Day 8 and 9 no turkeys here
There was no turkey dinner for Kristin with all the fixing, when I called home yesterday, I told my family that I want one when I get back to Canada. It's not the European thing to do, Helga's family has fish.They also celebrate Christmas on the 24, there is no Father Christmas here, or stocking, which is my favourite part. I can tell you that I am never ever going to be away from my family on the holidays again, it sucks. I am now back in Vienna. I came yesterday, I just wanted to be alone, and Helga wouldn't let me, although I tried to explain to her that I wasn't up for going to visit her relatives-most of whom as expected don't speak english-, but she basically made me, so I had no other choice but to leave if I wanted to be alone.
I don't really like country living that's for sure. She lives in the province of Burgenland, in a tiny village called Draßburg. Helga's place is pretty rough. I had the worst shower of my life in the basement, it wasn't even a proper shower! The computer didn't want to load my e-mail, which didn't help my mood. She doesn't have MSN. Which is another sore point, the internet cafes close early here (10:30, so that's 4:30 back home), so because of the time difference I am like never getting to talk to you guys which really blows. Maybe it will be better in Paris, I will find some that are open later. So anyways, in the country there was practically nothing to do. The museums and malls she talked about were in the next village 8 miles away and were all closed. I didn't even get to Hungary, because everything was closed so there was no point, but I know how to go another day. I am just feeling bitchy right now, as you can tell from the tone of my post.
I am bitchy because this was the worst Christmas of my life, and I wish I was home for the holidays. I just wanted to forget that it was Christmas, but I wasn't able to. I left at almost 8 last night, and missed my connecting train to Vienna, luckilly there was another one. That train felt very Harry Potter like. When I got back into Vienna, I got on right tram to get home, but it was going in the wrong direction, luckilly I realized it right away and got off at the next stop and caught one going the right way. My Christmas dinner consisted of ham and eggs, with a glass of wine at a restaurant on the corner. One of the things I am learning about alcohol here, is that beer is expected to have foam. It means that it is fresh. They have seperate beer glasses for men and women. Women's are more like high ball glasses. Wine is cheaper than pop here. Coke tastes better than back home.
Although there were some positives, Helga's brother and mother are nice.The weather was nice, it was plus 10 on Christmas eve. There is no snow.Although the apartment is still cold. Still learning to work the wood stove. I haven't mentioned the propane cooking stove yet have I? Apparently that is the norm here in Vienna, and the gas is provided by the city. I burned myself a few times before I bought a barbeque lighter. I am trying to remind myself that this is not all of European, just Helga's way so I don't get a negative impression. I feel like I am camping it though, roughing it in the city. The doors here are different to, to lock them from the inside, you need to use a key.
I learned how to make schnitzel -which one of the first things I learned was that schnitzel refers to a cut of meat. I also had this really yummy desert which was apples fried in a pancake batter. The food was good, but it was no turkey dinner.
There are cats that roam the neighbourhood, and people leave out food for them, they go to house to house for the food. There was this one really cute orange cat that I would have loved to have taken home with me. I offered it cold cuts, but it kind of turned it's nose up at it, but it liked the little bites of schnitzel I gave it. So that's life for now. It will get better now that the non-holidays are over.
I don't really like country living that's for sure. She lives in the province of Burgenland, in a tiny village called Draßburg. Helga's place is pretty rough. I had the worst shower of my life in the basement, it wasn't even a proper shower! The computer didn't want to load my e-mail, which didn't help my mood. She doesn't have MSN. Which is another sore point, the internet cafes close early here (10:30, so that's 4:30 back home), so because of the time difference I am like never getting to talk to you guys which really blows. Maybe it will be better in Paris, I will find some that are open later. So anyways, in the country there was practically nothing to do. The museums and malls she talked about were in the next village 8 miles away and were all closed. I didn't even get to Hungary, because everything was closed so there was no point, but I know how to go another day. I am just feeling bitchy right now, as you can tell from the tone of my post.
I am bitchy because this was the worst Christmas of my life, and I wish I was home for the holidays. I just wanted to forget that it was Christmas, but I wasn't able to. I left at almost 8 last night, and missed my connecting train to Vienna, luckilly there was another one. That train felt very Harry Potter like. When I got back into Vienna, I got on right tram to get home, but it was going in the wrong direction, luckilly I realized it right away and got off at the next stop and caught one going the right way. My Christmas dinner consisted of ham and eggs, with a glass of wine at a restaurant on the corner. One of the things I am learning about alcohol here, is that beer is expected to have foam. It means that it is fresh. They have seperate beer glasses for men and women. Women's are more like high ball glasses. Wine is cheaper than pop here. Coke tastes better than back home.
Although there were some positives, Helga's brother and mother are nice.The weather was nice, it was plus 10 on Christmas eve. There is no snow.Although the apartment is still cold. Still learning to work the wood stove. I haven't mentioned the propane cooking stove yet have I? Apparently that is the norm here in Vienna, and the gas is provided by the city. I burned myself a few times before I bought a barbeque lighter. I am trying to remind myself that this is not all of European, just Helga's way so I don't get a negative impression. I feel like I am camping it though, roughing it in the city. The doors here are different to, to lock them from the inside, you need to use a key.
I learned how to make schnitzel -which one of the first things I learned was that schnitzel refers to a cut of meat. I also had this really yummy desert which was apples fried in a pancake batter. The food was good, but it was no turkey dinner.
There are cats that roam the neighbourhood, and people leave out food for them, they go to house to house for the food. There was this one really cute orange cat that I would have loved to have taken home with me. I offered it cold cuts, but it kind of turned it's nose up at it, but it liked the little bites of schnitzel I gave it. So that's life for now. It will get better now that the non-holidays are over.
posted by Kristin @ 5:28 am
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