Studio Acantus

Have you ever heard of Studio Acantus? It is a group of people from Warsaw who create their own projects. The are working on covering the songs from the popular musicals. All of them have an exceptional, strong voice. I could call them even actors cause while singing they are staying in a character and it looks very professionnal.
Among their impressive covers I would like to mention the next ones:

• Upiór w operze
• Wcale nie, ależ tak
• Hakuna Matata

The most exciting and unexpected fact was that all movies on youtube are not recorded. I mean they are actually singing live. When you will see some videos you will understand my doubts.

Just look at them. The are so genius :)

P.S. I am persuaded that their studio could be the first dubbing company in Poland.

Honest Trailer

Have you ever lost hours of your precious time to watch horrible movie only because its trailer was really amazing? We all did it at least once. Afterward you just sit there and wonder: How the hell did they manage to put exactly every awesome scene to a 2 minute long trailer and then make 120 minutes more movie which is that awfull. Well, somehow they managed. That's why I recommend to everyone in Earth to watch Honest Trailers on youtube. You won't be wasting your time again to watch bad movies. Instead you'll be wasting time to watch funny clips about horrible movies. So much better way to spend time. isn't it? That's why watch the following ones:

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

4 days ago, the 24th november the movie "One flew over the Cuckoo's nest" was celebrating his 40th anniversary. This legendary movie is based on the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey. The well-known actor Jack Nicholson played Randle McMurphy, recidivist who was transefered to a mental institution for evaluation. 

I wanted to tell you some interesting fact about shooting this movie. 

• Firstival, shooting took place in real clinic, at Oregon State Mental Hospital and dozens of the patients a t the hospitalwere drafted in as extras.
• Secondly, all of the actors who played patients lived on the hospital throughout production and also were interacting with real psychiatric patients. The purpose was to get a sense f what it was to be hospitalized.  
• It was the first film to win all "Big five" Academy Awards in 41 year. The film walked away with awards for Besr Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay. 

If someone accidentaly didn't see this movie yet, you have to hurry up. You aren't obliged to love it but it will touch your heart I swear.

Run fast for

Today I started running at the morning. I already liked this sport and I feel like I won't give up with it. After 10 minutes I felt my legs were running without my help :) I mean I even wasn't conscious about the fact that I actually was running. I presume that my body was controled by someone else, because I was so buried in thought that I wasn't focused on the fact of runnig. This feeling is very intriguing and uncomparable. At this moment you realize how multifunctional you are and how many questions and dialogues you keep in you head every day. And suddenly you stop... you saw the beatiful nature of the fall, in the park you are running, and you want to keep it in you memory so you take a lot of photos. And that's what has inspired me today for this post:

Domowe melodie

If the title of this post didn't remind you of a great musical group from Poland.. then this is what I would like to talk about this time. Justyna "Jucho" Chowaniak is a leader of the team, she's a composer, vocalist and pianist. There is no information about where are they coming from, so dared to write them on facebook and Justyna conifrmed that they lived in Warsaw, unfortunaltely not in Poznan. However, this wonderful trio creats a unique folk and acustic music. The have almost 3 million viewings on youtube, which is a lot as for a polish audience. When I look at them I strongly feel how creative they are, how much they love what they are doing. In november we can meet them in Poznan. They are giving the concert in the Imperial Castle. The ticket costs only 35 PLN. Well... that may be not so cheap for someone but it would worth I hope :)

Here is Justyna's quote about their team:

"Domowe melodie" to projekt kilkunastu własnoręcznie nabazgranych i skomponowanych piosenek. W domu. Razem z płaczem, spalonym garnkiem, gorączką i dziurawą skarpetą. Nagrywam. Rejestruję ulotny fragment mojego życia... Po drodze pojawili się moi muzykanci najlepsi – Staszek i Kuba. I tak sobie klepiemy domowe bit."

Now I leave you with them tet-a-tet, I hope you will apreciate it ;)

Unexpectedly, isn't it?

What a hot day! 

I didn't expect that today, the 6th June the weather will surprise me so much. This morning, when I opened my eyes I knew, that if I moved I would feel the insufferable heat by each pore of my skin.  

It is necessary to remind you that today in Poznań is 32 degrees outside. 

Unbelievable, isn't it?

. 

The heat causes that everyone becomes so lazy and slow, so it can be a quite serious problem just to get up from the bed. However it is always a good idea to save situation in every possible way. 

My roommate and I decided to do a few glass of fresh cocktails. I'd like to add that despite the proximity of the market, it was still a hard challenge for us to go there for some strawberries and bananas. ;) 

But we did it! Thanks to that we're enjoying the best fresh and COLD cocktails ever! :) 

That is my way to fight with the heat, what's YOURS?

Sleep for free!

A lot of my friends have never heard of site called couchsurifing.com. I would like to devote a today's post to sharing my knowledge about this type of hosting. 

Firstival it will be necessary to emphasis that this is the cheapest way to sleep over in the foreign country. What is more, you sleep at somebody's home, not in a garden, in a cellar or in a squat ;) 

You choose the person, at whom you would like to stay for some time. It is in your interest to ask, in which conditions are you going to sleep, whether you'll have your own room, or will you divide a room with 5 couchsurfers. 

I have spent 2 wonderful weeks in Paris, living with a French girl named Marine. She had a very cute dog and I was helping her with him. It was my gratitude to her for such a nice welcome. 

Thanks to this site I didn't pay an enormous quantity of money for my stay in Paris. I have met a lot of people from Europe, Asia and Africa (they were living at Marina's at the same time). I have practiced my French and English, I have discovered Paris from the different angle. 

But! In spite of the advantages, you have to be really careful, because there can be a few weird and unpleasant people. So you should be picky enough. 

Have a nice trip! ;)

The Master and Margarita

In the first half of the 20th century Mikhail Bulgakov created a unique book which has set people  to think of sense and its implication. Its uniqueness consists of the untypical plot and satirical style. 

Five years ago it was my first encounter with the book. At that time I didn't quite understand  where is that intention and what exactly Bulgakov wanted us to know or to comprehend. 

It is spring out there now and I felt that it's excelent time to come back to this book, to enjoy the reading and try to understand what I didn't catch las time. 

I'm only halfway finished. I should admit that at age 21 some things are becoming more obvious than when you're a teenager, but this book still hides a lot of mysteries from me. This is one of the book which is always new for you every time you read it. It is surprisingly wonderful ! I like Bogakov's style, it's so deep, enriching and satirical at the same time. Every his work (story or novel) possesses an extraordinary, deep plot, which has references to the past or to the present (f.ex AD 20-30th and 1930th in this particular novel). 

I'm really curious about my impression of the book five or ten years later... 

Shameless (USA)

When your brain is turned out, but you'd like to focus on something light and funny, you're might be searching for a new TV show. Well, that's our reality today, unfortunately. I have to admit that today we are very spoiled by the diversity of films, music, books, so we devote too much time to it. And I'm not an exception. I like TV shows, good ones, with the exceptional actors and extraordinary screenplays.

Thus, during the late evening, when I was not really in the mood, I found a show called Shameless. The name is already intriguing, I think so.. ;) Well, after 1st episode I was surprised, not only by the story, but by my positive reaction. I ain't a big fan of the shows, but this one took all my attention for a while. 

The story is about a family, which consists from: 5 kids, one-always-drunk dad, the lascivious mother, who doesn't live at home and an older sister who takes care of all of them. Certainly, that sounds like not a comedy, but Showtimes managed it. I assure you, during the viewing you will be shocked and surprised every 5 minutes. What's more, you will be laughing out loud during all seasons (except 5th maybe). 

This show can make your day ;)
P.S. There are two productions: British and American. I propose you to watch the last one.

Le Marathon du Medoc

A few weeks ago I came across a very interesting information about a wine growing region, which is located in the department of Gironde, in France. It's called Medoc. Each year thousands of people go there to participate into the world's longest running festival: The festival of Wine! Only French could think up this incredible kind of a holiday. However, each participant is dressed up in a quite untypical way and runs 42 km for 6 hours. The most unimaginable fact is that during the race they stop for a short breaks to drink up a glass of the best wine in the world. Isn't that impressive? ;) But that's not all of it. The participant are also welcome to eat during the breaks. Here's "menu":  oysters, foie gras, cheese, steak and ice-cream. Brilliant. 

Besides, the festival doesn't include only the race and wine, but also dances, fireworks and new acquaintances. 

This is a great event and I would love to go there as soon as possible. 

While I've been reading the one participant's blog, I liked one great expression, which describes the whole atmosphere of the Marathon: "It isn't about getting a good time - it's about having a good time". That sounds so obvious and simple, but I feel like it is really difficult sometimes to focus on nothing but our satisfaction from being somewhere. 

Obsession

My today's post will be a response to one request. One girl from our English class asked me to write something about degu - my pets. Most people love animals and I...adore them :) I am aware than the name degu is probably unknown for you, so I'd like to explain. 

These are the rodents which come from Peru, South America. In XIX century the Europeans used them on purpose of the laboratory experiment. Because of this inexcusable mockeries on animals they stayed in Europe till today. 

So, 3 years ago these little rodents came into  my life (by accident). With their cute faces and sincere naivety they have become a big part of my life. They can play with you even when you are 10 time taller than them, they feel you and what's the most impressive they are able to manipulate you! It's amazing. And I let them doing it, because ... who else can be so cute manipulating you? 

These little faces have the soul and intelligence, I'm deeply persuaded. I observe the profs to that every day.
Thus, I propose you to watch the film from youtube (not mine), which will show you the uniqueness of this creations.

P.S. These are actually mine ==>

The waste

Today I was on the conference, which was devoted to a quiet interesting subject. Don’t even ask why I was there on Sunday, cause I have no idea either.

So, this problem concerns the whole world, especially its civilized part. I’m talking about the waste: agricultural, industrial or human process. During the conference we were talking about Poland and its role of the World rescue. As far as I learned Poland copes with this task the worst. Here was built only one waste incinerator (establishment where waste is burnt) in Warsaw. That’s a pity, because in France for example there are 128 of them.

The impressive fact is that the West European countries exploit this method in order to produce energy and a heat.  In Sweden, thanks to this method Swedes are heating the entire south part of Stockholm. This is incredible! 

In the near future Poland is going to build 4 waste incinerators with an average performance. 

People are so crazy, so they could product anything from nothing and earn a great amount of money. 

The world is so creative.. =)

Theater festival

 As spring is coming, I was looking for some new festivals and entertainments in Poland and other parts of Europe.  The best events always take place in  spring and in summer. The first day of spring is a good day to start looking for parties. Thus I was looking through the internet and came across the theater festival which takes place every June in Poznan. It is organized by Dramaeducation - the first school of foreign languages through theater. This school gives classes with the new technique in which the theater becomes a pretext to a profound studying of French, its grammar, terminology and phonetics. Today Dramaeducation is an international organization which realizes the projects connected with the Francophonic theater such as: translation, organization the internship histrionic in France, activity library, teacher continuing training the French.  

02-05.06.2015 – is the period when the citizens of Poznan will have an opportunity to spend the free time among the talented people, watching the spectacles in French and to participate in the conferences. I can’t wait to go to this event. I am persuaded it will be an excellent beginning of  the summer. 

Here's the link for you:
http://drameducation.eu/pl/historia.html

An ordinary day of the skier

I suppose this is my last post in this semester, which means the beginning of the winter vacation! Honestly, I have never liked the winter and I was really scared of skiing... before my vacation in 2014.
Each year the University of Łódź organizes the obligatory practices for the students from Tourism and Recreation. I had been studying there for 3 years and thanks to that I discovered to myself the enjoyment of skiing.
So, in 2014 our group went to Krynica-Zdrój for about 1 week, where we were learning from the very beginning. I wasn't the only person who has never tried this mean of sport before and I have to admit that this training was a big challenge for all of us.
5 days later, after the falling and the bruises, we were able to go down from one of the most highest mountains and not to fall down.(thanks to our trainer)
What I liked the most in this sport is the level of the adrenaline in your body during the race and this feeling of a pleasant fatigue at the end of the day.

I wish everybody a successful vacation this winter full of adrenaline and joy!

P.S. Here is the short movie about an ordinary day of a skier... ;) It's incredible!

The stolen paradise

This time I would like to tell you about the place that I'm sure everybody had heard about and maybe some of you had been there. This is a peninsula located south of the country that is a neighboring country of Poland. And I had a pleasure to spend there 2 months of my life right on the beach with the nice people with an open hearts and minds. I'm talking about the piece of peninsula full of calm and unique atmosphere. On this beach you won't meet the ordinary tourists with heads full of problems and hands full of unnecessary stuff. I'm talking about the Crimea, about the beach called Лисяча бухта (ukr). 

It's impossible to describe its atmosphere because it's too beautiful and unforgettable. Imagine your best dream about the sea and the beach, about the sunny eternity spending under the sun beams and surrounded by best friends. This is what Лисяча бухта is. The freedom of spirit, no time, no problems, no walls just a sky - the only ceiling of your world. 

That was my paradise for 2 months. Unfortunately, it had been stolen by a biggest country in the world, so my paradise probably doesn't exist anymore...

What most of people do in the internet?

The question seems to be tricky, but the answer is really obvious. Watching videos with kittens. There's nothing else that can make you smile when your day is awful. Let be honest, who cares if the weather is bad or boss seems to be a Satan's son while seing that:

Kittens are somehow like wizards. They use their charms to make you feel happy and loved. Of course there's a lot of videos with cats being silly or just adorable, but they're something more. They're like a hero that Earth deserves. Almost like Batman. We can't forget the cat who saved a little child:

I think the reason we love cats is that they are just like us. Sometimes they're brave but other time just lazy. They won't do things if they don't want to do it. That's really amazing.
At the end of this post I'd like to share with you a video that inspirated me to write about cats.
Here you go:

Little Yellow Spider...

If the word Carmensita you don't associate you with a very unique song, that means you have never heard of Devendra Banhart. He was born Texas, USA, but he has a mother which is a venezuelan, that explains his not american name =) At 17 years old he began to busk instead of attending classes and played his first show in a church at a gay wedding, performing Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender" and the classic hymn "How Great Thou Art. Banhart dropped out of art school in 2000 and left San Francisco after the dot-com bust worsened the city's economy. He moved to Paris over the summer and opened shows for indie rock bands such as Sonic Youth. Banhart returned to the United States in the fall of 2000 and played music in San Francisco and Los Angeles, until he was discovered by Michael Gira, owner of Young God Records.

It's not his biography that subdued me and not even his voice, which is unusual and special, but the music and the words. When I am listening to him I have an impression that he sings using my thoughts. It's always pleasantly when all qualities that are appreciated in a singer, you are able to find in one person. What is unusual, is that his songs haven't bored me, considering the fact, that I have discovered him more than a year ago. It is a rarity... 

Wish you to find your own "musical soul" for a long period. 

Recto Verso

Some days ago I have read the information, that ZAZ - french singer, one of my favorite, created a new album, called Paris. At first, I was surprised and glad. Unfortunately,  this album differs from the previous very much. And it's not only the music that have changed. Zaz as a person looks different too.

A few years ago, when I just met with her work, I was so excited, that I was planning to go to Paris as soon as possible just to listen how she is singing in the streets. That was a very good dream. But, when I came to Paris, she was already giving the concerts around the world. It was the end of the free concerts at the parisian corners.

Zaz and the musicians they are an extraordinary team. They are very talented and cheerful. But this concerts and popular lifestyle have changed them excessively. Their talent and humor have stayed, but originality and uniqueness have evaporated.

But you know what..? I'm glad that I always can enjoy "Recto Verso" and "ZAZ" =)

1. 
   

I would like to be this guy

Answering to the question of the month, i would like to lean on my own experience. I moved to Poland three years ago without knowing the language. The immigration was so spontaneous, that I didn't even think how i'm going to study here. When you're 17 years old you didn't think about that kind of things, you have a head full of the dreams and plans with having no idea how to make it real. I am persuaded that if you want to achieve a success in the country with no support and family, you are obliged to learn the language as well as you can. That will help you to feel more self-assured, that will bring you a power when you're upset and lonely. That will help for sure, because thanks to that foreign language you could give yourself a break and find new friends in the bar for example. However, I would like to underline that not everyone has a gift, not everyone can learn a new language really well and fast and to speak it fluently with no accent. For those people the joy of making new friends or of reading a book in this language can postpone. 

To sum up, if you are planning to go somewhere, where you would like to spend your long and happy life, it'll necessary to learn the basics, and then to go to this place and develop your language skills in the country of you dream.



P.S. If you're reach, you don't have to worry about anything, you can do whatever you want, just like this guy.. ;)

Book >< Film

Most of the time the books are better than a film based on the book. But sometimes, you can be really surprised how this stereotype is wrong. A long time ago i have watched the movie based on the french novel 99 Francs by Frederic Beigbeder. I can assure you (who didn't watched it yet) that it really doesn't matter whethere you read or watch it first. In both cases you will have an awesome time because the movie is realistic and strong (thanks to Jan Kounen), but there miss a great deal of quite important dialogues and scenes. And the book creates your own imagination and that impression stays in your memory clearly and longer. I think I forgot to tell you about this story...Well, it's about a commercial advertisement designer Octave Parango, who has an easy-doing, highly paid job and an active free life mainly consisting of drugs and random parties.After having his frst ever long-time relationship with Sophie fail miserable. He organises a revolt against the advertisement business and his own life. Sounds interesting, doesn't it?

If you would like to read the book first, no problem, I can borrow you ;)