Journey into the past - By Stefan Zweig

The relationship between Ludwig and the Councillor´s wife.

In Journey into the past we meet three people Ludwig, the Councillor and the Councillor´s wife. The relationship between Ludwig and the Councillor´s wife is very important. The relationship is filled with passion, love and curiosity.

Ludwig is described as a very poor young man who worked his way up to university by studying during the night. He had completed his studies of chemistry with distinction. The Councillor of a big factory in Frankfurt offered Ludwig a job which he accepted. The more work Ludwig was given, the more he tackled it and in a very short time he became his employers’ right hand man. As the Councillor´s right hand man Ludwig first meet the Councillor´s wife.

As soon as Ludwig met the wife of the Councillor he felt that it was something in the air. She could see Ludwig´s situation in a warm and sympathetic way. And she was deadly beautiful. A lot of pages in the book describes his intensive passion for this lady. The Councillor one day wanted Ludwig to work for him in Mexico for two years, doing mining operations, a job that could give him a big position as well as wealth. When Ludwig told the Councillor´s wife the news, they both had a hard time, knowing that they would be separated for a so long time was hard for them both. And now Ludwig knew that his feelings for her were mutual. She promised to wait for him, when returning home.

They wrote long love letters every week during the two years before World War separated them. Now he did not have any letters any more, he started to forget her. He got married and had children.  After over nine years in Mexico he was asked to go to Berlin for an American firm. He got in contact with his old love by telephone and she invited him over to Frankfurt. After so many years the meeting was not what he had expected, they had an ordinary polite conversation without touching the previous love for each other. When Ludwig returned to the hotel, he wrote a long love letter, where he asked her to go with him to Heidelberg by train. In Heidelberg they took a walk trying to wake up the old feelings. They both understand that the present is not like the past, although the relationship is open and we do actually not know how their relationship will develop further.

- Hallvard

Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom was born on the 13^th of January 1977 in Canterbury, England, and is today 34 years old. He was called Orlando after the 16^th century composer Orlando Gibbons. He grew up with his mother and what he thought was his father. After his father´s death, it turned out that his biological father was a friend of the family, Collin Stone. Bloom is today married to Marianda Kerr, they have together a baby, named Flynn.

Bloom got through the ordinary schools, despite his dyslexia. His mother recommended him to take drama classes. At the age of 18 Bloom went to London to join a youth theater where he acted for two years. Later on he earned a scholarship to act at The British American Drama Academy. In 1994 Bloom started his acting career for television.

Orlando Bloom is a practicing Buddhist and is a member of the Soka Gakkai international movement. He is also a Manchester United fan as well as working for an environmentally company. He is very occupied with the environment and he has put solar panels, recycled materials and he use efficient light bulbs in one of his three houses.

Since 1994 Bloom has acted in three television series and 22 movies. He is a very popular guy in the movie business, and has acted in almost two movies per year from 1994. Out of these movies, he is most famous for his acting as Legolas in The Lord Of Rings and as Will Turner in Pirates Of The Caribbean.

Crash

The movie ”Crash” is about multiculturalism in the USA and contains several stories about people’s daily life. Common in all the stories is that people get treated badly because of their background. The movie reflects how skin color and different cultures make it hard living together in a society. 

Crash shows both good and bad people. We meet some people only trying to live a normal life, and some who make it hard for others trough crime, racism and prejudice. 

My personal opinion is that the movie was very good and entertaining. Through 120 minutes the writers of Crash manage to wake up feelings and make me analyze my own prejudices and racial stereotypes towards others.

How to behave when stationed in your mentor business

When you are stationed in your mentor business it’s important to show up at the right time. To come late the first day will give you a very bad first impression. When you have arrived you should show attention to the people you meet, be polite, smile and do the tasks you are given. There may also be some things you should be careful about, like behaving lie back and lazy, do not be shy although it feels a bit scary. Use common sense.

Good luck !