Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall

In this blog entry I want to write about a fascinating character, Jane Goodall.

A few weeks ago I saw a documentary about her on TV and was absolutely thrilled by this woman.

Jane was born in 1934 in England and when she was 26 years old she set out for Gombe National Park in Africa to study the behaviour of chimpanzees, without university education.

She discovered, among other things, that chimpanzee tribes are organized in complex social structures, were loving parents, hunted meat and used primitive tools.

She was married two times and has a son.

In 1977 she  established the Jane Goodall Institute, which supports her research.

Jane Goodall recieved many awards for her work and is also UN Messenger of Peace. 

I find her life very fascinating and interesting and if you also want to get to know more about her:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNN3UNCU_c

the Wall Centre

The Wall Centre

I suppose that not many people know a lot about the “Wall”, in which our department of translation is. For this reason, I thought it would be nice to get to know some facts about this historical building.

In former times there was a printing plant in this building until it moved to Straßgang for space reasons. From the company's founder, Alfred Wall, the building takes its name.

Since 1994 departments of the University of Graz are located in the Wall Centre, but the listed chimney in the inner yard and the logo of Alfred Wall on the outer wall remind on the old days as a factory.

Interesting to note is also that the arc with posters at the staircase to the first floor is considered a work of art and is by Manfred Erjautz and Michael Kienzer.

 

The statue in front of the building, which we walk past every day, shows Ivo Andric, nobel laureate in literature. 

Summer in Graz

Summer in the city

Finally the cold and rainy days are gone and summer is back in Graz.

The good weather changes the city and brings a lot of advantages.

A few of these advantages are:

1.    no overcrowded buses anymore

When it is getting warm outside, many people prefer to ride a bike instead of taking the bus or the tram and that means seats for loyal bus driver like me, even in the morning.

2.    the Spritzerstand opens

The Spritzerstand at the Uni is a wonderful opportunity for drinking something cool between lectures, while lying comfortably in the meadow.

3.    Citybeach opens

I guess almost everybody knows about these great concerts in beach atmosphere under the Mur-bridge!

4.    the Stadtpark

It is so much nicer to learn in the Stadtpark while tanning, than at a desk at home.

5.    sitting on the Schlossberg

One of my favorite things to do on warm nights: sitting with friends on the Schlossberg when it gets dark and looking down at the city! Of course, in good weather, it is also much nicer there during the day.