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This week we get to know my subscriber Nadine, a hair stylist who recently moved to Philadelphia, PA from Bochum, Germany.

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Nadine discovered me a couple of months ago via various blogs and Google after the crafting bug hit her again. Her favourite movie is Tank Girl, her hero is Illamasqua creative director Alex Box, and her most treasured possessions are her hairdressing tools and pictures of her friends and family.

Colour: all of them, the more unusual the better (it's easier to say which one i dont like and thats brown)
Movie: tank girl
Band: nine inch nails
Food: sushi
Book: a discovery of witches -deborah harkness and everything thriller
Hero: alex box -
Possession:
App: whatsapp, perfect to stay in touch with people in germany -and skype, best thing ever invented
Website: facebook! how else to stay in touch, find new friends and find out about new companies, groups -and people like you!

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What did you want to be when you grew up?

Oh, that's a tough one. I always wanted to do something creative. I was into arts early on -creative writing, painting, sculpturing...when I was 15 I couldn't find the pants I wanted in any store, so I crocheted wine red 70s flared pants. Then I realised that making a living with art is pretty hard and wanted to focus on my more nerdy side and started studying Philosophy and German linguisitics -see the pattern? Still nothing to make money with and move out of my parents house and be independent (which was my biggest goal to achieve, I never had a good realtionship with my parents and the older I got the worse it became; the whole going to university thing already helped, but still wasn't enough). Let's be honest, not everyone can become a professor, not everyone can be the next Stephen King and there are enough artsy people trying to sell their paintings on flea markets for you to notice that you need immense potencial and a damned lot of luck if you persue a 'career' that depends on being the most amazing thing since sliced bread.

Then I realised that I could persue what I was already doing for ages -hair! I'm from a small town (Lünen, great for starting a family and having a nice backyard, no need to lock your doors, that type of deal) and there were no hairdressers doing anything 'unusual', integrating hair extensions to a bridal updo was already too 'weird'. I've always been different, interested in colorful hair, edgy styles, extremes, new things. So I started doing it myself pretty early on. I shaved my head and put a cow fleck pattern on it, I shaved a skull into a friend's back of the head, I bleached and dyed my hair all colors of the rainbow, I gave a friend a whole head of dreads and dyed them pink...That was something I imagined being able to do for 20 years or longer (that was my credo when it came to jobs -is it something you just like for the moment or can you imgine a career for years and years?), so that's what I set my mind on in the end!

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Where should we visit if we come to your town?

hey cat!
seems like your website doesnt like me at the moment, i cant even get the window to open, so i dont know your email addy or anything.
so i made an ALBUM in my facebook profile called simply ME, so you can pick pictures from there (and i realised i dont really have pics with just me in them besides photo shoot stuff or old pics in which i look stupid, but pick whatever you think works -the people in those pics are fine with being shown somewhere else and i'm fine with looking stupid *g*)
and answered the questions down here (i know i babble way too much and dont know if everything is grammatically and spellwise correct, so please feel free to correct and censor me!)-------------->

Name: Nadine Ryan

Location: as of recently -Philadelphia, PA, before that Bochum, Germany

Occupation: hair stylist but dont have a PA license yet

When / how did you find me: a couple of months ago when the crafting bug hit me again via different blogs and google

Quickfire (I'm so sorry, I babble a lot, feel free to censor!)

Colour: all of them, the more unusual the better (it's easier to say which one i dont like and thats brown)
Movie: tank girl
Band: nine inch nails
Food: sushi
Book: a discovery of witches -deborah harkness and everything thriller
Hero: alex box -illamasqua creative director
Possession: when we packed for the big move i realised i'm a pack rat *g* but i think it's my hairdressing tools and pictures of friends and family that i hold dearest
App: whatsapp, perfect to stay in touch with people in germany -and skype, best thing ever invented
Website: facebook! how else to stay in touch, find new friends and find out about new companies, groups -and people like you!

Interview

What did you want to be when you were younger and what would your dream job be today?

oh, that's a tough one. I always wanted to do something creative. I was into arts early on -creative writing, painting, sculpturing...when I was 15 I couldn't find the pants I wanted in any store, so I crocheted wine red 70s flared pants. Then I realised that making a living with art is pretty hard and wanted to focus on my more nerdy side and started studying Philosophy and German linguisitics -see the pattern? Still nothing to make money with and move out of my parents house and be independent (which was my biggest goal to achieve, I never had a good realtionship with my parents and the older I got the worse it became; the whole going to university thing already helped, but still wasn't enough). Let's be honest, not everyone can become a professor, not everyone can be the next Stephen King and there are enough artsy people trying to sell their paintings on flea markets for you to notice that you need immense potencial and a damned lot of luck if you persue a 'career' that depends on being the most amazing thing since sliced bread.
Then I realised that I could persue what I was already doing for ages -hair! I'm from a small town (Lünen, great for starting a family and having a nice backyard, no need to lock your doors, that type of deal) and there were no hairdressers doing anything 'unusual', integrating hair extensions to a bridal updo was already too 'weird'. I've always been different, interested in colorful hair, edgy styles, extremes, new things.
So I started doing it myself pretty early on. I shaved my head and put a cow fleck pattern on it, I shaved a skull into a friend's back of the head, I bleached and dyed my hair all colors of the rainbow, I gave a friend a whole head of dreads and dyed them pink...That was something I imagined being able to do for 20 years or longer (that was my credo when it came to jobs -is it something you just like for the moment or can you imgine a career for years and years?), so that's what I set my mind on in the end!

Where should we visit if we come to your town?

I just moved to Philadelphia a couple of months ago, so I dont really know much about the city besides the obvious liberty-bell-city-of-brotherly-love-stuff.
I'm from Germany and met my husband there at a festival, but he was from Philadelphia! After 2years of long distance relationship he moved to Germany for me (I had just started my apprenticeship at a great salon, so I couldn't just pack my things and go). We stayed for 6 more years until we made it to the states.

So if you ever find your way to Germany, don't go to Bavaria or Berlin,that's the most touristy thing to do (and too many Americans think Germany means bavarian Dirndl and Oktoberfest, it drives Germans crazy! That's like saying all Americans are like the Amish or have fake boobies and live in LA, it's notn true!).

I lived in Bochum in the west of Germany, the closest international airport is Düsseldorf. The Ruhr Area is a huge cluster of big cities, about an hour from the dutch border, 2hours to the Belgian border. When we go shopping we do 'city hopping', the public transport system is amazing, it takes 10min to the next big city, an hour to Cologne...

1. Go to Cologne, it's a very old and amazing city, lots of historical things to check out, a great gay community, TV studios, the river Rheine goes right through with nice cafes and clubs.
CSD there is always fun! Or you can go to 'Karneval', that's the German Mardi Gras with a big parade, everyone's wearing costumes, they throw candy from the floats, parties all over the city, in clubs, stadiums...

2. Münster. It's a university city with even more historical value. The 30year war ceased there, the peace treaty got signed, the archaeology museum is great (that city was founded by the romans!). It's amazing in winter when they have more than 6 christmas markets all over the city!

3. Bochum (of course!), it's one of those city that prospered through coal mining, most people have someone in their family who was a coal miner, we're very proud of our heritage.Bochum has a coal mining museum, you can even go underground and see the old tunnels and get married there!
Bochum Total in summer is great, it's a public festival right in Center city (they have 4 or 5 stages right on the main streets, no cars allowed in the area for 4 days), you can drink cocktails on the city, party, enjoy yummy food and listen to great music (and there are even big stars there!) -and it doesnt matter if you like hardcore, pop, rock, goth or country, like handmade things or poetry slams- everyone will find something enjoyable for their niche.
-Great clubs, too! Matrix is a big alternative club in the city, people from all over come there, they have 5 areas, a diner, up to 2500 people fit in there! I worked there for a while while studying at the university in Bochum (35,000 students!)

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Where do you look for inspiration?

I must say, I really enjoy the internet, I can always be up-to-date with trends from Tokyo, London, Stockholm...pinterest and bloglovin got me at the moment. Whatever you're interested in, you can find it. But I always looked around me for inspiration -people on the street, architecture, books...it can happen suddenly, a word, a picture and whaaam! I got a bee in my bonnet and have to find out everything I can about a phrase, a look, a crafting technique...at the moment that's crocheting amigurumis, US proverbs and South Philly slang, the hair and style of Kara Laricks (winner of Fashion Star) and how Neil Gaiman's idea of mythological gods living on earth with us spread all over urban fantasy literature (right now I'm reading Kevin Hearne's Iron druid series).

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What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

Don't try to be someone else, that won't make you happy. Don't do something just because it's expected, do it because it'll make you happy or because it's on your path to become happy. (which means don't keep your head in the clouds and also be realistic, you can't live off of a pie in the sky, don't give up your dreams, but stay focused.)
Best argument I've ever heard: "I'm not weird, I'm gifted!" Don't let them bully you, don't hate yourself for being different, just because they don't understand you now doesn't mean you have to give up everything you enjoy or believe in. You'll find friends, but it's not necessarily the kid living next door. Things I did back then are popular now and now I'm the one with experience, who'd have known!

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What would your three wishes be?

1. Start my career here in the states. It's tough being from another country having all this education but having to fight for being recognized here. But I'm on my way there, collecting all extra papers necessary to get my license, I have a portfolio that I keep on adding to. All I need is some crossed fingers and patience (I'm so impatient it'S ridiculous).
2. Lose my insecurity. I'm good when I know what I'm doing or what I'm getting into, but new situations always freak me out, I clam up, get nervous, do stupid mistakes, especially when the 'new people' are judgemental. I know it and I hate it and I'm working on it.
3.Learn and experience more. Having the opportunity (and that sadly includes money, for all of us) to explore the world, knowledge...without worrying about where the rent will come from or what happens if I get sick. And that way I can give back and I want to give back. But our worries sometimes push harder than our goodwill. If I remove the worry it opens up new possibillities.

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hairandcultureshock.blogspot.com
i just started and write about my journey here in the states and whenever things that seem weird to me.