Österreich, Österreich, Österreich (Wien!!)

Home sweet Eislingen.
To begin, I would like to point out that I am posting much more punctually than in "recent" posts, but I can offer no promises of further actions. Though I would like to say that this will be more of a habit, we all know how the time slips away.
Secondly, I have returned safely (and stressfully, thanks to Deutsche Bahn) from Vienna to my lovely home in Eislingen. Vienna was fantastic! but in following standard procedure, the ensuing collapse into my bed in my room was heavenly...
so, Vienna! We all know I have a tendancy to be somewhat "long-winded" if you will, so I have decided to share only a few of my favorite moments from Vienna. We walked until our bodies ached, we woke up at reasonable times in order to maximize our time there, and we saw and experienced enough of Vienna in 72 hours to realize that I would need at least another week to be satisfied. Of course, the realities of time and money always seem to rear their heads where they are unwanted. So here are some memorable moments from my short time in Vienna.

1. "Ööööösterreich, österreich, östeeeeereiiich....usw": Trains planes and automobiles.
(Actually, just trains and trams, but travel is the idea here)

View from the train...somewhere between Munich and Linz

The excitement finally became real while sitting on the train from Munich to Vienna, as a little girl sang a lovely song I will title "Österreich" for our entire car to hear. Thanks to strikes on the German Deutsche Bahn, our travel situation became stressful as train 2 (Ulm-Munich) was cancelled. The scramble to get Deutsche Bahn to okay the train change of our non-exchangeable tickets and get to Munich in time to catch our next train to Vienna was...interesting. There was running. Headaches. And an unnecessary amount of stress. But as we finally made our last train (with one minute to spare!) a little girl and her repeated singing of "Austria, Austria, Austria" reminded me to laugh and get excited...because damnit, we were going to Vienna!

2. Life's "shitty" metaphor...

Park in Vienna...lovely weather...perfect bench. We sat where that couple is sitting.

Since I have provided the picture for you, I really only need to paint the background information of the scene: Steve and I had walked all day seeing the buildings, statues, memorials, churches, etc. of the inner city, and decided to search out this park to "have a good sit." Weather was warm, the sun was shining, and we searched for the perfect bench to sit and enjoy the weather and a little relief for our aching feet. Just as we were beginning to get all sentimental about the perfection of the moment...SPLAT!...directly between Steve and me came crashing down a wet pile of bird shit. There was splatter residue on my jacket, and thanks to tissue the situation was less than dire, but nonetheless, the perfect moment was literally shat on by a bird. Why regale this moment of the many amazing moments? Well first of all, it was pretty funny. And second of all...it was one of those spell breaking moments that reminded me of a few things. Life is not a movie. There are moments that seem to touch on perfection, but there's always something taking a shit somewhere. Sorry for the language. While I am enjoying my sit in Vienna, the world continues to turn; life does not just "enjoy a sit"; and someone somewhere is still taking a shit on someone. This isn't to sound negative, but I guess it reminded me that no matter how much I pretend, my life is not a romantic comedy, and I am not Sandra Bullock trying to find Hugh Grant in one of twenty similarly plotted films. The other thing it reminded me to do...was to laugh. Life is funny. Vienna is lovely, but it's lovelier while laughing.

3. "Gebackene Zucchini" *baked Zucchini*

Museum of Historical Art on our walk to the restaurant in the following story...

 Well, as some of you know, I am still "on a break" from eating flesh. We might get back together, but we're just seeing how we do without one another for a while. As it turns out, it's not that easy to get around eating meat, and I have been taking quite the heat over here for not participating in the fleish-eating meals.
You might also be familiar with a certain dish known as the "Wiener Schnitzel"...well, you guessed it...it gets it's name from Vienna! Wien! So naturally, Steve, or Schteve as he will now be referred to thanks to Flo's awesome Swabian Oma, needed to try this Viennese specialty. After searching far and wide through recommendations and maps and such, I found a place called "Schnitzelwirt"...you have probably already guessed that this is a restaurant known for its Schnitzel. And it was so well known, that it was practically a zoo inside. Waiters ran around like crazy people yelling orders and literally tossing meals onto tables. We were seated at a table with a family all placing an order for the famous schnitzel...which Schteve would be ordering as well. Over comes the waiter..."Schnitzel?" "5 Schnitzel?" Since everyone had come for the schnitzel, this was agreeable for everyone but myself. Our waiter saw the concerned look on my face and began to list other schnitzel alternatives, at which point I stopped him (as more and more people started to watch the scene between myself and our charasmatic and loud! waiter) and whispered...auf Deutsch obviously, "Actually, I'll take the baked Zucchini." Rooooaring laughter from the waiter...an announcement to the entire restaurant...and a shoutout to the kitchen...that someone actually came here to eat Zucchini. So much for being subtle.
But I did get my Zucchini in the end. While everyone else indulged on several Schnitzels the size of my face, I enjoyed my Zucchini with a growing impatience for the lack of meat-free alternatives in these parts of Europe. I guess that's what I get for going to a restuarant with Schnitzel in the title, but sometimes you've got to take one for the team. You're welcome, Schteve.

4. The Third Man

I took this photo originally just because I liked it...but! it turns out that above these women is the apartment that looked out on the "crime scene" of The Third Man

 Well, alas, a story without negativity or excrement! After a looong Friday, Schteve and I debated the Friday night situation. Behave like young people and go out drinking? Go back and sleep like we really wanted to? Explore until we literally collapsed in the street?...When after walking along, we saw the answer. A showing of the old black and white film The Third Man (in English!). For those of you who don't know the film... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041959/ ...it deals with an American arriving in Vienna who discovers that the friend whom he is visiting is dead! He investigates only to find out otherwise. Orson Wells would be the name to remember from the film. Anyway, it was a perfect end to a fantastic day. We saw the city all over again in the film, and after a few drinks at an Irish pub and a lovely movie...it was a quick ride home and then a virtual coma in our hotel beds.
So we didn't go out and party the way we're expected to do as 23 year olds...and I am sure that the night life in Vienna is amazing...but such partying is usually accompanied by a hangover, the likes of which was entirely unwelcome in such a rich city with so many opportunities to offer. No thanks, headache.

5. Judith...

Schloss Belvedere, where my beloved Judith is housed...

As some of you may know, I have a slight obsession with Art Nouveau...and Vienna is the heart of this movement and its Secession. Well, I finally saw in person my favorite painting. Judith. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Klimt (she is the painting at the bottom on the left...black hair...one eye sort of squinting...) Anyway...it was placed next to "The Kiss" which nearly everyone knows, and I have to say, anytime you study a piece of art...grow to love it...it's almost like being reunited with a long lost friend when I finally saw it in person. The strokes were as I had described them in my mediocre paper, the style and history even more interesting and rich placed in the context of a room full of similar paintings...and then there's the relief of the small imperfections. A pencil outline, a glob of paint, rough edges...human hands were there, and up close, you get to see the struggle. And by the way, I loved her even more in person.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gustav_Klimt_039.jpg

The Secession building house...itself Art Nouveau...and housing more Klimt...

6. Mozart!
And what would Vienna be, if not the center of an amazing music scene: past, present, and future...?

Performers of Mozart's Requiem in Karlskirche...

Well, I couldn't very well be in Vienna and not attend some sort of concert. I had my heart set on the opera... The Sonambulist was playing, but Schteve had no interest...so I searched high and low, and found that a group from Salzburg was putting on a performance of Mozart's Requiem in the famous Karls Church. Both the venue and the music seemed wholly appropriate: Vienna having been Mozart's stomping grounds, and Karlskirche, one of the amazing churches and sights Vienna has to offer.
The performance was beautiful. It was almost hard to watch, though. I found myself feeling nostalgic and genuinely missing my own music experiences. Lawrentians reading this: my heart went out to you all watching this performance. My friends at Lawrence have amazing musical talents and extraordinary work ethics that went into some of the most moving performances I have ever seen. Watching a world class performance, and knowing that some of my friends would fit in perfectly with these amazing musicians makes me extremely proud of the people I love. I miss you all dearly. I miss playing with you. I miss listening to you sing, play, perform... and watching the amazing performance reminded me what I truly miss about Lawrence...the reason I chose Lawrence as my University in the first place. Not everyone loves music the way I do, but at Lawrence, I couldn't love music the way my friends did.
It was an amazing performance that brought tears to my eyes (yes, I am one of "those" people), and it was a perfect last night in Vienna. Cliches aside, Vienna truly is a thriving city full of music, culture and life. I would gladly return for another go...

Karlskirche from the outside. Wow.

And now I have written WAAAY too much. But here are a few more photos (of the hundreds I took)...

Rathous

 

Parliament

Hofburg

Stephensdom

:) Lessing...LU German Dept. taught me well...

Holocaust Memorial

Donau...Prater Ferris Wheel in the background

Strauss!

More Hofburg

Schloß Schönbrunn

Naschmarkt

Hundertwasserhaus (famous architect)

Saucy Sphinx on Schloß Belvedere

One of too-many statue impersonations. Flute player! I just need a flute!

Life is once again more normal in Eislingen. Last night Flo and Schteve and I went bowling. I won the first game with my mad skills. And then proceeded to become progressively worse as the night went on... tomorrow work again...Thursday St. Patty's Day celebration. Friday brewery tour. Saturday swabian food at Flo's and then Handball...and Sunday I am off to Berlin again. Busy times in the life of Sara. But I am still loving every second. Loving the places, the adventures, and of course the people!
I'll be sure to post again sometime within the next month or so :)
Much lovin' to the homeland (and people currently not here, and travling in my homeland...!!)
Liebe Grüße!

February, schmebruary...HELAU!

To begin, I would like to blame the fact that I have failed to post for a month on the fact that February is barely even a month. 29 days hardly seems to qualify if you ask me. A month should have at least thirty days. And that is why I didnt find the time for the more regular updates I had envisioned when I began writing this blog.
So. Now that my perfectly valid excuse has been laid out for you all to graciously accept, I can tell you about my favorite non-month of the year.

From Silke!

From Florian!

First, and clearly most importantly, was my birthday. It was fantastic! I worked like a person with a real job all day (Valentines lessons!!), tutored, and then came home to enjoy dinner and good company ("the gang"). Even though I wasnt home, people still managed to shower me with "congratulations", thoughtful gifts and flowers. ...As a side note, I love that people are congratulated on their birthdays. "Congratulations, you have managed to make it through another year." It seems just all too appropriate.

Anyway, my birthday landed on a Wednesday, but the the real celebration did not. My lovely bestie Sharon came to visit on Friday. Her visit was much too short, but it was exactly what I needed to bring me home. Sometimes its not the place that brings you home, but rather the people. We enjoyed my "Eislingen favorites" together: Paganinis pizza, Eis from out Italian Eiscafe and obviously coffee and cake by Damianos. We climbed the stairs and looked at my city from my hill...and had a great time catching up. My friends came over Saturday night to continue the birthday celebration, and we played some games. Lesson learned from the night: drinking games should be played with beer, not jack and cokes. We shall leave it at that.
To sum it up, I really couldn't have asked for a better birthday. (Over here, I mean...obviously my family would have improved the situation even more !! but I shouldn't get too greedy...)
So what else have I been upto!?
Well, February was actually really busy in school! I got to do Valentines Lessons with not only the little ones, but with the older students as well. I made them all write Haiku after what was a very interesting (if I do say so myself) lesson on the history of Valentines Day. I got everything from mushy gushy poems to really witty commentaries on consumerism! I had a great time.
Valentines success. I even had a lovely date myself after my lessons. And, who knew it, more flowers!
I also had the interesting challenge of presenting the issues of gun control, the death penalty, and the Iraq war and America. It was nice to be able to bring a personal, American perspective to the issues (although I had trouble being impartial when it came down to presenting the death penalty). I cant say I was particularly patriotic after those lessons, but its my country, and its my job to present the facts, and hopefully a little insight and understanding where appropriate. At the very least, these classes tend to be excited just by the fact that an American, and not their normal teacher, is giving a lesson.
My other groups in school are actually going really well too. I love my reading group students. I never worked that hard in high school, so I have to say I admire the dedication and time spent outside of school work.
I also am having fun with my conversation group. We have been talking about "American High School: myth v. reality." So is American High school just like it is in the movies? A little bit...
And now I can skip over a few boring weeks. Well, not boring, just not so noteworthy. I spent a lot of time with my friends doing everything from building furniture (and when I say building, we all know that I mean observing others build...passing out hammers...picking sticky labels off of things...pointing out imperfections in the work of others...preparing snacks...and, you know, providing good company) to cooking and or playing games. Life here is constant and enjoyable. "The Gang" here is a good one. I couldn't have asked for a nicer group of people to meet!
......................And then there was Fasching.

Back row: Phillipp, me, David. Front: ?

My friend Steve showed up for a visit just in time to experience German Carnival! And I have to say that he is a lucky guy, because Fasching is awesome. Its basically Halloween, except its Mardis gras. I went to a Fasching party Thursday with David and Phillipp and had my first taste of the extremely stereotypical German fest music and shenanigans. The music that played is basically what Americans think Germans listen to all the time. And they do listen to it all the time...if you are at some sort of festival like Fasching or Oktoberfest... Otherwise, and I hate to burst your bubble, America, they listen to the same crap we do at home.
But like I said, Steve is here visiting...so we had to return to Fasching on Sunday. I convinced Florian and David that I had to see the parade before we went to the party...and it was worth it (sort of). The parade was fantastic! Really cool costumes and floats...people shouting HELAU!!! over and over again, free candy...aaaaand confetti. Confetti will be the death of me. I was assured by Flo and David that they were actually trying to rescue me, but I was taken away by some people in the parade and covered in confetti. Not just in my hair and on my clothes...but in every pocket, every article of clothing...in my ears and mouth....well...you get the idea. Confetti everywhere....which, days later, I am still vacuuming up. Its like sand...no one knows how it gets everywhere...but it still manages to do so. So without further adieu, pictures from the parade and the ensuing celebration:

The men on our long walk to the parade: Flo, David, Steve

Friends! yay!

Part of "the gang"...Flo looks concerned...David, a bit sinister!

Scary trees. Warning: they do attack.

Chickens! Dioxide scandal float...

Recognize that man in the float!? GWB! Germans just looove him...ha

America!

 

Well...I only included pictures from the parade, because there is the possibility that we drank quite a bit following the parade, rendering all further photos unusable. However, it was a blast. Great people, great times, great parties. HELAU!
Off to Vienna tomorrow, so surely there will be an update to follow.
Much love from Germany, everyone!