“I’m gonna live forever!”

On Tuesday my friend and I went for the first time to the Graz Opera for watching the musical “Fame”. It is playing in the opera since October and there are only two plays left. They great thing about buying the tickets is that students get a discount of 50%!

The story is of several students who attend the High School of Performing Arts from their freshman year until graduation, among them fame-obsessed drug addict Carmen, ambitious actress Serena, the comedian Joe, quiet, saintly violinist Schlomo, and talented dancer Tyrone. They want to become actors, singers, dancers and musicians.

I have also watched the movie from 2009 on which the musical is based on. The problem with the musical is that a lot of things happen, but the plot doesn’t seem to develop.

However, I really liked the musical: The actors are educated in a lot of various fields – from ballet to tapping and playing instrument. They seemed to be so passionate for their work!

“Fame” is really a visit worth, but if you can’t make it to the play, watch the movie which is also very impressive...

Unconventional = successful?

Have you heard about the guy who has lost a bet and now dressed up as a stewardess and worked for an airline for one day? :) His name is Richard Branson and he is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world.

Richard Branson, the founder and owner of the Virgin Group (Virgin Atlantic airlines, telecommunications, trains, cosmetics and credit cards) says his goal is to turn Virgin into “the most respected brand in the world”. Branson’s skill as a brand builder is one of the reasons underlying his longevity as a business leader.

I think it is difficult to separate the success of the Virgin brand from the authentic man behind that brand. He travels the world weekly, reinforcing his goo-natured, visible, jet setting, billionaire reputation. Once I read an interview in which he was asked what the most important quality of a good leader is. Here is his very honest and straight answer: “Being someone who cares about people is important. You can’t be a good leader unless you generally like people. That is how you bring out the best in them.”

Richard Branson is a very successful entrepreneur because of his stamina. At first, nobody takes him seriously. He was an unemployed crackpot, a dreamer but also a VISIONARY. However, by the time he has finally earned the respect of the business community, he has already made it.

Five amazing places I want to see

1. Santorin

Santorin is an island off the coast of Greece - thousands of years ago the site of one of the largest volcanic explosions in history. Today it plays home to spectacular views, crazy architecture, and a storied history. Supposedly the same eruption that destroyed it led to the legend of Atlantis :).

2. Iceland

Iceland features some of the most alien landscapes in the world. From huge, partially frozen waterfalls, to insane sunsets and sunrises, to miles of barren tundra; not to mention an outgoing population who’s down to party ;) – Ireland has everything. Moreover, it is a long dream to see the fantastic Northern Lights…

3. Australia

The essence of Australia is diversity: deserts, coral reefs, tall forests, snow-cloaked mountains and multicultural melting-pot cities. For me, Australia means adventures and a warm, friendly, relaxed lifestyle.

4. India

India's culture and heritage are a rich amalgam of the past and the present. This vast country offers the visitor a view of fascinating religions and ethnography, a vast variety of languages and monuments that have been present for thousands of years. If I think of India, Mehndi (body painting with Henna), the Holi festival, thousand different gods, yoga and a lot of wisdoms come to my mind.

5. The Amazon

The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and houses millions of creatures rarely found anywhere else, it’s worth seeing for thousands of reasons. Apart from the unique landscape, the reason why I really want to go there is the fact that nobody would expect me to survive a travel through a wilderness like this!

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