Part 1: Germany

Once upon a time, there was a little princess called Cleopatra. She was a very pretty girl with long, blonde hair, big blue eyes and a nice appearance. However, she did not want to be a princess, as she hated to behave like royalty. She disliked the fancy dresses, her obligations as a princess and small talk with guests. To make it short: she does want to behave well mannered.

Her favourite hobby was skating. She loved graffiti, the speed in the half-pipe, she loved to wear baggy pants and wear her hair in a skate-style manner. But her father said that she would be Queen one day, no matter what she does, likes or dislikes. So she should put up with this fact and forget about her unsuitable hobby.

So, on a sunny morning one day, she left her parents’ castle through a secret door and met her best mate Emily outside the castle walls. Emily’s parents are busy working for the King and the Queen in the castle’s kitchen and so Emily has often been left on her own – especially in the mornings, when there is much hustle and bustle in the kitchen.

“Quick, quick, Em, we have to hurry up before my parents realize that I am gone“, Cleo whispered.  “Sure, Cleo, let’s go. The half pipe won’t be so crowded at this time of the day! Everybody else is will be at school!“

They took their boards and skated to the ramps nearby, a place where teenagers from the village often meet in the afternoon. There was a new ramp, just built the other day, and they are longing to try out some new jumps. But having arrived there, Cleo started to get frightened. “Wow, this ramp is quite high, it seem to e difficult, not to say dangerous for me“. However, she did not allow herself much time for reflections, so she started to skate down.  Having managed nearly half way down, the board suddenly began to shake beneath her feed and she started slipping. Suddenly she fell from the board with a cry, closed her eyes and expected to land with a severe impact.... But nothing painful happened. Instead, when she opened her eyes, she looked into the blue eyes of a very smart, dark-haired boys wearing the latest baggy pants and skater jumper who - all of a sudden - seemed to come out of nothing to safe her from great harm. Than suddenly: “Princess Cleopatra...!! What are you doing here?“ Cleo turned round to see in the angry faces of her parents. „For a thousand times we have told you not to go to this inappropriate place“, her father shouted in anger. “And you Emily!“ her mother continued, “I would have expected more reason from you! Today is school day and you are both supposed to work for your future. You, Cleopatra, as a princess and the forthcoming Queen of our beloved country, and you, Emily, as the major housemaid of Cleopatra one day.“ [...]