How good are we really?

http://www.economist.com/index.html

“The Economist” is definitely a newspaper you should have a look at. Don’t feel discourage by the world “economist”- the articles are not all about banks, mergers, stock markets, etc. I came across this title reading an article in “Uni Kleine Zietung” about bilingualism of many international students and their good chances on the international job markets. Unfortunately I couldn’t read the whole version in the Internet, because you have to subscribe to gain access to older articles, but it doesn’t apply for the more recent ones. Anyway, below you can find a kind of summary of what I read in “Kleine Zeitung” and my reflections upon it.

It’s becoming more and more common nowadays that university graduates from non-English speaking countries have a perfect command of this language in addition to their impeccable qualifications. This fact makes them become strong competitors for the best jobs against native English speakers. What the others don’t have is knowledge of a foreign language. A survey made last year by the European Commission that just 30% of Britons can converse in a language other than their own which is rather a meagre score. Non-natives are in contrast often competent bilinguals, people with open minds who are used to travelling abroad and facing challenges.

However, English in the language of science. You read and write in English if you want to be acknowledged by the international scene. In this context English speaking scientists have nothing to fear, but what about managers, doctors, architects, etc.?

This topic made me consider my own future job perspectives. Is two (let’s say three in my case) foreign languages enough for us, translators, to get a decent job? Honestly, I don’t believe that each of us will work in their profession. To my mind only the best ones or the ones with the most luck will become “real” translators. The others will have to settle for some more “universal” jobs they’ll have to combine more skills in. That’s why I’m already uneasy about what will happen after graduation. Maybe it’ll be sensible to study something else in addition? As an example I’d like to tell you a story of my cousin who had not so long ago a job interview at one of the most reputable banks in Poland. She, a law graduate with a good command of both English and German and four (or five – I can’t exactly remember) years of work experience, was told that I’d desirable I she could speak Russian as well. After I got to know it I just thought to myself: are you kidding? When are you supposed to manage it all? After all she didn’t get this job…

Fascinated by a peg; dreaming of a perfect day

This is the last night before our progress test. I know I should be studying for tomorrow, but a strong need to write suddenly totally overwhelmed me. Reading Pam Mandel’s blog I came across a collocation I’ve really taken to, namely “a square peg (in a round hole)”. According to Longman Dictionary the above describes “someone who is in a job or situation that is not suitable for them”. I can’t exactly explain my liking for a square peg. On the one hand I just often feel like one and on the other hand it sounds so bizarre to my Polish ears that I just have to memorize it. Do you know in what other meanings the word “peg” can be used

Clothes peg (UK)

Tent pegTuning pegCoat peg (UK)

Bettina, you really deserve the highest score for your idea with adding pictures to words. It definitely helps.

I was just wondering when I’ll have my perfect day. Honestly, I came to the conclusion I don’t need much to be happy apart from a little time to enjoy my simple activities. This is how such a day would look like…

I’d get up at 7.30 a.m. since I’m an early bird and don’t like missing much of the day. Then I’d fetch my daily newspaper, preferably Der Standard, go to the kitchen and make some fresh coffee. Taking my time I’d prepare a simple cheese sandwich and settle myself in the armchair. Then I’d skip through the news of the day and slowly eat my breakfast knowing that I still have enough time to be at the university on time. Having dressed and packed my bag I’d take my bike and head for the university with no rush. After a very involving and easily understandable lecture on the wealth of nations I’d go to the library and study for an hour or two. Next, I’d take a stroll to the cafeteria and have lunch with my best friend. Once again I’d take my time and simply devote myself to enjoying the food, preferably noodles. Still having some time in my hands I’d call in on my friend for a celebration of the dessert I got at the cafeteria. Having exchanged the most important news with her I’d go to the next lecture or, let it be, even two lectures. Afterwards I’d persuade my boyfriend to play a round of Frisbee with me in the park. At 6.00 p.m. I’d go to work, stay there for four hours, confront friendly customers and get generous tips. At the end of the day I’d go back to my claustrophobic flat and study a little bit for the next day. Then I’d take a shower, go to bed and fall asleep accompanied by heavenly sounds of Portishead.

Is it a lot I want? Just a little time, please…

How to Be an Illegal Alien

An illigal immigrant Mimi describes in an article under http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0513,york,62456,2.html how to settle in New York within two weeks. In six easy steps she gives some useful advice what to do step by step:

• Seek your opportunity to get into the USA, either by boat or with American invitation with a tourist visa or even over the fence ;)
• Once you’re in the country try to get married. This entitles you to a green card and after three years to permanent residency.
• Find a job.
• If you don’t have a Social Security number and have to live off your tips, claim someone else’s identity – let it be your friend who will cash your paycheck and give the money back to you or a deceased U.S. citizen's identity your overtake the Social Security number from. Besides, there are workplaces where you can get cash in hand at a bit lower rate.
• If you don’t know the language, look for employment at your fellow countryman’s.
• Don’t leave the USA since with some luck you might be granted legal resident status.

Furthermore Mimi argues that the illegal immigrants don’t have a harmful impact on the U.S. economy: “We're just here to live our lives the best we can”. In fact they are the ones who toil for minimum wage to be allowed to stay in the country.

Mimi claims that altogether everyone is illegal in New York. The most important point she makes is that New York City was from the beginning of its history made up of immigrants and in this way illegal aliens are more natural and legitimate residents of the Big Apple that any other residents.

It becomes clear to us that there are certain methods for those who are determined enough. The point is that immigrants are not the baddies - they just want to live decent lives which is impossible in their home countries. And to achieve it they really have hard time in the beginning. Anyway, they don't came to us to abuse our social system, etc., but to look for better opportunities.

Foreigners are welcomed as long as they’re tourists

What is the role of tourism in the country’s economy? Very relevant; in case of such countries like Austria it’s even a question of survival. That’s simple – tourists bring money with them, take some pictures, buy Mozartkugeln and leave after some time. Actually, they can even be a kind of short-term entertainment for us, natives. However, the problem arises when they decide to stay in our country forever…

I’d like to start with an Irish example. When I was in Ireland in the summer I noticed that there weren’t almost any black people to be seen. I found it pretty surprising since the Irish nation seemed to be friendly and well-off which is normally a magnet for emigration (let’s just compare the same aspect in Great Britain). Anyway, when Lisa Joyce came to our class, she just confirmed my assumptions. The Irish people, to put it in a politically correct way, don’t like foreigners who differ themselves in appearance from them. This means that they accept Polish people, because they look similar to themselves. Furthermore, I suppose that Poles will be harmless as long as they do low-skilled jobs nobody else wants to do and don’t complain about relatively low wages in comparison to what the Irish earn. To put it straight – it’s a simple rule of demand and supply; we accept you as long as we need you. I can imagine that if the Celtic Tiger suddenly ends and Poles will start to compete for jobs with the Irish (for the time being they just fill the job market hole), they won’t be welcomed any more.

What about the attitude of Austrians towards foreigners? Well, nobody wants to deal with difficult cultural issues, nobody wants to support refugees, nobody wants to have well skilled competition on the job market. Astrid mentions that some kitchen staff in the restaurant she works at have higher education, are lawyers, economists, etc., but have to do simple jobs to make a living, because they can’t get jobs in their professions. Another example is the cleaning ladies at the university. A teacher of mine told me that lots of them have higher degrees, but are made to accept cleaning jobs. Well, the brilliant “Fremdenrecht”(I’m just appaled) in Austria particularly makes me laugh. Get rid of the foreign families, children who grew up here and don’t know anything else than the Austrian reality! What counts is that we lowered the number of refugee status applications! To sup up, Austria just somehow doesn’t seem inviting. However, I have some fun thinking what will happen in a few years’ time when it will have to open its borders for workforce from the new EU countries. Suddenly Austrian will have to become competitive and start doing their best and not just enough…

We all pursue to have better lives/to survive. That’s the law of the jungle. The stronger will win. Some countries seem not to accept this law and have to “defend” themselves by writing ridiculous legislation. You’re welcomed as long as you’re tourist…

Audio books

I tried my best to find some interesting links on http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/ATALL/Input. After all I’m a bit disappointed, because I hoped I’d be more successful on audio books, which was my focus. Have you ever thought of advantages of having a book read to you? You could do more things at one time, I mean e.g. both ironing or cleaning your windows and listening? Well, unfortunately I haven’t found any free rich source in the Internet. The only one with decent sound quality and some choice is http://librivox.org/ . The variety of books ranges from Plato and Nietzsche to Wilde and Tolstoy. They are divided into chapters and can be downloaded as well. Honestly, I haven’t noticed any contemporary literature, but after all I’m pleased I’ll be finally able to listen to my favourite novel, the best writing of all times, namely “The Picture of Dorian Gray”.

How about a pint of Guinness?

Staying in Dublin you just have to visit the Guinness Museum. Spending too much time in Victorian galleries and museums or admiring Georgian doors and St Patrick’s Cathedral makes you feel dizzy after some time. Then you should head for Guinness Storehouse (which is its official name) and get yourself a three-hour tour of the highest quality. Lots of foreigners I met in Ireland were saying to me they didn’t like porter beer. But it’s not only about beer, but much more about the Irish spirit! The museum itself is situated in an industrial district, in a brewing factory. The whole point is explaining the production of Guinness from every angle. Adequately we get to know step by step how the beer is brewed, which machines and techniques are used in this process, how it’s advertised and where Irish pubs in the world are located. The exhibition takes place over 7 floors. And in the last floor we get our free pint of Guinness we are entitled to with the purchase of the ticket. I made the most of it and even poured my pint by myself and got a certificate for this crowning achievement;). What is more, the panoramic view from the 7^th floor was majestic! It’s just that you have to be able to appreciate the beauty of industrial buildings and smokestacks…;) Anyway, I can honestly say that it was one of my brightest memories from Ireland and my boyfriend even claimed that Guinness doesn’t taste the same outside of Ireland.

http://www.guinnessstorehouse.com/

The Aran Islands, September 2006

If you visit the West Ireland you must go to the Aran Islands. They are like the source of the traditional Irish way of life. An excerpt form Irish history: the Catholics were made to flee from the Green Island in the XVII century and settled the Aran Islands. They learned to be self-sufficient, to breed cattle and sheep, to grow potatoes and construct boats. The Aran Islands of today struggle for their sense of identity. One the one hand their inhabitants still speak Irish in their everyday life and are a closed community where everybody knows each other (no wonder if there live only around 180 people on the most sparsely populated island;), but on the other hand they experience a great migration of the young generation off the island and they are highly dependent on tourism which makes them a kind of sell their “traditions”. David Monagan mentions himself Aran Island hand knitted sweaters made in China;) Well, that’s probably the way it has to be in our modern commercial world…

Anyway, I spent one beautiful, unforgettable day in early September on the largest of three islands, namely Inis Mór. A comfortable ferry from Rossaveal brought me and my boyfriend there. We decided to take our time and get to know the island by bike. There are no problems with renting a bike; actually you even don’t know where to go, because the choice is sooooo wide. Right from the beginning you are surrounded by commercial stuff, from Aran Island sweaters and small tour buses to Spar grocery and to my distaste McDonagh's! McDonagh's is like the Irish version of McDonald’s which is the last thing an ambitious and at least a little culture interested tourist would like to see in the centre of indigenous Irishness. Well, but the further and the deeper we went, the better it became. To travel around the island by bike is the best and only sensible idea to my mind. In this way we were able to see the mind-blowing wild coasts, contemplate the beauty of the ruins of the ancient seven churches, climb on a strange stone elevation from which we admired the lighthouse and nearby pastures, have a close look at the old thatched cottages and take a rest on a quiet sandy beach. Even modern-style show-off concrete islands and American tourists weren’t able to spoil that sunny day. I just hope that the Aran Islands will be able to save their identity…

http://www.aranislands.ie/

I am Charlotte Simmons

I was planning to read Tom Wolfe’s „I am Charlotte Simons“ since we mentioned it once in our SUK1 course. A little Southern girl going to Dupont college being corrupted by a frat guy. It sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Actually this book is more than this; I felt absorbed from the very first page and read through 750 pages almost right away.

The storyline concentrates around Charlotte, a very talented high school graduate from a small town Sparta in North Carolina. Charlotte is admitted to one of the most prestigious universities in the country, namely the fictional Dupont University. As she comes from provincial surroundings where religion determines very strongly everyday life and people are poor and behave in a simple, honest way, she experiences a shock when she arrives at Dupont. It strikes her that other students do everything but learn, including partying, sexual activities and just spending money on clothes. At first she concentrates on her academic work, but gradually she becomes lonely and starts looking for some company. In this way she gets acquainted with two other freshman girls and gets to know the “party sides” of the academic life. As Charlotte adjusts to college life, she finds herself dealing with the sexual temptations of it, culminating in her hooking up with Hoyt, a member of the fraternity Saint Ray. There are also other characters like a basketball player Jojo Johanssen, a very average student who takes to improving his academic achievements after meeting Charlotte, and Adam Gellin, a very ambitious and intelligent student, Charlotte’s good friend who fells in love with her and helps her get out of her depression. All in all we encounter everything: love and hate, blackmail and revenge, cheat, popularity aspirations, student’s depression, etc.

Reading Tom Wolfe’s book you can’t get bored. The writer made outstanding research among students of different American universities before writing “I am Charlotte Simons”. That’s why he was able to copy students’ slang, show what is in frat boys’ mind, imagine loser’s thoughts (Adam, Charlotte) and altogether write a story that strikes as so real. Besides, he deserves a Noble Prize for illustrating the Southern accent and black basketball players’ slang.

My Irish adventure, part 1

I found it an outstanding idea to put focus on Ireland in this semester as I spent the whole last summer there. In a few entries I’ll try to write a bit about my cultural observations I made while my stay in Galway, at the west coast.

David Monagan often mentions how much Ireland has changed since he first got there in the 1970s. The reason is the Celtic Tiger – the economic boom that suddenly caused a rapid growth. The Irish people unexpectedly found themselves having money after decades of living in poverty. The picture of the house above is actually one of the symbols of the new wealthy Irish society. That’s one of those new mansions (it’s a mansion at least in my eyes considering the size and shape) purchased on credit with high interest rates, the owners of whose will have to pay back the loan the next 30 years or more keeping working hard for every monthly instalment. The truth is, as Lisa Joyce mentioned herself when she had a class with us, that the Irish can’t deal with their sudden wealth and therefore make investments they can’t really afford in the long run. In the suburb where I lived there were only houses like that and among the owners there weren’t only executives, but also simple people from the lower middle class I’d say. The point is that they all wanted a new house, because everybody was getting one. And the price of land was getting unaffordable, so you had to make a quick decision. All in all Ireland of today is no more old-fashioned colourful postcard-like houses, but rather the kind of houses from my picture that people want to have.