Monday, December 7, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Quick update:
I met my neighbors, they're two really nice girls. Some of the nicest girls I've met here! We went out real late and ate pizza together. It was a great night!
Its been raining all day here, and its very cold! My host mom has to work a lot this week so I've been picking up Moni from school...on a scooter. I'm so tired from scootering across town everyday. I miss my skateboard so viel!!
Moni and I have been working on her writing and making bracelets for her friend's Christmas presents.
Not too much else really going on...I have to wake up at 3am to take an econ test, which I'm not exactly looking forward to. Its very hard to concentrate and think through what I'm doing because my body just keeps telling me I should get back to dreaming.
More SOON...As the weekend is on its way!Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Its kind of strange..
I got to bed
to sleep
on the day you're waking up in
to live,
So I can wake up in the day
that you call tomorrow.
And go to bed in theday
I call
Yesterday.
to sleep
on the day you're waking up in
to live,
So I can wake up in the day
that you call tomorrow.
And go to bed in theday
I call
Yesterday.
haha yay Vienna!
In an article posted on business week:
In Mercer Consultings annual Quality of Living Survey, Europe once again dominates the list of 215 countries around the world. The top three cities are, by rank, Vienna, Zurich (last years winner), and Geneva. Commonwealth nations fare pretty well, too, winning 9 of the top 30 spots—even though London comes in only at 38. The U.S. also fares poorly, barely making it into the top 30 with Honolulu and San Francisco in the bottom two places.
I live in the best city in the world! Haha how cool! :)
In Mercer Consultings annual Quality of Living Survey, Europe once again dominates the list of 215 countries around the world. The top three cities are, by rank, Vienna, Zurich (last years winner), and Geneva. Commonwealth nations fare pretty well, too, winning 9 of the top 30 spots—even though London comes in only at 38. The U.S. also fares poorly, barely making it into the top 30 with Honolulu and San Francisco in the bottom two places.
I live in the best city in the world! Haha how cool! :)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Tis the Seaon for Pumpkin Carving lalalala...
Yes it is that time for pumpkin seeds and Jack O Lanterns. Moni and I carved us some pumpkins last week, good thing too as the weather coldy turned on us this week. 
There is something very nostalgic about the smell of freshly butchered pumpkins.
Hmm now that doesn't sound very quaint...I'll try again. There is something very nostalgic about the rich smell of fall, the smell of wood burning in furnaces dancing through the air, the feeling of cleaning out the pumpkin and everything turning orange, the meditative sound of leaves bustling through the wind and crunching under toes tip toeing home in the night.
Do you think using exclamation points in writing is like laughing at your own jokes? I heard that somewhere once. Why is somewhere one word? English is so strange. I feel my knowledge of it fleeting quiet rapidly...eeek!
As far as updates: Nothing too new. I've been understanding a lot more German within the last week or so, which is really neat! Every Thursday I go to this little cafe near Moni's dance stuido and use only German. I am very though using it though, and people I meet here actually describe me as that shy American girl ;). I don't remember the last time someone thought I was shy.
I will say the weather is frightening. Snow fell pretty consistently all day yesterday, though the ground is still a little too warm to keep it snow. It is very cold this October. They say it will get to about 33 degrees F by Monday, and this is only fall!
Enough about the weather, I feel like that's all I ever really talk about in the recent past. Sorry!
Today Reina is coming over to teach me how to make home-made sushi! We have rice vineagar and everything! I'm very excited and I hope its not too hard so someday I can make it at home for family and friends! :) Yum!
Hmm now that doesn't sound very quaint...I'll try again. There is something very nostalgic about the rich smell of fall, the smell of wood burning in furnaces dancing through the air, the feeling of cleaning out the pumpkin and everything turning orange, the meditative sound of leaves bustling through the wind and crunching under toes tip toeing home in the night.
Do you think using exclamation points in writing is like laughing at your own jokes? I heard that somewhere once. Why is somewhere one word? English is so strange. I feel my knowledge of it fleeting quiet rapidly...eeek!
As far as updates: Nothing too new. I've been understanding a lot more German within the last week or so, which is really neat! Every Thursday I go to this little cafe near Moni's dance stuido and use only German. I am very though using it though, and people I meet here actually describe me as that shy American girl ;). I don't remember the last time someone thought I was shy.I will say the weather is frightening. Snow fell pretty consistently all day yesterday, though the ground is still a little too warm to keep it snow. It is very cold this October. They say it will get to about 33 degrees F by Monday, and this is only fall!
Enough about the weather, I feel like that's all I ever really talk about in the recent past. Sorry!
Today Reina is coming over to teach me how to make home-made sushi! We have rice vineagar and everything! I'm very excited and I hope its not too hard so someday I can make it at home for family and friends! :) Yum!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Just for the Mood...
Its one of those mellow optimistic beats.
down
never fallin' down down down
never fallin' down.
never fallin' down down down
never fallin' down
even if i was blindsided by mac trucks
in the side street in the alley way
in the foriegn city
i would still make it back home
On a highway no bulletins no street signs, no public cars, no radio, no satellite
I still make it back home
Connected to the universe
like a string of lights on the holiday
if one's out doesn't mean the mind of bar who roam the stone
feel the earth y'all the fire water and sky under his home under his clothes under his belt
its the varientsister?? tones i never regret the wake and the as the birth shot forth on my feet not my fins i am a man to finish it out don't forget gravity laws
the only thing keeping me from flight
wings of space
infinite night
downward spiral not in sight
down
never falling down down down
never falling down
great there is no father
its her and her offspring
nobodys offering help
skin aint softening
acts chopped to the ankles
her babies coughing
maybe the check will come today
the waits exhausting
she's the pillar so
she cant be tilted
give her sons
the feeling as though
they got a million to blow
need no stilts to reach the stars
teach the kids to reach with their heads
and they each will be yours
i give a piece of me for her
to have a piece of mind
or a piece of your chicken
cause its ramen all the time
she's thin and getting scared
but she never lets on
many men will not fall cause their mama's head strong (strong strong strong)
down
never fallin down down down
never fallin down
pick your feet on up
why don't you get on up
lift your spirits up
damn i know this shit is tough
i flunked in high school
my pops he left me young
i often lost my cool
days i feel my mama's gun
i lost my only son
when my girl she almost died
a bad abortion haunted by a baby's eyes
and every reason lies
cause you know the truth inside
you're feeling like a coward
like the wrong person died
but still you gotta ride
let the years pass em by
never really knowing why
no questions why i'm always high
down down down
never falling down
down down down
never falling down
look
we slipping and sliding
808 big riding
servin' rocks
balling while they conquering and dividing
teeth glistening shining
listening to ourselves lying
believe in a bleedin' ego still trying
identifying with the why and the whats
self hatin is the scars and the cuts that
run deep down
not giving a fuck
behind the sweet sound of the new blues
rattling the truck full of sun roof to new shoes
chrome
neglecting the home
disrespecting the zone
that Sankofa should of shown us
looking back before the time that they owned us
but never really owned a damn thing the spirit
sounded like
down
never falling down down down
never fallin down
i'm hella irresponsible
and possibly the cause
of the my subsequent downfall
now I take a pause
and reflect on my karma
and laws i've ignored
all the signs that could cause
a turn and redirect my preferred
course of action
before the curse of my ashes
the rehabilitation of the baddest on the planet
will set a mark a milestone of progress
the life changing tones of my heart
and soul mean the most
learning voices be the search
and exhume all the skeletons
a room full of demons with an angel as a prisoner
she's tortured for the visitors
the listeners who read between the lines
and stay inquisitive to dissect these sentences
down
never falling down down down
never falling down
last night i took a field trip
kind of bent, hopped a fence
cut across a playground
and lay down in a cemetery
reflecting on my past present and current events
speech slurring out venting to the moon
or course she was answering me
not literal
but in the spiritual sense
we spoke me myself and i
but i wasn't alone
in fact it felt that picture of a beach with footprints
in the sand
you know the poem hanging
in grandmamas home
where does love come from?
where does it go when its gone
what takes its place
and why does that space turn
hard as stone
another year i am older today
in many ways i've grown
but in my head
them questions still they roam
riding a bike
she said its like cycling in circles
with your eyes closed
no hands blind faith is what she called it man
said life's an ocean with a lot of commotion
once you dive, and ya its deep
but if you could swim it ain't mattering
down
never falling down down down
never falling down
down down down
never falling down.
down
never fallin' down down down
never fallin' down.
never fallin' down down down
never fallin' down
even if i was blindsided by mac trucks
in the side street in the alley way
in the foriegn city
i would still make it back home
On a highway no bulletins no street signs, no public cars, no radio, no satellite
I still make it back home
Connected to the universe
like a string of lights on the holiday
if one's out doesn't mean the mind of bar who roam the stone
feel the earth y'all the fire water and sky under his home under his clothes under his belt
its the varientsister?? tones i never regret the wake and the as the birth shot forth on my feet not my fins i am a man to finish it out don't forget gravity laws
the only thing keeping me from flight
wings of space
infinite night
downward spiral not in sight
down
never falling down down down
never falling down
great there is no father
its her and her offspring
nobodys offering help
skin aint softening
acts chopped to the ankles
her babies coughing
maybe the check will come today
the waits exhausting
she's the pillar so
she cant be tilted
give her sons
the feeling as though
they got a million to blow
need no stilts to reach the stars
teach the kids to reach with their heads
and they each will be yours
i give a piece of me for her
to have a piece of mind
or a piece of your chicken
cause its ramen all the time
she's thin and getting scared
but she never lets on
many men will not fall cause their mama's head strong (strong strong strong)
down
never fallin down down down
never fallin down
pick your feet on up
why don't you get on up
lift your spirits up
damn i know this shit is tough
i flunked in high school
my pops he left me young
i often lost my cool
days i feel my mama's gun
i lost my only son
when my girl she almost died
a bad abortion haunted by a baby's eyes
and every reason lies
cause you know the truth inside
you're feeling like a coward
like the wrong person died
but still you gotta ride
let the years pass em by
never really knowing why
no questions why i'm always high
down down down
never falling down
down down down
never falling down
look
we slipping and sliding
808 big riding
servin' rocks
balling while they conquering and dividing
teeth glistening shining
listening to ourselves lying
believe in a bleedin' ego still trying
identifying with the why and the whats
self hatin is the scars and the cuts that
run deep down
not giving a fuck
behind the sweet sound of the new blues
rattling the truck full of sun roof to new shoes
chrome
neglecting the home
disrespecting the zone
that Sankofa should of shown us
looking back before the time that they owned us
but never really owned a damn thing the spirit
sounded like
down
never falling down down down
never fallin down
i'm hella irresponsible
and possibly the cause
of the my subsequent downfall
now I take a pause
and reflect on my karma
and laws i've ignored
all the signs that could cause
a turn and redirect my preferred
course of action
before the curse of my ashes
the rehabilitation of the baddest on the planet
will set a mark a milestone of progress
the life changing tones of my heart
and soul mean the most
learning voices be the search
and exhume all the skeletons
a room full of demons with an angel as a prisoner
she's tortured for the visitors
the listeners who read between the lines
and stay inquisitive to dissect these sentences
down
never falling down down down
never falling down
last night i took a field trip
kind of bent, hopped a fence
cut across a playground
and lay down in a cemetery
reflecting on my past present and current events
speech slurring out venting to the moon
or course she was answering me
not literal
but in the spiritual sense
we spoke me myself and i
but i wasn't alone
in fact it felt that picture of a beach with footprints
in the sand
you know the poem hanging
in grandmamas home
where does love come from?
where does it go when its gone
what takes its place
and why does that space turn
hard as stone
another year i am older today
in many ways i've grown
but in my head
them questions still they roam
riding a bike
she said its like cycling in circles
with your eyes closed
no hands blind faith is what she called it man
said life's an ocean with a lot of commotion
once you dive, and ya its deep
but if you could swim it ain't mattering
down
never falling down down down
never falling down
down down down
never falling down.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Some Wiley Adventures!
Hello!
Man its 4:40 and I'm beat from my shenanigans last night. Dayna and I went to the strangest places ever-The Pratterdome- There were lots of rooms with different themes and tons of crazy people. There was a house music room, old school german jumpin good time room, "Hip-Hop" room and I'm not sure what else. They have a really sneaky thing where at the door you get a plastic card and you use it to buy all your drinks and stuff. At the end of the night you have to go and give them your card and they tell you what you owe! Dangerous. I really miss how by law they have to give you water in establishments. I spent $14 on water!! This place was good fun but really strange. It felt like something out of a really twisted circus movie.
Had to leave Dayna in Pratter and take a 40 Minute train ride and short taxi home, arrived safely at 5:55am. My feet hurt. That said, I successfully carried out a conversation in German with the Taxi driver. We said good morning to each other. He asked me where I wanted to go and I told him the address. He said it was cold out. I said very cold, and that I didn't like it. He told me my fare and I gave him the money and said thank you and goodbye!
Man its 4:40 and I'm beat from my shenanigans last night. Dayna and I went to the strangest places ever-The Pratterdome- There were lots of rooms with different themes and tons of crazy people. There was a house music room, old school german jumpin good time room, "Hip-Hop" room and I'm not sure what else. They have a really sneaky thing where at the door you get a plastic card and you use it to buy all your drinks and stuff. At the end of the night you have to go and give them your card and they tell you what you owe! Dangerous. I really miss how by law they have to give you water in establishments. I spent $14 on water!! This place was good fun but really strange. It felt like something out of a really twisted circus movie.
Had to leave Dayna in Pratter and take a 40 Minute train ride and short taxi home, arrived safely at 5:55am. My feet hurt. That said, I successfully carried out a conversation in German with the Taxi driver. We said good morning to each other. He asked me where I wanted to go and I told him the address. He said it was cold out. I said very cold, and that I didn't like it. He told me my fare and I gave him the money and said thank you and goodbye!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
While Dutifully Avoiding My Econ and its Joys of Comparative Advantage...
Economics is a really complicated way of saying that Consumers want to pay less for a good and Sellers want to sell the good for more.
Have you ever sat outside of a Musik Schule? Its actually really nice. Yesterday I took Moni to her flute lesson and waited in the pretty park near by. Young voices singing "ain't no mountain high enough..." with enthusiasm only innate in children and few adults. Sounds of saxophones, piano and flutes all make their way through the windows and out into the court yard area where I've posted myself with my book Me Talk Pretty One Day. Its really a moment I want to hold on to. The flowers are still in bloom in the middle of the garden. But the trees and plants in the surroundings are being painted with autumn colors of reds and oranges. The smell of burning wood in fireplaces makes me feel comfortable and at home.
Have you ever sat outside of a Musik Schule? Its actually really nice. Yesterday I took Moni to her flute lesson and waited in the pretty park near by. Young voices singing "ain't no mountain high enough..." with enthusiasm only innate in children and few adults. Sounds of saxophones, piano and flutes all make their way through the windows and out into the court yard area where I've posted myself with my book Me Talk Pretty One Day. Its really a moment I want to hold on to. The flowers are still in bloom in the middle of the garden. But the trees and plants in the surroundings are being painted with autumn colors of reds and oranges. The smell of burning wood in fireplaces makes me feel comfortable and at home.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
2am, can't sleep but should post.
(quick moment of thanks for auto save)
Good late afternoon America! Its nearing 2am here over seas and I'm two cups of coffee and several chocolate wafer cookies in. My online classes over at Foothill are proving to provide me with bountiful amounts of reading. Hooray Articles of the Confederation...thank YOU framers of the US Constitution!
A very serious goal of mine while studying over here is to actuallyread my textbooks that I buy every semester. I like that I am mostly forced to as there is no actual physical class to attend.
Tomorrow Moni's friend is coming over and I have my weekly German class at the Volcschule.
May I share this with you:
Good late afternoon America! Its nearing 2am here over seas and I'm two cups of coffee and several chocolate wafer cookies in. My online classes over at Foothill are proving to provide me with bountiful amounts of reading. Hooray Articles of the Confederation...thank YOU framers of the US Constitution!
A very serious goal of mine while studying over here is to actuallyread my textbooks that I buy every semester. I like that I am mostly forced to as there is no actual physical class to attend.
Tomorrow Moni's friend is coming over and I have my weekly German class at the Volcschule.
May I share this with you:
Jonay
haha u are responsible and organized...
12:02pmJonay
so you're cooking ur own lunches
hahaha
12:02pmAshley
haha
12:02pmJonay
by the time u come back you'll be pro
12:05pmAshley
AHH
i cant find my train ticket!!!
12:06pmJonay
what?
12:06pmAshley
dammit!
i lost my train ticket
12:06pmJonay
did u just have it?
how long ago?
retrace ur steps
12:14pmJonay
ur so organized ;)
i love it u haven't changed
Ich habe hunger!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Grey's Anatomy is Back!
Joy to my soul, I've missed these people in my life. Thank you Izzie for not dying yet...
An Array of Adventures.
Dedicated to Jocelyn and her disdain of alliteration.
Have you ever wanted to shower while dancing in the club? In Wiener Neustadt you most certainly can...I'll leave it at that.
Friday night met up with a group of Au Pairs in Austria, from around the world. It is really interesting sitting a table of 7 people, all from different parts of the world! California, Texas, Guatemala, Finland, France, Canada, and Indonesia!
My new Canadian friend and I went out dancing at this club with two floors. Downstairs was a hookah lounge area that was really nice, and where we spent most of our time. It was a very messy night as I left my house keys 1 hour west by train, my bike an hour south by train and stayed in Modling, which wasn't near either of those. On top of that I ended up without my shoes. I'm responsible and organized...
Saturday most of the day was spent sleeping and watching Lizzie McGuire in German. Met up with Dayna for some...erM...interesting Mexican food. My "burrito con carne" was mostly onions with some meat, mushrooms, corn, and a lot of pepper. I miss La Vic! I think Mexicans would be very confused that their burritos didn't have beans or cheese, and must be eaten with a fork and knife.
This beautiful Sunday will be spent catching up on some downtime and reading! Sorry for the lack of pictures, my camera is still being held captive as a P.O.W. eekk!
Have you ever wanted to shower while dancing in the club? In Wiener Neustadt you most certainly can...I'll leave it at that.
Friday night met up with a group of Au Pairs in Austria, from around the world. It is really interesting sitting a table of 7 people, all from different parts of the world! California, Texas, Guatemala, Finland, France, Canada, and Indonesia!
My new Canadian friend and I went out dancing at this club with two floors. Downstairs was a hookah lounge area that was really nice, and where we spent most of our time. It was a very messy night as I left my house keys 1 hour west by train, my bike an hour south by train and stayed in Modling, which wasn't near either of those. On top of that I ended up without my shoes. I'm responsible and organized...
This beautiful Sunday will be spent catching up on some downtime and reading! Sorry for the lack of pictures, my camera is still being held captive as a P.O.W. eekk!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Yum Risotto! :)
Today for lunch is a tasty vegetable risotto complete with carrots, zucchini, onions, and just a lil paprika. :)
My online classes have been taking up most of my morning and evening time. I've even given myself a midnight curfew for when I got out during the week. Crazy huh? I really like that I don't have to wake up at 8am and commute to school praying for my life in traffic on 85. I also don't have to witness young women putting on mascara while trying to shift into 3rd gear. NOR do I have to watch men tweeze their nose hairs in the rear view mirror.Yikes!
The weather the past two days has been beautiful and warm! Although, the natives are complaining about how hot it is at 75 degrees F. When I tell them its 40 degrees C (98 degrees F) back home they almost faint. No one understands why its still so nice here in Austria but, I'd like to think I have a pretty good idea. ;)
As my wonderfully zany English teacher in 8th grade would say, "TTFN! Tah tah for now!!" :)
My online classes have been taking up most of my morning and evening time. I've even given myself a midnight curfew for when I got out during the week. Crazy huh? I really like that I don't have to wake up at 8am and commute to school praying for my life in traffic on 85. I also don't have to witness young women putting on mascara while trying to shift into 3rd gear. NOR do I have to watch men tweeze their nose hairs in the rear view mirror.Yikes!
The weather the past two days has been beautiful and warm! Although, the natives are complaining about how hot it is at 75 degrees F. When I tell them its 40 degrees C (98 degrees F) back home they almost faint. No one understands why its still so nice here in Austria but, I'd like to think I have a pretty good idea. ;)
As my wonderfully zany English teacher in 8th grade would say, "TTFN! Tah tah for now!!" :)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Facebook Involved in International Dispute...
"JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Logging onto Facebook as a resident in the Golan Heights, should you enter Syria or Israel as your home country? Decades of war and occupation have not provided an answer to that question -- but the social networking Web site now permits both options, sparking fears about an anti-Facebook cyber-war."
Syria is mad that Israel is an option and trying to argue with Facebook.
Really?!
Moment of Truth...
My Joe's are fitting a little too snug these days. Damn Europe and its wonderful breads, Scholoade, and rich Biers! I have to go for a jog now, as I don't have the money to buy new pants. : (
Lunch Time!
Lunch time is my favorite part of the day here. I cook something and hope that its yummy. Today was a mozzarella pizza with garlic artichoke hearts, onions, and kalamata olives. Yum! After lunch I was she dries and we play.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
I Hate Onions...
Today for lunch I made a tomato cream sauce...it was good, but making it brought me to tears. Maybe its a woman gene I didn't inherit but onions make me break down crying just thinking about cutting them. I don't know how I've grown up watching grandmas cut them up with no reservations or hesitation.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
My Little Brother's Curse...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
To My Grandma-
Liebe Grandma,
Sorry I haven't been updating regularly, I've been very involved and devoted to this book that I finally finished. Its called Seven Types of Ambiguity. Very heavy, but really good! I tend to get a little too emotionally involved with the characters and neglect much of my life outside of reading and finishing my book. Brooke is similar in this. Today I'm starting a book called The Ides of March by Thornton Wilder. The father of the house has a big library in the basement full of books in English.
Yesterday I started my new German class at the community center in Perchtoldsdorf. Its a very small class and I hope to learn a lot. I do well mostly in spelling and understanding. Not so well in speaking. My teacher asks me a question and I spell the answer to her. Not exactly what she was expecting, but I think she appreciated the effort!
This afternoon will be spent reading, playing board games , and cooking something for lunch. I'm learning lots of things to cook. I cook mostly soups though, so its pretty easy. They don't have cheddar cheese here, can you believe that?!
My camera is still broken, so I have no new photos for updating.
More to come!
Sorry I haven't been updating regularly, I've been very involved and devoted to this book that I finally finished. Its called Seven Types of Ambiguity. Very heavy, but really good! I tend to get a little too emotionally involved with the characters and neglect much of my life outside of reading and finishing my book. Brooke is similar in this. Today I'm starting a book called The Ides of March by Thornton Wilder. The father of the house has a big library in the basement full of books in English.
Yesterday I started my new German class at the community center in Perchtoldsdorf. Its a very small class and I hope to learn a lot. I do well mostly in spelling and understanding. Not so well in speaking. My teacher asks me a question and I spell the answer to her. Not exactly what she was expecting, but I think she appreciated the effort!
This afternoon will be spent reading, playing board games , and cooking something for lunch. I'm learning lots of things to cook. I cook mostly soups though, so its pretty easy. They don't have cheddar cheese here, can you believe that?!
My camera is still broken, so I have no new photos for updating.
More to come!
Monday, September 7, 2009
As Promised Extended Version...
This past Saturday morning we left from Modling to Lignano, Italy. What was meant to be a 6 hour drive turned into 8 hours in traffic. Fortunately, the company I was with was great and the drive was filled with beautiful mountain ranges and the greenest grass ever!
We arrived in Lignano around 2pm and began our search for a home for the night. Checked out a few hotels and found the Olympia. It was fairly cheap for the night and included a buffet style breakfast. After we checked in went to the beach and tested the water. It was surprisingly warm. We left our things on dry sand and the wind picked up and destroyed my camera with sand. Hopefully we can fix it...
After the long day in the car we decided to get some ice cream and call it an early night!
We arrived in Lignano around 2pm and began our search for a home for the night. Checked out a few hotels and found the Olympia. It was fairly cheap for the night and included a buffet style breakfast. After we checked in went to the beach and tested the water. It was surprisingly warm. We left our things on dry sand and the wind picked up and destroyed my camera with sand. Hopefully we can fix it...After the long day in the car we decided to get some ice cream and call it an early night!
Our check out time was 10:30am. So we woke up early, ate, showered, went out to the car to find the back axel destroyed by a drunk Italian driver in the night. This man hit two other cars in his rampage through the streets of Lignano. A very kind woman from Italy came back to the scene to give us this man's information, and how to contact the police.
The boys led Ana and I to the beach so we could enjoy our day while they dealt with the inconsistencies and unorganization of the Italian police. I have learned that they have three different "kinds" of police and none of these branches wanted to deal with anything.
Thankfully they spoke German. I had no idea so many people in Italy spoke so much German!
After the boys got things settled (mostly) with the police we had a long trip home to look forward to. There was an hour long bus ride to the train station, just enough time to (literally) run into mc donalds grab some chicken nuggets and run to our train. The train ride back to Vienna was roughly 7 hours. After we arrived back in Austria we had to grab a 10minute taxi ride to the car, then another hour spent in the car. I'm so glad we all got home safe, and that we weren't in the car when the drunken man hit it!
Thankfully they spoke German. I had no idea so many people in Italy spoke so much German!
After the boys got things settled (mostly) with the police we had a long trip home to look forward to. There was an hour long bus ride to the train station, just enough time to (literally) run into mc donalds grab some chicken nuggets and run to our train. The train ride back to Vienna was roughly 7 hours. After we arrived back in Austria we had to grab a 10minute taxi ride to the car, then another hour spent in the car. I'm so glad we all got home safe, and that we weren't in the car when the drunken man hit it!
I hope to visit Italy again. Perhaps, we'll take the train to begin with!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Italy...quick version...long to come
6 hour car drive turns into 8. broken camera, drunk italian man drunk driving into our car, ridiculous system of 3 different "kinds" of police in Italy. Language barrier. Tanning at the beach. Nutella Eis. Italian mc donalds.unexpected hour long bus ride + 7 hour trian ride + 20Min s-bahn ride + 10 minute taxi drive + 65 minute car ride= tired in bed.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Sorry for the Delay!
Hello All!
Sorry for the lack of updates...
The last week or so has been a flurry of activities.Today Monika had a friend over and we cooked up some lunch and baked a cake. The girls ran around outside while I helped fold clothes and the like. Nothing too exciting!
After the park was time for us to find our seats in the theatre. Today's show was Ice Age 3 in 3-D, and in German. I was looking forward to watching the movie in German to try and brush up on my skills. Unfortunately, I do believe I fell asleep before the opening credits were over. Half-way thru the movie Moni thought it'd be funny to drop the popcorn bag on my lap. Since I had the 3-D glasses on she was not aware of how I had drifted away into a realm of dreams and an unconscious state. The popcorn bag dropped on my lap and rolled onto the floor. One can imagine my confusion when I woke up during the last ten minutes of the movie to find myself covered in popcorn.
This past Sunday I spent with my friend Lilith. She is from (and back to) Lebanon. I will say, they are not anywhere near as conservative as one would think! Although my time was short with this girl (both in height and in time as we're the same size), I know that we would have quickly become partners in crime. Perhaps her short stay in long-term for the better. ;) We spent the day walking around Pratter Amusement park and indulged in ice cream and spinning rides.
Saturday was rainy, cloudy, and cold. Anyone who knows me will know exactly what I do on these days...I stay in bed, read, watch movies, drink hot chocolate, and eat a lot of snacks.
Friday night was girls night which turned out to be a blast! A few of us girls met at Melissa's flat in Wien. Shared a few cocktails and ate pizza and mozzerella sticks! Yum! Made it over the Kju bar and danced to our hearts desire. Afriend got food poisoning and we had to take her home early...Thanks to Peter we gave her a ride and she made a little bit of a mess in his car...and my strong self tried to open the door and snapped the handle in two. I'm afraid this is what happens when guys try to help.
Here's the scene: I was in the back seat of Peter's red Toyota and when we arrived at my friend's place I grabbed the handle pulled and thanks to that whole for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction I threw myself to the other side of the car. As I do when I get embarrassed or am I trouble I held up the handle of the door to Peter and burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. He looked confused and didn't understand what I was trying to show him. So, I laughed harder and when I saw his face come to recognize the destroyed piece of his car my laughter escalated once again.
THURSDAY: Was my last day of class. I'll have to finish that story another day! I will say, I walked about 10 miles.
Sorry for the lack of updates...
The last week or so has been a flurry of activities.Today Monika had a friend over and we cooked up some lunch and baked a cake. The girls ran around outside while I helped fold clothes and the like. Nothing too exciting!
Yesterday I took Moni and her friend Leah to the big theatre in Vienna. I was a little nervous about being responsible for two aloof girls in the city, especially since I had no idea where we were going. We had a great day and got to the theatre in time to indulge in Akakiko Sushi overlooking the beautiful blue-skied day of Austria's capital.
After Sushi the girls and I played in the park on the coolest playground structure ever! It does not sound all too exciting but it’s this top shaped like structure that you run on and it spins...great fun, but my stomach had a little too much to say about spinning after eating all that raw fish!
After the park was time for us to find our seats in the theatre. Today's show was Ice Age 3 in 3-D, and in German. I was looking forward to watching the movie in German to try and brush up on my skills. Unfortunately, I do believe I fell asleep before the opening credits were over. Half-way thru the movie Moni thought it'd be funny to drop the popcorn bag on my lap. Since I had the 3-D glasses on she was not aware of how I had drifted away into a realm of dreams and an unconscious state. The popcorn bag dropped on my lap and rolled onto the floor. One can imagine my confusion when I woke up during the last ten minutes of the movie to find myself covered in popcorn.
This past Sunday I spent with my friend Lilith. She is from (and back to) Lebanon. I will say, they are not anywhere near as conservative as one would think! Although my time was short with this girl (both in height and in time as we're the same size), I know that we would have quickly become partners in crime. Perhaps her short stay in long-term for the better. ;) We spent the day walking around Pratter Amusement park and indulged in ice cream and spinning rides.Saturday was rainy, cloudy, and cold. Anyone who knows me will know exactly what I do on these days...I stay in bed, read, watch movies, drink hot chocolate, and eat a lot of snacks.
Friday night was girls night which turned out to be a blast! A few of us girls met at Melissa's flat in Wien. Shared a few cocktails and ate pizza and mozzerella sticks! Yum! Made it over the Kju bar and danced to our hearts desire. Afriend got food poisoning and we had to take her home early...Thanks to Peter we gave her a ride and she made a little bit of a mess in his car...and my strong self tried to open the door and snapped the handle in two. I'm afraid this is what happens when guys try to help.
Here's the scene: I was in the back seat of Peter's red Toyota and when we arrived at my friend's place I grabbed the handle pulled and thanks to that whole for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction I threw myself to the other side of the car. As I do when I get embarrassed or am I trouble I held up the handle of the door to Peter and burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. He looked confused and didn't understand what I was trying to show him. So, I laughed harder and when I saw his face come to recognize the destroyed piece of his car my laughter escalated once again.
THURSDAY: Was my last day of class. I'll have to finish that story another day! I will say, I walked about 10 miles.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
So We Dance...
Yesterday was pretty mellow for the most part. The family I'm living with is spending a week in Italy while I take my German class in Vienna. Lounged around most of the day and went for a bike ride around my town of Perchtoldsdorf-14,000 people or so-which is smaller than San Jose State University I think. On my bike ride found pretty vineyards and sunflower farms.Tried to do some grocery shopping but I guess yesterday was a saints holiday of some sort, thankfully the local ice cream shop was open so I stopped in to have a scoop of Nutella ice cream. 
Later in the evening went out dancing with a couple of girls. We had so much fun! However, it appeared that Passage was having a black and white themed party and I so happened to show up in a red dress...That night I became known as that girl in the red dress. Oh my! The club didn't get busy until around 1am. That just seems so late because back home everything closes at 2am! I'm not sure what time things acutally close and break down here, haven't stayed til the bitter end yet.
We left the disco a little after 5am and began our journey home. The trains start running gain at 5:30am, most of them anyways. I learned that my train doesn't arrive until about 6:45am. Awesome! Finally got on my train and took it 20minutes south. Arrived at the Perchtoldsdorf Station only to hop on my bike and proceed to bike home about 8 minutes in my red dress, heels, and frizzy hair. Arrived home tired yet fufilled and most unfortunately slept away most of a beautiful summer day.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
And They Call me Crazy...
Lets see updates...
Today was full of many surprises, to summarize: dropping the showerhead in my bathroom and discovering the many pieces I can't engineer back together, syncing and accidentally clearing all my songs on itunes, missing my train, exploding mineral water in my bag, losing my umbrella, forgetting a rain jacket, missing another train.
Highlights: Getting to class on time, having a great melange coffee in ritzy cafe in Vienna, making plans with nice girl from Japan to help her with English and learn some Japanese, meeting a new friend who's an au pair from Mexico, making snowboarding trip plans, making it home before more rain and mellowing out to a bowl of ice cream and cheap Italian wine.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
It all comes down to a universal toaster...
Alright so yesterday I woke up early so as to catch the 8am train so I could brush up on my German lessons and have a croissant paried with a cappuccino. Get to my class in Vienna a good 30 minutes early, only to find there is no class on fridays. Spent the next hour wandering around the centre and getting lost and finding myself and lost again... Luckily found a Starbucks and paid double what I would back home, sad story. That said, this Starbucks is by far the nicest Starbucks I've ever been to. Its two stories and full of windows outlooking the bustling streets of Vienna .
Close to 1pm met a girl and her friends at the city bike lots and got my bike pass, unlimited bike rentals forever for just $1. Fantastic! The four of us girls trolled around Vienna and rode thru parks and streets. Met my English clumsy match, Emma. Emma was most unfortunate to select a bike that did not have any brakes that work. She wound up crashing head on into another person on a bike. The rest of us found it funny!
Went home and had lunch with the family and Monika had her friend over. We painted our very own t-shirts. Its funny because Monika has to say everything twice, once in German to her friend and once in English to me. Its funny because our laughs are also spread out and whoever laughs first gets to anticipate the laugh of the other.
Around 7pm took the bike out to ride to the station to go out to Vienna! My aloof self wasn't
paying attention to where I was headed and ended up very lost out by some vineyards...I'd never even seen a single vineyard prior to this. Rode around started to get nervous because it was getting dark and I didn't even know how to get back to the house. I rode all the way up this hill came up to a red light, yielded on my bike and continued thru. Apparently, redlights are not yields for bikes. I got pulled over by the polizie, lights and everything. Two police got of their car and said nothing but opened the rear car door. I thought they were going to arrest me and take me away. They put on their official hats and started talking to me in German...they were out of luck there. I explained to them that I was very lost and had no idea what I had done. They asked me where I was staying and they couldn't understand my interpretation with how the street would be pronounced. Eventually they let me go without a ticket and directed me toward the trainstation. Onward with the night!
We started the night around 9:15pm at a local pub had a few drinks and went a few other places,including a karaoke bar. As I have said I will jump out of a plane before I will go up and sing Karaoke, this still remains true. This was a funny lively place where Austrians were singing along to Bohemian Rhapsody, Summer Lovin' from Grease, and even a High School Musical song. After Karaoke we went to this outside bar place that was pretty fun, then went in and danced. The club closed at 4am and we taxied over to Emmas flat in Vienna.
I can't believe that was all in one day!
Today has been full of a mellow vibe. The family left to a bbq somewhere and left me to the house. I'm very hungry and usually the mom fixes something for lunch. (which is their big meal here.) Everything in their fridge needs to be cooked. My lazy self decided to just eat some bread. Finally mustered the motivation to cook up some noodles only to realize their stove is completely foreign to me, and I have no idea how to turn it on. Think to microwave something...there isn't one. Found a toaster and discovered that toasters are universal, some dials are different but the bread goes down the same. Made some toast with Zint and Zucker, Cinnamon and Sugar.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Vienna State Oper House and More Ice Cream
Today was a class field trip to the Vienna State Oprah House. Half of the place was destroyed by a bomb during the second world war. The front however is the original artwork from 140 years ago or so. The building is rich with history and beautiful scupltures and impressions. The guided tour allows you to see the room in which the emporer himself spent his time during intermissions. It is not open to the public, but one may rent the room during intermission for a mere 500 euro/20 minutes. That seems a little pricey to me...
I also successfuly navigated myself thru the Austrian system of transportation and its system of districts. I live in Perchtoldsdorf, the first district South of Vienna. It is a beautiful town built about 500 years ago. According to Wiki:
"constructed during Babenberg rule, while the region was part of the March of Austria, to defend newly conquered territories on behalf of the Ottonian
and Salian emperors.The Duchess Beatrix established a hospital in 1407, now
demolished, and an attached church which still survives.The conflict between
Frederick III and Albert VI started an unstable period in the region. In 1446,
many homes in the town were burned during the invasion of John Hunyadi, the
regent of Hungary. During this time, the castle was occupied by various rival
forces, including mercenaries of the King of Hungary from 1477 until 1490
when Maximilian I reestablished Habsburg control over the area. This
turbulent period interrupted the construction of the Peel tower which started in
1450 and was finished about 1521. This tower and other fortifications permitted a successful defense of the city against the Turkish troops during the Siege of Vienna in 1529. But, a later
Turkish assault on 16 July 1683 before the Battle of Vienna effectively destroyed the town, and many residents were killed or enslaved."
I also successfuly navigated myself thru the Austrian system of transportation and its system of districts. I live in Perchtoldsdorf, the first district South of Vienna. It is a beautiful town built about 500 years ago. According to Wiki:
"constructed during Babenberg rule, while the region was part of the March of Austria, to defend newly conquered territories on behalf of the Ottonian
and Salian emperors.The Duchess Beatrix established a hospital in 1407, now
demolished, and an attached church which still survives.The conflict between
Frederick III and Albert VI started an unstable period in the region. In 1446,
many homes in the town were burned during the invasion of John Hunyadi, the
regent of Hungary. During this time, the castle was occupied by various rival
forces, including mercenaries of the King of Hungary from 1477 until 1490
when Maximilian I reestablished Habsburg control over the area. This
turbulent period interrupted the construction of the Peel tower which started in
1450 and was finished about 1521. This tower and other fortifications permitted a successful defense of the city against the Turkish troops during the Siege of Vienna in 1529. But, a later
Turkish assault on 16 July 1683 before the Battle of Vienna effectively destroyed the town, and many residents were killed or enslaved."
Very much loving Austria and the way of life here. The Nutella ice cream is one of the best things in my life and the family here is so nice and welcoming. It seems to be simple and beautiful. I do miss the warm beaches of Hawaii and being able to strike up a conversation with any stranger. :)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
6 planes, 4 time zones, 2 days
Goodbye Maui, Hello from Austria!
I have no idea what time it is, and have learned how relevant time is. I've been through 4 time zones in 2 nights. My brain is so boggled and confused, but at peace.
My journey of 6 planes United Airlines and LOT Polish air, (2 red eye flights) and numerous amounts of shuttles and trains has been surprisingly plesant. I have been blessed with graceful and fortunate timing. That is, I've been arriving in one city with just a comfortable amount of time to have some coffee, find my gate, relax a few minutes and continue on to the next leg of my journey.
It is rougly 16:40 and my plane to Vienna is at 17:25. I believe that is less than an hour. Poland is a nice small airport. I wouldn't say the strangers are friendly though I wouldnt particularly say they were unfriendly. I wish I spoke Polish.
I smell. No shower in 2 days and a lot of walking, lifting, rolling, sitting...no real bed in 10 days or so. Funny thing, I don't mind. Well, perhaps I could do without the smelling. I feel like I should just buy a magazine in Polish and pretend I'm reading it. I am surprised how quickly my planes and lay-overs have taken me. I suppose that is because I'm really in no hurry to be anywhere and its all so new to me!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
First Entry
Hello!
Welcome to my first "blog"?
A friend told me since I'm going so far away I should start a blog about my adventures traveling. Since silly things seem to cross my path a little too often... Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to post clever things with my blogs like pictures and such.
As far as traveling plans go...
I have less than two weeks before my trip to Maui with my family and I have been doing nothing that I need to be in order to prepare. I am all too aware of how hectic it is going to be getting in from Maui and leaving that very day for a year. wow? That is all too strange to think about!
This trip and adventure have both come up quiet abruptly. I hadn't talked to my mom in over a month and I really needed a copy of my birth certificate so I gave her a ring...
mom, "Hello?"
me: Hi mom...
Mom: My daughter is calling me??!?
Me: yeah ha ha ha..I was just wondering if you have a copy of my birthcertificate?
Mom: Uhm...yes I have one. Why? Its my last copy.
Me: I need to get my passport renewed.
Mom: Your passport huh? why where are you going?
Me: Well, I've decided to move to Austria for a year and just confirmed a one-way ticket to Vienna. Cool huh?
Mom: WHAAAAAA?!!!!!!!!!!
Stay Tuned!
Welcome to my first "blog"?
A friend told me since I'm going so far away I should start a blog about my adventures traveling. Since silly things seem to cross my path a little too often... Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to post clever things with my blogs like pictures and such.
As far as traveling plans go...
I have less than two weeks before my trip to Maui with my family and I have been doing nothing that I need to be in order to prepare. I am all too aware of how hectic it is going to be getting in from Maui and leaving that very day for a year. wow? That is all too strange to think about!
This trip and adventure have both come up quiet abruptly. I hadn't talked to my mom in over a month and I really needed a copy of my birth certificate so I gave her a ring...
mom, "Hello?"
me: Hi mom...
Mom: My daughter is calling me??!?
Me: yeah ha ha ha..I was just wondering if you have a copy of my birthcertificate?
Mom: Uhm...yes I have one. Why? Its my last copy.
Me: I need to get my passport renewed.
Mom: Your passport huh? why where are you going?
Me: Well, I've decided to move to Austria for a year and just confirmed a one-way ticket to Vienna. Cool huh?
Mom: WHAAAAAA?!!!!!!!!!!
Stay Tuned!
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