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..

I seem to be the only Canadian here.  There are others, my coordinator told me, but they have already been here for six months so I probably won't be meeting them.  I'm afraid I'm not always the best ambassador for Canada though..  For instance, I can't ski really.  Luckily, no one has to witness it as I can't ski with my knee yet, however more than one person have asked me about Whistler, and I have to tell them I've never been there.  Also, I've said one or two things in class I'm ashamed to say help support the stereotype of Canadians being dumb...  However I think it's a good thing, cause now I'm motivated to learn more about my country!  I blame our school system.  The last time I remember learning about Canada was grade nine!  Not acceptable.

In regard to partying... there's plenty here.  It seems whenever the Austrians don't have plans for the night, they go out to the "Disko", which just means bar.  The bars don't really excite me here so far, maybe later on when I make closer friends, but I really don't like trying to make small talk in a crowded, smoky, loud bar.  The music they play is pretty rad though, it seems to usually be a mixture of new and old English music, and then sometimes they will play a few German songs.  I heard Teenage Dirtbag one night, and was just rattled.  Drinks in the bar here are about the same price as at home.  However, drinks are not at all the same price from the store.  A decent bottle of wine is around 2-3 Euro, and a litre of hard alcohol is around 10.  I don't have to spend my travelling money to drink here!!

I'm starting to figure out how things work here.  For example the price of fruits and veggies seemed to be very high here, with the quality and selection very low.  I recently learned that is because the Austrians strongly support organic fruits and veggies, and to find more selection I must go to the Turkish shops.  Should I surrender myself to inorganic fruits and veggies?  On my budget, I think I probably will...

It's hard to shop for groceries here.  I'm used to reading labels of products I don't recognize.  Here, I don't recognize anything, and reading the label is just not an option.  I never realized the importance of having a picture on your label.  I also get by with small phrases such as "entshuldigung bitte, butter mit salz?"(Excuse me please, butter with salt?).  That phrase didn't help much though.  Apparently they don't have salted butter here... I miss it dearly.  Also, their mayo is horrid.  Tastes like liquid egg.. which is what it is I suppose.  There is 80% fat mayo here.. maybe that one tastes better.....

I've been spending my free time planning my future free time.  I found some shops that sell used guitars here, so I'm going to look for a guitar and a bike this next week.  The opera has an event every night, which is so exciting!  I can get a seat from around 3-90 Euro.  I will probably try out the one for 16, and hopefully it's not dreadful.  I'm trying to plan out my next five months, so that I can get the most "bang for my buck".  I hope to visit Daniel and Therese at the end of the month, however the cheapest flights to Norway I have found are 300 Euro... nicht sehr gut.  I've also been looking up concerts that are going to be around here(so far I found Peter, Bjorn and John in the Netherlands...hmmm...maybe not close enough..) and I must plan to save a handful of Euros for when Riley comes to visit.  He told me about an island-wide party in Spain, on an island called Ibiza.  It goes all summer.  Also, I found out that Austrians (or most of Europe perhaps?) are celebrating something they call Karnival right now.  It's party time between Christmas and Lent, so the bakeries sell special donuts, and in the last weekend people dress up and party(like Halloween), and there's a big parade.  Apparently this is super crazy in Venice, but I might stay here for it.  We will see..

I don't think I'll go out tonight.  Maybe I'll just make a nice dinner and skype with my loved ones back home. The other night I dreamt of hugging one of my friends... I think I'm missing my close relationships, hahaha.  Tomorrow I'll get an early start on the day and go out to get some pictures for you all!

Missing everyone!
Love Nikki

Ps, check out Peter, Bjorn and John in my video stream.  Their's is the animated one.