2024-11-19 08:20:00
What do you eat for breakfast?
Oatmeal. But just yesterday I read in an interview with a nutritionist that they don’t do that well. I suppressed the reason: I want to continue eating them.
Where do you buy your clothes?
As far as fashion is concerned, things are more difficult in Germany than elsewhere; some collections don’t even reach us. German is more practical, less experimental and less devoted to beauty than other cultures. In this regard, I always travel around the world with my eyes open.
What is the oldest item of clothing in your closet?
My black wool sweater from Comme des Garçons. I’ve probably had it for 25 years.
When was the last time you wrote a letter by hand?
Yesterday I presented a postcard that I wrote on board a sailing boat on the Baltic Sea. With the chalk cliffs of Rügen as a motif, to the tea merchant I trust. But I couldn’t find any stamps anywhere, much less a slot to insert them. That’s why it’s personal.
What book has had the greatest impact on you in your life?
Hermann Hesse was definitely very important to me when I was young. And books like “The Alchemist” or “The Prophet”. Later the “Tao Te King”. More recently I was impressed by “We Drowned” by Carsten Jensen and “The Street” by Cormac McCarthy.
How do you stay informed about world events?
Through the newspaper on your cell phone. I prefer to read a longer background piece rather than snippets of short reports.
What’s your best topic for small talk?
In the Shogun remake, I cried when a character suddenly died. As tears streamed down my face, my head said: They can’t do this, it won’t work. The person I had spent weeks with was ripped from my life. It was brutal.
About many things. Probably most if there is body wiring caused by a banana peel or black ice. I also like to laugh at myself.
My daughter isn’t called Zoe for nothing. Otherwise I think Ishmael is beautiful. As a teenager, I once met a beautiful woman named Mandana. When I heard it, I thought: that’s the coolest name I’ve ever heard. But if you’re looking for a good name, all you have to do is flip through the Bible.
I like to nap. Then I always think that I am a lucky person: being able to slip into a clean bed in broad daylight is an immense gift.
I always enjoy being in Greece, I always enjoy being in Italy. I have also always loved New York and have often visited the Indian Ocean. I’m not ruling anything out categorically.
Because the heat is not his friend: my green tea.
What is your greatest talent?
My curiosity about people. This allows me to bring people together who otherwise wouldn’t have much to do with each other.
What do you do even if it’s unreasonable?
Some nights I drink too much alcohol. And while it’s delicious, sometimes I eat too much of it. Gluttony is clearly my mortal sin.
Which historical figure would you like to meet?
Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad.
Do you wear jewelry? And a watch?
A watch, otherwise no jewelry. As a teenager I looked like a Christmas tree: full of tinsel.
Forest floor after rain. I often seek out nature because I always feel better afterwards.
Unanswered. But I have been to Nepal three times in my life and every time I fell in love with the country and the people. In the peace and silence in the mountains, when the first red of dawn appears on the peaks. I once taught backgammon to a Nepalese man. Ten minutes later there were 15 people around us laughing their asses off as one kicked the other out.
What was the last concert you went to?
On the Lido stage there was the Berlin pub choir. He goes from bar to bar and sings a cappella songs from pop and rock culture.
What do you drink for dinner?
Yesterday at the restaurant a glass of chilled red wine, a Lagrein. That perfect glass at the end of the day. Afterwards I went home with a smile on my face.
How can I decorate my home simply while maintaining elegance?
L and decorations, but now I prefer simplicity. A watch helps me keep track of time while I enjoy the moments in life. Less is more, I believe.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Raising my daughter. Watching her grow into her own person, making her own choices, and navigating through life is incredibly fulfilling. Each milestone she reaches reminds me of the impact of nurturing and support.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
I would want to instill a deeper sense of empathy in everyone. If people could truly understand and feel what others go through, many conflicts and misunderstandings could be avoided.
What’s your favorite way to relax?
Sitting on my balcony with a good book and a cup of tea is my favorite way to unwind. The calmness of that moment, combined with a captivating story, transports me to another world.