he found a hotel. He answered:

-No. I was looking for 3 hours and all hotels were full.

She suggested him to go to her house.Pablo asked her if she staied alone and she answer :

- I’m with my parents.

Then he refused to go with her, but Xenita insisted and finally Pablo slept at Xenita’s house.

Xenita’s parents didn’t have any problem. They were outgoing and hospitable people Next day Pablo and Xenita went a walk. They visited some interesting places of Athens. Then Xenita’s parents took them and they went to eat in an traditional Albanian restaurant. Pablo liked very much Albanian food.

Pablo loved Albanian food.

He had arranged to live that day but Xenita said to him to stay more. Xenita like him and his company.

They had become really good friends. Pablo didn’t want to sleep again at Xenita’s home and found a hotel. Xenita’s mother called him for a dinner next night since he liked their food. She cooked three traditional Albanian dishes. Pablo loved them too.

Pablo staid only for three days more and then he left. Before leaving, he invited Xenita to visited him next month. Xenita said:

- Of course, I want come.

When Xenita went to Italy they had a tour to historical places of Italy and then went to Pablo’s town. These days, there was a folk festival in the town. A lot of dancing and musician groups had performance. Xenita like Italian dances and she tried to learn to dance Italian. During the festival, Xenita had the chance to try Italian traditional cuisine. Xenita and Pablo understood that there a lot of same thing in their different cuisines. One day after the festival Xenita went back to Greece.

Dances at a local dancing Festival in Italy

They didn’t stopped had friendship. They were talking on the phone or through Internet. They visited again each other. They are still friends and next month they are going to visit Crete.

Military life without a freedom

In Korea, no one can avoid going to army except the disabled because the war between South and North Korea didn't finish, but is still going. It means that going to the army is not an option. Like most Korean men, I had to complete two years of compulsory military service. So began my military life, on January 10th, 2006.



< These pictures were taken when I was in training right after I had finished military service. >

I could expect my military life was going to be tough because lots of people always say to me, I won't endure kind of insult from senior soldiers. However, my expectation was totally wrong! Military service was tougher than I thought.At that time I, as well as in verbal abuse and profanity, was beaten by senior soldiers. Also, they forced me to start smoking. That's why I started smoking, but now, I quit. Nobody can act differently, nobody respects me as an indivisual in army.

It was certain that there was no freedom, only I had to do was following orders from senior soldiers in the army! Only then, I realized how precious freedom was in our daily life.Before I became a soldier, I didn't know the cultural difference between our daily lives and lives in army. Here is my experience.


One day, I participated in training that took 3 days to prepare for war. Although first day was not so hard, second day was different due to walking through the mountain, our destination's distance was more than 40km. Prior to departure, my seniors made their soldier's gear lighter by giving me some of their items to carry instead.





< I was a trainer in the army who taught soldiers how to fight well or how to behave during the war. >


However, I couldn't say it's unfair, for the reason that I already knew if I said sonething like this, I was supposed to be beaten or insulted. Before long, this made me tired, and I couldn't walk well because it was too heavy for me.


Furthermore, seniors walked so fast, so the gap between us started to get bigger.Then, seniors who walked in front of me came back to me and started to insult me. They said, I had to complete this training without any kind of help from others. If not, I got a punishment or discipline. After that I really tried to be fast, but I twisted my ankle. So, I thought that I couldn't afford to walk anymore.


However, it was true that I hurt my legs, seniors didn't trust me but just thought that it was fake. Even if I explained this, they started to hit me rather than helping me. They even insulted my parents. There was nothing for me to do except accepting the reality, because if I disobeyed or fought with them, I'll be put in jail, but I didn't want to go to jail in the army. A soldier who went to jail regarded as a prisoner in our society.

< After the training, I and friends of mine were so happy! Finally we did!>

In our daily lives, we have lots of options to choose something. Also, no one can ignore rights to select or make our own lives by ourselves. But, Korean army has very different culture. Korean soldiers have to follow order, not to act autonomously. A soldier is like a robot which was operated by a senior. It means that there is no freedom or autonomy in Korean army.Just compare with your daily life.


Have you ever experienced this kind of thing? Can you imagine like this life? Maybe not. Throughout this experience, I learned importance of freedom and autonomy.




< I really feel free when I look up the sky and drink a beer. These pictures symbolizes a freedom for me.>


In conclusion, I'd like to say this.
Past is history, and tomorrow is a mystery. But, today is a gift.That's whay it's called present. So, For me, today is a present when we can behave, think, feel freely!