Note to M.

I like that you still ask if you can call me. The respect you show me makes me feel treasured. Thank you.

Thank you for standing up for me tonight. The calm resolve in your voice and the steel in your eyes meant a lot. I could try and describe it, but I can't do it justice. Please know that while I can't put my feelings into words, your comments tonight meant the world to me. Thank you.

Note to M.

I think I like you. Let me rephrase that, I know I like you.

Things that scare me - #3

Going through childbirth.


Scares me spitless. To the point of never wanting to touch a guy.


I'd say it scares the **** out of me, but that's not strong enough.


Don't try and trivialize it by saying I'd look so cute pregnant or it's just a fear of the unknown.
Giving birth scares me. Please don't try to discredit that.


And don't - do not - preach a sermon about how it's worth it or how the positives outweigh the negatives. I've heard that all my life and look at how convincing that argument has been.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

I spent the day in the mountains - hiking through the snow, eating Mexican cuisine and enjoying part of my Christmas present: a sleigh ride. Not just any sleigh ride, an hour tour through the forests and over the fields and marshes around Banff. Here are a few pictures of the day.

Coming towards the mountains

Sunshine on the mountaintops
(experimenting with the black and white settings on my camera)

Elk on the drive into and out of Johnston Canyon

En route to the Lower and Upper Falls of Johnston Canyon

Only two days of work left. My last workterm for school has flown by. I can hardly believe that some much has happened since I got back from Europe.

I know I haven't been posting regularly, hopefully things will get better once I finish work.

In all the vague postings recently, I thought I'd break from the pattern and share something lighthearted and good...

I saved my company over two thousand dollars today. :)

I'll be the first to admit it, I get scared easily.

This evening I had a less than pleasant talk with someone about the past. Part of me really wants to run away from the issue. Another part of me wants to act all tough and pretend things are cool. Another part of me wants to grit my teeth and face things head on.

I decided to face things head on.


(But, I looked into flights "just for the fun of it" and, they're tempting. Very tempting.)

And then you threaten me...



Thanks. I don't know how I'm going to be able to continue this.

You are one of the hardest people to please. Actually, now that I pause and think about it for a moment, I think you are the hardest person to please. Nothing I seem to do seems to be quite right. I don't know how long I can keep trying to please you. Not only is it incredibly difficult to make you happy, it never seems to be good enough.

And then you pull the "guilt" card. "Well, I guess we know where your priorities are. This shows what's really important to you."

What the --- ? (Insert whatever but I prefer to leave blank because I don't a word that properly describes my feeling) All this time I have been trying to make you happy, to be a success, to do things how you want them done and you play the guilt card?

When will what I do be good? Not ok. But good. No if's, and's, or but's?


For the record, it really hurts when you play that card. It makes me feel like....no, I'm not answering that in public.

I spent the last hour and a half doing research for a paper for school/work. The amount of information available is phenomenal - to the point of making me contemplate quitting work and school, cocooning myself up in a library somewhere with my laptop and Internet connection and reading, reading, reading.

I made a choice today. And although I always thought it would be a hard decision to make, it wasn't. It actually seemed quite natural.

Part of what I've been learning lately is not to do things "my way". (That phrase always conjures up the image of Frank Sinatra). Having learned to be independent this requires some adjustments. We'll see how things go.

I feel like I am caught in the middle of a business transaction. Only, this time, it's not about haggling for Italian artwork, German chocolate or Spanish leather, it's about my heart. "Should we go with A who provides _, _ and _, or should we go with B who provides _, _ and _? Or, maybe we need to take a look at C and D, you know, shop around a bit and see what's out there?"

Can we please stop treating this like a business transaction? I only have so much heart and right now, it's feeling very caught in the middle.

"There's a gentleness about you. You're strong and yet gentle. You're a leader but you're submissive in that you know when to pull back and follow."


~ That happened this evening. What a unique and meaningful compliment.

This week has been a blur. Everything that's gone on, all the tears shed, all the misunderstandings cleared up, I feel like a month has gone past. This afternoon is going to be the finale of a week caught in whirlwind - moving forward but whirling through the past and taking pieces with into the future. I'm nervous, apprehensive and excited, part of me can hardly wait. This afternoon is going to be memorable.


Aut disce aut discede.

I am His

I first came across the following song last summer, while living with my cousin. While I enjoyed listening to it then, it took on special meaning while I was in Austria. My favourite part is probably the last two verses.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

In Christ Alone ~ Newsboys

Brilliant

Typography and chocolate? Love it.

Sweeping eggshells still at 3 a.m.
We're trying far too hard
The tattered thought balloons above our heads
Sinking in the weight of all we need to say
Why's and what if's have since long played out
Left us short on happy endings

And it's no one's fault
There's no black and white
Only you and me
On this endless night
And as the hours run away
With another life
Oh, darling can't you see
It's now or never
It's now or never

~ Now or Never, Josh Groban

I said something about the past and it has unleashed an ominous storm.

Not doing too great.

When it rains it pours

Two in less than 24 hours? Yeah right. I can hardly keep my own life together, now I have to consider keeping someone else's together too?

Not cool.


Ok, well, actually it is rather cool. I'm flattered and all that other stuff, but at the same time? Yeah. I don't think I'm in a good place to be having a relationship right now. Let alone trying to pick one over the other.

Or, is my problem that I am being to picky and should get over the concept of holding out for "Mr. Perfect".

Telepathic? Not me.

Ever had this happen to you?

Someone asks you about something and you're not quite sure what he or she is getting at? You look perplexed, "Excuse me, what are you talking about?"

After a few minutes of vague and elusive answers you still aren't sure what the point is. You ask, "What is going on? I'm not sure what you are getting at. Can you explain it to me?" He or she does. Well, sort of. The "explanation" is hardly an explanation at all. In fact, it's more of an accusation.

By now you're not only getting annoyed, but you're also feeling a little blindsided. To make matters worse, you still aren't sure exactly what the purpose of the conversation is. What is going on? Instead of loosing your temper you ask for clarification. Again.

And, once again, the response is vague. But not only is the response vague but it is also pointed enough for you to know that this person is upset about something and that something has to do with you.

What is that something? How is that something related to you? You're still not sure. You're frustrated. You play the 'blunt' card. "I don't understand. Tell me, what am I supposed to know? What do you mean?"

The response?

"You're a smart girl. Figure it out."


For the record, I hate that answer. Not despise. Hate.


Yes, I am a smart girl.

But you?

You. Have the courage to tell me what is upsetting you so much. And, if you don't have the courage? Why are we having this conversation in the first place? Why do you have the audacity to assume I'll know what is upsetting you?

If you're upset with me, be blunt. Enough of this cryptic behaviour. Be a man (or a woman) and just say it. And if you can't say it (because you're scared or whatever else), then take a moment and think. Should you really be opening your mouth in the first place?

By being vague, you're not helping the situation. You're getting more upset with me for 'not being smart enough to know what's bothering you' and I'm getting more upset with you for not telling me straight up. Great. Wouldn't it just have been easier to tell me exactly what the problem is?

You may be shocked to discover that although I have a few guesses on what is bothering you, I'm not sure which one of those guesses is correct. Do you really want me to guess? (No, no you don't. My guesses aren't 'nice' ones.)

I was asking for the truth, just tell it to me. And if it is something uncomfortable like "You're being a bitch", it'll be good for you to get it off your chest. And, it'll be good for me to know I'm bothering you. Yes, I might ask you questions like "What specifically about my behaviour is bothering you?", but how am I supposed to change if I don't know?

You really don't feel comfortable telling me? Fine. But, do not - do not - expect me to know what you are thinking. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

I was given flowers today. Nothing too glamorous and yet nothing to ordinary. A few lilies, Gerber daises, and some funky purple flowers. It was the perfect way to end a stressful work week.

(I'll try and remember to post a picture next week).

A royal confusion

Some of you may be aware that the premier of Alberta, Ed Stalmach was elected last year through vote splitting in the Progressive Conservative party. A while back, he decided to open the heated debate of Alberta oil royalties. (Although I kept a basic knowledge of what was going in Canada while I was studying in Europe, I'm not sure exactly when he commissioned a review of the oil royalties).

The panel that had been commissioned with reviewing the oil royalties policies released it's findings in September 2007. What a fiasco ensued. The panel found that the Alberta government had not been charging "appropriate" royalties and recommended increasing them. By how much? Well, from what I understand the increase would result to an extra two billion a year for the Alberta government. Two billion? Pretty sweet. I could do a lot with two billion. In fact, I probably wouldn't even know where to start spending. For the average citizen two billion is plenty. Ok, more than plenty. That's enough to buy multiple homes in the million plus neighbourhoods around Calgary and Edmonton. Oh, and of course, you could also purchase quite a few of those Corvette convertibles that every affluential-man-scared-of-looking-old-and-loosing-the-ladies just HAS to have. I mean, come on. Two billion? That's a tonne of money.

Anyways, real estate and Corvettes aside, the findings of the commission resulted in a fire storm. There were those who were furious with the government for "letting so much money slip away". Then there those who were furious with the government for commissioning a report that would have the audacity to suggest implementing higher royalties. Then there were those who were furious with the government for commissioning a report that was based on faulty data. And then, there were those who were furious that the findings of the royalty review report was getting more press than the "important" issues like global warming and saving the polar bears.

In the middle of the fire storm a number of companies spoke out. Some condemned the report because it uses numbers (such as the start-up costs for an oil well) based on what the costs were three or more years ago. Some condemned the report because it's implementation would mean higher production costs and lower profits. The Premier reminded Albertans to calm down. He was still reviewing the findings and would present his plan in the near future.

Well. The near future has come and gone. On Thursday Premier Ed Stalmach made what some are calling his hardest decision since coming into office. He announced his plan. Drew a line in the sand. Laid down the law. Threw down the gauntlet. Call it whatever you want. He announced how his government was going to act on the royalty review. And what a decision it was.

Basically he is going to increase royalties.

He's not increasing royalties tomorrow though. He's leaving some time for the corporate world to "adjust", a whole year. Correct me if I am wrong, but he wants to implement these royalty increases in 2009.

(Sidebar: A year? A whole year? Are you kidding me? Companies have to shell out millions of dollars just to get an oil well running and now they are supposed to factor increased royalties into their budget? Yeah. Can't imagine the oil boardrooms were sedate when that bomb hit.)

But wait - there is more... The premier is not acting on all the suggestions the commission made. In fact, instead of increasing royalties to the aforementioned two billion additional royalty dollars/year, the government is only going to increase royalties to result in 1.4 billion dollars/year. Depending on how you look at it, companies are being "saved" from paying 600 million in royalties each year or, as certain political parties would have you believe, Albertans are "loosing" 600 million in royalties/year.

What will the consequences be? Well, that depends on what happens over the next few weeks. A number of companies threatened to reduce Alberta investments if the royalties were increased. Will they? I'm not sure. In speaking with colleges at work, opinions very. Some feel the reduction of investment in Alberta will bring a slight cool down to the economy. A cool down some feel is desperately needed to bring balance and stability. Some feel the royalty hikes don't go far enough and that the Premier caved into pressure from oil companies.

How do I feel? Well, besides wishing I had taken courses in economics and petroleum so that I'd have a better understanding of the situation, I'm concerned. I do love my province. I don't want it to end up in shambles (economic or other). The lack of clear and consistent messaging from the companies that would be impacted by the increased royalties is a concern. However, so is the chest-thumping-my-way-or-the-highway attitude that seems to radiating from the provincial government. If this keeps up, the Alberta economy could loose it's title as Canada's leading economy. Prince to pauper? Wouldn't be the first time.

I'm sorry

Yesterday I tried to stand up for someone I loved and it backfired. No, backfired isn't a strong enough word. It was a complete failure. No, that's still not quite what the word I am looking for. Disaster? Cataclysmic catastrophe? Yeah, that provides a more complete description of happened.

I'm so sorry. It shouldn't have gone so far. I'm not sure what can all be done to make it better, but I'll try. I know I can't take it back, but I'll try to make things better.

I spent the afternoon hanging out with some new acquaintances from church. One of the girls made an interesting (albeit, trite) point: you can't compare people or replace people with people.
Yes, you're probably rolling your eyes, "Oh, A. once again, you're so not original."

I think she has a point though, and although it may not be an eloquent or witty phrase, I think she is right. I've been missing people from my past these few weeks. And, been rather disappointed with some of the new people I have been meeting. Her comment was a well deserved verbal slap in the face. I've been expecting these new acquaintances to behave like my old friends. Really it's no wonder I've been disappointed - I've been expecting the impossible. No wonder someone got annoyed with me for being so mean today.

Last week I tried to work on my character flaw of self-centeredness. Judging from how this afternoon has gone, I think I need to work on my lack of acceptance of others.

I'm questioning if this is really where I want to be. I feel caught between two worlds and I'm not convinced I'm currently in the right one.

Nn- now th- that don't kil me,
Can only make me stronger


Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD

I've had that going through my head the past 48 hours. Rather fitting eh?




----------------------
Never thought I would quote the Bible and Kanye West in the same blog post.

Sometimes life hurts. Really hurts.

This month? Not so great. Don't get me wrong, I'm still breathing and things weren't life shattering difficult, but September hasn't been that great.

I miss my friends and my life in Europe. I miss the companionship, the freedom and the acceptance.

I've seen a number of "old" friends since I've been back. Some of them I was thrilled to see. A select few have moved into being aquaintances. Funny how lives change. All of a sudden you notice things that really bother you, or you no longer have anything in common. With a girlfriend of mine, our lives have taken us two seperate directions. But, put us together and we still get a long great. With another person, we don't get along. We annoy each other. Some one else is moving away. I don't want him to leave. But, that will be in another post, for another day.

So back to life hurting... (sorry, I'm all over the place today)

I came back from a weekend get away to the news that two family members of a friend died from Carbon Monoxide poisoning last Friday.

This morning my grandmother died.

I don't know what to say. There are so many thoughts running through my head.

How do I describe the sorrow I feel for my friend?

How do I describe my sorrow over losing my Oma?

How do I describe the sorrow I feel for my little siblings - they'll not have the privilege of growing up with Oma's applesauce. They won't know what it is like to sit in silence across the table from her. They won't experience sleeping over at Opa and Oma's and having Pfeffernusse cookies and milk before bed. That is what makes me really sad. I have those experiences. They mean so much to me. But Esther? Joseph? Even Timothy and Sara? They don't have those experiences. They won't have those experiences.

That is what hurts the most.

I am going to the sunshine

While all the Calgarians suffer in 10 degree weather with rain and fog, I am going to Toronto, where, on Saturday the high is supposed to reach 26 degrees.


Oh yeah.

One month

Well. I "celebrated" by one month in Canada anniversary over the weekend. I haven't quite decided what to do with my blog. I'm thinking of keeping it. Those of you who have been reading this blog merely to track my process through Europe can stop reading it now. Yes. I said stop.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hallo,

Also, dieser Blog habe ich gegrundet fuer Freunde und Verwandte als ich in Europa war. Jetzt wo ich in Kanada bin habe ich gedacht dass ich es ein bisschen aufmische (ist dass ueberhaupt ein Deutsches wort?). Na ja, aufmischen ist verliecht nicht das richtige wort. Ich moechte jetzt manche von meine Erlebnisse und erfahrungen hier in Kanada mit euch teilen. Es wuerde mich freuen wenn ihr mir Kommentare hinterlassen wurdet (deutsch, englisch, spanish, egal).

Liebe gruesse, (ich vermisse euch)

Anna Elisabeth

It's a Saturday night and I'm on my laptop. My cousin and I are IMing each other and sharing a bottle of wine. She's sitting across the room chatting online with her fiance and I'm fooling around (aka. multi-tasking) with my laptop on the other side.

I like Saturdays like this. The day was hectic - celebrating my other cousin's wedding. Lots of people, lots of preparations. The final visitors have left, the last dishes are being washed and the leftovers stored away for future consumption. We are socializing via technology in the basement over Chardonnay - excellent.

I'm back....

After a ten hour flight from Frankfurt, I've arrived safe and sound in Canada. The next few days I'm spending with family and friends and then I'll start posting more pictures and stories from my trip.

Thanks A & A for showing up at the airport. It was great to see you!

Bis morgen

It's my last night in Europe. The trek back to Canada starts at five in the morning. Can't say I'm looking forward to that. What I am looking forward to is seeing all my family and friends.

See you tomorrow...

Canada calling

In two hours I have the first of two telephone interviews. An hour later I have the second interview. I am... I'm not sure. Excited. Nervous. Yes to both.

Either way, I know they will be good learning experiences.

Aut disce aut discede.

Formula 1

Scammed the Formula 1 system out of nearly €2000 today...I was one of 12 who walked straight through with out shelling out a single Euro cent. Amazing experience.

In other news, I am still alive, but Internet is sporadic so don't be expecting regular updates.

Tomorrow is Heidelberg.

Tuesday we haven't planned yet.

Wednesday is Rome.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

I’m sitting on the train leaving Vienna, destination Stuttgart, Germany. Am I excited? Sort of. Sad? Sort of. I’m a bit of everything actually.

S and K stayed with me until the train left. It was bittersweet. I’ve always watched with a tinge of contempt as travelers draw out their goodbyes. You can tell when someone is excited to leave and when someone just can’t bear to turnaround and board the train. Today I was one of those who didn’t want to leave. Who turned around for just one more hug, just one more conversation, anything to make time slow down. Anything to stop the inevitable.

The German language has a wonderful word for good-bye, “Auf Wiedersehen” which is like saying “Till next time”.

Auf Wiedersehen Vienna

Random thoughts

Flames to dust,
Lovers to friends,
Why do all good things come to an end?
~ Nelly Furtado, All good things (come to an end)


I just got back from a going away dinner my friends organized for me. I'm already living in my last 24 hours in Vienna. Not quite sure how I feel about that.

C reminded me not to look at this like the end but rather the beginning of a new chapter. But what if I'm torn between the chapters? On the one hand there are aspects of the "finishing" chapter I'd like to keep but at the same time, can I experience the "beginning" chapter if I don't let go of the previous one?

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone back home but at the same time I don't want to leave my friends or my lifestyle that I have here. Any one have any ideas on how to merge the two worlds?

As I said goodbye to D today, she looked straight at me and said "You'll be back. I don't know how or when, but I know you'll come back." I hope she's right. But then again, maybe it's time for me to go back to the culture I grew up in and live a life without all the traveling. I suspect though that I won't feel really at home. The reverse culture shock is scaring me already. I remember how bad it was last time I came back. Not something I really look forward to dealing with again.

I am a little confused. On the one hand I love where I come from but at the same time the culture and life style here appeal to me on a level I can't explain. I come here and I somehow feel at home. As if this fits. But at the same time, I am thrilled to drive down the streets and see the mountains, drink water straight from the tap and see all my friends. There are aspects of each culture that frustrate and annoy me, but yet they both feel good. Like I almost belong. But not quite. I'm still looking for my home. And at the moment, it could be here, it could be there.

Now it's just a matter of getting some sleep and enjoying my last few hours.

I'll write more when I'm in Germany.

...flames to dust....

Platja d'Aro

Platja d'Aro is a popular town on Spain's eastern coast. Although not popular with international tourists, the town's population swells during the summer months as Spaniards (mostly Catalan) come to enjoy the sights and sounds. The water is not as warm as further south, but with plus 30 Celsius temperatures, it offers a welcome relief from the heat.

I spent Friday evening - Sunday morning here. M's family has a summer appartment ten minutes from the beach so we spent most of our time down there. I've never gone on a beachside vacation before so this was a real treat.

A sidewalk tile

Me at the beach - with black sparkly mineral deposits from the sand and salt water

Me at Platja de la Barceloneta

So...here's the deal. Tomorrow I am cooking a Canadian meal for my guest family and members of their extended family. It's going to be a rather large production so I have a lot to get ready for. As a result I can't post much now, but I'll give you a brief overview of my schedule in Spain.

03.07 - Arrived in Barcelona
Saw the Mediterranean for the first time in my life. The sun's last rays were shimmering across the dimpled water. It reminded me of dew on the yellow roses in my Grandpa's garden.

04.07 - Barcelona
Walked along Passeig de Gracia, snapped a few pictures of Caso Batllo and wandered down to Platja de la Barceloneta.

05.07 - Barcelona
Shopping on my own in the grocery store: bought a nectarine from Chile, yellow plum from Andalusia and a red plum from Valencia. Strolled down Av del Portal de l'Angel and La Rambla.
In the evening headed out to the countryside after looking at Sagrada Familia.

06.07 - Montserrat and in Platja d'Aro
In the morning explored the local market and countryside around M's hometown. Met an American and his little daughter who wanted to be my best friend - she took pictures with us and wanted to go exploring together.
Once M got home from work we headed out to Platja d'Aro for a stroll along the beach, some Spanish delicacies and a night on the town. Amazing.

07.07 - Platja d'Aro
Beach. Beach. Beach. Oh, and more beach.
In the evening went boating with M's family. I got to drive. We stopped along a rocky cliff face and went swimming.

08.07 - Cap de Creus and Cadaques
Drove to Spain's easternmost tip, met up with a bunch of M's friends and spent the afternoon in a secluded cove. Besides laying on the beach we went swimming, snorkeling and cliff jumping.
In the evening we stopped for refreshments (and souvenirs) in Cadaques.

09.07 - Barcelona
Took the train back to Barcelona. Exploring and shopping.

10.07 - Barcelona to Vienna
Snapped the last few pictures. Had an hour long delay at the airport but managed to stay far away from the designer boutiques. I paid €3.4o for water though.

I'm back in Vienna

I made it safe and sound (with the exception of a few sunburns). Spain was amazing. Pictures and stories will be posted over the next few days.

In a matter of hours, I head off for a vacation in Spain. You may be thinking "What? She's in Europe and she's taking a vacation from her vacation?" Yes and no.

Italy, Serbia, France, Bosnia, Finland, Morocco, Slovakia - those are only a few of the places the exchange students have visited during the past months. Myself? I went to Germany over Easter. I'd decided in Canada already that I would not do much traveling until the semester was over. Partly because I wanted to really experience Austrian life and partly because I love traveling and know I'd end up not focusing on my studies.

My last European exams have been written and school notes have been packed away. Now the real Europe trip can begin.

**I'm not sure how regularly I'll be posting while I am in Spain - if you don't hear from me during the next week, don't worry. I'm not dead - just sailing on the Mediterranean, strolling through a vineyard or lounging on a beach somewhere. I'll be back soon enough. **

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, last Saturday I went to the Donauinselfest. I'd written that it was one of the largest open air music festivals in Europe. Well, I stand corrected. According to my host parents and the Viennese media, the Donauinselfest IS THE largest open air music festival in Europe.

Saturday night, I watched the fireworks with some friends from church. This is one of a number of snapshots. I've tried to capture not only the fire cracker itself, but also show a glimpse of the boats on the river and the reflections in the water. It was a short, but picturesque display.

A little turn

Tomorrow came...and in seven minutes it'll be gone.

I'm still alive. I made it through my exam well - I think. Three questions, fourty-five minutes on NPO communication and fundraising.

I also made it through the impromptu coffee excursion with half the class. I made it through hanging out with a friend before he leaves. I made it through walking into my favourite coffee store for the last time. I made it through a pair of deep blue eyes and I almost made it through shoe shopping with my friend.

Almost. That's when the tears came. Not gushing though (bawling in public? in a shoe store? there weren't even any expensive shoes to justify my outburst - so of course I couldn't really let it all out).

But she knew. She looked at me sitting there, my bag and jacket on the floor, two pairs of shoes on my lap - trying to find words to express my sorrow. Tears welling in my eyes. And she looked at me and listened. Thank you God, for creating ears. She looked at me and listened. And then she smiled, ever so faintly. Not a smirk. Not a grin. A little turn of the lips. "I feel your pain. I see you hurting. I know. But it'll be ok. You'll be ok."

Thank you D.

Tomorrow's gonna come too soon

In nine hours I write my last final exam. I see my classmates for the last time. I go for coffee for the last time. I say goodbye, hopefully not for the last time, but in most cases, probably for the last time.

I've been dreading this day ever since I arrived.

---

So denied
So I lied
Are you the now or never kind?
In a day
And a day love,
I'm gonna be gone for good again
Are you willing, to be had
Are you cool with just tonight?
Here's a toast,
To all those who hear me all too well

Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye tomorrow's gonna come too soon

Put your name on the line
Along with place and time
Want to stay, not to go
I want to ditch the logical
Here's a toast,
To all those who hear me all too well

Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon

All my time is frozen motion
Can't I stay an hour or two or more?
Don't let me let you go
Don't let me let you go

Here's a toast
To all those who hear me all too well

Here's to nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon
Too soon
Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye,
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon

---

Tomorrow.... is now here.





Lyrics from Here's to the night by Eve 6.

An inconvienent truth...he's not setting a good example

Finally! Someone has taken the time to calculate and combine a list of some of the damage done by the some of the self-proclaimed champions of the environment. It's about time these facts and figures came out into the open.

Emissions Omissions

Check it out, and please enlighten the next person who tells you that Al Gore is the embodiment of environmental awareness or David Suzuki the saviour of the dying planet.

Süßer Glücksbringer

Some of you know that I'm not a huge fan of North American ice cream. After living here for so long I'm even less of a fan. Why?

Take a look at this picture. It's one of the latest Cremissimo creations: Süßer Glücksbringer.


Basically sweet [good] luck bringer. It's a mix of pistachio and stracciatella (white ice cream with chocolate) ice cream. The chocolate pieces are shaped like little four leave clovers and the pistachio ice cream like a large green four leave clover. And, instead of just a clear plastic air tight seal underneath the lid, there is a short little fairytale printed on the seal. In this case about a little three leaf clover who learns that to bring good luck you don't have be made in a certain way ( have four leaves instead of three) - you just have to make people happy (yes, it's a fairytale, but it's still kinda cute and it has a good lesson).

Pretty creative eh? And, a lot better than the typical North American flavours.

Bittersweet

Last night I wrote my second last final exam. It's hard to believe that it's already the end of the semester. Time has flown by so quickly. On the one hand I'm excited because I worked hard during the semester so that I could 'party' hard now. So far I'm going to be going to Spain, Italy and Germany visiting lots of friends and relatives.
At the same time however, I'm sad. I've started to make close friendships and have really been accepted into the church I've been attending. My guest parents have been so kind and supportive. Even my guest brother has been easy to get along with. I have come to love the quirks of taking public transit everywhere and I will miss the proximity to everything. I will miss strolling along the river and going out for coffee with classmates. I will miss watching the last of the sun' rays paint the church steeple gold and the smell of fresh pastries from the bakery down the street. Sigh.
God really provided for me and it's been amazing to watch. I remember fighting panic attacks on my flight over because I was coming to a strange city without permanent accommodations. But He provided. And what a place He provided: high ceilings, walking distance to downtown and the best shopping street in the city and most importantly, a family who has practically adopted me. I've come to love it here.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't miss you. I do. I just wish there was someway of having you with me without having to give up the culture and lifestyle. I wish there was some way to merge the two worlds I live in.

So, I've decided: instead of depressing you all with how sad I am to be leaving, I'm going to try and post snapshots of my life here. One a day, for the rest of my trip. Ha, no, that's too optimistic. One a day until I forget. :)

Summer storm

Last week we had a break in the high twenties weather. This was Thursday afternoon. I got home about three minutes before a strong wind storm blew in these clouds:

Last weekend....

Every June one of the largest outdoor music festivals in Europe takes place on the Donauinsel in Vienna. Latest numbers I've heard put attendance at almost 1.5 million.

This is a clip from Saturday night. Over 15,000 participants just at this one show. About fourty feet from the stage. Four incredible hours.

This might give you a better idea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoUoo3sKFec

(not my clip, but one of the best quality ones on youtube)

In case you're bored...

So, as you may know I am writing this paper for school on stakeholder identification and corporate social responsibility (Yes, the 'civil society' bit is gone - thank goodness - it was boring me to tears).

In my research I came across this fascinating article:

Mitchell, R., & Agle, B. (1997, October). Toward a theory of stakeholder identification and salience: defining the principle of who and what really counts. Academy of Management Review, 22(4), 853-886.

The article is on a number of academic journal databases, you could try searching for it online or let me know you want to read it.

My study buddy

The past six days I've had company from Canada. My Dad and two of my little siblings are traveling through Europe and came to visit. They just left this morning and with them unfortunately, left my last excuse not to study. I probably won't be posting for the next few days as I have a Global Marketing final and a paper on civil society and corporate social responsibility to write.

Yesterday the family went to Schönbrunn Schloß (I stayed home to do homework and send off job applications for my next work term). Schönbrunn is the largest and most grandiose palace in Vienna. The grounds are extensive and include a maze and labyrinth, dove house, orange grove and a zoo (complete with Pandas, Penguins and Panthers). This is the view looking down from the Gloriette towards Schönbrunn.

Eau de Mmmm....

My guest brother moved home on Monday.

I was secretly contemplating changing the locks before he got here.

However...

As long as he promises to keep wearing whatever cologne he is wearing I think I'll let him stay.

Exquisite

Two of my Finnish partners in crime (aka. foreign exchange students) are getting ready to head home. Before they leave though, we decided we had to have a goodbye dinner.

We met outside. The afternoon had brought a burst of rain and the sky was still overcast. Without realizing we had dressed in complimentary styles - C was all white with pearls, D and I were wearing black, one in slacks, the other in a skirt. Look out.

We strolled down a well lit marble corridor. The lights from the lamps sparkled on the polished floor. A heavy mahogany door marked our destination. Once inside we hung our coats and walked through white floor length sheers - into a darkened bar. A long counter top ran perpendicular to the entrance. Low tables and couches filled the room. C moved to walk in front. She'd been here before. Moving briskly, she led us down a narrow passage way. On the right a waist high window of warped pinkish-purple glass allowed us to glimpse in the kitchen. And then. There we were.

The passage way opened up into an L-shaped room. Everything was white. The walls. The leather couches lining the wall. The squares tables covered in crisp table clothes. The light fixtures. The chairs. The chopsticks - were silver. English jazz flowed from the speakers. Candles glowed on the tables. The mood was one of controlled minimalism. Ostentatious? No. Cool and collected? Very.

We gave the waiter our names and were promptly seated. Ordering a bottle of white wine, we turned our attention on the menus. Mango. Squid. Cilantro. Zucchini. Shrimp. Grapefruit. Octopus. What a selection. How to choose? I finally settled on Truffel Spargel Maki (Truffle Asparagus Maki). D ordered a Rainbow surprise - surprise in that the menu declared it 'indescribably good'. C went a little more traditional and ordered a sushi set.

The sushi was delicious. The combination of textures and flavours complimented each other beautifully. Set in context with the atmosphere and surroundings of the restaurant, the body of the wine and the music and conversation flowing through the room, the sushi was perfect. Exquisite food and delightful company in a sophisticated location.

What a pity this was a goodbye dinner...

Evolution; Or, the case of the walking jacket

It's almost 5:30 a.m. here. I've just arrived home. The sky is a patchwork of blues. The further east I look the more the navy blue is fading into pale bleached blue. Maybe I shouldn't bother going to bed at all - the patchwork is guaranteed to become even better.

Today has been a wonderful way to kick start my last month. I've organized accommodations for my family when they come visit me (next week already!), helped some girl friends get ready for a wedding taking place later this afternoon, gone out for dinner with my host family, and had an excellent time exploring the musical side of Vienna.

There has been one down side to the day: I've lost my cell phone. Now before you lecture me on "one place for everything and everything in it's place", you should know that for once, it's not really my fault. Ha ha, I sense your disbelief. Keep reading...

My cellphone was in my friend's jacket. Why? Because we figured I'd loose it otherwise and it would be safe there. Over the course of the evening, the supposedly safe denim jacket grew legs (hmmm...proof for Darwin's theories?). Maybe the jacket didn't like the music, or, maybe it didn't like all the smoke, but when we got up to leave it was gone. One jacket, one set of office keys and two cell phones - gone.

On the plus side, this walking denim jacket sparked a search through downtown Vienna. I've seen a whole new side of Vienna. The revelers of a few hours ago have stumbled home, littering the gutters with tokens of their presence - empty cans and bottles. The Museums Quarter is a mess at four in the morning, but very peaceful. If you close your eyes and listen to the birds chirping in the trees and the water splashing in the foot pond you'd never guess you were in the middle of a city.

My window faces east and the sky is now a delicate cream. What a day it has been. I'm looking forward to making the rest of the 30 days just as memorable.


Product Promotion:

This 21-hour-day-on-four-hours-of-sleep was proudly supported by large amounts of Red Bull.

Today is the last day of the second last month.

Next month I leave Vienna.

I'm not sure how I feel about leaving.

I've come to love the streets, the quirky class schedules, the walls of roses in the Volksgarten and yes, even the the banging of the garbage men every morning.

Technically, since it's passed midnight here in Vienna it's already my last month...

...the countdown has begun.

Current song:
Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve

A day in life....

...I was going to write about my day....

...but then my evening ended up being so interesting that I've decided to write about the last three hours instead.

21:20 - Arrive home from my Global Marketing class.

21:45 - My cellphone rings just as I'm settling into my recliner and putting my feet up:

"Hello?"

"Ja, Hallo."

"Hello?"

"Ja, Hallo."

---now I'm translating what was said---

"What are you doing?"

"Just got home from school, so relaxing."

"Ah...want to meet up?"

"Now?"

"Sure, I'll meet you at Schwedenplatz in thirty minutes."

"Oh. Ok."

21:55 - I leave the house. Looks like I won't be getting a head start on my homework tonight.

22.30 - I meet up with my acquaintance and we head over to a favourite hangout.

23:45 - Men in kilts start singing and dancing around....to the Y-M-C-A. Yeah. Time to leave.

00:30 - I walk into my apartment to waves of smoke. I drop my things at the front door and do a quick walk through of the apartment. There doesn't seem to be any fire, but the place smells terrible.

As I am carrying my things through the dinning room I notice something out of the corner of my eye. One of the flower boxes outside is smoking. As in billowing white clouds against the night sky. What's going on? I move closer. Three of the four sides of the flower box have melted. Pools of red embers fade and then flicker back to life. The wind is blowing ash and sparks into the apartment through a crack in window sill.

What do I do? Panic? No. Of course not. I run into my room for my dictionary. How do you say spark in German? Hmmmm. My host parents are sleeping so I don't want to wake them up while jabbering on in English. Great. The German word had more to do with a spark plug. Now what?

I stand and watch the glowing flower box for a few minutes. There is a strong breeze, so sparks whirl in the wind and slide through the crack in the window sill. Should I wake my host parents? Should I just dose the flower box with water? Hmmm... Decisions, decisions. This would be a lot easier if there were flames leaping about instead of sparks dancing in the wind.

I decide to wake my host parents. Luckily my host mother wakes up quickly and manges to make sense of my panicked mash of German and English. We spend the next thirty minutes playing fireman. Her in her long nightgown, me in evening make up and fancy jewellery. We made quite the pair.

I think we'll try out for the fire brigade tomorrow. In the meantime I'm going to head to bed. Have a good evening.

You know summer has arrived when....

there is a 16 kilometer long traffic jam on the autobahn.

Concert for Europe 2007

Tonight is a big night for Vienna. Valéry Gerviev, a Russian conductor, will be conducting the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra. What's so special about that, you ask? Well, there are a few things that make tonight extraordinary:
Instead of performing in the Haus der Musik, the Konzerthaus or the Musikverein (usual performance locations), the Philharmonic is preforming in the Schönnbrunn Schloß gardens (Schönnbrunn is the Austrian equivalent to France's Palace of Versailles). Instead of the usual 250-1000 person audience, the crowd capacity for this concert is much higher - 70,000 at last year's concert. Instead of dipping into the wallet or maxing out the credit card on tickets, this concert is free. Instead of sitting in plush red velvet seats, listeners stand or better yet, bring picnic blankets and drink champagne. Still not convinced? Well, I'm heading there in a few hours - I'll post some pictures and you can decide for yourself.

Why I love living in Europe: Reason 178

The last three songs on the radio were:
Love Generation - Bob Sinclair
Madonna - Robbie Williams
Say it right - Nelly Furtado

Breathtaking

The first of May is a national holiday in Austria. My host family was heading to the mountains and offered to take me along...

We drove about one and a half hours southwestwards from Vienna. These mountains are considered forerunners to the Alps.



My host "father" is chair of an Alpine club that has a cabin up in mountains. In the mid 1830's, the Alpine club designed and built a mountain cabin in Vienna and then transported it here (approx 4,357 ft. above sea level). Although the cabin was looted during the war (supposedly by the Russians), most of the original furnishings (including paintings of the Hapsburg emperors and photographs of women making the climb in long gowns and riding side saddle) were returned. Apparently the "Russians" were actually locals.
Membership to the Alpine club is limited to men only (following the original traditions of the club), but women and children are allowed to visit the cabin. Every member has a key to the cabin and is allowed to come here whenever he wishes. Some of the members celebrate New Years here: no central heating (just two wood burning stoves), no plumbing (just an outhouse 30 feet from the door) and no lighting (just a large stash of matches and candles. However, there are some definite benefits of staying at the cabin: two overflowing bookcases, a large collection of schnapps (and brandy), beautiful scenery and above all - quiet. To bad I'm not staying over New Years. That sounds really relaxed and cozy.



Another picture of the Gamsecker Hütte. In the 1800's Vienna bought this land and the springs on it as a water source for the city. Today much of Vienna's drinking water still comes from this area.There is a little dip in the mountain (not as large as a valley, just a little dip) in front of the cabin. A tiny spring bubbles down through the dip and one of the club members built a little bench to sit on - very practical as the spring doubles as the cabin's kitchen sink.




Towards the back of the cabin is a rock cliff face - these flowers were about seven feet up.


So you get an idea of where things were....the little red house is approximately where the cabin was and the cross is, well, keep reading and you'll figure it out.



What a view. This is about 30 minutes past the cabin - we had to trudge through ten inches of snow to get up here. I haven't gotten that muddy in a while, but it was worth it. The view from here was breathtaking. I wish you could have been there. The picture doesn't do it justice.


We ended up hiking ten kilometers that day. In the mid-afternoon we headed to Mariazell, but that requires another post. I'll try and post that tomorrow.

Hey. I know I have been posting much lately. I do apologize.

This weekend I am heading to Furstenfeld (two hours or so from Vienna) on a retreat. I have, of course, made great plans to catch up on: reading, blogging, relaxing and homework. There won't be any updates for the next few days but I am hoping come Monday, to have a number of pictures and entries for you to read.

Have a good weekend.

And *muah* to the ladies.

My feet have blisters, my hair has gone flat and my eyes keep closing. The birds outside are starting to twitter and I'm finally heading off to bed. Once again, the weekend has been another smashing success.

"I'll have an espresso please."

Four hours - three different espressos.

A classmate called me in the early afternoon. "What are you doing?"

"Homework."

"I should have known. Want to go for coffee?"

"Sure. I'll be there in 45 minutes."

That was the end of conujugating verbs. I packed up my homework, jumped in the shower and off I went.

We met in one of the little cafe's in the Museumsquartier. My classmate works for Nespresso - one of the main coffee companies in Europe. His sister works for Meinl - a traditional Viennese coffee company. Needless to say, when it comes to coffee he knows what he's talking about. What started out as meeting for a simple cup of coffee turned into almost five hours of walking through the Alt Stadt in search of the perfect roast.

Delicious. I think I should start drinking coffee more often. Anyone else want a refill?

White Stetson twang

Yeah, I admit it. I'm a country music fan. There is something about the twang and rhythm that gets me.

The odd thing is that although I was a country music fan before coming to Europe, I seem to be even more of one now. Don't get me wrong - I still love salsa, rock, techno and classical. But here, country music seems to be a little piece of home. When you think about, there's country music for almost every situation:

Patronizing classmates? "How'd you like me now" by Toby Keith
A hard day at school? "Honey, I'm home" by Shania Twain
Reading e-mails from friends at home? "Me and my gang" by Rascal Flatts
Lonely moments? "You'll think of me" by Keith Urban
Ridiculous Europeans? "That don't impress me much" by Shania Twain
Going out? "Save a horse, ride a cowboy" by Big and Rich
Patriotic moments? "Clearly Canadian" by George Fox
More ridiculous Europeans? "When" by Shania Twain
A hard day in general? "Jesus take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood
Sunny Sunday afternoon? "Would you go with me?" by Josh Turner
More patriotic moments? "Alberta Bound" by Paul Brandt

It's odd really. As much as I feel at home here in Europe, country music speaks to me. The twang seems to bring the dust, the sunshine and the white Stetson to life.

As a little girl I lived in the city. One summer my neighbour was re-shingling her house and the workers were blasting country music. I was in my room supposed to be taking a nap. Instead, I opened the window and sat against the wall listening. I remember thinking, "Wow. There's more than my-girl-left-me-and-my-truck-broke-down-and-my-dog-just-died. This isn't what I'd expected."

That was one of my first experiences with country music. I'd been introduced to a world where men sang about their feelings. Sang. Didn't scream, didn't drink, didn't hit. They sang. Yes, maybe they sang about screaming, drinking and hitting but they sang. I was fascinated. My family was/is very loving and I grew up in an average middle class white neighbourhood, but no family and no neighbourhood is ever perfect.

Now as I walk through cobbelstone streets past buildings hundereds of years old I find myself humming "Country roads, take me home...". There are some things that stay with you for the rest of your life - country music, I believe, is one of them.

Shutter

Sometimes I wonder...

Yeah, I know I should be doing something more productive with my time, but sometimes I just need to sit here and think. So I do.

Who is going to be there after me?

What is she going to be like? Are you going to like her? Like her more than me? Is she going to make you happy? I sure hope so. I'd like to think that she'll make you smile. Not a quaint, "yeah-that's-cute" smile, but a grin that throws open the windows and lets the sunshine stream in.

Will you remember me? Or will the past fade into the distance. A blurred background of what used to be. I could be wrong, but I almost perfer a blurred background. As happy as I was in the past, I don't want to distract from the present - let alone darken the future. And if it means forgetting I ever existed? So be it. I don't want to be the shutter that blocks out the sunshine.

Why I love living in Europe: Reason 194

I'm standing in the change room trying on traditional Austrian Dirndls. What starts playing in the background? Nickleback. What a mesh of cultures.

I am posting the following because it's something I went through last week. If you have a tendency to worry unnecessarily, excel at finding fault in others, or have nothing better to do than mix yourself up in matters that do not concern you, stop reading now.


..hey...did you not read the previous paragraph?



**The following content is not approved for general readership. By reading the rest of this post you are agreeing to view this content purely for it's entertainment value. This post presents a single experience and as such does not represent the behaviour of Europeans in general. This post is to be understood merely as an experience with one European. Any attempt to use this post as proof that Europeans all behave in this manner or that Europe is a bad scary place for single women is illogical. Don't read more into this post then there actually is. You've been warned.**









I've often traveled solo, but I've never experienced this...

"I want to sleep with a Canadian girl."

My eyes widened. Had I heard correctly? "Excuse me?"

"I want to sleep with a Canadian girl."

Ah, I had heard correctly. "Well that girl's not going to be me."



Blunt eh?

A Viennese throne

Sunday afternoon I went for lunch with three girls from church. We went to a little Mediterranean restaurant in the 1. Bezirk which is the main tourist district in Vienna. Came across this site which will never make it into a tourist guidebook...




Did you notice the dirty floor?
The mysterious wiring sticking out of the wall?
Take a closer look at the toilet...notice anything odd?

Saturday evening

I spent an hour sipping a Latte Machiato on the Mariahilferstrasse and then wandered down towards the 1. Bezirk. Pictures won't due it justice, but I thought I'd post a few just so you have an idea of how beautiful the night was.

The sun was just starting to go down and it's rays were reflecting off the Stiftskirche steeple.

Trees behind the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Kunsthistorisches Museum sometime between eight and nine p.m.

Standing in the Volksgarten and looking towards the west as the sun set behind the Rathaus.

It's 8:30 a.m., the sun is shining straight into my room and it's already 15 degrees outside. What a fabulous morning.

Today is the three month anniversary of me moving to Vienna. I only have two more months left here. Has it been a wonderful time? Yes. Has it been perfect? No. Has it felt like three months? No. Do I want to leave?

No.

English? Francais? Espanol?

For the thousandth time since arriving in Europe I mentally kicked myself today. The reason? My laziness when it comes to learning another language. These Europeans are putting me to shame. Take for example Georg, one of my classmates, he speaks German (obviously) and is currently working on completing his thesis in English. Once finished school he plans on upgrading to a Masters degree in France. He's been learning French for years and last year went on an exchange to Paris. And, to add a little spice to his vocabulary he's currently learning Spanish. Four languages - one of which he's mastered, two of which he's almost mastered and the fourth which, I am willing to bet he will master in the next few years. Georg amazes me.

Then there's Lara. Now she really knows her languages. Originally from Croatia, she recently moved back to Austria after working in New York. As a dancer she has done an incredible amount of traveling and it shows. She speaks Croatian and understands Serbian. Providing the topic is not meta-physics (or something equally scientific) she can also follow an Arabic conversation. Ok, speaks one language and understands two, seems pretty basic right? Wait, there's more...she also teaches English, argues in French and Italian, and of course speaks German. So, even if we leave out Serbian and Arabic (because she can't actually speak them) we're left with four languages.

Four's a pretty small number right? But how many languages do you speak? How many languages do the North Americans you know speak? From my own experience the majority of the North Americans I know speak one language and dabble in another. However, the majority of my aquaintances who speak more languages don't have their family roots in North America. Come to think of it, most of them either have a parent (or in some cases parents) who imigrated to Canada, or imigrated to Canada themselves.

People are shocked to learn I don't speak French: "But, you're Canadian. Don't Canadians speak English and French?" Sometimes I go into the politics behind why not all Canadians (especially those from the West) don't learn French, sometimes I just give the standard "No, I just didn't learn it" response. As a result I've spent a bit of time pondering the North American attitude to learning languages. Geography may have something to do with it. Here I could drive one hour to the southeast and be in Hungary. Or, I could drive north and end up in the Czech Republic. In Canada I could either drive three days or drive four days to Mexico. Here if I drove for three days I'd pass through at least two but more like four or five countries.

A second possiblity for why people learn so many languages is the stiff competition. With the establishment of the European Union, imigrating has become easier. More paperwork perhaps, but easier in the sense of being able to tranfser your education over and finding work in a new country. There are an increasing number of graduates from Eastern Europe who are flooding into the EU. Many of the large multinational companies are looking to expand deeper into Eastern Europe and Asia so hiring someone with the language skills is logical. Austrian graduates will not only be competing with each other but also with a growing number of graduates from Eastern European, Middle Eastern and African graduates. Depending on your perspective, this is either bad (more competition for the few job positions available), or it is good (greater pressure to excel at more). I'm not saying there is no pressure in North America. Far from it. I just think that the pressure North Americans face hasn't reached the same degree that it has here.

I'm sure there are more reasons for why Europeans speak more languages than North Americans. I don't claim to be an expert on languages, but I do know one thing: watch out Canadians. Speaking only one language might not be a problem today. It may not even be a problem tomorrow or ten years from now. But, if things change, if we are one day competing with the Europeans? Better dust of that textbook and start expanding your language skills.

Saturday

I am thrilled to be here. So far this weekend has been absolutely great. I have very little homework which means I don't have to spend my time couped up inside and to make it even better, the weather is absolutely fabulous. Almost no homework and 27 degrees - who can complain about that?

During the morning I took care of the glamours aspect of life (laundary, cleaning, etc.) and had a chance to talk with a friend back in Canada. (Isn't Skype great?)

For lunch I met up with a girlfriend and we ordered salads at a local turkish cafe. Fresh vegetables and goatcheese sprinkled with oil - delicious. As it turned out my girlfriend knows the waiter and we ended up paying €3.50 each for our meals.

The next few hours we wandered up and down the Mariahilferstrasse. You know I love to go window shopping, but window shopping with a clean conscience? That was priceless. The past few weeks I haven't gone because my conscience was nagging me. "You have an exam you should be studying for. That assignment is due on Tuesday - you're not going to wait until the last second to finish it are you? Stop thinking about shoes. Focus. You're supposed to be thinking about Jesse Garrett's principles on user experience in information architecture remember?" Yeah. It was nice to shop with out that little voice.

Ladies...

I'm sorry.

Today, I really did not represent.

Got up, pulled on a pair of jeans and an old t-shirt. Threw my rather greasy hair up into a hapazard ponytail. Dabbed on taupe eyeliner. Brushed on some mascara. Squirted on a bit of perfume. Grabbed a sweater and slid into some runners. Rushed out the door to school.

And, got treated to coffee...

Go figure.

Why I love living in Europe: Reason 287

I come home from grocery shopping and it looks like I've been on a world tour:

Dates from Eygpt
Kiwi from Isreal
Zucchini from Turkey
Peppers from Greece
Eggplant from Hungary
Carrots from Austria
White Asparagus from Germany
Cheese from Switzerland
Grapes from Spain

oh, and oranges....

from California.

Pale pink

Spring has arrived here in Vienna. I've been meaning to post these pictures for a few weeks now. One morning I decided to take a different route to school and came across this little square. It's little squares like this that make me never want to go back to Canada. There was a sweet fragrance in the air and the pale pink flowers looked so delicate against the buildings - most of which have been around for over a hundered years. I know the pictures don't do it justice, but at least you get an idea.






This was last week - the flowers are falling off and landing between the cobblestones.

Alright, the updates have started. The first update I worked on while I was studying - so between my post on the WWF and Gangsta advice.

More to come either this afternoon or evening.

Ciao.

Sorry I haven't posted lately. I've been couped up in my living room studying for a number of exams: Betriebs u. Organisation Wirtschaft, Information Architecture and Issue Management. Will aim to write or post some pictures tomorrow.

Gangsta image advice

Note to all those wannabe rappers and gangstas out there....

Yes, you look very tough. The ball cap turned sideways, gold chains down to your belly button, white t-shirt so big you could drown in it and the baggy jeans pulled so low I'm surprised they haven't fallen down, are all very convincing. I am quaking in my boots (ok, high heels). Really. I am.

Being such a tough guy must take a lot of concentration - so much so that you failed to realize one crucial fact - your jeans are pulled so low that when you sit down/stand up the whole subway car can see your hairy backside. Yeah. Your macho guy image popped faster than an balloon poked with a needle.

Please, if you insist on playing the rapper/gangsta - invest in a belt. After all, who's going to take you seriously if your backside gets you more attention than all the gangsta logos and bling on your front side? You're lucky some grandmother didn't tan your hide with her cane...now wouldn't that have ruined your tough guy image.