KRISTIN MUELLER | WOOLOO.ORG - Opportunities for Artists

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SUNDAY - JULY 13, 2008 - 07:13:27 PM

Fedele und me

After discovering the situation in Neukoelln most of the time for my own, Fedele and me decided ones to go together.
We wanted to check out the neighborhood around karl marx strasse with finishing in Hasenheide

Next to my house we met in a lovely coffee shop, were we started to talk with the owners.
To prepare myself for our mission I started there to talk about the project, asked what they think about the idea, if they would do it and about their feeling living and working in their own business in neukoelln.

During tasting their extraordinary good ice cream we get the answers.
They would not do some like that, because they prefer long term working people with more insurance like scholar internships and they preferred living in neukoelln and especially in this area.
Spoiled with this nice ice cream taste we started our mission in weserstrasse(a parallel to karl marx)

There is a special area cold fusion cafe it looks kind of weird interesting , that was basically for me the reason to go this way to show Fedele.

When we was next to it we saw the 3 oriental boys(I use that again)
We started talking with them.
Even this 3 ones was so different types, one was kind of cute and he was the one I spoke with most of the time, his friend was talking too but a bit more in the background and a 3rd one was just sitting in the background not really involving himself.

The 2 was interested to hear from the job and the project
In the process of exchanging cards and numbers, there arrived more teenager, they seemed to be in the same peer group, knowing each other.

With the arriving of the other ones the team leader position changed, and out od this the group atmosphere too.

Instead of curious interest, I felt something stronger whatgoes more in direction pressure.
Because the leader teenager was stronger in his wants, he asked focus questions like if this money get away from his benefits if this is legal work or no .
His whole body language was expressing keeping us distanced and mistrust.
He wanted to know if we are from the police and took a card out of my hands, not asking for.

To break it down a bit I started talking about what is my normal job and to ask them what they do.
I explained again our aims, the basics about the project an what we are doing.

How I said with the arriving the group atmosphere changed and they doesn’t took me serious anymore.

Between questions about the job and fairness I get more sexual orientated answers.
Maybe that’s normally the point to make strict limits, and put lines what they can say and what they can not.

Fedele remembers me to ask them for the list, what they like to do.
The result shows some .
It was only answers like blow job ….
With this list in our hands we left them.

I have to say it was a confusing situation for me on the one hand it feels uncomfortable be surrounded from a group where you never see everybody
On the other hand I don’t took them that serious in this moment, because for me it was just grown up teenager playing around.
And berlin feels for me like a save city because all the time I lived here, especially neukoelln and wedding before, never some happened to me.

With a bit distance now I see that I learned a lot in this situation, I started to think more about respect about how to create situations to avoid behavior like this.
How to sit to talk and when there is the right time to draw the lines and show them.
I mean was for this time, it was that moment, but be aware of and the importance to do that will be with me the rest of my life


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SUNDAY - JULY 13, 2008 - 06:40:46 PM

Dangerous motivation?
It needed some time to go forward with writing but I still keep some stories with me and in one of my little books. They are there to keep with reality and not phantasm (although I think a bit of both is in everybody’s reality, isn’t it?)

Now I will tell you a bit more about the 4 sweet Oriental teenagers, some you surely read about in other blocs, here is my view on some of that.

If you remember I found that strongly motivated boy, who did not show up for the job at the end?!

So when I arrived in Per’s studio on Friday afternoon, without good news, starting to explain the situation during a lot of feelings were adventurously swimming in my blood and passing me inside

I can not really say how it felt for everybody, only for me
It was a mixture of disappointing self-doubts, helplessness, surprise but also a new born growing motivation to get the best out and also try to understand the boy.
(trying to understand eats a lot of my time but it is very useful for me)

I and obviously everybody else were not judging him because we didn’t know his reasons.
And I don’t want to make it too easy, in throwing him in a box full of categorizations and eventually possibly explanations.

For myself, I had an idea what could be a reason for not showing up in this situation in this age(although even 11 years can hide a lot memories ) but how relevant can that be in a moment like that?
The only acceptable reaction in this situation was it to find a solution !
The solution for us was it, to swarm out and try to find an emergency flash job teenage participant.
Everybody was supposed to ask teenager in Neukoelln and around (like Goerlitzer Park).
Before leaving we were thinking about our attitude which (obviously or not;))creats our words and behavior.
My attitude was it to ask the teenagers for help, explaining the situation, that the former teenager does not showed up for personal reason but we need somebody immediately because of an existing time limit.
A situation was created, were I needed somebody to help us, not just offer a job and pay the money.

Influenced through this attitude I left and went towards Neukoelln, I saw a nice looking teenager, stopped him with a nice smile explained and waited for his respond, but he was in a rush and walked away after taking a card and smiling back
.
During the following trial, I was asking 2 oriental looking boys next to a doener chicken shop (not 100%sure which nationality they had but to ask where do you come from and you want to work us, could represent some I don’t want!)

Like before, I started to explain the situation they told me that they were already waiting for somebody, but doing this some time in upcoming days, wouldn’t be a problem, they just have to know early
I started to talk a bit, asked questions to get a little idea about them.
For me it was interesting to hear their motivations doing this and if 5 euros per hour are enough.
They answered impressive.
“We don’t do it for the money, we do it to help somebody, that’s more important!”
My reaction was a really “smart “ WOW.
I left and went forward smiling and happy that I met people like them.
(Unfortunately I had no camera with me, I would like to represent a picture but now I am not so sure if I will recognize them)

Just moving around without any orientation I walked in a street next to a playground with 2 talking teenager. During explaining everything again, I recognized that they seemed to become interested immediately
For them it sounds like a chance to work and to earn some money.

In the beginning it was two of them but after some minutes, there came a lot more.
Then they decided in the group who should come with me(I told them 8 is to much)
At the end 4 boys 13-14 were following me.
It seems that they act only in a group, most of the time..
I told them about the job, where we have to go and about the project.
They had glowing motivation to do a job to help somebody and earn money,
I tried to bring in some realism by explaining that not all 4 can do this one job and that this is an project what will end unfortunately in middle of June.

During we walked back we were talking I asked them about school, if they feel fair treated and what for imaginations they have for their future,
They had spited opinions about school, because they have to be quiet there (what does not seem to be their nature)and can not say what they think .
But they know they can only reach aims like being policeman in passing the way through the school system.

Arriving in Pers studio I saw that some teenager started to do the work, and 2 more were waiting.
I felt soooo badly sad, because of “my” boys, per ask us to come in and talk with him and the other group mates and teenagers.

The 4 agreed and it turned into an interview, where they could talk about there idea of fair, they get more informed about the project and they wrote us a wish to do list.

When the boys left, they seemed to be in a confusion, and I felt the same.
For me and also the other group mates it becomes more important to look for a job for them and make them a bit believing that maybe some positive just can happen?!

Is it right to bring hope to them and then they have to leave with nothing?
How influencing will that be?
Maybe they are to young to understand this?
Should we let them come with us before we talked with theparents?
Is it right to go in not known cultural structures?
Is it right to use a word like help for this job?
When start and when stops my responsibility?
Am I really aware of all the consequences?
Because we had a need they were able to offer something and we say thank you with a bonus.
Can this way avoid unfair distribution of power and positioned every participant in the optional status to deal about the conditions?

Even if we go forward with our actions we didn’t forget the 4.
We watched their paper and try to transform finding the flash job for them as a aim.
Per and me tried at first to ask a auto mechanic , but there was now way
Even with throwing keywords like “good commercial” “giving hope”… he told us after some bad experiences there is no way in, besides school internships.

Answers like that I get also when I tried to ask other car mechanics
Even with explaining what and why, its hard for people to understand and to sort out and then they are aware of risks in areas they are working in.

One success I thought was a auto mechanic next to karl marx strasse
I walked in and after talking with the boss he agreed to do that.
The coordinator for this, should be another man I should ask for this “rendevous”.
We make the appointment for Friday, the last day before the finishing weekend and the lucky 13th.

We talked a bit more and he was analyzing the situation in neukoelln, he felt kind of disappointment, no real perspectives, for the most people lots of immigrants, no motivation for them going to school because of the high unemployment.

He felt also unsecured about his job, known that his chances for a new one are not that huge
He was looking forward for Friday but still skeptical if the teenager will come and do the job.
I called one of them later, we make the appointment Friday 15.30 at karl marx strasse
He sounds more quiet but agreed and wanted to bring that paper form I gave them for their parents.

Thursday I called the mechanic again to ask if the appointment still exist and he told me no
He was sorry but his boss told him its to much confusion in the business and he don t want that anymore.
He said sorry again and I said I understand(reflecting now it was a lie I don’t really understand it)
Whats now calling the boys and tell them no?
I thought search other mechanic to ask
But I decided not to do and think about giving them a job some for them maybe plant some on their playground or stuff like that
If nobody else want maybe I should start with me.
So I was looking forward for Friday happy to get a solution

We wanted to film everything and because of the happenings in the two weeks I called the boys in the afternoon to ask if they will come
And the answer was no.
That’ did not surprised me that much, not because I am thinking they don’t want or they lazy
I asked if he would like to say me why, I am not arguing I just wane know and he told me that his parents said no
Because they think we do some bad.
I think its understandable, maybe they just said that they work in a car mechanic station for 5 euro per hour, which parents would like the idea?

It was raining this day the first time in the 2 weeks it felt like cleaning for me.
At the end I didn’t flashed a job
For teenager I tried it out for myself later this afternoon but that does not really count
I catalyst myself to paint a chair for 5 euro, just because to know how it feels
To do some for 5 euro, if it feels somebody abuse my work energy
or how important the result is…

But I am not so disappointed about.
I know its some about me, because I am in all this my attitude my behaviour my look my outfit and also my nationality and a lot more, known or not.
But it is not all about me there is so much stuff what I didn’t know the teenager their families their backgrounds……and so much more.
I am just hoping that they have seen a little bit the good expectation behind
Not just an project to represent myself
I still like the 4 they learned me some and I really belive that after some time and more idealistic actions it can work out

After the boy said no It would be good to ask if I can speak with his parents?
Would it also be better to go back to the employer for make the appointments sure?
Does somebody think they didn’t take me seriously?
Who am I for the other ones just a girl or somebody who will move something?
Which importance has my gender?
Is smarter to go straight to the teenagers parents after the first meeting or phone call, when the appointment was sure?
How much is healthy to expect for me?


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THURSDAY - JUNE 26, 2008 - 07:59:20 AM


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TUESDAY - JUNE 10, 2008 - 07:45:34 PM

antiphasis_MyIntervention_story_01

After the workshop on Sunday, where we all met the first time and different areas of Neukoelln become the acting zone of the participating catalysts, I used my bike to go in my area Hasenheide, and streets next to it.
The streets around are quiet with countable businesses.
I heard some about this place before and was interested to see what will happen there, because it is supposed to be a drug dealing area
Actually what I could see this day, is a big park next to the airport Tempelhof, where a lot of people spent their days in different ways.
When I left the flat, I was fully motivated to arouse peoples enthusiasm for the FJC. Even the ideas of giving teenager experiences, show them a piece of daily work make them understanding a bit more of “adults” life and out of this, maybe create a gleam of hope and motivation for their growing up, shouldawake peoples interest, or?!Unfortunately I was wrong.
Early afternoon I made my first steps in the Wissmannstreet, it felt very hot and the heat in combination with immediately increasing inner excitement, melted all my plans and ideas what to say and how to act.
After more then one minute standing in the middle of the pedestrian way, staring ahead not exactly knowing how to go on I decided just to start.
I went in the first job, expecting nothing more then to get over this lame start situation.
Buying a glass of pepper sauce in this afro shop seemed for me a good situation to get the shop owner lady’s attention.
Obviously I was the only guest in the moment and so she spent a bit of her time in listening to me, when I introduced myself and the idea of FJC.
After I finished she wanted to know what kind of teenagers I am looking for and afterwards she explained to me that her own son(he was there too) is helping her out, and she need nobody.
This experience made me a bit more laid back and I was able to choose my words and my acting with consideration.
.I visited different places, shops, and also an kindergarten but they was not interested, they had their own interns from school.
Talking in one of the newspaper shops with the owner I get surprised but not in an motivational way.
It was quiet interesting what he told me about his experiences in being fair to teenagers. In his story 2 teenager get a job in his shop under equal conditions like in our project.
Both worked for a relatively small amount of time and get as payment some pocket money and cigarettes
In reward he could watch the video from the security camera what presented him both stealing during they was supposed only to work .
This experiment caused his closed mind and his nonparticipating in the FJC.
Although he agreed that it should exist more fairness and trust in teenager and they should be able to try and find out, for understandable reasons he didn’t want to be the person to do this.
My question if its possible to make pictures from him or a little movie he answered with a no, what else can I do then respect this?!
This afternoon offered me possibilities to talk with lots of people , they told me in theory, there are willing to support teenagers with a job but in practice for different reasons they don’t do it.
Most of them had their relatives helping out and didn’t wanted to make them disappointed because somebody else do a job there (even if it is for one time).
These circumstances would be classified as not fair in their opinion

antiphasis_MyIntervention_FAQ01

Which time is the best to start to talk with people?
Is it good to write down kind of a concept or phrases for introducing yourself and the idea of the project?
How do you interact with people, which form of contact is helpful?
What kind of clothes I should wear?
Is it more helpful to make a short flayer?
How important are contact cards with your name and number to show them that’s serious?
Can i trust all the stories i hearted?
What is the right way to ask for photos or filming?
Is it a good idea to visit the first day more then 5 or 6 shops?
Is it really better go at first asking for jobs?
I am clear in my attitude?
What means the fact I am a woman?

antiphasis_MyIntervention_Tips&Tricks01

I think at first it is really important to think about the project before to start, what expectations do i have and how much inner pressure will be created? Even if we ( like me) need some time to see what is behind we try to low down our expectations and we are able to go forward even if it seems to be unpromising.
"You get what you see", could be the opinion of the people i talked with(and i wanted some from) so self representation could be a good way to get the first point and so more attention for the FJC.
I think one of my mistakes was it to go shop by shop no break, i think it is better to make a break think about the situation and avoid some behaviour, i see so often that i am able for reflecting myself but just after some time for me, quantity is not quality, right?!

antiphasis_MyIntervention_story02

Later one I went in the parc to see what is going on there.
After walking through the bushes my way ended in a place with naked people laying down in the sun.
Nobody seems to fit in the teenager group and I went forward.
After walking around I asked the first teenager who turned out as a tourist.
Then I saw two younger boys on a bench.
I took my sunglasses off so they could see I look into their eyes and I smile.
One was light blond I will call him Rob the other one had dark hair I will call him Thor.
I asked for some time to be able to talk with them and ask questions.
And after they agreed I sit down next to them on the bench .

antiphasis_MyIntervention_FAQ02

Does it help to look into their eyes?
Does my hair made me cool enough to talk with me?
Can i trust them?
How will they act and communicate with me?
Were they thinking about the grade of legality they have in this work?
Does it matter where the job could be?

antiphasis_MyIntervention_Tips&Tricks01

It is helpfully if you are easy dressed, to much authority influences could make them mistrustful.
Try to talk serious and be hones, teenager have a really good feeling for people who just play a role and who try to be not them selfs.
Its all the time action and reaction, so you should not talk to them if you don't like them, they will be aware of that and also they tell you more about them if you say some to your own person, not your hole life story but give them an idea who you are and why it is good to trust you.

antiphasis_TheDeal_story02

To talk with them was really interesting, I explained the project, and Rob was interested, what his friend don’t understand.
For me it was important that they understand what the project is about, that they know this job is one time 1-3 hours and not regular some hours a week, but Rob told me it is ok and a point to start and go forward from.
When he heard that they pocket money what they can get is around 5 euro Thor told me he can make 50euro in an hour so why should he do such a job .
He seems to be proud of this and told me some more times that he get that much money per hour, I don’t asked him what he do.
But his friend stand behind his interest and explained that he really want to save money for drivers license (he was 16), he also doesn’t want the money for that from his parents.
It was impressive for me because even confronted with the misunderstanding through his friend and the fact that he can earn ten times more he made clear that he would like to work.
The question if they still go to school answered just one with yes. Both was supposed to go, though with the opportunity earning 50 euro per hour Thor could not see any sense in participating in school.
He preferred to make jokes about Rob because he visited “Hauptschule” it is a lower school, but after that one you are able to make more classes and get a better school degree. So I tried to motivate Rob by telling him he can be proud of his attitude and should move on like this.
Motivational reasons for that, according to Rob, were that he would like to leave Germany in the future.
I was really impressed we exchanged numbers and I left the park.

During the group meeting on Tuesday, Lucilla told me about the fact that Fidele know somebody as employer, and so it looks like an opportunity to make the first flash job.
I talked with fidele and he made the contact to Heider, Pers roommate in the Atelier.
We talked about conditions, he needed somebody patient and quiet for 5 euro/hour and probably 3 hours, eventually more.
He needed some help in finishing a model until a specified time limit, so i tried to reach Rob but after an unsuccessful trial I wrote him a message, explained the job and ask for his call back.
Wednesday noon i was not thinking that he will answer anymore, my phone started to ring, it was Rob telling me that he like to do the job.
it was such a perfect moment and i called Heider to ask what day he suggest, the meeting was aimed at Thursday 3.00p.m. By calling Rob i tried to affirm the meeting as appointment, he was asking if Friday would be possible too, what at the end turned into the "big day"

antiphasis_TheDeal_FAQ02

Do they really understand me, can i be sure that they get the important facts of the project?
Can i create to much hope?
Do i take to much responsibility in doing this?
How can his friend influence him after i left?
Is the feeling of being responsible and go for a job stronger then the feeling o being mocked by a friend?
How long can 5Eur be more attractive then 50Eur, the same time?

antiphasis_TheDeal_Tips&Tricks02

Through let them repeat the important facts you can be sure that they get everything what is necessary and that there are no misunderstandings and out of that disappointments on both sites.
Ask for a second number, if possible a phone not a mobile number, to be able to reach more then the mobile phone, but be prepared with your card, that you also offer your personal team card data to be transparent and reachable.
Try to introduce the skeptical friend, even when 5 Euro is less for him, maybe offer him he just can watch a moment to see what his friend is doing and maybe he gets interested if the job itself is interesting.

antiphasis_TheAct_story02

Until Friday I was very excited and hopeful,although Rob doesn't answered my message or phone call trial to make all clear about work, address and to ask him if it would be ok to make photos and film.
During leaving my flat and walking to Per with no message from him, I was confronted with my feelings in this situation.
Quiet obviously he was not interested to do that job now or later, because i never heard some from him again.

antiphasis_TheAct_FAQ02

Was it my fault?
Was it too long between meeting and make an appointment?
I do not want to ask if i should not trust, because somebody has to start!
I called to often or not enough?
Is witting sms better or more worse?
Should i try to call again or find him to ask whats happen?

antiphasis_MyIntervention_Tips&Tricks02

I think it is better to make appointments immediately, employer and teenager, before they get in fear for their own adventurousness. Everybody can imagine that after some time, stories about bad teenager and unfair employers become more important and so it is easier to disappear.
And even when the job is some days later, i think it is a good idea to introduce teenager and employer and let them talk, i think it is more difficult to let somebody down, when you have a face, a specific person in your mind


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THURSDAY - MAY 29, 2008 - 05:18:23 PM

Kristin_MyReport_story_01

Hello, its me Kristin,
I am contributing in the role as a Catalyst in The Flash Job Campaign from June 1st - 15th. Throughout this project I will dedicate my blog to stories, FAQ's and tips & tricks, I might have,
out of the experiences in performing alone and accompanied with other catalysts
My first contribution is to publish the text I submitted in my application for the project. Among the eleven Catalysts and the two writers (from the Project "Open Dialogues") we agreed to share our application-texts, since this seems like a fair way to start our relationship.

DESCRIBE YOUR REASONS FOR APPLYING, AS WELL AS RELEVANT PAST EXPERIENCES (IF
ANY)

i like to participate in that project, to learn something about me, me in
social life and also the society i live in, and i like to meet and communicate
with people

After writing back to Kristin, telling that I like the direct and honest text
in the application, that we would like to accept her in the project, but that
she please write more specifically about her reasons and background for wanting
to take part, she wrote back the following:)

Hello Per,
thanks at first for the fast and positive response,there are different reasons
for me to participate.
This project includes lots of important issues for me,
Interactions with people on the street but also with teammates, to try to
connect people with each other and show them that a person is more then an
outfit
or that even in different cultures interacting is possible.
It is a chance for everybody to go over their prejudices and have a second look
on a person, try to trust in another one and support each other.
Another big issue is that I like people, and I know about the importance to
make them hope and believe in themselves.
I started to get some practical experiences in the age of 16, in a private
project with a friend of mine,. Children could ride horse in exchange for some
help on the farm
We was working with children age 7-14 , with very different pasts, and out of
that, specific behavior.
I learned to watch and to act careful, with patience, understanding and a lot
of explaining.
So they started to trust us and on this basis we could support them to learn to
trust themselves
A 3 month term internship in a mental hospital after finishing school and
2month term internship in a mental station in nursing school, made me more
aware of problems and consequences people can get by living in a society with
all their different moral and ethical laws, conformity and group pressure.
Through two years studying social psychology and education science, before I
went to nursing school, I get some theoretical background about social
behavior.
One of my special interests was the field of communication.
Out of that, the importance of being aware of verbal and non verbal
communication structures, and how often misunderstandings happen because of the
lack of time and unconsciousness.
I went to nursing school, and besides doing the typical nurse task, I talk a lot
with patients,
About their life, their individual situation,personal needs and hopes.
I saw a lot of people who only lived their life for something later or for
some one , who forget see the present with their possibilities and who really
forget to get a feeling for their own.
Living for one year abroad(Spain), and talking with people from different
countries shows me the importance to respect cultural differences to be able
to interact with each other.
It will be interesting for me to see if I am able to connect people,
if I can make people trust me to trust each other.
Is it possible to awake young peoples interest in this jobs, to promote the
idea, not only for money, also for their personal satisfaction, self believing
and motivation?!
I hope to learn a lot, get new view points and be more sensitive, for other
persons.
And I have hope, and strong believe that with a bit more awareness from
everybody and the volition to spent some energy in trying to understand each other,
people could participate, and people could get back hope and trust in
themselves and also in others, because this is what living in a society
means?!


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