Easter Vacation!

Hello all! 

I'm back from Vacation, and the sun is just radiating here in Graz!  Everyone is out and about, and there's events going on all the time bringing in the spring :)  When I bike by the river it smells like Vacation, and I can't help but be happy these days.  I played soccer yesterday, and the day before that, and I played some volleyball yesterday, so I can barely move.  Last night the school turned our main buildings court yard into a club, so I went and danced with my friends, then went to The Forum in Stadtpark, where I got to see a DJ from Vancouver kick ass on stage.  After his set my friends and I bullshitted with him until the sun started to rise, then went and got a morning Kebap.  The other day I basically made turkey dinner for my friends, and it kicked ass!  Life is great ;)

ART!

Okay, I know everyone wants me to blog, but damnit... I just don't want to.  Too busy trying to get as much school done as I can before the break (which is in just over ten days!!) and trying to plan the break as well! :\  I've also been quite mopey lately, and I know I'm not alone in that.  There's lots of stress in mine and my loved ones lives right now... But, stress can only last for so long.  It will all be okay.  And here, allow this to cheer you up, it sure cheered me up!

The school routine begins

Time is just ticking away over here.  And I hear the seconds in every moment of silence spent with Anna.  Tick, tick, tick.  I don't know how she handles that watch.

Up until Karneval

Wow I can't believe the last post was way back for Royal Garden!  Weeks seem to fly by here, and the days are always ending before I finish everything I want to do!  I've been in Graz just over a month now, and I still haven't been up Schlossberg, the huge hill in the middle of the city, and a main tourist attraction.  There are several main attractions of Graz I still haven't seen.  I'll be sure to get around to them soon though, as it's getting sunnier, and I now own a bike!

I fell in love with Jazz on Friday!

We went to a jazz bar called Royal Garden.  It's located near Hauptplatz, on Burgerstrasse.  All the streets here either end in strasse, or gasse.  It's a small underground bar, and the walls are brick.  There is a small smoking room, then a small room with a small stage.  Most of the bars here seem to be small.  Not so pleasant for the "club" atmosphere, but very pleasant for the Jazz!  I believe Sulim and I were the youngest ones there, but that didn't matter.  I was feeling their Grooooove.  The show on that night was

BERNDT LUEF QUINTETT

"Stolz Goes Jazz"

Freitag, 18. Februar, 21 Uhr

Beautifully simple

I'm reading a book my mom bought me before I left.  It's called The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks, which you may recognize.  I didn't, but I love vinyl, cafes and notebooks, and the picture on the front is of a black crow writing in ink, with its beak, in a journal.  The bird is placed on a table of antique teal, and the rest of the cover is the colour of old paper.  It calmly suggested "Nikki, pick me up" as I almost walked by.  I did, and the next time I went into the book store my mom got it as a going away gift.

I bought a guitar today!

It's a small Anjo (whatever that is) and reminds me so much of Hannah's guitar.  Quite comforting!  It was only 40 Euro, came with a case, and I can probably sell both back to the store when I leave.. so not a shabby deal!  I'm excited to carry on learning guitar, and I'm already picturing sunny days by the river (my case has backpack straps, so on my future bike I can get all over town with my guitar!)  The bike is next on the shopping list.. but I am in no hurry as it has gotten wintery overnight here.  I can't wait for summer!  =D

Something More

Well now that I've briefly described my new home, I can delve a little into my day to day life.  Deutchkurs ist ein bisschen komish.  Which means, German class is a little funny.  Well really, its very funny.  My teacher animatedly speaks German for 3 hours, while prompting us to shamelessly try to do the same.  With students from all over the world, each with their own distinct accent, this is just so amusing.  It works though, I've learnt lots already.  I'm thinking in German here, so I know it's working.  Maybe later on I'll start posting in German!  Hahaha..

A week in Graz...

And it already feels like home.  I expected to feel out of place, if not in my residence, at least in the bustling city of Graz.  My housing was no problem.  When I first arrived I felt a little like an intruder; I had a key to let myself in and was expecting a single room, however I unlocked my door to a very lived in kitchen and no one home! I had to wander downstairs to find my room. It was weird moving into someone else's home while they weren't there to greet me, but just as I was starting to unpack a bit my roommate Dajana from Croatia came home.  She immediately welcomed me into our home, giving me a full tour not only of the flat, but also the housing complex.  I have another roommate named Chrissi from Austria, but have yet to meet her as she is home on holidays right now.