It’s World Book Day!

The World Book Day and the Copyright Day are held each year on 23^rd April. However, in the United Kingdom, World Book Day is held annually on the first Thursday in March. They are organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright.

"All forms of books make a valuable contribution to education and the dissemination of culture and information. The diversity of books and editorial content is a source of enrichment that we must support through appropriate public policies and protect from uniformity. " 

Irina Bokova       

The reason why I love books that much is the fact that they kind of carry you away from reality and bring you into a world where everything is possible. You get to know people who you would never get to know in your real life. Books bring you to places which you cannot imagine in your wildest dreams. Just think of “Harry Potter”! Have you ever thought about a location like Hogwarts?

To put it in a nutshell I would say that books are like an escape for me. I am able to forget my own problems and worries for a while and share the thrill with one of my protagonists. When I am on an adventure with Harry Potter or another “hero” it really feels like it would be me who fights against the bad guys.

“Every reader finds himself. The writer’s work is merely a kind of optical instrument that makes it possible for the reader to discern what, without this book, he would perhaps never have seen in himself.”

Marcel Proust   

Unbelievable...

When I get out of bed, the first thing I do is to turn on the radio. I like it to start my day informed and “up to date” and music is a good way for me as a perk up. Sometimes I cannot get bad news out of my head and they pursue me the whole day. Here is my today’s “pursuer”:

On Monday a marathon in Boston took place. It is a very special event where normal people can show their great sports talent. Everybody who has ever been to the Vienna City Marathon knows this very special atmosphere and the fantastic moment when the first runner crosses the finish line and is rewarded for his perseverance. And so the Boston marathon was thought to be. However, this day changed the life of a lot of people – in a negative sense.

Two bombs exploded in the crowded streets, killing at least three people and injuring more than 100 in a bloody scene of shattered glass that raised alarms that terrorists might have struck again in the U.S. A White House official speaking said the attack was being treated as an act of terrorism. President Barack Obama warns against jumping conclusions, but vowed that those who are responsible will “feel the full weight of justice”.

How could people do such cruel things? What is their purpose? Such incidents always recall the thought that you cannot look behind the façade of your fellow men.

For all the information to that bomb attack follow this link: http://www.ryot.org/campaigns/boston-marathon-victims-fund

From rags to riches

First, I just could not relate with our current topic in English class “food“. I always had to think about things like a balanced diet or anorexia. However, while writing my food magazine article the famous chef Wolfgang Puck comes to my mind. He comes from Austria, or more precisely from my home province Carinthia and you will not believe it, but he is one of my relatives – okay we are very distantly related… He is the son of a cousin of my granny or something like that, but this doesn’t matter!

I chose mister Puck to be one of my post-topics, because for me he is the best example

Wolfgang Puck began cooking at his mother's side as a child. She had her own restaurant in Carinthia. In the following years he worked in several restaurants in France, among them some of the most renowned restaurants in the world. In 1975 Wolfgang moves to Los Angeles and begins working at Ma Maison, a quality hotel chain.

 “Cook from the heart and with love.”

 

 In 2006, he opened his first restaurant and soon earned a prestigious Michelin star. Wolfgang Puck has changed the way Americans cook and eat by mixing formal French techniques and California-influenced aesthetics with the highest quality ingredients. His dynamic personality and culinary brilliance soon became a magnet for the rich and famous in Hollywood.

 I am sure that mister Puck is one of the most famous Austrians in Hollywood, especially because he prepares the buffet for the Oscars every year. Everybody starts from scratch, but when you really want to reach your goal you have to have a lot of stamina.  

Holi festival of colours

Holi is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. It is also known as festival of Colours, because Holi is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are also lit on the eve of the festival. It primarily takes place in India, Nepal, Pakistan and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States, Mauritius, and Fiji.

 The festival has many purposes. First and foremost, it celebrates the beginning of the new season, spring. By throwing the coloured powder at other people evil spirits should be expelled. Originally, it was a festival that commemorated good harvests and the fertile land.

This year the Holi festival of colours takes place in Vienna for the first time. The festival in Vienna is expected to be held in summer! The exact time and place has not been defined yet as well as the advance booking has not started yet. However, it is already known that one ticket costs € 16.99. For the latest information visit this website: http://www.facebook.com/WienHOLIONE?ref=ts&fref=ts

I really hope to be there in summer, because this adventure seemst to me to be something which you must experience at least once in your life!!!