Hey Steemit, a little bit about me / props to @afrog for getting me here!

Hey there Steemit community! Its good to finally find the time and the right mindspace to write something! Which to be honest has never really been a thing I do, or do lightly. As of late it's almost solely consisted of argumentative "Whatsapping" between me and the mother of my children or writing report cards for my students. So I'm gonna take this opportunity to spell some words out of a positive, more peaceful nature! Wohoo! 😃 Moving along--->

My face

About me:

My birth name is Jens, I was born in Helensville New Zealand 35 years ago in april 1982, the second of seven children. To free spirited parents. We lived in rural areas as well as several different suburban towns in NZ: Albany (on our grandmothers goat farm), Mairangi Bay (on a decommissioned vinyard) and in Devonport where my parents ran a small Café and I worked in on occasion. Devonport is where I grew up, had my first encounters with alcohol, drugs and woman. Where I molded the my taste for music. Where I really started being me.

Devonport from above Ⓡhttp://theflea.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/devonport

Life was peaceful, life was great. I spent alot of time in school, with my family (especially my brothers), with friends and with my girl. Early 1998 my mother was diagnosed with cancer. It came as a shocked to us all, and ultimately would change all of our lives forever. She was born and raised in Germany and my father was working in England at the time, so in March 1999 when I was 16 we left NZ. Our family moved to Mannheim, Germany, a small in industrial city (around 350,000 inhabitants) next to Ludwigshafen, a city that inhabits one of the worlds largest chemical companies BASF (quite the contrast from where I came form I may add). Into my Aunts place, a six room house inhabiting thirteen people = chaos! But it was beautiful, two families together. Love was abundant, joy was shared as were the meals. Then onwards into our own place, two flats in a suburb called Neckarau, one for me and the other the adolecent boys, one for the girls and my parents. This is where my mother died in 2003, due to the ramifications of the cancer in her then amputated breast. My father followed 5 years later, his heart was broken, to much was the burden of being a widower, of being betrayed, but thats a different story. Times have'nt been easy on whats left our family but at present they are happier, lighter and easier on us all. But we are orphans.

A foto I shot from behind the cities Coal Power Plant on the river Rhein (one can still capture beauty in amongst so much cement and coal, perspective I guess).

At the moment we all spend alot of time in our communal garden. Doing what free fun loving people do: drinking, smoking, singing, playing instruments, dancing to all sorts of music, taking a kanu ride up and down the river. We have a few animals there too, a cat, two dwarf sheep and about ten chickens. 🐺🐔🐑

I renovated a caravan: the swagon 😍

One of the suitcases I transformed into a batterie powered speaker system. Blue toothed sound blaster madness! They of course are now a staple in every garden session.

(fotos taken from my Instagram account Ⓡhttps://www.instagram.com/jons_magee/)

My children:
I had my first son in 2004 at the age of 22 an earnest, smart and rebellious little man. The pregnancy wasnt planned and has changed my life for the better ever since, even saved me. Becoming a father changed me, shook my foundations and made me want more from life, for the little being I had now made. My second son came to life in 2007 a joyful and playful young fella, to the same mother, out of love for each other at the time. They really could'nt be more different to one another!

In 2009 the mother of my children and I split up. She could'nt deal with the depressed uninvolved in family life person I had become at the time. Watching both my Parents slide away as they did, cost me alot. I spent alot of time out, scouring the night for distractions. Never wanting anyone else, just looking something to take my mind off the pain I felt, mostly alcohol and drugs. Instead of reeling me back in with love, she began hating me, which has'nt changed to the present.

My sons, a few months before their mother and I seperated.

I've been in and out of relationships, not really ever wanting anyone else to be around my kids, I guess I've always tried to shelter them from whatever. Also having difficulties letting go of the dream, a little wholesome family.

Now I spend half my time with my kids and half without, a model which hasn't been very easy. After eight years it's still strange when one day they are here and there is life in my appartment, the next day, there is only me. Through the current situation I guess I do have alot of freedoms not all parents share.

Moving forward in life, how I became a Teacher:
I finished a Carpenters apprenticeship in 2008, worked for 5 years in the profession, got fired, the best thing that ever happend. Had plenty of time to relax, 8 months of paid leave, thank you welfare system! I was sick of the industrial monotony the carpenters life has mutated into, so I decided to do something "out of the box". I started studying to be a Rudolf Steiner Woodwork teacher. BEST. DECISION. EVER. After a couple of years of studying I fell into the job Im doing now. Been here for three years now. Work is great, the kids love me and in turn I really enjoy working with them. The hours are a dream, I work max around twenty hours a week. With two and a half months of paid leave a year, there is little room to complain. Leaves me plenty of time with my own kids. Which is wonderful. Everyone I talk to about how much I work in comparison to what I earn, hates me 😃

I currently give lessons in:

Woodwork:

• in 6th grade we make wooden animals which the students carve themselves
• in 7th grade where we make a wooden bowl and spoon which the students also carve themselves with an array of different carving knives

Clay:

• in 10th grade we make abstract clay sculptures
• in 11th grade we make detailed clay heads

Metal work:

• in 9th grade I work in the smithy with the students making iron forks, knives, candle holders or a fire poker
• in 10th grade we make copper bowls

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Things I'm into:
Spending time with my boys - They are my best friends what more is there to say

Listening to, or making music - one of my most favorite pass times, relaxing and just listening or gathering some people and having a jam

Photography and Film - either shooting my own GIFs oder Pictures checking out other peoples creations or laying back and watching a good flick

Going out - Mannheim is small but the night life is vibrant, Heidelberg is close by, there are always plenty of people to meet and talk to around here, if you're in the right space!

Being with my family - after all that we've been through together, there are only a few things better than spending time twith the people you know the longest and the best!

Eating well - food is great, I bet you know that.

Staying fit and healthy - movement is important, keeps me feeling good inside and out!

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How I ended up starting here?:
My uncle was introduced to Steemit by my older brother around the end of last year. He has been delving deep into the Steemit world ever since. My uncle has also been giving out free advice to would be Steemians and has now held several "Steemit Seminars", the latest one I ended up visiting, out of curiosity (https://steemit.com/steemit/@afrog/2nd-streemit-snuffle). I found the thought of blogging and earning a bit on the side appealing. So, I guess, now I'm here.

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For the future:
I look forward to telling you stories out of my life, how I would like to transform the way I live, where I plan to be in the future and the things I make along the way when I have time! Perhaps even snippets out of my night life. We shall see how the feed back is and how this developes.

Language Problems and being new here:
I wrote and spoke english daily until I was 16, my mother tongue. Then I started german to the present day, thus my writing skills are not the best in either language, so bare with me, it will be hard to read at times! Plus being new here I have'nt yet adapted to the editing!
🙈🙉🙊

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Interested in the music I listen to? Check out my Spotify Account! Loads of Playlists for every mood or taste. I pride myself in having a broad taste in music.
https://open.spotify.com/user/1185245476

Check out my Instagram! Some funny fotos, things I make, and some entertaining GIFs (which I kinda have a fetish for)
https://www.instagram.com/jons_magee/

Its good to be here! ❤

It would be nice to see you at my next post! 👀

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