A Colorful Generation

Nearly every fifth person in Austria has one: a picture, a sign, or a lettering on their body. Yes, I am talking about tattoos. This painful treatment is a big trend, and I have to admit, that I have got one too. It is a small butterfly combined with a fairy.

But why, for goodness sake, do people suffer voluntarily for something extraordinary on their body? Isn’t it stupid to stitch with a needle in someone’s skin, and fill this wound with ink? Isn’t it dangerous? What happens if the tattooist makes a mistake? What if you change your mind about the tattoo after a few years? What can you do then? These are all questions, which are very important to think about if you want to have a tattoo. You should come up with an excellent answer for all this questions above and most of all be very careful with your choice of the tattooist. Here are some of the motives, which I think are responsible for this choice:

           

            The uniqueness. Most of the tattoos are individual paintings from a tattooist, so you are the only person in the whole world who has got this kind of body art. It makes you feel special and unique. In today’s society everybody has to fit into norms (for example fashion) and having a tattoo, breaks the norm.

            The meaning. Maybe something good or bad had happened in your life and you want this memory to stay, so you think it is a good idea to stitch it into your skin, but dare you to stitch the name of your current love!! I know a few people who really regret this decision…

           Maybe there is another fact, why it is so cool to have a tattoo. In the media are more and more tattooed models, they advertise things with the art that is on their body and so they are able to influence someone’s choice to have a tattoo easily.

            Tattoo conventions are good visited events. There you get ideas for your next tattoo, buy some really freaky underwear or shoes, and have a look at the real tattoo freaks. I think the most famous are the Zombie Boy and the Vampire Lady.

 

But there are dangers too:
For example, can you get addicted to the pain, I know this sounds strange, but the instant buzz that you get when the needle enters your skin is a nameless feeling. And it isn’t a secret that many people get the whole body tattooed because they couldn’t stop.

            Scientists have found out that the ink might be dangerous and includes carcinogenic substances. So it is really important that you can trust your tattooist and go to a well-known artist. You should ask for a certificate too, just to be sure this artist works clean and hygienic.

           

           The best known and most effective and gentle procedure of removing a tattoo is the treatment with laser. But I have seen some results, and you will never be rid of your ‘wonderful’ picture, because you might get scars from the laser therapy.

So if you want to have tattoos make sure it is really necessary, and be careful with the choice of your motive and artist. Think about what you really want on or in your skin, and check if it is allowed in your current or any future job. For example, if you work in a hotel, you shouldn’t have any tattoos on your hands, feet, neck, face, or anywhere else where the guest might see it.

So be carful with your choice to be different : )

SueC

Klagenfurt, the Wörthersee and why you should visit it in your summer holidays

Hello everybody,

My name is Susanna (but for my friends Susi) I am 20 years old and I’m studying Austrian Sign Language and English at the ITAT in Graz.

 I have moved from Klagenfurt to Graz for my studies, although I am not really homesick, I want to talk about my beautiful hometown and its benefits in the summer holidays.

    Klagenfurt is the capital city of Carinthia (Austria) and known for its beautiful lakes, actually there are 1270 all over Carinthia. The biggest and I think the best known is the Wörthersee, it has a length of 16,5 km and at its deepest point reaches 85,2 meters.  Also many good tasting fish are swimming in the lake (which actually has drinking water quality), for example the luce or the carpe.

 The coastline, which is 45km long, is unique and has some really special and magical places to visit, like Maria Wörth (which is a peninsular and most famous for its church), Velden, Reifnitz, Pörtschach and of course Klagenfurt am Wörthersee (my hometown, ;) ).

But what if you are not really interested in sightseeing? You want something exciting? Let’s have a look at the big offer of events, which are the whole summer around the lake (well there are so many, I just picked the best ones):

           

 At first there is the IRON MAN, a sporting event which is in June. It’s not only a sport event, no it is the biggest European triathlon, and 2000 actors from all over the world are starting there. What do they have to do? They have to swim 3,8 km, afterwards 180km of cycling  and at the end just another 42,2km of running. That’s really tough, hugh??

           

 Let's continue with the Beach Volleyball Grand Slam (BVGS) which is (also every year) in July, an international Beach volleyball tournament which lasts for a week. But in 2013 there was something new. The organization announced, after some rumors, that there will be the EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (in German: EM). At first nobody believed that announcement but afterwards everybody was glad to be part of the EM.

It is my favorite event because it’s beside the “Klagenfurter Strandbad” (the biggest open air bath in Europe), so you can leave the event to go swimming and come back easily. The atmosphere is just amazing; there are so many people who party together peacefully (but to the disadvantage for the tourists of the nearby camping place it is a really loud week). At this event there are also a lot of side events around the lake, like the Champions Night in the Fabrik (the hippest club around the lake), or the Bacardi Beach Circus, a really freaky beach party.

            Then there is the Fête Blanche, or also called: the night in white. Maybe you can suggest from the name the topic of this event: everybody has to wear white clothes. In effect it’s really cool to be part of THE party, since last season there where really cool DJS like DJ Antoine (Fabrik) or Mike Candys (Velden). Unfortunately it is  a very expensive night…

            Well, at the end of this long list of events I will introduce you to some motor sport events, the GTI Treffen, an the Harley Davidson Parade.

The GTI Treffen is for car “freaks” who love the cars of VW. A whole week they are driving around the lake, making lots of noise and parties. Reifnitz is the so called main station, where all the “beautiful” tuned cars are.

At the End of the summer holidays there is the Harley Davidson week at the Faakersee (yes it is pronounced like the “F”-word…) there you can see bikes, bike-wear shops and party tents with rock music.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my introduction of the Wörthersee and maybe we will see us the next summer.

Better be there, :) 

SueC