Things I hate

While looking for a picture to give R. tomorrow as a present, I came across a list somebody had written. It was named "100 things I hate" and while reading it, I realized many of the points apply to me as well.
So I decided to start my own list, although I don't believe I can make it to 100 :).
Things I hate, not organized in any meaningful way, but simply in the order they occur to me.
1-People who drive below the speed limit during rush hour (be real, you are an obstacle and everybody who is behind you is most likely in a hurry)
2-Elderly people who go shopping in the evenings (Well, yes you might feel lonely, but those of us who work to pay YOUR monthly allowance have to wake up early to go work, to make money for you, and would love if, once we leave work, we can make our shopping and go home and rest. You do nothing all day, please go shopping when we are working)
3-Stay home mummies who go shopping in the evenings (We don't think your baby's screaming is cute, so leave it home or go when we are not around)
4-Parents who have no control on their kids (I don't give a sh** if you have a headache and your kid is bored in the airplane, your kid, your problem, and if you can't handle the kid, at least get it drunk so it doen't bother the rest of us)
5-People who stay on the sidewalk to talk and don't ,ove when others get there, also applies in doors, hallways, stairs, etc. (Very nice that you have met your friend unexpectedly, now go grab a chair and a table and get out of my way)
6-Peple who think that the country I was born in determines how I behave (get real and lose your stupidity, there is a reason why I left the country and didn't return after college)
7-People who have no common sense (If I walk away every time you come close to me, and I ignore you when you talk to me it means I don't want you to talk or come close to me! Get it!)
8-Mediocre people (If you have a brain, use it. If you don't, go away)
9-People who are not punctual (My time is as important as yours, if you don't respect it, don't expect me to respect yours)
10-Young people-under 55- who don't give their seats to elderly, small children or pregnant women (This is a society and whether or not you like it, some people need the seat more than you. Get your ass up, you have healthy legs and no baby in your belly)
11-People who don't say their opinion and feel humiliated when you make a decision they disagree with (you have a mouth and know how to articulate words. Use your mouth and say what you think. I'm not your mother nor your therapist to interpret your body language)
12-People who complain about progress, yet drive a car, have an iphone and are connected to internet all the time (If you hate progress, don't use technology, if you use technology, stop the bullshit)
13-People who listen to music in trains or on the street without earphones, also applies to people at work who don't mute their phone and computer (I don't care what music you like, how many ringtones you have, or how often you get a communicator message or an email. Be quiet and keep your crap for yourself)
14-People who complain about the government, yet decide not to vote because it is too crowded (Your vote gives you a right to complain, so if you don't vote, shut the fu** up)
15-People who don't dress appropriately for work (I don't care what you want to dress like, if you come to work, I don't wanna see your tatoos, your boops or your boxers)
16- People who adjust their opinion depending on the audience, or change their opinion during a conversation by saying "yes, that's what I mean" (If you don't have an opnion of your own, don't say anything. If you have ne, defend it)
17- People who go through life without noticing anything around it (Again, this is a society, be part of it. At least read the news)
18- People who judge others without knowing the background (Do you think you know what my life has been like because you have seen me for 5 minutes? What an idi**)
19- People who think they are interesting to others because they have money (Do you think that we don't see your ridiculous face, or hear what you say? There is much more in this planet than money)
20- Guys with long hair and earrings
21- Girls who giggle all the time with that stupid voice that denotes ignorance
22- Electronic music (Its noise for God's sake)
23- Religious extremism
24- People who live of the state and make 3 months vacation a year (I pay your food, and I can't afford such a vacation, WTF)
25- Thieves
26- Travelers who disrespect the culture of the country they are visiting ( You are the guest, be respectful, if they don't like pictures, don't make them!)
27- Repeated mistakes (it happened once, learn from it)
28-Excel files that have over 4 colors (If you want to use a code, make it clear and concise, if you like to color your work, become an artist)
29- Rats, mice and any animal that has more than 4 legs.
30-ALLERGIES
31- People whose brains have no furniture (maybe they sold the brain...)
32- Unwelcomed advice
33- Rpeated questions (If you asked once and I didn't answer, get the hint)
34- People that have no dreams (Life is a dream, the more you dream and fight for your dreams, the more you live)
35- Email chains (No, I don't care if I die at noon, I won't forward it, nor will I read it. Get a hobby)
36- People who say an author is bad because the movie of the book was boring (Books and Movies are NOT the same, if you want to hate the writer, read the book)
37- Driving in the city
38- Parking in the city
39- Speed limits
40- Trucks
41- "Yes men"
42- Salads

Yeah, I can't come up with moer right now :) Maybe I will continue it some day...

Home

I often write here about life, about my thoughts and feelings.
Today I want to talk about home. Where is home? Home is where you feel the most comfortable, where you can be yourself without the fear of being judged. throught my life I have lived in many places: My parent's house back in Bogota, my dorms when I was in college in Boston, the house in Dreieich, my appartments in Sulzbach and my appartment in Koeln. Not to forget also my host family's house in Husum. Now the question is: were all those places "home"? Is home the place where you live?
I have came to realize that although there is a relation, it is not always like that. Some of the dorms I lived in never felt as home, and the first appartment I lived in when I came to Germany wasn't home either. However, most of the places I have lived in after I left Bogota have been home, and the house in Dreieich to.
I find that any place that has been home remains home, although there is a rating for the level of home it is: Some places are home due to the memories they bring, but while there behavious needs to be adjusted, other places are home, because the absolute freedom is there.
Home is a safe place, is a place where you can think, and plan your life. Home is where (like my father says) you bring your dirty laundry to.
It took me a while to get used to life in Germany, but eventually it became home. Top home for me is now my appartment in Koeln, the place where I spend the most of my free time (and part of my work time), the place that I am decorationg to my wish, and the place I am proud of.
Bogota and Dreieich, and also my host family's house will remain home, but to a lower degree. Home is now Germany.

Citizenship

Often, when I have met someone at work, or when somebody hears me speak, I get the "Where are you from?" question. I often struggle when answering, and this confuses me.
Where am I from? Should the answer mention the country I was born in? Should the answer be the country I feel the most comfortable in? Should the answer be the place I feel I belong to? Or should it be the country that gave me the passport I travel and live on?
It might sound strange, but the answers to these questions differ from one to another.
I was born in Bogota, Colombia, and lived there until I finished High School. Through High School all I could think off was how to get out of that country, how to move somewhere, and forget about Colombia. I even asked my parents to send me to boarding school, but my parents refused as my mom went for some time to such a school and hated it. So I was stuck in Colombia til I finished High School, and was 18 years old.
My father is Spanishm and by birth I received Spanish citizenship. I use this as my identification, travel on the Spanish passport, and for all practical means I write "Spanish" under citizenship. I have never lived in Spain, but I hold the passport.
I moved to Boston, Mass., and attended college there. I loved my life there. It was like any life, filled with good and bad moments, but the struggle to live and be there was not present, and I felt at home there more than I ever did in Colombia.
After finishing college, and not being able to get a job there due to my beloved birthplace, I moved to Germany, where I have been for the last two and a half years. I have gotten used to my life here, and somehow, what I did not expect to ever happen, have started to settle down: I got my car, my big and beautiful appartment, furniture, and pretty much everything that belongs to a home except for the pet. I feel comfortable here, and I can see myself here in many years.

But how to answer the question? Yes, I am Colombian by birth, I am Bostoninan (not US American) by heart, I am Spanish by passport, and I am German by life (also by attitude according to many).
My answer to the question is normally "I was born in Colombia, and am half Spanish". It makes little sense. However, giving the whole answer would make even less sense. I am a citizen of the world.