{"id":12980,"date":"2019-06-24T08:16:46","date_gmt":"2019-06-24T06:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/?p=12980"},"modified":"2019-06-24T08:16:46","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T06:16:46","slug":"encounter-at-the-edge-the-soap-manufactory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/en\/begegnung-am-rande-die-seifenmanufaktur\/","title":{"rendered":"Encounter on the sidelines: the soap factory"},"content":{"rendered":"

It's often the little things and chance encounters that make life rich and special. In Berlin, there are a number of shop manufactories where the products sold at the front of the shop are made further back in the manufactory: Sweets, chocolate, biscuits, even clothes.<\/p>\n

I stumbled into one of these factories by chance today when, after orthodontic treatment, I decided to walk to the S-Bahn instead of taking the underground for one stop.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe discovery: Amba soap manufactory\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It smelled of delicious soap right outside the door, so I went into the Amba soap manufactory<\/a>although my need for soap is currently covered. Mr Rother, the owner, dressed in a red jacket to match his name, greeted me in a friendly manner.<\/p>\n

I asked for hair soap as I am tired of buying shampoo in plastic containers. I find the idea of using solid soap as shampoo appealing and my test soap will soon be used up.<\/p>\n

\u201eYou can wash your hair with any natural soap.<\/em>\" he explained to me. And added: \"There's just one problem: the alkaline saponins contained in soaps, which are needed to dissolve dirt from the hair, also dissolve limescale from the water. This then settles on the hair. It becomes brittle!\"<\/em><\/p>\n

That's right. I had already noticed this when I tried using special hair soap. He knew the remedy: \"That's no problem. Put two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a bowl of water and pour it over your hair. Then the limescale is gone.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n

I know from many years of household experience that you don't smell of vinegar as soon as your hair is dry. Vinegar only smells like vinegar when it's wet. \"And yes, what I always recommend is rubbing a little oil into the ends of your hair to keep it supple for a long time. I use olive oil mixed with essential oils.\"<\/p>\n

As my current hair soap is almost used up, I've treated myself to one of his bog soaps...and I'm looking forward to it.<\/p>\n

\"SoapSocial projects: College Curries<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the checkout I then discovered the\u00a0CollegeCurries.<\/a>\u00a0He told us enthusiastically: \"We were often in India and once a woman asked us if we would help her finance her daughter's studies. We didn't want to create any one-sided dependencies and asked if we could have her family's curry recipe in return and distribute it in Germany. We are now doing this for two students.<\/p>\n

Even though I've never cooked Indian food before, I now have a type of college curry in my household. I just had to have it. And the knowledge that I have roughly financed a day's study with it (the semester fees are around 1200 euros) gives me a nice feeling.<\/p>\n

I love that kind of thing. Small, manageable projects that benefit people directly. Like the saffron project or the fruit tree projects of Shelter<\/a> in Afghanistan, which I love and support. Or the mini-campaign for the Women's sports group in the Moria refugee camp in Lesbos<\/a>that I started.<\/p>\n

The encounter with Mr Rother and his Amba soap manufactory showed me once again that it is worth leaving the beaten track. Travelling<\/a> and you can also go exploring at home.<\/p>\n

You can find a little happiness in the midst of everyday life.<\/p>\n

If you would like to learn more about energy and joie de vivre from me, I invite you to my webinars on the subject.<\/p>\n

Just click on the links:<\/p>\n