Saturday 21 December 2013

Hello From Vienna!

After a tough autumn with lots of work and school, these two weeks of holidays are more than welcome!

Today we will have spent some time in four countries: Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Sweden. That’s kinda cool me thinks. 

Friday 13 December 2013

hlúposť [SK: stupidity, nonsense, silliness, trifle, simplicity]

How much time do we spend thinking about how stupid, annoying, idiotic or whatnot the people around us are?

Pictures like this one surround us on Facebook:

My question is: why do we care so much? Sure, people who are seemingly stupid might make our life a bit more difficult, but why waste so much time on thinking about them?

Maybe someone else’s stupidity is just an assumption. Maybe it’s not their intention to be stupid; maybe they know something I/you/we don’t know; maybe, just maybe, we are the ones being stupid? And sure. Then there are idiots. Real ones. But – is it possible to change someone’s idiotic behaviour by complaining about it?

It is my own personal (and highly subjective) opinion that by letting people be the way they are and not stressing about it too much, we save a lot of energy that can be used on more positive thoughts and feelings.

Just saying.

Malá dáma [The Small Lady]

Yesterday, as we crossing the street at Dunajska, before the bus station and with the cold air leaving our ears freezing, a little lady dressed in red poked me. Her hair was white, she was bent, she walked slowly. Yet she wore red, showed her existence in the most brilliant of manners.

She asked me about the way to a bus stop. I did not know where it was, so I took the easy way out. Nehovorím po slovensky.

The lady looked at me with kindness and started giggling as to show that everything was alright. It was light, youthful and joyful giggle. One that made everyone around her happy.

byť či nebyť, to je otázka [SK: to be or not to be, that’s the question]

Poďme to urobiť po slovensky…

Dnes budem…

byt’ láskavá.

počúvať.

dýchať a byť v pokoji.

 

Slovak word of the day: múdrosť = wisdom

Which leads us to…

mudrc = wise man, sage

múdry = wise

 

Ever wondered about the declension of Slovak adjectives?

Here’s an example:

singular

 

masculine animate

masculine inanimate

feminine

neuter

nominative

múdry

múdra

múdre

genitive

múdreho

múdrej

múdreho

dative

múdremu

múdrej

múdremu

accusative

múdreho

múdry

múdru

múdre

locative

múdrom

múdrej

múdrom

instrumental

múdrym

múdrou

múdrym

plural

 

masculine animate

masculine inanimate

feminine

neuter

nominative

múdri

múdre

genitive

múdrych

dative

múdrym

accusative

múdrych

múdre

locative

múdrych

instrumental

múdrymi

Thursday 12 December 2013

Stuff On My Mind

Yesterday I attended a training on Presentation Skills.

One of the other groups spoke about positive thinking, how a positive attitude might change your life. A couple of years back I was really into positive psychology; that has somehow been shifted aside now (as has my whole focus on psychology) due to the fact that the world is filled with tremendously interesting things and activities, but it is a fascinating field. However, maybe it is more important to  engage in creative thinking than in positive thinking.

Now I am a believer in positive thinking; not so much because I think it will change my mind, but because life is easier and less stressful that way.

A little tip for when you are annoyed or experiencing negative feelings: take a step back, analyse the situation, look at your feelings and trace your steps of thinking back to the cause for your distress – does the actual feeling match the initial cause? Is it really worth it? Probably not.

Happy Thursday!

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Rise and Shine: It’s 6 AM.

Phew. 8 days of work until the Christmas holidays. Crazy times I would call this, getting up at half past five to write on my assignments, working the whole day and trying to be social. Well, I’m not being that social Smile But my brain is happy for all the thinking it gets to do.

[this is very you insert a funny pic]

[oh, wait. I have no funny pics]

[will this do?]

DSC07134

Summertime in Ljubljana.

Speaking of Ljubljana – I love their idea of taking the library outdoors:

DSC06845

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Places: Brno

Last Saturday we decided to take a trip to the 2nd city of the Czech Republic (size wise at least), Brno. After all that I have heard about the city, my expectations weren't too high. Well, needless to say, as often is the case with low expectations, the city turned out to be a real treat and a great surprise. Cosy Christmas markets had nothing to do with it SmileBrno has a more cosmopolitan feeling than Bratislava; it was cleaner and the people were friendlier as well. The cheese was good and the atmosphere on the streets was great and Christmassy.

PC070061PC070069PC070074PC070088PC070099PC070113PC070119PC070145PC070160PC070178

Sunday 8 December 2013

December.

The Finnish word for December, Joulukuu, is very suitable. Literally, it means the Christmas month. December has started with Christmas markets, the first snow, shopping for gifts and planning the trip home.

In December my mania to plan things is also getting started. Planning projects and new year’s resolutions, foods to try and places to go.

This is how I feel right now: elevated, excited but quite tired.

For the Love of Cheese

Nakladaný encián, nakladaný hermelin.

Czech and Slovak pub food. An excuse to go to the pub, and to do so often.

I think I have written about this cheese before, about my attempts to make it myself. Basically, it’s a local type of pickled Camembert which is often served with onion, garlic, herbs and something spicy.

I have a goal; to find the best nakladaný encián in Bratislava. The one in Brno was not so bad either.

So, what does this legendary cheese look like?

PC050034PC050040PB090016PC070162

Thursday 5 December 2013

3 Minutes.

3 minutes until I have to get dressed and leave the house.

3 cups of coffee and I’m ready to go.

Brain is on fire. Reading quotes.

Tuesday 3 December 2013

My Reality Is Not Like Yours [SK: Moja realita je iné ako tá tvoja]

I was supposed to get up early to study today. Instead I started to look up on the possibility to go to Maribor for the weekend. We will see what happens. The topics for my final sociology assignment are ready though: Social Stratification in the Nordic Countries and The Role of European Citizenship at a Cultural and a Political Level. I have a good feeling about this, it will be fun to write those essays.

Something I have been thinking about a lot is our perception of reality and how it influences our decisions and behaviour. The general feeling I have is one of insecurity and hopelessness. People try to make it on a day-to-day basis.  At the same time we are given information about what success looks like and how to attain it. Without success, you are nothing.

I will keep thinking about this and tell you if I find an answer. Until then: enjoy your Tuesday!