Anastasia

National Stereotypes.

The tourist trade is booming. With all this coming and going, you'd expect greater understanding to develop between the nations of the world. Not a bit of it ! Superb systems of communication by air, sea and land make it possible for us to visit each other's countries at a moderate cost. What was once the "grand tour", reserved for only the very rich, is now within everybody's grasp. The package tour and chartered flights are not to be sneered at. Modern trevellers enjoy a level of comfort which the lords and ladies on grand tours in the old days couldn't have dreamed of. But what's the sense of this mass exchange of populations if the nations of the world remain basically ignorant of each other ?

 

Many tourist agents are directly responsible for this state of affairs. They deliberately set out to protect their clients from too much contact with the local population. The modern tourist leads a cosseted, sheltered life. He lives at international hotels, where he eats his international food and sips his international drink while he gazes at the natives from a distance. Conducted tours at places of interest are carefully censored. The tourist is allowed to see only what the organisers want him to see. A strict schedule makes it impossible for the tourist to wander off on his own; and , anyway, language is always a barrier, so he is only too happy to be protected in this way . At its very worst, this leads to a new and hideous kind of colonisation.

 The ..summer quarters of the inhabitants of the cité universitaire...are temporarily re-established on the island of Corfou. Blackpool is recreated at Mallorca or Torremolinos where the traveller goes not to eat paella but ...fish and chips! The sad thing of this situation is that it leads to the persistence of national stereotypes. We don't see the people of other nations as they really are, but as we have been brought up to believe they are ! You can test this for yourself. Take 5 nationalities , say, French, German, English,American and Italian. Now, in your mind, match them with these 5 adjectives : musical, amorous, cold, pedantic, naive. Far from providing us with any insight into the national chraracteristics of the peoples just mentioned, these adjectives actually act as barriers.

 So, when you set out on your travels, the only characteristics you notice are those which confirm your pre-conceptions. Greeks danse like Zorba and break plates, Italians are lazy , the Dutch are industrious, the British are hypocrites and reserved. You ony have to make a few foreign friends to understand how absurd and harmful national stereotypes are. Carried to an extreme, national stereotypes can be extremely dangerous. Wild generalisations stir up racial hatred and blind us to the basic fact - how trite it sounds ! - that all people are human. As T.S.Eliot put it: "All cases are unique and yet similar to each other".

The Warmth of Moral Satisfaction

Here I am, after a long day at work, typing this blog while lying on the carpet by the fireplace.It's been bitterly cold since Monday - it was only 7*C in my car yesterday when I set off to work at 9:30 am. Oh, how I hate it when it's freezing! It's been ages I haven't put on a coat to go to work! But summer will come again!!!

The oxymoron was ...cold warmth! It was that very special warmth of moral satisfaction when I looked up the IGCSE results on the British Council site for November 2009. I just could not believe it! All my students passed! Not one single failure! And what's more, there was only ONE A in Larnaca and that went to Nicolas - one of my 2009 IGCSE students. In the speaking test he got Grade 1 meaning A*. I remember his excitement when he got back from the Speaking Test and said the examiner told him it was a pleasure talking to him. And then I told him he'd pass with flying colours! And that was the second A in IGCSE ESL for my school,  after Kyriacos who got his A in May 2009 and Grade 1 in speaking. Both boys are 16-year-olds. In most other countries of the world , it's so hard to find kids, teenagers who speak a second language very well. And , please , allow me to say that I am very proud of my kids! I am very proud of all of them because  a  B or a C are great results as they constitute passports to all British universities and great qualifications in their adult lives.

I guess I am a bit overexcited tonight. I don't see that as MY success as most language schools do. For one simple reason: it wasn't MY success. It was the kids' success and they deserve all the credit. But it was MY very own moral satisfaction which is worth millions of euros!

Queen Rania of Jordan at Yale

I thought I'd share with you this conversation with Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan whom I have always admired for her culture and education as well as for her elegance and active involvement in worthy causes in Jordan and all over the world. I believe it's worth taking some of your precious time to watch this.

 

 

FROM MY FRIEND WALID

Friday's Top Ten Reasons Why to Live in Cyprus

The peninsula of Akamas, Paphos

After having lived in Switzerland for 8 years, I fell in love with the country which I still regard as my second country. That's where I got a sound university degree, but most importantly, that's where I fell in love for the first time and that's where I got married to the man of my life. So, I had quite a few reasons to stay in Geneva. However, our work permit wasn't renewed and soon after we got married, Alkis and I left the country for Corfu, Greece.  My husband had already got a very good job there, but we had to find accommodation as well. In March 1984 we travelled there to find a decent flat. Instead of a flat, I found a job at a local language centre. Later, we rented a house instead of a flat. But Alkis was unhappy there. He didn't like the place nor the workplace. And that was when we decided to try Cyprus - my home land. I hated it then and it was really hard to make new beginnings in what Larnaca was then a little bigger than a village! And so different from hometown Nicosia! In the long run, neither Alkis nor me have ever regretted this decision.

 
Phinicoudes Esplanade , Larnaca

Twenty-five years later, I feel happy to be living and working in Cyprus for the following top ten reasons:

10. You can easily combine swimming in the sea and skiing in the mountains only a a couple of hours after you have been...water sking! That's if you are lucky enough to get snow in March!

9. A serious crime in Cyprus, like a murder,  occurs every 5 years or so. So it's big news when it occurs!

8. The lowest salary for a citizen of the Republic with a university degree is well over €800,

7. Unemployment  is still maintained at relatively low levels - 5.4% amongst the active population in April 2009.

6. Freedom of speech is important and encouraged by  every single president of the Republic.

5. Civil servants can have holidays whenever they want! Even at work!

4. You don't risk having your car stolen. It's a small island, where would the thief go without being caught within a few hours?

3. The voice of the citizen counts a lot regardless of political orientation.

2. It's sunny 300 days a year and sometimes more.

1. It's still safe to raise a family.

Thirteen Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You!

 

1. Of course, I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

 6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink-----and the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom......and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-------understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.

12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)

 

8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.

4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.

8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

 Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book "Burglars on the Job. "

 

From My Friend Faith

Tuesday's Positive Thoughts - The Affirmative Mind

Affirmation is one of the most basic ways to reprogram

your subconscious mind.

It is simply a process of repeating your goals or new

beliefs that you want to instill on your subconscious.

This can be done in the form of writing, saying verbally

or mentally, listening or acting, until the statement is

fixed into your subconscious mind.

If an affirmation comes from yourself, it is called

autosuggestion. If it comes from other people, it is

called heterosuggestion. It's that simple!

Some examples of autosuggestion include:

- repeating your affirmations aloud or mentally;

- writing down your affirmations;

- listening to your self-recorded autosuggestion tape;

- pretending to be the person whom you want to be. (i.e.

put yourself in the shoe of someone you admire and

pretend that you are the person.)

Some examples of heterosuggestion include:

- listening to self-help, affirmation or subliminal CDs;

- reading books and articles;

- listening to parents', siblings' or friends' opinions;

-Watching TV programs.

Like it or not, you are already practicing affirmation

everyday.

When you talk, your subconscious listens. When you

grumble about your life, your subconscious listens and

obediently follows your instruction by giving you the

kind of life that you keep on grumbling about!

So from now onwards, watch what you say, especially what

you say repeatedly.

I believe very few people seriously practice

autosuggestion everyday. That's why there are fewer

successful people in this world.

Warning!!! If you don't auto-suggest, you will be

hetero-suggested. Everyday, you hear your friends

complaining that the economy is bad, it's hard to pick a

good stock these days, life is tough etc.

When you listen repeatedly, your subconscious mind

starts to believe that it is true. Then you will see in

your reality that it's true (because of the law of

attraction). Finally, you are convinced that it is true.

If you do not want to be a victim of hetero-suggestion,

it's important that you do affirmation everyday.

Here are some affirmations you can do.

Every day in every way I’m getting better and better.

Everything is coming to me easily and effortlessly.

I am a radiant being, filled with light and love.

I am naturally enlightened.

My life is blossoming in total perfection.

I have everything I need to enjoy my here and now.

I am the master of my life.

Everything I need is already with me.

It’s okay for my to have everything I want!

This is a rich universe and there’s plenty for all of

us.

Abundance is my natural state of being. I accept it now!

Infinite riches are now freely flowing into my life.

Every day I am growing more financially prosperous.

The more I give, the more I receive and the happier I

feel.

You can either write or read these affirmations before

you sleep and after you wake up, or record them and

listen to the recording over and over again before you

sleep.

The key to success in affirmation is repetition.

Your subconscious mind is like your muscle. You have to

keep affirming it with things that you want.

If you are lazy to do affirmation everyday, someone else

will do the job for you and the result is always not

something you want!

To me, the simplest way to keep myself positive is to

listen to good self-help CDs everyday on my journey to

my office.

The advantage of doing that is twofold:

1. It allows me to start my day with a positive mental

attitude.

2. It cleans up my subconscious mind with positive

beliefs so that my subconscious is not polluted by all

the negative opinions that I hear in my work space.

If you do not have any good affirmation CDs, I highly

recommend the CDs from Think Right Now. Mike Brescia

calls them the Accelerated Success Conditioning

Programs. These programs are capable of instilling

powerful thinking, beliefs and attitude into your

subconscious mind. When that is done, your subconscious

mind will do its part by changing your reality. There is

no subliminal messages. You hear every word consciously

and subconsciously. It's a wonderful program.

Source: http://www.subconscious-secrets.com

Your future is created by what you do today, not

tomorrow. – Robert T. Kiyosaki

 

Monday's Greek Recipe - Baklava II

The Assyrians at around 8th century B.C. were the first people who put together a few layers of thin bread dough, with chopped nuts in between those layers, added some honey and baked it in their primitive wood burning ovens. This earliest known version of baklava was baked only on special occasions. In fact, historically baklava was considered a food for the rich until mid-19th century.

In Turkey, to this day one can hear a common expression often used by the poor, or even by the middle class, saying: "I am not rich enough to eat baklava and boerek every day".

The Greek seamen and merchants travelling east to Mesopotamia soon discovered the delights of Baklava. It mesmerized their taste buds. They brought the recipe to Athens. The Greeks' major contribution to the development of this pastry is the creation of a dough technique that made it possible to roll it as thin as a leaf, compared to the rough, bread-like texture of the Assyrian dough. In fact, the name "Phyllo" was coined by Greeks, which means "leaf" in the Greek language. In a relatively short time, in every kitchen of wealthy households in the region, trays of baklava were being baked for all kinds of special occasions from the 3rd Century B.C. onwards. The Armenians, as their Kingdom was located on ancient Spice and Silk Routes, integrated for the first time the cinnamon and cloves into the texture of baklava. The Arabs introduced the rose-water and cardamom. The taste changed in subtle nuances as the recipe started crossing borders. To the north of its birthplace, baklava was being baked and served in the palaces of the ancient Persian kingdom. To the west, it was baked in the kitchens of the wealthy Roman mansions, and then in the kitchens of the Byzantine Empire until the fall of the latter in 1453 A.D. That was when the Turks stole our special dessert - the baklava!

In the 15th Century A.D., the Ottomans invaded Constantinople to the west, and they also expanded their eastern territories to cover most of ancient Assyrian lands and the entire Armenian Kingdom. The Byzanthine Empire came to an end, and in the east the Persian Kingdom lost its western provinces to the invaders. For four hundred years from the 16th Century on, until the decline of Ottoman Empire in the 19th Century, the kitchens of Imperial Ottoman Palace in Constantinople became the ultimate culinary hub of the empire.

Here's how to make the genuine greek baklava:

Ingredients

400g walnuts, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
150-200g butter, melted
@18 sheets fillo pastry
Syrup
400ml water
400g sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon lemon juice
4-5 tablespoons honey

Directions

1.Select a large oblong roasting tray, approx 35 x 25 cm.
If the fyllo pastry is frozen, you will need to thaw it, but keep a clean dry cloth over it as you work to keep it from drying out.Grease the bottom and sides of baking tray.

2.Mix the walnuts, cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.Taking one sheet of fyllo at a time, brush the melted butter very thinly all over the top of the pastry. Lay in the baking tray, if it is too wide or long, hang it over the sides for now.Repeat with the fyllo until there are five sheets of pastry in the tray.

3. Spread half the walnut filling evenly over the pastry.Add three more sheets of fyllo pastry, brushing each layer with melted butter before adding to the tray.Spread the remainder of the walnut mixture over the pastry.If there is any excess pastry up the sides of the tray or hanging over the tray, fold them in over the walnut filling.

If the pastry is a lot larger than the tray, cut the sheets of pastry down to just a tiny bit wider and longer than the tray (to allow for shrinkage when cooking).

4. Finish by adding about 8 or 10 more sheets of fyllo on top, buttering each sheet every time. If the pastry sheets are a bit too big, just fold them back over themselves each time.

5. With a sharp knife, carefully cut small diamond or square shapes, only cutting through the top few layers. This will make it much easier to slice once cooked.

6. Take a cup of cold water and using your fingers, sprinkle a little water over the top of the baklava. This will help prevent the cut pastry from curling up whilst cooking.Place the baking tray in a preheated oven, 180 C, for 30 to 45 minutes, until golden. Cut the slices through to the bottom.

7. Leave to cool completely in the tray, soaking in the aromatic syrup.Remove the slices one at a time from the tray.Baklava will keep for 2-3 days, at room temperature.An alternative filling could include a mixture of walnuts and pistachios.

Source: Ultimate Guide to Greek Food

Paphos - January 2010

 

Day 1 - Saturday, January 2, 2010

Alkis had been working throughout the holiday season, so that was a well-earnt weekend off work. Paphos is our most favourite destination on weekends away. We set off early for Aphrodite's birthplace. As always when we travel to Paphos, we stopped at the village of Pissouri on the outskirts of Lemesos to have a drink before heading westwards to the town of Paphos. We arrived just in time for lunch and after having checked in at The Elysium Hotel, we had souvla at a nearby tavern. It was warm and sunny albeit a bit windy but we sat outside to contemplate the foamy waves out of which emerged the Greek goddess of beauty and love. The photo above was taken during our morning walk at Paphos harbour and yet another visit to Paphos Castle.

A brief stop at the village of Pissouri

Day 2 - January 3, 2010

After a ....huge breakfast, we went for a walk to Kato Paphos by the harbour. It was quite crowded but we did enjoy our espressos in the sun and later lunch consisting of fresh deep-fried calamari, red mullet and a  grilled synagrita (red snapper) which came with crispy chips. There was no place for dessert! We spent the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel. And then , in the evening we went out for dinner at Domus Restaurant and had some ...sinful Italian pasta and then back to the hotel where we enjoyed after-dinner drinks in a ....semi-medieval environment - low lighting and candles on every table.

Alkis by the castle. He almost looks like a ..modern medieval knight in ...jeans, doesn't he?

Relaxing at the hotel with freshly brewed coffee and biscuits!

Day 3 - January 4, 2010

We set off back to Larnaca soon after breakfast but did enjoy a shopping spree in Lemesos as sales had already started!

More photos

   

Switzerland or A Paradise on Earth

The popularized image of Switzerland is almost too perfect and timeless: spectacular Alpine scenery, cozy mountain chalets, dazzling ski runs, window boxes spilling over with red geraniums, tidy cities set on serene lakes, elegant grand hotels. Though you'll undoubtedly encounter these along the way, they don't present a complete picture of this modern country. Switzerland may guard its neutrality and assert its independence, but it is very much an active participant in the world.

If you're going for the scenery or for the skiing, there are few places that can equal it (in quality or high prices). And there are few places as clean, safe and orderly as Switzerland. Likewise, few countries have such diversity in terms of culture and language: German is prevalent in Zurich and the northern, central and eastern regions; French in Geneva and the western region; Italian in Lugano and the southern region; and Romansh in St. Moritz and the southestern region. Despite its varied cultures and linguistic traditions, Switzerland is one of the most politically and economically stable countries in the world.

Switzerland is also known as "Confoederatio Helvetica", therefore the abbreviation CH. "Confoederatio" stands for "confederation", "Helvetica" derives from the Latin word "Helvetier", the name of the people who lived in the area which became later Switzerland.

The white cross on the red back  has a religious background. The cross represents the cross, Jesus was put on, the red colour represents his blood.
Each arm of the cross has to be of the same size and must be 1/6 longer than wide.

The capital of Switzerland is Bern City, also the capital of the canton.

Year	Fact
1848	The Swiss Federation changes from a Union of States to a Confederation. Its first Federal Constitution ("Bundesverfassung") is set up.
1864	Foundation of the International Red Cross
1872	Start of the construction of the railway across the alps ("Gotthardbahn").
1882	Opening of the "Gotthardbahn".
1932	Swiss physician Auguste Piccard sets record when he reaches a height of 16'940 m with his balloon. This was the first ballon equipped with a preassure cabin.
1-feb-1959	Vaud was the first canton to give women the vote, followed by Neuchâtel (27-sep-1959) and Genève (6-mar-1960).
1960	Jacques Piccard (son of Auguste Piccard mentioned above) sets record when he dives together with american Don Walsh in a Bathyscaphe (special type of submarine) called "Trieste" as low as 10'916 m below sea level.
1971	Swiss people vote for the women's suffrage.
1978	Some villages leave the state Bern and found the new state Jura.
2-oct-1984	The combined federal assembly ("Vereinigte Bundesversammlung") elected Elisabeth Kopp as the first woman as Bunderat (executive authority). Ms. Kopp had to step back on 12.1.1989 due to some possible illegal activities of her husband.
30-apr-1989	Appenzell Ausserrhoden was the last canton to give women the vote; Appenzell Innerrhoden had to be forced by the Swiss federal court ("Bundesgericht") to give women the vote (27-nov-1990).
1992	Swiss people vote against becoming a member of the EEA (european economic area).
31-jul-1992	Claude Nicollier (born 2-sep-1944) takes off on board of the space shuttle Atlantis (ST-46) and becomes the first Swiss in space.
10-mar-1993	The combined federal assembly ("Vereinigte Bundesversammlung") elected Ruth Dreifuss as the second woman as Bunderat (executive authority).

The scent of alpine flowers and spicy herbs is in the air again and the faint ting-a-ling of the cow and the goat bells accompanies hikers from alp to alp. Mountains and valleys are magnificently decked out. The natural experience of Switzerland is unique and so varied that you can hike and experience new things for weeks: snow-reliable mountains, slopes galore, winter hiking through fairytale landscapes, and resorts packed with character.

In some parts of Switzerland, people still live their lives in symbiosis with nature - a close interaction that continues to benefit both. For countless generations, the farming population has lovingly tended and vitalized the charming Alpine landscape. Some of the farmers know everything about local mushrooms and are experts at their cultivation, others seem to speak the language of marmots. It's truly fascinating to see how a mountain farmer leads his daily life.

Mysterious moors, rushing waterfalls cascading down the mountains, jagged rock formations, and lush Alpine meadows covered with flowers never fail to enchant the onlooker. Quaint inns devoid of luxury - but with all the more charm and ambience - offer more than just accommodation. Here you will find total relaxation, leisure time to breathe deeply, to marvel at the simple things in life, which make Switzerland so wonderful.

My Car and a Cat!

I got up early  today looking forward to my body pump class at 10 am. Having prepared all my gym gear , I got into the car and ... something weird happened! I inserted the switch key into the ignition and the engine started causing the car to move ...backwards or ...forwards. But on no account would it turn left or right ! Something was definitely wrong with the steering wheel !

Cnsidering that I am far from being mechanically minded - especially as far as car engines are concerned - I called hubby in tears - this time, they were not crocodile tears !! He told me that I might have locked the steering wheel and  all I had to do was to move it left or right so that it would unlock ! So I did ...but it wouldn't. Then I called my mechanic who repeated the same thing ! I didn't think it was important to mention that the engine would start none-the-less.

I did as he said , more or less exactly the same thing as hubby said ! ( I wonder why men are so self-confident as far as car engines are cocerned ! ) But no result ! I called the mechanic back .. and asked him to come and see what was wrong with the car ...  So he did ...

Believe it or not ...a cat had niceley settled into my engine just below the steering wheel mechanism. When I started the car , the cat was most probably  scared and leapt away causing the round rubber band (whatver it's called!!) to  slip off its place.... The mechanic found it ... lying on the pavement of my garage. I had seen it , of course, but thought it was part of little Tony's old bike ! Luckily ... curiosity did not kill the cat !! I don't think I could stand the sight of a dead cat in my car engine !

I was quite annoyed to miss my body pump class, but I made up for it tonight and went to the body attack class - my favourite !