The Nightshift (Part 1)
A few weeks ago, at the friday of the transeuropa festival, the nightshift sent its participants to places and shows all over Hildesheim. Here is the conversation between myself and the moon facilitator, who provided the instructions of the locations and activities.
My friend and I decided to start the nightshift together. In a spectacular countdown we sent our first message to the moon facilitator.
nadiah riebensahm:start night shift
moon facilitator:night is not about me, it is about you. Therefor we will start right now. Just send "Go" to get your personal starting point.
nr:go
mf:Welcome to your night shift. I am the moon facilitator, your personal escort for this night. It is a pleasure for me to guide you. But First I would recommend you to go to Felix Roeben. Look at your map and search for the marked spot. Ready for take off?
Well so much for going on our nightshift together, my friend and I are sent to different satellite stations.
It takes me quite a while to exactly locate where I am supposed to go. I walk up and down the Bahnhofsallee until I find a sticker with a code to send to the moon facilitator:
nr:Timegoesby
mf: Here is one of the questions from the moon facilitators future work guide: Can your robot co-worker be your best friend?
nr: Yes
Obviously.
I open a small wooden door, which leads me to a backyard. I follow the small tile path through a seemingly abandoned garden where I find a film showing room. A few people are sitting and watching. I am disappointed from the lack of action at this satellite station.
I search my nightshift-guide for information on what to do in a bored situation:
nr: need quest
mf: I need your mood to analyze which quest is going to be the best for you. Choose "tired", "energetic", "excited", "ok" or "helpful".
nr: Energetic
mf: Like my mother always said "When you have too much energy you should go to the playground." Maybe you should follow my mothers advice. Send „Play Time“
nr: PlayTime
mf: Look at your map and search for a place marked with an X. There is a Playground. If there are people playing send "ChildsPlay", if not send „Playground“
Moving past the audience, I search my map for the playground which is marked at the Marienfriedhof. The park at night is a park at night. A group of approximately 20 teenagers sits in a circle and sings wonderwall, they ask me what I am doing so late at night alone in a park and they offer me to sing with them. I tell them that I am on a quest and am looking for the playground. They direct me there; when I see that it is empty I write to my moon facilitator
nr: Playground
mf: Do you see the slide? Carpe that fucking momentum and get on top by climbing up on it! Do not let the others drag you down. When you are done applaud yourself and send "OnTop".
No one is dragging me down, I am more excited than ever and feel like I’m in a computer game.
nr: Ontop
mf: On top the air is thin. Slide down. Take a deep breath. Step on the seesaw. Close your eyes. Try to balance yourself. Send "PerfectBalance"
Gleefully I do exactly what my moon facilitator tells me to do.
nr: perfectbalance
mf: From this point nothing can throw you off your course. Not even the swinging caroussel. You are well prepared to find your achievemt underneath the slide.
Blimey, there is actually a code beneath the slide.
nr: Warmup
mf: Darkness favors secret dealings. Find yourself at least 3 accomplices. For your next quest you need at least 2 1Euro coins. Look at your map and search for a place marked with a square. Go there all together. Follow the arrows at the fassade of the Arneken Galerie to the next code.
I hop towards the festival center and find an accomplice. I tell her about my quest and ask her to come with me. We assure ourselves of having two one Euro coins and wonder if we will be able to find another two accomplices. We don’t. So we decide that whatever we are doing, we’ll be able to do as we are now.
We take a small walk to the Arneken Galerie and have a chat. I am better than ever at smalltalk because we have a mission.
At the Arneken Galerie we find arrows, which must have been placed there by the moon facilitator. We follow them and find an other code.
nr: Whatgoesaround
mf: Follow the gateway up to the top floor. Enjoy your freedom and explore the roof. When you find the shopping carts send "LetTheGamesBegin".
We do as we are told. The car park ramp leads through severel storeys. A car comes towards us and we are made aware of the fact that the nightshift isn’t the only thing going on in this town at this time.
On top of the roof we are stunned by the view. At this point I recommend everyone to go there when they have a chance and look at this beautiful city that is Hildesheim.
We find the shopping carts.
nr: Letthegamesbegin
mf: Build teams of 2 accomplices each and start a shopping cart race. Find your own start and finish line. If your team wins send "winner". If your team loses send "loser".
Two twenty somethings at the top of a shopping center recommended to do a shopping cart race. The predictability of this situation isn’t clear to us. We debate whether or not we want to fulfill this quest. But what other chance will we ever have to do this? There is no one else on the roof, so we take our coins and begin the race.
nr: Winner
mf: Congratulations. You were succesfull. You earned a session at the Wooden Sauna.
My accomplice and I are seperated. They are asked to look for a code in the staircase and I’m sent back down the ramp. We hug each other and I’m glad for this special experience I was able to share with a stranger.
mf: Hey, do you want to win 100 Euros? Just take a picture of a mascot you meet and send to +4917656849282 via Telegram, Whatsapp or MMS. The winner will be announced at the end of the NIGHT SHIFT. Dont forget to send your name.
Spam. But I do want to win 100 Euros.
On the way to the sauna I meet the friend, whom I started the nightshift with. I want to get to the sauna and she is on a different quest. Hugging is a big part of my nightshift experience.
As I arrive at the sauna I find two friends hosting it. They offer me snacks and lemon water, which I gladfully except. They also offer me to visit the sauna, but it is early in the night and I am caucious of getting too tired while there are still adventures and quests waiting for me.
I find a code beneath the lemon water:
nr: Sweatout
mf: Do you want to see, where the real party is going? Look at your map and search for the KuFa. At the fassade you will find the next code.
I rarely ever go to parties but tonight the moon facilitator is guiding me. And I trust him, for all the fun he has already brought me.
The fassade of the KuFa is covered in ivy. On a pole beneath some leaves, the moon facilitator hid the code I was supposed to find.
nr: Iseetheparty
mf: Check out if there are people standing in front of the building. If yes send "TakingABreak". If no send "EveryoneIsPartying".
nr: Takingabreak
mf: Make use of your social skills. You can not get your next code alone. Choose someone of the party people to be your assistent. Tell him/her to go back to the party and to order a non existing cocktail at the cocktail bar. Wait outside. If it does not work send "EveryoneIsPartying".
No one understands that I am on a quest and I can’t find help.
nr: Everyoneispartying
mf: Shit happens! Snap out of it! HI-Town Soul is waiting for you. With your moon facilitator map your fee for the party is 1.50 Euros.
What a bargain! At the party I see many familiar faces, but am eager to fulfill my quest. At the cocktaill bar I order a “sinking flamingo”. Conspiratorially the bartender winks at me and lifts her cutting board after removing a few limes.
Beneath a code is revealed:
nr: Greatjob
mf: Great Job, you found a nocturnal buddy. Take your assistent and share one free drink with him/her at the Brueckenstuebchen. Show this message to the barkeeper.
The moon facilitator is confused. But why wouldn’t he be. I bet I am not the only one he is guiding through the night.
At the Brueckenstuebchen I get a coke for myself. No nocturnal buddy to share it with. I take a seat next to a couple of my fellow students. They are playing darts. A game I despise for it’s undeniable danger. I look around, at the all I see a code my moon facilitator has placed for me:
nr: Businessasusual
mf: Merge with the afterwork-landscape by playing darts.
Not happening
nr: Needquest
mf: I need your mood to analyze which quest is going to be the best for you. Choose "tired", "energetic", "excited", "ok" or "helpful".
nr: Excited
mf: Like my mother always said "When you are excited you should sing a song." Maybe you should follow my mothers advice and go to the karaoke bar and do that.
So I do that.
I leave the bar and find fellow nighshifters outside. They are in a group of four and for fear of not being able to experience everything thay are following the map rather than their moon facilitator. I don’t understand their unloyal behavior.
On the way to the karaoke bar I finally get to meet one of the mascots, that might just help me win 100€. I tackle it and force it to take a selfie.
I arrive at the festival center, where I visit the karaoke bar, which is surprisingly empty. Nonetheless the those who are singing are in an amazing mood and glitter gear.
I chose to sing Friday I’m in Love and it is really boring. I roam the premises to find new codes from my moon facilitator. In the café, hidden behind a table leg there is a new sticker:
nr: Annoyed
mf: It is a hard knock life. When you are annoyed of something during the night send "AnnoyedNow".
nr: Annoyednow
mf: Go outside. Find an empty space and smash something.
I’m really not into vandalism that much, so I break a stick in the yard.
mf: Find your wild side: Take your keys out of your pocket and shake them beneath your ear. Then strike them on the ground. Repeat those actions until you play the rhythm of your favourite song. I would like you to found a band.
Nah, that’s really awkward.
nr: Needquest
mf: I need your mood to analyze which quest is going to be the best for you. Choose "tired", "energetic", "excited", "ok" or "helpful".
nr: Ok
mf: OK
okay.
nr: needquest
mf: I need your mood to analyze which quest is going to be the best for you. Choose "tired", "energetic", "excited", "ok" or "helpful".
nr:excited
mf: Like my mother always sad "When you are excited you should sing a song." Maybe you should follow my mothers advice and go to the karaoke bar and do that.
Not again. Come on Moon facilitator, keep me entertained! Reveal your stickers, that are hidden throughout the festival center.
nr: Hardwork
mf: Getting ready for the night and staying pretty is hard work. Go to the Make Up Saloon in the Festival Center. There you will find professionals who will help you to accomplish your perfect look. This service is provided to you by our partner the IJGD.
I found my look for 2015
At the exit I find to codes.
nr: Superstar
mf: You look amazing! Go to the karaoke bar and show everyone that you look like a star while you sing a song.
This one sounds more promising:
nr: Givemethefood
mf: Your look is amazing! You are ready for dinner now. Look at your map and search for the Roof Kitchen. Go there and show the selfie you just took. This service is provided to you by our partner the IJGD.
At the roof party I run a parcour through dangling veggies and am rewarded with a big warm bowl of soup. Just the right snack for this rainy night. I hang out with a couple of people there, explain what kind of mission I am on and tell them all about my moon facilitator and what kind of fun he has already brought me this night.
Given the comfy couch and nice people, I decide to take a break and hang out for a while.
to be continued...










