Noah

Today I would like to share with you one of my most favorite musicians. I discovered him during the last year on YouTube. His name is Noah, 18 years old and from South Carolina – since the last Progress Check we all know where we can find that state ;). Noah sings some amazing cover songs. The first song I listened to was “Sexy and I know it”. 

From the very first moment I loved his voice. He keeps his YouTube Channel updated and there are so many great songs.

One of my favorite is this one:

If you want to check out some more information, he is also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/only1noah?fref=ts

life is too short - smile while you still have teeth

01:36 minutes that made my day! :) I love the fact that there are good things happening in this world. And I’m in favor of showing them whenever it’s possible. 

There are so many happy people out there who do crazy stuff all the time. Laughing is so important. A smile is the cheapest present you can give! It costs you nothing at all but can be priceless to the addressee. This video makes me smile whenever I watch it. It is full of hope, laughter and strength. There are only a few people nowadays who aren’t afraid of showing their feelings. 

On December the 24^th the radio station “Kronehit” had an amazing idea. They broadcasted only good news happening all over the world for the whole day. I didn’t want to turn off the radio because every report made me smile.
I think it is important to remember that the world is full of good things. People are likely to talk about all the bad stuff occurring every minute. They tend to forget that positive events give positive feelings. And I’m so sure that everyone prefers to be happy than to be sad! :)

I discovered lately that there are more positive videos like the one I mentioned in the first place coming up on Facebook. Lots of my friends share them and try to spread their messages in the world. And I love sharing them too.

The last video I checked out brought me to tears immediately. Watch it and I am sure you will feel the same way about it.

Words are needless!

Finally, I would like to introduce you to Matt Harding. He is an American. Well, nothing really special about that. But he had this wonderful idea of traveling around the world and dancing with people from different countries in front of typical landmarks or elsewhere. He created his own blog where he uploaded short videos of him dancing with people laughing, smiling and goofing together.

Isn’t it refreshing and lovely to see people having fun? ;) I like it!

The last video is a worldly wisdom and I think that we all should live with these words in our minds: “If you give a little love you can get a little love of your own!”

Till Next Year - Naxos

“Home is where your heart is.” Actually, my heart is divided into two parts so far. Graz is my hometown and will always be. But there is this small wonderful Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea named Naxos my heart is beating for.

I spent my first holiday ever in Naxos. Well, I was one and a half year old and I can’t remember

anything, but this sure must have been the start of my strong passion for this island. From that moment on I spent at least 2 weeks of my summer holidays there enjoying all the benefits offered by Naxos.

In general, Naxos, especially Mikri Vigla (the name of the small village we always are staying at), is a windsurfing and kiting hot spot known all over the world. 

So there are people from everywhere. Over the years I became close friends with people from Germany, Switzerland, Australia and many other countries. It is pretty easy to stay in touch because once you have been to this island the chances are very good that you will come back the following years. We, the “Naxos-addicts”, call it the “Magic of Naxos”. It is not possible to explain why this island won’t let go of you. It’s just a matter of fact that you are likely to return once you have been there.

My friends keep on asking me if it wasn’t boring to go there every year. Honestly, if it was, I wouldn’t go there! ;)

I love windsurfing and I enjoy watching the best windsurfers and kiters of the world performing on the water for us! You can’t imagine how impressively high they can jump with their kites. It looks like they are walking in the air.

Or have you ever seen three windsurfers doing a looping all at the same time? Well, everything’s possible there. ;)
 In the evenings you sit on the beach around a campfire and listen to different stories told by people from different cultures. The scenery is so beautiful that it looks like a drawing picture. The night sky is so clear that you can see so many shooting stars. I am running out of wishes there!
The landscape is gorgeous as well. There are beautiful sandy beaches all over the island. You can go cliff diving, jumping down a ten meters high cliff. Never did that, but enjoyed watching some crazy guys doing it. There are even some small mountains. The highest one is called “Zas”. 

Up there I get lost in the view every time. It’s just stunning!

Being there is like taking my personal time off from the real life. I can turn off my phone and I don’t have to worry that I miss important calls. I have realized that nothing is so important than enjoying the moment.

And I am enjoying every second there! :) 

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page

 

In my very first blog entry about travelling, I would like to tell you guys why I’m such a travel addict.
 
I wouldn’t really describe myself as an adventurous person but I’m eager to explore the world. I think there are so many wonderful places out there. I don’t want to spend my whole life staring at pictures of stunning spots. In fact, I want to be right in front of all these sights and years later I want to admire my own photos and tell my friends and family how amazing my trips were.

Graz, my hometown, is a really beautiful city. I like spending my time here, hanging out with all of my friends and doing all the stuff that can be done.
But after some months in Graz I can feel the strong wish to leave this city getting stronger. I start feeling unhappy and I totally need a change of the scenery. That’s when I pack my bags and leave.
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” But I want to read the whole book, as fast as possible. I don’t want to stop reading, never ever!
This quote is one of my favorites. I remember myself browsing on the internet late at night, finding this quote and nodding in total agreement.

Travelling for me means freedom and happiness. If I set a foot on the ground of an airport for the first time I immediately start smiling. It just makes me feel relaxed and pleased. I enjoy meeting new people from everywhere in the world and I am delighted about discovering wonderful places and sights in every country.

Actually, I have already started to plan my summer holiday just a few days ago. Together with one of my best friends I want to travel Europe by Inter-Rail. We are both so excited and I can’t wait for summer to finally come! It is going to be legen…wait for it …dary!! :D
Another thing I love about my passion for travelling is that I can share it with my mum. We have a very close relationship and some years ago we started a nice little tradition. Every year we are going on a city trip together. Last year it has been Rome and Lisbon, this year we are still looking for a city to visit. So if you have any suggestions, please let me know :)
“Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you've never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground.”

Here are just some impressions of my last journeys. (:

Getting to know me a little (:

This first post is supposed to be some kind of introduction of myself so that you guys get to know me a little better. 

I guess I don’t have to mention my name but still let me start with some basic information about myself.

I am 22 years old and my birthday is on the second of November which is all soul’s day in Austria as you might know. While other people remember their beloved deceased, I celebrate the whole day ;) I know that might sound a bit inappropriate but I’m not a religious type of person. 

I was born in Graz and still live here – of necessity. Don’t get me wrong, I truly love my hometown. It’s a gorgeous small city that definitely has its charm but I want to see the big world, the big cities that this planet has to offer. I just didn’t figure out yet where to go and settle down. So I decided to start my studies in Graz. Finally, after 3 long years of struggling with paragraphs, I gave my heart to the right program. And let me tell you something, it’s a perfect match, love at first sight! 

I adore languages and the culture that goes along with them. Words are the best way of expressing me (numbers btw are my enemies)! So in school I learned English as first foreign language and French as second. At the age of 15 I had to take Latin classes and one year later I decided to add Spanish to my list. At the moment I’m taking Russian classes at “treffpunktsprachen”.
Well, as you can see I’m a little obsessed with learning new languages ;)

Besides English I study French. Some people might consider this combination as boring or “too normal”. I don’t. These are the two languages I like the most and I found out that it’s always best if you do what you love. So I’m just following my passion and so far I enjoy it a lot! :D

When it comes down to telling people what is so special about me I’m usually a little bit lost. What should I tell a stranger about me and my life?

Let’s just start by saying I’m a total travel addict. 

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” 

That’s one of my favorite quotes of all time. It’s even more to me. It’s kind of a mantra I keep repeating to myself. I want to read this book as quickly as possible and I don’t want to miss a single page. Our world has so many awesome places to offer!
So there comes the time when I get restless and my whole world seems to fall apart. That’s the sign telling me to leave and discover foreign parts. It’s just that simple. It makes me feel happy and alive. And that’s the way I want to feel (:

To give you some characteristics I would describe myself as a sensitive person. My friends call me their private therapist because I’m patient and my door is always open if they have any troubles. My friends mean the world to me, if they feel down I feel too. 

I don’t freak out easily and I hardly ever lose my temper. I truly have the patience of a saint. Difficulties encourage me to become better. Setbacks aren’t the end of the world! 

 I believe in living a balanced life. I try to work hard but also to have a great time and enjoy my life. I think it’s all about setting your priorities right!

 

That’s a very short description of myself, my most important interests and some of the things I believe to be essential in life.