Americans are often accused of admiring youthful beauty and energy over the experience and wisdom of older people. Who should be most respected – young adults, middle-aged people, or senior citizens? Why?
Basically senior citizens should be most respected, but this also depends on what those people have reached during their whole life. Honor and respect are due to people who have really influenced the society, the city, or maybe even the country in an impressing way. What I am talking about is that every person, who has worked during their whole life, or has been involved in charity organizations, only to mention some examples, is important for all other descendants. Nevertheless, even special thanks go to young or middle-aged people, who have reached something extraordinary in their life. Overall, you can never admire youthful beauty, or mere beauty, and energy over experience and wisdom. Furthermore, you can’t say that only old people are smart and have experience. Every human being has to be respected, no matter what age, color, education or family background he or she has. In spite of everything, Americans are not the only ones who have problems to recognize the real values of a socitey that should be admired. Unfortunately the advertising industry has an enormous impact on the attitude of people towards beauty and the everlasting youthfulness. Every person should think about how advertisements influence our life and what we can do to remain true to ourself. Human values and moral concepts are very important factors that determine the way of our peaceful living-together.
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
(Ghandi)
9/17/2009
The typical Austrian
How would you describe the average person in your country and what he or she believes?
The typical Austrian is a homey person, who enjoys to be surrounded by his or her family and adorable, honest friends. A high value is set on good as well as on proper behavior, on a good and solid cuisine and on having a relaxing weekend. Austrians cherish their weekends, on which they are often able to go skiing, sledding, swimming at a lake, biking or hiking
together with their family or friends, certainly depending on the season. Summer and winter vacations suit the typical Austrian cheery. The majority of Austrians loves to spend the summer vacation in Italy at the beach, enjoying the Italian food. Most Austrians dream of a family with 2 children and a big house in the outskirts as well as having enough money to live without financial worries. Lots of Austrians also love animals and have dogs or cats. Christmas, Easter and birthdays are usually celebrated by gathering the whole family.
The typical Austrian is well educated and is glad if he or she has a satisfying job with a free weekend.
Wienerschnitzel, a traditional dish in Austria, is customarily eaten one time per week and a chilly, fresh beer is loved by nearly all Austrians. Austrians attach importance to living in freedom in a democratic country with a good health-care system.
Finally I would say that the typical Austrian is a folksy and sociable sport with whom you can have a lot of fun.
The typical Austrian is a homey person, who enjoys to be surrounded by his or her family and adorable, honest friends. A high value is set on good as well as on proper behavior, on a good and solid cuisine and on having a relaxing weekend. Austrians cherish their weekends, on which they are often able to go skiing, sledding, swimming at a lake, biking or hiking
together with their family or friends, certainly depending on the season. Summer and winter vacations suit the typical Austrian cheery. The majority of Austrians loves to spend the summer vacation in Italy at the beach, enjoying the Italian food. Most Austrians dream of a family with 2 children and a big house in the outskirts as well as having enough money to live without financial worries. Lots of Austrians also love animals and have dogs or cats. Christmas, Easter and birthdays are usually celebrated by gathering the whole family. The typical Austrian is well educated and is glad if he or she has a satisfying job with a free weekend.
Wienerschnitzel, a traditional dish in Austria, is customarily eaten one time per week and a chilly, fresh beer is loved by nearly all Austrians. Austrians attach importance to living in freedom in a democratic country with a good health-care system.Finally I would say that the typical Austrian is a folksy and sociable sport with whom you can have a lot of fun.
9/11/2009
My sightseeing tour through Eau Claire
Donald "Sarge" Boyd Bandshell
This historic building, located in Owen Park, was built from funding provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The bandshell is named after Donald "Sarge" Boyd who became the director of the Eau Claire Municipal Band in 1929 and is still known for his enthusiasm and dedication for music.
Grace English Lutheran Church
This church was formed in 1909, because people wanted an English speaking Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.
The church building was completed by 1916.
In 1938 eleven Memorial bells, that first rang out on Easter morning, were installed .
Today, the church building itself has undergone numerous remodeling whereas the first remodeling occured in 1925.
Phoenix Park
The Farmers Market
Royal Credit Union
The Royal Credit Union, shortly called RCU, is located at Phoenix Park and I only publish the picture, because I really like this modern architectural style of this building.
Union National Bank (now U.S. Bank)
This building, which was designed by Burham Brothers, Inc., of Chicago, represents the "modern" architecture that highlighted the central business districts of the nation's largest cities in the 20th century. The name of the bank changed during the time from first "Wisconsin National Bank of Eau Claire" in 1965 to "Firstar Bank" in 1994 and to "U.S. Bank" in 2002.
L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
Eau Claire City Hall
The building was constructed in 1916 and was attached to its neighbor building, the former public librery in 1978-79.
The method of construction, like the two-story brick structure, is typical for civic buildings of the early 20th century.
Eau Claire Public Library
The library was designed by two Chicago architects, named Patton and Miller, and was built in 1903. The building is constructed of buff and blue Bedford limestone.
Since 1978-79 the library has been used as a city office building.
Federal Building - United States Courthouse of Eau Claire
This historic building, located in Owen Park, was built from funding provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The bandshell is named after Donald "Sarge" Boyd who became the director of the Eau Claire Municipal Band in 1929 and is still known for his enthusiasm and dedication for music.
Grace English Lutheran Church
This church was formed in 1909, because people wanted an English speaking Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.
The church building was completed by 1916.
In 1938 eleven Memorial bells, that first rang out on Easter morning, were installed .
Today, the church building itself has undergone numerous remodeling whereas the first remodeling occured in 1925.
Phoenix Park
The Farmers Market
Royal Credit Union
The Royal Credit Union, shortly called RCU, is located at Phoenix Park and I only publish the picture, because I really like this modern architectural style of this building.
Union National Bank (now U.S. Bank)
This building, which was designed by Burham Brothers, Inc., of Chicago, represents the "modern" architecture that highlighted the central business districts of the nation's largest cities in the 20th century. The name of the bank changed during the time from first "Wisconsin National Bank of Eau Claire" in 1965 to "Firstar Bank" in 1994 and to "U.S. Bank" in 2002.
L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
Eau Claire City Hall
The building was constructed in 1916 and was attached to its neighbor building, the former public librery in 1978-79.
The method of construction, like the two-story brick structure, is typical for civic buildings of the early 20th century.
Eau Claire Public Library
The library was designed by two Chicago architects, named Patton and Miller, and was built in 1903. The building is constructed of buff and blue Bedford limestone.
Since 1978-79 the library has been used as a city office building.
Federal Building - United States Courthouse of Eau Claire
9/07/2009
After your first week here, what comparisons and contrasts can you make between UWEC students and students in your country's university
After my first week here I perceived already a lot of differences between UWEC students and students in my country's university.
First of all there’s a big difference in how the campus here and in Austria looks like. In Austria you don’t have a campus like here, where people live in dorms and have so many spare time activities, like sport activities, joining a group association or working on the campus, only to mention some of them.
American people love living together in these dorms and most of them are really involved in the campus-life.
In Graz, the city where I am studying Business Administration as major, you have all the faculties and university buildings on the campus and people live off campus in flats, apartment-sharing communities or at their parents' home. We have some student residential homes in Graz, but all of them are situated off-campus.
The professors at our university are very reserved and you would never be allowed to address him with his first name, like it is common at UWEC. Another difference is that we usually don’t get assignments like it is here. Of course, we have group projects and papers to write or to do a research for instance, but most of the time you have a midterm exam and a final exam or only a final exam to pass. That's why the American university system reminds me of the Austrian school system.
Moreover we have a cafeteria and some other eating opportunities at the Karl-Franzens-University, but you can’t compare our cafeteria with the ones here on campus since our cafeteria is significant smaller and has not such a great variety of food. Constitutionally you can’t compare the eating habits of Austrian and American people. Furthermore we don’t have the possibility to get an all-access meal plan like it is possible here.
American students are really open-minded towards exchange students and they are really interested in other cultures. They start talking with you, no matter if you are at the campus, at a supermarket while you are paying or at the Minnesota State Fair at a snack bar. They act in such a friendly, affectionately and collaboratively way with each other and they like to talk with anybody. Austrian students can also be explained as friendly and cooperative, but usually they wouldn't start a conversation with anybody. They would never start asking foreign people at a snack bar why they are here and where they come from.
American students like having their room doors open in the dorms to get new friends and get informed about what is going on outside their rooms. Austrian students wouldn’t act in such a way since they like having their privacy.
All in all you can see that there are differences between the Austrian and the American culture, but I think that this is the interesting point of living in another culture and trying to do somebody’s best to get involved in the unknown culture.
First of all there’s a big difference in how the campus here and in Austria looks like. In Austria you don’t have a campus like here, where people live in dorms and have so many spare time activities, like sport activities, joining a group association or working on the campus, only to mention some of them.
American people love living together in these dorms and most of them are really involved in the campus-life.
In Graz, the city where I am studying Business Administration as major, you have all the faculties and university buildings on the campus and people live off campus in flats, apartment-sharing communities or at their parents' home. We have some student residential homes in Graz, but all of them are situated off-campus.
The professors at our university are very reserved and you would never be allowed to address him with his first name, like it is common at UWEC. Another difference is that we usually don’t get assignments like it is here. Of course, we have group projects and papers to write or to do a research for instance, but most of the time you have a midterm exam and a final exam or only a final exam to pass. That's why the American university system reminds me of the Austrian school system.
Moreover we have a cafeteria and some other eating opportunities at the Karl-Franzens-University, but you can’t compare our cafeteria with the ones here on campus since our cafeteria is significant smaller and has not such a great variety of food. Constitutionally you can’t compare the eating habits of Austrian and American people. Furthermore we don’t have the possibility to get an all-access meal plan like it is possible here.
American students are really open-minded towards exchange students and they are really interested in other cultures. They start talking with you, no matter if you are at the campus, at a supermarket while you are paying or at the Minnesota State Fair at a snack bar. They act in such a friendly, affectionately and collaboratively way with each other and they like to talk with anybody. Austrian students can also be explained as friendly and cooperative, but usually they wouldn't start a conversation with anybody. They would never start asking foreign people at a snack bar why they are here and where they come from.
American students like having their room doors open in the dorms to get new friends and get informed about what is going on outside their rooms. Austrian students wouldn’t act in such a way since they like having their privacy.
All in all you can see that there are differences between the Austrian and the American culture, but I think that this is the interesting point of living in another culture and trying to do somebody’s best to get involved in the unknown culture.
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