I have enjoyed my life in Salzburg so much. With only four weeks to go, there is much I'll miss.
I am trying to enjoy everything as much as possible. This week I had the usual: school and work, but I did manage to do some fun things, too. On Monday I had lunch at Cappomio, the wonderful restaurant behind my Studentenwohnheim (dorm) with my Austrian friend, Tina. The weather was gorgeous so we were able to eat outside. I will so miss the outdoor cafes here. Everytime the weather is nice all of the residents of Salzburg sit outsides at cafes, drinking an Aperhol spritzer. Sometimes I wonder if any of them work...
That evening I had dinner with Steffi and Verena, two friends of mine that I met through the prayer group I was apart of. We all leave so near each other that we try to eat together when we have time. With our busy schedules that isn't easy...
On Tuesday I had class and then work, and in the evening I went out to O'Malleys, the local bar, with some of the Americans from my program. I didn't buy a drink, but I did enjoy the company. Yesterday I had class and then taught English to 2 little Austrian girls, and today I had to work until 1. Now I'm off to go swimming at an indoor pool with people from my program.
Now, towards the end of all of this, I am wishing I had written more about my everyday life in Austria. Sometimes I take being here for granted, but I really love it! And I want to remember my time here :)
Friday, May 27, 2011
Getting Used
I always try and help people if I can, and have often helped exchange students or expats adjust to life in Michigan. I am so thankful for all of the people that helped me this year. I also discovered something else: some people only care about you when you can do something for them. When you need help and you ask them, they don't respond. Or they don't care enough to keep in touch, until they need something from you. I'm not going to stop helping people. It's who I am. But I guess I just have to realize that there are people out there that are going to try and use me. They're not worth it. They are not worth the effort.
So thanks to those of you that have helped me during this year abroad. I appreciate you more than you know.
So thanks to those of you that have helped me during this year abroad. I appreciate you more than you know.
Monday, May 23, 2011
ON A WEEKEND IN V’RONA(ON AN EVENING IN ROMA=the real name of the song, but hey, I wasn’t in Roma, was I?)
For the past 6 months I’ve been dying to go to Verona. Unfortunately the idea normally comes to me right after returning from another trip, at which point I am usually broke. I have done more than my fair share of traveling this year, so I knew if I wanted to go to Verona, I would have to save up, and travel on the cheap. I looked for youth hostels-which they unfortunately don’t have in Verona, and then basically decided I just couldn’t afford it.
But it doesn’t end there. I recently wrote to an Italian friend of mine on Facebook. We met at 18 when she studied abroad at my high school. We became good friends and I really missed her when she left. She and I have written to each other now and then over the past 5 years, and, being in Europe and all, I thought it was a good time to say hi. I let her know that she could come and visit me whenever, and that if she had time for me I’d like to visit her.
She wrote, back, saying that I could come visit her in Verona, where she goes to college. A real coincidence! It ended up that the weekend I wanted to go and see her in May (20-22) was perfect for her, and after dealing with the financial logistics I booked a train ticket. I was so excited to experience an Italian city for the first time!
Elisa was the perfect hostess-she planned a dinner for me on Friday evening so that I could meet her friends. Together, we enjoyed pizza, wine, and dessert on a hill overlooking the beautiful city of Verona. For breakfast on Saturday morning she had the fridge stocked with Oreos :) and after such a healthy breakfast, we were ready to climb up to a castle and enjoy the view of the city. In the afternoon, after having enjoyed pasta at home, she showed me around the city.
First Stop: Juliet’s House, where every tourist in the world was trying to get a hand on Juliet’s breasts-it is said that if you rub the right breast of the statue it will bring you good luck. After fighting Italians and tourists alike to get my picture taken with the statue, I went into Juliet’s house, took a picture on the balcony that was added in the mid 1930s for tourist purposes, and then followed a sign that caught my eye: Letters to Juliet.
I had never expected that the club that was talked about in the film was actually real! When I arrived at the top of the steps I went into the small room that contained letters written by dozens of generations of women all over the world. These women write to Juliet like children write to Santa Claus, except they are asking for advice on love and relationships, rather than for children's toys. I wrote my own letter to dear Juliet and put it in the mailbox. According to their website, they answer every letter, and according to my hostess Elisa, even students are hired to help answer the letters that are written in many different languages from all over the world.
After walking around the city a bit we found a place that sold frozen coke! So, for the second time since I moved abroad (the first having been at a movie theater in Abu Dhabi), I enjoyed a frozen coke. We saw more of the city, including another castle, and walked along a river, and by that point we were utterly exhausted. We headed to an outdoor cafe to enjoy cocktails and appetizers, and then headed home and crashed at about 9pm like little old ladies. This morning she brought me back to the station, and now I am sitting on the train, watching Punky Brewster and drinking a cold Latte Macchiato.
I had a wonderful 2 days with an old friend. I hope she enjoyed showing me around just as I enjoyed showing her around Michigan 5 years ago.
Ciao Bella ☺
Molly
But it doesn’t end there. I recently wrote to an Italian friend of mine on Facebook. We met at 18 when she studied abroad at my high school. We became good friends and I really missed her when she left. She and I have written to each other now and then over the past 5 years, and, being in Europe and all, I thought it was a good time to say hi. I let her know that she could come and visit me whenever, and that if she had time for me I’d like to visit her.
She wrote, back, saying that I could come visit her in Verona, where she goes to college. A real coincidence! It ended up that the weekend I wanted to go and see her in May (20-22) was perfect for her, and after dealing with the financial logistics I booked a train ticket. I was so excited to experience an Italian city for the first time!
Elisa was the perfect hostess-she planned a dinner for me on Friday evening so that I could meet her friends. Together, we enjoyed pizza, wine, and dessert on a hill overlooking the beautiful city of Verona. For breakfast on Saturday morning she had the fridge stocked with Oreos :) and after such a healthy breakfast, we were ready to climb up to a castle and enjoy the view of the city. In the afternoon, after having enjoyed pasta at home, she showed me around the city.
First Stop: Juliet’s House, where every tourist in the world was trying to get a hand on Juliet’s breasts-it is said that if you rub the right breast of the statue it will bring you good luck. After fighting Italians and tourists alike to get my picture taken with the statue, I went into Juliet’s house, took a picture on the balcony that was added in the mid 1930s for tourist purposes, and then followed a sign that caught my eye: Letters to Juliet.
I had never expected that the club that was talked about in the film was actually real! When I arrived at the top of the steps I went into the small room that contained letters written by dozens of generations of women all over the world. These women write to Juliet like children write to Santa Claus, except they are asking for advice on love and relationships, rather than for children's toys. I wrote my own letter to dear Juliet and put it in the mailbox. According to their website, they answer every letter, and according to my hostess Elisa, even students are hired to help answer the letters that are written in many different languages from all over the world.
After walking around the city a bit we found a place that sold frozen coke! So, for the second time since I moved abroad (the first having been at a movie theater in Abu Dhabi), I enjoyed a frozen coke. We saw more of the city, including another castle, and walked along a river, and by that point we were utterly exhausted. We headed to an outdoor cafe to enjoy cocktails and appetizers, and then headed home and crashed at about 9pm like little old ladies. This morning she brought me back to the station, and now I am sitting on the train, watching Punky Brewster and drinking a cold Latte Macchiato.
I had a wonderful 2 days with an old friend. I hope she enjoyed showing me around just as I enjoyed showing her around Michigan 5 years ago.
Ciao Bella ☺
Molly
Monday, May 16, 2011
Being Away
Being away has had me thinking about a lot of things, one being my high school experience. Now that it is far behind me, I have a different way of looking at it. Did I really hate it? Was it that bad? I had friends, boyfriends, was in the musical, went to dances, had a job... I think I was just a teenager, and growing up is difficult. And being a sensitive person like me, it made it more difficult. But between the ages of 14-18 you really are trying to figure out who you are, who you want to become, etc. So I'm beginning to think it really was all for the best. Maybe my high school years weren't exactly "carefree," but whose really were?
Everything happens for a reason :-)
Everything happens for a reason :-)
German Visitors
First off, I'd like to thank all of those that haven't forgotten me just because I've been gone for a year. I really found out who my true friends are: they are the ones that wrote to me while I was gone, or sent me emails, or responded to messages. There are also those that didn't so much as write one sentence to me on facebook. But that's okay-I have enough wonderful people in my life :)
Now back to my German Visitors:
2 of my German friends came to visit: Marianne and Tobi. I was so happy that they had taken the time to come and see me, and I couldn't wait to show them around Salzburg. On Saturday morning I met Tobi and his friend, Bjorn, at about 10am. First we went to Getreidegasse, and then to the Dom. A walk up to the Festung (Fortress) quickly followed. After that we took a carriage ride through the Altstadt (old town), which made me think of Sound of Music, since they ride through Salzburg on a carriage in one of the scenes in the film. Then it was up to Kapuzinerberg for another beautiful view of the city, and we ended our tour by walking through Mirabell Gardens.
We met up with Marianne later, and in the evening we all went out for cocktails on this little boat turned bar that is out on the river. I had literaly the most delicious cocktail ever, and then we called it a night.
Yesterday was an even longer day. It rained nearly the entire day, which made it a perfect museum day. And we were in luck: yesterday was Tag der Museen (day of the museums), and we definitely took advantage of it: we went to 4 of them. After that we went on a hike up Kapuzinerberg. My legs were killing me by the end, but it was worth it to get a beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains. In the evening we went out for cake, and today at 9am, we said our goodbyes.
It was a great weekend. Thanks for the visit guys!
Love, Molly
Now back to my German Visitors:
2 of my German friends came to visit: Marianne and Tobi. I was so happy that they had taken the time to come and see me, and I couldn't wait to show them around Salzburg. On Saturday morning I met Tobi and his friend, Bjorn, at about 10am. First we went to Getreidegasse, and then to the Dom. A walk up to the Festung (Fortress) quickly followed. After that we took a carriage ride through the Altstadt (old town), which made me think of Sound of Music, since they ride through Salzburg on a carriage in one of the scenes in the film. Then it was up to Kapuzinerberg for another beautiful view of the city, and we ended our tour by walking through Mirabell Gardens.
We met up with Marianne later, and in the evening we all went out for cocktails on this little boat turned bar that is out on the river. I had literaly the most delicious cocktail ever, and then we called it a night.
Yesterday was an even longer day. It rained nearly the entire day, which made it a perfect museum day. And we were in luck: yesterday was Tag der Museen (day of the museums), and we definitely took advantage of it: we went to 4 of them. After that we went on a hike up Kapuzinerberg. My legs were killing me by the end, but it was worth it to get a beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains. In the evening we went out for cake, and today at 9am, we said our goodbyes.
It was a great weekend. Thanks for the visit guys!
Love, Molly
Thursday, May 12, 2011
What has she been up to?
Well I left on talking about that Tuesday. After having dinner in Munich with Uwe and Susanne, I headed off to Paris with my church group here. To be honest, the ride there completely sucked. I tried sleeping in the Liegewagen, but it didn't work well. You share a room the size of a box with 5 other people, and sleep on something like a board. Losing sleep sort of ruined Paris for me a little bit, but I was able to enjoy touring the Sorbonne, going on a boat tour of the city, eating ice cream in front of the Eiffel Tower, and going to a prayer hour at Sacre Couer (Sacred Heat), where I got to listen to nuns sing in French.
Last week school started up again. I had to take a few exams, made dinner with a few Austrian friends, nothing major.
This past weekend I went to Augsburg for the night to visit Christine & Family. Christine and I went to see an Italian film which was actually not half bad and on Saturday we went to botanical gardens nearby with the kids, and then grilled out in the evening. On Sunday I spent mother's day with the Austrian Family I babysit for. We went to their relatives' house and grilled out.
This week I've been taking it easy. I've gotten stressed out doing too much, just trying to not plan my whole day down to the minute like I usually do.
<3 Molly
Last week school started up again. I had to take a few exams, made dinner with a few Austrian friends, nothing major.
This past weekend I went to Augsburg for the night to visit Christine & Family. Christine and I went to see an Italian film which was actually not half bad and on Saturday we went to botanical gardens nearby with the kids, and then grilled out in the evening. On Sunday I spent mother's day with the Austrian Family I babysit for. We went to their relatives' house and grilled out.
This week I've been taking it easy. I've gotten stressed out doing too much, just trying to not plan my whole day down to the minute like I usually do.
<3 Molly
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Thanks, Mom: A Mother's Day Tribute
Last year at the end of March I received an e-mail that changed my life: Congratulations, you have been accepted to the German Master's Program at Bowling Green, with an assistantship.The first year will be abroad in Salzburg, Austria.
It's what I had always wanted. I had seen posters advertising the program through Bowling Green several years before and had always thought of applying. But as soon as I was accepted, I got excited and nervous at the same time. A whole year away? I wasn't sure if I could handle it.
While making the decision my mother supported me without telling me what to do. She told me what I keep with me every time something here doesn't go the way I planned: you have waited your whole life and worked so hard to do this, and you're going to have the time of your life. She's right. Who better to study abroad in a German speaking country than me? After considering it it for about a month, I accepted.
The hard part came in June right before I left (I spent 3 months in Germany before going straight to Salzburg). I got nervous, panicked, and remember sitting somewhere crying, telling my mom I couldn't do it. She told me that I could, that I made the decision and that it was right for me. She said it was now or never.
I remember the day I left being particularly difficult. I looked at my parent's house and wanted to cry. I felt like I was leaving childhood behind, and that I would come back a different person. As I hugged my mom on the stairs, I felt like I was saying goodbye forever.
First, I headed to Northern Germany. Things went well- I was babysitting for a family that I knew. The trouble came when I was on my own in Germany, spending August studying abroad in Tübingen. The change was difficult, but mom was right there with me, on the phone, telling me I could do it. And she was right: I had the best 4 weeks of my entire life. I was with students from all over the world that shared my love of German, I got to spend a month living in exploring beautiful Tübingen, and met new friends that I still keep in contact with.
After that things got easier. I switched from host family to host family for a few months without incident, and I headed to Salzburg with an open mind.
I have had the most wonderful year of my life, and, with it coming to a close, i have mix emotions: some days I am so excited that I will be going home that I want to jump on a plane right then and there-other times I am so sad that I'm going to leave I almost burst into tears. But no matter what mood I'm in, I always thank god for this experience, and that my mother helped me to realize that I could do this. I am strong enough, and I did it, and I couldn't be more proud of myself.
Mom, I love you so much. I don't know what I'd do without you. You are my best friend and no matter how far away I am from you, I hope we will always be close.
Yours, Molly
It's what I had always wanted. I had seen posters advertising the program through Bowling Green several years before and had always thought of applying. But as soon as I was accepted, I got excited and nervous at the same time. A whole year away? I wasn't sure if I could handle it.
While making the decision my mother supported me without telling me what to do. She told me what I keep with me every time something here doesn't go the way I planned: you have waited your whole life and worked so hard to do this, and you're going to have the time of your life. She's right. Who better to study abroad in a German speaking country than me? After considering it it for about a month, I accepted.
The hard part came in June right before I left (I spent 3 months in Germany before going straight to Salzburg). I got nervous, panicked, and remember sitting somewhere crying, telling my mom I couldn't do it. She told me that I could, that I made the decision and that it was right for me. She said it was now or never.
I remember the day I left being particularly difficult. I looked at my parent's house and wanted to cry. I felt like I was leaving childhood behind, and that I would come back a different person. As I hugged my mom on the stairs, I felt like I was saying goodbye forever.
First, I headed to Northern Germany. Things went well- I was babysitting for a family that I knew. The trouble came when I was on my own in Germany, spending August studying abroad in Tübingen. The change was difficult, but mom was right there with me, on the phone, telling me I could do it. And she was right: I had the best 4 weeks of my entire life. I was with students from all over the world that shared my love of German, I got to spend a month living in exploring beautiful Tübingen, and met new friends that I still keep in contact with.
After that things got easier. I switched from host family to host family for a few months without incident, and I headed to Salzburg with an open mind.
I have had the most wonderful year of my life, and, with it coming to a close, i have mix emotions: some days I am so excited that I will be going home that I want to jump on a plane right then and there-other times I am so sad that I'm going to leave I almost burst into tears. But no matter what mood I'm in, I always thank god for this experience, and that my mother helped me to realize that I could do this. I am strong enough, and I did it, and I couldn't be more proud of myself.
Mom, I love you so much. I don't know what I'd do without you. You are my best friend and no matter how far away I am from you, I hope we will always be close.
Yours, Molly
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Salzburg, I love you!
I cannot believe my time here is flying by so fast. I hate it :(
I spent first semester just getting used to it here. I spent a lot more time in my room than I would have liked, until I met friends here in December and finally started to feel at home.
Now I'm traveling so much at the end of my year here and have little time to sit and enjoy Salzburg. Luckily I did spent 5 days of my spring break just relaxing in Salzburg, so I did do some touristy things, and next weekend friends are coming to visit, so I hope to do more touristy things then too.
However, what I wish I would've done more of is just relax and enjoy every day life in Salzburg. Sit at the park, lay on the grass near the water, eat a sandwich on Kapuzinerberg.
But I think even if I did have more time, it wouldn't be enough. I love it here.
-Molly
I spent first semester just getting used to it here. I spent a lot more time in my room than I would have liked, until I met friends here in December and finally started to feel at home.
Now I'm traveling so much at the end of my year here and have little time to sit and enjoy Salzburg. Luckily I did spent 5 days of my spring break just relaxing in Salzburg, so I did do some touristy things, and next weekend friends are coming to visit, so I hope to do more touristy things then too.
However, what I wish I would've done more of is just relax and enjoy every day life in Salzburg. Sit at the park, lay on the grass near the water, eat a sandwich on Kapuzinerberg.
But I think even if I did have more time, it wouldn't be enough. I love it here.
-Molly
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Spring Break....
Guten Abend :)
My spring got off to a very good start, having spent the first 4 days in Prague (see my previous blog entry). After that I chose to go back to Salzburg, mostly because my bank account had so little money it it. From Monday to Saturday I was in Salzburg, just enjoying relaxing. On Tuesday the weather was gorgeous so I met some people from my program at Hellbrunn palace and we had a picnic on the lawn. That evening I cooked dinner with friends and ate on my roof, in awe of the beautiful view of Salzburg. On Wednesday I had to deal with going to the doctor's in Austria: I waited 2 or 3 hours to see the doctor for 5 minutes. Wonderful. On Thursday I spent the day with Melanie, an awesome girl in my program who just arrived this semester. We walked around the city, drank cookie-shakes while sitting at Mirabell Gardens, and then went to a wine bar for drinks. On Friday I went to the top of the Mönchsberg and took pictures of the city, and then sat by the river with Melanie. In the evening we went to the bar, had a few drinks, talks to some guys...just had fun :)
On Saturday, the day before Easter, I headed to Anke's mother's house. On Easter she and I went next store to her son's house for brunch, which was really nice. In Germany brunch means that you meet at about 10am and have a late breakfast together, followed by lunch a few hours later. I was really confused-in America brunch means you eat a big meal at about 11am and it is supposed to last you pretty much the rest of the day, or at least until dinner.
On Tuesday I went to Munich. I ended up spending the day at Susanne and Uwe's. I drank tea, studied for an exam, and had dinner with the family. After that I headed to the train station to meet my church group to head to Paris. We went on the night train, where we slept on little cots (6 people to a room, VERY small). It was very uncomfortable so I wasn't able to sleep for more than a few minutes. When we arrived the next morning after a 3 hour delay, I was exhausted. I did, however, manage to participate in the site-seeing tours as planned. We went to the Sorbonne and also just walked around the city. The next day I felt worse from not getting sleep and decided to stay behind. I didn't do all that much except try and relax. On Friday it was rainy, but a few of us went on a boat tour of the city together. After we went to a cafe and watched part of the Royal Wedding! In the afternoon we went to the Eiffel Tower and took a few pictures there, then went on top of a tall building nearby to take pictures of the city-it was all foggy and I was able to get some nice pictures of the Eiffel Tower. In the evening we went to a prayer service at Sacre Couer-or Sacred Heart in English. The nuns were singing beautifully in French-very cool. On Saturday I took the train back to Munich, had dinner with Susanne and Uwe, and the next morning went on a bike ride with Uwe and the kids through the English Gardens.
All in all, a very nice break, despite not sleeping on the train :)
Alles Liebe, Molly
My spring got off to a very good start, having spent the first 4 days in Prague (see my previous blog entry). After that I chose to go back to Salzburg, mostly because my bank account had so little money it it. From Monday to Saturday I was in Salzburg, just enjoying relaxing. On Tuesday the weather was gorgeous so I met some people from my program at Hellbrunn palace and we had a picnic on the lawn. That evening I cooked dinner with friends and ate on my roof, in awe of the beautiful view of Salzburg. On Wednesday I had to deal with going to the doctor's in Austria: I waited 2 or 3 hours to see the doctor for 5 minutes. Wonderful. On Thursday I spent the day with Melanie, an awesome girl in my program who just arrived this semester. We walked around the city, drank cookie-shakes while sitting at Mirabell Gardens, and then went to a wine bar for drinks. On Friday I went to the top of the Mönchsberg and took pictures of the city, and then sat by the river with Melanie. In the evening we went to the bar, had a few drinks, talks to some guys...just had fun :)
On Saturday, the day before Easter, I headed to Anke's mother's house. On Easter she and I went next store to her son's house for brunch, which was really nice. In Germany brunch means that you meet at about 10am and have a late breakfast together, followed by lunch a few hours later. I was really confused-in America brunch means you eat a big meal at about 11am and it is supposed to last you pretty much the rest of the day, or at least until dinner.
On Tuesday I went to Munich. I ended up spending the day at Susanne and Uwe's. I drank tea, studied for an exam, and had dinner with the family. After that I headed to the train station to meet my church group to head to Paris. We went on the night train, where we slept on little cots (6 people to a room, VERY small). It was very uncomfortable so I wasn't able to sleep for more than a few minutes. When we arrived the next morning after a 3 hour delay, I was exhausted. I did, however, manage to participate in the site-seeing tours as planned. We went to the Sorbonne and also just walked around the city. The next day I felt worse from not getting sleep and decided to stay behind. I didn't do all that much except try and relax. On Friday it was rainy, but a few of us went on a boat tour of the city together. After we went to a cafe and watched part of the Royal Wedding! In the afternoon we went to the Eiffel Tower and took a few pictures there, then went on top of a tall building nearby to take pictures of the city-it was all foggy and I was able to get some nice pictures of the Eiffel Tower. In the evening we went to a prayer service at Sacre Couer-or Sacred Heart in English. The nuns were singing beautifully in French-very cool. On Saturday I took the train back to Munich, had dinner with Susanne and Uwe, and the next morning went on a bike ride with Uwe and the kids through the English Gardens.
All in all, a very nice break, despite not sleeping on the train :)
Alles Liebe, Molly
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Rambling
10 months... I've snow-shoed through the alps, ridden on a motorcycle in a rural town in Germany, gone biking through the English Gardens in Munich, ridden a camel in Abu Dhabi, been to the largest mall in the world in Dubai, eaten Quiche in France, seen the changing of the guards in London, eaten sweet bread in Prague, gone on the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, drunk a cafe latte at Cafe Central in Vienna, and so much more.
I've spent my days in Salzburg at the university, or babysitting, working, or at the coffee hour at my church, and my nights at the movies, bars, and friends' dorm rooms. I've drunk hot chocolate at the bar at 2am because my stomach couldn't take more alcohol after like one drink, or eaten a hot dog at 4am on Linzer Gasse because it just hit the spot. I've gone to the mall to get smoothies, to the old town to go shopping, or to Cappomio to relax and drink a cold coffee. I've gone to ladies night at the movies with friends, or to McDonald's for chocolate cookie shakes. I've gone to the no smoking section at OMalley's with a pack of cigarettes in my purse, to prayer group with mismatched socks.
I'm having the time of my life, and I never want it to end.
I've spent my days in Salzburg at the university, or babysitting, working, or at the coffee hour at my church, and my nights at the movies, bars, and friends' dorm rooms. I've drunk hot chocolate at the bar at 2am because my stomach couldn't take more alcohol after like one drink, or eaten a hot dog at 4am on Linzer Gasse because it just hit the spot. I've gone to the mall to get smoothies, to the old town to go shopping, or to Cappomio to relax and drink a cold coffee. I've gone to ladies night at the movies with friends, or to McDonald's for chocolate cookie shakes. I've gone to the no smoking section at OMalley's with a pack of cigarettes in my purse, to prayer group with mismatched socks.
I'm having the time of my life, and I never want it to end.
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