Check out my new article about Fasching on Pressan.is
http://www.pressan.is/pressupennar/Lesa_Onnu_Classen/fasching
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
First podcast
That´s right, I created a podcast.
Since I love listening to them I thought to myself, "why don´t I make one"... so I did.
It´s for my site www.brighten-your-day.com
Listen to the podcast on this site http://bydonline.podbean.com/. There you can not only listen but also subscribe to it (see right hand site, subscribe to itunes).
In this first episode I just explain the site as well as talk about happiness a little bit. In the next episodes i will talk more about these subjects as well as suggest books, articles and other things to brighten your day and of course encourage listeners to suggest some to me. Look forward to hearing from you
If you haven´t already, check out the site and become a fan on facebook and follow on twitter. The information is all on the first site of www.brighten-your-day.com
ENJOY :)
Since I love listening to them I thought to myself, "why don´t I make one"... so I did.
It´s for my site www.brighten-your-day.com
Listen to the podcast on this site http://bydonline.podbean.com/. There you can not only listen but also subscribe to it (see right hand site, subscribe to itunes).
In this first episode I just explain the site as well as talk about happiness a little bit. In the next episodes i will talk more about these subjects as well as suggest books, articles and other things to brighten your day and of course encourage listeners to suggest some to me. Look forward to hearing from you
If you haven´t already, check out the site and become a fan on facebook and follow on twitter. The information is all on the first site of www.brighten-your-day.com
ENJOY :)
Friday, February 19, 2010
Icelandic vs. Austrian celebrations before fasting
Fasching season in Austria begins on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month and stays until Ash Wednesday. In recent year has the ball season though started on Jan. 1. Fasching comes from Fastnacht, the season before the Lenten fast or possibly Fastentrunk, the drink that in old days was consumed before the beginning of the fast. On Faschings Dienstag (Shrove Tuesday) people dress up and eat Krapfen, a pastry of yeast dough fried in either fat or oil, dusted with sugar or iced and injected with a jam filling after being cooked. On Ash Wednesday (Aschermittwoch) begins forty days of Lent, a Christian religion which demands abstinence from food and other things until Easter.
In Iceland we also had a week of celebration, despite being Lutheran.
Bolludagur, where we eat cream buns filled withwhipped cream and melted chocolate. On Bun Day, children spank their parents with colorful handmade bun wands, or bolluvöndur saying "Bolla bolla bolla". These are decorated with strips of paper and gleaming ribbon.
Sprengidagur, Bursting Day, is the Tuesday before lent, where we eat a customary meal of Saltkjöt og baunir (salted meat and split pea soup). The motto is to eat until you burst.
Öskudagur or Ash Wednesday, children dress up in costumes and go to stores around town to sing for candy. Before it was customary to hang ash bags on people''s backs without them noticing. Sadly the ash bag tradition has almost completely vanished but other traditions like beating the candy out of the barrel has survived.
Since I´m Icelandic I prefer the Icelandic ones, since i dont like krapfen and not many dress up in Vienna, so there is no point to the Austrian holiday.
I used to enjoy these holidays more as a kid because you got a treat each day, ending in a costume, singing for candy. In my days we did do the ash bags, it was really fun to put them on people when they didn´t notice. I hope they keep that tradition, as well as the bun wands, i dont see it done that much anymore. Too bad. BOLLA BOLLA BOLLA!
In Iceland we also had a week of celebration, despite being Lutheran.
Bolludagur, where we eat cream buns filled withwhipped cream and melted chocolate. On Bun Day, children spank their parents with colorful handmade bun wands, or bolluvöndur saying "Bolla bolla bolla". These are decorated with strips of paper and gleaming ribbon.
Sprengidagur, Bursting Day, is the Tuesday before lent, where we eat a customary meal of Saltkjöt og baunir (salted meat and split pea soup). The motto is to eat until you burst.
Öskudagur or Ash Wednesday, children dress up in costumes and go to stores around town to sing for candy. Before it was customary to hang ash bags on people''s backs without them noticing. Sadly the ash bag tradition has almost completely vanished but other traditions like beating the candy out of the barrel has survived.
Since I´m Icelandic I prefer the Icelandic ones, since i dont like krapfen and not many dress up in Vienna, so there is no point to the Austrian holiday.
I used to enjoy these holidays more as a kid because you got a treat each day, ending in a costume, singing for candy. In my days we did do the ash bags, it was really fun to put them on people when they didn´t notice. I hope they keep that tradition, as well as the bun wands, i dont see it done that much anymore. Too bad. BOLLA BOLLA BOLLA!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine´s day
In Iceland we don´t really celebrate Valentine´s day, aka single awareness day, at least we didn´t until a couple of years ago. It´s nothing compared to the US. Mostly couples celebrate, especially since in Iceland there is a day for wife´s and husband´s (where they give each other something special) and therefore the couples use this day to give each other something special. In Austria it´s the same, couples celebrate but it´s no big deal.
My best Valentine´s day was when I was in university. Hung out with my boyfriend, ate chocolate until I went to school. After I finished classes, me and my friends met and had a little anti-valentine´s day....a Sex and the City marathon. Then we went to a karaoke/cocktail bar. There my boyfriend surprised me and came to the bar with a rose, so sweet. Such a nice end to the evening, fun with my girls and then spent the evening with my man.
Unfortunately my boyfriend is in Kosovo right now, when we could be celebrating our anniversary as well as Valentine´s day. He will make it up to me when comes back. We celebrate each other everyday, anyhow so today, I will enjoy myself, just relax, watch TV and teach jazz.
My best Valentine´s day was when I was in university. Hung out with my boyfriend, ate chocolate until I went to school. After I finished classes, me and my friends met and had a little anti-valentine´s day....a Sex and the City marathon. Then we went to a karaoke/cocktail bar. There my boyfriend surprised me and came to the bar with a rose, so sweet. Such a nice end to the evening, fun with my girls and then spent the evening with my man.
Unfortunately my boyfriend is in Kosovo right now, when we could be celebrating our anniversary as well as Valentine´s day. He will make it up to me when comes back. We celebrate each other everyday, anyhow so today, I will enjoy myself, just relax, watch TV and teach jazz.
Happy Valentine´s Day!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
"You should be dancing yeah"
If you´re in Vienna this weekend (Feb. 13 and 14) you have to check out my dancestudio´s preview of all classes that they offer, or "Wochenende der öffenen Tür" (open door weekend)
Click the link below to see the schedule:
I will be teaching jazz basic on
Sat. 17:00-17:30
Sun. 19:00-19:30
Look forward to see you ;)
Thursday, February 04, 2010
January
Arrived in Vienna and Austrian Airlines managed to ruin my bag, so I went to complain and got two bags as a compromise. So i went home with three bags and carried them up 20 stairs to my apartment (20 something kilos, really heavy). But I was happy to see my boyfriend and begin my life in Vienna.
However, I got sick again. Started with a throat ache, then stuffy nose and coughing, typical and was suffering for a weak. I blame the cold weather (it´s different than in Iceland...way colder in vienna). I used the time though, i created the website www.brighten-your-day.com , where i post fun videos, photos, blog and quotes.Check it out...it will definitely brighten your day :P
I met my best friend (she lives in Berlin these days)...it was so great but too short. I also met Sandra for drinks, always great to catch up with old colleagues. Then I met my friends (we call ourselves the cashmere mafia) but it ended in a fight. Roomate problem. Can´t blame them, if you push your feelings down they will come up eventually. So much for movienight.
It got me though thinking, the cashmere mafia is all going away. This is what I hate about living in a city like Vienna, you meet people and then they leave. What´s the point? But then again, when we meet people we never know who is going to end up being your lifetime friend. Most of my friends back in Iceland are a mix of that, childhood friends, those i met as a teenager and then college. It also depend on your place in life. Some loose touch, not because they want to but because they are busy with work, family, etc. I wish i could gather all my best friends and move them to Vienna because its a great city but I find myself missing my family and friends. Then again...it was my choice to move here so I have to accept it and try to look at the things i have.
I had two job interviews, in both they said I needed to improve my German. I agree with them so I am beginning my german class in beginning February.
I met Angelika, a pianist that lives Tulln (right outside Viena) and we had a jam session.... so much fun and what a talent...check out her site: http://www.myspace.com/angelikahaas
I suggested to the dance studio that we would offer Ball workshops (to those who attend the balls in Vienna) and the phone hasn´t stop ringing...LOVE IT. I also have my jazz classes so plenty to do. For those in Vienna who are interested in dancing, aerobics, belly dancing, yoga or pilates, visit Casomai
Thanks to Tom and Alex at my old company for their help with my computer. The battery was completely ruined so they got me a new one. You gotta love knowing tech guys.
The only thing nice about being sick and unemployed was spending time with my boyfriend. He took such good care of me but then again he always does. Just laying in his arms always makes me feel better. He also cooked for me, I love his cooking, it is the best. We are hooked on Scrubs, then again, its one of the few shows that is good in German. I can´t believe this summer we have been together for 6 years. How time flies. I´ve been living in Vienna for 5 years. Unbelievable.
Ps. Congratulations to the Icelandic handball team, they were in 3rd place in the European handball championship. I am so proud when Icelanders are doing good, we are only 320,000 but we are definitely talented! GO ICELAND!
However, I got sick again. Started with a throat ache, then stuffy nose and coughing, typical and was suffering for a weak. I blame the cold weather (it´s different than in Iceland...way colder in vienna). I used the time though, i created the website www.brighten-your-day.com , where i post fun videos, photos, blog and quotes.Check it out...it will definitely brighten your day :P
I met my best friend (she lives in Berlin these days)...it was so great but too short. I also met Sandra for drinks, always great to catch up with old colleagues. Then I met my friends (we call ourselves the cashmere mafia) but it ended in a fight. Roomate problem. Can´t blame them, if you push your feelings down they will come up eventually. So much for movienight.
It got me though thinking, the cashmere mafia is all going away. This is what I hate about living in a city like Vienna, you meet people and then they leave. What´s the point? But then again, when we meet people we never know who is going to end up being your lifetime friend. Most of my friends back in Iceland are a mix of that, childhood friends, those i met as a teenager and then college. It also depend on your place in life. Some loose touch, not because they want to but because they are busy with work, family, etc. I wish i could gather all my best friends and move them to Vienna because its a great city but I find myself missing my family and friends. Then again...it was my choice to move here so I have to accept it and try to look at the things i have.
I had two job interviews, in both they said I needed to improve my German. I agree with them so I am beginning my german class in beginning February.
I met Angelika, a pianist that lives Tulln (right outside Viena) and we had a jam session.... so much fun and what a talent...check out her site: http://www.myspace.com/angelikahaas
I suggested to the dance studio that we would offer Ball workshops (to those who attend the balls in Vienna) and the phone hasn´t stop ringing...LOVE IT. I also have my jazz classes so plenty to do. For those in Vienna who are interested in dancing, aerobics, belly dancing, yoga or pilates, visit Casomai
Thanks to Tom and Alex at my old company for their help with my computer. The battery was completely ruined so they got me a new one. You gotta love knowing tech guys.
The only thing nice about being sick and unemployed was spending time with my boyfriend. He took such good care of me but then again he always does. Just laying in his arms always makes me feel better. He also cooked for me, I love his cooking, it is the best. We are hooked on Scrubs, then again, its one of the few shows that is good in German. I can´t believe this summer we have been together for 6 years. How time flies. I´ve been living in Vienna for 5 years. Unbelievable.
Ps. Congratulations to the Icelandic handball team, they were in 3rd place in the European handball championship. I am so proud when Icelanders are doing good, we are only 320,000 but we are definitely talented! GO ICELAND!
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