I promised much more of the wonderful Swoboda to come, and here she will be.
We walked the rest of Rome in a bit of a daze, actually being there was unbelievable. In Rome, I ate the best carbonara pasta of my life, I believe I will be looking for another like that one until the day, when I am very old, have lost my wits and gone grey at the seams, I die. It was literally the best food I have tasted. And at a very good price too. Nobody cook me cabonara again, as I now have very high standards of what it should really taste like. Pizzas another story, I have tasted the wonders of a Roman pizza, never really want to go back, but will have to just lower my expectations for that one . How sad.
I walked inside the Colloseum, and as everybody has said before, IT IS HUGE. The thousands of tourists that had flocked there to see the great building were overshadowed by the mightiness of the construction. The sheer size of it almost put me off, of course it didnt though, it is one of the greatest monuments of all time.
We also went to the Vatican, the first place that Sharnee got left behind. After lining up for hours to take the most boring tour on record, we decided to go and visit Saint Peters Dome. Once again we lined up for over an hour, and met some of the most extraordinary people in the line. One such person was a texan cattle rancher with cousins living in both Brisbane and Sydney. He had a lot to tell us about our fine country. Another was an English lady with a young child, who seemed very interesting in listening to our accents. She knew where Sharnee was from immedietly, but couldnt work out whether I was from a part of England or not. The only reason she would believe I was Australian was because I knew all the slang in the book, and told her I was from Adelaide, a city not usually chosen by fake Aussies. It turned out to be a very enjoyable line up.
Saint Peters Dome is beautiful. Even with so many people there it felt nearly empty. I found the decorations covering the sheer size of it all captivating, and got a cramp in my neck from constantly looking around so as not to miss anything. We were told to walk around by ourselves, (in groups of three of course) so that the more religious of us could pay their respects. We were to meet at four out the front, so that the group would be able to walk to the top, together. At ten to four all but three of us had gathered, and Swoboda said that it was time for us to leave. I mentioned to her that Sharnee, Caeser (an exchange from Ecuador) and Pixie were not there, and she mumbled something under her breath in German. Then she began to walk off.
I thought that maybe she hadnt understood me, as she was walking the group towards the line up to walk to the top, and so I said it again, this time in both German and English. Then, just to make sure she had the idea, a boy repeated it to her. She shrugged it off and kept walking. Once we made it up the total of 320 steps to the top of the dome, Swoboda said 'oh, where are three of my students?' It had finally dawned on her that we had left them behind. Her next reaction was 'maybe we should go and get them. But dont rush, it doesnt really matter'. It had already taken us 40 minutes to walk to the top, and would take us that amount of time to get back down to the bottom. In total, the three kids spent two and a half hours waiting for us, but Mrs Swoboda didnt care. When we got to the bottom after seeing the most amazing view of rome possible, we could not find them anywhere.
Her reaction to this was 'Lets wait another twenty minutes, and then we should just go back to the hotel. They will find their own way there': We searched for them for that twenty minutes, and just as we were getting ready to leave, one of the group members spotted them sitting on a stone, hiding in the shade from the sun, looking very frightened. Sharnee was ready to murder Swoboda.
They spent three hours lost in the Vatican, without phone contact with anyone within Rome.
The next time Sharnee was left behind was at the train station that evening. The trains were crowded, as they always were in Rome, and so getting yourself on was a skill in itself. The boys were teasing Sharnee and another boy, and not letting them on the train, saying 'haha, dont get left behind'. Well, the doors closed, and Sharnee and the boy werent on the train. What a surprise.
When we told Swoboda this, she said 'Oh. Well, that doesnt matter, they will find their own way back to the hotel.' She expected us to be ok with leaving them at a random train station in the middle of a foreign city. Mr Dunser, the other teacher stepped off the train looking exasperated and went to find the two. Swoboda didnt care.
That night the class decided to play a prank on her, testing whether she really deserved to be leading us through Rome. We knew the way from the train station back to the hotel, and so walked as slowly as possible, and let Swoboda walk ahead. She crossed roads without us. She walked down alleyways without us. She got around a kilometre away from us without even noticing that we were missing. Finally she did, and we joined her again. Then we repeated the exercise. This time, when she looked around, we each hid behind a tree, bin or other object, so she didnt know where we were. Her reaction? To walk back to the hotel without us. She had no care in the world for her 18 students.
Rome wasnt all fun and games though, we saw two dead bodies while on that trip. One man was fatally stabbed on the street outside of the train station, and we walked past the body as it was being attended to by police, and the other was within the train station, also stabbed. We saw him while he was still alive, but he died as he was being attended to by ambulance officers. Rome is full of wonders, but is also full of dangers. None of us were robbed, luckily, but we did see some people being robbed. Sadly, there was nothing we could do. We informed the victims, but by that stage, it was much too late to save their goods.
Even though there was that downside to the magestic city, Rome was still the best experience of my life, to date.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
ROME - Part three - The beauty
As it was so long ago, I now remember Rome as a week of beauty. I remember walking the streets with my smiling classmates thinking of how it was the best week of my life to date, and I still regard it as that. It was a week of pure bliss.
My absolute favorite part of the Rome trip did not even occur in Rome.
On an hour long train ride to Ostea, the most amazing site we visited, every single person in the class (and a few other happy travelers) fell asleep. Only me and a good friend were left awake. We sat next to each other, chatted and laughed and secretly took photos of our sleeping friends. Even the two teachers were asleep, something we were not all that surprised about. Stepping off the train in Ostea was like stepping into another world. Everyone was refreshed and vibrant from their afternoon siesta (as by that time it was 12pm) and we walked into the area smiling and ready to take whatever the day had offered.
Ostea is actually a small beachside town outside of Rome, a popular place for many tourists to visit on their travels. The site we visited was a city of ruins, stretching for over a kilometre in each direction. The Disney movie, Hercules, was set in that place, and we could easily pick out areas that the producers had taken from.
Our first need upon arrival was food. We all sat down in the shade and ate a picnic lunch of whatever we had chosen for ourselves in the supermarket that morning. The Austrians ate sausage, bread and cheese, and the Australians ate vegetables, fresh fruits and bread rolls. Unlike their wrong definition of a true Aussie (surfing, meat pie eating, beachside living) our definition of Austrians is completely correct. They eat any meat, especially in the form of sausage or schnitzel, love cheese and bread, and every one of them (well almost) loves to drink a good beer or two.
We played hackey sack with a soft pinecone until our ankles were sore, and then went to listen to the information about the area we were in, given to us by the amazing Swooooobbbsssyyy. To be honest, nobody listened, at all, and instead we spent our time playing games with the rounded rocks found at the bace of the ancient wall we were sitting on.
When the special teacher had finished her conversation with herself, we went for a stroll through the ruined town, and chose a spot to lay in the sun and tan ourselves while listening to another speech, this time given to us by an interested student. This time, instead of listening, people began to drift off to sleep. My friend and I began to have competitions on playing the grass flute, and he and I ended up teaching the rest of the students how to do it. Some of them were quite good by the end of the day.
We also sat in an ancient ampitheatre and listened to stories of great plays performed there. As the ruins were open to everybody, and people were free to walk where they liked, we spent the rest of the day in free time, running across ancient rooves, climbing up and down ancient walls and searching through ancient houses. The sun was out and we were free, a perfect day.
My camera never left my hand throughout that day, and in the space of just five hours, I had accumulated over a hundred photos to add to my memory of the amazing time I spent in Ostea. If there is one place I want to go back to, it would be there.
To be continued
My absolute favorite part of the Rome trip did not even occur in Rome.
On an hour long train ride to Ostea, the most amazing site we visited, every single person in the class (and a few other happy travelers) fell asleep. Only me and a good friend were left awake. We sat next to each other, chatted and laughed and secretly took photos of our sleeping friends. Even the two teachers were asleep, something we were not all that surprised about. Stepping off the train in Ostea was like stepping into another world. Everyone was refreshed and vibrant from their afternoon siesta (as by that time it was 12pm) and we walked into the area smiling and ready to take whatever the day had offered.
Ostea is actually a small beachside town outside of Rome, a popular place for many tourists to visit on their travels. The site we visited was a city of ruins, stretching for over a kilometre in each direction. The Disney movie, Hercules, was set in that place, and we could easily pick out areas that the producers had taken from.
Our first need upon arrival was food. We all sat down in the shade and ate a picnic lunch of whatever we had chosen for ourselves in the supermarket that morning. The Austrians ate sausage, bread and cheese, and the Australians ate vegetables, fresh fruits and bread rolls. Unlike their wrong definition of a true Aussie (surfing, meat pie eating, beachside living) our definition of Austrians is completely correct. They eat any meat, especially in the form of sausage or schnitzel, love cheese and bread, and every one of them (well almost) loves to drink a good beer or two.
We played hackey sack with a soft pinecone until our ankles were sore, and then went to listen to the information about the area we were in, given to us by the amazing Swooooobbbsssyyy. To be honest, nobody listened, at all, and instead we spent our time playing games with the rounded rocks found at the bace of the ancient wall we were sitting on.
When the special teacher had finished her conversation with herself, we went for a stroll through the ruined town, and chose a spot to lay in the sun and tan ourselves while listening to another speech, this time given to us by an interested student. This time, instead of listening, people began to drift off to sleep. My friend and I began to have competitions on playing the grass flute, and he and I ended up teaching the rest of the students how to do it. Some of them were quite good by the end of the day.
We also sat in an ancient ampitheatre and listened to stories of great plays performed there. As the ruins were open to everybody, and people were free to walk where they liked, we spent the rest of the day in free time, running across ancient rooves, climbing up and down ancient walls and searching through ancient houses. The sun was out and we were free, a perfect day.
My camera never left my hand throughout that day, and in the space of just five hours, I had accumulated over a hundred photos to add to my memory of the amazing time I spent in Ostea. If there is one place I want to go back to, it would be there.
To be continued
ROME - Part two - The arrival
Arriving in Rome at 7am, sore and tired (the beds were not the most comfortable, no matter how harry potter they were), we got lost while walking to the hotel. When I say we, I really mean Swobsy. She really wasnt the sharpest tool in the shed. She will appear often in this recount. Instead of taking us four minutes to walk from the train station to the hotel, it took us well over an hour. Thankyou, Swobodabada.
We were meant to spend that hour at the hotel, with ample time to have a shower, change our clothes, eat a second/third breakfast and then make our way out into the wonders of Rome, but instead we had to dump our bags and run. No matter, we had everything we needed, just looked like death warmed up.
First we walked to the Capital - and listened to the teacher go on (in German) about what happened there. I still have no idea about it. Sharnee and I decided to buy ourselves a tourist guide to carry with us. I bought another, better one to send home to the family, so they could take a look at the places I saw while in ROME. At that point, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the German language, but I could not understand one word from Wobbly. The only thing I understood from her all week was the time, and thats not very helpful if I didnt know where I was supposed to be at that time.
After that we continued our walk across the beautiful town that is Rome. Walking was something we were never short of while there, if Rome didnt have such wonderful pizza, pasta and ice-cream, I am sure each of us could have lost a few kilo on that trip.
The next few sites that we viewed were stunning, as all Roman sites are, but none really stuck out to me as my absolute favorites. They were to come later in the trip, when we were all over the initial shock and awe of the place and more interested in learning the details of what happened where, why and how.
The tourist guides proved very handy as the week continued onwards, I learnt a lot more from them than from anyone in our group, especially than what I was able to gather from Swobodabadabada's useless grasp of English and farmer like dialect. The word Swoboda became a sort of frustration release for us, the more dabadabada's added, the more stress let go.
To be continued
We were meant to spend that hour at the hotel, with ample time to have a shower, change our clothes, eat a second/third breakfast and then make our way out into the wonders of Rome, but instead we had to dump our bags and run. No matter, we had everything we needed, just looked like death warmed up.
First we walked to the Capital - and listened to the teacher go on (in German) about what happened there. I still have no idea about it. Sharnee and I decided to buy ourselves a tourist guide to carry with us. I bought another, better one to send home to the family, so they could take a look at the places I saw while in ROME. At that point, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the German language, but I could not understand one word from Wobbly. The only thing I understood from her all week was the time, and thats not very helpful if I didnt know where I was supposed to be at that time.
After that we continued our walk across the beautiful town that is Rome. Walking was something we were never short of while there, if Rome didnt have such wonderful pizza, pasta and ice-cream, I am sure each of us could have lost a few kilo on that trip.
The next few sites that we viewed were stunning, as all Roman sites are, but none really stuck out to me as my absolute favorites. They were to come later in the trip, when we were all over the initial shock and awe of the place and more interested in learning the details of what happened where, why and how.
The tourist guides proved very handy as the week continued onwards, I learnt a lot more from them than from anyone in our group, especially than what I was able to gather from Swobodabadabada's useless grasp of English and farmer like dialect. The word Swoboda became a sort of frustration release for us, the more dabadabada's added, the more stress let go.
To be continued
Monday, April 26, 2010
ROME - Part 1 - der Zug
The train.
I swear I've written this before. And most of you will have heard this before. But for those of you who havent, here goes.
We got on the first train at 6pm. Sharnee, the other Aussie was running late, and made it onto the train with only seconds to spare. It scared us all a bit, but she walked on looking relaxed and ready for a long night.
I was so so hungry. Luckily, I had packed almost a whole supermarket into my bag, it was literally stuffed to the brim with food. If anyone wanted to rob me of my backpack in Rome, all they would have gained was left over food. I ate. And then ate some more. I was still hungry though, so I ate some more.
By the time we made it to the stop for our next train, I was hungry again, so I ate some more. It was amazing.
We finally got onto our second train (after an hour of waiting) cold and still hungry. That train took us to the very edge of Austria, and guess what we did! Ate. More food. Yum. We had a bit of a feast, but even after all that food, I was still hungry. I decided not to mention it.
By the time we got to the train that took us into Italy, I was starving. Lets just say that backpack full of food was losing its supply fast.
That last train was something out of a Harry Potter movie. Im not joking. It had the same colours, bunk beds that turned into chairs, openable windows, lockable sliding doors and a food trolley that visited us for breakfast. Seriously, we caught the Hogwarts express to Rome.
I couldnt sleep on the train (probably as a result of too much/not enough food), and over the entire night, I got half an hour of sleep. Aussie no. 2 slept like a baby. Jealous. I wasnt so jealous when I saw the most amazing sight of my life as we stopped in Florence. It was the most rain I have ever seen in my entire life. It was so beautiful. The florence people werent liking it so much, I could tell, but it was a sight I will honestly remember for the rest of my life. Even when I have forgotten everything else, I will be telling my grandchildren about the rain I saw in florence when I was eighteen years old. I cannot (and dont want to) get that image out of my head.
I also saw an Italian sunrise, three castles and a lot of grape vines and farm land while on that train to Rome.
To be continued...
I swear I've written this before. And most of you will have heard this before. But for those of you who havent, here goes.
We got on the first train at 6pm. Sharnee, the other Aussie was running late, and made it onto the train with only seconds to spare. It scared us all a bit, but she walked on looking relaxed and ready for a long night.
I was so so hungry. Luckily, I had packed almost a whole supermarket into my bag, it was literally stuffed to the brim with food. If anyone wanted to rob me of my backpack in Rome, all they would have gained was left over food. I ate. And then ate some more. I was still hungry though, so I ate some more.
By the time we made it to the stop for our next train, I was hungry again, so I ate some more. It was amazing.
We finally got onto our second train (after an hour of waiting) cold and still hungry. That train took us to the very edge of Austria, and guess what we did! Ate. More food. Yum. We had a bit of a feast, but even after all that food, I was still hungry. I decided not to mention it.
By the time we got to the train that took us into Italy, I was starving. Lets just say that backpack full of food was losing its supply fast.
That last train was something out of a Harry Potter movie. Im not joking. It had the same colours, bunk beds that turned into chairs, openable windows, lockable sliding doors and a food trolley that visited us for breakfast. Seriously, we caught the Hogwarts express to Rome.
I couldnt sleep on the train (probably as a result of too much/not enough food), and over the entire night, I got half an hour of sleep. Aussie no. 2 slept like a baby. Jealous. I wasnt so jealous when I saw the most amazing sight of my life as we stopped in Florence. It was the most rain I have ever seen in my entire life. It was so beautiful. The florence people werent liking it so much, I could tell, but it was a sight I will honestly remember for the rest of my life. Even when I have forgotten everything else, I will be telling my grandchildren about the rain I saw in florence when I was eighteen years old. I cannot (and dont want to) get that image out of my head.
I also saw an Italian sunrise, three castles and a lot of grape vines and farm land while on that train to Rome.
To be continued...
R O M E
Ive taken this long to actually post this, because I have no idea what to say. Brilliant.
Amazing.
Heck wow.
Thats it, heck wow.
this is a big task. I'm scared. I keep on putting it off, but I have to do it. I have to tell you about Rome.
I will do it in parts, or the post will be as long as my leg, and nobody will want to read it.
Ok.
Two weeks into my stay here in Austria, I was confronted at school by a strange looking lady (definite bogan) talking to me in German about Rome. It was later translated to me that she was wondering if I would come on a short trip over to the beautiful city. It was also later explained to me that she was a fifty year old teacher who still lives with her mother.
Of course, I said yes (who would actually turn down the chance to spend a week in Rome, strange teacher or not?) and hoped to all heck that the trip would really happen. For weeks and weeks, we were given no more information about the trip, and everytime we (the other Australian and I) asked for forms to fill out, bills to pay and just more general information, Mrs Swoboda just said that she would do it within the week. Wobbly (Swoboda) then told the class that she didnt want to give the information to us, as we would just lose it. Im glad she had trust in us from the start..
Finally, we recieved the notes we needed, got our permissions from STS and went on our way to the amazing city of ROME
Amazing.
Heck wow.
Thats it, heck wow.
this is a big task. I'm scared. I keep on putting it off, but I have to do it. I have to tell you about Rome.
I will do it in parts, or the post will be as long as my leg, and nobody will want to read it.
Ok.
Two weeks into my stay here in Austria, I was confronted at school by a strange looking lady (definite bogan) talking to me in German about Rome. It was later translated to me that she was wondering if I would come on a short trip over to the beautiful city. It was also later explained to me that she was a fifty year old teacher who still lives with her mother.
Can you guess which she is?
I'll tell you later.
Of course, I said yes (who would actually turn down the chance to spend a week in Rome, strange teacher or not?) and hoped to all heck that the trip would really happen. For weeks and weeks, we were given no more information about the trip, and everytime we (the other Australian and I) asked for forms to fill out, bills to pay and just more general information, Mrs Swoboda just said that she would do it within the week. Wobbly (Swoboda) then told the class that she didnt want to give the information to us, as we would just lose it. Im glad she had trust in us from the start..
Oooo, yay, Swoboda.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Lach Yoga
Take a look at this.
I went to a laugh Yoga club.
It was absolutely strangest experience of my entire life. Having said that, it was also one of the funniest.
Entering the club, most of us were unsure of what to expect. We had a right to be.
To begin the two hour long session, the instructor said 'Madonna once said to fake it till you make it. That is what we do here'. For almost two hours, we spent our time faking laughter, with chants such as 'ho ho ha ha ha, ho ho ha ha ha' and 'very good, very good, yeah!'. By the end, we were all rolling on the floor crying with laughter. Literally crying.
Then we did our warm down dance, and left for home in the brightest spirits possible.
Imagine this,
One eighty year old woman, a bunch of middle agers, a fat man, a skinny man, one eighteen year old Australian, and three thirteen year old girls walking around a room doing various funny actions while chanting the mantra 'ho ho ha ha ha'. Yes, that is how strange these Austrians are.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
I will never like ham.
Not ever. Not even a little bit. Not even if i am super hungry and feel like i could eat and enjoy anything. Yuck. Ham.
Oh, and I am a little bit sick right now, and am really really tired. I want to stretch my arms and lean back a little, but whenever I do, the back of my neck and the tips of my shoulders are painfully reminded that there is a cactus behind this seat.
p.s
I dont even know why I wrote this post. Clearly it has no meaning to anyone in Australia, and is completely random. Whatever, its posted now, and theres nothing i can do about it.
Oh, and I am a little bit sick right now, and am really really tired. I want to stretch my arms and lean back a little, but whenever I do, the back of my neck and the tips of my shoulders are painfully reminded that there is a cactus behind this seat.
p.s
I dont even know why I wrote this post. Clearly it has no meaning to anyone in Australia, and is completely random. Whatever, its posted now, and theres nothing i can do about it.
Vienna - dearest Vienna
To be honest, I didn't actually see much of Vienna during this short but sweet visit. The touristy things can wait until I go on an STS 3 day adventure.
The trip came about when the girls in my class found out that there was to be a university open day in Vienna on Friday, 6th of March 2010. A perfect excuse to stay the night in the most famous city in Austria.
We got onto the train at 7.00 am, bright, shining and excited for our adventure. After 5 hours of traveling, we got off the train not-so bright, not-so shining, but still excited as ever.
Vienna. Wow. Freezing cold. Wow.
Luckily, the youth hostel that we had chosen to stay in was only a three minute walk from the train station. Really, this ended up being perfect for us, as we had to catch the O-bahn to get anywhere.
Next time I come to Austria, I want to stay in that youth hostel again. Not too pricey, free brekky, and a room big enough to easily fit ten people, with bunk beds around the edge and a large open space in the centre. Anyone up for a bit of backpacking in the future?!
After we had settled in to the hostel, we made our way to the Uni open day. We walked past the stalls advertising different courses open eyed and interested (although I didnt understand what most of them were about...) I picked up a few brochures on Drama though, hmmm, the possibilities.
Next, we decided to take a well deserved rest, and do a spot of shopping. I am proud to say that I have now walked down the longest road of shops I ever hope to see in my life. It was almost a marathon to get from one end to the other. Im not even sure that we actually made it to the end. While walking, I saw three H&M clothes shops, each three stories high, three New Yorker shops, two Macdonalds and a seperate Macdonalds dedicated just to the Mc cafe selection. I restrained myself, and only bought some shoes and socks on this outing, we were planning on shopping in the morning anyway.
Weary of looking at possible university courses, and shopping on the open streets, we then set out to find food. And find food we did! After some aussie battler style walking through the cold and pushing past the wind, we ended up in a cosy pub called the centimeter. Everything you ordered had to be ordered in centimetres. If you wanted a baguette, you had to say 'I want 10 centimetres of bread with a chicken topping'. And that is what you would get. If you wanted a plate of fries, you had a choice between three plate sizes, the diameter given in centimetres. Some of the girls werent very good at this type of eating, and so ended up with HUGE meals they had difficulty finishing. We ended up sharing our plates with each other.
After going back to the hostel, food babies on tow, we got dressed and went out for a night on the town. We found the club that the girls wanted to visit, and went inside. The club was THREE levels high. The bottom floor was just one huge mosh pit, the second dedicated to a smaller mosh and bars, and the third was solely for tables around which many smoking men and women sat. Of course, wanting to have as much fun as possible, we joined the biggest mosh.
We finally crawled back to the hostel at 4am... with enough time to get two hours of sleep before rising once again to pack up and clear out by eight. We did so, ate a breakfast of sweet bread rolls and nutella and made our way out of the Hostel. We still had hours before we needed to catch the train, and so attempted to do a bit of shopping. Only problem, the shops didnt open until 9.30. So that meant more walking in the (literally) freezing cold. Finally, numbed to the bone, we made our way into the first possible shop, a big toys-R-us type of shop. There, I bought a CD on a whim. After having our fun in that shop, we walked for a bit more to buy a few more bits and pieces (namely a cardigan/jumper thingo and a scarfe) and caught the O-bahn to hop onto our train.
We paid a bit more for the tickets this time, and made it home in three hours. Hungry and tired, it was the end to a successful night sent in Vienna.
The trip came about when the girls in my class found out that there was to be a university open day in Vienna on Friday, 6th of March 2010. A perfect excuse to stay the night in the most famous city in Austria.
We got onto the train at 7.00 am, bright, shining and excited for our adventure. After 5 hours of traveling, we got off the train not-so bright, not-so shining, but still excited as ever.
Vienna. Wow. Freezing cold. Wow.
Luckily, the youth hostel that we had chosen to stay in was only a three minute walk from the train station. Really, this ended up being perfect for us, as we had to catch the O-bahn to get anywhere.
Next time I come to Austria, I want to stay in that youth hostel again. Not too pricey, free brekky, and a room big enough to easily fit ten people, with bunk beds around the edge and a large open space in the centre. Anyone up for a bit of backpacking in the future?!
After we had settled in to the hostel, we made our way to the Uni open day. We walked past the stalls advertising different courses open eyed and interested (although I didnt understand what most of them were about...) I picked up a few brochures on Drama though, hmmm, the possibilities.
Next, we decided to take a well deserved rest, and do a spot of shopping. I am proud to say that I have now walked down the longest road of shops I ever hope to see in my life. It was almost a marathon to get from one end to the other. Im not even sure that we actually made it to the end. While walking, I saw three H&M clothes shops, each three stories high, three New Yorker shops, two Macdonalds and a seperate Macdonalds dedicated just to the Mc cafe selection. I restrained myself, and only bought some shoes and socks on this outing, we were planning on shopping in the morning anyway.
Weary of looking at possible university courses, and shopping on the open streets, we then set out to find food. And find food we did! After some aussie battler style walking through the cold and pushing past the wind, we ended up in a cosy pub called the centimeter. Everything you ordered had to be ordered in centimetres. If you wanted a baguette, you had to say 'I want 10 centimetres of bread with a chicken topping'. And that is what you would get. If you wanted a plate of fries, you had a choice between three plate sizes, the diameter given in centimetres. Some of the girls werent very good at this type of eating, and so ended up with HUGE meals they had difficulty finishing. We ended up sharing our plates with each other.
After going back to the hostel, food babies on tow, we got dressed and went out for a night on the town. We found the club that the girls wanted to visit, and went inside. The club was THREE levels high. The bottom floor was just one huge mosh pit, the second dedicated to a smaller mosh and bars, and the third was solely for tables around which many smoking men and women sat. Of course, wanting to have as much fun as possible, we joined the biggest mosh.
We finally crawled back to the hostel at 4am... with enough time to get two hours of sleep before rising once again to pack up and clear out by eight. We did so, ate a breakfast of sweet bread rolls and nutella and made our way out of the Hostel. We still had hours before we needed to catch the train, and so attempted to do a bit of shopping. Only problem, the shops didnt open until 9.30. So that meant more walking in the (literally) freezing cold. Finally, numbed to the bone, we made our way into the first possible shop, a big toys-R-us type of shop. There, I bought a CD on a whim. After having our fun in that shop, we walked for a bit more to buy a few more bits and pieces (namely a cardigan/jumper thingo and a scarfe) and caught the O-bahn to hop onto our train.
We paid a bit more for the tickets this time, and made it home in three hours. Hungry and tired, it was the end to a successful night sent in Vienna.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Ok, so, to distract you all from the fact that I havent blogged in a while.... I'm going to add a whole load of photos of everything ive done. Except for Vienna. I'll talk about that later.
SO FAR
SO FAR
i have been snowboarding
ive been put to work in the garden...
i helped a three year old make a snowman
i made friends with the family dog, Deejay
had more than one snow fight
walked up and down these stairs a million times
seen that sun + snow = wow
taken actual, real lessons in this class room
eaten these chocolates (that taste a little like what I imagine earwax would taste like)
walked through uncountable streets of traditional towns
walked through the doors of four amazing churches
been to two really, really, really old castles
made some crazy friends
joined an entire lovely, happy family
been to a festival parade
....
eaten 'the best chicken in the world'
given the cutest child a mo hawk
and walked the streets of Salzburg
enough? i think so...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Its called the best chicken in the world for a reason
The days are blurring together now, its so hard to keep track of weeks! I can't believe Ive only been here for a month. Or that ive been here for a month at all.
Oh, and just so you know, Im going to insert random German words from now on, so that while I practise, you can learn.
Friday (Freitag)
Ive been told about Oma's baked chicken for the whole month now. Each time we walk past the roast chicken stand outside the supermarket. Each time we see chicken on any menu, cooked in any way. Just about any time it can be thrown into the conversation, it's 'Oma's chicken is the best in the world, you wont find anything better anywhere'.
So today, I got to sample some of this amazing, fantastic, delicious, lecker (the german word for tasty) meal, Oma's roast chicken.And its good. I dont think Ive tasted much better, ever. Full of salt, garlic and unidentified herbs it can't be a healthy meal, but I think, every once in a while, health benefits don't have to be the first thought in a persons mind when sitting down to a plate heaped high with delicious food.
On another, related point, I think I've put on at least two kilo in the last month from eating such good food.
(insert chicken picture here)
Oma's Schinken. Sehr Gut!
Saturday (Samstag)
Salzburg. Wow.
As most of you are my facebook friend already, you might have seen this message before.... but I'll say it again, Salzburg. Wow.
We did the really touristy thing and walked around the tourist side of town, camera in hand. It got to the point where it was inefficient to turn the camera off ANYWHERE, just in case something to photograph appeared when you werent ready for it. Got some nice pictures though.
So, due to the fact that I have over 100 of them, I am now going to add a photo montage of the best ones so you can see how good it really is. I'll try not to double up with the ones on facebook, but you cant have everything.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Sunday (Sonntag)
As I have said before, there is nothing to do here on Sundays. But it was beautiful and sunny (I cant believe how much I have missed the sun here, it might not be seen for three weeks, and then appear for a day....its torture), so we opened all the doors and windows in the house. Then we closed them, fast. Apparently, this time, the sun did not bring any warmth. It was still -7 degrees. Groan.
We rugged up for the winter chill, took the dog and went for a long walk. I tell you, that first feeling of the sun hitting your face after three weeks of grey cloud is amazing.
Monday (Montag)
The sun has gone back behind the clouds, where it seems to live here.
Going back to school is like going back in time. You have to stand as the teacher walk into the class, and call them professer. Then, when all that is over, the teacher takes out the chalk and begins to write, in cursive, on the black board. All the kids write in cursive too, with pens you have to pour the ink in at the top. I really feel like Im not in the 21st century any more.... oh, and the school computers dont have USB ports or printers. Its really helpful........
Tonight, we went jogging. Its so cold. Valentina and I have decided to try jogging every second day, as Klaus has entered us in a half marathon in Vienna. 22 kilometers. Argh.
Tuesday (Dienstag)
Year one German is difficult. In Australia, it would be year five. Today, Sharnee (the other Australian) and I had German lessons in a new year one class. Its so so so so so so insanely difficult. Throughout the class, a little, fat girl kept giving us death stares, every fifteen seconds. I dont know what I did. So, each time she turned to look at us, we gave her a wave.
Nothing else interesting happened today....ill post an update in the next few days!
Oh, and the photos I promised arent up yet, I'll add them in tonight!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
holidays cause late blogs.....
Next week I'll start blogging on a more regular schedule, I promise!
Ok, so where did I leave you?
Oh yeah, I was devastatingly tired, and ready to tell you about sunday night.
Travel tips of the week;
1. When ordering food, make sure you know exactly what is, and what isn't on the menu.
2. Dont try to be daring guess what it means - you could be wrong
3. Learn as much of a language as you can before you get to the travel destination
4. Try everything but for the really scary stuff that you would not ever want or need to do in your life*.
5. Smile and nod. But dont say 'ja bitte' or 'okay' too much, or the locals will begin to think you have no other vocabulary and are genuinely a boring person
6. oh, fives enough for the week dont you think?
*In regards to the above mentioned scary stuff, make sure that you really, really, really dont want to do it (as long as its not dangerous or illegal) and then decide if you will or wont give it a go.
* Such scary stuff may or may not include snowboarding down a huge mountain at a very fast speed when you are unsure of how to stop.
Ok, so now, Sunday night.
At 4 in the afternoon, Helgas parents came over for a peice of cake and coffee. Helga made a really good Tiramisu, a dessert I dont usually like at all, and Helgas Mum, my Oma made apple strudel. Ohhhhhhhhhhh, yummmmmm. Wow. yum yum yum. I love baked apple in any way possible. oh yum. I wish i had some right now. Come to think of it, theres still some in the fridge that we were saving for this afternoon. Oh yum. I cant wait.
Anyway, I did the whole 'lets introduce Australia in English to non English speaking people' again, and strangely enough, I still enjoyed it (this is the fith time I've done it, with the help of two books about Aus). Its kind of fun talking about things you know, and others find amazing. And the books are really good, with many, many places Ive been to and others Ive heard a lot about.
The extended family left at 6, when we had to leave to go out for dinner. I was excited to meet more of Helga and Klaus' friends, and eat at a traditional Austrian restauant. The only problem, I couldnt understand ANY of the menu.
I decided (stupidly) to go with my gut feeling. Only problem, my gut feeling couldnt decide between two meals. I pointed to them both, and asked my host mum which I should choose. 'Choose this one' she said, pointing to the left, 'I can make the other at home any time you want.' So I did.
It was a bit of a shock when the plate came out piled high with seafood. Now, usually at seafood I would say, yum, delicious. But this seafood included tiny whole octopi, some other chewy thing that looked like tiny shells and other unidentifiable things from the deep deep depths of the ocean. Hmmm.
I ate every peice. I had to, I ordered it, and so down it went. I remember thinking, I dont think I'll be feeling so well tomorrow.
Monday (Montag)
Forget my not feeling well, today Helga got really sick. She was complaining of a very, very sore stomach, and because of this we did nothing all day. Except for a little German study, walking the dog (named Deejay) and some cleaning, I did absolutely nothing. And it was nice. Ive been so busy since I arrived, that I forgot how nice it is just to sit and relax once in a while.
Tuesday (Dienstag)
Today, Guilian (one of two children that Helga cares for during the day) joined us for lunch. He loves me. I cant understand why, becasue all I do is talk to him in english and repeat what he says in German. He 'showed' me how to play the drums, and at one point we got into a very strange version of hide and seek, where I would hide and he would find me, but when he did, he would hide too. No-one else was looking for us, but he kept telling me to be still and quiet. What a weird kid.
Wednesday
Went to the Braunau Markets today.
If you can imagine the Stirling markets cut in half and put in the middle of a typical german street, that is the Braunau markets.
While Helga was at the doctors, I took the opportunity to do the touristy thing ánd take as many photos as possible of the town. While I walked, I found Hitlers birth-house. Now, its not exactly celebrated here, but there is a stone marking the place, out the front, and it is featured on the local postcards.
Ok, so where did I leave you?
Oh yeah, I was devastatingly tired, and ready to tell you about sunday night.
Travel tips of the week;
1. When ordering food, make sure you know exactly what is, and what isn't on the menu.
2. Dont try to be daring guess what it means - you could be wrong
3. Learn as much of a language as you can before you get to the travel destination
4. Try everything but for the really scary stuff that you would not ever want or need to do in your life*.
5. Smile and nod. But dont say 'ja bitte' or 'okay' too much, or the locals will begin to think you have no other vocabulary and are genuinely a boring person
6. oh, fives enough for the week dont you think?
*In regards to the above mentioned scary stuff, make sure that you really, really, really dont want to do it (as long as its not dangerous or illegal) and then decide if you will or wont give it a go.
* Such scary stuff may or may not include snowboarding down a huge mountain at a very fast speed when you are unsure of how to stop.
Ok, so now, Sunday night.
At 4 in the afternoon, Helgas parents came over for a peice of cake and coffee. Helga made a really good Tiramisu, a dessert I dont usually like at all, and Helgas Mum, my Oma made apple strudel. Ohhhhhhhhhhh, yummmmmm. Wow. yum yum yum. I love baked apple in any way possible. oh yum. I wish i had some right now. Come to think of it, theres still some in the fridge that we were saving for this afternoon. Oh yum. I cant wait.
Anyway, I did the whole 'lets introduce Australia in English to non English speaking people' again, and strangely enough, I still enjoyed it (this is the fith time I've done it, with the help of two books about Aus). Its kind of fun talking about things you know, and others find amazing. And the books are really good, with many, many places Ive been to and others Ive heard a lot about.
The extended family left at 6, when we had to leave to go out for dinner. I was excited to meet more of Helga and Klaus' friends, and eat at a traditional Austrian restauant. The only problem, I couldnt understand ANY of the menu.
I decided (stupidly) to go with my gut feeling. Only problem, my gut feeling couldnt decide between two meals. I pointed to them both, and asked my host mum which I should choose. 'Choose this one' she said, pointing to the left, 'I can make the other at home any time you want.' So I did.
It was a bit of a shock when the plate came out piled high with seafood. Now, usually at seafood I would say, yum, delicious. But this seafood included tiny whole octopi, some other chewy thing that looked like tiny shells and other unidentifiable things from the deep deep depths of the ocean. Hmmm.
I ate every peice. I had to, I ordered it, and so down it went. I remember thinking, I dont think I'll be feeling so well tomorrow.
Monday (Montag)
Forget my not feeling well, today Helga got really sick. She was complaining of a very, very sore stomach, and because of this we did nothing all day. Except for a little German study, walking the dog (named Deejay) and some cleaning, I did absolutely nothing. And it was nice. Ive been so busy since I arrived, that I forgot how nice it is just to sit and relax once in a while.
Tuesday (Dienstag)
Today, Guilian (one of two children that Helga cares for during the day) joined us for lunch. He loves me. I cant understand why, becasue all I do is talk to him in english and repeat what he says in German. He 'showed' me how to play the drums, and at one point we got into a very strange version of hide and seek, where I would hide and he would find me, but when he did, he would hide too. No-one else was looking for us, but he kept telling me to be still and quiet. What a weird kid.
Guilian
(maybe I gave him a mohawk for the photo. But he loved it)
Wednesday
Went to the Braunau Markets today.
If you can imagine the Stirling markets cut in half and put in the middle of a typical german street, that is the Braunau markets.
After going to Braunau central, we picked Guilian up from the kindergarten and went home. As it was a sunny day (only the second since I arrived), Helga and I decided to take a walk along the Inn - the river that works as the border of Austria and Germany. We waited until Guilian was picked up, took the dog and set out on our way.
on the walk
the local winter sport.
sunset on the way home.
Walking home I was freezing cold, but happy to have seen everything the local nature had to offer. We walked past hunting grounds for deer and rabbits, the poor things, and rental gardens for those that live in the city but like getting dirt under their fingernails and all over their clothes as they garden away their days.
Spent the night watching 'My Sisters Keeper' in German. It must have translated well, because Helga used a whole packet of tissues for the duration of the movie. I didnt.
Thursday (Donnestag)
I love the nearest bowling place. Imagine this
A large eating hall. Four long tables to sit at. Three tables full of old men and women. Four short bowling alleys, lined up with the tables. A blackboard to write the score on at the end of each alley.
i only got three shoddy photos of this night, silly old me forgot to charge the battery. whoops
We played bowling games until 12pm, when we decided it was time for a quick trip to maccas before home. Another quick tip for travellers, maccas tastes just as bad no matter what language you order it in.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
try to get as little sleep as possible!
I wrote this a couple of days ago, but, in my state, I forgot to press the little post button so that you all could see it! whoops. So here it is......
who needs sleep anyway.
Wednesday night was the last night I got any sleep before 12pm (at the earliest)
Right now, I am writing this in the complete and final stage of sleep deprivation, where your eyes glaze over and movements are so slow and unsure that even the usually frustrating snail pace computer has to stop and wait impatiently for you to catch up.
I hope most of the spelling in this is correct, becasue I'm not going to check it, I promise.
Thursday night.
Band contest.
A true style battle of the bands. Although the bands were all crazy heavy metal bands, that sounded as if they were burping at each other into the microphone, I actually enjoyed my night. Before going to the band night, we ate at a pub style restaurant (i, feeling very daring ate a bowl of wedges) and then we mosyed on down to the band night.
Walking in, it seemed like any other school organised music event, and that it was. The four bands all sounded the same, and I'm not even sure I could tell who the winners were.... I think I got a photo of one of them, but I'm not sure.
He played last, at least.
Friday night.
Subway and board games
We were supposed to go swimming and ice skating on friday night, but Anna got a cold, and so had to stay inside. To comprimise, and include her in what we did, we decided to get some subwax (ugh yuck) and play board games until we were all too tired to move. And so we did.
I make subway better. Promise. It wouldnt be hard to make subway better than what this girl did. But I have decided, Subway is the same all over the world. Same pictures, same sandwiches, same menu. Only, some how, this girl made sandwich making look really difficult.
Anyway, after subway, we went to Raffies house to play band hero. I cane at drums, suck at guitar and won at singing (only because the songs were all in english...). Then we played a game that was a mix between charades, pictionary and triangle (you know, that show on tv where they are only allowed to speak about the words and not say them). I wasnt told this until it was my turn, but the version of the game was 'adult' and so had words that I didnt really need, or want, to know. Awkward.
Saturday
Lets go to a flipping huge castle, and then dress up as a builder of some sort.
can you see it? its that reasonable sized building on the hill.
We walked the entire length of the castle. Apparently, its the longest castle in the WORLD.
it stretches for over 1.5 kilometres.
Heres another photo, hopefully you can grasp the length of it.
It starts in the left hand corner, and goes right past the right hand corner. Sadly, I couldnt for the life of me work out how to make my camera do panorama. I know it does. It has to. I thought it did...
I have more photos, but you'll have to visit facebook for that, because I'm too lazy to add them here too!
Saturday night was Faschings samstag (a part of the festival that is happening right now, Carnivale) and I went to a ball. Well, at least, thats what they called it. Really, it was just a huge dress up party in a tiny pub in the middle of no-where.
My class friends had all decided to go as workers this year, and luckily, they had an opening in their workforce for another builder.
who needs sleep anyway.
Wednesday night was the last night I got any sleep before 12pm (at the earliest)
Right now, I am writing this in the complete and final stage of sleep deprivation, where your eyes glaze over and movements are so slow and unsure that even the usually frustrating snail pace computer has to stop and wait impatiently for you to catch up.
I hope most of the spelling in this is correct, becasue I'm not going to check it, I promise.
Thursday night.
Band contest.
A true style battle of the bands. Although the bands were all crazy heavy metal bands, that sounded as if they were burping at each other into the microphone, I actually enjoyed my night. Before going to the band night, we ate at a pub style restaurant (i, feeling very daring ate a bowl of wedges) and then we mosyed on down to the band night.
Walking in, it seemed like any other school organised music event, and that it was. The four bands all sounded the same, and I'm not even sure I could tell who the winners were.... I think I got a photo of one of them, but I'm not sure.
Friday night.
Subway and board games
We were supposed to go swimming and ice skating on friday night, but Anna got a cold, and so had to stay inside. To comprimise, and include her in what we did, we decided to get some subwax (ugh yuck) and play board games until we were all too tired to move. And so we did.
I make subway better. Promise. It wouldnt be hard to make subway better than what this girl did. But I have decided, Subway is the same all over the world. Same pictures, same sandwiches, same menu. Only, some how, this girl made sandwich making look really difficult.
Anyway, after subway, we went to Raffies house to play band hero. I cane at drums, suck at guitar and won at singing (only because the songs were all in english...). Then we played a game that was a mix between charades, pictionary and triangle (you know, that show on tv where they are only allowed to speak about the words and not say them). I wasnt told this until it was my turn, but the version of the game was 'adult' and so had words that I didnt really need, or want, to know. Awkward.
Saturday
Lets go to a flipping huge castle, and then dress up as a builder of some sort.
can you see it? its that reasonable sized building on the hill.
We walked the entire length of the castle. Apparently, its the longest castle in the WORLD.
it stretches for over 1.5 kilometres.
Heres another photo, hopefully you can grasp the length of it.
I have more photos, but you'll have to visit facebook for that, because I'm too lazy to add them here too!
Saturday night was Faschings samstag (a part of the festival that is happening right now, Carnivale) and I went to a ball. Well, at least, thats what they called it. Really, it was just a huge dress up party in a tiny pub in the middle of no-where.
My class friends had all decided to go as workers this year, and luckily, they had an opening in their workforce for another builder.
I'll add another photo one day soon, so that you can see my entire outfit. It consisted of dirty old overalls, a pair of converse shoes, a white t-shirt, a belt with attatched toy hammer and screw driver and smears of black dirt make-up. We all looked so so good. I'm glad that I've found friends that are as dorky as me here.
But it was fun. And, I must say, we didnt look the silliest either. That prize would have to have gone to the boys that decided to dress up as 'Sadie the cleaning lady'. Or to the full set of chess pieces. Or to the group dressed up as babies, nappies and all. Or to the... but enough of that for now.
I'll update you on Sundays activities another time, when I've actually done them.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
oh, so much pink!
The rain here is so slow, it could be snow. But its not. Its icy. Its cold. Its not sleet though, its rain. Or so I have been told.
Overnight, the rain freezes and forms a slippery, rock hard sheet of annoying.
There are so many kids here on crutches or with broken bones of some sort, it has become a bit of a game. Count the new injuries. Not a very fun game, especially for the ones being counted.
Talking of counting games, in my religion class, the teacher has a favorite word. It's 'praktiche'. Normally, it would mean practical (zips are more practical than buttons) but in his sense of the word, he uses it like an annoying young girl would say like.
Whenever he walks into the class, everybody gets out their books, sets up a chart and starts counting. Yesterday, the final tally after a 40 minute lesson was 86. The highest he has got in a 40 minute lesson was 212. Or so they all tell me. Its hard to keep a straight face as he uses the word four times in a sentence.
Last night, I went to see a movie with my host sister called Vorstadkrokodile 2. Last week I saw the start of the first one, so it was easy for me to understand what was happening.... or not. Luckily, everything was shown well, and so I followed the movie like a deaf person without subtitles, just watching the movements and colour on the screen. It seemed to work, as I was able to talk to her about the plot afterwards. It was actually an OK movie.
The teachers have finally started giving me homework. I never thought I'd say this, but I was so relieved to have someting to do! I hate sitting around doing nothing. So far, Ive read four pages of a german novel (it'll take me a while, but I will finish it!), written three letters in English, and studied German at triple speed, trying to cram as much in as I can - before people become frustrated that they have to speak English with me.
Today is carnival dress up day. I dont really understand what 'carnival' is, so far all I've worked out that its like a week long halloween, where you dress up whenever and no-one thinks that you are strange. I didnt dress up for school, I'm leaving that one 'till saturday when we are going to a masken-ball. But my host sister did.
Imagine this.
1 thirteen year old girl.
1 highlighter pink skin tight top
1 highlighter pink pair of tights
1 highlighter pink wig
1 baby pink tiny skirt
1 pair of long black socks
1 pair of white converse shoes
too much pink make-up
just too much pink.
oh, and I cant forget the pink fairy wings and mathcing butterfly feelers.
oh wow.
Overnight, the rain freezes and forms a slippery, rock hard sheet of annoying.
There are so many kids here on crutches or with broken bones of some sort, it has become a bit of a game. Count the new injuries. Not a very fun game, especially for the ones being counted.
Talking of counting games, in my religion class, the teacher has a favorite word. It's 'praktiche'. Normally, it would mean practical (zips are more practical than buttons) but in his sense of the word, he uses it like an annoying young girl would say like.
Whenever he walks into the class, everybody gets out their books, sets up a chart and starts counting. Yesterday, the final tally after a 40 minute lesson was 86. The highest he has got in a 40 minute lesson was 212. Or so they all tell me. Its hard to keep a straight face as he uses the word four times in a sentence.
Last night, I went to see a movie with my host sister called Vorstadkrokodile 2. Last week I saw the start of the first one, so it was easy for me to understand what was happening.... or not. Luckily, everything was shown well, and so I followed the movie like a deaf person without subtitles, just watching the movements and colour on the screen. It seemed to work, as I was able to talk to her about the plot afterwards. It was actually an OK movie.
The teachers have finally started giving me homework. I never thought I'd say this, but I was so relieved to have someting to do! I hate sitting around doing nothing. So far, Ive read four pages of a german novel (it'll take me a while, but I will finish it!), written three letters in English, and studied German at triple speed, trying to cram as much in as I can - before people become frustrated that they have to speak English with me.
Today is carnival dress up day. I dont really understand what 'carnival' is, so far all I've worked out that its like a week long halloween, where you dress up whenever and no-one thinks that you are strange. I didnt dress up for school, I'm leaving that one 'till saturday when we are going to a masken-ball. But my host sister did.
Imagine this.
1 thirteen year old girl.
1 highlighter pink skin tight top
1 highlighter pink pair of tights
1 highlighter pink wig
1 baby pink tiny skirt
1 pair of long black socks
1 pair of white converse shoes
too much pink make-up
just too much pink.
oh, and I cant forget the pink fairy wings and mathcing butterfly feelers.
oh wow.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Pavlova, old men and small children
Pavlova.
Yesterday, I got the urge to bake. Now, this doesnt happen very often, so when it does, I usually take up that urge. I am actually a terrible baker. I was never born to be a cook/chef of any sort. The reason is, I cannot follow a recipe. I like to add my own touches, a little extra flavour etc. If i like the way something tastes, I dont read the recipe, and try to feel my way through the steps, tasting most things as I go.
But anyway, crazy little me decided she wanted to bake a Pavlova.
I emailed Mum for the recipe, and got baking.
After hours in the kitchen (finding, tasting, mixing, tasting, adding, adding, spreading, tasting, baking, cleaning, cutting, eating, mixing, cooling, topping, tasting, serving, eating, sharing) I had successfully baked a Pavlova. And it was good! Not chewy, like Mums, which is the way I like it, but still, a worthy Pavlova. I am proud to call myself an Australian Pav-lover.
For those of you daring enough, here is the recipe as I made it. Yum.
Basic pavlova with fruit salad topping
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
6 egg whites
1 cup caster sugar (Here in austria, I couldnt find any, so I cheated and just used white sugar. It worked well enough)
3 teaspoons cornflour
1 teaspoon white vineger
2 cups whipped cream (with 1 table spoon icing sugar and a few drops of vanilla essence)
2x 250g punnets of strawberries (you can add other fruit, but because it was soooo cold, I was lucky to even get the strawberries)
Recipe
1. Preheat oven to a slow 150 degrees (C). Line an oven tray with baking paper. Mark a 20cm circle in centre of tray. Place room temperature egg whites in large mixing bowl. Using electric beaters, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, beating constantly with each addition.
Beat for a further 5-10 minutes, until sugar has completely dissolved. I didnt read this, and just tasted it after a minute, and decided that it was dissolved enough. Fold in cornflour and vinegar.
2. Spread the lovely meringue mixture onto the 20cm marked circle. Shape evenly, running a flat bladed knife around the edge. Do this so that the sides are higher than the middle, and make pretty little peaks around the edge. This helps to keep the cream on!
3. Place in oven and bake for 40 minutes or until pale and crisp. Turn off the oven and allow to cool inside. Leave the door ajar.
4. Top with cream and strawberries!
Eat.
Apparently, there was a huge family gathering at Magdas when we got there, it was her brothers birthday. How awkward.
Everyone tried some pav, and generally, they thought it was great. The Birthday boy had two huge servings, and now he wants to come back to Australia, where the koalas, kangaroos and pavlovas can be found!
Old men.
Sitting at Magdas dinner table, I was placed next to her Grandpa, a 70 year old typical Austrian man. By the time I got there, he was well and truly tipsy, and seemed quite taken by me!
I didnt understand any of this at the time, he spoke with heavy slur and heavy dialect, but thankfully, Magda translated what was appropriate to me.
Apparently, all night, he had been interested in me. Every time he turned to me, he looked with a smile and a laugh and said such things as... "are you free on tuesday, i want to meet up with you", "im glad you arent too skinny, a curvy girl is nice" and "will you write your phone number down for me? i like you". If he spoke english, I would have had to find so many ways to say no... or I would have left the room. Now, all of this was in a joking manner, I think he was just testing what he could say that I wouldnt understand! I have never had a stranger night in all my life.
Small children
I started my German with younger classes today. It was horrible. As I walked in awkwardly, the entire class (a room full of 10 year old kids) turned to stare at me. When the teacher, Mrs Hruby explained who I was and what I was doing in the class, the staring only got worse. Today I spent the day in a number of classes with children staring at me, wide eyed as owls!
Yesterday, I got the urge to bake. Now, this doesnt happen very often, so when it does, I usually take up that urge. I am actually a terrible baker. I was never born to be a cook/chef of any sort. The reason is, I cannot follow a recipe. I like to add my own touches, a little extra flavour etc. If i like the way something tastes, I dont read the recipe, and try to feel my way through the steps, tasting most things as I go.
But anyway, crazy little me decided she wanted to bake a Pavlova.
I emailed Mum for the recipe, and got baking.
After hours in the kitchen (finding, tasting, mixing, tasting, adding, adding, spreading, tasting, baking, cleaning, cutting, eating, mixing, cooling, topping, tasting, serving, eating, sharing) I had successfully baked a Pavlova. And it was good! Not chewy, like Mums, which is the way I like it, but still, a worthy Pavlova. I am proud to call myself an Australian Pav-lover.
For those of you daring enough, here is the recipe as I made it. Yum.
Basic pavlova with fruit salad topping
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
6 egg whites
1 cup caster sugar (Here in austria, I couldnt find any, so I cheated and just used white sugar. It worked well enough)
3 teaspoons cornflour
1 teaspoon white vineger
2 cups whipped cream (with 1 table spoon icing sugar and a few drops of vanilla essence)
2x 250g punnets of strawberries (you can add other fruit, but because it was soooo cold, I was lucky to even get the strawberries)
Recipe
1. Preheat oven to a slow 150 degrees (C). Line an oven tray with baking paper. Mark a 20cm circle in centre of tray. Place room temperature egg whites in large mixing bowl. Using electric beaters, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, beating constantly with each addition.
Beat for a further 5-10 minutes, until sugar has completely dissolved. I didnt read this, and just tasted it after a minute, and decided that it was dissolved enough. Fold in cornflour and vinegar.
2. Spread the lovely meringue mixture onto the 20cm marked circle. Shape evenly, running a flat bladed knife around the edge. Do this so that the sides are higher than the middle, and make pretty little peaks around the edge. This helps to keep the cream on!
3. Place in oven and bake for 40 minutes or until pale and crisp. Turn off the oven and allow to cool inside. Leave the door ajar.
4. Top with cream and strawberries!
Eat.
(I might have tasted it, again)
Well, the family loved it, but it was too much for us. So, along with some presents for a girl in America, we took it to my classmates house, Magda. Apparently, there was a huge family gathering at Magdas when we got there, it was her brothers birthday. How awkward.
Everyone tried some pav, and generally, they thought it was great. The Birthday boy had two huge servings, and now he wants to come back to Australia, where the koalas, kangaroos and pavlovas can be found!
Old men.
Sitting at Magdas dinner table, I was placed next to her Grandpa, a 70 year old typical Austrian man. By the time I got there, he was well and truly tipsy, and seemed quite taken by me!
I didnt understand any of this at the time, he spoke with heavy slur and heavy dialect, but thankfully, Magda translated what was appropriate to me.
Apparently, all night, he had been interested in me. Every time he turned to me, he looked with a smile and a laugh and said such things as... "are you free on tuesday, i want to meet up with you", "im glad you arent too skinny, a curvy girl is nice" and "will you write your phone number down for me? i like you". If he spoke english, I would have had to find so many ways to say no... or I would have left the room. Now, all of this was in a joking manner, I think he was just testing what he could say that I wouldnt understand! I have never had a stranger night in all my life.
Small children
I started my German with younger classes today. It was horrible. As I walked in awkwardly, the entire class (a room full of 10 year old kids) turned to stare at me. When the teacher, Mrs Hruby explained who I was and what I was doing in the class, the staring only got worse. Today I spent the day in a number of classes with children staring at me, wide eyed as owls!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
lazy blogger
Sorry this one is late guys, Ive been feeling lazy over the past few days (and maybe have been just a little busy)
Friday night was vorni-omas birthday party (the Grandma that had the birthday on tuesday). Basically, we just ate, the 'adults' drank, and laughed. It was a really great night for us all!
Ive been caught though! Little Lia (a young cousin) brought her life size barbie doll head with her, one that you can paint the face on. As she asked, I made her look like tinker-bell, painting it like I do the fairies at theatre. Now I have to paint the whole families faces for carnival... a festival a bit like a week long halloween.
Yesterday (saturday) I went shopping. Something I noticed here, there is a severe lack of shoe shops. Now, usually, I dont care that much for shoe shops, they bore me. But strangely, when they werent there, I missed them.
Here is a complete list of what I bought.
1. Jumper thingo, that looks like it should be a cardigan, but isnt
2. Scarf. Important for where I am.
3. Earrings. I think mine got lost in transit, on a thai airways plane somewhere
4. Dakine school bag. Camilla, the brand is your fault.
5. Warm jacket. I was freezing in my aussie winter jacket
oh, i think thats all!
Not as exciting as I thought. But what is exciting, the shops I went to were in Salzburg! Like I said before, everything is one hour away here, and so is Salzburg. I still cant get over that.
Last night we went clubbing again. To the same clubs, danced to the same music, but really, it was ok. Everything stinks of cigarettes though.
Today, I plan to make a pavlova. I'm not very good at it, but I'll tell you how it went tomorrow
A fairly short and boring post, sorry guys. Maybe you can understand how tired I am.
Ciao for now
Friday night was vorni-omas birthday party (the Grandma that had the birthday on tuesday). Basically, we just ate, the 'adults' drank, and laughed. It was a really great night for us all!
Ive been caught though! Little Lia (a young cousin) brought her life size barbie doll head with her, one that you can paint the face on. As she asked, I made her look like tinker-bell, painting it like I do the fairies at theatre. Now I have to paint the whole families faces for carnival... a festival a bit like a week long halloween.
Yesterday (saturday) I went shopping. Something I noticed here, there is a severe lack of shoe shops. Now, usually, I dont care that much for shoe shops, they bore me. But strangely, when they werent there, I missed them.
Here is a complete list of what I bought.
1. Jumper thingo, that looks like it should be a cardigan, but isnt
2. Scarf. Important for where I am.
3. Earrings. I think mine got lost in transit, on a thai airways plane somewhere
4. Dakine school bag. Camilla, the brand is your fault.
5. Warm jacket. I was freezing in my aussie winter jacket
oh, i think thats all!
Not as exciting as I thought. But what is exciting, the shops I went to were in Salzburg! Like I said before, everything is one hour away here, and so is Salzburg. I still cant get over that.
Last night we went clubbing again. To the same clubs, danced to the same music, but really, it was ok. Everything stinks of cigarettes though.
Today, I plan to make a pavlova. I'm not very good at it, but I'll tell you how it went tomorrow
A fairly short and boring post, sorry guys. Maybe you can understand how tired I am.
Ciao for now
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Birthdays, mr hughes and fame!
Tuesday 2nd Feb to Thursday 4th Feb
This week seems to be a week of birthdays.
The Grandmother in the family had hers on tuesday, and we went to hers for dinner. At this dinner, I met one half of the extended family, there are so many! In this side of the family, I have three Aunts, three Uncles, two Grandparents, four children (young cousins) and the brother and sister of the Grandmother, who has two 20 year old children. I meet the other side of the family on friday, and apparently there are more of them. I cant remember any names, and most of the time I dont understand them, but I fit in really well.
Yve, at school turned eighteen yesterday, and so last night (wednesday) we went out for dinner. Yve didnt come to the dinner though, she went to the casino with her family instead... it was strange. We ate at this really quaint (yes, I said it, quaint) greek restaurant, it was cold and raining outside, but inside it was warm and cosy, like eating hot toast for breakfast on the coldest day in history. The food was good, I had vegetarian pasta (the first vegetarian main meal I've eaten since I got here) and pita bread with strange tasting tzatziki. Im not sure if i liked it or not.
Well, some holiday must happen here nine months ago, because today is another persons birthday, and tomorrow is yet anothers. Oh and on monday, there is another. I dont have enough Australian lollies to give them all!
I have also decided, in the past few days, that Mr Hughes really stuffed me up in schooling. I was going along really well in school, I did year 10 algebra in year 9, and was really good at maths... and then came Mr Hughes, the worst, funniest (for all the wrong reasons), teacher I have ever met. After him, I never really did anything in maths at all. Now I am realising what a problem that is!
This class does insane maths. Technically, because it is all numbers, I should understand maths. But to me, it is like my latin classes, translating through three languages to finally understand. I am choosing my permanent timetable now, and I think I will avoid maths all together.
They do 16 subjects here. Yes, you read correctly, sixteen. Each person takes sixteen different classes each week, and there are six lessons in a day. I can never, never keep track of which class I'm in, I just kind of go with the flow, stand when I have to stand, smile when I have to smile, and leave when I have to leave.
So far Ive done three english tests, aced them all (not surprisingly), and 'accidently' let the classmates cheat off of me. Otherwise, school is a bit of a headache.
I think I will just take German (in my age group and a younger one), Art, Music, English (in my class and two others, so I can help the students) Psychology and philosophy, PE, History, Religion and design. Only 10 subjects, thats all...
Ive got to say, going home is a blessing.
Oh, look at this!
http://www.gymbraunau.at/
One week in and I've already made it onto the website! How embarrasing, all the students come and say hello to the strange Australian girl becasue they have seen me on the website.
http://www.gymbraunau.at/
One week in and I've already made it onto the website! How embarrasing, all the students come and say hello to the strange Australian girl becasue they have seen me on the website.
If I didnt mention it earlier, on sunday I saw Avatar in another language. Trust me, its just as good in German as it is in English, but the voice overs could do with a little work. I struggled not to laugh whenever one of the serious characters spoke, he sounded like a chipmunk. I dont know how everyone could have taken him seriously, but they did!
I have nothing else to report now, so for today, ciao.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
7Ci
1st Feb 2010. Snee snee snee (said with a lisp, means snow snow snow)
Eight days in and Ive almost used all of the 12 pocket packs of tissues Dad felt the need to give me. And I'm glad he did. This isnt because I miss you all so so much, which I do, but its because with the beautiful snow comes the freezing cold. And when it doesnt snow, its even colder.
Last wednesday, it was -13 degrees. Today its a 'warm -5 degrees, with a slight wind' as my host mum puts it.
This sudden change in temperature has given me the worst cold ever. Second week in, and I'm already sniffing and carrying on like a baby. It kind of dampens the wonder of the amazing snow, which is coming down outside right now. If this snow was rain, as it would be in Aus, it would not be just spitting, not raining normally, but it would be pouring. Every now and again there is a little sunlight that breaks through and puts a stop to the crazy amounts of snow, and we all sigh with relief. Then the snow starts up again, and a collective groan comes from around the classroom.
Have I told you about the classroom yet?
On the outside, it looks like a normal class room, cream hallway walls with a grey door. The only hint that it is unusual is in the sign on the door. 7Ci. 7C is my class, and the i is a joke they added later. In Austria, i means you generally have some sort of learning difficulty. Apparently I am the one with this difficulty, and my problem is not speaking german.
Anyway.... as you walk through the door of this class room, you question whether you are in the right place. Surely eighteen 17 year old students could not share this room that is only fit for a kindergarten.
The walls are pink, with a green and blue stripe down the middle. On the walls are A4 'colouring in' pictures of Hello Kitty in various situations, in the snow, flying a plane, dancing etc. On the filing cabinet at the back is stuck a scene from finding nemo. On top of this cabinet, there is a stolen 'Nando's rooster' and a collection of other things accidently taken from restaurants. Next to the black-board at the front, there are baby blue ducks hanging from the wall. In one corner, under the window, there is an Ikea couch, and in the other corner, there is a matching Ikea arm chair. The desks are covered in colour. The only hints of 17 year old kids are the twilight pictures on one desk, and the full sized picture of a good looking ski-er on the back wall.
But that is their class room, and they love it.
I have added my little peice, cheap koalas hanging from the ceiling and sitting on each desk.
All of this makes it the best class for me to be in, I dont have to do anything, and I never feel too out of place. The teachers have so many other things to keep an eye on that they don't always have to stare at the strange little Australian girl sitting in the back corner.
Tomorrow I will start German classes with a younger class, and then, maybe, the teacher will feel the need to stare at the strange, little, 18 year old Australian sitting in the back corner of a class full of 10 year olds.
Eight days in and Ive almost used all of the 12 pocket packs of tissues Dad felt the need to give me. And I'm glad he did. This isnt because I miss you all so so much, which I do, but its because with the beautiful snow comes the freezing cold. And when it doesnt snow, its even colder.
Last wednesday, it was -13 degrees. Today its a 'warm -5 degrees, with a slight wind' as my host mum puts it.
This sudden change in temperature has given me the worst cold ever. Second week in, and I'm already sniffing and carrying on like a baby. It kind of dampens the wonder of the amazing snow, which is coming down outside right now. If this snow was rain, as it would be in Aus, it would not be just spitting, not raining normally, but it would be pouring. Every now and again there is a little sunlight that breaks through and puts a stop to the crazy amounts of snow, and we all sigh with relief. Then the snow starts up again, and a collective groan comes from around the classroom.
Have I told you about the classroom yet?
On the outside, it looks like a normal class room, cream hallway walls with a grey door. The only hint that it is unusual is in the sign on the door. 7Ci. 7C is my class, and the i is a joke they added later. In Austria, i means you generally have some sort of learning difficulty. Apparently I am the one with this difficulty, and my problem is not speaking german.
Anyway.... as you walk through the door of this class room, you question whether you are in the right place. Surely eighteen 17 year old students could not share this room that is only fit for a kindergarten.
The walls are pink, with a green and blue stripe down the middle. On the walls are A4 'colouring in' pictures of Hello Kitty in various situations, in the snow, flying a plane, dancing etc. On the filing cabinet at the back is stuck a scene from finding nemo. On top of this cabinet, there is a stolen 'Nando's rooster' and a collection of other things accidently taken from restaurants. Next to the black-board at the front, there are baby blue ducks hanging from the wall. In one corner, under the window, there is an Ikea couch, and in the other corner, there is a matching Ikea arm chair. The desks are covered in colour. The only hints of 17 year old kids are the twilight pictures on one desk, and the full sized picture of a good looking ski-er on the back wall.
But that is their class room, and they love it.
I have added my little peice, cheap koalas hanging from the ceiling and sitting on each desk.
All of this makes it the best class for me to be in, I dont have to do anything, and I never feel too out of place. The teachers have so many other things to keep an eye on that they don't always have to stare at the strange little Australian girl sitting in the back corner.
Tomorrow I will start German classes with a younger class, and then, maybe, the teacher will feel the need to stare at the strange, little, 18 year old Australian sitting in the back corner of a class full of 10 year olds.
Lets all drop a few letters
Because I am a little disorganised, and a lot lazy, we will start my little adventure to Austria on day eight.
But first, I will fill you in on the details of my last crazy, exciting, strange and a little sad, week.
Date unknown. Adelaide, Australia
This story really starts two years ago, when my sister travelled to Italy for a short exchange. I was so jealous of her that I decided then and there to do the same, but to a more exotic place, such as South Africa, Mexico or even Spain. After a few set backs and re-considerations, I ended up in tiny, tiny Austria, where everything is less than an hour away.
23rd Jan, 2010. The Airport
Is it bad that I forgot to be sad when I left everyone? Sure I was a little scared, and very tired after a sleepless night, but in the excitement of packing and leaving, being sad wasnt really on my mind. It still isn't.
On the plane
Four movies watched on the way to Bangkok. A long, boring pointless amount of time spent on my butt, staring at the tiniest of screens. No movies watched from Bangkok to Frankfurt...there was no TV. 11 hours of staring at the back of another persons chair just inches from my face, as they lay back for their comfort, and to my absolute annoyance. But what can you say to the fat snoring man in front of you?
Isle seats are great. Stretch out your legs every now and again, get hit in the head, the elbow, the knee, the eye everytime they push that oversized trolley of tasteless food down the undersized isle.
But really, it wasnt that bad.
Frankfurt
Sitting inside in the warm comfortable airport was such a relief. The ability to move whenever we want is one we forget, until we have an 11 hour plane ride.
The horror of getting on the next flight was easily forgotten, becasue outside of the plane window was snow. Beautiful, beautiful snow. Now remember, before this, I had never seen snow.
24th Jan 2010 Meeting the family
I was so so so excited to meet the family, that I forgot all of my fears. The hour long car ride home wasnt bad at all, with jokes shared between me and my host dad, and lots of conversation between my host mum and sister (in english of course)
To my surprise, we didnt go straight home, instead we went to germany, for pizza with austrian salami in a real italian restaurant. The closeness of everything still amazes me
25th Jan to 29th Jan. School
Not much to say here, I dont understand anything, have a great class with very happy people and do six lessons a day, four of which I have never done in Australia...
29th of Jan. Clubbing in Germany and Austria
Now this was a real culture shock. The club we went to was a little insane. It was ditry and dingy, with sticky tables around the edges, and people smoking everywhere (something I have to become used to here), three bars, and jam packed with people. In the middle was a tiny dance floor, with four full sized electric light palm trees on the corners, and two pole dancing poles on seperate blocks on the edges. This was where we spent most of the night.
One challenge in the diary completed, just for you to know.
30th Jan 2010. Snowboarding
This actually isnt too hard. The only difficulty i had with snow boarding was learning to stop. Most of the time was spent on my butt. It sure got cold. Once, I tried (not on purpose) to make a human snowball of myself. I dont really remember doing it at all (so i think i might have knocked myself out) but apparently, or so the story goes, I went head over heels, twice in a row. Now, I have quite a large bump on my chin, and a lot of bruises on my back, elbow and chin. Gah, stupid snow.
Nothing happens on sundays here.
I think this post is long enough, so maybe I will do todays events seperately.
I love Austria though. The snow, the cute pink, yellow and green towns, and the ever smiling people.
How about you all drop a few letters and go from Australia to Austria sometime?
But first, I will fill you in on the details of my last crazy, exciting, strange and a little sad, week.
Date unknown. Adelaide, Australia
This story really starts two years ago, when my sister travelled to Italy for a short exchange. I was so jealous of her that I decided then and there to do the same, but to a more exotic place, such as South Africa, Mexico or even Spain. After a few set backs and re-considerations, I ended up in tiny, tiny Austria, where everything is less than an hour away.
23rd Jan, 2010. The Airport
Is it bad that I forgot to be sad when I left everyone? Sure I was a little scared, and very tired after a sleepless night, but in the excitement of packing and leaving, being sad wasnt really on my mind. It still isn't.
On the plane
Four movies watched on the way to Bangkok. A long, boring pointless amount of time spent on my butt, staring at the tiniest of screens. No movies watched from Bangkok to Frankfurt...there was no TV. 11 hours of staring at the back of another persons chair just inches from my face, as they lay back for their comfort, and to my absolute annoyance. But what can you say to the fat snoring man in front of you?
Isle seats are great. Stretch out your legs every now and again, get hit in the head, the elbow, the knee, the eye everytime they push that oversized trolley of tasteless food down the undersized isle.
But really, it wasnt that bad.
Frankfurt
Sitting inside in the warm comfortable airport was such a relief. The ability to move whenever we want is one we forget, until we have an 11 hour plane ride.
The horror of getting on the next flight was easily forgotten, becasue outside of the plane window was snow. Beautiful, beautiful snow. Now remember, before this, I had never seen snow.
24th Jan 2010 Meeting the family
I was so so so excited to meet the family, that I forgot all of my fears. The hour long car ride home wasnt bad at all, with jokes shared between me and my host dad, and lots of conversation between my host mum and sister (in english of course)
To my surprise, we didnt go straight home, instead we went to germany, for pizza with austrian salami in a real italian restaurant. The closeness of everything still amazes me
25th Jan to 29th Jan. School
Not much to say here, I dont understand anything, have a great class with very happy people and do six lessons a day, four of which I have never done in Australia...
29th of Jan. Clubbing in Germany and Austria
Now this was a real culture shock. The club we went to was a little insane. It was ditry and dingy, with sticky tables around the edges, and people smoking everywhere (something I have to become used to here), three bars, and jam packed with people. In the middle was a tiny dance floor, with four full sized electric light palm trees on the corners, and two pole dancing poles on seperate blocks on the edges. This was where we spent most of the night.
One challenge in the diary completed, just for you to know.
30th Jan 2010. Snowboarding
This actually isnt too hard. The only difficulty i had with snow boarding was learning to stop. Most of the time was spent on my butt. It sure got cold. Once, I tried (not on purpose) to make a human snowball of myself. I dont really remember doing it at all (so i think i might have knocked myself out) but apparently, or so the story goes, I went head over heels, twice in a row. Now, I have quite a large bump on my chin, and a lot of bruises on my back, elbow and chin. Gah, stupid snow.
Nothing happens on sundays here.
I think this post is long enough, so maybe I will do todays events seperately.
I love Austria though. The snow, the cute pink, yellow and green towns, and the ever smiling people.
How about you all drop a few letters and go from Australia to Austria sometime?
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