In love with Impressionism.

When I was in elementary school (between the age of 8-15), I remember we had a class called "plastyka". It was divided into 2 parts:

1. Theory, during which together with the teacher we discussed different movements in art, we talked about great painters and sculptors, we prepared "speeches" introducing various "themes".

2) Practice, during which we "created" our pieces of art. We used various techniques to present our reality, to express our feelings and emotions.

While I loved the first part, I couldn't stand the other one. I'm not saying I am not creative but I despised having to do things "because the teacher told me so". I hated being rushed (each class was a block of 2 single lessons and had a total duration of 1.5h) and told what I should draw or paint and what technique I had to use.

Nonetheless, let's concentrate on the first part. I loved to read and find out about the history of art, I loved looking at the pictures in books presenting various works, various artists. Later, during the secondary school and my university years I never had a chance to take up a course like this. Don't really know why. I didn't even read much about art that time.

Something changed, something broke last year. I participated in Monet's exhibition in Milan.

The exhibition was called "Monet. Il tempo delle ninfee" (here you can see the pictures of the paintings) and was presenting a collection of works created by Monet during his stay in Japan and done under the influence of Japanese gardens and plants. I was truly impressed. Seeing the pictures with the right lightening, from the right distance and perspective was so different from looking at them in the books and magazines; I thrived on seeing the pictures "live"!

Afterwards, I got a chance to stop by Pavia, a small (although important) town near Milan where I came across an interesting exhibition of drawings by Marc Chagall (Marc Chagall. Le anime morte):

Seeing my enthusiasm and interest, my bf's brother and his gf (both of whom came to see this exhibition with us), gave me a book of Marc Chagall as a present for Christmas last year. This was my first "art book" and I loved it. By the way you can get it from here. And this is the book:

This year, I was fortunate enough to attend the exhibition of Dalì, again in Milan (it is held until January 30 so you're still in time to see it!) and I liked it too, especially that you have a unique chance to see some video documents presenting Dalì in various situations and circumstances, during interviews and public demonstrations. His genius, eloquence and creativity is revering and shocking at the same time. The use of irony in his creative life defines him as a person and artist. He was Dalì, the Artist, both in private and public. I enjoyed the exhibition, even though after seeing it, now, I know that Symbolism is not my cup of tea. I'm absolutely more attracted to Monet's style, to Impressionism. That's why, I searched for a bit on the Internet and found a course, a series of  24 30mins lectures (in 2 versions, as a audio book and video-lectures accompanied by a handbook) taught by Richard Bretell, a Ph.D professor of University of Texas at Dallas. And so now, whenever I walk Artù, whenever I drive a car, my IPod is always on and I get carried away by the amazing history of art told in an incredibly interesting and amusing way. Usually, I listen to each lectures twice or even three times in a row so that I can remember as much details as possible. Once I finish the audio version of these lectures, I'm going to watch them so that I have a better understanding of the pictures that Mr Bretell describes.

Last weekend I was in Rome for work. Fortunately I had also some "free time". I couldn''t do otherwise but to visit an exhibition held in Complesso del Vittoriano (by many called as a "Wedding Cake" because of its color and shape) dedicated to Van Gogh. "Vincent Van Gogh: Campagna senza Tempo. Città Moderna!" is the full name of it and presents over 70 pieces of art in which Vincent shows his love of the countryside as a fixed set piece and his attachment to the city. What's interesting, apart from Van Gogh, you can see over 40 paintings by Gauguin, Pissarro, Millet, Cézanne or Seurat. Absolutely marvellous!

Tomorrow I'm leaving for a work conference in Madrid. I'm so excited! Not only will I be in this city for the first time in my life and will I meet all the people I have a contact with only via email or skype but I hope I will also have a chance to see another Impressionism painter exhibition. In Museo Nazional del Prado, there's Renoir's exhibition! It's called "Passion for Renoir" and I really hope I'll have a chance to see it!

Looking at the list of exhibitions I have had a chance to attend during the last 2 years, I must say: I'M IMPRESSED! Wow, I've seen quite a lot! : )

Therefore here are the books published by Taschen which I'd be happy to receive as a present. Christmas is behind the corner! : )

1. 2-volume monography: "Impressionism" by Ingo F.Walther 

2. "Cézanne" by Hajo Duchting

3.   "Monet or The Triumph of Impressionism" by Daniel Wildenstein

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I promise to take some pics from Madrid! : )

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I totally agree. 3-month break without notice is a gross exaggeration.

Yeah, I know, I'm sorry to all of you who wrote me emails, sent me requests for posts, updating my blog, etc. I had very tiresome summer, guys. New job, a lot of new chores and duties, changing the offices, this all entails a load of work, dedication and time. I'm sure you all understand. Since it's no sense for me to update you on every single day of this summer, I just want to update you on my life in general. Work, as you can imagine is going very well, no boredom, no repetitiveness, no routine! What I particularly like about it is the freedom and trust the agency gives me. I really feel independent and happy now: I work hard but in harmony with myself, with my priorities and my style. I truly thrive on this. On the more personal note, well nothing changed, there's still three of us: bf, Artù and I and we are still living in the same place, a small town in Sicily. My bf and I have had a chance to spend 12-day holidays together (the first ones since 2008) and we participated in one of the most beautiful weddings ever, the one of my Polsih best friend, M and her Dutch fiancé, R. It was gorgeous.

Fall has come to Sicily too. We've got grey, overcast sky, rain and puddles, chilly mornings and evenings, and you can spot more and more colorful umbrellas, raining boots and sweaters in the streets. It doesn't mean we don't have sunny days anymore, we do! But you can feel in the air it's not summer anymore.

This summer I have had a chance to listen to "Eat Pray Love" audiobook (talking of which, I love the idea of audiobooks!), read by the author herself, Elizabeth Gilbert and I'm abashed to admit, still haven't seen the movie! I'm absolutely enthusiastic about the plot and the book and really hope the film with come up to my expectations. Right now I'm finishing the Twilight Saga (I'm in the middle of "Breaking Down") and I must say I'm really bewildered by how the story goes... Since none of my friends who had already read the book, revealed the plot of the last part to me, I am completely taken aback!

Anyway, I will do my best to be a better blogger from now on and that this fall will bring lots of interesting things to write about. Let's have a lovely Autumn together!

PS. By the way, how do you like my new background? Isn't it lovely? : )

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Let the show begin!

I'm sure lots of posts have been dedicated to FIFA World Cup in South Africa so far.  As soon as  I think of South Africa, I think of Nelson Mandela, the film "Evictus" and... Sarah. Sarah, a big hug to you from me! Unfortunately Poland didn't qualify so I will be rooting for Italians. No one really believes here that the miracle could happen twice (yeah, if you remember, Italy won the last World Cup 4 years ago). What are your picks? Today first 2 matches: 

1) RSA-Mexico

2) France-Uruguay

Are you going to watch? I supposedly will. Not that I don't have a choice (because I don't, considering that I live with ex assistant referee) but also because somehow I am excited about this international event. And to make my bf angry, I will be counting on France (4 years ago the final match was between and France and Italy and the latter won the Championship by the skin of their teeth thanks to penalties : )

What are your plans for the weekend? Mt bf and I are going to Catania tomorrow afternoon and then on Sunday I'm "working": we are having the Sailing Tour of the Mediterranean Sea with the students. I would be exhilarated if it wasn't for my seasickness... Today I'm going to the pharmacy to get a bunch of remedies. Hope it will help.

Have a wonderful weekend, full of positive emotions and vibrations! : )) And don't scream too loud! Or get some lozanges... just in case ; )

PS. Would you believe me if I said that one of my friend bought this car...

 ...and I actually had a ride in it a few days ago? : ) Yes, this is the moment when I should hear a big collective sigh of envy : ))

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Last weekend & Artù update!

Last weekend I worked. Well, maybe it's exaggerated if I call it work: on Saturday I went kayaking and on Sunday I went to Cavagrande, one of the most beautiful natural reserves in Sicily. I had fun, plus I got my first suntan this year : ) Accompanying students to these places is a part of my job. Isn't it great?! Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on the kayaking event, but I took some pics in Cavagrande. Take a look:

... and then, as I promised some posts ago, here's Artù. He's 23 kg now, still very lazy and still very sweet : )

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Rollercoaster.

I'm on a rollercoaster. Emotionally and physically. I feel elated and I'm walking on air one day and a bit out of sorts the other one. I am up with the larks on Monday and I'm full of energy the whole day and then on Tuesdsay I'm drowsy and would sleep the whole day long. Is it normal?

I'm happy because I'm finally doing what I like: teaching. Preparing students for tests and exams make me happy. Plus, I find time to go to the gym and meet my friends, to arrange things at home and prepare some good soups for dinner. Plus the dog : ) Cannot wait. By the way, thank you all for the comments on my last post. I'll post many pics of Artù, you can be sure of that.

On the other hand, I'm a bit worried about the future. I know the most important is to do what one likes best. But it might not be enough at times. Ok, I lost a job but it's not the end of the world, is it?! My Dad is freaking out about me being unemployed, without a "decent, secure" job that will allow me to have a good pension when I retire. So I start to reconsider. Is money that important? One's well-being is not enough anymore? I'm so sick of his constant asking me if I found sth. Yes, I'm looking, but no luck so far. I have been working for 4 years in the office, mundane, repetitive weeks, no time for myself, only day-to-day chores and tasks and don't want to accept sth just for the sake of my future. I want to cherish this time. I get by, I'm not starving. I'm earning enough to feel comfortable, I'm enjoying myself doing things I had never time for. I can take care of a puppy I have been dreaming of all my life. So please please let me be happy...

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New Year Resolutions.

Foreword:

According to Oxford Dicitionary:

"reso•lution /rezlun/ noun 4 [C] ~ (to do sth) a firm decision to do or not to do sth: She made a resolution to visit her relatives more often. Have you made any New Year’s resolutions (= for example, to give up smoking from 1 January)?"

It's new year and it's time to set the goals. I like to do this kind of brainstroming in my head. The thing is it will be the first time I'm doing it on my blog, it is usually all clear and set in my head only but when the old year finishes, I barely remember what the list really included...

Therefore this time should be different. I will be able to see my list at the end of the year and check if/how many of the goals I managed to achieve. Let's see them together.

1. Getting a job.


Not any job. I want a job that becomes my passion and that I'm utterly enthousiastic about. I'm ready to work hard and dedicate myself fully to the assigned tasks but I want a job which is rewarding, not only economically. I want a job that allows me to grow mentally, to meet interesting, intelligent people, to simply enjoy the time spent in the workplace. I know it's a big challenge, especially nowadays. The biggest goal for me this year.

2. To have a dog...


...and be a good, responsible owner. I'd like to raise a dog which is good well-trained and tolerant and which listens to me and obeys me.

3. Look for a new appartment.

The one we've been living up to now is slowly becoming too small... so maybe it's time to look around. It seems easy... ? Maybe. The snag is that I really love my present appartment, and so my standards are really high... I mean I have a small, cosy flat with a medium sized terrace where I can spend my free time and read books or just sunbathe and I realise it will be hard to find sth similar... Yes, we are in Sicily, so the presence of terraces is not sth rare but usually they're surrounded by other buildings (i.e. other people's flats who are nosy, prying and have nothing else to do but staring in other people's windows, balconies and terraces...) How disgusting! The next thing is to find a flat with some green areas around. I miss going to the park. Yeah, but you have sea just around the corner. True, but being brought up in a semi-deatched house with garden and a park 200m away from it somehow left a trace... and now I miss it.

4. Go to NY.


I want to go to see if what I imagine about NY is true, I need to see the yellow cabs and the place where 2 towers of the World Trade Center were placed. I need to see the shops, the NY style and fashion, the people.

5. Learn touch typing.

You can believe it or not but I'm still using 2 fingers only when typing and I constantly look at the keyboard... Nonetheless, I make many errors and need to edit texts a lot of times before publishing or printing anything... I'll give myself a year to learn to use all 10 fingers and to increase the speed of typing. Then I'll post a video showing you my progess : )

I really feel this year is going to be a good one. I can see possibilities, I can feel opportunities. Sky is the limit. I wish all of you to have a wonderful year!

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This season, this time...

First of all, I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the warm words you had for me before my work as an interpreter during the conference. You're all the best! It was great! We have received some official feedback and it was extremely positive! : ) I'd be elated if I could have working experiences like that on a daily basis : )

So as you can see, I have officialy started the Christmas season. Despite the fact that this year I'm going to spend it in sunny Sicily (which you can associate with anything but winter and Christmas), and not in white, cold (I hope) Poland, I cannot resist the Christmas spell, charm. and beauty.. Deva, I'm soo envious of your spending Christmas in PL!

So I'm here, changing the blog template for more festive, preparing the Christmas decorations I'm going to use to embellish my appartment this weekend while listening to Christmas songs/carols. Yet, this Christmas is also different from the others because we're all going to avoid the present-shopping frenzy... Actually, we have decided to help a family we know who is in big financial trouble and need money to cure the 2 paralysed children... it's better this way. Of course I need to buy at least one present for my bf. He deserves it, he never wants anything from me and at least at this time of the year he cannot refuse and decline it (yeah, I know YOU are reading it now)!

Apart from that, I'm really fine. We have some rain instead of snow but I'm still dedicating my time to apply to different public schools as an English tutor (I suppose everything will finish at the end of December and then in January they will conduct interviews followed by the official announcements of the "verdict"). We'll see.

On the other note, I have just discovered the newest CD of Alicia Keys- "The Element of Freedom"... Wow! Bewitching! You all want to have it, I'm sure! : ) Just listen to the first 2-3 songs and tell me you don't like it.. Come on, I'm challenging you!

Have a wonderful evening everyone! Tonight I'm going out to my bf's cousin's Birthday Party. Hope it'll be fun : )

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If I were single...

Hello everyone! Today is Sunday and I'm trying to prepare (at least mentally) for tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm going to work as an interpreter during a conference-talk show on the importance of tomoatoes in the Mediterranean diet. I'm excited and horrified at the same time. A famous American professor from Ohio is coming down here to Sicily with his wife (a neurosurgeon) to have a discussion with all the invited guests (politicians, researchers, and normal farmers). For the sake of the latter (and for mine as well) I hope the language is not going to be too elaborate. I love being challenged and it happens quite often that I accept sth and then regret having done so a minute after the decision is taken.. But then I always get by, I always do my best not to disillusion people who count on me and I succeed. Likewise, it costs me a lot of stress and health...

Anyway, in order to chill out and relax, I'd like to tell you how I imagine my life if I were single. Not that I'm considering a change of the relationship status! Not at all! It was my Mum who showed me some of these pictures and I thought I'd like to decorate my flat this way if I were single. What do you think?

PS. In the beginning I thought of putting these pics "stitched" together, all with nice, stylish frames, etc. But it turns out you can't learn Photoshop in 10 mins.. HELP!!!! : )




















That doesn't mean that I'm crazy... and would never imagine to have a Christmas tree like this...



or a house like that:


Have a wonderful week, everyone!

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