Well hello there lovely readers!
It's been a week since my last blog and I'm in rather a good mood. This is due to the fact that I am now free from work until next Thursday! I love Austrian holidays! Next week is "Herbstferien" until Thursday, and yesterday was Nationalfeiertag so all in all it's a pretty good couple of weeks. It's not that I don't like teaching, but obviously time off is always a lovely thing and gives me ample opportunity for more socialising, potential sightseeing and being cultural.
Last Friday I saw the most amazing buskers (courtesy of my good friend Hal) in Stephansplatz. We were all on our way to a celebratory meal (Phil finally found a place to live - yay!) and before we found a restaurant, we stopped and listened to these amazing musicians. They played Gabriel's Oboe and it was just beautiful. It made me want to give up playing the violin...afterwards we had another great night out with the other Teaching Assistants at the Naschmarkt (amazing market).
Teaching is going really well too. On Monday I had the most amazing lesson with my fourth form at the Theresianum (13 - 14 year olds). I took the whole lesson and they were so enthusiastic. I actually much prefer teaching the younger ones! They were asking me loads of questions and getting really involved, and even calling me Frau Professor. Amazing for my self esteem :)
Monday was also karaoke day. Personally, I never really go to karaoke...actually, this was my first time! Being a serious singer, it's not something I thought I would enjoy. Without the influence of alcohol, I would just stand there scrutinising everyone, looking at their tense jaws and retracted tongues and criticising their bad technique. However, with a couple of glasses of wine down me I had so much fun. sang a lot, danced like a crazy person and lost all my inhibitions. Phil and I sang Phantom of the Opera which was pretty epic..I have to say I'm really enjoying going out at the moment. Back in Freshers' Week at Durham I was tee total and when you don't drink in Fresher's Week, it's difficult to be on the same level as everyone else. But it's not just about drinking, of course, it's about letting go and getting to know new people, which I like to think I have really embraced so far this year!
The morning after karaoke was interesting...just before we left for karaoke, I had read an email from the teacher I was going to be helping the next morning at 8am..telling me to prepare a lesson on Halloween. I remember thinking "Screw it, I'm still going to karaoke"...so I did, and got back at 2am...and still managed to plan the lesson when I got home but it was a difficult time. I managed 3 hours sleep, made it to school on time, suppressed the yawns and those students did not give a rat's arse about Halloween! I didn't realise it was so unpopular here...I rectified the situation with a funny youtube clip of Halloween pranks (provided by the lovely Tara - lifesaver!) and the teacher thought it was an excellent lesson anyway! The lesson was actually observed as well, by an Austrian trainee teacher only a few years older than me, who I managed to strike up a friendship with - we bonded over our hangovers...anyway, it's really great because it's another person to speak german with who is around my age :)
I had my first illness this week too - although it only lasted 24 hours which isn't like me at all! Before this year I've always had a really bad immune system but I've been taking vitamins recommended by Harry Christophers himself (conductor of The Sixteen for those of you who don't know) and they've been amaaazing. I had a really bad summer for illnesses and I knew all I needed was to get away from University and the pressures it brings for a little while in order to start feeling normal again. I'm back on form and so excited about all the singing opportunities this year will bring!
In earlier blogs I've mentioned that I'm putting up my friend Phil. He moves out this Sunday but has been living on my sofa for about a month! Because we've been living together for so long, at the moment we have this weird platonic married couple thing going on. We'll be in the supermarket planning our meals together and saying things like "We've got some frozen peas in the freezer, haven't we dear?". Today we had our first argument. We went to do a quick food shop before going home on the Strassenbahn and I was rather giddy with the knowledge that I had the next 7 days off...in my excitement I proceeded to stuff things haphazardly into the bag in no particular order and my abysmal packing had us both in stitches as well as Phil being rather exasperated...
Hmm did any more exciting things happen this week?? Phil and I discovered "Hobbits" which are the Austrian version of Hobnobs (God, I miss Hobnobs..)unfortunately we only have the plain ones at the moment but tomorrow we're venturing out to Schwedenplatz to buy the chocolate covered ones. (I am much too excited by this prospect.) Anything else? I've started wearing leggings on top of tights because I'm so cold. And it's not even cold yet. NOT looking forward to winter. Also the heating in my flat doesn't work - well it does, I just don't know how to work it...blankets are a very good invention. Another thing I've noticed recently is that the transport in Austria is so punctual, reliable and regular that when I have to wait more than 4 minutes for any form of transport, I get irritated. Typically Austrian.
Today it is officially 9 days until my amazing fiancé, Shaun, comes to visit. I CAN'T WAIT. We're going to have an amazing week and it's a great excuse for me to do some more sightseeing. And I miss him of course! <3
And now, it's time for me to shut up and embrace my free time :)
Love to all - hope all at home is awesome!
xxx
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