January 2019 Highlights by AWA Office

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JANUARY

2019

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JANUARY / HIGHLIGHTS / 2019

EDITORIAL

The new, secure system for the main door to the house means that we can now see who is ringing the bell (the two stripes at the end of the arrows) but please close the door behind you to avoid intruders!

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

Editorial / President's Message

Charity Fundraising 2018

Welcome to AWA & More Good Luck for New Year

I happened recently to look at the calendar in the Highlights of May 2016 and was surprised at how little was taking place in the clubhouse. Now we are almost wall to wall full of activities and even more events outside, thanks to the, now huge, team of volunteers. Bravi!

6-7

New Members

8-9

Creating a Character & Herend Gallery

Clubhouse Activities

Offsite Activities

Charity activities, in different formats, continue to be hugely successful, rewarding and fun. The team are treasures, even helping to clear up after the party!!Thank you all!

12-13 Calendar

As we reach the end of another busy year for AWA, I look back and realise how much AWA has achieved, how many new members have joined, how so few have left, most having moved overseas.

14-15 Tours, Trips & Social Events 16

FAWCO & Places; Lectures; Gatherings

Advertisements

Make the Most of Vienna

Thank you all for your support and for the confidence in me and the other Officers for 2019 and I look forward to another great year!

This and That

P:S: Karen Shropshire has moved back to the US and she wrote in farewell! The AWA has been a great resource for me here in Vienna, not only when I first arrived and needed a lot of help to orient, but also through the past few years when it was very comfortable just to know that you were there if I needed support. I have good memories of multiple activities you offered and in which I was fortunate to participate. Thank you so very much for your wonderful presence in Vienna and support for us.

Unleaded, Please

Hog Heaven & AWA Board

The AWA Board members have been steadfast in their efforts to make AWA a centre of excellence and I continue to be grateful to them. Brava to each of them!

Sheila Hargreaves HIGHLIGHTS TEAM EDITOR: Sheila Hargreaves / 0676 755 9804/ sheilahargreaves@a1.net GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR: Susan Mikes/ 069914025299/ awahighlights@gmail.com ASSISTANT HIGHLIGHTS EDITOR: Virginia Sheridan ADVERTISING MANAGER: Nadia Di Paola/ 0678 125 2229/ awahighlightsads@gmail.com ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER: Ivy Melchor /01 966 2925 / awa@awavienna.com ADVERTISING DESIGN: Erin Silangil /01 966 2925 / spindler.silangil@gmail.com PROOF READER: Jane Webster / DESIGN TEAM MEMBERS: Rosemarie Gatscha / rgatscha@mac.com, Erin Silangil and Barbara Wolff / wolff1234@yahoo.de

20-21 My Home country - Sweden

AWA VIENNA IBAN: AT59 1952 0018 0009 2361

HIGHLIGHTS 2019

Deadline for 2019 submission: February - deadline 7 January March - deadline 18 January April - deadline 1 March Highlights is published by AWA Vienna, on a monthly basis from September to June, and is sent to all members. All inquiries should be addressed to: AWA Vienna Attn: Highlights Editor, Singerstrasse 4/11 1010 Vienna All rights to the printed material in Highlights, including advertising and the cover painting/photo, revert to the contributors following publication. Highlights is printed on chlorine-free paper. ZVR-Zahl 327744193 Eigentümer, Herausgeber und Verleger: AWA Vienna, Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien. Für den Inhalt verantwortlich: Offenlegung/Herausgeber: Sheila Hargreaves, Krautgartengasse 3A/2/3, Himberg bei Wien Diese Zeitschrift dient dem Zweck, Freunde der American Women’s Association über Aktivitäten der Organisation zu informieren.

HIGHLIGHTS C H A R I T YJUNE/ FU N D R/ 2018 AISING 2018

A LOOK BACK AT CHARITY FUNDRAISING AND OUTREACH 2018 CONTRIBUTED BY IRENE SCHLEGELMILCH, CHAIR OF THE CHARITY FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

Fundraising events

2018 was a busy and successful year for Charity Fundraising and Outreach activities. In February, we had a wonderful Cocktails for Charity evening under Anthea’s leadership with special performances by our talented AWA members. The summer Pop-Up Fashion Sale, organized by Danaë and her team, provided the perfect opportunity to get a “new” outfit and enjoy a buffet and drinks with friends. After the summer, we held a Charity Bake Sale, where the scones, tea bread and mimosas proved to be particularly popular. Then in October, we were able to demonstrate our artistic talents at the Paint and Wine evening and proudly present our paintings at a Vernissage in the clubhouse. Our last fundraising activity of the year was the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, to celebrate the success of our knitting woolly hats project. The parade of elegant, creative and funny hats was impressive and the traditional afternoon tea and Pimms cocktails rounded off a most enjoyable afternoon.

Through these events, we were able to raise over €3000 for our 2018 charity, Wiener Frauenhäuser, and also had a lot of fun along the way! Outreach projects In addition to fundraising, we have also been involved in several Outreach projects. The knitters amongst us were busy knitting Hats for the Homeless throughout the autumn. Our goal was 110 hats, to be given as Christmas gifts for the homeless and needy attending the Christmas celebration at the Franziskaner Church. We far surpassed this goal with over 210 hats! Our champion knitters were Urte, who knitted 130 hats and Magda 25 hats. Well done! We are now Cooking dinner for the Homeless, for 50 people at a shelter, on a monthly basis. So far we have served 150 hot meals, sharpened our culinary skills and not poisoned anyone. We plan to continue this activity throughout 2019. “THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED”

A wonderful parade of hats at our Mad Hatter’s Tea Party to celebrate the end of our knitting woolly hats for the homeless project. We knitted over 210 hats!

A W A A CJUNE T I/ V I T Y /G HIGHLIGHTS 2018A L L E R Y

At Christmas time, cookies are always a welcome treat. This year, we had two cookie activities; Decorating Cookies in the Clubhouse with very colourful results and Baking Christmas Cookies in the Franziskaner kitchen under expert guidance. The cookies were enjoyed by the homeless and needy attending the Franziskaner Church celebrations. On Saturday, 1 December, a team of 16 AWA Alejandra, Eva, Suzanne, Irene, Susan members, plus family and friends, volunteered at the Wiener Tafel National Food Drive. The AWA team took exclusive charge of the Lidl store on Zieglergasse and collected 30 large boxes of donations! To round off the year, a team of Santa’s helpers Wrapped the Hats for the Homeless. We had knitted and prepared 110 parcels along with the 110 packets of Manner Schnitten donated at our Tea Party, for handing out at the church’s Christmas party on Dec 15. It has indeed been a successful year! This was only possible with a dedicated and motivated team, the Charity Committee.

Charlotte, Veronika, Alejandra and Mavic Susan, Hyacinth, Magda and Rosanna

Sharon, Terhi, Erin, Lidl Manager, Suzanne

Richard, Delaney and Marjeta

May I take this opportunity to thank all members of the Charity Committee for their tireless hard work and tremendous support throughout 2018. Many thanks also to the many volunteers, knitters, bakers, cookie decorators, cooks, etc for your very much appreciated contributions. And finally, a big thankyou to everyone who attended our events.

MORE GOOD LUCK FOR NEW YEAR C O N T R I B U T E D B Y S H E I L A H A R G R E AV E S

The Chimney Sweep is also a major symbol of good luck, especially at New Year. As fire was a serious hazard in the crowded conditions of medieval Vienna, having a visit from the chimney sweep at New Year’s was very good fortune and meant that the house was safe and that a warm meal could be cooked in the oven. Those were the days, of course, when the family gathered around the fireside hearth or stove instead of the television or iPAD. The traditional figure of the chimney sweep often appears in medieval-style signs over Rauchfangskehrer premises and as figurines at Christmas Markets. Since 1985 their museum in the fourth district has been open with exhibits of old equipment, chimneys and the small brushes used by little boys made to climb the chimneys. Today there are only 150 chimney sweeps in Vienna. The training lasts six years including tough exams in fire and safety regulations. By law, all chimneys must be inspected annually. And they check!!

N E JUNE/ W HIGHLIGHTS M E M B/ 2018 ERS

HELENE SCHUSTER

TERESA POANDL-ELY

Helene says she is a true Waldviertlerin (from the North of Austria, bordering the Czech Republic), but the country "behind the hills" was too small for her. She left her homeland when she was 17-years old and spent a few years in Vienna, then Poland, UK and USA. As fate would have it, Helene returned to Vienna in 1982, where she worked for Unido Vienna for 29 years until retiring in 2011. Although she doesn’t miss working, Helene does miss the international work environment. Helene says, “I like fun and to be fun, and I love music, opera, walks, country sites, travel, good food and wine, and absolutely everything about England, especially the British humour.” You can get a taste of Helene’s humor by the photo she submitted, taken in Mondsee at a “Perchten Atelier.”

Teresa is a new AWA member for the second time, having originally joined AWA in 1985, when she was writing a monthly cooking column for Highlights! A professional chef since 1971, Teresa has worked as a private chef in London, catered for Embassies, created culinary delights in England, Switzerland, Paris and Seattle, started a catering company in Vienna and run a restaurant group here. Long-time residents may remember her weekly cooking spot on the now-defunct Blue Danube Radio. Teresa is from England, but has lived in many locations including London, Scotland, Germany and New York due to her work, her father’s work (Royal Air Force) then her first husband’s work (Austrian Foreign Service). Her hobbies include travel, food, wine, music and reading. Teresa claims to have gone into semi-retirement last summer, but perhaps we can convince her to lead an AWA cooking demonstration?

VLADISLAVA IVKOVIC PETROVIC Vladislava is from Serbia, though she was living in Cyprus when she moved to Vienna two years ago with her son, Bogdan and husband, Aleksandar. A woman of many interests and talents, Vlada completed a degree in linguistics (in the field of Serbian language and literature) at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad in Serbia. For almost 15 years she worked in a well-known media house as a journalist, a public relations professional and a project manager. She also worked on the implementation of an EUfunded socially responsible project in Southeast Europe. Currently Vlada is preparing a startup Serbian language news portal in Vienna. Fluent in Serbian, English and Russian, Vlada is now learning German to better navigate in her new surroundings. Her passions include working on cultural and educational activities, meeting people from different cultures and visiting beautiful places in Vienna with her new friends. TARCILA ACEVEDO FERNANDEZ Tarcila is from Mexico but knows quite a lot about her “new” country thanks to her Austrian husband. They moved to Vienna five years ago with their 17-year-old son, who is a 12th grader at the American International School, and expect to live here well after he has graduated. A self-described social person who joined AWA to meet new people, Tarcila also plays tennis, loves travelling and has a talent for making silver jewellery. She has also lived in London, Budapest and Bucharest.

RIKKE VILLADSEN Rikke moved to Vienna from Belgrade, Serbia, for her husband´s work. She is Danish and has been an expat almost 20 years in Hamburg, Stockholm, Prague, Sofia and Belgrade. Rikke enjoys cooking, playing golf and tennis, reading, traveling with the family and working for charities. For the past three years, her focus was on fundraising for the first hospice in Serbia and she hopes to find a new charity project through AWA. Rikke is also looking forward to exploring her new city and meet exciting people through AWA. Her son is a 9th grader at the American International School.

JUNEM / HIGHLIGHTS 2018 NEW E M B/E RS

NEELAM GHAI

DANIELA KERESTEŠOVÁ

Neelam has much to say but prefers to convey it in person. Luckily, she loves meeting new people, so you may get a chance to find out about her first-hand! For now, she tells us that is from India and has lived in five different countries (you’ll have to ask her which ones when you meet her). Neelam keeps fit and challenged playing golf and practicing yoga, and keeps fulfilled by working for charities.

Daniela, who arrived in Vienna in 2006, works for the state administration in Slovakia, helping with a microgrant scheme in the area of sustainable development. Previously, she worked for the EC Delegation in Bratislava (which was how she met her Austrian husband, Lothar). She loves travelling, yoga, hiking, skiing, and photography, and has recently taken on painting as a hobby. Moving here from Brussels, she was happy to be close again to her friends and family in her home country of Slovakia. Daniela’s 14-year-old daughter, Sara, is studying at Vienna International School, and the family’s 2 ½ yearold dog, Raffi (an Entlebucher Sennehund) is keeping the family fit in all weather conditions. Daniela decided to join AWA after hearing about it from other VIS parents, and she especially hopes to meet interesting artists creating in Vienna as well as other new members.

MARINA BALDASSARI Although this native of Rome, Italy claims that she’s “quite reserved” and doesn’t like talking about herself, we were able to learn some fascinating details of her life before AWA! Marina attended university in Rome and worked at the Italian Ministry of Defense there and as a financial controller at the in La Spezia in north-west of Italy. In 2001, she followed her French husband, Roger Cucchietti, to his posting in an international organization in Vienna, so the couple have lived here (with their twin daughters) for quite a long time. Marina says she will probably extend her stay in Vienna since both of her daughters are now working for international organizations here. Since retiring from her work in Italy, Marina has maintained her connection to her roots by teaching Italian in several schools and institutions. Her passions include art, history, travel, cooking and healthy food. TRAUDE WILD Although Traude is new to AWA, she is no stranger to Austria. Not only is she a native of this country, but she has also worked here as a tour guide. Although she can probably tell you anything you need to know about Vienna, Traude says that she joined the AWA “to discover Vienna in a different way than I know it,” including new people, places and restaurants. She returned to Vienna in 2005 after living in the US for 14 years (Phoenix, Arizona and St. Louis, Missouri), where she taught art history at several US universities. An avid hiker, Traude loves to walk long distances and to write about her experiences outdoors, so it’s no surprise that she describes herself as “curious, open and adventurous.” Traude’s family includes 4 children, 2 grandchildren and husband David Ricks, a retired US professor who is also a member of the AWA via MAWA (the Men of AWA).

CATHY SZLAMP Cathy Szlamp is technically British, but was raised in Botswana and is now “very happily retired” in Grinzing. An avid traveler, her next goal is to visit Australia and New Zealand. But she says she’s happiest being “at home” (wherever that happens to be) engaged in reading, cooking and entertaining friends. Cathy has worked as a dog sitter, editor, gardener, teacher “and whatever else earns an honest euro.” Her goal is to start writing “seriously” in the new year. Fun facts about Cathy: She is a bird watcher, owns neither a TV nor vacuum cleaner, and she enjoys drinking Gin and Tonic. YASMIN HIRTH Yasmin was born in Styria, Austria and moved to Vienna for her studies. She finished her master’s degree in communications and political sciences and started to work as a journalist. Her last job at Fashion TV allowed her to travel to many different countries organizing shows and B2B events. Now she is the happy mum of a 21-month-old little lady named Vivienne who loves to dance with the other kids to Stephanie’s wonderful guitar-playing AWA Toddler group session every Monday.

CREATING A CHARACTER JUNE/ HIGHLIGHTS / 2018 B R E AT H I N G L I F E I N T O A C H A R A C T E R O N S TA G E CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SILANGIL-SPINDLER

I've had the greatest luck to have been able to perform the role of Susanna from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and Despina from Così Fan Tutte in the last few months. I'm grateful that some of you have even come out to support me. But what you see on that one night, is actually the cumulation of weeks of gruelling preparation, tears, late nights and very little, if any, (monetary) pay. Every performer has their own method of preparing for a role, but we all do it for the same reason: a burning passion for bringing the music, character and story to life. Here's a little insight to the work that goes into what you see on the stage. RESEARCH

In preparing Le Nozze di Figaro, in order to get a sense of my character, and to see why Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte (the librettist) might have chosen this as an opera subject, I read the original Figaro trilogy by Pierre Beaumarchais. Researching the time period is also important, in this case, it took place shortly before the French Revolution - implying conflict between the ruling and serving classes. This has to be taken into consideration when thinking about how the character’s motivations, and how they might think and behave. Equally important is researching the composer and the librettist. Mozart often painted little hints about the character in the music - for example my voice was a type which often sings the simple servant roles in Mozart operas, and many of my arias are written in a simple key of F major, whereas a character with high status would have much more coloratura or embellishment.

TRANSLATING THE LIBRETTO

I’m not a native Italian speaker so in order to perform a role and react with emotional authenticity, each word of a scene must be translated. Double meanings in a language must also be taken into consideration. When I read through a libretto (or script) for the first time, I write down my instincts - how I would speak the sentence, emotions, potential body gestures, etc. Then I read my text aloud in English. And then, again, aloud in the original language with different emotional deliveries.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

On the stage, we only see a glimpse of this character’s life, but in order to give her a real spirit and personality, I need to create a back story: what my childhood was like, the impact of certain events in my life, my social position, goals, fears, flaws, secrets and my moral and religious values, etc. This is often adapted once the director discusses his vision. LEARNING THE MUSIC

To give you an idea of how much music needs to be learned, the run time for Le Nozze di Figaro is 3 hours and 18 minutes, and Susanna is one of the longest soprano roles in the Mozart repertoire. It took me a month to learn and memorize the music. PHYSICAL TRAINING

During the summer I took ballet courses to support my musicality, movement, endurance and stage awareness. When I found out the director intended Despina to moonlight as a stripper, I hit the gym, having considered the costume. REHEARSALS

We had six weeks of musical and scenic rehearsals. For musical rehearsals, we work with the conductor on artistic expression of the music, and balancing each other out vocally. Additionally, a language coach from the Staatsoper was on hand to help us with proper diction. During scenic rehearsals, the director gives ideas and motivation behind each scene, outlines movements, gestures and emotions he’d like emphasised. The cast works together to motivate one another through our actions. Our director, Leonard Prinsloo, was a former ballet dancer, so his productions are very dynamic with lots of movement. I stopped going to the gym at this point because we were repeating scenes with a lot of physicality. I love scenic rehearsals because it’s when I get to really bring my character to life. It’s the time we can experiment with each other as a cast, and push boundaries (with consent) with one another. But it’s also mentally taxing because to rehearse each scene one has act as if one is walking into a situation for the first time, every time. COSTUMES

The director’s vision often dictates the clothing we wear. Susanna was a young secretary in the White House, so I wore J.Crew business attire. Despina was a hardened maid who moonlighted as a stripper, so my outfit was more revealing. For both, half my head was covered with hair extensions and make up caked on my face.

CREATING A CHARACTER JUNE / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018

THE PERFORMANCE

For all the work that we put into it, we perform it no more than a couple times publicly. We often hope for a decent sized audience to come see it, and hopefully make back the money that was spent on the theater, conductor, director and pianist. Some of them love the performance, and some of them hate it. We can’t please everyone, but we are proud of the work we’ve accomplished in bringing a story to life.

HEREND GALLERY VIENNA TOUR DECEMBER 4, 2018

Porcelain created for William and Kate's wedding Mavic and her jewellry at the Herend

Magda and Diana painting a saucer

HANDYMAN, REMOVALS... PAUL MOCKO DOES IT ALL! Electrical Work / Telephone & Internet Support / Satellite dishes & SKY TV Installation / Wooden Deck Construction Furniture Assembly & Disassembly Painting / Patching / Hanging Curtains & Pictures / Removals Appliance Installation & Repair Works Days & Evenings / Speaks English, German & Polish I highly recommend Paul. He moved my house contents three times, with all the disassembling and reassembling of furniture plus all the tasks that removals require. He is utterly reliable and trustworthy. Sheila Hargreaves, AWA President ________________________________________

0676 950 5789 / s.mocko@gmx.at / www.homeservice.prv.pl

- Helping AWA members for over a decade -

Dr. Gabriele Springer

AESTHETIC DENTISTRY | VENEERS TEETH WHITENING | PERIODONTOLOGY In our practice you will find the quality you are used to from the U.S. Our team, including a dental hygienist, is at your service. Special rates apply for AIS and VIS students. For appointments contact: t: 01 804 33 83 or 0676 453 05 35 e: zahn@springerdent.at | www.springerdent.at Jagdschloßgasse 9/11, A-1130 Vienna

HIGHLIGHTS 2018C T I V I T I E S C L U B HJUNE/ OU S E /A

/ LANGUAGES / ITALIAN CONVERSATION/ MONTHLY Monday, 14 and 28 January at 13:30 Nadia Di Paola / 0678 1252229 FLUENT SPANISH CONVERSATION/WEEKLY From 14 January. Teresa Benet / ftmirella@yahoo.com

FALUN GONG/ WEEKLY Wednesdays from 14:00 to 15:00 and 18:00 to 19:00 Nayiri Asvazadurian/ 0650 610 4545 / n.asvazadurian@gmail.com

/ OTHER /

BEGINNERS’ SPANISH CONVERSATION /WEEKLY By arrangement only /minimum two members ftmirella@yahoo.com BASIC GERMAN FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS Tuesdays at 10:30 By arrangement only with Monika Sautner/ minimum two members ADVANCED BEGINNERS’ GERMAN CONVERSATION / WEEKLY Tuesdays at 10:30 with Mona/ mona.angel.nilsson@gmail.com GERMAN CONVERSATION A1+/WEEKLY Tuesdays at 12:00 / 01 876 2041/ andrea.s.melchiorre@t-online.de FLUENT FRENCH CONVERSATION / WEEKLY

Wednesdays at 11:30 from 16 January with Françoise Delannoy or Antonia Zane ENGLISH CONVERSATION FOR LEARNERS/ WEEKLY Thursdays at 13:00 with Lizzie Haszczyn

/HOBBIES / AMERICAN MAHJONG / WEEKLY Tuesdays at 13:00 CANASTA/ WEEKLY Wednesdays at 13:00 BOARD GAMES / WEEKLY Words, Scrabble and numbers for fun on Thursdays at 10:00 Lee Goodell / 0650 548 9596 / leegoodellusa@yahoo.com

/ HEALTH / EXERCISE/ YOGA WITH IVY/ WEEKLY From January10, Thursdays from 15:00 to 16:00 Maximum of six members with Yoga mats. awa@awavienna.com

BIBLE STUDY / WEEKLY Thursdays from 10:00-12:00, except January 31st, with Sandy Shaffer: “Genesis for Today” from a study guide written by a man who lived in Vienna in the 90s and did his doctorate at University of Vienna. / 02243 287 01 / sshaffer@entrust4.org AWA BABY AND TODDLER GROUP/ WEEKLY

O F F S I TJUNE E / HIGHLIGHTS A C T I/ 2018 VITIES

SINGING GROUP / WEEKLY Fridays, 10:30-12:00 Sing with the AWA choir, led and accompanied by FLUENT GERMAN CONVERSATION//WEEKLY Wednesdays, after Weekly Coffee, lunch in different Sandra Schweighofer on her piano! Lidice Pollan lidice.pollan@gmail.com local restaurants /0699/1924-7478 BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP/MONTHLY Tuesday, 8 January at 13:00

/LANGUAGES/

Migration and exile are still very topical subjects in 2019. Mohsin Hamid's novel Exit West examines the impact of violence and chaos perpetrated by militants on a modern young couple in an unnamed country. They flee, seizing the opportunity to "exit west." Suddenly, despite their sophistication, they are outsiders, their behavior regarded as suspect to the "natives" of the Western countries where they seek refuge. Upcoming books may include: V.S.Naipaul's A Bend in the River, Mike McCormick's Solar Bones, Penelope Lively's Moon Tiger and Gail Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant Is Perfectly Fine. All are welcome! Mary Wagener / mary.l.wagener@gmail.com

/HEALTH & SPORT /

SOCIAL TENNIS / WEEKLY Thursday mornings, time by arrangement. Reservation required to guarantee the time and court. / WEEKLY COFFEE / AWAWEEKLY COFFEE

Wednesdays, from 10:00 until 12:00, at CafĂŠ Sluka. Weihburggasse 4, 1010 Leaders are: Gerda, Urte, 0676 6765829, Hyacinth, 0650 554 7156, Lini, 0664 179 7031, Helena, 0676 331 8626, and Heike, 01 789 0199. MAWA (MEN OF AWA) WEEKLY COFFEE Wednesdays from 10:30 to 12:00, Robert Blaukopf robert.blaukopf@gmail.com

Competent, friendly staff will welcome you to our office. We strive for excellence in everything we do, and as a patient you should accept nothing less. Our primary goal is to give you both a great smile and a healthy, longlasting bite. We are committed to providing the best possible treatment using state-of-the art orthodontics in a caring, friendly environment. Billrothstrasse 58 1190 - Vienna +43 1 36 77 222 smile@claudia-aichinger.com www.claudia-aichinger.com

J A N U AJUNE/ RY C A L/ 2018 ENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 15:00-16:30 Baby & Toddler Group

17:00-19:00 Happy Hour Cocktails at the Marriott

10:30 Basic German for Absolute beginners

10:00-12:00 AWA Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka

10:30 Advanced Beginners’ German Conversation

10:30 MAWA ( Men of AWA) Coffee

12:00 German A1+ Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong

13:00 Canasta

13:00 Book Discussion Group

14:00 Falun Gong

07 10:30 Behind the Scenes: The Eiskeller with Christian Gepp €5 12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish

12:00 Fluent German Conversation

15:00-16:30 Baby & Toddler Group

10:00-12:00 AWA Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka

10:30 Advanced Beginners’ German Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong

10:30 MAWA ( Men of AWA) Coffee 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 11:30 French Conversation 12:30 AWA Board Meeting

13:00 Behind the Scenes: Tour of the AIS (American International School)

13:00 Canasta 14:30 Falun Gong 18:00-19:00 Falun Gong

11:00 Behind the Scenes: Muth: home of the Vienna Boys’ Choir €10

10:30 Basic German for Absolute beginners

12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish Conversation

12:00 German A1+ Conversation

15:00-16:30 Baby & Toddler Group

17:00 Bucket List Group

10:30 Advanced Beginners’ German Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong

21 10:30 Health and Wellness – “How to love yourself in the Mirror?” 12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish Conversation 13:00 Veggie Vienna Landia Restaurant 13:30 Italian Conversation

10:00-12:00 AWA Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka 10:30 MAWA( Men of AWA) Coffee 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 11:30-13:00 French Conversation 12:00-13:30 Charity Committee 13:00 Canasta 14:00 Falun Gong 16:30-20:00 Cooking for the Homeless 18:00-19:00 Falun Gong 18:00 MAWA ( Men of AWA) Dinner Night 19:00 Ladies’ Dining Experience at Beaulieu Bistrot

10:00-12:00 AWA Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka

10:30 Advanced Beginners’ German Conversation

10:30 MAWA( Men of AWA) Coffee

13:00 American Mahjong

10:30 Basic German for Absolute beginners

12:00 German A1+ Conversation

15:00-16:30 Baby & Toddler Group 15:00 Seniors’ Afternoon Tea Party 18:00 Prosecco and popcorn Film Night in the Clubhouse-Mama Miathe original

10:30 Basic German for Absolute beginners

12:00 German A1+ Conversation

13:30 Italian Conversation

18:00-19:00 Falun Gong

12:00 Fluent German Conversation 11:30 French Conversation 13:00 Canasta

13:30 Behind the Scenes: Tour of the Clock Museum €11.50 14:00 Falun Gong 18:00-19:00 Falun Gong

J A N U AJUNE R /Y C A L/ 2018 ENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

THURSDAY 10:00 Board Games

FRIDAY

10:30 Singing Group

10:00 Bible Study 13:00 English Conversation for Learners 15:00 Yoga with Ivy 19:00 Ladies’ Wine Evening at Walletscheck

10 10:00 Board Games 10:00 Bible Study

11 10:30 Singing Group

13:00 Senior’s Luncheon at Restaurant Salieri 13:00 English Conversation for Learners 14:00 PLACES; LECTURES; GATHERINGS; Josephinum Museum of Medicine last chance visit €12 15:00 Yoga with Ivy

17 10:00 Board Games 10:00 Bible Study 13:00 English Conversation for Learners 14:00 Yoga with Ivy

BLUMENBALL at the Rathaus

CHARITY FUNDRAISING 2019 DIE MÖWE The charity which received a large majority of votes in the Doodle Poll completed by members is Die Möwe. This charity offers protection to children who are victims of abuse: physical, psychological and sexual. It has six centers in Vienna and Lower Austria which offer support and professional help to about 4,000 children a year. They also have a prevention program, working in schools and involving children, teachers and parents. During 2019 we aim to support Die Möwe by our fundraising activities. We hope to have a representative from Die Möwe at our charity bake sale on Friday, 25 January.

Please join us then to learn more about Die Möwe and to support our first fundraising event of 10:00-12:00 Charity Bake Sale and 2019. (Die Möwe is Seagull in Handover of funds raised. English) https://www.die-moewe.at/ 10:30 Singing Group www.facebook.com/ 12:30 Monthly Luncheon at MoeweKinderschutz Hansen’s

Charity Collection: Foreign & Old Currency

24 10:00 Board Games No Bible Study

25 FEBRUARY 10:30 Singing Group

13:00 English Conversation for Learners 15:00 Yoga with Ivy

Many of us have left-over foreign holiday money and outdated currency (Schillings, DM, Lira, etc) stuffed in the back of a drawer. Let’s put it all to good use and collect it for our charity, Die Möwe. It is still possible to exchange outdated coins and notes and all foreign currency. Please stop by the clubhouse and drop any outdated or foreign money in our collection box. Thank you!

14 T O U R S / T RJUNE/ I PHIGHLIGHTS S/ SO CIAL EVENTS / 2018 HAPPY HOUR COCKTAILS AT THE MARRIOTT Monday, 7 January, from 17:00 to 19:00 CASCADE BAR, Parkring 12a, 1010 Cocktails at ‘two for the price of one’ with the buffet costing only €5 for as much as you can eat! Friends welcome. Minoo and Sonja are our new hosts. SIGN UP BY noon on Monday, 7 January awa@awavienna.com LADIES’WINE EVENING Thursday, 10 January at 19:00 WALLETSCHECK, Sobieskigasse 4A, 1090 Returning to an old haunt, Kristina assembles her group for another evening of fun, wine and laughter. SIGN UP BY Wednesday, 9 January awa@ awavienna.com BEHIND THE SCENES: TOUR OF THE ICE CELLAR WITH CHRISTIAN Monday, 14 January at 10:30 As promised, Christian will show us another hidden feature of the Hofburg palace. Meet in the inner courtyard of the Hofburg by the huge statue of Francis 11at 10:25.Cost €5. SIGN UP BY Friday, Friday, 11 January awa@awavienna.com Sheila Hargreaves / 0676 755 9804 BEHIND THE SCENES: TOUR OF THE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, (AIS) Salmannsdorferstrasse 47, 1190

Tuesday, 15 January at 13:00 The AIS has been in existence since 1959 on the 44,000 m2 site overlooking the Vienna Woods. The hilltop buildings and sports fields are worth seeing as are the interiors. We will tour the school whilst classes are in progress and meet some teachers. SIGN UP BY Friday, 11 January awa@awavienna.com SENIORS’ LUNCHEON Thursday, 17, January at 13:00 RESTAURANT SALIERI, Seilerstätte 17, 1010

SIGN UP with Phyllis Wieser directly 01 320 8418 / phylliswieser@aon.at BEHIND THE SCENES: TOUR OF THE MUTH CONCERT HALL OF THE VIENNA BOYS’ CHOIR Am Augenspitz 1, 1020 Monday, 21 January at 11:00 This is the home of the famous choir, and the building is still controversial, with much muttering about the design and the location. The concert hall is wonderful!! Cost of tour is €10. SIGN UP BY Friday, 18 January awa@awavienna.com OUTREACH ACTIVITY COOKING DINNER IN A HOMELESS SHELTER Wednesday, 23 January 16:30 - 20:00 hrs in 1030 Wien We will be preparing an evening meal for 55 homeless residents in an emergency shelter. A homeless guide will source the ingredients, plan the menu and coordinate our evening tasks: preparing and serving a hot meal and clearing up afterwards. Contribution for the ingredients / guide is €12 per volunteer. As well as providing a hot meal to homeless people, we also support the homeless guide with work and integration. SIGN UP BY Thursday,17 January (spaces limited) awa@awavienna.com Eva Schlögl/ 06991 9079888 BUCKET LIST IN THE CLUBHOUSE Tuesday, 22 January at 17:00 Can you think of some things that you have thought you’d like to experience “sometime in your life”, but have yet to make them a priority Whether it is the experience of driving through a car wash, jumping out of a plane, or hearing your echo from a mountain top, it’s time to take a look at making those things possible – no matter the ands, ifs, and buts. As a group, we can begin to develop and explore how to pursue our bucket lists. SIGN UP BY Monday, 21 January awa@awavienna.com Urte Paulus MAWA (Men of AWA) DINNER NIGHTS Wednesday, 23 January, at 18:00 MAWA (Men of AWA) is the group for spouses of AWA members. New members are especially encouraged! Robert Blaukopf / robert.blaukopf@gmail.com LADIES’ DINING EXPERIENCE Wednesday, 23 January at 19:00 BEAULIEU BISTROT, Herrengasse14, 1010 (inside Ferstelpassage)

T O U R S / T R I JUNE P S/ HIGHLIGHTS / S O C/ 2018 I A L E V E N T S 15 Join Annick to enjoy the French cuisine. Please contact Annick directly by Friday, 18 January europolitan@chello.at Annick Gauthier / 0699 1968 8173 CHARITY BAKE SALE AND HANDOVER OF CHARITY FUNDS Friday, 25 January 10:00-12:00 in the AWA Clubhouse Come for coffee and buy some home-made cakes and other delicious treats to take home or eat on the spot in aid of the new AWA charity. A representative from the Frauenhäuser will be there to receive the money raised for that charity. And a representative from the new charity for 2019, Die Möwe, will introduce the work of their organisation. In order to have a good balance between sweet and savoury, please contact Hyacinth (jhkrippner@aol.com) or Magda(m.oltmans@hotmail.com) to volunteer your baking skills! SIGN UP BY: Wednesday, 23 January MONTHLY LUNCHEON Friday, 25 January at 12:30 HANSEN RESTAURANT Wipplingerstrasse, 34 - 1010 Wien

SENIORS´ AFTERNOON TEA PARTY Monday, 28 January at 15:30 GRAND HOTEL Kärntner Ring 9, 1010 (1st floor) Lively Ladies meet to chat and exchange views. SIGN UP BY: Friday, 25 January. verasaunders@ gmx.net Vera Saunders / (01) 990 6492 evenings PROSECCO AND POPCORN MOVIE NIGHTMAMA MIA – the original Monday, 28 January at 18:00 in the clubhouse! Let’s start the New Year with Mamma Mia, a sing-along, classic movie. Put on your ABBA gear and join us for a fun evening. Sign up by noon, 28 January at awa@awavienna.com or AWA office 01 9662925 SIGN UP BY noon on Monday, 28 January 1. I Have a Dream 2. Honey, Honey 3. Money, Money, Money 4. Mamma Mia 5. Dancing Queen 6. Our Last Summer 7. Lay All Your Love on Me 8. Super Trouper 9. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! 10.Voulez-Vous 11.The Name of the Game 12.SOS 13.Does Your Mother Know 14.Slipping Through My Fingers 15.The Winner Takes It All 16.I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do 17.When All Is Said and Done 18.Take a Chance on Me 19.Waterloo 20.Thank You for the Music

In the basement of the old Stock Exchange (Börse) BEHIND THE SCENES: TOUR OF building and adjacent to a flower market. This restaurant THE CLOCK MUSEUM has great modern and creative food at breakfast, lunch and dinner! The menu changes periodically but the quality of the food remains. Excellent service too! SIGN UP BY Wednesday, 23 January. awa@awavienna.com AWA contact is Nadia Di Paola / 0678 1252229 VEGGIE VIENNA Monday, 28 January at 13:00

LANDIA RESTAURANT, Ahornergasse 4, 1070 Wien (just 5 min walk from U3 Neubaugasse) Our journey to discover the possibilities for plant based eating in Vienna continues. Join us for lunch at a popular vegetarian / vegan restaurant. SIGN UP BY Wednesday, 23 January awa@awavienna.com /AWA 01 9662925

At Palais Obizzi,Schulhof 2, 1010 Tuesday, 29 January at 13:30 This is another first for AWA, the Clock Museum housing one of the most significant collections of time pieces in Europe. Seven hundred clocks from around the globe mark time in an enchanting Old Viennese building. Spread over three floors, the exhibition tells a story of scientific advances and technological precision with playful picture clocks with hidden dials, fascinating astronomical clocks, watches, the artful clocks of the Biedermeier and Belle Époque eras. Cost of tour is €11:50. SIGN UP BY Friday, 25 January awa@awavienna.com

FA W C O

JUNE/ HIGHLIGHTS / 2018 W H AT ’ S G O I N G O N ?

N E W S B Y B E V E R L E Y B A C H M AY E R

Big news from the FAWCO! Why is this important to you?? Do you have children in school, about to graduate, headed to college? Are you concerned about the Girl Child in the world? Do you ever wonder if you could make a difference? How can you get involved? These are some of the reasons that FAWCO came into existence so many years ago (1931): the founder believed that uniting American women’s clubs in Europe and around the world would create impact. Has FAWCO made a difference? In the last two years through the Target Project: Hope Beyond Displacement, the Back to School drive and Super Girls after school enrichment program served nearly 700 families and over 1,800 individual refugee girls in Amman, Jordan; girls and women are learning IT skills; and new courses on Women’s Empowerment and Gender-Based Violence Awareness are underway. This has been the impact in just two years. Can you imagine the impact since FAWCO was started? Send an email to bbachmayer@yahoo.com to find out how you can participate. Important dates to remember: January 18th, last date to register for UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York – March 11-22, January 27, submission deadline for FAWCO Education Scholarships March 21-24, FAWCO Conference in Edinburgh March Contact Bev to find out more about these events and to register! Or check out www.fawco.org. Sign up for your free account.

Syrian Refugee girls

In case you were wondering, FAWCO was originally derived from “Federation of American Women’s’ Clubs Overseas” but was rebranded in 2016.

Refugee camp in Jordan

PLACES; LECTURES; GATHERINGS: THE JOSEPHINUM

CONTRIBUTED BY HELENE GRESSENBAUER

THURSDAY, 17 JANUARY, 14:00

Until the middle of the 18th century, the Vienna’s example of Medical care had an important impact the healthcare system of Middle Europe. The only The Josephinum is the foundation of the famous other bodies to take on a similar role were Italian Vienna Medical School of the 18th and 19th universities, and the University of Prague. The century and a prominent example of the Age of Viennese Medical Schools of the 18th and 19th Enlightement in Austria. centuries were famous. We will meet in the right-hand wing of the Friends and Partners welcome. building, on the first floor. This is our last chance to visit before closure of two years for renovation Please join us for coffee or drinks afterwards to Completed as part of the Medical Faculty in complete the meeting! 1785, it is the only representative building dating Sign up by 16 January / awa@awavienna.com back to Emperor Joseph’s II era of just ten helene@gressenbauer.org years; it is the most important example of neoclassical architecture in Vienna and of the Age of Enlightenment in Austria. One of the central planks of Joseph’s II reforms was the improvement and standardisation of public health and medical education and the large windows and bright rooms with high ceilings had a healthy impact on both teachers and students. The construction of the unique mental hospital, Narrenturm, was a first to treat mental illness with understanding. The modern Medical University of Vienna represents the nearly 650-year history of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Vienna and the current Medical University. WÄHRINGER STRASSE 25, 1090 / ENTRY FEE IS €12

JUNE HIGHLIGHTS / 2018 ADVE R/ T ISEM ENTS

Sunday Service: 11:15 Rev. Matthew A. Laferty Sechshauser StraĂ&#x;e 56, 1150 Vienna tel: +43 1 895 8175 office@esumc.at I www.esumc.at U4/U6 LĂ¤ngenfeldgasse or 57A Grimmgasse A friendly, caring community with many different nations, cultures, and traditions. Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors We offer: - a place for worship, study, growth - an opportunity to find your own ministry - a chance to feel at home - toddler care - a wonderful and fun Sunday School - five choirs and special music - active groups for families, men, women, young adults, prayer and others.

The English-Speaking United Methodist Church of Vienna

M A K E T HJUNE/ E M O S T/ 2018 OF VIENNA HIGHLIGHTS C O N T R I B U T E D B Y B E V E R LY B A C H M E Y E R

After all the merriment of the holidays, the Ball Season opens and we begin to dance through the winter in order to stay warm. Join the excitement of Ball season, get your tickets now!

CALENDAR OF BALLS IN JANUARY Monday 11, Steirerball /Hofburg/ www.steirerball.com

Tuesday 12, Ball der Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien / Hofburg / www.wuball.at

CITY OF WOMEN; FEMALE ARTISTS IN VIENNA FROM 1900 TO 1938 Friday 25 January to Saturday, 19 May

Thursday 17, Wiener Zuckerbäckerball/ Hofburg/ www.zuckerbaeckerball.com Friday 18, Blumenball / Flower Ball/ Rathaus/ www.wiens-gartenverein.com

Friday 18, Ball of the Army Officers / Hofburg/ www.ballderoffiziere.at Saturday 19, Ball der Pharmacie / Pharmacists‘ Ball/ Hofburg/ www.pharmacieball.at Thursday 24, Ball der Wiener Philharmoniker / Ball of the Wiener Philharmoniker/ Musikverein/ www.wienerphilharmoniker.at Saturday 26, Ball der Industrie und Technik Musikverein/ www.techniker-cercle.at Saturday 26, Wiener Ärzteball / Vienna Physicians‘ Ball/ Hofburg/ www.aerzteball.at Saturday 26, Wiener Regenbogenball 2019 / Rainbow Ball / Parkhotel Schönbrunn/ www.regenbogenball.at Saturday 26, Wiener Ball der Wissenschaften / Vienna Ball of Sciences /Rathaus/ www.wissenschaftsball.at Monday 28, Jägerball – Ball vom Grünen Kreuz / Hunters‘ Ball/ Hofburg / www.verein-grueneskreuz.at Thursday 31, Ball der Technik / Engineers‘Ball/ Hofburg/ www.tu-ball.at

VIENNESE DREAM ON ICE – SKATING ON THE SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE RATHAU

January 18 to March 3 Open from November 16 with a smaller skating area until 6 January and on January 18, it reopens with an enlarged skating area. www.eistraum.com

Today, hardly anyone knows who they were, even though they are a part of art history: Elena LukschMakowsky, Helene Funke, and Erika Giovanna Klien contributed significantly to Viennese Modernism and artistic trends after the First World War. To commemorate these artists, their art, and their achievements, a long overdue retrospective will be staged in the Unteres Belvedere. http://www.belvedere.at/

VIENNA COFFEE FESTIVAL Coffee lovers and professionals from Vienna and all over the world will show and tell, and taste, at the Ottakringer brewery’s event halls. Explore Vienna’s trendy new coffee scene, learn the tricks of great coffee making from a world class barista, and participate in an interactive coffee workshop. Dates: Friday11th to Sunday13th January 2019 Opening Hours: 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm Friday; 10.00 am to 8.00 pm Saturday; 10.00 am to 6.00 pm Sunday. Admission: free entry

HOW DO YOU GET NEW YEAR’S CONCERT WIENER PHILHARMONIKER TICKETS FOR NEXT YEAR, 2019/2020?

December 30th 2019 (Dress rehearsal) at 11:00 December 31st 2019 (New Year’s Eve concert) at 19:30 January 1st 2020 New Year’s Concert at 11:15 Strauss compositions played by the Vienna Philharmoniker Orchestra in the Musikverein, Goldener Saal. Best way to see these is to watch on TV for 2018/19 The Wiener Philharmoniker takes orders for the above one year in advance. The full programme of events in Vienna in January can be found at this secure site. https://www.wien.info/media/files/programjaenner-2019.pdf Or at the English Speaking website https://www.viennawurstelstand.com/

T H JUNE I S / HIGHLIGHTS AND T H AT / 2018

A SELECTION OF COMMENTS ON EVENTS IN NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2018 CONTRIBUTED BY VIRGINIA SHERIDAN

SNOWGLOBE MUSEUM

The snowglobe was invented by accident in 1900 by Herr Erwin Perzy’s grandfather, a surgical technician who wanted to improve the quality of lightning in operating rooms. Early on, Herr Perczy gave one of his friends, the curator of the Mariazell Basilica, trial snowglobes to sell, with a tiny model of the basilica inserted. It was an immediate success with visitors and the curator told him to give up being a technician!! The snowglobe is made with Viennese water and the cleanliness of Vienna’s water cannot be compared, he says!! N.B. STRAUSS MUSEUM

An interesting side issue emerged. When the Nazis occupied Vienna, they found and forged Strauss’ birth certificate because they discovered that he had had Jewish blood!! But they loved his music!!!

HEALTH AND WELLBEING - SECRETS OF A BEAUTIFUL SKIN

On Monday, 3 December, a group of AWA ladies went to a presentation to our new neighbour in flat 12, Roshanak (Rose) at her Cosmetic Studio "Strahlendschön" which roughly translates as "radiantly or glowingly beautiful".

The charming and knowledgeable Rose gave us a wonderful presentation in great detail over two hours all about our facial skin and many extraordinary and helpful ways how to best take care of it, individually, since we all have different types, from dry, oily or sensitive etc. She believes greatly in her products since she has tested many on herself and finds the Marine THALGO products from the sea have unrivalled powers to regenerate, hydrate, stimulate and nourish best and which she uses in her studio. She also gives personalized facial treatments, masks and massages. It was a great afternoon and learning experience and I recommend members to see Rose if are interested in new methods for beautiful, glowing skin. AWA will be arranging another presentation in 2019 and I would happily go again. Best greetings, Renee Lichtenstein AWA/AIOV THANKSGIVING DINNER AT FRANK’S

Despite a small turn out, the evening was enjoyed by everyone, the portions, as always, being huge, with Doggy Bags to take home the remnants.

THE SLOVAKIAN EMBASSY

Thanks to Libuša Misikova and her lovely husband we had an interesting insight into their lovely residence and the recent history of Slovakia, the communist era, the union with the Czech Republic and, more recently, the split and what the impact was in each case. We were then treated to Slovak specialties such as string cheese and Slovak wine!!

“THANK YOU PETER MIŠÍK”

M Y H O M E JUNE/ C OHIGHLIGHTS UNTR Y – SWEDEN / 2018 CONTRIBUTED BY MONA ANGEL

Sweden is a beautiful country with forests and lakes everywhere. The capital Stockholm was built on 14 islands and is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’. It is also a large

a French Military officer, Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, who was made King in 1818 when there was no heir to the throne.

country - 5 times larger than Austria. Of 10 million inhabitants, 1.5 million were born outside Sweden. The population density, however, is only 22 inhabitants per square kilometer. Swedes are used to a lot of space and like solitude, peace and quiet. Swedes love nature and most of them dream of living in a small red wooden cottage in the forest, next to a lake (at least in the summer).

typical swedish house

Sweden is a constitutional Monarchy with kings dating back to the 10th century. The present King, Karl VXI Gustaf is a descendant of

Sweden was a Catholic country from the Middle Ages until the 15th century. Before that time people believed in the Norse Gods - the most well-known are probably Odin and Thor. The Reformation in the 16th century transformed Sweden from Catholicism to Protestantism. The most important relic from Catholic times is Santa Lucia who was a Saint from Sicily. She is celebrated all over the country on the 13th of December each year.

Sweden, Saint Lucia

MY HOME CO U/N T R Y/ 2018 – SWEDEN JUNE HIGHLIGHTS The Swedish language is, like English and German, a West Germanic language, almost mutually intelligible with Danish and Norwegian. It can be assumed that all the Vikings could understand each other. Nowadays, most Swedes can understand Danish and Norwegian rather well, but not Icelandic. Sweden is known for its social equality and openness. Matters, like for instance, income and age are not taboo in Sweden and you can easily ask people how much they earn and how old they are, something that would not be appreciated in many other countries! Salaries and taxes paid by Swedes are made public every year by the tax authorities. You cannot hide your age either because every Swedish citizen has a so called ‘personal number’ in which you can see a person’s date of birth, gender and place of birth. This number is more important than your name. You can easily change your name but never your personal number. Equality between women and men has a long tradition in Sweden. For instance, married couples are taxed separately, age of retirement is the same, widow’s and widower’s pensions do not exist, paternity leave is mandatory, all schools are co-ed. Equality between the sexes is also reflected in the language. Recently, a new pronoun has been introduced and is now gradually being used in media and official documents. The pronoun is ‘hen’ which can refer to a man or a woman. The male pronoun is ‘han’ and the female pronoun is ‘hon’. Also in the Swedish Church there is an effort to be equal. The Archbishop is a woman. Most bishops are women. Among priests in Sweden 50 per cent are men and 50 per cent are women.

Sweden is a neutral country and stayed out of both World Wars. It was not always a peace-loving country, though. During the 17th century it fought the Catholics in the 30-year war. During that war the Swedish King Gustaf II Adolf was killed. His daughter Kristina then became Queen of Sweden. However, she abdicated, converted to Catholicism and moved to Rome. If her father would have known - having sacrificed his life to fight the Catholics!

Sweden also fought seven wars with Denmark and several wars with Russia, winning some and losing some. Presently, Sweden, like many other countries, is undergoing a lot of changes. The political situation is not as clear any more. The results of the parliamentary elections in September 2018, have led to a political stalemate. The contentious issue is about a party called ‘Sweden Democrats’ - a party that wants to cut down on immigration. They got almost 20 per cent of the votes but the other parties refuse to cooperate with them. Since 2015 Sweden has accepted more asylum-seekers per capita than any other European country and it has led to a lot of tension between the parties and also between its citizens. Freedom of religion is regulated by law. Religion has not been an issue in Sweden for hundreds of years, but the new situation in the world has changed that - also in Sweden. Hopefully, Sweden will be able to keep its tradition of consensus-building among political parties and find a solution that everybody will be able to live with.

Antje Jackelén, Lutheran Archbishop

UNLEADED, PLEASE JUNE/ HIGHLIGHTS / 2018 CONTRIBUTED BY PENNY KRUMM

One of the perks of moving to Vienna has been the chance to live in a glorious Altbau (literally: old-built) building, one of those constructed in the Art Nouveau style just after the turn of the century. Maybe you’re also one of the lucky ones, enjoying the high ceilings, the decorative plasterwork, the lead in the water, the parquet floors, the…. Wait, what was that, lead in the water? Sadly, yes. Old buildings mean old pipes, and a hundred years ago, the water pipes were made of lead. So as fresh and delicious as your tap water tastes, it might actually be poisonous. Here’s what you need to know. Lead, one of the more malleable metals, has been used since antiquity to make pipes. The word “plumber” comes from the Latin for lead, “plumbum,” and in fact, some historians speculate that the fall of the ancient Roman Empire was hastened by the deleterious effects of lead poisoning on its rulers, who not only drank contaminated tap water but boiled wine in lead-lined vessels. Lead continued to be used in plumbing for centuries, and it was only banned in water pipes in Vienna in the 1970s. The city of Vienna proudly proclaims that all of its municipal waterworks have been completely lead-free since 2007. So why is lead still a problem? Because the city only guarantees the safety of its water until it reaches your building. The condition and composition of the water pipes within a building are the responsibility of the owner. Any modern building is of course no problem. Even some older buildings may remain unaffected, either because the pipes have been replaced or because decades of lime build-up prevent the lead from leaching into the water. However, since lead is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, the only way to be sure your water is safe to drink is to have it tested. Luckily, the city of Vienna provides a service to do precisely that. You simply fill up a 0.5-liter plastic water bottle (using glass can affect the results) and take it to the lab. They recommend you bring two samples: one from the very first water out of the tap in the morning, and the other after letting the tap run for 5 minutes. The idea is to see whether your pipes are contaminated (which most strongly affects the water left sitting in the pipes overnight) and whether 5 minutes is enough for the fresh water from the city mains to reach your flat. There is a weblink where you can download a simple form to fill out: https://www. wien.gv.at/amtshelfer/umwelt/umweltmedizin/ wasser/trinkwasseruntersuchung.html Yes, the form is in German only. Click on the link under Formula to get an empty formula. In the middle of the first page, under “Personendaten-Typ” choose Natürliche Person (private individual) then hit “weiter” to get to the

form and fill in your name, address and contact information. You then print out the completed form and take it with your water samples to the lab at Rinnböckstrasse 15 in the11th district. They will take your form and your water, and you will receive the results by mail a week or so later. And some time after that, a bill for 34 euros per test. They’re open Monday–Thursday from 7:30am to 3:30pm and Fridays from 7:30am to 1:30pm, no appointment necessary. The European Union considers a value of 10μg/l to be safe. Anything above that is cause for concern, particularly for pregnant women or small children, who are more vulnerable to the insidious effects of lead. In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency has set the maximum safe level for children to: zero. The effects of lead on children’s mental and physical growth are so dangerous that no amount of lead is ever safe for children. Prolonged exposure can lower a child’s IQ irreversibly. So: what to do if your water is over the limit? The staff at the water lab said that there was no filter on the market that they recommended. Normal filters don’t remove heavy metals, and those that claim to do so need to be carefully maintained. They also said that, legally, the landlord is not required to replace the pipes, but only to come to some kind of an accommodation with you. This could be, for example, a rent reduction to take into the account of purchasing bottled water, the provision of a water dispenser, or some other agreement. Lead-contaminated water is still safe for bathing and washing. I had our water tested and it was in fact over the limit, even after 5 minutes, with a value of 2 μg/l. But… bearing in mind that the EU safe limit until 2013 was 25μg/l, and that our children are grown, and that plastic water bottles have their own problems… well, for now, we’re still using the tap water, letting it run for longer than 5 minutes. And I did a test on lead levels in my blood (within the norms), which I plan to repeat next year, to see if it’s gotten worse. Whether I can blame my increasing mental slowness on lead (as opposed to just old age) is in fact, a valid question. I’ll let you know next year.

HOG HEAVEN

JUNE / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018

CONTRIBUTED BY SUZANNE ORRELL

How did pigs get to be so lucky? Why are there pigs everywhere I turn these days? From the middle of December until early January it seems like every Konditerei window is adorned with charming marzipan pigs. And just when I thought it was safe to go outside, after the last mug of Glühwein had been drunk at the Christmas market, I started seeing pop-up New Year’s markets selling little good luck charms including small ceramic and plastic pigs. Why does the pig have a leg up, so to speak, on its’ brethren farm animals? So I did a little rooting, I mean digging, as to why seem to be ever present at New Year’s in Austria. It turns out that pigs represent good luck and prosperity dating back centuries. In the Middle Ages if you owned a lot of pigs you were considered rich and would never go hungry. Pigs were believed to have the power to bring wealth. In Germanic and Southern Scandinavian countries the mighty pig dates back to mythology. Freya, Norse god of love and fertility, was given a chariot pulled by a magical wild boar, Gullinbursti, who could outrun a horse and had a golden mane that glowed at night. Well, that kind of explains everything! If pigs can have that kind of power who wouldn’t worship them as potent harbingers of strength, luck and prosperity. But what about all those negative connotations we associate with pigs? We have all heard, in English as well as German, expressions like “dirty swine” or “in a pig’s eye” and “don’t make a pig of yourself”. These insults equate our behavior with that of a dirty animal which lives in a sty and wallows in...well, you know what pigs wallow in. It seems we have an ambivalent relationship with swine. On the one hand we think of them as dirty and associate them with gluttony. On the other hand we revere them as symbols of luck, fertility and intelligence. But if someone calls you a Glücksschwein in German (literally lucky pig) don’t take it as an insult. No need to make bacon out of them. They are complimenting you as a lucky person, as someone who hat Schwein gehabt. As usual there are all kinds of culinary traditions celebrating the mighty pig at New Year’s. I haven’t lived in Austria for too long but I know without a doubt that pork rules when it comes to Austrian cuisine. While some may enjoy a suckling pig for their New Year’s celebration others might serve a pork roast on a bed of sauerkraut to ring in a lucky New Year. Pigs were traditionally slaughtered in the fall when cooler weather favored the task making fresh cuts more available for a celebratory meal at New Year’s. Those long strands of fermented green cabbage are thought to represent long life. Together, pork and cabbage are a culinary dynamic duo enjoyed throughout the year but gain elevated significance at the New Year. So, when you are out and about in Vienna treat yourself to a pig trinket, marzipan confection or a plateful of pork roast and sauerkraut. It might just bring you viel Glück for the New Year ahead. After all, 2019 is the Year of the Pig according to the Chinese calendar. A lucky omen if there ever was one.

AWA B O A R D Honorary President: Mrs. Alexa Traina President: Sheila Hargreaves 0676 755 9804 / sheilahargreaves@a1.net Vice President / Programs: Helene Gressenbauer-Rösner 0664 920 9807 / helene@gressenbauer.org Charity Fundraising Chair: Irene Schlegelmilch 0660 6404410 / awavpfundraising@gmail.com Treasurer: Jillanne Gabler 01 966 2925 / awa.vienna@treasurer@gmail.com Secretary: Susan Cole 01 966 2925 / awaawavienna.com Internal Communications Chair: Urte Paulus 0676 676 5829 / Urte.paulus@gmx.at Membership Chair: Sara 01 966 2925 / AWAViennaMembership@gmail.com Public Relation Chair: Vacancy Webmanager & FAWCO representaive: Beverly Bachmayer 01 966 2925 / awa@awavienna.com Highlights Advertising Manager: Nadia Di Paola 0678 1252229 / awahighlightsads@gmail.com

AWA VIENNA OFFICE & CLUBHOUSE: Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien T: (01) 966 29 25 E-mail: awa@awavienna.com www.awavienna.com

OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Thursday, 10:00-16:00 Friday closed OFFICE MANAGERS: Ivy Melchor & Erin Silangil

Ã&#x2013;STERREICHISCHE POST AG INFO. MAIL ENTGELT BEZAHLT