Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House (1957 – 1973) is a masterpiece of late modern architecture. It was created by a young architect who understood and recognised the potential provided by the site against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour.

The base for the building was started in 1959 – years before the designs were finished. It took four years to design by Danish architect Jorn Utzon and by 1962 the designs were finalized and construction began.

In total it took 14 years to build and was officially opened on the 20th of October 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II.

The opera house was made a part of the UNESCO, World Heritage Site in 2007 and is said to be the world’s most distinct 20th century buildings. It is also considered one of the most famous performing art centers in the world.

In its short lifetime, Sydney Opera House has earned a reputation as a world-class performing arts centre and become a symbol of both Sydney and the Australian nation.

Australia

Australia is a unique and diverse country in every way – in culture, population, climate, geography, and history. Culture.
Australia is multicultural and multiracial and this is reflected in the country’s food, lifestyle and cultural practices and experience.

Australia has an important heritage from its indigenous people, which plays a defining role in the cultural landscape.

This diversity of influences creates a cultural environment in Australia that is lively, energised, innovative and outward looking.

Aborigines probably came to Australia from Indonesia 50,000 years ago. Originally, Aborigines were nomads and didn’t have a sense of land ownership Some places, like Uluru, were sacred because they were associated with ‘Dreamtime’, the time when the earth was formed. Aborigine legends, songs and dances tell of powerful spirits who created the land and people during the Dreamtime. . Today, most Aborigines live in cities and towns and only a few continue the old nomadic way of life.

The majority of Australia experiences temperate weather for most of the year.

The northern states of Australia are typically warm all the time, with the southern states experiencing cool winters but rarely sub-zero temperatures.

Australia is an island continent and the world’s sixth largest country (7,682,300 sq km). Lying between the Indian and Pacific oceans

Canberra is Australia’s capital city.

Australia has 19 listed World Heritage properties. Australia is also famous for its landmark buildings including the Sydney Harbour Bridge; its ancient geology, as well as for its high country.

Australia follows a Westminster system of government and law inherited from the British who originally colonised the country.

There are two main political parties and a number of minor parties, which make up the Common wealth Parliament. Each state and territory also has its own government.

You will find cultures different from your own wherever you go in the world. Although other cultures and ways of life might seem strange at first, they can be fascinating if you approach them with an open mind. Before you travel anywhere, learn a bit about the place you are going to. As soon as you show interest and some knowledge about their country, people will respond much better to you. Even though you do not speak their language, knowing a few words like ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ will be appreciated. Do not expect everyone to speak English – take a phrasebook so that you can try communicating. Then, after arriving in the country, the most important thing is to keep your eyes open. First, observe how people behave, what they do when they meet each other.

As well as that, you can watch local TV. Even if you do not understand a word, you will learn something. In many countries you can also buy a local newspaper in order to see what you can understand. Because most languages have international words, you will probably be able to find out something. Above all, be adventurous. Try out local specialities like fried ants (from Colombia) even if they might appear a bit strange. Actually, despite their appearance, they are delicious! Do not just stick to the tourist areas but go exploring in local areas unless they are known to be dangerous. Go shopping in local shops where you will meet local people and eat out in local restaurants. However, first check that the food is safe. Finally, when in another country, respect people’s culture and its differences from yours. Remember that you are their guest.

Every day Eva Hoffman learn new words, new expressions. She pick them up from school exercises, from conversations, from the books she take out of Vancouver’s well-lit. But mostly, the problem is that… the words Eva learn now don’t stand for things in the same unquestioned way they did in her native tongue. ‘River’ in Polish was a vital sound, energised with the essence of riverhood, of her rivers, of her being immersed in rivers. ‘River’ in English is cold.

Since in Poland Eva was considered a pretty young girl, this requires a basic revision of my self-image. But there’s no doubt about it; 5 after the passage across the Atlantic, She’s emerged as less attractive, less graceful. less desirable. In fact, Eva can see in these women’s eyes that I’m a somewhat pitiful specimen – pale, with thick ; eyebrows and without any bounce in her hair, dressed in clothes that have nothing to do with the current fashions. … One of them spends a day with her, plucking my eyebrows and trying various shades of lipstick on her face. ‘ The car is full of her new friends, or at least the crowd that has more or less accepted her. People meticulously treated her and criticized her. It was difficult for Eva suffer of this oppression.