The Napalm Girl

The photograph shows a flat scenery where only grass and small shrubs and bushes grow. Right through this flat wasteland runs a broad street and a small house can be seen in the background. The background is filled by an enormous wall of smoke, like the ones caused by huge explosions. In the foreground you can see 5 children, of which three seem to be crying, one completely naked, one dressed in a shirt and underpants, one dressed in what seems to be pyjamas, one dressed in a shirt and what seems to be either long, airy pants or a skirt and one smaller child apparently in just a shirt. Behind them, there are five American soldiers in full Vietnam war gear, seemingly completely unfazed by the suffering children as they do not seem to have any intention of intervening or helping them. The soldiers also do not expect any attacks as three of them carry their weapons at least partly concealed.

A Day in My Life

Yesterday was a typical, nice day of my life. I had to get up early, at seven o’clock, because Tuesday’s Russian class starts at 8:15. I usually don’t like having to get up that early, but at least I got to enjoy a beautiful sunrise from my balcony. After my usual breakfast – cornflakes with milk and a glass of fruit juice – and my usual morning hygiene I went on my way to the university. I sat through a Russian and an English lesson, and then it was time for my lunch break. After grabbing a sandwich and a fruit smoothie from a nearby shop, I returned to do some of my Russian homework together with a group of fellow students. I had hardly completed half of my tasks when the next Russian lesson started, followed by a somewhat tiring Spanish lesson. When the clock finally showed 16:45 I was starving. I went to my good friend Simon’s place where we made lasagna. To be perfectly honest, he made it while I grated the cheese, but it turned out deliciously. In fact, we made so much I’ll be eating it for the next two days. When we had finished our meal we did some more of our Russian homework and then I went on my way home. In the tram I met an old flat mate of mine who had spent half a year in Peru and had just returned to Graz. We had a quick catch-up chat before we had to separate at Jakominiplatz, as we were going in different directions, but promised to keep in touch. At home, I stacked two to three servings of lasagna into the fridge and called my love. After my conversation with him (mainly about our weekend-plans), I tried to finish the book I’m currently reading, but a few chapters before the end I dozed off.