I found out that they were putting on a play that was an adaptation of Joan of Ark and that the subject was women in war and how the military has affected their life.
What I didn't realize at the time was that it was basically your own story; I didn't figure that out until I saw the script with my words and my story. Obviously, I have never been in the military but I did grow up in a military family and through my Dad the military has always played a very big role in my life. One of the things that has always been a big part of my memories of my dad is how patriotic he was and that he always was so very proud of his country.
The play consists of 6 women, all from completely different backgrounds and all with different stories that are all equally fascinating. Some are sad, some are tragic and some are just bad-ass.
Now, if you know me you also know that I don't have a problem being center stage but that is usually because I am saying something funny or rude, but this is a whole other ballgame. This is personal and honest and to tell you the truth, it scares the hell out of me. I am going to be on the stage in front of 100 people trying not to pee my pants or forget my lines.
Sometimes, you get a prompt of what to do and you are supposed to just go with it and there are a few ladies who just go with it. They roll around on the floor and beat up rolls of fabric, kick a helmet across the room, lay on the floor and play dead.
I just sit there and think "How the f*** did I get here?" After a couple of days, I have come to realize that this is the creative process; this is where they get their ideas, and in the end, when everybody has gotten off the floor and taken pictures, scribbled stuff down in a hurry and are done whispering to each other, they suddenly have a story.
My world just got a whole lot bigger.
I learned how to march.
There is no way you can ever look stupid in front of theater people; there are no boundaries to ridiculousness.
I can sing in front of a group of people.
A Russian, Israeli, Turkish, German, American and a Kurd can be in a room together and get along famously.
Everyone has a story that is worth telling.
The play is called Kriegerinnen which means Warriors, and will be playing for a full year starting on the 12th of June in Mannheim.
See you soon,
Julia
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