What features makes a person important!

Americans are often stereotyped as believing wealth and possessions make them important. However, I don't think that money, a big house, or a big car etc. make people important! I think the only thing that should really count is the personality of somebody. For me it is much more important that someone is friendly, nice and has its heart in the right place! Nobody should be judged by its possessions but by the way they act! Money doesn't make anybody happy...of course, money can solve a lot of problem, money might calm you down to some extent, but you can't buy real friends or love with money or any other possessions. I think money is a little bit overestimated in our culture. Having a lot of money doesn't actually mean being happy but having a lot of responsibility. Finally I would like to add that it doesn't matter how poor or rich somebody is....as long as he or she has her heart on the right place.

Do you think that people all over the world are basically the same or basically diffferent?

Well, to be honest, I think that people all over the world are basically the same. I mean, we are all humans, we all breath the same air and we all drink the same water but anyway, people act differently because everybody is an individual.

We all cry when we are sad, we all laugh when we are happy and we all work hard to achieve our goals. I know that people are different, concerning their culture and to the country they live in. However, I think that nobody is better than somebody else and vice versa. I see all human beings on the world as a big family and I believe, that in an emergency situation, (like a meteorit shower or something like that) people from all over the world would work together in order to safe our lives - our planet.

I also know that there is war on the world but I mean, you probably don't like all of your family members too... maybe there is a uncle, that you don't know, a aunt, that you don't like and a cousin, with whom you don't talk to. Do you agree?? But anyway, in emergency, you would probably fight together for your rights.

So, even though, I have experienced a lot of culturel differences so far, I have the opinion that we all are basically the same, even if we sometimes might wonder about our different cultural habits!(Having showers in the morning, or in the evening *smile*) I got to know so many lovely people in the last few weeks, some were from China, Malaysia, Japan and some from Germany, UK and some from America and I'm really glad to got to know everybody of them. Everybody was nice to me, everybody was happy to get to know each other and we all were having a good time together .... even though we have different cultures and live in different countries. Exactly these makes me believe that we are basically the same, even though we are different.... :-))))

Walking Tour through Eau Claire

The Donald "Sarge" Boyd Bandshell

The Donald "Sarge" Boyd Bandshall was constructed in 1937 to 1938. It is named after Donald "Sarge" Boyd who became the director of the Eau Claire Municipal Band Band in 1929. The bandshell was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Eau Claire - Public Library

The Eau Claire Public Library was built in 1903. This building was a gift to the City of Eau Claire by Andrew Carnegie.

Sawdust city Matures

The Sawdust city Matures was built in 1893-1894 and this is the largest remaining commercial building from this period. It's most prominent commercial tenant was the "Chippewa Valley Bank".

Bridge over the Chippewa River

City of Rivers and Logs. The need for Bridges first arose from the fact that Eau Claire started as three villages , all separated by rivers.

The Grace Lutheran church

Grace English Lutheran Church was formed in 1909. It was dedicated by people who wanted an English speaking Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. In 1912 the building site on Grand Avenue was purchased and the cornerstone was laid on September 19th, 1915. By 1916 the church building was completed and memorial windows were installed.

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On Saturday Marion, Kristin, Sarah and I made our walking tour through Eau Claire. The sun was shining and it was so hot when we went trough the streets of Eau Claire. But even though, we enjoyed our trip and we took a lot of pictures from the several historic buildings. After finishing our tour, we stopped in a Teashop where we got delicious iced tea... (Infinitea) which was just great. :-)) It was a funny day and we definitely plan to visit some of these buidings again! :-)

After the first week, what comparisons and contrasts can you make between UWEC students and students in my university?

To be honest I haven't met so many UWEC students so far but anyway, this day I recognised that the American students tend to participate more actively in the course than Austrian students do. Today I was kind of surprised when I had my first course because when the Professor entered the classroom it was very quiet and everybody stopped talking for the whole hour and every mobile was switched off. This is kind of different to my University at home, because usually you hear a lot of students gossip while the Professor is trying to hold his lecture. What is more, you probably will hear a few mobiles ringing at my University during the lessons.

As far as I have experienced in America, students are well prepared when they attend the course. Everybody had his/her books with her and everybody was interested in what the Professor was saying. Students in Austria tend to forget their things or get the books after the first lesson.

I saw a lot of students wearing an "UWEC-pullover" which makes me think that they are very proud of their University. In Austria nobody (or less students) wear a T-shirt from their University. Furthermore, I have recognised so far, that students are very proud of their University here in Eau Claire. Everybody tells you about nice Professors, nice campus and they do not complain about busy days or much homework. To me it seems that students are thankful to study here on this campus! Austrians tend to complain about to much homework or to much reading assignments. I think many Austrians take it for granted to study while it is an honor for many Americans to study at the University because it is so expensive.