Winter in Berlin is grey, cold and gloomy. Reasons enough to celebrate the beginning of summer!
Since 1996 every year at Whitsun Berlin shows its cultural diversity. During the parade and the street festival, which lasts several days, you can experience the cultural fortune of the city.
Music, handcrafts and delicacies from all over the world are to discover!
-But why only enjoying other people’s talents? Why not contributing with your own knack?
If you walk over the green area, you see lots of people displaying their crafts. However, one of them especially caught my eye: Ben.
The young man who is originally from 
Bardolino had hung up a sign “the coolest cut” and was now waiting under a tree for brave people willing let him cut their hair. His vocation he has learned in France and only two months ago Ben came to Germany.
When I asked him how he came up with this business idea he stated:
“Last night I dreamed that I went to the festival, so the next day I got up in the morning and came here.”
Ben profits from the people’s geniality and openness at the festival. I was really surprised how many people spontaneously were willing to cut their hair.
As he did this action “not for profit but for fun”, as Ben assured,
he works as the whim takes him. When I asked him whether he would be there on Sunday as well, all he said was “maybe”.
So if you are courageous, adventurous and in need of a new hair cut,
you might find Ben under a tree in the “Rasen in Aktion” area.
Or even better: look for another tree and open up a one-day-business with your own skills!
Otherwise, enjoy the hustle and bustle at Carnival of Cultures!
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Great article, Stefochka!
You managed to display Carnival of Cultures just perfect as you started off with general and obvious information and then concentrating on one little aspect which amazed you. I really like that because it is about all the tiny things which make Carnival of Cultures to such a special event!
I also visited the event and was astonished by all the great things. Berlin with its multiculturalism is just wonderful!
And I also looked out for your hairdresser – he was still there on Sunday. 😉
Hey Stefochka!
What a great post! Since I wasn’t able to visit the Carnival of Cultures, I was really curious to read about your own experiences! I love how you focused on one particular event and actually presented a few insights on the hairdresser’s motivation – I especially liked that you directly communicated with him! Did you take the photos yourself? I think they are simply great!
Also, I really liked that you gave your post a frame by addressing the reader with the question “Why not contributing with your own knack?” in the beginning and then end your post with a call-out to everybody to get them to participate as well!
Your post got me really excited to experience Carnival of Cultures myself and I definitely won’t miss out on it next year!
Hello stefochka,
I always love reading your blog posts because you have a way of describing and explaining things with a personal style which makes it easy to read. This week you introduced a new innovative business: Ben’s coolest haircut!
You were able to put a lot of information into a relatively short text, something that is not easy at all times. I especially appreciate the fact that you asked him questions. We, the readers, were able to follow your experience of meeting him. The pictures you took are also really nice, you can definitely see the energy and positive vibes that were present this weekend.
Just one question: Is Ben actually a hairdresser? Or did he just spontaneously started cutting hair? That would be good to know!
Apart from that little question: great blog post! Keep it up.
PS: By the way I went to the Carnival too and guess who I saw sitting under a tree?
Thanks, Miss Panda for the enchanting comment! As stated above, “he has learned [his profession] in France”. He also had a whole hairdresser equipment so I think that he is trustworthy. However, he said that he did not own a shop here in Berlin.
Stefochka – if I hadn’t already gone to the Carnival yesterday, I would go now!
I love your posts, they are always witty and have the perfect length – not so long that you don’t even want to start reading, but long enough to give a great statement.
I think it’s a really good idea to not only explain what the carnival is, but to also give tips on how to participate.I will definitely keep that in mind for next year! I loved the fact that you used your own pictures because it makes your post look even ‘fresher’, like you were writing it from the carnival.
Really cool post is all that is left to say 🙂
Hey,
this is a really nice topic, I really enjoy going to carnival of cultures, which I do since 2 or 3 years (every year at least once)….unfortunately I did not contributed with own crafts but I was eating a lot of different things and I am always looking on all the stuff which is shown which I have not seen before…Yesterday at carnival I nearly agreed to make a henna tattoo all over my hands, but anyhow I changed my mind.
I like your post ! Probably you could have included some links of other extraordinary people with special talents but the blog is also without that nice to read !