Work Ethic

At the close of every academic year, everyone of us once again faces the decision what they want to do with the vast amount of free time ahead of us. Work? Travel? Do nothing and celebrate it? In talks with friends, I’ve found it interesting how most of them have chosen one of the first two options, few the third one and none of them openly talks about pursuing interests in their respective fields of study. Like reading a book they didn’t have the time to read during the semester. Like realizing a project. Like working hard on improving in fields they didn’t feel they’d mastered yet. I then realized that I was looking forward to many easy-going days as well, during which I probably wouldn’t think too much about university-related problems. I also was seduced by the allure of doing nothing (besides working, that is). 

When I realized this, I started wondering why that was. We all were studying, assumably, to one day make the things we learn, or some of them, our profession. When that time comes, we wouldn’t have free summers either and wouldn’t think about it twice. Was it just a last enjoying of freedom before the drill of working life finally kicked in? There were some points to be made for this case and I still think it hits the nail pretty much on the head. But if that’s the case, what does that mean in consequence? Does it mean that we don’t like to work? That we fear the moment we officially enter the work force as the end of our dreams and freedoms? And what does this say about us? Are we more spoiled than the previous generation, simply lazy, or is ours a more acute awareness of the importance of a fulfilled private life? 

It all comes down to how you define and value the term “work ethos”.

Whoa.

I’m a bit iffy on life-changing experiences. Or maybe, it’s more the Hollywood version of them that bugs me.

A homeless man in Los Angeles finds his solace in a cello, overcoming his poverty and calming his mental instability: The Soloist.  A Roman warrior loses his family, wealth, and freedom due to the hate of a tyrant: the Gladiator. A teacher, surrounded by underprivileged high school students, faces hate crimes and still has undying dedication to her students: Dangerous Minds.

These Hollywood clips are the first life-changing experiences that come to mind: an artist’s struggle, a warrior’s vengeance, a teacher’s dedication. But the plotlines always make me think, “What have I accomplished in my life?” Or is Hollywood really just full of clichés?

How a Concert Changed the Course of my Life

Sorry about the bad quality of this picture. I took it with my phone, which – back

in 2008 – wasn’t one that took very good pictures

During my teenage years, I worked for FM4, an Austrian radio station. My job was to go to concerts and report what I saw there,what my impressions were of the artists, the location, and the atmosphere. It was a fun job – it gave me quite a bit of insight into the music and radio entertainment industry, and it also allowed me to travel to cities all over Europe. But what it really did for me was that it sparked my predilection for language, writing and communication. How come? Let me tell you.

Everything – and Nothing – in Moderation

 

Writing for pleasure, as well as more frequent writing, has taught me a lot about myself - both personally and professionally. I'd like to share two of these lessons with you now, because a number of you may be able to relate; others may simply gain a measure of understanding of me as a person.

Fiction, class warfare and contemporary politics

Fiction, class warfare and contemporary politics 

In his correspondence with Thomas Jefferson, John Adams famously rejected Jefferson’s belief in a “natural aristocracy” (of virtue and talents) as an antithesis to Europe’s “artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth.” He stated “And both artificial Aristocracy, and Monarchy, and civil, military, political and hierarchical Despotism, have all grown out of the natural Aristocracy of "Virtues and Talents." Although he goes on to admit that “We, to be sure, are far remote from this”, his belief that restrictive structures such as the British monarchy and European aristocracy in general can develop from the fact that “Virtues and Talents” are unequally distributed is reflected strongly in contemporary society. Alas, how could he have known how right history would prove him when he said: “Many hundred years must roll away before We shall be corrupted.” While it hasn’t been “many hundred years” but two hundred almost to the day, the corruption he spoke of finally has arrived, and not just for the nation he helped found. 

The Day I Joined the Nerds

Image: weheartit.com

Hi Mum, guess what! I’ve got a friend! No, not like the last one. No, not on the internet. No mum, she really is a girl this time.
                                                                                              — Skins, “Pandora”

The day I joined the nerds wasn’t really a day, to be honest. I’d been too much of a nerd already to even realise I was one. However, the day I officially joined the nerds was the day I enrolled for computer science classes. I was almost twelve when my old (Catholic boarding) school introduced extra-curricular activities such as computer sciences (conservative educational ideals had finally caught up with the 21^st century). A few of my classmates and I were the first ones to be taught how to use computer programmes beyond the stuff we knew from home. We were the only ones allowed in the computer lab. Back then, we were the cool kids.

The Sound of Music

When asked what people associate with the City of Salzburg, the most common answer will be: “Well, Mozart of course!” and if it´s tourists from Asia or America the answer will likely include The Sound of Music as well as Mozart – I know I´m working with a cliché here. Music is a big part of Salzburg´s cultural experience and doesn´t only include classical composers like Mozart or the story of a convent woman who set out and conquered the world with her music. Street musicians play another important role in the Salzburg experience, just as street music is an important part in each and every city.

The miracle that changed my life

When I was a little girl, pregnant women and babies fascinated me. When people asked me what I wanted to become, I would always answer that I wanted to become a midwife.  I tried to imagine how it would be like to feel something growing inside me and how wonderful it must be to be able to hold and cuddle with a cute little baby all day long. Of course, I never really thought about the not so romantic aspects like labor pains, sleepless nights and changing nappies. When I grew up and went to school, it turned out that the only thing I was really good at was learning foreign languages.  So, I decided that if I wanted fulfill my dream of getting pregnant and having a baby, I simply needed to find a good job, get married and the rest would follow…

What Would Jane Do?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is always right. She just is. Analysing people’s behaviour in society, she becomes an astute observer of individual desires, beliefs, kinks. Once you start reading Austen, you’ll never be able to shake her off. You won’t want to shake her off. Only give her time.

Once, it was my passion

When I was 15, playing the guitar was the one and only thing that could make smile. I didn't have any other ambitions except for becoming a professional guitar player. Today, it's just one amongst many other things on my bucket list. The more choices and possibilities I have, the more confused I get. It's usually the other way around. As a kid, the world seems so big to you, but the older you get, the more your passions dwindle. But, I'm a special case.