A private look behind the scenes

There are many experiences that influenced my personal development - here is a small excerpt.

For example, I spent a few months for a shipowner as an “au pair” in Johannesburg, South Africa. During my studies, the root of a front tooth became inflamed and was treated using traditional methods by Philipp Mhlangu, a Zulu witch doctor by bewitching the tooth. Unfortunately this was not successful. The dentist at the Lister Clinic in Johannesburg had a more professional and effective remedy and the tooth was luckily saved.

Or the story of when I was on board a container ship of my host in Johannesburg sailing from Durban around the Cape of Good Hope but then the ship didn’t get entry permission into Cape Towns’ port because no pilot was available for hours. This enabled me to enjoy a breath taking view of from the sea of a spectacular sunset followed by fireworks display against the backdrop of the city and Table Mountain.

I also vividly remember the weeks in the jungles of Costa Rica that I was allowed to spend there with friends at the invitation of the Costa Rican Foreign Minister when our expedition jeep due to pure carelessness almost got lost in the Pacific waves - and we with it. With the combined strength and support of the locals, we were able to get the car and us to safety

Another memorable night time experience was spent with a good friend in the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Tuscany where we were able to witness the midnight "Prova notturna" to the Palio di Siena: the horses gallop around the piazza without riders. One of the horses galloping wildly crashed and died without any help in time.

But the most memorable experience, shortly after the wedding with my wife, was the birth of our son. Also, accompanying my dying mother into the other world was also a very important - and touching experience.

What this curriculum vitae made Rufus Steinkrauss into: