My first year at university has almost passed…

Hey guys! This will be my last post for this semester. I know, you hear this almost every day, but isn’t time passing too fast? When I was younger I swore to myself that I would never sound like my grandmother and only a few years later, I already do J

Honestly, I didn’t know anything of what I would get myself into. I didn’t have the slightest idea of what the study I’d chosen would be like. I didn’t even know where the right rooms were. Nothing.
Everything was so strange at the beginning.

Although I thought I would need months to get into my new rhythm of life, in the end I got used to it surprisingly fast. I think this is because of the way the students at particularly my faculty are. As we are studying translation, we are in touch with very different people, from different cultural background. But we have one thing in common, namely being open-minded and tolerant towards others. Moreover, the cooperation between students and teachers is the complete opposite of what I remember from school. In school, I often had the feeling that the teachers were not really enthusiastic about being able to teach something new to students. Unfortunately, there was neither encouragement, nor enthusiasm in class many times. At university, teacher and students work together and I have the feeling of learning something that really makes sense and I can take advantage of.

In only 9 months, I have the feeling of having taken huge steps. I’ve learned so many interesting things that I will never forget. We’ve covered such a great variety of topics and each of them called my attention, no matter if it was about history or cultural stuff. There were uncountable aha moments in comparison to school that I’ve even enjoyed studying for my exams ;-) This makes studying in my faculty something very fulfilling. By the time, it has also got easier to cope with a great amount of stuff to study, for example vocab. Although I’ve had my ups and downs, I would say that I am a motivated student.

I’m really glad of having chosen this study. Although they’ve said that next year is going to be very hard, I’m eager to take more challenges in the upcoming semesters in order to keep studying what I’m passionate about and to continue expanding my horizon.

Let's hear it for the 60's!

Hey!

What comes to your mind when you hear the words 1960’s? Two things I immediately have to think of are revolution and voice. These two meaningful words indicate that in those 10 years several significant events occurred that changed the life of many people.

Imagine one day in the 1950’s. Women, dependent on their husbands, are in front of the stove waiting for their children to home. Men are at work to bring home the money. Life is led stiffly because of stringent rules you seemingly cannot change or escape. Blacks suffer racial discrimination on a daily basis (->Jim Crow). The Vietnam War starts. War again. It seems like the world got stuck in something that can’t be changed for many upcoming years. But then, the 60’s began and the world became completely different.

It seems like the calmer the 50’s were, the louder the generation of the 60’s became. It seems like people were tired of waking up every morning knowing that the world could be a much better one but no one was strong enough to alter the situation. Consequently, numerous movements emerged and finally started claiming for changes. No more war but more rights and equality for everyone. The movements appealed to people’s emotions and reason. Martin Luther King is most likely the most famous person that paid his contributions to the achievement of equal rights for Blacks. For years, he raised his voice and encouraged others to follow him. At the Woodstock Festival, Jimi Hendrix opted for something similar, namely peace and love on earth, supported by around half a million hippies. (Particularly young) people started to see that there is no point in war. And thankfully, vast parts of the population listened and used their common sense in order to improve the quality of life to many.

There was also a movement that required equal rights for women so family life was also about to be changed. First and foremost, people asked for equal rights at working places that were actually accepted by the government. Secondly, the pill was introduced. Consequently, there were less unwanted pregnancies that allowed women to be more independent. Besides, the birth rate plunged dramatically and marked the end of the baby boom- generation. The invention of the mini skirt, designed by Mary Quant, was both a sign of freedom as well as a trend that has lasted until today.

These are just a few aspects of what has changed in the 60’s but these changed were of great importance, if you ask me. What a feeling it must have been, realizing that finally civilians raised their voice and shouted out loud to end- or at least reduce- injustice and inequality.
Let’s hear it for the 60’s!

Culture Days

Hi everybody!
The end of this semester is already very near which means our great final exam will be soon. One thing I really appreciate about this upcoming exam is that we are allowed to choose from a wide range of topics. These topics cover different parts of the culture our teachers belong to, namely Irish and US-American culture. As my teacher is Irish, I will be talking about her culture in the exam.
Past Monday and Tuesday, Culture Days, as we call them, took place in my university. I was fascinated by the topics the students had come up with and it took me some time to decide which 5 I want to talk about in my exam.

Health problems of the Irish Travellers
The first topic I’ve chosen, is Health Problems of the Irish Travellers. Admittedly, I’ve never heard of the Irish Travellers in my life before past Tuesday. As I’ve been to Spain, I do know the gypsies from there, but I wasn’t even aware of the fact that there are such communities in Ireland as well, so I was very interested in what Nina Nöst was going to talk about. And I was stunned. How is it possible that in such modern countries as in Europe, that provide a proportionally high standard of living, there are still groups that have limited- or no- access to health services? They suffer a variety of different diseases, some more some less dangerous but in any case they could be cured with some improvements, for instance primary care.  

David Norris Contribution to the LGBT
My second topic is about David Norris, a seemingly charismatic person that paid his contributions to the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community, LGBT. According to Kathi Luttenberger, the presenter, it must have been a very exhausting and partly hopeless process until finally reaching some more rights for homosexuals. For me, it isn’t understandable that people are still judged because of their sexual orientation and are excluded from society and discriminated against. Thankfully, there are personalities like David Norris who fight for the situation to get better for these groups.

The Vikings in Ireland
As I was truly a fan of Vicky the Viking, this topic immediately called my attention. During the presentation of Verena Roßmann, I was comparing the series to how the Vikings actually were. Of course, in the series some things don’t match with reality but sometimes I could see the similarities. The presentation was very interesting as it gave much information that was completely new to me and because it broke some stereotypes such as the Vikings being just evil and brutal plunderers. Moreover, it was surprising that the woman played such an important role for them.

Belfast- a city still split by the Troubles
Although the Troubles are long ago, the impact is still omnipresent in today’s society in Belfast. It is known that the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants came to an end when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. That there are still conflicts, however, is widely forgotten. It is of great importance to make several further improvements to actually spread long-lasting peace which allows removing of the so-called peace walls.

Is Irish a dying language?

As I am passionate about languages, I chose the presentation of Nina Mikusch for my oral exam. I was surprised by the fact that such a low amount of people can actually understand and speak Gaeilge, as the Irish call it. Nina told us some very interesting stuff about history and how difficult it was for the language to survive. She emphasised what a shame it would be, if Irish died in the future and I completely agree with her. Gaeilge is a language that has carried so much history that the Irish really should keep it alive. 

I love places that make you realize how tiny you and your problems are.

Hey guys!
I am sure you know this feeling of realizing how tiny you and your problems are, and isn’t it incomparably incredible?  I can remember having this feeling, especially when I was somewhere far away from home. Mostly, I was with someone very close which made the moment even more special. Here are four places that allowed me to forget how tiny I and my problems actually are.

Cornwall coast, England
In 2005, I was there with my parents and my little sister. Being on holiday with them is one of the greatest things anyway. But one windy day we went to a remote part of the coast that was only 15 minutes from our accommodation. As we came there, we realized that the tide was unusually high. Because of the waves splashing against the cliff we were standing on, we could feel tiny drops of water in our faces. It was exhilarating standing in the wind feeling the strength of the Atlantic Ocean.

Scala dei Turchi, Italy
I was there in August last year, with the « girls » of our family- my sister and cousin, my mother and my aunt. It was the first time we went on holiday only the 5 of us and I had a very good time. The first memory that comes to my mind is the trip to the Scala de Turchi, the Turkish Stairs, in Sicily. These “stairs” are basically stones that actually look like stairs and are up to 100 metres high. One extraordinary thing though was they were white! I didn’t even know that such thing exists, which is why I was amazed by it. We were strolling around there being fascinated by that beautiful landscape. I can truly recommend this place to those of you who are into extraordinary stuff.

Elafonissi, Greece
This is a very special place. If I hadn’t known it better, I would have thought my parents took me to the Caribbean Sea. I’ve never seen such clear, light blue water in combination with almost white sand. We arrived there early in the morning so five kilometres of paradise-like beach was ours! It was like a lagoon with numerous small islands spread over the entire bay. I think we were strolling around for hours and we couldn’t get enough of this natural beauty.

Grüner See, Austria
Grüner See means green lake in English and this is what it actually is. Styria, a province of Austria, has loads of unspoiled nature to offer. This is what people appreciate so much about it. The Grüner See though, is one of the highlights and it even scored best in a survey of a local newspaper that asked its readers which place of this province is worth visiting the most. Unfortunately, I’ve only been there twice but I can tell you that this place is amazing! After walking in the forest for a while, you arrive at the lake in the middle of firs and mountains. The colour of the lake is extraordinary as it is actually green because of the green algae. Yes, it sounds a little disgusting but it is possible to swim in it though. However, I think you wouldn’t do it because the temperature hardly is above 8° :)  

You've certainly been to places like these that just make you feel stunned and breathless. Which ones are your favorite ones? Can you recommend places to go if you want to forget your problem for a while? I'm looking foward reading you comments! 

Life is good when...

... you wake up and know that it's going to be a good day.
... you go to sleep and feel like having accomplished all you've planned for the day.
... you expend your horizon.
... you spend some great hours with your friends and your family.
... you make somebody smile.
... it's Summer.
... you think about how blessed you are to have every opportunity in life.
... you eat shushi.
... you think about nothing and listen to the birds singing.
... you can give some good advice to help somebody out.
... you have cooked the best meal ever.
... you do others a favour.
... they do you a favour.
... you know that your sister/brother trusts you.
... you have tidied your room and then drop into your freshly-made bed.
... you spend some time outdoors.
... you do sport and especially after you've done it.
... you live in a peaceful country where you feel safe.
... you have a good time abroad.
... you develop.
... you experience something new which makes you understand the world a little better.
... you discover a passion for something that you would have never expected.
... you are healthy.
... you surprise yourself.
... you have everything you need.
... you think about how good life is.
... you feel comfortable in your body.
... you feel like being capable of doing something that makes sense.
... you pass an exam.
... something makes you laugh.
... everything goes for you.
... you love somebody.
... somebody loves you. 
... you have the best family in the world.
... you run.
... you listen to some good music.
... you live abroad.
... you discover new abilities of yourself.
... you lie under the sun.
... you walk home from a long night, the sun is rising and nobody is on the street.
... you relax after an exhausting day.
... you can talk something off your chest.
... it's Friday.
... you have fascinating conversations.
... someone picks you up from the airport or the train station when you come home.
... you learn something new.
... you meet new people.
... after a long Winter, Spring finally arrives.
... you can be proud of youself.
... you know you are not the only one who is struggling sometimes.
... you dance.
... you learn a foreign language.
... you feel  like a child at times.
... you ride your bicycle.
... you relax under the sun.
... you can feel the crunchy snow under your feet.
... you are happy.
... you swim in the sea.
... you fly on an airplane.
... you look in the mirror and think "Today, I look good!"
... you have proved yourself that you can do it.
... you make friends.
... you know that you can rely on your friends.
... a child is born.
... you have a unexpected phone call from a friend.
... you eat your favorite dish.
... you sing and do stupid things.
... you have a good read.
... you play basketball.
... you watch a good movie.
... something unexpected happens that turns your boring day into one of your best.
... you can still be a child at times.
... you make use of your talents.
... you make the right decision.
... you take a bath.
... you know what you want.
... you achieve your goals set.
... you see dolphins in nature.
... you know you can rely on somebody.
... you are in the Buschenschank (see in one of my older posts)
... you are able to do what you want.
.. .you stroll around in the city.
... you have an ice cream.
... you have a job.
... you watch the sunrise/ sunset.
... you make the most if it.
... you are on holiday.
... you are outdoors and physically active.
... you have a good glass of ron.
... you dance salsa.
... you appreciate mental and physical health.
... you're walking on the beach and you feel the sand between your toes.
... you munch a good piece of Spanish tortilla.
... you travel to new places.
... you laugh.
... you do sports.
... you have bought new shoes. (Let's be honest, girls :))
... you have a pet.
... you see the good things on earth.
... you use your time for something that makes sense.
... you enjoy the little things in life.
... you are at home watching a thunderstorm.
... you drink a banana smoothie.
... you do snowboarding.
... you laugh about things that actually aren't even funny just because you have a good day.
... you achieve something you've worked for a long time and you've put much effort in it.
... you have a cup of hot chocolate.
... you meet the entire family.
... you've done some sports.
... you have a lie-in at the weekend.
... you go out after a long time studying.

I've spend some days thinking about what makes life a good one, and these are the things that came to my mind.
I know, this blogpost seems as if it wasn't the most substential one I've ever written, but certainly the most personal one. This list is about my attitude of "life being good", but I just felt like sharing my thoughts with you and maybe to emphasise that particularly little things make a life a good one. Yes, we all now this, but still this is often forgotten because of our everyday stress we have to cope with and bad news that put a constant strain on us, starting with reading the newspaper in the morning. So let's enjoy your lifes and make the best of it.. Start now :-)

The early Bird catches the Worm

Goood morning!

You might ask yourself why I am wirting that early in the morning. Well, I just feel like today is going to be a very good day. As I didn't do any sports yesterday I and I spent most of my day sitting in front of my laptop, I felt really uncomfortable in the evening. So, I planned to go jogging at 6.30 a.m. today. Yes, it is really very early and I was actually doubting whether I would be actually up and about at this hour but I gave it a go. And I did it! Now I feel absolutely amazing and ready to go. Last week I was jogging for the first time this early in the morning because I knew that once I am studying and concentrating, I won't leave the house. So, if I do some sports as early as possible, I can spend the rest of the day studying with an easy mind. The phrase The early Bird catches the Worm doesn't exist without reason :)

I think I've discovered my passion for running early in the morning. Only a few people are outside, you are listening to some great music and the city is yours! I don't say I have no difficulty motivating myself go get up and start running immediately. On the other hand, once I lose myself in the rhythm of my music and my circulation gets going, I feel incredible and strong. Indeed, I feel like nothing can stop me and as if I could run forever.

I think I am lucky to have a forest and loads of parks on my doorstep. There is nothing that bores me more than running along a seemingly endless street with cars passing by. This is so repetitive and predictable, which is why you can only find me running in the forest. You may think that a forest can't be a lot more exciting than the streets, but it really is. In a forest, there is always something different or new. It constantly changes, especially in this season of the year. As I haven't been able to spend much time outdoors recently, I enjoy it even more if I get to it.
This running session really boosted my energy level and now I feel like I could study efficiently for hours without any problem. So, let's go :-)