November 2018 Highlights by AWA Office

THE

I N T E R NAT I O NAL

WO M E N ' S

NOVEMBER

CL U B

O F V I E N NA

2018

AWA V E R N I S S A G E BY

AWA V I E N N A

NOVEMBER / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018

EDITORIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

100 years ago! When peace was declared in November 1918, it led to the beginning of a momentous time for Europe and all the other countries involved. Empires had been defeated, their rulers would be exiled or executed, Tsar Nicholas and his family, for example, and new countries would be born, like Austria. The face of Europe changed dramatically. Governments had been forced to recognise the work that women had done during the war, coupled with the fact that soldiers had to register to vote every year, hard to do if you were on the Front Line in France, leading eventually to women getting the vote! The Influenza pandemic killed 50 million people across the globe from 1919 onwards, having begun as a variant of Asian flu carried by a young US soldier, unfortunately working as a cook in a military camp housing 56,000 soldiers. It did result, however, in an increase in awareness of the need for hygiene. On the 11 November 2018 , Britain and the Commonwealth countries will be remembering their dead with hosts of red poppies, and the Last Post sounding across the lands as it did in 1918 when peace was declared and the lines from the famous poem, written in 1914 by Laurence Binyon, will be read out at every war memorial but they apply to all those fallen, whatever side they were on, in that dreadful war which was meant to be the war that would end all wars. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them. Sadly, memories are fading! Sheila Hargreaves HIGHLIGHTS TEAM EDITOR: Sheila Hargreaves / 0676 755 9804/ sheilahargreaves@a1.net GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR: Susan Mikes/ 069914025299/ awahighlights@gmail.com 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 READERS: Rosemarie Gatscha / Jane Webster / Mary Donohue DESIGN TEAM MEMBERS: Rosemarie Gatscha / rgatscha@mac.com, Erin Silangil and Barbara Wolff / wolff1234@yahoo.de

Editorial / President's Message

AWA Board & Board Report

Welcome to AWA

Bars...Come along, have a look, and take a seat!

The Coffee Houses of Vienna

100 Years of Austrian Republic

New Members

Clubhouse Activities

Offsite Activities

12-13 Calendar 14-15 Tours, Trips & Social Events 16

FAWCO & November GM Fashion

Advertisements

Make the Most of Vienna

Galapagos- Inspiration and Fortitude

20-21 My Estonia- Small, but Successful 22

Hummus & CO: The Humble Chickpea & HEREND

Escape from Postwar Vienna

HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 2018

Deadline for Highlights 2018 submission: December - deadline 30 October January - deadline 30 November February - deadline 7 January 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.

AWA B O A R D

JUNE/ HIGHLIGHTS / 2018

President: Sheila Hargreaves 0676 755 9804 / sheilahargreaves@a1.net Vice President / Programs: Helene Gressenbauer-Rösner 0664 920 9807 / helene@gressenbauer.org Acting Charity Fundraising Chair: Irene Schlegelmilch 0660 6404410 / awavpfundraising@gmail.com Treasurer: Jillanne Gabler 01 966 2925 / awa.vienna.treasurergmail.com Secretary: Susan Cole 01 966 2925 / awa@awavienna.com Internal Communications Chair: Urte Paulus 0676 676 5829 / Urte.paulus@gmx.at FAWCO Representative: Laurie Richardson 01 966 2925 / lrichardsonvienna@gmail.com Membership Chair: Sara 01 966 2925 / AWAViennaMembership@gmail.com Public Relation Chair: Rocelyn Kielnhofer 0664 4586 685 /AWAVienna.PublicRelations@gmail.com Webmanager: Beverly Bachmayer 01 966 2925 / awa@awavienna.com Highlights Advertising Manager: Nadia Di Paola 0678 1252229 / awahighlightsads@gmail.com

AWA BOARD REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2018 BOARD MEMBERS’ REPORT Carmen Chung had been inducted into the role of Assistant Treasurer and Irene Schlegelmilch would take over the role of Charity Fundraising Chair on a temporary basis. TREASURER’S REPORT The Treasurer is very pleased with the amount of revenue. She hopes that the annual loss will be decreased significantly this year. The income for 2018, so far, exceeds that of the same period in 2017 by €6000. CHARITY FUNDRAISING The Charity Bake Sale made over €400. Plans for the Paint and Wine Evening, the Knitting Hats for Homeless, (and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party), and the Cooking Evening for the Homeless were all in the calendar. A suggestion for the Spring was AWA’s Got Talent! The Christmas Party, on the 7th December would not be charity event, rather a celebration! MEMBERSHIP REPORT There had been 16 new members signed up from the June to the September Board Meeting. BOARD VACANCIES The process of drawing together the Slate of Officers for 2019 would take place in November. Date of Next Meeting: Wednesday, 19 September at 12:30

PHOTO GALLERY AWA PA I N T A N D W I N E E V E N I N G

2018 A W A W E L JUNE C O/ HIGHLIGHTS M E T/O

AWA TOURS

Kirche am Steinhof On the rooftop at the Academy of Sciences

Tour of Gerstner

Otto Wagner Tour

Tour of Diplomatic Academy

BARS,...

JUNE/ HIGHLIGHTS / 2018 C O M E A L O N G , H AV E A L O O K , A N D TA K E A S E AT ! CONTRIBUTED BY BARBARA WOLFF

One of the most legendary bars is Harry’s Bar in Venice, which in 2001 was declared a national landmark by the Italian Ministry for Cultural Affairs. Opening its doors in 1931, with Ernest Hemingway being among the many who felt its charm, it not only brings to mind the finest Italian cuisine but it is also the birthplace of the Bellini, the delightful cocktail made with the juice of sunripened peaches. Those who have had the pleasure of watching the artistry of an Italian preparing cocktails know that bars create their own unique experience. Come along, have a look, take a seat this time in Vienna. Across the Danube in the 22nd district, close to the (VIC), is one of the city’s business hot spots, Donau City. In the Donau City Tower 1, built by French architect Dominique Perrault (towers 2 and 3 have yet to be realised), the lounge bar in the Meliá hotel, on the 57th floor, has a cosmopolitan and worldly atmosphere. Business people from around the globe and also international football teams blend with locals who want to mingle with sophisticated strangers for a couple of hours. This bar provides such an experience, with urban chic interiors and a beyondbreathtaking view of Vienna and the Danube. Food and snacks are influenced by the Mediterranean, reflecting the hotel chain’s international headquarters in Palma de Mallorca. Another very different kind of bar, old-school glamour, yet also lavish and extravagant, can be found in the Park Hyatt, in Vienna’s Innere Stadt. For more than 90 years this protected building served as one of Austria’s grandest banks and then it was transformed into a five-star hotel with the interior maintaining many of the original designs, with the former Art Nouveau cashier hall becoming a restaurant. “The Bank - Brasserie & Bar” at the Park Hyatt is a place to enjoy rather unusual cocktails, not only using uncommon ingredients such as wheat beer and sauerkraut juice but also calling the cocktails, presented in “The Bank Times” menu, names ranging from “Frozen Account”, “Bankruptcy” or “The Reverse Stock Split” and for those dealing in capital markets or those for international customers, the “Pound”, the “Shilling” or the “Peso”. From there, off to Schottentor, to Hotel de France’s Atrium bar, a quiet, calm and unpretentious refuge, a place to rest with a glass of Prosecco or even a cup of coffee. Classical in style, solid and yet contemporary, Atrium bar is also a great location to read a book, study or write. This is the perfect spot to settle in for some cosy and peaceful sessions, away from the hustle and bustle of busy bars in the middle of the city. Come along, have a look, take a seat!

Michaelerplatz 6, A-1010 Wien Tel.: +43-(0)1-533 80 32 Fax.: +43-(0)1-535 49 20 office@loden-plankl.at www.loden-plankl.at Clothes of Loden and traditional Austrian style The family-run business pays highest attention to customer service and specialized knowledge

HIGHLIGHTS T H E C O F F E EJUNE H/ O U S E/ 2018 S OF VIENNA 7 CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SPINDLER-SILANGIL Living in Vienna, you’ve probably read that the Viennese coffeehouses served as a meeting point for artists, writers, musicians, actors and politicians. In the past, they had similar characteristics to today, minus the tourists: large rooms with red-velvet furniture, glistening chandeliers, newspapers laid out to read, and a glass of water accompanying the coffee. One always reads, “Mozart and Beethoven went to Café Frauenhuber, or Café Landtmann was Gustav Mahler and Sigmund Freud’s favorite cafe.” But finding information about women and the coffeehouse is scarce. Luckily, the book, Wiener Mélange: Women Between the Salon and Coffeehouse by Heike Herrberg and Heidi Wagner, helped to give me some insight. Coincidentally, the Jüdisches Museum’s exhibition “Salons - Spaces of Emancipation” also had a small feature on women and the coffeehouse.

The now closed Café Herrenhof was the place to be for art, literature, politics, and it was the meeting point for many female writers including the following: Hilde Spiel, a writer and journalist who wrote novels such as Kati auf der Brücke; Gina Kaus, an Austrian-American novelist and Hollywood screenwriter whose novel Devil Next Door was made into the film Devil in Silk; Vicki Baum, author and boxer who wrote the novel Menschen im Hotel, which was made into a film in 1932 and a Broadway musical in 1989; and Milena Jesenks, a Czech writer who edited the Czech political and cultural magazine The Presence. These and other female writers would come to the Café Herrenhof to negotiate with their publishers, or to meet with newspaper executives to try to secure writing contracts with various newspapers.

In Café Central and Café Raimund, actress and writer Lina Loos found inspiration, writing humorous and ironic essays Before 1856, the only women allowed in about everyday life for the coffeehouse were the kitchen personnel, publications like the Neues who monitored the dispensing of sugar, and Wiener Journal. She was the cashier. “Early on, coffeehouse owners also the daughter of Carl recognised the subtle erotic effect of the and Carolina Obertimpfler, reserved, calm and friendly female cashier,” owners of the Casa Piccola reads an article on Café Sluka’s website. Photos coffeehouse, which was of coffeehouses featuring only men, served to also a meeting place for the advertise the “morality” of the establishment. Viennese bohemians. As Occasionally, a separate small salon was reserved a cabarettist, she traveled for women; Café Schwarzenberg had such a internationally with various room. Women frequented pastry shops, where theater groups. If her last the staff was mostly female, or could be found in name is familiar to you, coffeehouse terraces that did not have separate perhaps it is because she salons. But the overall sentiment was that was married to architect women were not welcome, and according to the Adolf Loos from 1902 to 1905, when they exhibition, “Entering a coffeehouse would have divorced following a public scandal involving damaged their reputation.” her lover. In 1933, the fascist Engelbert Dollfuß dissolved the government and positioned himself dictator. During this time many Jewish Artists, including Hilde Spiel and Vicki Baum, emigrated to America and England, respectively. Writers were censored, the progressive press was forbidden, and after the failure of the Social Democrat uprising in 1934, many Viennese intellectuals lived in exile, marking the end of this period’s flourishing coffeehouse culture. Today, we at the AWA enjoy each other’s company at Weekly Coffee. But this wasn’t always so. Thanks to the gargantuan efforts of Cafe Griensteindl vor 1897-All Men the suffragettes and women’s rights activists, It wasn’t until the interwar period (1918we are no longer forced to sit in another room 1939), when women regularly frequented the or out on a terrace (unless of course, like in coffeehouses. In Austria, women were given the case of Weekly Coffee, it’s a necessity!). the vote in 1919. The same year, the Social No doubt, the fight for women’s equality is Democrats (SPÖ) was voted into the government, ongoing worldwide, but at least here in Vienna and a public reform program was put in place that at the present moment, I can enjoy my Mélange gave women a bit more independence. and Guglhupf without having to worry about it ruining my reputation.

100 YEARSJUNE/ OFHIGHLIGHTS AUSTRIAN / 2018 REPUBLIC CONTRIBUTED BY MARY WAGENER

The 100-history of the Republic of Austria begins with an irrelevant fact: World War I’s bloodshed finally ended on Armistice Day, the 11th of November, the first day of Fasching. However, the ball season was far from the minds of the hungry, war-weary populace. Austrian politicians had forced the departure of the last Hapsburg Emperor, and on the 12th of November, the provisional Republic was formed. What was at first called “Deutschösterrreich” consisted of the mostly German-speaking regions of the former Austria-Hungary minus South Tyrol, the Sudetenland and various small enclaves. Vienna with its 2 million inhabitants was now the oversize capital of a small nation of 6 million. The country staggered into postwar depression with rampant inflation, had a brief recovery and was then hit by the Great Depression during which 25% of the Austrian workforce was unemployed. Politically, the leftist Social Democrats opposed the rightleaning Christian Social party. Unfortunately, both were supported by paramilitary forces, which clashed in a short civil war in February 1934. The Chancellor was killed in July 1934 during an unsuccessful Nazi Putsch, which augured the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. It must be stated, however, that most Austrians voted in favor of the “Anschluss.” Plus points in the period include the construction of outstanding modern municipal housing blocks, particularly in Vienna, and cultural achievements in cabaret, theater and music.

Amazingly, Austria was reestablished in 1945 as the Second Republic. From this point, Austrians began to believe their country could exist independently, and it did, albeit under a Four Power Occupation (U.S., USSR, France, UK). Coalition governments fostered a postwar economic recovery similar to that in Germany. On October 26, 1955, Austria became a neutral country, one that was finally free of occupation forces. Gradually, it won back its place among the world’s nations garnering international acclaim for cultural institutions like the Staatsoper and the Musikverein, while becoming one of the foremost tourist destinations for winter sports. Austria joined the European Union in 1995. However, Austria is still haunted by its past. The war background of Kurt Waldheim, the former Austrian head of the United Nations is still under investigation. The influence of the Social Democratic Chancellor Bruno Kreisky and that of far right Freedom Party politician Jörg Haider are still subjects for debate. This prosperous nation, which has at times considered itself an “Island of the Blessed,” had to find a way to deal with an influx of migrants who were not so blessed in 2015. That Austria has largely done so is to the credit of this postHapsburg rump nation. Furthermore, at present, Austria is again the center of a multinational entity as it was when the Hapsburg dynasty reigned over a multitude of peoples in Central Europe. The country has assumed the Presidency of the Council of the 28-member European Union until the end of this anniversary year. Although November marks the 100th anniversary of this occasion, the First Republic of Austria lasted only until 1938 and, after 1933, was not a true republic. Today’s (Second) Republic of Austria was established after World War II in mid-1945. Only after the occupying Allied soldiers left in 1955, did Austria become fully independent.

Karl Marx Hof

During WWII, Austrians fought in the Reich army and participated in the persecution of “Enemies of the Reich” which included Jews, homosexuals, gypsies and political undesirables like Socialists, Communists and others. Austrian Nazis administered the “Ostmark,” later renamed “Alpen-und Donau-Reichsgau.” A resistance movement actively agitated against the dictatorship. Allied bombing, beginning in 1943, destroyed tens of thousands of homes in many cities with Vienna and Wiener Neustadt being the worst hit.

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

WE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS TO AWA SINCE THE LAST EDITION

Marina Baldassari Monica Asmi Loond Sonja Zsolnai-Kasztler Yasmin Hirth Eda Karaatli-Rentsch

Vladislava Ivkovic Petrovic Helga Pöschl Lynn Buenemann Alexandra Martin-Trondl CATHERINE BUI Vicki Forbes

My name is Catherine, known as Cat. I am French but originally I am from Vietnam but also, like many of you, I was born in 1979 in Hungary and a world citizen woman. I have lived completed my university degree there. in Greece, Egypt and Albania for I have now worked in the hotel many years and now I have moved industry in sales and marketing in to Vienna with my husband and one Vienna for more than 15 years for teenage boy. I like lots of things, travelling, exploring premium hotels. My hobby, however, Vienna, meeting people and sharing experiences ! I is working as a beauty professional and make-up am looking forward to meet all of you and learning artist. My passion is spending time with my family more about you all! in Hungary at Lake Balaton and spending time with NAIRA MAZZINI horses on a farm. And finally, my dream is to be a manager of a Spa resort with a beautiful Ranch where I was born in Brazil. I graduated in people can come to recover. Communication & Advertising. I am married. I am a proud mother of ANNUKKA KAINULAINEN four wonderful children, all born in Portugal. As a typical Italian family, Our family comes from beautiful all together, we moved from the north Finland, I hope you read Helena’s of Italy to Vienna. I joined AWA article from October’s Highlights. looking forward to having a great time with you! My family, husband and 12 years old son, moved to Vienna two months ago PERKHA TRAXL from Guangzhou, China after three and a half years. My husband works I am a native New Yorker, who for an international company and although we loved moved to Vienna in 2015 to be Guangzhou we decided to move to Vienna. So far, with my husband after three crazy there have been no regrets and we truly have loved weddings across three continents the time spent here. Even our son prefers the school involving three different religions in Vienna more than his previous school. (you can thank our parents for this). Before moving to Vienna, I received I used to work in Finland as a project, customer, my BA in Political Science at Vassar College and and financial manager. In China, the working opportunities for westerners are few and far between, my MA in International Relations at Johns Hopkins University SAIS. After that, I worked in strategic and so I filled my calendar with exploring the city communications in Washington, DC and Islamabad, and getting to know many wonderful people from all over the world. Now I hope to find myself a new Pakistan. Today, I still work in the field but remotely for a US-based firm, while also taking care of a career later on but first, however, we need to settle down properly to Vienna and I want to start learning cheeky 2 year old, who will be promoted to big sister in April. I'm very much looking forward to being a the German language. I hope to meet more of you part of AWA, meeting lots of lovely new people, and ladies and make many new friends! perhaps even improving my German. NATALIA MORVAY

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,5 and 19 November at 13:30 Nadia Di Paola / 0678 1252229 FLUENT SPANISH CONVERSATION/WEEKLY Mondays, at 12:30 Teresa Benet / ftmirella@yahoo.com BEGINNERS’ SPANISH CONVERSATION /WEEKLY Mondays, at 13:30 Teresa Benet / ftmirella@yahoo.com BASIC GERMAN FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS By arrangement on Tuesdays at 10:30 with Monika Sautner

/ HEALTH / EXERCISE/ YOGA WITH IVY/ WEEKLY Thursdays from 15:00 to 16:00 , ( not on November 29) Maximum of six members with Yoga mats. awa@awavienna.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

GERMAN CONVERSATION A1+/WEEKLY Tuesdays at 12:00 / 01 876 2041/ andrea.s.melchiorre@t-online.de

CHRISTMAS HULA Monday, 26 November, 12:00-13:00 Monday, 3 December, 12:00-13:00 We have two opportunities to learn and practice a Christmas Hula ("Mele Kalikimaka", Bing Crosby) before we perform it at the AWA Christmas Party on the 7th of December. It will be great fun. Let's do hula. Questions? urte. paulus@gmx.at/0676 676 5829

FLUENT FRENCH CONVERSATION / WEEKLY Wednesdays at 12:00 with Françoise Delannoy or Antonia Zane

/ OTHER /

ADVANCED BEGINNERS’ GERMAN CONVERSATION / WEEKLY Tuesdays at 10:30 / 01 876 2041/ andrea.s.melchiorre@t-online.de

ENGLISH CONVERSATION FOR LEARNERS/ WEEKLY Thursday, 8 November at 13:00 with Leslie Hoff

/HOBBIES / CHESS CLUB Monday, 5 and 26 November at 10:00 Rocelyn Kielnhofer /0664 4586685/ awavienna.publicrelations@gmail.com AMERICAN MAHJONG / WEEKLY Tuesdays at 13:00 MAHJONG FOR BEGINNERS / WEEKLY Fridays at 13:00 /0664 4586685/ Rocelyn Kielnhofer awavienna.publicrelations@gmail.com

CANASTA/ WEEKLY Wednesdays at 13:00 Rocelyn Kielnhofer /0664 4586685/ awavienna.publicrelations@gmail.com BOARD GAMES / WEEKLY Words, Scrabble or Numbers for fun. Thursdays at 10:00 Lee Goodell / 0650 548 9596 / leegoodellusa@yahoo.com

BIBLE STUDY / WEEKLY Thursdays from 10:00-12:00 with Sandy Shaffer: Apostle Paul's letters to the church at Thessalonika, with a focus on living a life that pleases God. / 02243 287 01 / sshaffer@entrust4.org AWA BABY AND TODDLER GROUP/ WEEKLY Mondays from 15:00 until 16:30 with Stephanie Barrett

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

/HEALTH & SPORT /

NEW-SOCIAL TENNIS / WEEKLY FLUENT GERMAN CONVERSATION//WEEKLY Wednesdays, after Weekly Coffee, lunch in different Thursday mornings, time by arrangement. Reservation required to guarantee the time and court. local restaurants Rocelyn Kielnhofer / 0664 458 6685/ awavienna. BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP/MONTHLY publicrelations@gmail.com Tuesday, 20 November at 13:00 This month, we / WEEKLY COFFEE / will discuss Kapka Kassabova’s intriguing study of the little-known border area of Bulgaria, Greece AWAWEEKLY COFFEE and Turkey. In Border: a Journey to the Edge Wednesdays, from 10:00 until 12:00, at Café Sluka. of Europe, she returns to the southeast Bulgarian Weihburggasse 4, 1010 region where she grew up to investigate place Leaders are: Gerda, Urte, 0676 6765829, Hyacinth, and people: border dwellers and crossers past and 0650 554 7156, Lini, 0664 179 7031, Helena, 0676 present. Upcoming books may include: When in 331 8626, and Heike, 01 789 0199. French Love in a Second Language by Lauren Collins and Exit West by Mohsin Hamid. MAWA WEEKLY COFFEE All are welcome! Wednesdays from 10:30 to 12:00 Mary Wagener / mary.l.wagener@gmail.com Robert Blaukopf robert.blaukopf@gmail.com SINGING GROUP / WEEKLY Fridays from 5 October, 10:30-12:00 GENTLE STROLLS Sing with the AWA choir led and accompanied by Look out for Barbara Sattler’s dates Sandra Schweighofer on her piano! in Weekly News. Lidice Pollan lidice.pollan@gmail.com /0699/1924-7478

AWA Weinwandertag 2018

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

N O V E MJUNE/ B EHIGHLIGHTS R C A/ 2018 LENDAR

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 10:00 Chess Club 10:30 Presentation of Anti-Ageing, Beauty and Health 12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish 13:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ Spanish Conversation 13:30 Italian Conversation

10:30 Basic German for absolute beginners 10:30 Advanced Beginners’ German Conversation 12:00 German A1+ Conversation 13:00 Veggie Vienna: Burger and Shopping at Swing Kitchen,1080 13:00 American Mahjong 17:00-18:20 Bucket List Group 18:30 Prosecco and Popcorn Movie Night The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

15:00-16:30 Baby & Toddler Group

10:30 Basic German for absolute beginners 10:30 Advanced Beginners’ German Conversation 12:00 German A1+ Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong

12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish 13:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ Spanish Conversation 15:00-16:30 Baby & Toddler Group 17:00 Happy Hour Cocktails

13 10:30 Basic German for absolute beginners 10:30 Advanced Beginners’ German Conversation 12:00 German A1+ Conversation

12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish 13:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ Spanish Conversation 13:30 Italian Conversation 15:00-16:30 Baby & Toddler Group

10:00 Chess Club 12:00 Hula Group 12:30 Clubhouse Fluent Spanish 13:30 Clubhouse Beginners’ Spanish Conversation 15:00-16:30 Baby & Toddler Group 15:00 Seniors’ Afternoon Tea Party

14:00 Falun Gong 18:00-19:00 Falun Gong

10:30 MAWA Coffee 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 12:00 French Conversation 13:00 Canasta 14:00 Falun Gong 18:00-19:00 Falun Gong

21 10:00-12:00 AWA Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka 10:30 MAWA Coffee 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 12:00 French Conversation 13:00 Canasta

10:00 Basic German for absolute beginners 10:30 Advanced Beginners’ German Conversation 12:00 German A1+ Conversation 13:00 American Mahjong 17:00 Bucket List Group

14:00 Falun Gong

Veggie Vegan Lunch

10:00-12:00 AWA Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka 10:30 MAWA Coffee 12:00 Fluent German Conversation 12:00 French Conversation 12:30 AWA Board Meeting 13:00 Canasta 14:30 Falun Gong 18:00-19:00 Falun Gong 18:00 MAWA Dinner Night 19:00 Ladies’ Dining Experience at Chamäleon

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

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

13:00 American Mahjong 13:00 Book Discussion GroupBorder: a Journey to the Edge of Europe, K Kassabova

10:00-12:00 AWA Weekly Coffee at Café Sluka 10:30 MAWA Coffee

18:00-19:00 Falun Gong

N O V E MJUNE B E/ HIGHLIGHTS R C A/ 2018 LENDAR

THURSDAY

10:00 Board Games 10:00 Bible Study 13:00 English Conversation for Learners 14:00 Knitting Woolly Hats for the Homeless Meeting

FRIDAY

10:00 President’s Coffee 10:30 Singing Group 13:00 Mahjong for Beginners

15:00 Yoga with Ivy 19:00 Ladies’ Wine Evening at Tinto Rosso Vinothek

11:00 Culinary Experience Persian Style with Minoo

10:00 Board Games 10:00 Bible Study

10:30 Singing Group

15:00 Yoga with Ivy 16:30-20:00 Cooking for the Homeless in 1030 Wien 18:00 Art in the EveningBreugel The Elder KHM 18:10 time slot

13:00 Mahjong for Beginners 15:00 General Meeting at Tostmann, Schottengasse

10:00 Board Games 10:00 Bible Study 13:00 Senior’s Luncheon at Servitenwirt, 1090

10:30 Singing Group

15:00 Yoga with Ivy

13:00 Mahjong for Beginners

12:30 Monthly Luncheon at Midi Bistro Restaurant- Le Deli

10:00 Board Games

Krampustag

10:30 Singing Group

10:00 Bible Study 14:00-16:00 Woolly Hats Group Mad Hatters’ Tea Party

13:00 Mahjong for Beginners

Tour of the Frauenhäuser

OUTREACH ACTIVITY: WIENER TAFEL NATIONAL COLLECTION DAY, SATURDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2018

Wiener Tafel is an NGO which “rescues food”. With their over 400 strong team of volunteers and refrigerated vans, they rescue up to three tons of food a day from supermarkets, bakeries, wholesalers, food producers, etc and deliver it to over 100 NGOs, such as emergency shelters and soup kitchens, all of which feed the homeless and needy. On 1 December, Wiener Tafel is planning a National Collection Day in collaboration with Lidl supermarkets. On this day, teams of volunteers will gather at Lidl stores across Vienna and ask shoppers entering the store to purchase specific non-perishable items to donate to Wiener Tafel. Volunteers then collect the items at the checkouts. Wiener Tafel will later distribute the goods to NGOs across the city. Would you be interested in volunteering for this activity?

18:00 Thanksgiving Dinner at Franks’ Bar

Shifts of about 3 hours are envisaged. It would be great if AWA could take over one Lidl store exclusively for this worthy project. Please email if you would be interested in joining the team and would like to receive further information on this activity. Contact Irene 06606404410. awavpfundraising@gmail.com

Cooking for the Homeless Alejandra, Eva, Suzanne, Irene, Susan

14 T O U R S / T RJUNE/ I PHIGHLIGHTS S/ SO CIAL EVENTS / 2018 VEGGIE VIENNA: BURGER AND SHOPPING

SWING KITCHEN, Josefstädter Strasse 73, 1080 Tuesday, 6 November at 13:00 Let’s continue our discovery of plant based eating in Vienna with a juicy burger and fries at Swing Kitchen, a successful chain of vegan burger restaurants in Vienna. After lunch we can do a spot of shopping at two cool vegan stores close by. Sign up by Monday, 5 November ireneschlegelmilch@gmx.net / 0660 6404410

BUCKET LIST IN THE CLUBHOUSE

Tuesday, 6 November at 17:00- 18:20 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, 5 November awa@awavienna.com Urte Paulus:/ urte.paulus@gmx.at / 0676 676 58 29

PROSECCO AND POPCORN MOVIE NIGHT

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Tuesday, 6 November at 18:30 in the clubhouse Please note the new time! The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a 2018 historical romantic-drama film. Set in 1946, the plot follows a London-based writer who begins exchanging letters with residents on the island of Guernsey, which was under German occupation during World War II. Join us on the cosy sofas in the clubhouse to watch the film together over a glass of Prosecco and Popcorn. SIGN UP BY Monday, 5 November ireneschlegelmilch@gmx.net / 0660 6404410

HAPPY HOUR COCKTAILS AT THE MARRIOTT

Monday,12 November, 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 Sonia are our new hosts. SIGN UP BY noon on Monday, 12 November awa@awavienna.com

LADIES’DINING EXPERIENCE

Wednesday, 14 November at 19:00 RESTAURANT CHAMÄLEON Blutgasse 3, 1010 www.chamaeleon.at Delicious Swiss food such as fondues etc; should be great fun. Please contact Annick directly by Friday, 9 November europolitan@chello.at Annick Gauthier / 0699 1968 8173/

MAWA (MEN OFAWA) DINNER NIGHTS

Wednesday, 14 November at 18:00 MAWA (Men of AWA) is the group for spouses of AWA members. New members are especially encouraged! Spouses welcome on this occasion. Robert Blaukopf / robert.blaukopf@gmail.com

OUTREACH ACTIVITY COOKING DINNER IN A HOMELESS SHELTER

WOOLLY HATS FOR THE HOMELESS

Thursday, 15 November 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 person. As well as providing a hot meal to homeless people, we also support the homeless guide with work and integration. SIGN UP BY Thursday, 8 November (spaces limited) awa@awavienna.com Eva Schlögl/ 06991 9079888

Thursday, 8 November at 14:00 in the clubhouse Calling all knitters to join us on a project to knit warm winter woolly hats for the homeless and needy. Our goal is to knit 111 hats as Christmas gifts. Any donations of spare wool/yarn are gratefully received and knitters can help themselves to the wool in the clubhouse. Novice knitters welcome to join us and learn how to knit hats. Urte Paulus: urte.paulus@gmx.at / 0676 676 58 29 awa@awavienna.com

Praterstraße 54, 1020 Tuesday, 13 November at 14:00 Cost €11:50 including guide The last of our musical tours in 2018, hopefully with Berndt as guide again, is a visit to the apartment in which Johann Strauss composed the world-famous waltz "The Blue Danube", in 1867.Strauss lived here for seven years, in what was then a fashionable and elegant Viennese suburban street. His own instruments, furniture and paintings illustrate Strauss's work as a composer, musician and conductor, and his private life as well, a man who married three times, was an enthusiast at billiards and cards and a caricaturist. SIGN UP BY Thursday, 8 November awa@awavienna.com Sheila Hargreaves/ 0676 7559804

TOUR OF THE STRAUSS MUSEUM

LADIES’WINE EVENING TINTO ROSSO VINOTHEK,

Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Platz 4b,1010 Thursday, 8 November at 19:00 Our November Wine night takes us to another new location! Let's drink some Italian wines and enjoy the weather while visiting with friends old and new! SIGN UP BY Monday, 5 November / awa@awavienna.com

PRESIDENT’S COFFEE

Friday, 9 November, 10 -12 in the Clubhouse You are cordially invited to the President’s coffee and meet new and long term members. No need to sign up, just turn up! Cake will be served! Sheila Hargreaves/ 0676 755 9804 awa@awavienna.com

ART IN THE EVENING

Thursday, 15 November at 18:10 exactly Bruegel the Elder (ca.1525 – 1569) at the KHM This special exhibit shows the works of the most significant artist of Dutch and Flemish Renaissance

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 paintings. His beautiful peasant scenes give us a unique glimpse into the physical and social aspects of the Middle Ages. Due to the nature of the exhibition and expected visitor numbers, we absolutely must pre-book our tickets, preferably online via the website www.bruegel2018.at . Tickets are: €20 or Seniors 65+ Meeting point: 17:55 sharp at the entrance of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. For annual ticket holders and guests who are unable to reserve online, a time slot can also be booked at the ticket office of the KHM and in the museum itself. SIGN UP BY Wednesday, 14 but book your ticket well in advance for the 18:10 time slot. Ida Vickers mail@idavickers.com, +4369917005573

AWA CULINARY EXPERIENCE PERSIAN STYLE with Minoo

Friday, 16 November from 11:00 Iranian cuisine is often referred to as "Persian” because, until 1934, Iran was called Persia, an ancient culture. Owing to the range of culinary traditions across the Iranian provinces, food in Iran is extremely diverse. Come and join Minoo and watch her prepare her native, vibrant cuisine. Cost will be €15 per head. SIGN UP BY Monday, 15 October awa@awavienna.com Minoo Cassens /0680 135 6212

SENIORS’LUNCHEON

Thursday, 22 November at 13:00 RESTAURANT SERVITENWIRT Servitengasse 7, 1090 Austrian dishes with a Mittagsmenu costing €9. SIGN UP with Phyllis Wieser directly 01 320 8418 / phylliswieser@aon.at

THANKSGIVING DINNER

Thursday, 22 November at 18:00 Franks’ Bar, Laurenzerberg 2, 1010 Pumpkin soup with King Prawn and Smoked Salmon strips, Turkey and all the trimmings, and a variety of desserts for €46 per head, including tip. SIGN UP AND PAY BY Wednesday, 14 November

MONTHLY LUNCHEON

Friday, 23 November at 12:30 Midi Bistrot Restaurant - Le petit déli Wipplingerstraße, 30, 1010 Midi is the best lunch restaurant in the city, simple Menu with quality ingredients, always fresh! Also the best quiche Lorraine in Vienna! SIGN UP BY Wednesday, 21 November. awa@awavienna.com Nadia Di Paola / 0678 1252229

SENIORS´ AFTERNOON TEA PARTY

Monday, 26 November at 15:30 GRAND HOTEL Kärntner Ring 9, 1010 (1st floor) Lively Ladies meet to chat and exchange views. SIGN UP BY: Friday, 23November. verasaunders@gmx.net Vera Saunders / (01) 990 6492 evenings

BUCKET LIST IN THE CLUBHOUSE

Tuesday, 27 November at 17:00- 18:20 As a group, we can continue to develop and explore how to pursue our bucket lists. SIGN UP BY Monday, 26 November awa@awavienna.com Urte Paulus

MAD HATTERS’TEA PARTY

Thursday, 29 November 14:00-16:00 in the clubhouse Join us a traditional English tea party and an afternoon of fun to celebrate the success of our knitting woolly hats for the homeless project. Knitters please bring and proudly display your woolly hats. Everyone is invited to wear a creative, funny or elegant hat and there will be prizes for the best ones! We’ll also be collecting Manner Schnitten (wafer biscuits) to put in the Christmas sacks for the homeless, so any donations will be most gratefully received. So that we know how many cucumber sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and other tasty goodies to prepare, please, SIGN UP BY Monday, 26 November awa@awavienna.com Irene Schlegelmilch / 0660 6404410

BAKING CHRISTMAS COOKIES FOR THE HOMELESS

Get your rolling pins and aprons ready! At the end of November we are planning an afternoon of baking Christmas cookies together to donate to the Franziskaner Church for their Advent celebrations for the homeless and needy. The exact date and venue will be announced nearer the time in the weekly news. Watch this space!

TOUR OF THE SNOWGLOBE MUSEUM

Schumanngasse 87, 1170 Wednesday 21 November Free entry Our annual visit to the Snowglobe museum takes us out to the end of the 42 tram, to visit the small factory and to hear the story of the invention of the snowglobe and also why Santa does not visit children in Austria. The store has stocks of globes for all seasons! SIGN UP BY Monday 19 November awa@awavienna.com Sheila Hargreaves/ 0676 7559804

FA W C O

JUNE/ HIGHLIGHTS / 2018 CONTRIBUTED BY LAURIE RICHARDSON

FAWCO Foundation Scholarships for 2019 AWA Vienna members are eligible to apply for FAWCO Foundation Education Awards if you have been a member for at least one year. There are awards for your or your children’s or grandchildren’s continuing education. You can review the forms and sample applications on the FAWCO website. The deadline is January 27 for awards to be granted in March 2019. UN Commission on the Status of Women The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), organized each year by UN Women, is THE global women's rights conference, with high-level government and NGO participation from around the world. In 2019, CSW will be from March 11 – 22 at UN Headquarters in New York. If you are committed to gender equality and interested in learning about the UN and NGO activism, I encourage you to take the opportunity to join the FAWCO delegation. If you want to learn more about the CSW experience, check out the UN Advocacy/Gender Equality/CSW blogs on FAWCO's website, or get in touch with me! The deadline to register will be January 18. Target Project Update FAWCO supports Hope Beyond Displacement with the Collateral Repair Project, improving opportunities for refugee women and girls in Amman, Jordan. FAWCO member clubs around the world have raised over $150,000 for this project since March 2017. Here's an update on how the FAWCO funds are being used. • Over 500 girls have been provided with school supplies and school uniforms. • Girls in the after-school enrichment program learned about the history and art of the Arab world and have collaborated on a Middle Eastern mural. • Girls and women have completed IT modules on Microsoft Office and internet and email usage. • Women in the Hair and Beauty group began working on makeup, foundation, and contouring and this has now expanded to a second group. • New sessions of Women’s Empowerment 101 and Gender-Based Violence Awareness and Advocacy courses started in August.

NOVEMBER GENERAL MEETING FASHION! Friday, 16 November at 14:00 at TOSTMANN Trachten, Schottengasse 3a, 1010 The British Designer, Vivienne Westwood, was quoted saying: “If every woman wore a Dirndl, there wouldn’t be any ugly women around!” Well, that might be a little bit exaggerated and a tribute to her Tyrolian husband! Tracht, the traditional costumes, an inspiration for Vivienne Westwood? The outfits for a truly flamboyant event in Vienna, the recent “Life Ball”, designed by one of the most traditional Austrian fashion companies? Yes, Tostmann is always good for a surprise. Rooted firmly in tradition the models, cuts and fabrics are permanently adapted to the ever changing taste and fashion trends. The senior owner of this family run Upper Austrian business, Dr. Gexi Tostmann has invited us for a presentation and will tell us a bit about the history of the Tracht, explain to us different styles and fabrics, her unconventional cooperation and approach to fashion while staying at the same time committed to tradition. Located within the historic Melker Hof dating back to at least 1438 the welcoming Tostmann Vienna store is absolutely worth seeing. Acquired by the Diocese Melk the building reached its present dimensions by 1774, and is now directly attached to the remains of the bastion. Even the basements were refurbished and are now used as part of the store and serve as a venue for cultural events. Friends and partners welcome and please join us for coffee or drinks afterwards! Sign up by 15 November. awa@awavienna.com or Helene: helene@gressenbauer.org /0664 9209807

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

As November brings colder days, we enjoy Martinigansl kickoff and hot Glühwein to warm us while strolling through Christmas Markets.

MARTINIGANSL - ST. MARTIN’S DAY Sunday, 11 November

23 November - Belvedere Market 23 November - Karlsplatz Market 24 November - Schloss Schönbrunn This website gives more details on other markets and their opening times: www.city-walks.info

CLAUDE MONET- IMPRESSION AND EMOTION Austrians celebrate this day by eating goose, red cabbage and bread dumplings, a dish called Martinigansl, the entire month of November.

KLETZMORE FESTIVAL 10 to 25 November.

Jewish, Ashkenazi and Argentinian Klezmer music has its origins in medieval Eastern Europe when traveling musicians played at weddings and other festivals. www.klezmore-vienna.at

VIENNA WEINWANDERTAGE 29-30 November

The Vienna Wine Hiking Day is held every year in the autumn. The wine landscape can be hiked through on three routes with a total length of 25 kilometers. At many points along the way, Viennese vintners offer tastings from cellar and kitchen. The AWA will be wandering from Stammersdorf to Strebersdof on Saturday 29 November at 12pm from the end station of tram 31, courtesy of Helene Schasché. https://www.wien.info/en/shopping-wining-dining/ wine/wine-trail

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Until 6 January 2019 www.albertina.at BRUEGEL Until 13 January 2019 www.bruegel2018.khm.at

EGON SCHIELE. PATHWAYS TO A COLLECTION Until 17 February 2019 www.belvedere.at

FASCINATION JAPAN. MONET. VAN GOGH. KLIMT

Until 20 January 2019 Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien – https://www. kunstforumwien.at/en

The full programme of events in Vienna in November can be found at this secure site. https://www.wien.info/media/files/ programmvorschau-november-2018.pdf Or at the English Speaking website https://www.viennawurstelstand.com/

Opening in November16 November- Rathausplatz market plus ice rink 16 November - Spittelberg Market 17 November - Altes AKH Market 17 November - Alt-Wiener Christkindlmarkt (Freyung) 21 November - MariaTheresianerplatz

Who was St. Martin? Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours, whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. From the late 4th century to the late Middle Ages, much of Western Europe engaged in a period of fasting beginning on the day after St. Martins Day, November 11. This fast period lasted 40 days, and was, therefore, called “the forty days of St. Martin.” At St. Martin’s eve and on the feast day, people ate and drank very heartily for a last time before they started to fast. This fasting time was later called “Advent” by the Catholic Church. The food traditionally eaten on the day before fasting is goose .According to legend, Martin was reluctant to become bishop, which is why he hid in a stable filled with geese. These geese then betrayed St. Martin's hiding place by making a noise. To get his revenge he proceeded to cook the geese.

G AJUNE L A/ HIGHLIGHTS PA G O S â&#x20AC;&#x201C; / 2018

I N S P I R AT I O N A N D F O R T I T U D E 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

The Galapagos Islands have the largest diversity of landscapes and wildlife in the middle of the pacific- many islands with many climates-mostly uninhabited islands and National Parks. All landings are regulated by the national parks so to visit them you need to take a cruise through the islands as staying on only one island will limit the wildlife you see. A maximum of 100 visitors per day, in groups of maximum 20 people, limit the damage to this beautiful group of islands. It is important to understand the different possibilities for ships that can bring you to the islands. Some are luxurious and provide every comfort at a price. Some are basic and much less expensive but either way you pay to go there, it is worth every penny. If you take your time and research where you want to go, which boat is best for your travels, which islands interest you most, and how many days on the boat, you will be happily on your way. The landscape can be tropical, desert, and, in the high mountains, very wet. We experienced it all on our trip. So be prepared to hike with a parka in the drizzle in the morning and swim in the afternoon in the surf. Seeing the wildlife is why you go there, birds, giant tortoises, penguins, land iguanas, sea lions, seagoing iguanas and much more will keep you amazed for days. Guided every step of the way by the national park rangers, throughout the 8 islands that we visited, we saw just about every type of wildlife; one highlight was the giant tortoises, seeing them in the wild we watched them play in the mud, walk across the fields and eat the guava! It was interesting that the wildlife was unafraid of humans as we have never posed a danger to them. This big guy calmly walked past me munching on the guava. Tortoises migrate according to the weather when it is hot they go up the mountain, when too cool down the mountain. On the way they just happen to go through these fields. The first day we were on the islands, just after landing, we saw the first wildlife, our introduction to the 12 days of travel started immediately with land iguanas, sea lions and pelicans. In this picture you can see them all, co-existing in the same space and all ignoring the human who came very close to take this picture. What you do not see is the ocean; everything is dependent upon the climate and the land, the sea and the wildlife. So this article would not be complete without showing the wildlife in the sea. The fish, sea iguanas and turtles were just everywhere, and we spent many days snorkeling and swimming so that we could see how these live and survive every day. Sea turtles were abundant and we snorkeled around and with them. Additionally, we swam with the sea iguanas as they munched on the green algae that grew on the bottom of the ocean.

I recommend highly that you go there once in your life, swim with the turtles, hike on the lava in the volcanos, walk on the beaches with the land iguanas and sit on the beach with a sea lion. Watch the birds fly, enjoy the wind in the cliffs. Be adventurous and just go. More pictures can be found at www.pbase.com/bbachmayer/galapagos.

MJUNE/ Y HIGHLIGHTS E S T O/ 2018 NIASMALL, BUT SUCCESSFUL CONTRIBUTED BY MAIE MAJAK-KNÖBL

Estonia is a small country in Northern Europe bordering Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Russia. To the north and west, surrounded by the Baltic Sea and, along the east bordered by the Peipsi Lake, Europe`s 5th biggest lake, Estonia is one of the least populated countries in Europe and one that is full of natural beauty, having a territory of 45,000 km2, (the size of Denmark) but only 1.3 million inhabitants. There are plenty of unspoilt areas to retreat to along the main shoreline plus the 1500 islands, many of which are uninhabited, with the two main islands, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, being most popular. In addition, the forests and wetlands of middle Estonia or the hilly countryside on the south, where the highest point in the Baltics, proudly called Suur Munamägi (Big Eggmountain) 318 meters high, provide different environments for nature lovers. The weather is pleasant in summer, around 20-25 degrees C, but can be as cold as cold as -25 degrees C in January or February.

The Estonian language, belonging to the group Finno-Ugric languages, is closely related to Finnish and, with its 14 cases as with Finnish, can be a challenge. Russian is widely spoken as well, as only about 70 % of the population is Estonian with 30 % “Russian speaking “with actual Russians making up 25%. In some places, like the capital Tallinn or North-Eastern Estonia the percentage of non- Estonians is noticeably higher. The reason lies in our history. Ancient Estonian tribes have been living in the area since 9000 BC, but, with Christianity arriving in the 13th century via the crusaders, there began a long period of foreign rule, firstly German and Danish, then Swedish and Russian. Estonia first became an independent Republic in 1918, so this year we are celebrating our 100th anniversary of the Republic. De facto, of course the Soviet Union occupied Estonia after World War II, but de jure Estonia`s state continuity was preserved by the government in exile, recognized by many western governments, including the USA. Estonia regained its independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Of course different rulers left their influence and imprint on the country and the people, but it was the Soviet occupation for almost 50 years with its resettlements of people of other areas of the Soviet Union that reduced the percentage of Estonians in their own country from 90% in 1939 to 61% in 1989. Sometimes I have been asked, given all the history, how did Estonians manage to survive? Estonians feel very strongly about their heritage and traditions. I think that this unites the families to come together at Christmas and eat our traditional food of blood sausages, sauerkraut and potatoes or light the bonfires and celebrate Midsummer. The capital city of Tallinn, with its beautiful medieval old town, has 450,000 residents, but is empty of people, except tourists, on June 23rd as everybody leaves for the countryside to celebrate Midsummer with family and friends.

M YJUNE ES T O N I/ 2018 A/ HIGHLIGHTS

SMALL, BUT SUCCESSFUL CONTRIBUTED BY MAIE MAJAK-KNĂ&#x2013;BL

Every five years the whole country comes together to celebrate the Song and Dance Festival. The tradition goes back 150 years, when several, then male, choirs came together in the university city of Tartu to sing patriotic songs in peaceful protest against the tsarist Russian rule. Ever since, also during the Soviet times, every five years some 10,000 dancers and about 300,000 singers gather together at the Song Festival Grounds with over 100, 000 people watching and singing along. Estonians love to sing. There is a saying that where three Estonians come together, there is a choir. Perhaps you have heard of the Singing Revolution? In 1987-1991, hundreds of thousands gathered together for spontaneous Song Festivals to sing patriotic songs in protest against Soviet rule, demanding independence. The high point of the Singing Revolution was the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baltic Chainâ&#x20AC;? in August 1989, when about 2 million people formed a human chain of 675 kilometers from Tallinn to Vilnius, holding hands and singing. This sign of unity did much to help the fall of the Soviet control of our country. Once you have strong identity and roots, you can build on it. And Estonia has done so in the last 27 years, being one of the fastest growing economies in Europe through the 1990s and 2000s. The GDP per capita has tripled from 1993 to 2017 and the average monthly salary has doubled in last 11 years. Estonia, a member of the EU and NATO since 2004, joined the Eurozone in 2011 and ranks highly in the Human development index, which weighs indicators such as income, education and life expectancy (30th in the world in 2018, in comparison, USA ranks 13th and Austria 20th). And in the PISA Test which measures the skills of 15-year old students, our students have caught up with the world frontrunners from Finland and even passed them in the category of science in 2015. Estonia also scores highly in international measurements of economic and civil liberties and press freedom. Known as a home of Skype, a free Internet communication tool for calls and chats, Estonia is one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world. An e-government concept, developed in early 2000s, has resulted in 99% of public services being available online today. It is not a joke that you can register a company in Estonia in 10 minutes. We were the first country to hold elections over the internet in 2005 and currently around 30 % of Estonians vote online. In 2014, Estonia introduced the unique in the world concept of e-residency, a transnational digital identity card that enables access to Estonian public e-services and therefore we are able to do business from anywhere in the world. The first e-resident of Estonia was the British journalist, Edward Lucas, and one of the last ones, in September 2018, was Pope Francis. Now, of course, not everything is perfect, there are plenty of challenges too: income levels, although rapidly growing, are still only about 70 % of EU average and the regional differences in incomes between the cities and the countryside particularly, remain a problem. The pensions for elderly are still too low and the inequality in pay for man and women too large, but holding together, like we do at our Song Festivals, these challenges are manageable.Estonia has come a long way in last quarter of the centuary, we just have to keep going.

HUMMUS & CO: THE HUMBLE CHICKPEA JUNE/ HIGHLIGHTS / 2018 CONTRIBUTED BY IRENE SCHLEGELMILCH

Chickpeas are the world's second most widely grown legume after the soybean and have been cultivated for over 7,500 years. They are high in nutritive value and have been associated with a number of possible health benefits, e.g. preventing diabetes, improve bone health, blood pressure, heart health, anti cancer, reduce cholesterol, inflammation, and improve digestion. Chickpeas are high in fiber and protein, and contain several key vitamins and minerals, including iron, vitamin B-6 and magnesium and are a staple of Middle Eastern, African and Indian cuisines. They are versatile, delicious, easy to prepare and inexpensive. So all in all, chickpeas tick all the boxes! In September, as the first in the series of AWA Culinary Experiences, we had a cooking demo in the clubhouse and prepared and enjoyed a three course meal with chickpeas: crispy chickpeas, hummus four ways and falafel for starters, chickpea and sweet potato curry with chickpea flatbreads for main course and chocolate hummus, chickpea cookie dough and banana ice cream, and chickpea and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Method: Ingredients: 400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

•Blend all ingredients except the chocolate chips until smooth

½ cup peanut butter or any other nut butter

•Fold in chocolate chips

¼ cup maple syrup

•Place tablespoon sized amounts of dough onto a lined baking sheet

1tsp vanilla extract A pinch of salt 1 tsp baking powder

•Bake for about 10-15 minutes until golden in colour

½ cup chocolate chips

HEREND GALLERY VIENNA

AWA member, Andrea and husband, Balazs Ulbrich, took the amazing picture featured on the front cover of last month’s Highlights. They have changed the brand of porcelain from Zolnay to Herend in their shop in the Opernring which we will visit again on 4, December!

The Herend brand name has produced hand-painted porcelain for nearly two hundred years placing emphasis on latest artistic trends as well as old traditions. The fact that since 1826, each piece of Herend Porcelain has been individually crafted and hand-painted by their highly talented and dedicated workforce, offering over 16,000 shapes and 4,000 patterns, makes their range very attractive.

ESCAPE FROM POSTWAR VIENNA JUNE / HIGHLIGHTS / 2018

CONTRIBUTED BY YOLANDA NOSEK

It is 1945, the year the Second World War came to an end. Austria and Germany as the losers, were occupied by the allies consisting of Americans, British, French and Russians. They divided Austria into four zones. The eastern part, including Vienna was, unluckily for the population, taken over by the Russians. In Vienna, the food and housing situation was catastrophic. In the west, the people were able to supply themselves with food products, since they had farms. In Vienna, there was nothing. People were dependent on what the Russians gave them, which were dried peas filled with worms. Towards the end of the war, Vienna had been considerably bombdamaged. For instance, KĂ¤rntnerstrasse was just a rubble heap. The opera house was badly damaged and had to be evacuated to the Theater an der Wien, near the Naschmarkt, which still exists today. A huge number of the Viennese were bombed out, as were my parents and had to make do with rented rooms. I only know all of this from hearsay when I returned to Vienna, as I was too young at the time to remember. In this situation a friend of my parents who was living in England, and who knew of an English family willing to take on a child from Austria, already having two children of their own, suggested that I travel to England and my parents agreed. So, as a very small child, I went to live with this wonderful family in a small industrial town near Manchester with cotton mills and high chimneys blowing out black smoke all day. Not knowing anything else, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t notice it. I eventually went to the town Grammar school with magnificent facilities, huge playing fields, tennis courts, even swimming baths built before the war. I made a lot of friends and still remain in contact with my best friends after all these years. Then, when I was a teenager, my parents wanted me back. In the meantime, they had managed to get a flat and I think they had to do a bit of bribery, as empty flats were still rare. The food situation was more or less normal by then. There were still empty spaces, where houses had still not been rebuilt. The opera house re-opened. Life was normal again but I wanted to be back in England!

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