ice cream.

Today is the last day the ice cream place we all love is open so we went and got our final fix (mine being soy, of course). I don't understand why it has to close for the winter, but whatever.

Tonight we are having a girls night! At TGI Friday's! I'm so excited!! And then tomorrow I don't have class until 2 p.m. ... hmm ...

because my life is defined by tv.

I love Chuck Bass. The end.

Because I have a German essay and a history write-up due tomorrow, I figured I might as well watch Gossip Girl and Greek, go and get cake, and, now, write on my blog. True life: I have senioritis. So it goes.

Today we went to St. Stephen's for art history but we've already been there a few times for random reasons, so I don't really feel the need to comment on that.

However, afterwards some of us went to Demel for cake and it was amazing. It was exactly what I needed. We met a three-year-old girl named Aurora there who was adorable and super well-dressed. I loved her whole outfit, especially her coat. I can't wait to have kids (note: that's an exaggeration - I can wait a few more years when, you know, I'm married and such).

Also, on another note, my fear of escalators which has never really affected my life has now just become embarrassing. I wait a solid 10 seconds before I make the plunge onto the escalator, which is kind of not okay in a big city like Vienna. I just am scared that I'm going to get caught in the middle of two stairs. This fear is not very justified, but I have it nevertheless.

My parents' birthday card for me came today! I guess they were just paranoid that the mail would be super slow. It was very nice to get something tangible from the U.S.

i miss wake. but it's all good.

Things I miss about my normal college life:
1. Costco-sized peanut butter
2. frat parties
3. Phi Mu - specifically, HLMK
4. texting/using a cell phone in general
5. my car
6. the prevalence of the English language
7. the OGB (I admit it)
8. late-night Subway
9. Target wine. and Target in general.
10. not having to cook for myself/affordable restaurants
and, of course, many more things, too.

I'm one of those people who wants to be an undergrad for roughly forever and I can't wait to go back to Wake.

That's not to say I'm not enjoying myself here, though. I have no class on Fridays. The only classes I like are my history classes, but oh well. At least I know that the most impulsive declaration of a major ever was not completely off-base.

My mom is officially coming at the end of the semester and we are going to travel around a bit in Germany (a trip down memory lane for my mom when she studied abroad a mere 23 years ago) before the rest of the fam comes. We were going to do Switzerland but I'm looking forward to Germany because my family came from there and all. Also, since I really can't eat anything in Germany - land of pork and cheese - hopefully I can lose some of this Nutella weight!

stockholm madness.

This morning at way-too-early o'clock (our taxi was at 4 am), Ashley and I left the rather peculular place that is Stockholm. Everything was crazy expensive, the bathrooms were coed, and everyone spoke Swedish which was super unfamiliar to me. We managed to go a decent amount of things in Sweden from looking at pretty royalty crowns to examining a ship that sunk way back in the 1600's. The weather was cold, of course, but not unbearable. While we were waiting for our train last night, I really, really hoped it would be the Polar Express instead (even though it's not at all close to Christmas time and also, would it accept me as a Jew?).

On Thursday, we went and saw the Roman ruins which were fine, but not much to write about. We did find out at the end of that experience that the really good ice cream place (with soy options!) closes on Wednesday which means they give the ice cream away for free! I'm already looking forward to it.

sweden.

The time has (almost) come. Tomorrow, Ashley and I are going on the first of our international adventures!! To the most random place ever! It's just us, so hopefully we won't get too lost. The rest of the group is going to Oktoberfest, which probably would not have been a pleasant experience for me (they are getting to the tents at 5 a.m.), so I am happy we are going on this adventure.

We (and by we, I mean Ashley) made peanut butter cookies for the trip!

We'll be back Sunday, when I can also update on tomorrow's art history field trip to some Roman ruins.

all i care about is food.

Given the fact that I didn't even leave the house today, I would just like to discuss the amazingness of my food lately.
Last night, the whole house had chili. I am definitely not the biggest chili fan but this was delicious and it only cost 2 Euro per person which is awesome since I spend Euros here like it's going out of style.
Today, I had homemade chicken salad and deviled eggs.
And I stuff my face with Nutella daily.
Sooo basically I eat better here than I do at home (when dinner usually comes out of the depths of our massive Costco-ready freezer).

On a separate note, I've been hammering away at this book I have to read...in German...too bad I can't read German. Oh yeah, the presentation is due after I get back from Prague which is not this weekend (that would be Sweden) but next. Oh man, I am in so much trouble. But it's about Jews in Austria in the 1920's so I feel like I know what's going on. Also, we have a paper due tomorrow and one due that day after that. But those are in English and, not going to lie, my biggest talent is quick paper writing, so I'm not worried. I just kind of want this week (as in, the next two days of class) to be over so Ashley and I can enjoy Sweden!
Today's art history class almost killed me. Two hours of watching slides in the dark is a recipe for disaster.

bumming around vienna.

So I'm already starting to get sick again .. oh nooo I have no immune system. Welcome to my life.

Yesterday I went to the park and it was perfect weather. I really enjoyed people watching.

Today, painters came to the Flow House and it was madness. I got paint on my prized Banana Republic dress that my mom gave to me as kind of a going away present. As if that weren't bad enough, I went on the bus the grocery store and sat on some wet substance. I don't want to know what it was.

the hills (were) alive.

This weekend we went to Salzburg and it is such a cute place! The girls did the four-hour Sound of Music bus tour which was definitely worth the 33 Euro price. We also went to the fortress there which involved a scary tram ride up a steep mountain. There was some really awesome shopping but unfortunately everything else was really expensive so we didn't indulge too much.

The weather was much nicer than I thought it would be, considering we were in the Alps. Overall, I enjoyed the weekend much more than last weekend.

that time we went to a winery for class...

Today was an action-packed day. We went the Klosterneuburg Monastary (picture above)which was gorgeous. Then, we went to a castle and I got to hold a medieval weapon.
The best part of the day, though, was going to a winery. We got to try three kinds of white wine, two kinds of red wine, and we were given a glass of champagne. Also, the food was great.

Tomorrow we are taking a ridiculously early train to Salzburg! I'll be back late Saturday night.

volkskundemuseum.

Today we went to the Volkskundemuseum for our Vienna history class. I thought it was really cool but I was stressed out about note taking. I wish I could have gone just for fun. The museum was basically a "mock house" mostly from the 19th century. I am so happy I am not a peasant farmer living in the Alps in the 19th century.

We also got our train tickets for Salzburg this weekend. I am sooo excited for the Sound of Music bus tour - you don't even know. I watched the movie over the summer with my 5-year-old cousin (my 2-year-old cousin caught bits and pieces) and it was adorable to watch it with her.
I feel like this semester is going to fly by because next weekend Ashley and I are going to Sweden, then we have a class weekend trip to Prague, then another one to Budapest and then it's our 10-day break (which we are spending in Italy!). I'm excited because I've never been to any of these places before.

kunsthistorisches museum (part 1)

Today in art history we explored the Egyptian, Roman and Greek exhibits at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. I really enjoyed looking at the Egyptian exhibit.

Right now Ashley and I are making banana bread (well, Ashley really made it). And then it's time for Greek!

throwback to the 90s.

Today Ashley got surprises in the mail - seasonings for chicken from her madre! Tonight we made Hawaiian chicken and it was super tasty. Then someone from the house made strawberry peach pie. I'm so happy right now.
What could make it better? Watching Sandlot. Oh wait, I'm doing that right now. Welcome back, childhood.

re: the alps.

FRIDAY: We left the Flow House at 6:40 am. Rough. We took a bus to the town and then we had to hike all the way up to our motel. I was pretty much spent for the day at that point, no joke.
SATURDAY: 12-mile hike to see cows. Will never hike so much again. The end. Though I guess I can say now that I have hiked the Alps. Sadly, I have a feeling this will not help me in life.
SUNDAY (today): Encountered rain in the freezing cold weather. Sadly did not have umbrella at that point. Wanted nothing more than to be back at the Flow House.

Okay, the Alps were really pretty and we did see a cow festival, which is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Still. I've had my nature fix for awhile.

We have three field trips this week and I think this weekend we are going to Salzburg (think Sound of Music). So it's going to be busy!

alps.

We are going to the Alps early tomorrow morning so I am going to be MIA in all facets of life (Facebook, e-mail, etc) until Sunday evening.
Wish me luck.

schoenbrunn zoo & park expeditions.

Today, for German class, we went to the zoo bright and early. It was actually a lot of fun because I love zoos for some inexplicable reason (my favorite being the San Diego zoo, of course). I gave my presentation on lemurs which was fine I suppose. In case you were wondering, lemur in Latin means "spirit of the night." Anyway, we went to a seal feeding and their little aquarium, among other highlights.

Then, half of the group went to get crepes (and then we were late for history class, whoops). My diet here is terrible, but, I mean, you're only a teenager once, right? I should know as the end of my teenage years is rapidly approaching. Yes, this is really an obsession of mine.
For dinner, Ashley and I had delicious croissants with olive oil, basil, chicken, and cheese (lactose-free for me, of course). Yummm.
Clearly, my life is all about food.

After the main events of the day, I took my massive amounts of reading to the park down the road from our house. I really wanted to enjoy the park before the weather becomes too cold. It was so nice. I'm not a nature person, so I don't really care about that, but I really enjoyed watching the kids play even if it did make me feel old. The whole thing kind of made me happy that I was taking this semester off from Winston just so I can regroup and figure out where my life is headed.

wien museum.

Today we went to the Wien (Vienna) museum with our art history class. As you can see, it's not that impressive from the outside but I thought it was cool. We spent almost all of our time on the first floor (4000 BC to Gothic) and our professor was very descriptive about everything.

It's located in kind of a shady region in my opinion, but the real shadiness happened on the way back. As we were exiting the U-Bahn station, this weird random lady tried to touch me. It was so bizarre.

I am not looking forward to doing homework. Tuesdays are rough for us, as we have class from 9-4 (and our art history ran over to about 4:40 pm). Plus we have to get up super early for the zoo tomorrow FML.

because i was definitely missing tex mex.

Tonight, most of the group took the bus to Fresco Grill: a gem of a Tex Mex treat hidden in Vienna. I definitely devoured my entire burrito. I even got free water and they spoke English! Life was awesome. I love America and I'm not at all ashamed to admit it.

About that ... I'm not really the assimilating type so the transition to Vienna hasn't been the easiest (especially due to my contraction of "the plague"). However, I think I'm finally feeling more comfortable in this foreign city. Now it's time to travel! In all seriousness, I can't even explain how excited I am to go to Sweden later this month and then, next month, Italy for our 10-day trip! This whole experience has been really surreal.

schoenbrunn palace!

Today, we went to the Schoenbrunn palace. We actually decided, since it was very overwhelming, to just do the outside today while the weather is somewhat bearable (though still freezing in my opinion) and then go back and do the inside. The outside was so cool! There were mazes and beautiful gardens and I was exhausted by the time the whole thing was over.
I can't believe that was just a summer house. Must be nice...

inglourious basterds.

EPIC. LOVED IT. Okay, it was a little too graphic for me, I will admit (especially one scene), but it was much better than I expected. I felt a little weirded out that I was seeing this Nazi movie in Austria but it was all good.
I was also annoyed to be spending 7.60 euro for it - I just can't stand spending all of this money.

PS My gmail is still down. I'm so annoyed.

centimeter III

Love the graphic. We just got back from Centimeter III (what the cartoon is about) - a magical place where you can get copious amounts of Wiener schnitzel for relatively little $$. I ate like I was in a Man vs. Food challenge. I have no idea why I was so hungry but the whole experience was just amazing.

I'm not sure if I'm going out tonight since I went out last night and I'm still fairly sick but we shall see. It's already the weekend because we don't have classes on Fridays :)

coach envy.

Coach has made some AWESOME new things and I really wish I could fly to America right now and splurge on something.
Here is their website with new stuff: http://www.coach.com/online/handbags/-newatcoach_allnewatcoach-10551-10051-5000000000000000002-en?t1Id=5000000000000000001&t2Id=5000000000000000002&tier=2
I am a huge fan of the new laptop sleeve. Maybe madre will get it for me for my birthday.

Not too much to update on the Vienna front: I'm still ill. I'm still eating chocolate. MLIA.

the plague.

Ashley and I are currently sick which for me reached a new low today. I didn't even leave the house which is unfortunate. Also I took a painfully necessary "power nap" to get me through the day. Still, I was/am cranky and upset.

Anyway, I have a borderline obsession with the entire Kardashian family and I googled Kourtney to keep up with her pregnancy only to find she has her own website! http://officialkourtneyk.celebuzz.com/
So, yes, this is what I've been up to in Vienna. That, and copious amounts of German translation action.