Hobbies
The author of an article in a Polish newspaper has counted 1019 personal interests and ways to spend one's free time. The most popular hobbies are philately, collecting view-cards, coins, stamps badges and books. It's impossible to describe all these 1019 hobbies known in the world. The main thing is that they enrich our knowledge in some particular field, broaden our outlook and help us to relax.
A hobby is a favourite pastime of a person. Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby to your liking, lucky you are: you have made your life more interesting.
Numerous hobbies can be subdivided into four large classes: doing things, making things, collecting things, and learning things.
The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to traveling and from chess to volleyball. Gardening is one of the oldest man's hobbies, especially in some countries (Britain, for example). A relatively new hobby which is becoming more popular is computer games.
Making things includes drawing, painting, making sculpture, designing costumes, and handicrafts. Some hobbyists write music. Two of the most famous hobby painters were President Eisenhower and Sir Winston Churchill.
Almost everyone collects something at some period in his life: stamps, coins, matchboxes, books, records, postcards, toys, watches. Some collections have no real value. Others become so large and so valuable that they are housed in museums and galleries. Many world-famous collections started in a small way with one or two items. People with a good deal of money often collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries and public galleries so that others might take pleasure in seeing them.
No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity of learning from it. By reading about the things he is interested in, he is adding to what he knows. Learning things can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby.
Job Hunting
Searching for a job isn't easy, and hopefully no-one ever said it would be because, believe me, from personal experience it isn't. You tend to get your hopes up that you can walk into the easiest of jobs and you can get paid a lot for quite frankly doing very little and sitting on your ass all day. "No" I hear you say? I was hoping I could find a job that would fund my clothes and CD addiction. I'd had a bad experience with a job but even the money couldn't keep me there. This time last year I was working in a pub/restaurant. There were so many meals and I had to learn all about them in case someone asked me questions. It doesn't sound stressful I know, sounds rather silly. It was on my first day I met my work enemy too, the touch screen till. Instead of the old fashioned tills, it was a computer thing, too hi-tech for me. But you know what? It wasn't that there was anything wrong with the job; it was just my first proper job, where I get my own little pay and everything. Of course, because it was a new world to me, one where I couldn't tug on my Mum's apron strings any longer, I found the situation rather intimidating. I'm quite a shy person as it is and suddenly it was like a rabbit being thrown into a lions den. Surely I didn't stand a chance. It was an overreaction, though, and soon I settled in. In my experience, when you do find a job, the best thing to do is to keep your head down. No-one is saying you can't talk to your colleagues, because at the end of the day communication is vital to provide a good service to your potential customers. It may be scary, nerve-wracking and you may dread your first day like I did. It happens with a lot of things in life, driving for example. The first time is hard, you think it can't get any easier but it will. This logic can be applied to both starting a job (new place, new people) and job-hunting (you think you won't find anything but you will). So, you've decided you want a job, whether it is part or full time, the "rules", well my guidelines pretty much apply for both. Make sure that you apply for a job, that you know you will enjoy. There’s no point doing a job you don't like or that you do not find fulfilling. Try to find a job that suits you and your interests. It would be silly and a waste of time to get a job in a shoe shop if you aren't keen on feet (thinking of myself there and I shudder at the thought of working with feet) or working in a florists if you are allergic to pollen. Be aware of the working hours. If you are at school, college or university and the job is only part time you can't let it affect your school work or to some extent your social life. Look for a job which has hours that are realistic for you and that you can handle. Don't forget that when looking for a job, at least try and find one in your area or perhaps only a bus ride away. There’s nothing worse than having only a four hour shift when it takes two hours to get there. Try to find out the rate of pay/wages you should be expecting if you start the job. You will usually find this out in an interview. If you are giving up your time, while the experience is valuable, the money you get does still have to be decent. Keep your options open. Don't apply for the first job you find. Have a look around and when you do find a number of jobs that are suitable for you try and find out more. As for interviews, they can make or break a job application. There are a lot of things that you need to remember if you do reach that stage. Interviewers are not trying to trip you up. They are looking to see why you are suitable for the job and why they should hire you instead of the person before you. Feel fairly confident but don't be arrogant about an interview. You must have impressed them for them to have offered you an interview; so far you have done fairly well. In a way an interview is the time when you can sell yourself, but the interviewer will most likely see through some things. Don't exaggerate your achievements or in other words claim to be something you are not. It will only backfire on you in the end. It always goes without saying that you should be punctual and well dressed for your interview. This is the last chance you will get and it will leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. Finally, never give up looking; keep your eyes open for vacancies. Always have a copy of your Curriculum Vitae with you when you go out shopping, you never know. Even if there isn't a vacancy notice in the window of a shop you could always go and ask inside. Get your CV's spread around, and then when an opportunity does arise the company has you on their books so to speak.
Keeping Fit
The fitness boom of the past decades led to a big rise in the numbers of people participating in sports and activities. Those who pursue the latest fitness fashion are convinced that staying in good physical form requires much more than regular exercise and balanced meals. For anyone who really wants to be healthy, fitness has become an integral part of their lives. A lot of health and fitness clubs, and public leisure centres that were created in many countries indicate the popularity of sports during the past thirty years. These centres with their swimming pools, sunshine beach, water slides, and tropical plants and gyms are very popular among the people. Families can spend their holidays at huge indoor water parks. In such places everybody will have much fun.
There are many opportunities for keeping fit. First of all it is necessary to do exercises. People of different ages can design exercises that will fit them. Running, jumping, swimming, bending and stretching are among the most popular exercises. Many people prefer jogging, which is the cheapest and the most accessible sport. Walking is a very popular activity too. For example, popular running competitions are now held everywhere. Lots of people want to see if they can run faster than everyone else. The big city marathons have become sporting events. Television and newspapers report about them in detail. In order to keep fit some people do aerobics or yoga; others prefer some kind of weight training in a gym. People can easily learn more about fitness through popular books and videos that are sold almost everywhere. A healthy body becomes a fashion, an ideal of the life of today. Even moderate physical activity can protect against heart disease and strokes as well as improve general health and the quality of life. Everyone can benefit from being a little more active. Making small changes like using the stairs instead of the lift or walking or cycling instead of taking the bus can help people live a more active, healthier and enjoyable life. Many sports activities have become part of daily life. Football has always been the most popular sport among boys. Playing football is healthy; football also brings people close because in order to win people have to work as a team.