Days 32-37

Last day in Vienna:
As always loads of info to tell you guys. I forgot to mention, that it actually did snow one day when I was there, tuesday, and Michi was throwing snow balls at me. Um, so my last day in Vienna, I went to Cafe Sperl, which was Hitlers old haunt, and had apfelstrudel (apple strudel0 and wine. I went to go see this church Votivkirche, it was ok. It is beautiful on the outside, but I prefer Stephansdom. I also went to Stephansdom and the karnter strasse one last time. Gawan came to help with my bags, he carried both of them down the stairs by himself. When I exlaimed that he is so strong, he said not really, I am just showing off. Hehe! Helga, Gawan and I took a cab to the westbahnhof (train station). Guy and Michi met us, and then we argued about where I should sit, and if I should get a sleeping car or not. God, I cannot beleive how attached I got to these people, (well most of them), and I only knew them for a such a short time. I actually cried as I left Wien. I am going to miss them.
Aboard the Hogwarts I mean Orient Express:
Can you believe it I rode the Orient Express! I ended up paying an extra 30 euros, for a sleeping car, but I lucked out because I got a six person one all to myself. I felt very safe. I think Helga may have talked to the Stewardess or something. (New career idea, instead of a airplane stewardess, I could be a train attendant.) My bon voyage committee waited outside on the platform until the train pulled away, I felt a bit like a zoo animal. I had to write notes to communicate, because I couldn't hear them. With the sleeping compartments you have to give the stewardess your passport and ticket, so they don't have to wake you up as they cross borders. I asked her to have them stamp it, but when I got it back in the morning there was no stamps. I basically fell asleep in Austria and woke up in France. They even had a continental breakfast for us. It was a overall good experience, although the bathroom really smelled. Ugh.
Arrival in Paris
So I arrived on time at 10:30, and was met by my collegue Annette. Although she sounds British on the phone, she is actually Swedish. She is very nice. My apartment, is outside of the districts, and is in the north of the city on Rue Diderot. We took a cab to my apartment. I have one landlady, two housemates, and two cats. All of whom I like. Vanessa and Binnie (landlady) are British by birth, but reside in France. I forget where Jose Luiz is from. Jose Luiz and Binnie both work at Unesco on the same floor as me, but in different departments.
I went to check out UNESCO as soon as I we dropped of my stuff. It is about a 40 minute metro (subway) ride, but seeing as rent is so cheap it is worth it. The first thing I see as I emerge from the subaway station is the Eiffel tower, it is a definate reminder that I am in Paris.
People at work seem really nice. Doug my supervisor is Canadian, (Montreal)- although his parents are Japanese. His wife is french, her name is Marie, I believe, she is also nice. Doug's assistant Jenny is super kind, and she is from England. There is also another girl named Stephanie. She is French.
I went out to lunch with Annette, Jenny and Steph at the Unesco cafe. Then I made my way alone to the Eiffel tower. It is big, I didn't go up.
It was a bit of a culture shock coming here, after using what limited German I have for five weeks, and then all of a sudden having to switch mental gears and use french is very strange. There is also the keyboard thing, I got used to a german keyboard, and now an english one feels foreign, forget about a french keyboard, which is really different.
After making my way back to Unesco after the tour effiel, I helped Annette fold pamphlets for our conference session on tommorow, and then the girls and I went out for drinks. It was nice, I met alot of people. So much is new. I had trouble finding my way back from the metro station near my house though, I couldn't remember what street, and then I couldn't find the house, because the number is so discreet on the mailbox! To get into the house, I have to unlock and lock the outgate, and then the front door. The key is different too, there is no teeth, just a bunch of different sized holes on the sides.
The weekend
The weekend was sort of quiet. I went with Binnie the supermarket and the bank saturday. The supermarket was a little overwhelming everything is new, but part of the problem is that I only had a little cash, because I just had travellers cheques, and the banks couldn't cash them. Well the ones near me anyways.
Binnie fed me a really yummy salad for lunch, and then I dashed off to meet Annette. Binnie and I chat alot. Annette and I went to Notre Dame Cathedral. To be honest, I don't like it as much as Stephansdom, but I won't tell anyone here that. We also went to this shopping district, with an underground mall. Annette had never had KFC before so we went there. It was so packed, it was crazy! The only thing they had was spicy pieces of chicken. The bathrooms didn't have toliet seats, so it was really icky.
Sunday, I didn't do anything but read the Di Vinci Code by Dan Brown- very good, I highly recommend it. They are making a film version of it, and it will be filmed at the Luevre. Although it has Tom Hanks, which is a bit of a draw back. It is neat because this book was talking about pagan symbol in churchs etc, and before I even read it, I noticed there was a pentagram in one of the glass windows Notre Dame. Harry Potter note: Nicholas Flamel -maker of the philsophers stone- is mentioned in D.Code as a grand master of a secret society. Binnie I looked him up in an encyclopedia, and he is a real person, and there is a legend about him and a phil. stone! Ms. Rowling really did her homework!
That thing called work
So Monday finally roles around, and is the first day of this massive international conference on Biodiversity, Science and Governance. No one told me where I was supposed to be, so I didn't get to see Chirac. Boo-urns to that. I spent the morning, doing more folding, after finally getting ahold of someone. I don't have an office or desk or computer yet, because there is overlap for another week and a half, as a replacement is trained for Claire who is going on maternity leave. But this week it is not so bad, as I have been mostly attending the conference. I didn't have a security badge until tuesday because the paperwork wasn't quite finished yet, and so getting into the building was a bit of a problem. I still have loads more to write but it will have to wait as I don't want to miss my subway home. Ciao for now.

Day 31 auf Auf Wiedersehen Wien, Bonjour Paris

My last six hours in Vienna, I can't believe, it. If feels like I have been here forever, but at the same time, it is like has it been five weeks already? This is going to be a quick post. Last night was alright, after the movie, Gawan, Michi and Guy and I all went to the italian place, because it is right near there, and Helga was there with her friends. They were nice and kept on buying us drinks. Gawan and I shared a chocolate tiramisu. Lisa joined us, and Helga, Lisa and I along with Marco and this kinda squeazy guy named Nicola went to an irish pub. Lisa left at 3, it sucked saying good-bye. I paid the cab home (10€! ouch), and we didn't get back til 4 in the morning, I was up at 9 and ready to go, but I was waiting around for Helga (Thank god she wasn't my supervisor for the whole time I am in Europe, I couldn't have done it). Feeling kinda pissed off that I wasted time as there is stuff I want to do, but I made the most of it and finished packing. She made a awful really horrible lunch. I am feeling a little queezy actually. It that gross sausage, I think. And I don't think she is coming to the train station with me, becuase she has this lecture she wants to attend, although I need her to talk to the ticket agent, to see if she can get a cheaper price for the ticket. I don't know what she is talking about the ticket agent I talked to knows nothing about a 65€ sleeping car ticket. The cheapest price is 140.
But Gawan is coming with me though so this is good. Maybe he can help. He offered to come help with my bags. I am going to go soon, and see some last minute things. I am upset that I am alone though. I was hope Gawan or Guy and Michi or even Helga would come with me. I am going to miss my new friends. I hope they can com visit. I am mad that Helga wouldn't come. But I won't let it ruin my mood. Or try not to anyways. I paid less than I expected for rent so this is good, only €300 (80 of that was electricity, v. expensive). I am going to go now, so the next time I post, I will be in France.

Day 29 and 30- I found Root beer, Slovakia, and Jacques Chirac

Once again, so much to say. So this is just going to be a jampacked post. Firstly and most importantly: I found root beer, sort of. It figures, with like 32 hours before I leave the city, I find a place that sells it, but they are out of stock. I did get some Mountain Dew, and will go back later to see if they got some RB in their new shipment. It is this N. American and British food store, they sell Kraft dinner (at over 2 € a box - no I didn't buy one, I am not craving that), campbells soup, it was a bit of shock seeing all this stuff again after seeing nothing but strange brands for almost 5 weeks. It felt like home.
There have been a flurry of international e-mails and faxes, as I prepare for my arrival in Paris on Friday morning. I have decided to take the night train tommorow night. I had to go get a medical certificate for UNESCO's insurance, but I went to the wife (Renate) of the doctor Marco, I met way back in Decemberm when I went to this Italian place with Helga (btw she is coming back this afternoon). Anyways Renate is also a doctor, and they both speak fluent English. She could have charged me at least 50€ just for the visit, plus another 20€ just for the form, but she didn't charge me a cent, which is really cool and nice. All she did was check my blood pressure, and put my name on a standard letter.
Then I had to rush to the internet cafe, to print of a new copy of my an application form, and fill it out, and send it out to Unesco. I have the internship, but they need it so it is official, and so I can get security clearance for monday. I should have done it yesterday, they were urgently trying to reach me, but I had taken a day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia (I'll get back to that in a minute). Unesco need to be really careful with security. I am going to be attending a conference on Monday, and most of next week. I have gotten a copy of the schedule, and one of the first people who will be addressing us, is none other than the president of France: Jacques Chirac. OH MY FUCKING GOD! I called home, to tell my dad, and I was just shaking, because along with Chirac, there will be other heads of state, he was really blase about it though. I still can't believe it. What am I going to wear? Ekk!
So yeah, it is quite a shock to say the least. I can't bloody believe it.
So Slovakia, it ended up being cheaper than expected to go only 14€, it is cheaper if you take certain trains.So I was there yesterday. The train there felt very Hogwarts Express, with the compartments and stuff. It is only an 1.5 hour ride. They checked my passport and ticket twice each way (Leaving and entering each country). I didn't get a Slovakian stamp in my passport though. On the ride back the passport control guy from Austria was oh you are from Canada, and he sounded so surprised. I think we are a rare comodidy over here. So Bratislava, is the capital of Slovakia, and is apparently slavac for cold, and lots of walking (Although I did take the transit a bit). The big thing in Bratislava, is the castle, (which really does look like an upturned bed, just like my guide book says. )
Although the first thing I saw was the president's palace, and I was not about to go approach the gun toting guards, because I speak no slavac, and my german is still beyond pitiful. That could have been really icky, if they decided to shoot first ask questions later. I got to see part of the changing of the guards, which was neat.
It is so intimidating being a foreign country by yourself, and not knowing the language. (I couldn't get a hold of the Australian girls, so I was not able to go to with them, Monday would have been a bad day to go though because the musuems were closed). I just kept telling myself to breathe. Coming to Vienna was different, I at least knew how to ask if some one spoke english, and at first I did have people with me. So I did my stand by and went to a travel agency and a hotel to ask for directions, fortunately they spoke english. Although I did have to use german to buy a city bus ticket, but I would either ask people english? or say in german do you speak english.
So yes back to the castle. It was home to one of the Hapsburg's daugher and her husband (Maria Kristina- Maria Theresia's favourite daughter, and the only one she allowed to marry for love). Incedentially Maria Kristina is Marie Antoinette's sister. The castle is home to the Slovakian National Musuem, which was ok. They had displays of clocks, furniture, some art, nativity scenes, and really beautiful glassworks. I wasn't all that impressed with it. I went up the big tower, which was neat, although there was frost on the windows, and was difficult to see, the sky was also overcast. There was this music exhibtion on this composer Jan Bella, on the ladies was nice enough to take me around, and tell me everything in english. Most of the stuff in the museum had english signs though. (Funnily enough alot of musuems etc here don't)
There is another part of the castle, which has a seperate musuem with really old artifacts. Some of them dating to 4000 bc. There is this teeny feritility statue the Venus of Moravany, which is over 25,000 years old. Thing are really cheap in Bratislava, for about 6 or 7 euros, I got two bus tickets, a meal of chicken, rice, and beets (the chicken looked kinda pink though), plus a drink, and entrance to two musuems. They use the Slovakian crown over there, it is about 38sk to 1 euro. It is easy to forget, when you see like 10sk, that it is more than 10 cents, and it is strange seeing 120sk, but knowing that is not that expensive. I didn't stay long in Bratislava or see all that much, because it was cold, and I was tired. But when I got back I went to Lisa's and chatted with her for a bit.
On Monday, I wanted to go to the Votivkirche (Votiv Church), but it was closed. Guy and Michi lived right around the corner from there so I stopped in, and got fed lunch. Michi burned my song for me! Hehe! They we went to the one of the university, because Michi had class. Guy and I went to this place called Hunderwasser Haus, which is this crazy alinear apartment building, and across the road (Which is all hilly and weird) there is also the Kalke village, a kind of shoping centre inspired by the design of the apartment buildings. After that, Guy and I went back to his place, and walked Michi to her night class, then I got on the bus, to go to another of these press conference things with the Buffalo project that I went to on Monday. Poor Henry Red-Cloud, he is like a zoo animal himself. People are just going gaga over him, because he is exotic because he is aborignal. But he is dressing the part, with the mullet, and braids, with a feather in his hair, and of course, the outfit. People are paying 15€ for a picture of buffalos, I don't know if he is in it or not, but he signs it. And they are taking tons of pictures of him. He is going to be in Paris, so I will be seeing him there. Gawan was there, and we sat together, and then after a bunch of us went out to a restaurant, with Henry Red-Cloud and entourage. I was apparently flirting, but I still say I was just listening attentively as Gawan told me about stuff he likes in Paris.
I had made the mistake of telling Guy and Michi about the turkish guy, and didn't want them to say anything about him to Gawan, but they mercilessly made comments all night, like turkish food is finger licking good. And they told Gawan that there was something I didn't want to him to know, and so the poor guy had to put up with the three of us breaking out in to fits of laughter.
One of my other would be suitors saw my on the street, this was the first guy that hit on me, and he said he had come to my place (or where I said it was) and that I wasn't home. I finally ended up telling him to leave me alone, and he did. After I tried to be polite, and tell him I don't have time for coffee because I am so busy before I leave for Paris in two days. He didn't believe me when I told him that. Ugh.
So I am going to pack a bit, and then I am going out with Gawan and Michi et all tonight, we may watch this movie Smoke Signals. So that's the plan.

Day 28- the zoo

I forgot to mention, that I went into the opera toliet yesterday, and it was a big disapointment, you can't even hear the music, and it is not all that clean, and there is no hot water. Not worth the 50 cents.
Also forgot to mention that I got hit on yet again, when I was waiting for Sarah yesterday, but the guy got the hint that I wasn't interested. Speaking of would be suitors, the turkish guy called me today. Ick. Why oh why did I give him my number?
The debit card problem was fixed, it was as I suspected, there was no plus logo so that's why my card didn't work.
So today, I went to the zoo at Shönbrunn. There was an Akin (native support group) event there, and after a bunch of us just walked around. It used to be the Hapsburgs private zoo, and it is the worlds oldest zoo. It was built in the mid or late 18th century. It was fantastic. Omg. The best zoo I have ever been to in my life. It was just beautiful, and had some species I had never seen before, like a really small monkeys that just wandered around above your head. The aquarium was really cool too, there is this one part where water is there is a tunnel built in the middle of an aquarium. The tanks with australian fish were amazing, and looked like you could be in a reef.
I was hanging out with Michi, Guy, her dad Johannes, Gawan and his mother. Johannes asked me and Guy if we had ever seen a giraffe before. I was surprised to see a lot of tropical animals outside (flamingoes). It is one of the colder days we've had here, there was frost on stuff, although still no snow.
Michi and company left, and I ended up walking around the zoo with Gawan and his mother. She is so nice, she invited me to come to their house before I leave. Gawan and I did the double cheek kiss thing, three times. Hehehe. (Once when we saw each other, and once when we thought I was leaving with Michi, and then once when I really did say good-bye). He suggested that we get together before I leave.
I was playing up my girliness, like when zoo staff had -Heids brace yourself- a dead rabbit on like a clothes line, and they were making a cheetah chase it back and forth. It was pretty gruesome. When we were in the reptile cage, I for some reason decided I wanted to have a staring contest with a snake behind glass. I was right in front of it, staring it right in the eyes, and the damn thing started snapping at me. I jumped back, and moved away after that. It was fun being a girl though, Gawan is so knowledgable!
Polar bears in German are called Eisbär (Ice bears), and bats meants flyingdog. A turtle is a sheildtoad. The direct translations are pretty funny.
I don't know if I am going to Bratislava tommorow, because when I was at the Akin thing, I think that was when the Australian girls tried to call me. It was so embarassing, the phone in the back and I was sitting up front with Michi. I released to late that I had left my phone on, and then I heard a phone ringing, and Michi was all is that your phone, and I was no, mine has Beethoven's Fur Elise. Sure enough 10 minutes later, a muffled version of Fur Elise starts playing. Michi was all I hear beethoven, and we started to laugh.
So that was the day so far. It was pretty fun. The Akin stuff was boring, because they had to translate German questions into English, and English answers into German, most of it was in German. Michi tried translating some of it for me, but her dad was getting annoyed. But I got the jist. Today made me realize how rusty my notetaking skills are. I haven't written a covered a story since the summer. I need more practice.

Day 27

So last night, I met up with Sarah (who by the way is from Australia), and we just hung out in the inner city. Then today we had a really busy day, she ended up bringing another Australian girl with her, named Cara. We went to the naschmart, and checked out the fleamarket, and then we went on the tour of Shloß Shönbrunn, which was really neat. Way expensive, but cool. I really have to start watching my money closely. Although I have money in my account, I couldn't get money out of the atm tonight, I think it is because the bankmachine didn't have a plus symbol or something, and the one that does is out of order.
Anways back to Shönbrunn. There is some major history that happened there. For example one of the rooms was where Karl the first, the last Hapsburg ruler abidicated the throne at the end of WWI. In another room Mozart performed a conzert for the empress Maria Theresia and then jumped up and kissed her. There is also a room where Neopoleon stayed. Even he was related to the Hapsburgs by marriage, but he had control of Vienna or something I forget. Meh.
I went and got a train schedule today and asked about the price, and the guy told me almost 170€, but Helga told me it would only be around 60-70€ for a sleeping car, I am going to go on Monday and ask about the sleeping car. I have been told I can get a ticket for as low as 140€, if I buy this card thingy, but I think it's worth it if I save almost 30€. You can't get student prices on trains apparently, because I have been asking and there is no student prices. Ugh! I don't think Helga is entirely with it. Honestly. I may not even see her before I go. Great supervision. I don't know how I am supposed to return her keys, and pay for rent if I don't see her. She still hasn't said how much she wants, and she told me to look into the prize of a student room, but I don't have the first clue where to start. Crazy.
I haven't decided when I am leaving, but if I take the night train, I will leave Thursday, and if I take the day train I will leave Friday. I may go to Bratislavia, Slovakia on Monday for the day with Cara, I will have to look at finances first. It is like 35€ round trip. Sarah is leaving for Budapest on Monday, and I think Cara is leaving on Tuesday or something like that. Cara is going to Canada in February to work somewhere on the west coast for 6 mths to a year.
Tommorow I am going back to Shönbrunn to the zoo because for an Akin group thing. So that's what's going on in my world. There is kid playing really loud music from a cellphone, and it is driving me nuts. I so could not be a teacher, no patience, Cara is a teacher. It will be so nice in Paris when I don't have to pay for internet access. Internet cafes suck.

Day 26

I met this really nice girl named Sarah at the Oper last night. Lisa was really tired and didn't think she could make it through the second act,she left so Sarah came and took her place. We went to go see Don Giovanni, which is actually in Italian, although it was written by Mozart, it was good.
Standing tickets at the opera are brutal, because people fight to get a good seat. It is quite sad actually. Although I shouldn't talk as I was pushing alot myself. It is a necessary evil because I am short, and I won't be able see if I am not in the front row. The view I got wasn't all that great though, part of the stage was obscured. But it was better than nothing.
It looks like I am going to be a taking the train to Paris, since flights are just too expensive. It is like 140€ to go by train, which is really expensive, but what can you do right? Plane tickets were well over 200€ with taxes and such. There are seat sales to Paris, but they don't start until February. So there goes that brillant plan, oh well.
I think Wanda and Helga will want me to take the night train, but I don't feel safe, plus the way I figure it if I am going to pay to take a train through Germany I am bloody well going to see Germany, although it leaves at like 8 in the morning and doesn't arrive until 10 at night. If I took the day train I would have to change in Munich. (I will have to check on the length of time in Munich) Wanda's concern was not having people going to pick me up late at night.
Although it doesn't seem far, Paris is over 1000km away from Vienna.

Day 25, the day of Wagner

If I ever again get the idea to buy a standing ticket for a five hour opera, somebody, please slap me. Parsifal was ok, I don't think I am a fan of Richard Wagner though. It was an 8 hour expedition, by the time, I had waited in line for almost 2 hours to buy the tickets, and then wait for the show to start. But it is neat to say I was at the premiere. I wonder if the president was there. Hmm.
I did meet some a couple of american guys who are living here, and are really nice. But I was all shy and didn't give them my contact info. I did however meet an american girl, who will be studying in London, and we exchanged contact information if we should we find ourselves in each others cities. Her name is Yvonne, and she attends NYU, and no she has never seen the Olsen twins. (Come on now I had to ask!)I lost my sheet of paper with all my phone numbers on it, luckily I had most of them copied down somewhere else, but I lost the number of the Perriers(The family who invited me to come visit them in the south of France). That sucks, but their son has my e-mail so hopefully he will contact me.
I think I might go to to the opera again tonight with Lisa, but I am not sure. We are thinking of going to see Don Giovanni. I can't believe I have already been here four weeks. It's going by fast, but at the same time, I feel like I have been here forever. Doesn't make sense I know, but what can you do?
My friend Josee, is so lucky, because she is going to Africa for 20 days in April to teach, as part of her program. Lucky girl. Africa is the next continent I want to go to. My friend Val was supposed to leave for S. Korea on monday to go teach english for a year, but I haven't heard anything, she was still doing her paperwork, etc.
I have not heard from my Turkish would be suitor, but it does not make sense to get involved know anyways, am leaving for France in a week. Can't wait. Really starting to get excited about it.
I have to make an appointment with Helga's friend for my medical certificate.
Oh almost forgot got a great italian leather purse yesterday for 7€. I needed a new black bag, and this one is really nice.

Day 24

This is gonna be a quick post. Loved the Nutcracker last night, it was the classic version with all the romance, toe shoes, no men in tights but I can cope. It was fantastic.
After Lisa and I went to Starbucks, after all things I didn't I would be able to find in Europe, they had my favourite drink, but it was over $8 for a small. So I said forget it. I actually found ginger ale, it is incredibly pricy. Still working on the root beer thing. Michi suggested I try T.G.I. Fridays. One thing I have to mention, is that at all the fast food places here they serve beer ( I know this because I scoured the inner city in search of root beer). I may just have to go for a beer at McDonalds or something.
I have heard abit more about my accomodations: " You will be staying with a British lady called Binnie, she works in the Hydrology division on the same floor as us and is very nice."
This is cool, as she probably knows loads of cheap ways to go to England, maybe she has a car, and drives home once and a while, and I can catch a lift. Plus language won't be a problem.
Anyways, must dash to go buy tickets for the opening of Parsifal by Wagner.

Day 23 those european men

There has been a flurry of activity today. I checked my e-mail and am swamped with e-mails about Paris. Apparently the Unesco people have found me accomodations in Paris, as I left Canada. Cheap too 200€ ($340-60) a month, it's a room with a shared bathroom and kitchen. But if I don't like it I can find another place. I am not sure why Wanda never mentioned this before, but I haven't really been in contact with her. So that is a relief, now I just have to focus on my visa application (Although if they tell me I have to go back to Canada, I am just gonna go to France anyways, because I am only there 10 days longer than I am supposed to be),send UNESCO a filled out application form (don't worry I have been accepted, I am going, it's just for records I am assuming), and get a medical certificate, make travel arrangments, and finish my online application to journalism school, and go cover and write my free lance articles for Anishinabek news. Gosh that's alot to do. I will be busy. I was freaking intially, because I thought the e-mail said they need a medical form dated at least 30 days prior to my arrival, and was all what am I going to do because I didn't get a physical before I left. Luckily they just need an certificate dated no earlier than a month prior to my arrival.
I am quite torn about the train or plane. On the one hand, I can go to Paris, and get there soon, with a minimal amount of trouble with my bags, or I can take the train, and really see some of Europe, but possibly have to change trains, and if I am in Germany it could be trouble understanding announcements, and if there is not a lot of time in between I could easily miss the train (As I did coming back from the Burgenland). It's a long trip. Plus there is a greater risk of theft in travelling by train, and I won't get my passport stamped Paris. Post a comment and tell me what you think.
Helga never came back btw, but we e-mailed back and forth yesterday. So anyways back to my activites I watched Whale Rider with Guy and Michi on Sunday, Gawan never showed up. The film was ok. Not my thing.
Yesterday, I got ordered to go the Akin support group thing, but Gawan met me, and we went there together. He lent me a cell phone, which is great! It is so sweet, he set it up for me, and made sure to switch it into English. We did the double kiss on the cheek thing when he met me at the bus stop. Hehehe. God I love Europe for that.
The Akin meeting was pretty boring, because most of it was in German. They hold these meetings at this place called American Latina. Gawan was so cute, whispering to me what they were talking about. When they started talking about the Dept. of Indian Affairs in Cda Gawan asked them to speak in english so I could understand. Apparently some top secret document has been released. Pretty big news.
After a bunch of us started talking, I started talking with this 52 year old american cherokee, and I tried to tell him I had to go catch my bus, but he kept on yakking. I think he was flirting with me because he kept on touching my arm. So I missed my bus (the last one of the night) and had to take a cab home, so this american guy, Gawan, Michi and her hubby walked with me to get a cab. Then I had to rush to get in. No double kisses that time. Damn.
So after I got out of the cab, I made a couple phone calls, and while I was on the phone I spied this guy and he was scamming on me -as they say in Alberta- and after I got of the phone we eventually started talking, and I gave him my phone number (gotta love the timing!). I completely forget his name but he is Turkish, and speaks a little English. He kissed my hand, and tried to kiss me, but I told him no. Like I am about to start kissing someone I just met on the street. As if! So he is supposed to call me after he gets of work or something, but I have plans. Lisa and I are going to go see the traditional version of the Nutcracker tonight. Besides I prefere Gawan, he is such a sweetie.

Day 22

2:11 god I can not stand middle eastern music, it does my head in! (You'll have to excuse the British-ism, all the books I brought are by British authors, so the odd expression may creep in occasionally). The guy is telling me the sound card is broken on this computer, so I can't listen to my own music, so I am being denied my Chad! Although I have to admit the food isn't too bad, even if I had to come all the way to Europe to try it, and it was prepared by a Canadian no less. (I had dinner at Lisa's last night). She made this chicken coconut curry thing, she saw on a cooking show on the BBC. It was an quite international dinner. The bread was Italian, curry is indian, and it was served on thai noodles. Plus I am sure coconuts are like from N. America, and it is a British reciepe, and the ingredients are all from Austria. It was spicy but good. I had to have two glasses of milk as I ate to cool my mouth down. I never had curry before. I like going to Lisa's place because she has tv and gets BBC, it is so nice to be able to watch and hear something in English, even if it is cheezy S Club 7.
I guess I am starting to go through cultural shock and starting to miss stuff from home, like root beer, and maple syrup. I guess it's all part of the process, and according to Wanda everybody goes through it, it is completely normal. I will just have to read up on . (Val if you read this before you go to S. Korea, bring Maple Syrup for yourself). If I ask for any care packages those are things I definately want. -not that I can get ANY mail because Helga didn't give me the mail key. Anyways, I love making french toast and I miss it. Apparently they don't have that sort of thing in Britian (according to my Shopaholic book, which co-incidently I am reading the second one already, and it is a about a British girl who goes to N. America.) I am still not entirely healthy, and there is no ginger ale to be had for my stomach, when it is sore. Anyways back to yesterday:
This was all after we had met up with Amy, and went for coffee at Cafe Europa, or rather melanges, a specific type of Viennese coffee. It was ok, I am not a coffee drinker as most of you know. Amy is pretty nice, she went home for the holidays, her dad paid for her flight, and she surprised her family. I feel so childlish compared to them, they are both real lawyers, and are well travelled, and in their late 20's. Here's me, this is the longest I have ever been away from Canada, never been to Europe, only has a BA, and in my early 20's (Although soon to be in my mid-20's, that's another story in itself). But I do like them, and I can learn from them. By the way, Amy is actually younger than Lisa, she just sounds older (like she's 40)
Amy came up with the great idea of why don't I see if I can get into a student dorm while I am in Paris, it would be cheap, so I will have to look into it. Helga is returning Tommorow I called her house last night, to find out what's going on. And that's what her mother told me. That's what's going on on that front.
As for the plan for today, I am going to watch a movie at Michaela and Guys, maybe Gawan will come too. I think we are going to watch Whale Rider or something like that. So that's that.
I am sure everyone smoking everywhere freely isn't helping my health much, the smoke is starting to bother me. I think it's stonger than N.A., certainly Canadian cigarettes. I am sure my lungs will be black by the time I am home. Missing the smoke free enviroment of London (Ontario, obviously). I am happy to be here, and am enjoying myself, so don't get the wrong idea, I just get kinda touchy and grumpy when I am not feeling 100% myself.

Day 20 and 21

Yes, I am still alive, I am just getting over yet another cold, which is why I have been in bed, for two days reading, (I have now re-read the entire Harry Potter series.) Although I did go check my e-mail as it is my only form of communication. I am waiting to hear back from Helga, she is supposed to be helping me get ready for Paris, which is in two weeks, but she has been in the country. I may have to e-mail Wanda and let her know what's going on. Not really much to report.
The other night as I was walking home from the internet cafe this guy stopped me on the street, and asked me out, but I definately was not interested. He was damn persistant, saying he loved me and all this. I had never seen this guy before in my life. Keeping in mind as well, I was sick when all this is happening, so I am not looking my best. This was at like 6 o'clock in the evening. He started walking with me I tried to get into one apartment building and pretend it was mine, but the damn door was locked, so there went that plan, so I went to my building told him it was my friends building, and I had to go see them, so I could call my roommate to let me in. He asked for my number and all this, and wanted to know my apartment number he could call. I finally just told him I was going to my friends place, and to stay where he was. He eventually got the hint. I hope he just thinks I went in there to get rid of him, and doesn't realize I actually live there. Ugh. I think next time, I will just lie and say I have a boyfriend back home. Too bad Gawan wasn't with me, I could have pretended he was my boyfriend.
At 4:30 this morning, I heard someone a girl yelling on the street at this guy, for like 5 minutes. Too bad I couldn't understand what they were saying, as it was in German.
This afternoon, I am going to meet another intern named Amy, she sounds older. She knows Lisa (who is 29). I have also heard from another intern in Paris, so now I have contacted two of them. Pretty cool. I hope they are as nice as the people I have met here.

Day 19- art, art and more art

5:11pm, something I just noticed, they don't have root beer over here. Boo-urns. Anyways. yesterday I had enough of musicans for a while, so I decided to hit the art gallery. Well the main reason I wanted to go to the Belvedere gallery was because they have Klimt's famous painting The Kiss (kuss) there. It was pretty cool seeing it. It is pretty big, I just kinda stood there in aww. I also saw some of Auguste Renoir's work (After the Bath, and Bather with loose blonde hair), The Plains at Auver by none other than Vincent Van Gogh(though I don't think much of him), and there was also a Claude Monet painting. (Sar, you would have appreciated it more than I did.) There was this one artist Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, who was fantastic, the detail in his work is incredible. There was this one painting he did of a woman in a dress and a shawl, I was blown away, the dress looked so real, and the detail in the shall was amazing I was very bad, and took pictures even though I wasn't allowed, which was tricky after I attracted the attention of security by asking them to take a picture of me infront of The Kiss, after that he kept his eye on me, but I got it when he wasn't looking, I just hope it worked. I was really naughty and touched one of Klimt's paintings,(one with a lady in a pink dress). I couldn't resist.
The Belvedere is a former palace (well two buildings). The Hapsburgs had three (The Hofburg, Shonbrun, and the Belvedere). Anyways , the admission price (5€) covers enterance to both the upper and lower Belvedere, but you don't have to go on the same day. So I just went to the Upper (Obres) Belvedre, because I had to dash off to the Opera, but I couldn't resist, having a bite to eat the Belvedere Cafe before.
I got a standing ticket to go see Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) (If you click on videobeispiel they have a video clip of it). Now this I liked, although I would have enjoyed it more had I not been grumpy because I lost my ticket for the Belvedere. This was my second opera. (The first being Falstaff in TO). The cool thing about the Staatsoper, is that they have individual translation screens so you can understand what the heck they are singing about. The story was pretty neat too. I have found a synopsis for you guys in english.
So today, I went on a tour of the Rathaus (Which I thought was parliament, but is actually the city hall), little did I know until I started on the tour, that it was in German, still though I got to see the council chambers, which is a mish mash of design, frescos, elaborate ceiling decor, stained glass window, carved wood, and a huge chandelier, which weighs either 300, or 3000kgs (as I said it was German), but I will go with 3000.
After that, I went back to the Belvedere, because I wanted to see the lower part. On the way there this lady on the tram started giving me trouble because I had my leg tucked under me as I usually do, and I told her I didn't speak German, but she kept on yapping at me. I accidently stepped on this other ladies foot, and then I am sure both of them started talking about me in German, let's hope they think I am American as opposed to Canadian. Anyways it sucks I had to buy another ticket, so I quickly went into the Upper Belvedere to go see The Kiss one last time.
The buildings are about a 10-15 minute walk apart, and are seperated by an elaborate garden, with opulant fountains and statues. I thought the Hofburg was oppulant, that was nothing compared to the lower Belvedere. There were rooms that had marble floors, ceilings and walls, although there some frescoes on this wall. This was all baroque style. This one room, the room of grotesques, is wall to wall painting so was the ceiling. One room was called the gold wardrobe. No wonder people revolt against monchary, with the way they spend money on marble and commissioning artwork. The Upper Beveldre, had it's moments, too. I guess the Hapsburgs liked to outdo their predecessors. I just hope the pics, I once again shouldn't have been taking turn out so I can show you guys. It makes me wish I was born into royalty and lived in a palace like this (simplified of course). When I see old buildings like this, I can easily see them years ago, with horse drawn carriages racing up to teh I am being to realize what a game of chance life is: class, gender, nationality.
Anyways, the main reason I wanted to go to lower Belvedere, was because it is home to a
Jacques-Louis David painting, that I have seen a couple times in school. I forget the name, Napoleon at the St. Bernard's pass or something like that. It's pretty big. I can't believe the size of some of these paintings and the effort that must have gone into it.

Day 18

Yesterday, I did absolutely nothing. It was great. I needed a day of rest from the sight seeing and all the walking I have been doing. I read the second Harry Potter book (in english). Although I have seen an Austrian copy, and the cover is different than the American and Canadian versions. Hungary uses the American version (well for the 2nd, 3 and 4th books).
I have been reading alot at night before bed, because there is no tv, and even if there was I wouldn't be able to watch it, it is all in German, although Lisa does get CNN, and the BBC. I have already read The Poisonwood Bible, and the first Harry Potter book. And people thought it was a bad idea for me to bring twelve books with me!
Helga still isn't back so I went grocery shopping by myself for the first time. It went allright, I bought blood-oranges to make fresh squeezed orange juice only to find there is no juicer.
Yes I realize blood oranges sound really gross, but is my new favourite thing (well that an a schnitzel sandwich (schnitzel semmel) from a place down the street from me.) The look like oranges, but when you slice them, some of the juice is red, so it looks like blood. They are more acidic then regular oranges, and kind of taste like a cross between grapefruit and oranges. The juice is a pinky red.
I also started looking into flights, it's like 25€ one way from Paris to Spain and Italy. very cool. It might even be return, but I doubt it. It's like 49€ to fly one way from Vienna to Paris, I think I may do that, rather than take the train, although I would love to veiw Switzerland and Germany by train.

Day 17 Nussknacker

Well I finally saw a live production of the Nutcracker (Nussknacker)at the Volksoper, although it was the ballet from the Staatoper. I was so disapointed, there were no sugar plum fairies dancing. The production was modern and not what I was hoping for. The production felt more like modern dance set to classical music. They had the Tango and swing dance. I was expecting beauty, fantasy, tutus, toe shoes, and men in tights (so was Guy, but he was happy there wasn't!). They never even danced en pointe! The costumes were very modern as well, three girls had on sunglasses, and red jackets with white polka dots. The set looked like the trenches from WW2. The rat king didn't look like no rat.
Now don't get me wrong, I am all for trying new things, when I went to Stratford with Sarah, I loved the adaptation of Taming of the Shrew in the old west, even though I didn't like the play as much. I also love classical ballet set to modern music, like in the movie Centre Stage. Michi liked it though which is good. I didn't even think the Prima Ballerina was all that good, her arms and legs were very angular, it was icky. She had about about as much grace as I do. Some of the movements were meant to be funny as well, they have turned it into a comedy. The only thing recognizable about this production was the music which was good. I will have to make a point to see it again when I am back home, or maybe if I am in Russia sometime.
I just checked out the website. I found out it was the same director, and ballerina from the other day, so now it is no surprise that I didn't like this production either. However, I think there is a different production of the Nutcracker at the Staatoper, the pictures are different than the pictures of the one at the Volksoper. This one has toe shoes! I think will go see that. I think I am going to go see Mozart's opera the Magic Flute tommorow.
I checked out the Staatpark (State park) yesterday and saw several statues of famous musicians, including the famous gold one of Strauß. I also found the Beethoven statue. It was so weird seeing ducks in the park in January, there was also a swan. The grass is green here, but you can't walk on it. So that's it, nothing too exciting.
At this internet cafe I am at, I have to listen to internet music to block out the loud middle eastern music they like to play. Yahoo!Launch is a godsend.
Speaking of music: Michi and I downloaded my Chad Kroeger song, and she is going to burn it on to cd for me. Thank god! She is such a sweetie. After the ballet, we watched this riskay for the time film called Lenny. It's a bio-pic starring Dustin Hoffman, directed by Bob Fosse (creater of Chicago, and director of Cabaret). It was ok. In true Kristin style I passed out towards the end. That is really it.
I forgot to talk about my going into Prada: over priced gaudy stuff, although the bad, I touched was super soft. Some of that stuff is just crazily priced, like 180€ for a pair of sunglasses. It's not even classic stuff that you would be able to wear a few years down the road.

Day 16

Last night wasn't to exciting, I called Michi to see what she was up to. Guy and her, were going to walk around the inner city, so that is what we did. Then we went to their place and watched a really interesting movie called, Taking Sides. They live in Lisa's neighbourhood. There x-mas tree is still up, and it has real candles on it! I didn't get to sit it lit though.
I gave Michi some Canadian coins, and she quite liked that. Guy came up with an interesting experiment, at some point, tell people I am American and see what there reaction is. It could be interesting. He wants to get his German up to par, so that he can go back to the states, and talk in German and see how they treat foreigners. It is so funny he makes an effort around me not say America, but the States or something like that. I may have mentioned it, but I get a kick out of it.
That's about it really. We are going to try and get tickets for the Nutcracker toight. Lisa is invited but she doesn't like to do stuff Sunday nights, she likes to gear up for the week ahead or something to that efffect. I am expecting Helga to return either tonight or tommorow, because the Akin support group is having a New Years Party tommorow night.
I forgot to mention that I stumbled upon a Mozart statue yesterday, when I took the tram, I guess I didn't press the button so the driver didn't stop, and I got off one stop further, but right there was a statue. I thought was pretty neat. Poor Mozart, he doesn't even have a grave, there is a fake one, but he was buried in a mass grave. I am not really sure why.

Day 15

It's official I haven't been in Canada since last year. hehe.
It's almost 3 o'clock and I have no plans for the day, I might just take it easy, I was so tired yesterday. I actually napped on Lisa's couch. So yesterday, our Mozart day turned out to be a bust. The museum we wanted to go to is closed until Jan 2006. Boo-urns to that. We went to an photo exhibition instead. The pics were of Paris by Henri Cartier- Bresson. It was neat, and in the same museum we say some religious figurines from the Stephandom (I guess stuff that was salvaged during the rescontruction after WW2). They also had the original stain glass windows well some of them. It was neat, there were also medieval armour, including a horse's armour. We also checked out the Succession building.
We got kebabs for lunch at the Nachtmarkt (A big food market. Kebabs are really popular here. I haven't seen them in Canada like here. They make it on a spit, and they just shave the meat off and serve it in a bun. It was ok. Lisa bought us these chocolate covered sish kababs, that was really good. It had bananas, strawberries and grapes on mine. She has this thing where fruit stand guys tend to like her, and so there are certain ones she can't go to. It's quite funny. Speaking of food I have found the European heart attack on a plate: a käsekrainer. A cheese infused sausage, it is so good, I had one for lunch today. The sausage here is served in essentially a hollowed out loaf of bread! Crazy!
Anyways at the market yesterday I actually was able to haggle with a vendor, and got her to knock 5€ of the price of a necklace charm. I am quite proud of myself.
At night,after checking out the scene infront of the City Hall (Rathaus) we went to the karnter strasse, near the Stephansdom, to ring in the new year. It was frigging INSANE! So many people. Lisa's friend had told us, don't bring anything valuable with you, so I left everything at home, including my jewellery. Lisa said she felt so many hands in her pockets, I didn't feel anything, then again, I had a think sweater on. Some guy grabbed her ass, and this one guy was hitting on me, but I was not interested.
The people are f-ing nuts here. It was so strange to see people drinking in the streets, with no regulations. Mind you I was also drinking champagne, (the bottom of my cheap plastic glass popped off as I was making my way through the crowds. They were letting off fireworks in the street long before midnight, so it was hard to tell when it was actually new years, you couldn't even hear the church bells ring, or any sort of count down over the people and the firecrackers. It was different than back home, no kissing, or playing of auld lang syne. They play a Strauß waltz here, but I don't remember what one. It didn't feel like new years with out a proper countdown.
I tried to call home but the phone card that I bought, had no pin on it, so I couldn't. I did use Lisa's phone for two seconds. I would have got my parents to call me back, but apparently it is like $40 for 15 minutes, Lisa's parents call her all the time, and are insane refusing to buy a phone card. It would only be 5 o6 cents per minute with one. Their phone bill was $300 last month!
I paid 10€ for my card, and the guys only have me 9€ back I won't be coming here again, if that's what they are like! I ended up staying at Lisa's last night. (By the way Lisa lives near Beethoven's apartment). On the way back I actually broke down and used a pay toliet! Ugh!Desperate times call for desperate measures.
There is a Beethoven concert tonight, his 9th symphony(Ode to Joy), but the tickets are all sold out. And there is no other one. Damn. They are bigger on Strauß and Mozart here. They have a couple of Mozart's operas playing this month, I might go catch one, but I want to go to see The Marriage of Figaro, but I will be in Paris when it starts. (I will be in Paris in like 3 weeks!)The Mozart museum we tried to go to is where Mozart wrote the his Figaro opera. I guess I will see another one. Standing seats of course, lets not get extravegant. This whole opera thing has me thinking of Kaarlo- the radio station general manager, who passed away in November, he was a big opera lover, and he told me he likes Vienna better than Paris. I thought of him when I was at the ballet the other day, and wondered if he ever went there, and if he did where did he sit.
I am so looking forward to going to Paris. Lisa said she is going to come visit me. We are thinking of planning a day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia, and are thinking of meeting up in Italy.
As to someone's comments about this being detailed and long. I know it will drive some of you insane, but I want to remember as much as I can, and when I am older, I might not remember all the details. Don't forget to write your name in the comments so I know who it is.
I am hoping the post cards I mailed out will actually get mailed, I am not sure if I put enough postage, I told the woman at the Tabak (tabacco shop- which are everwhere) it was going to Canada, so I am hoping she gave me the right stuff. Fingers crossed. It cost almost 10€ to mail all of them, plus the cost of buying them.
One last thing, about the tram driver from the other day, he thought I meant a different street, there is a Berggasse, and Burggasse, one of them is on the route and other isn't.