50 shades of Grey

I’m completely sure that you have recently heard about a book or a film “Fifty shades of Grey”. 

The first part of the trilogy describes the relationship between a college graduate Anastasia Steel and young, rich businessman Christian Grey. But there’s something more… passion, desire, rules. The rules define the character of their meetings which for me they seem to be devoided of feelings and create the involvement without love. 

The book  was written by E.L. James and it contains plenty of bed scenes.  It has been translated into 52 languages and now it’s a best-seller! 

The same situation with an adaptation: it became a blockbuster and all the places were booked for a film premiere in most cinemas. The opinions are different but we can notice that people who had read the book earlier were disappointed.  

I haven’t read the volume yet but I saw a movie. As I wrote before I find the movie strange. I must read it in the free time to have a comparison. Maybe I will understand some things… 

Saint Valentine

There’s no doubt that Valentine’s Day is is celebrated in many countries around the world. People usually send greeting cards and flowers, give candy or other gifts, prepare romantic dinner or they go to the cinema.  But what interests me a lot, it’s the origin of celebration.  

The roots of Saint Valentine’s Day lie in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was dedicated to the god Lupercus. It is said that a young man would write down the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year.

Thereupon the Pope was shattered and he changed the lottery: both young men and young women draw the names of saints whom they would emulate for the year. The patron became Valentine. For men the day was an occasion  to give out cards of admiration that included Valentine’s name. 

So it seems that tradition remained.  Have you received any love letters or other gifts? 

Lots of love :)

Welcome back!

Hello everyone!
I'm really glad that I can post here again. Since the latest post on my blog I've had a lot of things to do. Firstly I had to finish my thesis. It wasn't so difficult but the situation was complicated because of my job. I used to work in a beauty salon as a lash stylist on Tuesdays (I didn't have classes then), on Saturdays and the days free of study. Of course I also worked every evening at home. Moreover, the daily commute to Poznań took me about two and a half hours. I was overworked and I appreciated any spare moment in the train - I could sleep. As you can see - the time for learning was scant. My boss was rapacious (I had planety of clients) and she didn't allow me to take few days off in the exam session. When I had failed my exams, I opened my eyes...I became vacant and started working on my own. Now I have even more clients and a little more time for me but I don't imagine studying full-time. That's why I've chosen extramural studies. And now thanks to English lessons, I can write here again and practise my English. :)

The Oscars ceremony

   In fact, I haven't seen the Oscars ceremonies yet. I used to watch short movies on youtube and google all the information about movies or actors - their nominations and awards of course. These awards help me to decide what can I watch with my friends when we meet. It's quite fun!
From the list of nominations, I watched Gravity and The Wolf of Wall Street.

Gravity was interesting and at the end it was a real tear-jerker. Watching this film, some people could be bored because the greater part of the movie shows us space. I knew that this film couldn't win for one thing - computer scientists invested more efforts than actors and that was the problem...

 The Wolf of Wall Street? Such a gripping plot! A lot of jokes put me in a very good mood! What is more, I think that Leonardo DiCaprio should have won the Oscar for his role in this movie - he presented a young, busy man who wanted to be rich and exactly he taught others how to make a fortune. He was a student, a stockbroker, an employee, he was a son, a father, a husband, he had the mistress, he had a villa, expensive cars, he was addicted to drugs and alcohol - he was everybody and nobody after a while when he lost everything, so, do we want more?

And you? Have you seen other nominated movies?

What has he done??

        I remember a very difficult time in my friend's life. My best friend (we've known each other for 16years), Patrick, was always well-liked. He was the life and soul of the party. He was everywhere. Even if you were in a bad mood for hours, 2 minutes of small talk with Patrick could change it colosally. At school he wasn't the best, he was just average. Despite this fact, the teachers loved him. He had an enormous talent for acting. He joined a theatre interest group and he made his way in what he liked doing, in what gave him a joy. He won a lot of competitions and he was sure about his future. One day he was given a proposal to sign up for Drama School in Cracow. I haven't seen him more satisfied and cheerful! But finally he turned it down... He was young and her mother was afraid of his relocation. And this is why he decided to stay at home, go to the high school and find there similar extra classes related to his interests. But it was the moment where he dropped this idea. He stopped performing ever after. And he regrets it to date. He's still adrift and he can't find his place on earth. I'm certain that he missed the boat. He could be the best actor! In fact, for me he still is...

tattoos

      Few weeks ago I noticed that tattoos are everywhere. A lot of people is tattooed and it became trendy. But the most shocking fact is that people don't want to hide their new 'skin pictures' - they do want to express them. What's more, I realised that tattoos are addictive - a majority of people who already have tattoos decide to do the new ones from time to time or to correct these old by enlarging. This trend is very popular in the United States (e.g. Rihanna is totally addicted; she has about 15 tattoos and she covers them or makes new regularly) but in Poland it will take few years till the society will accept it. Maybe I'm a little bit old-fashioned but even 50 years ago tattoos were reserved for criminals and this is why it seems to me rather unesthetic. One thing is sure: the decision of making tattoo should be a reasoned choice because it is not for 2 months, this is for the rest of life. Of course, there are differrent methods for removing tattoos but there could be another body interference what is not recommended. How do you think about tattoos?Opposite to that, looking at this 'Eiffel Tower' attached, maybe one day I will own similar...

Thriller

        The video-clip 'Thriller' of Michael Jackson starts when he and his friend come to a dark forest. The main reason for stopping there is a lack of gas in the car. His friend seems to be a little bit angry and everything indicates that it'll be an unsuccessful date. They walk in silence. After a while, he asks her to be his girlfriend - she doesn't refuse. He gives her a ring what makes her happy. But when a full moon appears, Michael transformates into a warewolf... His girlfriend is petrified and she starts to scream. She's trying to escape but the warewolf is catching up with her.
       In the crucial moment the scene is shifted to a cinema where we can see Michael and his girlfriend watching the same movie which was showed at the beginning of the video-clip. His girlfriend leaves the cinema frightened of a plot. He also quits the cinema auditorium. Later, they're walking down the dark street and he's singing to her. She's glad now and she comes across as a calm and safe teenager. Next, they walk arm in arm. They arrive at a foggy cemetery. Suddenly, the camera shows zombies - very creepy creatures leaving their graves. Their bodies fall to pieces. Michael and his lady notice them because they're in the middle of a zombie-circle. The young lady turns and when she looks again at her boyfriend - she realises that he's also a zombie! Michael and his zombie-team are dancing but while he's singing - he looks like a human. Michael's girlfriend is confused and she escapes. She arrives at a big, darkened house. The zombies run to her. She's hiding in one room but the creatures are unimaginably strong and they're devastating each element of the house.
      Finally, Michael as a zombie is touching his lady on the shoulder, she's screaming and... this darkened house changes into a cosy, bright one. Michael is embracing his girlfriend and she's thinking that it was a nightmare. In fact - it wasn't... Michael turns his head around and then we can see his zombie-eyes once again...

Life choices

We live in a difficult time. We learn to live, to have a good job or to achieve a professional success. The rat race is well-known in each big company. We live in scud. Can't we just stop for a while to take a breath? We don't have much time for our friends, our family. We don't have time for ourselves!
It's sad but it's true. We have rather virtual relationships because we can stop chatting if the conversation is unpleasant and... it's rather economic - we don't waste time for going to somebody and, of course, we can do something else when we're talking online. Everything seems to be artificial - all these chats, all the faces we see... Everyone wants to be rich. Only few of them can be happy. Why? I think that people often learn to obtain a well-paid job, even if they don't like it. Does it make sense? Going to work that we hate, working long hours under pressure... That's why we're sad. We want the same - wealth. Maybe it's reserved only for the best; for those who like their jobs and they're going there fully motivated and glad. That's the real wealth - happiness.Why somebody who's interested in IT couldn't make a fortune? He should do it - because he's passionate about it and that wealth is reserved for him - he does what he likes.
Unfortunately a lot of my friends are studying subjects completely different to their interests but I think that with a little bit of creativity they could achieve more. ''The darkest hour is always before dawn.''
If I could choose between being satisfied with my job and rather poor than having a well-paid job and being sad - I would choose this first solution. For me the best thing in the world is to do what you like and you really want and have somebody that you may rely on even in the worst situation.

Working and studying = challenge almost completed.

I used to imagine how students can work and study at the same time. Are they exhausted and do they have any willings to live or to party at the weekends? Are they living due to all the energy drinks or coffees? Do they have time for reading books or socializing?
Now, after 2 years, I've found the reponse for all my questions from the past: it's possible but really difficult.
This year I also work and study and I don't live in Poznan. I commute everyday from my hometown, Wrzesnia. It's not so far, about 50km. I sleep less but the most beautiful thing that I've learnt is to not waste my time - I don't spend so much time on surfing the Net as I used to.
I'd like to add that I underestimated the role of the money. Now I'm more prudent. I must think twice before I'll buy something. But I can't compare me with other students; I really like my job, I always have a good dinner at home and I didn't work 2 years ago during my studies when there were more lessons - the others did. I admire their engagement, enthusiasm, aspiration and - the most important - their determination to achieve their aims. These students are mentally strong and I'm sure that they will pull off much more than they have atteined until now. I'm impressed!!! More power to you! :)

Back to the reality! :(

Holidays - it's probably the most dreamy period of a year. Each of us needs to relax even for a while. In my opinion the best way to spend them is to go as far as possible. It's a great chance to run from  everyday problems, from the routine or stress. I always tried to turn my mobile off but it was stronger than me; unfortunately when I go on holiday, I  remember all the things I had begun before leaving and which I have to finish when I'll be back. Despite that, I successfully find the time only for me during the trip.
This year I was in Belgium and in France with my father and my little dog. We had a lot of crazy episodes (for example: We had arrived to the Pirou Plage by the ocean, we were sunbathing, then swimming... everything was O.K... and after just 20minutes, we couldn't find our equipment! Finally we thought that everything was sunk but in fact we mixed flow and reflux up... How a nightmare! We were looking for nothing for more than 2 hours! We found our clothes and keys by accident, going completely blue to our car! We realised that every time we were searching for them 50metres from the shore, but the water was running to the heart of the ocean and baring the sand. That's how 50metres changed into 500metres!)

Yes, I love holidays! Maybe for one reason: I can do anything at all even for 2 hours and I don't have any remorses!

O.K. How we say that...''All good things must come to an end'' - so let's go back to our daily grind! :)))


P.S.
I share with you my little souvenir from that memorable beach :)

and 2 more from 1)Lisieux

 and 2)Antwerpen - just to show you how little is my dog :)

Survival School

One day I've decided that I want a bit more adventure in my life.
I had watched a short documentary movie on the Internet about one of the Survival Schools. I made up my mind to sign up. I had a really good possibility (I passed all my exams at a University) so why couldn't I have a go? I packed up only useful things and I arrive at the nearby Survival School.
The first day me and my new SS's mates went away on a small village - nobody knew where was it and what's more - we couldn't ask nobody about the surroundings.
Exactly we had nothing with us and the aim was to find some food or a temporary job. I worked in the elderly woman's garden. It was quite good - I earned a cup of tea, a dinner and a place in room so I slept there one night.
The next day, one of my mates told me that he didn't fnd anything - he slept outdoor and in fact he went down with terrible flu - he had to back home.
That day the good elderly woman gave me a sign that I can work in her friend's garden. It was awful! I was on the go all day long! The garden looked like a completely down-at-the-hill (zaniedbany, zapuszczony) jungle! But luckily I had an accommodation for my second night. Everything went without saying.
The next morning I wasn't as content as I had been the day before. I realised that the Survival School isn't for people like me - I must have everything planned and I don't imagine me looking for a job, food or a place to sleep day by day.
But I went back home with a slightly bigger wealth of experience (bagaż doświadczeń).

Irena Sendler

 

     I'd like to focus on Irena Sandler and her merit for humanity. Irena Sendler was born in 1910 in Warsaw. She was a nurse and a social worker during the World War Second. She loved helping others. Her father was a doctor and he had treat everyone who was in need, regardless of religion, race or the social status. He was extremaly dedicated to the social work. I think that he was for her an authority and she wanted to be as good as he was. I really appreciate her, exactly her kindness. Before the creation of the Warsaw's ghetto, she had joined a party 'Zegota' which was oriented to help the Jews. As a social worker she was given an entry to the ghetto and she brought there food everyday. She wore a Star of David as a sign of solidarity with the Jews and that helped her not to be recognised (it was a very dangerous act, she could be arrested and sentenced to death). But the most important thing she did was the salvage of about 2500 Jewish children. She was looking for foster homes for them. Few years ago, Norman Conard, an American teacher, wrote a play "Life in a Jar" and described the project of saving other's lives by Irena Sendler. Irena noted the real names of Jewish children and names of their families in short strips of paper, then she put them in the jar. She knew that after years it might help the Jews find their birth parents. Irena was given many Orders and Awards, f.ex. Order of the White Eagle or Order of the Smile. She died in 2008 in Warsaw at the age of 98. She should be an authority for others, the good example for help. The movie "The courageous heart of Irena Sendler" from 2009 is based on her history. The heroine played Anna Paquin.

Phone' victims

Nowadays a lot of people is addicted to using mobile phones exactly every time, every moment. Thanks to a well-developped technology we have loads of smartphones which contain plenty of services. In my opinion a large part of children in Poland is spoilt - they have better devices, gadgets than some students or the young. I think that they should have a mobile phone but rather this standard one (for calling and texting messages). Mobile phones are good for maintaining relationships. A short message is a great way to keep in touch with others. I don't mind spending time on the phone if it doesn't last all day. I heard many times about very busy people... busy at listening to music on their brand-new smartphones for their last time... Looking for a new track was much more important than being safe on the road/pavement and unfortunately many people are dead by their carelessness. Their situation was clear - they listened to music loud and they heard nothing around and this is the one thing I couldn't understand. I reckon that listening to music in the city shouldn't be as much strong as the city's noise. I mean - it's good to listen to music to relax when you're walking down the street but it's better to orient what's going on close to you.

Hitchhiking :D

One day when I woke up I realised that I should do something new in my life. It was summer, I worked as a waitress and I had few days off. This decision really satisfied me. I asked my best friend out if she wanted to participate with me in a 'short crazy trip'. Of course, she didn't deny. We had few hours to pack up. My friend is a chatterbox so our plan got around very quickly. Before our meet in the city centre I had some calls from other mates with offer to join us. Unfortunately I had to did away with them because my idea was to go somewhere as cheap as it's possible - by hitchhiking so it would be very difficult to achieve the aim in a group of 5-7 people. I just wanted to cut all the expenses connected with our trip off and I proposed them to meet in Sopot in the evening (Sopot was a destination of our trip). Naturally, it came off but... we were much earlier than we supposed to be! We were really amazed because the trip lasted about 5 hours and we had time to have a look at the sunny city :) It was also a great opportunity to run away from everyday life's problems and the stress connected with long hours at work:)

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Five Card Story: Sweety-Kitty

a Five Card Flickr story created by amywrz

flickr photo by Serenae

flickr photo by Serenae

flickr photo by nessman

flickr photo by Serenae

flickr photo by bionicteaching

For my 20th birthday I was given the sweet small kitty. My best friend Emily thought that I have a lot of warmth in me to take care of one of her grandmother\'s cats. How could I refuse her? The problems started one day when I back home with some very rich silk fabrics which I had to buy to my aunt who is a dressmaker. I put them on the armchair and I went to kitchen to prepare caffe latte. When I got back I notice my sweety-kitty playing in silk fabrics! Of course, all of them were scrached... I decided to take my kitty to the forest where it could meet the nature. It was completely interested in everything there but the most in the beauty green bird on the tree. We returned home and I could finally drink my caffe latte. But my kitty wanted to try it too. I took it on my knees and I saw a visitor pass under the table...yes, I had forgotten about going to my brother\'s company to make a report... If only I could see more than my kitty...

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Find your passion :)))

When I was a little girl, I used to dream  a lot about my future. When somebody asked me who I am going to be, I always answered that I would be a singer, dancer or actress.

Few years later I changed my mind and I was going to became a dentist.

But in my junior high school I realised that one thing  I’m interested in is music. I had some problems with choosing my further education. I used to like money so that’s why I had chosen high school with profiles of maths and physics. And I was quite good but in the last class I started to watch French movies and I was totally fascinated with this language, French culture and their life style – (they are usually easy-going people) and finally I decided to study French philology.

Exactly, I’m really glad that I can learn what I’m interested in. I’m content with my complicated plans from the past. I had a big chance to get to know the scientific life but it wasn’t for me.

What’s more – I finished a short beautician course in novembre – I am a stylist of lashes extensions. And I like this job – I have to have nerves of steel  and I need to be really scrupulous but it’s not as hard as it seems. In my future I imagine being a translator and I want to extend lashes during my free time. But I know that my plans would change because I often change my mind. We’ll see :)

But for this moment I’m glad and I can say that my job is my passion – go and find your own;)

200 years of Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen but also well-known for its adaptations. I mean TV series and a movie.
Unfortunately, I haven't read a novel yet but I saw only the movie because of my favourite actress - Keira Knigthley who played a lead role in this film - Elizabeth Bennet. After that movie, I started to watch costume dramas, for example The Duchess (it's funny because in this movie we can admire Keira Knightley also), The Other Boleyn Girl or Marie Antoinette.

Now, some of my observations between the movie and the TV series:

Here is an episode of the TV series.

And here's an episode of the movie.

In my opinion, that first short-movie seems to be realised more convincingly to what we can read in the novel. It is probably caused by the time of the movie - I read that TV series is 3 times longer than the movie and that's why it might have much more details. Moreover - having a first chapter of the novel in front of me I can compare that the dialogues in this first version are longer and better developed. However, both of them can depict the main idea of the film - give away one of daughters of  Mr. Bennet to a new, handsome and rich man in the neighbourhood, Mr. Bingley.

To summarize it's hard to me to compare these adaptations - I've seen just a movie and for me is
classic and it's in a class of its own. It had had an impact on me - I started to watch costume dramas. I really recommend this movie everyone. In addition, after watching a short episode of the TV series I made my mind to watch them all as soon as possible!

A near miss...

About a week ago I was in a cinema with my cousin. She was a little bit sad because she split up with her boyfriend so I invited her to Poznan with hope of spending good time together. We watched a comedy... exactly a romantic comedy. I had a lot of fun, but I completely didn't know how to behave sitting next to my crying beloved cousin. I was fed up with telling her not to think about her ex so I ignored her tears and sadness and I shortly told her : ''sorry, honey, it's not my business''. I was disappointed because she left the cinema in a minute! I tried to be indifferent but she didn't back... It's impossible! How she could gone without saying nothing? She overreacted! I had to leave a cinema and I realised that I had lost my mobile! It wasn't just a mobile, it was a kind of significance for my - with it, I'd lost my contacts, my photos, videos, short notes... Maybe it was a providence - I wasn't polite to my cousin... I backed home, made a coffee, opened a facebook site and what? A young man left me a message: "Hi, I've just found your mobile near the cinema in the city centre, I phoned you because I recalled the last number you had, a Monika... Can we meet...?" Monika is my cousin, I found out that she took a train and went to her ex. For my happiness - I regained my mobile... I'm glad because I haven't lost anything till now and nowadays there aren't a lot of people who want to help others... :)
If I hadn't been disorganised, I wouldn't have lost my stuff.

If I were...

If I were a stray dog, I would have my dog-friends everywhere. I would eat everything what people eat - of course that's my dream. In fact I would eat some stale food or just detritus. I could have a stress-free life. If I were totally hungry and I was bored eating this awful food, I would go to the butcher's and thanks to my soulfoul eyes I would get some sausages. Unfortunately, life couldn't be as easy as it seems. If I had a problem with food or a shower, I would probably take a train to another city. Then I would have a look in the neighbourhood, find an elderly woman and sleep on her doormat day or maybe two, until she's getting sad and she'll take me to her house. Then I'd do everythig to look really sadly, tired and ill and she will look after me, I'm sure. If it doesn't run, I'll lay all day and look over the window and yelp (skomleć) from time to time. She must be really anxious about me and she will give me some warm milk and boiled chicken with carrots. Firstly, I won't eat that even if I really can but this is my plan. My elderly woman will be sad and she should think about her own life, what happenned to her etc. Then she will cry and what should I do? Of course, I'll drink milk and eat the meat. I will rest her carrots, she will think that I am a really good dog and I wanted to share my meal with her. Then she will love me forever. Of course, my life could be boring. If she goes with me for a walk, I will run. In the evening I can go for a party - I'll meet my few other future-friends - rats, mice, cats and dogs. We will be on the tiles (dobrze się bawić) in the rubbish dump and finally I'll back home and take a bath :) Such a wonderful life.

My first English classes

I have some memories connected with the education. But a few of them I remember the most -  English lessons in a primary school. When I was in the 4th class of the primary school, I started to learn English. I thought it was really easy to learn so I decided not to learn it at home, just to be active and participate in lessons (I made up my mind to do the same with the rest of my subjects). Yeah, I was this age when all the pupils  thought that they are the smartest so do I :) All the kids were really self-confident. One day unfortunately I had been ill, I was absent for about one week. My friend Martyna gave me the notes but I ignored them. When I fully recovered, I back to school and... for my first lesson I had an English test! I was disappointed! I knew nothing so I wrote this test very badly. I regretted that I didn't learn and I felt that I will get the worst note in the class. Finally - I got my first 1 (the worst mark) in my life! But this step  has also its advantages - I started to learn, not only English but for the rest of subjects :)