So long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye!

As I write this, I'm sitting in a cafe in Vienna International Airport. My Year Abroad is officially over and I will be back in England in about 4 hours time. It seems so surreal.

I'm buzzing way too much at the moment and not really able to concentrate on forming coherent sentences. So for my last blog, I thought I would make a list of things I have achieved, and observations I have made on my Year Abroad.

Things I have achieved:

I've read all 6 Jane Austen novels (my kindle has been very useful in this respect...)

I've read the first 4 Harry Potter books in German.

I've learnt how to be rude, fully complying with the Austrian way

I've formed an unconditional and passionate love for the UK

I've lived in a city for the first time (Durham doesn't count.)

I've started running.

I've earned the nickname "2 glass Lizzie", which quickly became "1 glass Lizzie".

I've somehow managed to eat more Cadbury chocolate than I would have, had I lived in England.

I've mastered the art of going out without an umbrella or jacket, because believe it or not - the sun stays shining for more than ten minutes in this country!

I've learnt how to play Ring of Fire.

I've developed a taste for red wine.

I've now seen The Sound of Music in German.

I've been to see 6 operas.

I've learnt how to get up and be ready for work in 20 minutes (I used to need an hour and a half...)

I've stopped using hair straighteners religiously.

I've overcome my fear of getting my hair cut in a different country.

I've stayed out till 6 in the morning.

I've had singing lessons at a conservatoire.

I've used the most popular tourist attraction in Vienna as a place to go running rather than sightseeing.

I've been to the zoo three times.

I've sung in a choir and for the first time in my life, have sat in rehearsals and not had a clue what's going on.

I've sung in one of the most famous concert venues in Vienna.

I've forgotten how to speak English (a couple of weeks ago I said "leaved" instead of "left".

I've completed two intensive German language courses.

Observations:

Austrians get up very early.

They all have coffee machines.

There's signal on the UBahn but I always forget to use my phone because I can't quite comprehend this.

There's lots of hazelnut flavoured chocolate here :D

Things I have missed:

Afternoon tea

Cadbury chocolate

People smiling at me in the street, opening doors for me and generally being polite

TV

Fish and chips

Queuing

Holding English money (it's so lovely and heavy)

My northern accent

The English choral tradition

That's all I can think of right now. I know there's so much more, but right now I can't think straight. 

It's been an amazing experience. It's had its ups and downs but I am so happy that I've achieved this. I'm a completely different person now and will always look back and be proud of this year :) 

Thanks to everyone who read my blog! 

xxx

Drawing to a close...

As I sit here, in Starbucks, listening to The Sound of Music and working on my Year Abroad task, it occurs to me that this is rather amusing. It made me smile anyway :)

I've done it. I've booked my one-way flight to England on June 1st and it's happening! I'm coming home! I have just 36 days left of my Austrian experience and I'm determined to make the most of it. But first of all, it's been almost 2 months since I last posted, so I have some catching up to do.

In March, I did an intensive German course. This involved joining 9 other keen beans every Monday to Thursday afternoon for three hours of nothing but Deutsch. It was great, if only because it ensured that I was at least thinking about German 3 hours a day. I've signed up to do another one in May, sort of like a final big push to try and become fluent, ha. That's not going to happen, but I am improving :)

Singing lessons are going really well and I'm going to miss my teacher! I don't really have much else to say about it. I'm learning lots more technique and it's been great to get a second opinion on my singing in general.

In the 2 months that I have been lazy about blogging, I have done two concerts with my choir! The first took place in the Musikverein - the very same venue where the world famous New Year Concert takes place! We sang the Mozart "Great" C Minor Mass. It went really well, although I wasn't too impressed when I found out what we had to wear...it was sort of like burgundy choir robes but in two pieces, made up of a long skirt, and an unflatteringly baggy top uneven in length...with a nice belt to finish it off. The concert itself was fun. It was surreal to sing in such an amazing venue and the atmosphere was great.

The second concert, which took place when Tim came to visit me over Easter, was given in a church called "Minoritenkirche" which is near the Hofburg. I actually enjoyed this concert much more. The music was so much more interesting. We Sang Ligeti's Lux Aeterna, Lauridsen's Ubi caritas, some Bruckner motets and Bruckner Messe in E-moll. I absolutely fell in love with the Bruckner mass, which I had never come across before. It's full of scrummy dissonances, which I am very partial to :) When we first started to learn the Ligeti I hated it with a passion. It's a strange, modern piece. It's in 16 parts and every part sings the same melodic sequence, expect it's staggered so it sounds awful, although it has its moments. However, Tim told me it actually sounded good so it must have come across well in the concert. It's difficult to enjoy singing a piece in which you have to hold a pianissimo top B for 12 bars! Anyway, as a whole, I really loved that concert :) I'm excited to sing my last concert with Chorus Sine Nomine before I leave, which will be Schubert Mass in A flat in the Musikverein in May.

As I mentioned, Tim came to visit me over Easter. We took the opportunity to go skiing again, as it was the end of the season. We had planned to go to Semmering again but there was no snow. I'm actually really glad because instead we ended up getting a 4 1/2 train to Zell am See, in Salzburg and it was so much more fun than it would've been! We managed to get an apartment for a few nights really cheap and the whole thing was more like a holiday. And this time I didn't need to hire my gear as a certain someone got me a rather amazing birthday present! On the first day, the weather was absolutely perfect. The ski resort we went to has two main mountains, one of which has a glacier at the top. On the second day we went skiing there, which was lots of fun until it started snowing really heavily. On our final day it was really foggy and we were literally throwing ourselves down the mountain without being able to see much! The whole thing was an adventure and we're already planning a ski holiday for next year which is very exciting :)

I felt a bit down when we went back to Vienna, but soon cheered up at the prospect of my family coming to visit and my 22nd birthday! Tim's departure back to England overlapped with my family arriving, so they got to meet for the first time, which was really nice.  We went for lunch at a typical Austrian cafe and then did some sightseeing from the top of Stephansdom!

The next few days were insanely tiring. I had no idea how wiped out I would get just by being a tourist for a few days! However, I did manage to fit lots of culture into a few days and for that I'm glad. Touristy things included: grand tour of Schloss Schönbrunn, tour of the Staatsoper, day out at Prater, lots of Austrian breakfasts, a Birthday dinner at the Donauturm and Sachertorte at Hotel Sacher.

Teaching is going well. I'm feeling a bit sad because at the moment I'm really enjoying it. I realise how little sense that makes...I think it took me a while to relax into the job and I wish I had been more laid back at the beginning of the year. Right now I'm just trying to make the most of it. Obviously I have my favourite classes and it's so nice to feel so appreciated by them. This week I was down to cover a lesson because the teacher was on a school trip in Exeter. The teacher who was supervising me happened to be their teacher for Russian - and she tried to make them have an extra Russian lesson instead of English. Then I walked in, and they all cheered :) It's moments like that which make it all worth it; I know that sounds cheesy but it's the truth!

The thought of coming home is really strange at the moment. I've been home quite a few times; for Christmas, Genesis Sixteen and Semesterferien...so it's hard to register that this time, I won't be going back to Vienna. This year has made me really appreciate England and realise how much I love it. I'm definitely, definitely looking forward to being home again but I don't want to be misunderstood. I have enjoyed Vienna. It has allowed me to become a much more independent person and it has helped me change circumstances in my life which I probably wouldn't have, had I stayed in England. I'm looking forward to being home, if only to look back on my year abroad and realise what I have achieved.

Things I am looking forward to before I leave: finishing my Year Abroad task(!), going to see The Sound of Music at the Volksoper with Phil, going crazy at Charlie P's, Schubert concert with Chorus Sine Nomine, a trip to Salzburg in May, intensive German course, trying as many types of cake as I can and trying by best to be as cultural as possible!

Lots of visits!

About a month ago I took the rather familiar flight to England. I had Semesterferien and also the third Genesis Sixteen course to look forward to, as well as a few visits to friends that I have dearly missed during the very difficult part of my life that is my Year Abroad!

Tim met me in London and I proceeded to embrace the warm feeling that is my love for England. I know what you’re all thinking; why would anyone miss the UK!? And I never thought I would, until I came here. I live in Vienna…it has recently been voted the best place to live in the world. It’s safe; it has an excellent healthcare system; excellent transport connections and the culture and history are amazing…but I could never leave England on a permanent basis.  So, people, appreciate it while you can! Especially the food…right now I have a drawer filled with crème eggs, wispa golds, Cadbury bars, hobnobs etc…it helps J

The third Genesis Sixteen course was great but too short (again!) I’m really sad that there’s only one course left and really starting to freak out about singing in general, and what I’m going to do…but that’s not even relevant. Seeing everyone and singing together again was great. On the last evening when we were on our way to our group meal, it snowed a LOT. I was gobsmacked because from what I have heard it doesn’t snow much in London and it was way more than I had seen in Vienna at that point! But it made the whole visit very magical J

The day after the course finished, I went to Xscape in Milton Keynes with Tim to start learning how to ski! We decided we didn’t want to waste time on this when he came to Austria, so did it in England instead. It was way more fun than I expected…more on that later.

Next up in my visit to England was Durham! It. Was. Amazing. Just getting off the train to that amazing view of the Cathedral and the Castle made me want to cry. I forgot how much I love that city. I met up with my lovely college friends for lunch, spent lots of time with my first-year roommate, sang evensong with my college choir and ended the night in Spoons with my college son and dear friends from choir. I just couldn’t stop shouting “I’m just so happy to be here!!!” with tears in my eyes and they thought I was bonkers. Aside from the whole forgetting how to write essays thing…I really am looking forward to my final year J Being in a choir and having friends in other years is so awesome because it means not all my friends will have graduated when I get back, so it’s not so daunting.

After this, I visited Phil, one of my singer friends. We go way back and everytime we see each other it’s as if we’ve never left. We had a girly night in with chinese food and movies.

I ended Semesterferien by going back to London and spending a few more days with Tim, which included more skiing lessons, Frankie and Benny’s (yay!) and a visit to tesco to stock up on proper chocolate. I just checked my bank statement and I spent £32 on that shopping trip…!

Coming back to Vienna was difficult after being in England for so long, but I’m definitely back in the swing of things now. I had a week of semi-normality. Teaching resumed. I have finally, finally, really got into this teaching thing. So much that I’m actually wishing I had more hours…I only have 13 hours a week of classes. And it’s not even 13 hours because each lesson is 50 minutes long. I know my students so much better now and have a good laugh with them. I have completely relaxed about the whole thing and I’m really enjoying it, so I really want to do it more often! But such is the life of a teaching assistant.

A week later, Tim had reading week so came to visit. It was such an amazing week J We started off with a belated Valentine’s meal at the Donauturm restaurant. The Donauturm is a tower 252m high and has a restaurant at the top! It moves around so that the view of Vienna is always changing as you sit and eat your meal. Afterwards we met up with Tara and did Charlie P’s (even though nobody else seemed to be up for it!). Sadly, Tim had to sit through my terrible karaoke but all in all it was a good night. Pictures to prove it:

On the Wednesday afternoon, after I had finished school, and all day on Friday – we went skiing! I really never imagined myself enjoying it but I absolutely loved it. It was tough to start with; I remember saying the word ‘can’t’ an awful lot and having a few tantrums which Tim had to deal with (lucky him…) but once that was out the way it was great. I did have a slight Bridget Jones moment when I fell over with my skis pointing down the mountain…and proceeded to carry on hurtling down screaming “I’m going to die!!!”…but hey ho. The views from the top of the mountain were absolutely breathtaking and it was worth it just for that! We are probably going again at Easter when I have a holiday, as that’s the last week of the skiing season. Here's a couple of pictures of us:

A little less scary than the skiing was ice skating. At the moment Vienna has the most amazing temporary ice rink open in front of the Rathaus. We went one evening with Tara and had a lot of fun. It was weird wearing ice skates after skis though…more pictures...

Tim has gone home now and I’ve been chundering along with life. I’ve been to see another opera (Carmen), been to see a German film (well, French, but dubbed), finished reading the second Harry Potter in German (totally addicted at the moment…) and I’m looking forward to lots of choir rehearsals, starting my language course and generally trying to fit as much German/being cultural into these last three months as I can!

Bis Bald J

Singing, singing, singing...

This will be my last blog before going to England for Semesterferien; it doesn’t seem like 5 minutes since I got back for Christmas and the last month has flown by! It’s been a pretty difficult month though: I’d say the hardest so far. I’ve been up and down and all over the place emotionally with homesickness and conflicting emotions of where I want to be…but I guess it’s all character building and what doesn’t kill me will only make me stronger!

Last time I left off with being excited about a consultation lesson with a singing teacher at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien. Well, it went really well! I’m now having lessons with her regularly and really enjoying it. She challenges me a lot and really is doing wonders for my voice so I’m really happy about the whole thing! 

That day was also Jon’s Birthday night out which was a lot of fun – I met even more new people and generally had a great time I was just sad to have to leave earlyish because that weekend I had a Probenwochenende (2 full days of singing…) with Chorus Sine Nomine.

The Probenwochenende was fun but so tiring. I was definitely much more awake on Sunday than I was on the Saturday!!! It was nice to have the chance to talk to and get to know some other members of the choir and practise my terrible German. Food was provided in the breaks and I have to say this is what I am finding hardest about my year abroad…I love British food so much that I’m so sorry to have not appreciated it more L At this rehearsal, people were spreading mashed potato onto their bread and it was just komisch. But, as they say – ‘say yes to everything’…so I tried it. Not great. Not happening again. Aside from the food being terrible, the music was great! We started the Bruckner motets which I absolutely love, as well as some Poulenc pieces which will be interesting as 1. I can’t sing in French, as I never learnt it at school and 2. Germans singing in French sound so odd. But I’m sure it will be a valuable experience. We also continued with the Schubert Mass in A Flat, which I’m really enjoying!

The Tuesday after, we had a routine choir rehearsal for the Mozart in C Minor programme…only the usual conductor (the one from Südtirol who speaks an entirely different language altogether) wasn’t there. Someone else was conducting…and it was just amazing. I UNDERSTOOD EVERY WORD. Usually I come away from every Chorus Sine Nomine rehearsal feeling utterly useless and like I should just drop out of University and give up. But now I am reassured. It’s not me being stupid after all. It really is a different language. Sadly though, now I feel as though I have been lulled into a false sense of security, and it will be a nasty shock to have to once again sit, smiling and nodding my way through rehearsals in which I have given up on life itself.

Last night was Hal’s birthday dinner which was a fun but sad occasion because I won’t be seeing him again now, as he’s leaving for Paris!!! Got to say though, it’s a very good excuse to go there and I’m already making plans…

Phil and I went to a Schlüsseldienst today to get him a key cut. He is also going back to England around the same time as me, but not staying as long, so he needs a key to get into my flat when he’s back. It’s pretty funny because he’s moving out in 6 days and we only just got around to it…things probably would’ve been a lot easier if we’d done it earlier! But not as fun J

It’s been a really good term for teaching and I’ve had a few really memorable lessons this month. For starters, I got to go into a 2^nd form (10 – 11 year-olds) which was the best teaching experience I’ve had on my year abroad so far. The kids were just so cute and enthusiastic and actually taking part. It’s so sad that in a couple of years they won’t care anymore. One of them drew me a picture and at the end I sang for them and they said they’d miss me *sniff*

My favourite class of all time is the 6^th form I have on a Wednesday morning. Last week they had to do presentations and it was my job to make notes and correct anything they got wrong, but I literally had nothing to write down and felt useless! They aren’t even in their Matura (A level) years yet and are speaking so fluently it makes me want to cry. The teacher of that class told me she’s so scared about what on earth she’s going to teach them after this year!

Really, really, really looking forward to Genesis Sixteen (this weekend!!!) so much more than you could imagine. I was learning some of the music a couple of days ago though, and to my horror I found myself singing it all in German Latin. That might be a bit of a problem…and very ironic since I was looking forward to singing with English people and pronouncing everything properly…Anyway. It’s going to be awesome J I’m looking forward to seeing my sister, who will be coming to the informal concert at the end of the course. After that, I am travelling up to Durham and cannot wait to sing evensong with my college choir!!! It’ll also be great to catch up with my friends there. Next stop will be Huddersfield to visit and stay with my friend Phil…and then I’ll be going back to London to stay with Tim for a few days before I travel back to Vienna.

In my last blog I (dangerously) said I was going to start my year abroad task. Well, I’ve printed off the criteria and emailed my year abroad tutor, who has suggested I email her an outline and a plan in the next couple of weeks (I think that couple of weeks is nearly over now…). I’m probably going to choose the topic ‘Changing Places’ which is basically all about culture shock and the differences between here and home. I do feel like a lot of people will choose the topic as it’s easy and it applies to everyone, but I’m going to try and make it my own. I really don’t know if I can remember how to write essays/do academic work but I will try…

And now it’s time for me to take my leave and pack my things for 10 days in England!!!

Bis Bald xxx

England...and settling back into Austrian life with a 48-hour hangover.

I can’t believe I’ve already been at work for two weeks since being back. Time is flying by at the moment…

So, last time I posted, I was stupidly excited about going home for Christmas. Well, it definitely didn’t disappoint J I had such an amazing time! Being on a year abroad really does make you appreciate England…as soon as I got to Manchester I was already embracing northern accents, people holding doors open for me, standing in a queue…all these little things that you just don’t notice until you spend time abroad. Before my flight back to Vienna I stocked up on baked beans, Ritz crackers, Angel Delight, wispas, crème eggs, chicken soup, bisto…etc. Food is definitely something that I just cannot adjust to here…British food ftw.

I spent the first few days of Christmas at my brother’s, which was lovely. My sister also arrived on the 23^rd and I think it’s the first time the three of us have spent the run up to Christmas together, which was really fun. On Christmas day my sister and I went to St. Anne’s, which is the church she sang at when she lived in Manchester. She managed to wangle me a place in the choir, which I was so grateful for because that was the first English (and the last…) Christmas carols I sing in 2011!!!! Needless to say, I sang my little heart out. Then, when we got home…I sat and waited for my parents to arrive, having not seen them since early September. It was amazing – I’ve never appreciated them so much and in light of recent personal changes in my life it was just the best Christmas present ever J Oh dear, I’m getting soppy now.

After spending Christmas and Boxing Day with my family, I then went to London to visit my friend Tim from Genesis Sixteen, which was great. I actually still feel like a tourist when I go to London, which my students in Austria find hilarious. It’s just such a scary place…I then went to my parents’ for New Year and the rest of the holiday, until flying back to Vienna. Being back in my own bed was amazing, and I had missed my cat so much!!!

And now I’m back, pretty much settled in again. But I’m back in England exactly 2 weeks today so it feels a bit silly! In 2 weeks I have the next Genesis Sixteen course, and after that weekend it’s my Semesterferien…so I’m going to stay in England for that week, visiting people and briefly going to Durham to sing a service with my college choir! I’m really looking forward to it. Don’t get me wrong, I love Vienna – but it has definitely made my love for England very strong!!!

Since last term, I have now been christened “2 glass Lizzie”…or maybe I am just being kind to myself, because I’m pretty sure at one point it went down to “1 glass Lizzie” L This is a reference to how much of a lightweight I am. Last Friday was my first big night out since I got back…and it was interesting…I remember protesting at 1am that I was going home, then someone thrust a glass of coke in my hand and I ended up staying in Beer & Songs (karaoke bar) until 5.30am (ugh!). Phil and I did our signature duet – All I Ask Of You. Near the end of the night Phil and I then decided we were going to stay at Jon and Liana’s instead of going home…I don’t quite remember the reasoning for this…something to do with breakfast in the morning. Anyhow, I didn’t get back to my own flat the next day until it had turned dark. I proceeded to spend the whole evening groaning in pain…and all of Sunday as well. I haven’t been out since. But this Friday is Jon’s birthday piss-up…oh dear oh dear.

This weekend I have a “Probenwochende” with Chorus Sine Nomine. Basically, a whole weekend of singing – which will be great; I’m loving the music…but it will be tiring!!! At the moment we’ve just started a beautiful piece by Richard Strauss called “Der Abend”. It’s absolutely gorgeous and in 16 parts. Other music we’re working on at the moment is Schubert Mass in A Flat and Mozart C Minor Mass. Rehearsals are much more regular this term so it’s nice to really get stuck into things more. I still don’t understand Johannes’ accent though…

Tomorrow is a very exciting day, as I have a singing lesson with a teacher from the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst. It’s a consultation, but if it goes well I will be sticking with it!!! Fingers crossed J

Teaching is still fun as ever but the schools have so many tests at the moment that a lot of the time…they just don’t need me, which is fine when they let me know! One teacher periodically texts me on a Tuesday night to tell me she doesn’t need me on a Wednesday afternoon…fine. But yesterday, I turn up thinking for once she wants me to come to the lesson. I get a text literally as I enter the staff room…ugh! But it’s not all bad; today I got to teach about British boybands and girlbands, which took me back J

I enrolled on an intensive German course for this term. It doesn’t start till March because I’m not here for a full four weeks until then! In February I have Semesterferien or I would’ve done it then. Anyway, was lovely to speak to the staff in the Deutsch Akademie because they were so…German! So easy to understand and have a proper conversation with.

I’ll be starting my Year Abroad Task soon as well, which is a silly 1000 word essay leading up to my oral exam in October. I’m trying to treat it seriously though, as it’s something that I might as well do well…

Also really looking forward to my mum, dad, brother and his fiancé coming to visit in April!!!!! That’s the probably the first time I’ll see them all since Christmas and I’m so happy I get to spend my 22^nd birthday with them :D

Anyway, I will take my leave, because I’m off to teach another lesson on British Pop Music J

Bis Bald! xxx

4 days to go!!!

It has literally been a month since I last posted!!!

So since I got back from Genesis Sixteen, it's been a pretty emotional month. Something happened in my personal life which has changed my whole future and that wouldn't have happened (well not as quickly anyway) if I hadn't come on my year abroad. Doing this has given me so much independence and made me realise what I want. It gave me the courage to change things for the better and I'm so grateful for that...

It's been a very homesick month, I'm not going to lie. I'm SO excited to go home. I'm flying straight to Manchester on the 23rd as we're spending Christmas at my brother's house. I'll stay there till the 27th, and then spend a few days in London, then back to my parent's house for New Year. I literally don't want anything for Christmas, I just want to see my family and experience English things once again. I need my fix! But despite feeling homesick, I have actually done quite a lot this month...

Ice skating has become a regular occurrence in my life. The weekend after I got back from Manchester, my friends and I all went to Stadtpark to try it out. The last time I'd been ice skating was my 15th birthday and I ended up in A&E, so this time I wanted to try and stop associating it with injuries...but alas, it was not to be. I got way too cocky, speeding around the rink and fell on my knees twice. The first time was pretty funny. The second time however, my friend Hal said that he "never wanted to hear a woman make sounds like that ever again". It still hurts and I've learnt my lesson! We've been again since, and that time I had a lot of fun. Definitely getting the hang of it :)

I've been to see yet another opera since being back - La Bohème. It's definitely the best one I've seen yet. Next term my aim is to see the Wiener Philharmoniker and maybe the Vienna Boy's Choir too.

The great thing about Vienna at the moment is that it's Christmas! The Christmas lights and markets are just beautiful and the whole experience makes it magical. Going to Christmas markets and drinking Gluehwein is something I'm definitely going to miss. Not only are they amazing for Christmas shopping but also in a really social way. It's such a culture here to just go, drink, eat and be merry. I do miss mince pies though - I have such a craving for them at the moment but I don't even particularly like them that much...I just miss having the option! Christmas carols are another thing I miss :(

There have been nights out aplenty this month and as someone who used to be tee total for a while, it is definitely taking its toll on me, but I'm having a lot of fun :) We have now branched out to a different karaoke bar called "Beer and Songs" and on a night out there, I managed to find songs in my range and sang "Think of Me" from Phantom, being sure to include the top B flat in the cadenza...then my friend Phil and I sang a stunning rendition of All I Ask of You. It. Was. Beautiful. But I'm not sure it was worth me sitting on a bench, while waiting for the UBahn, with my head between my knees...

This month I have also ventured out of Austria and into Slovenia! A few friends and I visited Ljubljana (lubjubjub) for a long weekend (we had a Nationalfeiertag). It was great to spend some time outside of Vienna and be a tourist again!

Singing is going well too. The choir I'm in, Chorus Sine Nomine, is great and I'm having a lot of fun. I've only been to three rehearsals and yet I am already the joke of the choir - being the English one. Every rehearsal I get "Elizabeth, haben Sie verstanden???". The conductor has a very strong Austrian accent and has no hopes of me understanding anything he says. But at least now everyone in the choir knows my name...the last rehearsal went great, I spoke loads of german and have successfully got through the small talk barrier with everyone there :) I'm looking forward to next term when rehearsals get a bit more regular and intense. Next term I think I will join a church choir too, and I finally have a contact from the Vienna Conservatoire who is going to help me find a singing teacher which is exciting!

Teaching...(oh yeah, that thing I came here to do)...is also going well! Today I got a whole class sitting in a circle and singing Auld Lang Syne which was good fun. I'm getting to know my students pretty well now and really enjoying teaching them.

Other than that, I've been enjoying my Haribo advent calendar, a lovely Sunday lunch cooked by my husband Phil, my sister coming to visit (she is still here :)) and just making the most of being here until I leave for Christmas!

Bis Bald! x

Genesis Sixteen and Culture Shock

So last weekend I went back to England:

I didn't quite realise how well I've integrated into Austrian culture until I was back. People holding doors open for me and smiling at me in the street seemed pretty alien to me (sorry, Austria). I forgot which way to look while crossing the roads which ended in me merely running across like a headless chicken instead. I accidentally said "Entschuldigung" to some girls instead of "Excuse me" and was rather bewildered when they didn't acknowledge me. I've lost the ability to say yes and now I sound like a rah. One of my friends on the course who also went to Durham, did German and Music and spent his year abroad in Vienna (weird) said that my German has gone flat, lazy and Austrian. Which is always a good thing haha, at least my year abroad is (hopefully) working :)

Genesis Sixteen was great but not long enough. Staying with my brother and his fiancé was lovely and I'm looking forward to seeing them again at Christmas. Seeing everyone was absolutely amazing. I sang lots, laughed lots, ate a whole bowl of really spicy chinese soup due to peer pressure, stocked up on English cravings (whispa, dairy milk, terry's chocolate orange, corned beef - random I know) and just generally had an awesome time. I can't wait for the next one. I just want to do a degree in it. I'm dreading the end of the final course. If you're interested, you can watch a video of it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQpc0TnLUxQ&feature=youtu.be

Absolutely sobbed when I got back to Austria, I was so homesick. I literally stepped into my flat, let out this huge sigh and just thought "Shit." If I'd been able to go home and see my parents maybe it would've been better, but I had been in England without seeing them, or my cat :( At the induction course in Graz, we were all shown a graph of how we were probably going to feel on our year abroad. It was basically a wiggly line which was high, then low, then high again, then low again. And now I completely understand. I remember looking at it, thinking "Nah, I'm gonna be happy allllll the time", which was a nice attitude to have, but now I realise it's just not possible! At least it took me 2 months to hit that low though, and it's always only going to be a temporary thing which is only natural.

I'm ok now, it took a few meet ups with friends for me to remind myself that actually, I'm having an awesome time here and I have met some of the most lovely people who I will definitely be keeping in touch with. On the subject of friends, I'm insanely happy for Tara, who, after 2 months of living here, finally has a place to live!!! It's crazy, this year abroad business. I do miss her kipping on a mattress in my living room but am looking forward to seeing her swanky new flat with her Uncle in the poshest district of Vienna!

Went to my first Chorus Sine Nomine (that's the choir I'm in) rehearsal on Tuesday. We're doing Mozart Great C Minor Mass which I loooove. The conductor has a veeeery Austrian accent and I have never concentrated so hard in my life, merely just to hear the page numbers correctly and make sure I'm singing at the right time. I foresee a lot of embarrassing incidents in the future where I'll probably just sing and forget that the conductor asked for tenors only. Awkward. It's also going to take a long time for me to get used to german latin. Weirdest thing ever. Qui is "kvee" and coelis is "tserlis"It was fun though, and even though everyone would probably have loved to speak to me in English, they respected that I need practice and spoke to me in German.

Nothing much else to update. Mega excited for Christmas with my family. Going to the opera again on Monday, and maybe to karaoke afterwards as that seems to be standard at the moment(!) It's bitterly cold and I'm learning to layer and much appreciating my leg warmers and ear muffs. I'm really looking forward to my sister coming to visit, drinking Gluehwein at the Christmas Markets and generally showing her around!

Bis bald x