Lea Naumann

‘I was born in Bremen and grew up in the Black Forest. Then I studied nursing, first in Freiburg before moving to Berlin and finishing my studies. For almost two years I worked on an ICU (department that provides intensive care medicine), but I quit my job this year and became a freelancer. Now I do modelling, influencing, promotions,’ Lea smiled widely, exposing her full set of white teeth. I smiled back.

‘Why did you want to study nursing?’
‘I wanted a safe job and I always liked working with people.’

‘What did you like most about nursing as a job?’
‘Most of the patients are elderly people, they have the wisdom, I’m thankful for that. One emigrant told me that Germans are cowardly, they get settled into a proper job, find a safe home, and they don’t want to change anything, but change brings you joy and makes life interesting. Sometimes you just have to do things, to try them out. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s a view that’s really stuck in my head and it’s like a mantra for me today.’

‘Why did you become a freelancer?’
‘I like being in front of a camera and find myself inspired by all the process of shooting. Do you mind if smoke a cigarette?’ She gently retrieved from her purse the pack of cigarettes. ‘No, go ahead.’ I replied. She lit her cigarette and looked me in the eye.

It was end of August 2020, my second time in Berlin. We were sitting at the table in a nice, big and bright room, part of an old apartment I had rented in Kreuzberg.

‘Who or what do you appreciate most in your life?’ I asked.
‘That I’m living my dream,’ she replied, laughing.

‘Is there something that you hate?’
‘Yes, when people can’t be friendly.’

‘What is your philosophy?’
‘There is no way to happiness, happiness is a way.’

‘What do you like most about yourself?’
‘That I am honest, I know what I want and I’m always helpful to people.’

‘What do you need to feel happy?’
‘Being healthy, not hungry, and having a lot of sunshine.’

‘If you can choose a superpower, what would it be?’
‘To heal sickness.’

I marked the word ‘heal’ and thought of the watermelon, sitting in my fridge. ‘Would you like to eat watermelon?’ I asked.
‘Yes! I love watermelons a lot!’ she replied happily.

We were eating watermelon together, sometimes looking at each other.

‘Why do you trust me to make your tattoo?’
‘Actually, I don’t trust you one hundred per cent’
‘Why then did you agree to take part in my project?’
‘Why not? ’Then she grinned, placing her salmon tinted tongue onto those gorgeous white teeth.

_{«СМЕХ ПРОДЛЕВАЕТ ЖИЗНЬ» is a Russian saying, translates as “LAUGHING PROLONGS LIFE“.}