Photography of Autria

I'm passionate with photography and this year I really enjoyed the Austrian Landscape. Here are the picture I took in Graz, in Allstat and on the top of the Dachstein.

If you want see more of my photography, click on the link below !

https://www.flickr.com/photos/80251054@N02/

Culture project week

At the beginning of this week, I attend 9 presentations. As I don't want make a catalogue of all the presentation I saw, I would only write about my favorite. I'm really interesting by the feminist story so I was quite seduce by the presentation of Stefanie Gigler about Rosie the Riveter.

Rosie the Riveter was a icon in the Second World War to recruit women for the Army/workforce. Her image was designed by Norman Rockwell, a famous American illustrator at the time. “Rosie the Riveter,” star of this government campaign aimed at recruiting female workers for the munitions industry.

Thanks to this great presentation, I learned more about the role of women before and during the Second War World. I though the conclusion was also very relevant, because Stefanie explained what happened to the women AFTER the war : they were back to their housewives lives but that was still a big step for the feminist movement and for the women emancipation.

All in all, Stephanie had clearly and smartly presented this topic. The angle she chose was very attractive and I learned some relevant point about how the American had led the Second  World War.

West Side Story in the Opera of Graz

Last night, I was in the Opera of Graz to see the musical "West Side Story". When I was 11 my mother had forced me to watch this classical Musical that I found truly endless. Though, I loved the songs, like "I Feel Pretty", "America", "Somewhere" and "Cool".

I loved the performance of West Side Story at the opera: the actors played very well, danced beautifully and above all their voices were sublime. In addition, the Show was much shorter than the film, which I enjoyed. The actors spoke a rather understandable German. Overall, I really enjoyed. 
I was just disappointed with the performance of the song "America" ​​which is normally a boy-girl duo who was here interpreted by girls.

http://www.oper-graz.com/upload/videos/568_320_1314_WSSWA14_netstream_HD_web.mp4

American TV VS. French TV

To write this article, I was inspired by a video of a U.S. "Youtuber" passionate by France. You will have his views on American television and my perspective on French television.

In America, there are thousands of channels. This is too much, you never know what watching. The U.S. are the professional of zapping. Unfortunately, we can say that "too many choices kills the choice." Watch TV in the United States is more seeking what you will watch rather than really watch something. In addition, the ads are terrible and relentless: 10 minutes of program and 20 minutes of advertising. Once the program starts to be interesting, it is cut by an advertisement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM2Mu6q0lgE

In France, we have rules for advertising: the duration is limited and everyone isn't allowed to do add. Doctors, lawyers, politicians can't make advertising. In his video, the "Youtuber" mocks advertisements lawyers in America: "You thing your wife is to big ? You don't want to talk with her anymore ? For $ 500 I'll take care of your divorce in the shortest time". This kind of advertising is unthinkable in France.

In France we have fewer channels. These channels broadcast many live show and a lot of games. Information takes an important place in the program, they even have channel dedicated to the non-stop information. In terms of French series, they are simply lousy.

Personally, I never watched a lot of TV in France so in Austria, I don't miss TV at all. Nevertheless, there is a show that I like a lot and I am watching every day. This is "Le Petit Journal" of Yann Barthes. This is a very humorous show which "dissect" the news and mocks the Politian and the journalist. For example, during the last election of Barack Obama, the team of "Le Petit Journal" had waved a white giant banner, on which was written "Cassoulet". This image was broadcast on ABC and American journalists have attempted to analyze the meaning while it was just a absurd joke:  the Cassoulet is a dish from the south of France.

Some french strangeness...

What we need to do and not do in France when we invited...

DON'T's

When you're invited to someone's place, you always have to bring something, like chocolate, wine or flower. But you must never come empty-handed, because it's very rude. So when you are invited to someone, do not forget to bring something!

The French love their cheese! But beware! Don't eat it just like salami or ham. There is a special kind to cut it. If you don't do this correctly, then the other Frenchmen will become evil!

Furthermore, the French love their wine! Everywhere in France, you ABSOLUTLY CAN'T put water into a glass of wine.Wine is sacred ! Personnaly, I don't even understand how Austrian can just have the idea to mix water and wine. Seriouly, drink grap juice in this case !

DO's

If you're invited, for example, at 8:00 pm, don't be ponctual. It's polite arriving 10-15 minutes late, so guests have the time to be ready.

Also if you don't know the other person, you still can kiss them on the cheek! Between men, they shake hands. But when you meet a woman, then they kiss on the cheek (2 times at least, sometime 3 or 4 in certain part of France).

Another thing to know:  in France it's forbidden to cut the salad. In preparation, it's one sheet and we never break it into small pieces. Then, when it's on the plate, don't cut it ! We fold the salad leaf with a fork, and then eat it!

You are French in Austria ...

When you cross outside of crosswalks.
When you insist on having still water, not fizzy water.
When you take more than 10 minutes to eat lunch, and dessert and more.
When you don't feel like cheese and meats for breakfast.
When you stay in the middle lane of the motorway.
When you don't understand why there is shop only for food and shop only for "bathroom stuff" and why the both are not together like a classical Supermarkt.
When you discover with astonishment Porsches and Mercedes in the parking of Hofer.
When you ask for bread at restaurant.
When you walk on the sidewalk area reserved for bike.
When you want to kiss a Austrian girl on the cheek and she present her hand.
When as a girl, it's you who accosted the guys at parties, otherwise it can last for centuries.
When you speak with an accent but not to be sweet.
When people can't help but say "es ist sooo Süss" the first time they hear it.
When you make a scandal when your friends refuse to put water in their Ricard because they have not yet realized that it was not Schnaps.
When you make a scandal when your friends put water in their wine.
When you are surprised that students participate in class.
When you are claping your hands when all the Austrian students are actually knocking on the table.
When you were one of the best in English class and you become average or even zero.
When you get lost with all this kind of different carbage.
When you make the dressing of the salad without the "Kurbiskenöl".
When your friend aks you to make some "crêpes" with bright eyes.
When are really growing tired of Gouda and Edam and you dream of Mont d'Or, Comté or Tomme de Savoie.
When you're the only one who don't ware a "Dirdl" in the Aufsteirern.
If you still have trouble pronouncing the "h".
When you still try to type a "ç" on a Austrian keyboard.
When you can't do without your "baguette".
When you want to eat your salad before the main course.
When you say to yourself "Why will I pay the parking meter...the fine is cheaper".
When you are surprised to see people eating ice cream in winter.
When you leave the tip on the table.
When you finally believe that BMW, Audi or Mercedes car are no longer luxury cars but popular car because you see everyone ride with ...
When the Austrians better master the French spelling as you (True story ! In my translation classes (German to French), I think I make more mistakes than the Austrians student !)
When you don't have 200 € in cash on you all the time.
When you us your credit card for a purchase of 7€ instead of a 100€ bill.

(My friend french and I, hifing behing an the Austrian flag)

When I grow up...

"When I grow up, I wanna be famous

I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies
When I grow up, I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies

When I grow up, be on TV
People know me, be on magazines..."

When I grow up, I wanna be a Press Officer.

What is a press officer? What he does?

A Press Officer, otherwise called the Press Relations Advisor is the spokesperson for a company with the media (TV, print, radio ... ) to advertise a brand, an event, a personality, a local community .... He therefore plays a vital role in disseminating information to the targeted audiences or through the press.  This profession is mostly feminine (over 75 %). A press officer had to CONVINCE journalists to focus on a particular topic regarding his company and relay the information in their media.

Qualifications

- Strong interpersonal skills
- Writing capabilities
- Diplomacy, curiosity and open-mindedness, creativity.
- Availability, dynamism, ingenuity, patience, courtesy, kindness ...

More concretely...

Missions

Strategic position within a company and its communication policy, the Press officer must perfectly master the products or the company and the target to which the message is addressed.
In direct contact with the Direction, he also works closely with all departments of the company to continuously learn and also to be able to respond to various questions from reporters.
To feed the media information as completely as possible, and especially make them want to distribute it to target interlocutors according to the nature of information, he wrote press releases and press kits, organizing conferences, trips, breakfasts or lunches, evenings…

He has to practice his creativity and adapt each intervention speech to seduce journalists. Daily, he peels the press (TV, radio, newspapers, emails ...) looking for media coverage of his various campaigns. He develops a regular press review in order to disseminate to the head and the staff of the company.
An important part of his work is the creation of a database of journalists he should maintain and develop steadily. It is indeed through carefully maintained relationships that will open many doors. This is with this famous "Address Book" that we recognize seniors and stars in this business.

Type of employer and work environment

A Press Officer can intervene in a company (public or private), an institution , agency or directly with a personality, an artist ... it can also perform its profession on his own as a freelance . He often begins his career as Assistant in a press service then evolve as Press Officer and then to positions of Head of Press Office , Communications Officer , Chief Information Officer or relationships public .

Type of employer and work environment

A Press Officer can intervene in a company (public or private), an institution, agency or directly with a personality, an artist ... it can also perform its profession on his own as a freelance. He often begins his career as Assistant in a press service then evolve as Press Officer and then to positions of Head of Press Office , Communications Officer , Chief Information Officer or relationships public .

Formation

It now requires at least a Bachelor in Information and Communication. But mostly it focuses on graduate schools. Masters level or university or business school are also appreciated.

Remuneration

The salary is 20 to 24 K € annual gross for juniors ( 2-3 years experience) and 36 K € K € 40 for the more experienced . For the "stars" of the business , it can blithely exceed 60 K € .

My personal experience

Last year, for 3 months, I had the opportunity to do an internship with a Press Officer in the Council of Europe.

The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organization. It includes 47 member states, 28 of all which are members of the European Union. The Council of Europe is to protect load in human right, democracy and the rule of law.

Do not confuse the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, even if both located in Strasbourg. The European Parliament concerns the European Union.

The press service of the Council of Europe was composed of 8 press officers.

To be a Press Officer in the Council of Europe, you must have many skills in addition to the traditional skills:

- Perfectly master at least 5 languages.

- Be able to deal with very complex issues: have good knowledge of law.

- Be able to maintain a database of more than 15,000 journalists from 47 countries.

To sum up : Press Officer is one of the less annoying and routine job I know. You never do the same things and always treat new topics.