Paris is out of the picture

It looks like I am going to be going to Vienna for the whole internship. My co-ordinator doesn't want to do the split anymore. I have made my peace with it, well almost have anyways. I was really disappointed at first., but then I thought about why I wanted to go to Paris, and then I realized that it's not going anywhere, and if I really wanted I could go live there for a month after my internship is done, I think that is what I might do. Maybe two weeks in Paris, and two weeks in London, England. Plus Wanda said that I would be able to go on a research trip to Paris for my internship. So with this Vienna thing, I could be out of the country in three weeks or so. Vienna could be cool, I plan to go visit Milan, Italy alot, and there is always Greece, and my mom pointed out I might even get a chance to go to St. Petersburg, Russia, which would be really cool. The whole Last Czar is one of my favourite subjects in history. I don't know if I can get there though but if I can I will. For any international travel, I would have to sort of clear it with Wanda before hand. I had hoped to go to Egypt from France, but I guess with the current sitauation there it is unadvisable. In Europe there is this whole Schengen thing. It "is the name applied to a series of agreements that eliminate border controls between several European Union countries. The Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden." It is pretty strange that England isn't on there. I am wondering how difficult it would be to travel through countries that are not part of this. The main countries I want to visit will I am in Europe are: France, England, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Switzerland, and Monaco would also be nice. I think it is the historian in me that is influencing my choices, because France, Germany, England and Italy are the main focus when North American's learn about European history, so I want to go see the places I have read and learned about.

My head is spinning

As the world turns, latest update: Wanda my co-ordinator is being advised by her European equivilant (I think) to try and get me into a musuem in Paris that is related to what I will doing for UNESCO, but she wants to send me to Austria until January. I wish they would sort this out already. I am going batty! Everything keeps changing. Plus now I am freaked out by her telling me that I won't necessarily have a north american washroom with a door. This is not good, but I will find someway to cope. I am very modest, I don't relish the thought of showering or peeing in front of an audience, it's called a towel, and push pins over the door frame. My next scheduled meeting with her in Thursday at 3:30, so I may have more information. Maybe even a definative country!But she said if she knows anything, she will call me before hand. So stay tuned. Although I must say I am happy at the possiblity of being in Paris this fall as opposed to the winter. So maybe I could get fall, winter and spring in Paris. If it still gets extended til the end of April, but I am sure it will. Maybe I won't have to go insane trying to learn German!

Londoner for another month

So it's official I am staying in Londontown for November. I will be staying in my apartment, because my landlord hasn't rented it yet. That gives me another month to sort out what I am going to do with my stuff., since he doesn' t think he can store it or rent me the room when he comes back, because he may have to sell the house as part of his divorce settlement, but I told him to let me know what's going on. I hope he can still rent to me, because I have a sweet deal here, with cable and laundry included in my cheap rent. I am happy to be staying in London, it's surprising how much it feels like home. I have only lived here not quite six months. So I am still waiting for more word from Wanda, but I guess I will hear more on Monday when I have another briefing with her. I don't think I mentioned that there will be another intern in Austria, so that will be good.

German will be the death of me

Guten tag all. Feeling a little intimidated learning German. I went and borrowed "German: A self-teaching guide" from the London Public Library, and I have an audio tape being sent to me. It's the pronounciation that's giving me trouble, because as I said in my last post it's not like any language I have learned before. I have become accustomed to Spanish because that is sort of the last language I learned, and in that you pronounced every single letter. I am sure I am trying to speak German with a bad spanish accent, or an even worse french accent. This could be interesting. I don't know how people become quadralingual, but I am going to give it my all. Interestingly enough, I just happen to be reading The Way the Crow Flies, by Ann-Marie MacDonald(who I am going to see here in London on the 8th). It is set on a miliary base outside of London, Ontario, and is sprinkled with German and French. As to where I am going to be for November, it looks like I will still be a Londoner for the time being. One thing for sure, I won't be going to the real London for the Harry Potter DVD launch, but you have to get tickets, so chances are I wouldn't be able to go anyways! As always I will keep you updated. Fraulein Kristin signing off.

Ball of confusion

that's what my life is today, hey hey. Got some interesting news on Friday. The good news is the UN wants me. Here's the kicker... they don't want me until January. So I may be going to Vienna, Austria for a month and a half. I would be working at a museum. When I leave all depends on how quickly Austria gets back to my co-ordinator, because it will be at least a week or so to get my visa, and then to get my plane ticket. It should be before the end of November, if all goes smoothly. God forbid, it could be pushed back until early December. Touch wood, that doesn't happen. I am still sorting out what I am going to do for the next month. I will see if I can't find something temporary and stay here in London, if I can keep my apartment, as far as I know it hasn't been rented yet. I may go to Sudbury for the time being, although I would rather stay here. So not only is my date of depature effected, but my date of return might be extended until the end of April. So I would get springtime in Paris after all, then I would return home, and be right back at school for May. (providing, I get back in or don't get offered some incredible job). Everything is in such a flux right now, and this is not a state I like to be in. Although I intially freaked out about not going to Paris right away.. had things gone as planned I would have been there in two weeks, I am very slowly warming up to the idea of Vienna, although my co-ordinator Wanda (who I talked to today) is really encouraging me to focus on Paris, because I will be there longer. I will so be kinda sorta not really quadralingual, as I will mostly likely be taking some German lessons. for Vienna. As of right now my German consists of counting to five, luftwaffe, blitzkreig, mien kampf, braun, mien herr, frau, frauline,(although this is not nice- juden), Deutchland, auf videzen(sp?), guten tag, and oh yes snitzel. I almost forgot, I know a sentence, kind of, I know how to ask if someone speaks German" Spreken ze Deutch"- interesting, that looks a lot like Dutch. I guess I will need to learn to ask if they speak English. Some of my vocab is not exactly surprising because I am a history major, and it has a lot to do with the WWII. It will be new learning a non-latin based language. French, Spanish and English, all have their roots in latin. So stay tuned to the ever changing world of Kristin. Now would be the time where you want be checking this site often, so you know what's going on. (Although it must be said I would like to know that myself). I say hey yaa hey I say hey, what's going on.

Still no word

Starting to worry, time is galloping apace, and I still haven't had a definite date of departure on Paris yet. I am operating on a no news is good news motto. I e-mailed the person organizing this whole thing on Monday asking to confirm French lessons, and the trip, I even asked about the cat, and I still haven't heard back yet. Hopefully everything will work out, and by the end of the month, I will be in France feasting on bread. I have to be out of my apartment at the end of the month. So keep your fingers crossed (and your toes too). I am one of these people that can't stand dealing with indefinite plans. I like to be organized- shocking I know. As soon as I hear anything I will post an update. In the the mean time keep my thursday and friday afternoon newcasts slots booked for me, Jimmymac so no one else takes my spot. I am staying in London for thanksgiving, and am excited to be guest hosting Smoke Signals again sunday from 6-8 (it is possible to listen online- chrwradio.com click on the listen online link, and choose your player.) I unfortunately will be missing out on the jskool potluck dinner, but Jillian Jiggs has informed me that they will save me some gobble gobble :) -yay!

Extreme love for my furball (aka Hermione the Cat)

Nothing but pure love could make me take my cat to France with me. It's easy enough to do, I think I just have to get her rabies shots and to be microchiped. She won't even need to be quarantined in France or in Canada, which is nice. Although it will cost $350 (plus tax) to take her on the plane one way! It is SO expensive, but she would get to ride in the cabin with me. Can you imagine me on a cross atlantic flight with a meowing cat? Not pretty. She is a bad enough passenger in a car, let alone a plane. I imagine her poor ears would hurt... but I would dope her up before the flight. This is all providing that my new place even allows cats, I will have to check. I don't know. I never expected a cross contenential move would be this involved. I looked at my budget and crunched some numbers, and it will cost almost 1000 dollars to bring the cat over there. It's just not realistic financially. Well it wouldn't be a thousand dollars upfront, but almost 500, by the time I get her vaccinated and microchipped, plus the cost of the flight over. Damn travel agent getting my hopes up telling me it only be around 150 dollars. I don't know what to do. I am completely devastated. Having her with me is really important to my emotional health, to have something familiar to come home to. If I gave her up, it would only be temporary, but just the thought it still breaks my heart. When I first even heard about the possiblity of me going to France, and temporarily having to give up the cat, it didn't seem real. It feels alot realer now.

A reason to go to London (England)

Just came across this and freaked:
"According to The Leaky Cauldron the launch party for the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban DVD is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Nov. 18 at The Honourable Society of Middle Temple in London.
As in previous years cast and crew are expected to attend but as of yet no official word of attendees has been announced by Warner Bros"
I will be doing all in my power to attend, even faking sick if necessary. Could you imagine if I got to meet J.K. Rowling or Dame Maggie Smith or Alan Rickman? That would be amazing! I can't wait to go to London. I am so going to King's Cross Station. Although of course, I can't actually buy the DVD because it won't work over here, so there is no point. I might even get to do my first international phone in voicer for CHRW!-aren't you excited Jimmymac? Or maybe the Toronto Star would be interested, although there is nothing to say I couldn't do both.