Well overdue post!

Well hello!

Yes, I’m still alive! Sorry sorry sorry for neglecting this blog, and for as yet not replying to all emails. I really appreciate hearing from home, and I think about you – my friends and family – all the time. Since arriving in Germany in the middle of September things have been pretty go go go!! Big stuff has happened and I haven’t really had much time to myself – that’s the reason for not really being in touch. Another reason is that I don’t have internet access at home.

However, I would really like to tell you all what’s been happening – update you and assure you, my dear friends and family that you are always in my thoughts.

Well, where do I start? I don’t know whether to start from the beginning or start from now and work backwards… Hhhm. Maybe start from now and work backwards.

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I’m writing this entry in instalments on my laptop. Once it’s finished then I’ll save it on a USB and submit it. So right now I’m on the train to Graz (in Austria). It’s Boxing Day. I had a nice Christmas in Germany, despite being unable to share it with my own family. My kind friends Lisa and Waldemar invited me to spend Christmas with them, the main celebration being on Christmas Eve here, which they call Heiligabend (“Holy Evening“). We had a lovely evening. Waldi cooked a wonderful four-course meal for us, including a delicious Tiramisu! Lisa and I felt very spoilt.

Two of my fellow language assistant friends also didn’t go home for Christmas, although Lara was lucky enough to have her mum come over from the US to spend it with her. They invited me to join them as well as Lara’s new boy, for a gourmet buffet breakfast at this fancy restaurant on the mountaintop in the city centre of Freiburg (spoil again! Thanks Lara and Chris). Dad, the moment I got your SMS they started playing Bing Crosby – Kooky, hey?! Made me smile and think of you :)

Then I was due to also spend some Christmas time with my friend Rachel, who is also a foreign language assistant in Freiburg, originally from Ireland. We met in the city and then went back to hers for tea and cake.

In the evening Lisa, Waldi and I went to the cinema and saw this lame film. I’m not sure what the English title is but it’s the latest rom-com with Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black – sounds promising yeah? It isn’t!

So I was definitely not lonely over Christmas! My friends in Freiburg took good care of me, by making sure I wasn’t. So now I’m on my way to Graz, to spend some time with Arnim and Roli till I have to be back at school on the 9th Jan. I’m looking forward to a change of scenery and catching up with the boys.

Last week was really hard for my family and me. We learnt that my beloved grandfather has lung cancer. In the lead up to the news I was already under a dark cloud with feelings of deep homesick and potential depression. So yeah, last week was hard. Enough said. If you feel so inclined, feel free to send Dziadzi (my grandfather) lots of prays/positive energy/love/ strength, depending on which one is applicable to you belief system. I would appreciate that.

Just looking out the window now – can see snow. That’s my first snow sighting, was none in Freiburg. I’m already well into Austria now. It’s clearly colder here then in Germany. Shit! It’s summer in Australia L I love summer and I’m FAR from it. Oh well, not to worry.

***

Well I’m in Graz now, staying with Arnim and the family. For the last four days Arnim and I have been sick with bad colds, resulting in us both being very very lazy. We’ve just been lounging around, sleeping, reading and eating. Barely left the house. Think I should be doing more, but the body has probably collapsed in the bid for a rest, so I’m trying to do that. It hasn’t snowed in Graz yet. It’s around minus one during the day, which is considered warm for this time of year here. But this is fairly chilly for a little aussie gal! There’s lots of frost on the ground, which looks a lot like snow. Pretty, but slippery. Well tomorrow is the last day of 2006. We don’t have any New Year’s Eve plans yet, but will probably meet up with some old school friends and maybe go into town (I also attended the Graz Steiner school, for 3 months, 8 years ago).
Well there's obviously heaps more to tell you about, but I'll post this for now and write up the rest later.

I wish you all a fabulous start in the New Year!! Lots of love. Will see you back in Oz at some stage in the second half of 2007.