When one door closes

     I used to hate goodbyes, probably because I'm an emotional one. I still don't like them, though now at least they don't make me sad. A few years ago, I thought that goodbye is the end of something. Now I know that it's rather the beginning of a new. This positive attitude helped me a lot in the past few years.

    To what extent it will be true for this blog is a question of future. What is for sure, that this post is the last official one, since the end of the semester is really close. But hopefully something new will happen later on. Maybe I will use this blog to report my photo shoots, and to publicate some of my pictures. So if you are interested in, come back once.

    Thank you all for reading, and commenting!

    And finally, here is a picture of my own. Not as a farewell, but as a promise for the futre. :)

Would you wear Prada?

     And not just Prada, but any other designer clothes? I think at least 90% of women would say - if not shout - YES! However, looking good has its price that is not always measured in cash. Andy, the fresh out from university, is about to realise that the price is her soul, and her new boss is the bargaining devil itself.

     The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger is usually considered as a novel for and about fashion-lovers. I don't agree with that. Of course, the centre issue is fashion industry, and the view it provides into that is really fascinating, but in depth, it's more than that. It shows how much someone can sacrifice for her dreams: the former life, the boyfriend, and even her values and personality. The question is whether it is worth it. And that is why I changed the title to Would you wear Prada?

     I adore this book for many reasons. One is that the main character rather ignores fashion, and since the novel is from her point of view, it can be an interesting reading also for someone of this type. Another catchy thing about the book is that although we consider Miranda as devilish and cruel, we cannot hate her. Her figure is so evil that she seems to be imaginary, and it's funny what she usually affords to herself. Nevertheless, the story is based on real life experience, which, however, must have been less fun.

I'm gonna be your tourist guide

     Last week I spend two days in Prague, which is the capital of the Czech Republic. Although I have already been there twice, this amazing city has always something new to explore. My last visits took place in September 2006 and in December 2008, so now I could see the city in another season too. The weather was so hot that my spring trip turned out to be rather a summer one. The tour was organised by the travel agency located at our faculty (PTE-BTK). The participants were mainly university students, and fortunately one of my best friends, Rebeka, has also managed to come. We had a great time in Prague and now I'm about to share my adventures.

     We departured from Pécs on Friday evening and spent the whole night on the bus. Though I had already slept on buses several times before, I can't get used to the uncomfortable conditions. Thus, I arrived to Prague on Saturday morning rather sleepy and fretfully. But this city is so engaging and lively that I needed only half an hour and a cup of coffee to get ready for the sightseeing. The walking tour involved some places that were new for me as well. For instance, the Tower of the City Hall. Although I had seen it from the outside before, I had never had the courage to go up there. This time I didn't want to miss it. This idea turned out to be half good and half bad, since I have agoraphobia. But the amazing view finally conquered my horror of heigh. Here are two photos I took up there:

     Later on we had a walk in the Jewish Quarter, and of course passed the Charles Bridge, that should not be missed by anyone visiting Prague. There's also a legend, that is, if you touch the golden figures on the bridge, your wish may come true. Since I'm pretty superstitious, I took advantage of the opportunity. 

     In the evening we had free time from the group so Rebeka and I decided to go to the downtown and drink something. And what to choose in Prague was not a question. Of course, beer was our choice.

     Next day our tour continued in the Castle of Prague, where we unfortunately couldn't get into one of the most famous and beautiful churches of the city. There were so many tourists that we hadn't got the time to queue. :( In the afternoon the group together visited the most well-known inn of the town, U Fleku. Their beer is local made and the place itself was also above expectations with its garden area and live folk music.

    We left Prague only in the evening and I came home with a lot of photos, a nice tan, and unforgettable memories.

Live blog on ?

    Yesterday, on the 4th of May, I attended a very special event. I'm sure you will figure out where I was; if not, the photo can help.

10:55 AM I finally arrive. It surely has not started, since there are loads of people still outside the building.

10:56 AM I try to get in, though it's really challenging because of the crowd. I think I should hurry now.

10:58 AM I manage to find the classroom where they are gathering. Students are already in a line. But I can give my present to her, and she seems to be glad.

11:00 AM The music starts, and it means the beginning of the ceremony. I let them go out first. I'm almost closed into the classroom, but finally I can escape.

11:03 AM I'm standing on the steps. I should get out to the yard where the actual ceremony takes place. However, it's very difficult.

11:06 AM I'm still standing on the steps without moving an inch. I'm wondering why people don't move on.

11:08 AM Now I know the answer: we have to wait because a class is passing there.

11:11 AM Huh, I'm out! Now, I have to find my family. I call my father and he gives me the instructions,

11:14 AM There they are! My dad is taking photos, and the rest of the family is sitting on the chairs. They reserved one for me too, so I join them.

11:15 AM 5 of the 6 classes have already arrived, and now the last one is coming as well.

11:16 AM The ceremony starts with the national anthem. It is followed by the speech of the headmaster, and he also reads out the farewells of the form masters and teachers.

11:28 AM The goodbye speech of the graduates.

11:34 AM Another goodbye speech. This one is from the remaining students.

11:39 AM I'm just starting to get bored when finally something interesting happens. A girl sings a song and she has a really good voice. I like it.

11:43 AM Special awards are given to student with excellent grades.

11:50 AM Two delegates of each class are asked to go out, and put the ribbon of their class to the flag of the school.

11:56 AM The delegates of the graduate classes are passing on the flag.

12:01 AM The end of the ceremony when students release their balloons at the same time. It's very beautiful, I adore this tradition. Applause to the graduates.

12:04 AM The official end of the ceremony with Szózat.

    And the clue (which is published with the permission of the photographer):

Click on me!

     Photoshop has a history. It all started centuries ago when painters were required to depict the ladies as beautiful as possible. However, if the subject wasn't good-looking enough, even in that time existed some tricks that made them able to do so, e.g. choosing the right angles and colours. And as self representation moved from the walls of castles to the internet, there is no surprise in finding loads of manipulated pictures on the profiles. But why do people use photoshop?

     Girls always want to look slender and beautiful, while boys usually long for more muscles and less fat. Their desires are natural, though the way they achieve them is sometimes not. Of course, using photoshop is more comfortable than working out or eating healthy dishes.

Don't get me wrong, I'm far from judging. I also use little tricks once in a while, for instance changing the colour settings or addig more light, etc. These petite cheatings can be seen as the same as the artistic activity of the former painter, however, drawing fake boobs and muscles is rather a fraud. And not to mention that some creations end up to be so unrealistic that they are almost funny. My advise to all these masters is: do not forget that after stepping out the door, your clicked curves will disappear faster than a click!

http://9gag.com/gag/4043378

Should be named Victoria

    Only one can be the first - and no one knows it better than the second. Very much indeed, it is confusing to miss the target by one step. On one hand there is the acknowledgement for being better than almost everyone. However, on the other hand, there is 'almost'. And this 'almost' can be really irritating.

   I hate to be the second. This characteristic revealed itself already at the beginning, since I am a firs-born child. Later on, the situation has not changed: first in class, first in sports, first in games. First in everything. Those proverbs such as "Participation is more important than victory" and "One should learn how to lose" did not make sense to me (though I was definitely not the last in comprehension, as you have surely figured out).

For victory, I did not shrink from tricks. Once, when we played 'Who laughs at the end?' with mum, and she was about to win, I excluded her from the game without batting an eyelid. And that was all.

   However, it used to be easier as a child because thence the increase of the number of my years is directly proportional to the increase of the number of my duties. And let's face it: sometimes challenges of adulthood can defeat even perfectionists. To make the occasional losing bearable, I reposed myself with things like "I don't care" and "It doesn't matter", which were obviously not useful, since they were not true.

   Thus, I approached the issue from the other side: Why do I think that second place is an apocalypse? Things that are the second can also be wonderful. Let's take the Nile, which has just been degraded by the Amazonas. Though the Nile is now only the second longest river on the Earth, it is still remarkable with a length of 6650 km, and its history as being an indispensable part of Egyptian culture. Furthermore, it is the natural environment of 120 fishes and the denominator of other species, e.g. the Nile crocodile.

Or let's consider Susan Boyle. In spite of losing the final in Britain's Got Talent, she did not come a cropper - she is more successful than ever before.

   So I made a conclusion: instead of regarding second, or even worse, third place as losing, I see them as room for improvement. However, considering jewellery choices, I still prefer gold.