Winnipeg Art Gallery

Hello everyone!

I want to tell you about my visit in the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

I went with some friends to see two exhibitions: "The Art of Norman Rockwell" and "Through the Eyes of a Child."
I have never heard of Norman Rockwell before, so much the more I was really impressed by his art and his personality. Norman Rockwell was a famous American painter and illustrator. His works reflected the American culture. He has still many devotees and enjoys great popularity.N. Rockwell is especially famous for his covers he created for the magazine The Saturday Evening Post.


I really love his series "Four Freedoms." The United States President Franklin Roosevelt named four essential human rights during a speech in 1941: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom From Want and Freedom From Fear. Norman Rockwell illustrated this human rights. It is really amazing how his paintings are related so the American culture and society.

Another painting shows a little African American girl going to school accompanied by four US Marshalls. It has a very moving story. This girl was the first African American student at an all-white public school in New Orleans. It was during the time of racial desegregation. She needed protection from the violence and threats against her.


The second exhibition was also very interesting. It is unbelievable how children see the world. Evereything seems to be more colorful and sunny. The children who created the paintings are very talented.


So if you have the possibility to go to the gallery, I really recommend you to visit it.

Cellular phones

Hi!

Today, I want to write about cellular phones. In my opinion, there are some advantages and disadvantages.

One of many advantages is the social factor. You are always available via mobile phone. This way, spontaneous questions can be answered. For example, when my mother asks me to go to the grocery she often forgets something. So she calls me and tells what else should I buy.

Further, thanks to functions like WhatsApp you can take part in the conversations of your friends even if you are not in the same country. You are always up to date.

Cellular phones make flexible appointments possible. So, wherever you are you can arrange something under the impulse of the moment.

Another aspect is safety. With mobile phones you have the possibility to make emergency calls. Furthermore, most of today's mobile phones have an integrated navigation system. So you do not get lost.

Today's mobile phones are also entertainment devices. There are many functions like camera, internet, games etc.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages.

First, people often communicate quickly and superficially.

Another point is that you are always available. This could be a stress factor because you do not have the privacy you want to have.

A further disadvantage of cellular phones is that many people contract debts. They use their mobile phones so much that they lose the overview of their expenses.

Finally, cellular phones have harmful effects on health. In my opinion, this is the biggest disadvantage.  The study of WHO showed that mobile phones are " Possibly carcinogenic to humans." The Intensive use of mobile phones increases the risk to fall ill with a brain tumor to 40%.The experts advice to write more SMS instead of talking via mobile phone, and the use of speaker phone.

( If you want to read more about the WHO study click http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf)

In conclusion, I think that cellular phones are really useful advices but you should use it with caution.

Tell about something you wish had never happened.

Hello!

This time, I want to write about something I wish had never happened.

It was February 18, 2012. I woke up at 5 a.m.. It was a rainy Sunday. My bags were packed, everything seemed to be prepared for my journey to Canada. At that point, I have to mention that my ticket to Canada was really cheap. It was an offer of the airline. I was really happy, excited and waited for my parents to take me to the airport. Although it was really early in the morning, everybody was in a good mood.

As we arrived at the airport, my parents accompany me to the check-in point at the automat. After some problems with the boarding numbers, I finally had my boarding card. After that, I went to the luggage ckeck-in. There I had to show my boarding ticket and my passport. In that moment, I grew pale and became very nervous. I could not believe that I forgot my passport.

In Germany, we have two passports: one is the identification card with which I can travel through whole Europe. Therefore I do not need other documents or verifications. As I travel a lot through Europe I am used that the ID is sufficient to travel.
The other passport is the one for international journeys.

So I stood in front of the counter and realized that I forgot my passport for international journey. According to the federal police at the airport, my ID was not enough. I called my brother to bring my passport as fast as he could. But the airport is 200 km far away from my hometown. He came ten minutes after my flight. So I had to buy another ticket which was really expensive.

This is the most depressing and annoying experience which I wish never had happened.

Ballet

Hello!

Today, I want to write about a ballet performance which I visited March 08, 2012. The plays' name is Giselle.

Giselle is an adorable girl who lives with her mother in a small village. The forester Hilarion loves her and wants to marry her. But one day, Giselle meets the handsome prince Albrecht who hides his real identity and pretends to be a villager. Giselle falls in love with him and accepts Albrecht's hand in marriage, against her mothers' will.

Her happiness seems to be perfect. But the day before the wedding, she finds out the real identity of her fiancé and that he is already engaged to the noble Bathhilde. Her heart is broken and in her madness she seizes his sword and kills herself.

At midnight, the Wilis appear; ghosts of young girls who have been abandoned and have died before their wedding day.  In the hours if darkness, they avenge themselves by dancing to death any men they meet. Giselle was admitted to them by the Wilis' Queen, Myrtha.

That night, prince Albrecht comes sadly to the grave of Giselle to bring her flowers. Suddenly, Giselle appears to him. The Wilis fall upon Albrecht and make him to dance until he dies. Giselle tries to protect him and urges him to the cross. Although, Giselle was commanded by Myrtha to lure Albrecht from the cross, Giselle tries to sustain him. After hours his death seems to be near as dawn breaks. The power of the Wilis is destroyed by daylight. Giselle disappears leaving Albrecht mourning and alone.

This is one of the most beautiful performances I have ever seen.