Have a Seat, Dad

I get my good looks from...

...my mom and dad.

my Z A N Y friend

You know how everyone develops a patented intro over time?



Mine has become:

"This is Esther. She's my friend from _{school/ church/ mutual friend}_. She's from Alaska and speaks 3 languages. She now attends Medical School in Vienna."

Yawn. NOT WORTH IT.







I would much prefer the following:

"This is Esther. She's chronically late to everything. Her German is different because she's from Alaska and Brazil and who knows where else. She goes to Med School because someday she'll start a charity in Africa. Besides that -- don't ask me, ask her."

Fun! WORTH IT.






A bit informal, and two times longer than the other, but FAR MORE ME. Just a couple weeks ago, 2 different people described me, one as crazy and the other as zany. Finally! The real me is making a statement!!

Tainach English Week

ESL. I am allowed to comment because my GSL is just as awesome as the following board:

I don't watch any movie.

Mr. Bean socks.
Mr. Bean hang his socks.
I was hear music.
Yesterday I made a listening music.
Yesterday I gave Esther a paper!
Wiener Schnitzel + Yesterday I ate.
I went to go to bed at 02:00am.
Yesterday I was swimming.

Then we worked on it a bit... added some, crossed some out, took a picture as a keepsake.

About 13 students in my class (depending what day of the camp it was -- started with 9... then 10... you get the picture). Classroom to ourselves for 3 hours every morning. Can you imagine what kind of fun was had?!

But the camp had a total of 70 kids and 7 teachers.
Now can you imagine what kind of fun we had?!

We learned some English.
We face-painted which led to...body-paint!
We played musical chairs.
We had a scavenger hunt while playing musical chairs.
We represented the continents of the world.
We climbed trees.
We went on a hike.
They tried to get me to speak German. I tried to get them to speak English.
We played lots of soccer.
We went swimming all the time.
We made a sketch titled "The Queen visits McDonalds".
I always had sweets in my pocket.
We felt like we were on vacation.
We had a midnight swim.
We didn't talk about boys.
They wore short shorts.
**We wished on falling stars.**
(I hope mine comes true... all 13 of them...)
We swam in the Drau River.
We played with glitter.
We always had a great view.
We ate yummy food.
We celebrated some birthdays.
We tried interpretive dance.
We got lost.
We went shopping.
We didn't sleep much.
We managed 20 min of chapel a night.
We learned origami.
We made friends.
We got scared.
We picked some corn.
We ate the raw corn we picked.
We were always late.
We ate ice-cream.
We made up a water-volleyball-hop.
We drummed.
We had a vuvuzela choir.
Did you know that the caps on plastic bottles make a vuvuzela sound when you blow on them?!
We discoed like there was no tomorrow.
We hated getting up in the morning.
We tried to go running more than once... fail
We drank free juice and ate free fruit.
We found a pony.
We ate apples off a tree.
We made fun of each other.
We learned some tongue twisters.
I GOT PRANKED.


Best. Camp. Ever.

29th July 2010

Last Day of Summer

My roomies finished their SUMMER semester yesterday, then flew to the USofA today. {1 min of silence, please, thank you, I miss them}
H&M and Mango are finishing their Summer Sales. (haven't yet found THE pencil skirt...grrr.)
Right now, on the table, arms reach away, is the Herbst Catalog for H&M. Eeek! (yet so chic)
June and July sound like summer. {must be the Ju-Ju rhyme}
Last night was chilly enough for a jacket. (or a boyfriend, I chose jacket)
I haven't seen water-fights in weeks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGAXaGdC5CQ
Neighbors have returned home from their summer vacations.
I have worn jeans (long ones, that cover my entire leg) for 1 week straight.
No longer obsessed with sandal shopping. (favorite summer hobby! This year: 3)
The tomatoes are ripe and delicious!!
On the 28th of July I wanted to go swimming, but today I don't.

Ridiculous.

RIP summer-toes 2010.

Tante Gerda

Yesterday, around noon, I jumped on a train to visit Tante Gerda for the afternoon.

She makes jokes and tells stories (awesome combo):

Recently she needed to stop by a pharmacy for some eye-drops. A 30 minute walk there and 30 minute walk back. That evening her son called, the standard how-was-your-day-question, "Why in the world didn't you take a taxi, mom?! You are 89 years old!!" Her clever response, "There was something wrong with my eye, not my feet!"

She's beautiful. She's strong. She lives in a 10 room house with massive garden: cooks and cleans herself. She still has naturally brown hair (see picture). She is 89 years old. She does a crossword puzzle a day. She complains that she is losing her memory when she can't remember a politicians name. She laughs. She hikes. She wears a skirt every day. She goes to birthday parties (and has been the oldest at them for years and years...). She gives out compliments. She builds people up. She is totally aware of her surroundings and the world around her. She notices flowers. She is grateful for all sorts of service. She loves her family.

I love my Tante Gerda.

Austria's Turn

"Hey, America!! If you are all snap, crackle, pop: Beat This!" -- Austria

Austria doesn't require anyone to own a car, at any time in their life.
America asks how you get yourself to work in job interviews.
Austria is Picture-Perfect.
America is 100 yrs old, tops.
Austria doesn't set off the *Am I as fat as that?!* alarm every time you are in public.
America breeds anorexia.
Austria is paying for my education (and other people's too).
America adds a bonus class to your upper-level education: Debt 101.
Austria is travel-central! (Tops 1 hour and 20 Euros to 3 new countries!)
America road trips from point A to point A. (Oops, I mean Las Vegas to Los Angeles.)
Austria raises the world's standard of living, by being top 3, every year.
America is modern.
Austria has the most clever advertising for shoes. {see above}
America wears sneakers.
Austria gives you this little blue e-card that lets you go to the doc/dent for free!
America gives you McDonald coupons.
Austria has the cheapest, best ever, cell phone plans.
America does free nights and weekends.
Austria values speaking English the way America values tying its shoes.
America doesn't do crossword puzzles.

I heart my 3 passports.

Muted

Look at these FruitLoops:

Wrong?

Yeah! Where did the red, orange, blue ones go?!?! ToucanSam... slacker.

Muted is actually a good way to describe a lot of things over here. America has a snappy, crack, pop feel too it; Austria just keeps doing what is has always been doing...

I miss American-Pizazz!


America has that 'go Big or go Home' attitude!
Austria does not have water-fountains in every building.
American yards look awesome! (they all match!)
Austria has a million little grocery stores, little pharmacies, little kebap stands.
America has Costco and Walmart!
Austria has a lot of old people that ride the public bus system.
America is more willing to serve, smile, and be friendly!
Austria uses trains as a common mode of transportation.
America is cleaner (people included)!
Austria smokes. *cough *cough
America has more better looking guys and cars!
Austria is slower (not talking about traffic).
America has more and better parties! (open house policy)
Austria is formal and frugal.
America makes less of a deal about money!
Austria only has 3 colors of FruitLoops. (Not even FruitLoops. How about LameLoops,)
America has Root Beer and Peanut Butter M&Ms!
Austria doesn't eat much fast food.
America flaunts trends! (organic, running, clothes, music, etc.)

It is my personal duty to bring a little more !! into this .-society.

Yello, I'm Home!

After 6 hours of testing, I came home:


I love BG, GG, J7, & M1.

All that... x6

The formula for getting a med degree here at the MedUniWien:

Lock yourself in your room. All distractions, no matter how tempting or necessary, are simply out of the question. The locked door will also keep you in your own room.

Food may only be purchased if doubled with a trip to the Uni or library.

The sun may only be seen through your window (so glad we had rain for these past 2 months). You will need a fan in your room.

Phone calls have new parameters: Medical School buddies are allowed, all other friends must be ignored (they might distract you).

Study. Going into detail would put me in a state of psychological distress, so lets leave it at that: STUDY.

Pick 1 outfit per week, and wear it daily. My pick this year was a floral skirt from the thrift store, white tank, and green cardigan. Saved time. Looked presentable. Fit comfortably. Temperature adaptable. All-activities appropriate. Relieved stress.

Cry. This lets you feel the magnitude of the exam you'll be taking.

Smaller rules:
Don't do laundry.
Don't clean anything.
Don't cook. You don't have time.
Don't go shopping.
Don't stop thinking, ever, about Med Classes.
Text pop-quiz questions to your friends.

Have a To-Do list with only study-relevant goals listed...

Expect the worst out of life.
Be jealous of everyone who isn't studying for this test. No matter how bad their day looks, they still don't have to take the SIP. This includes close friends, family, and strangers on the Strassenbahn.
Develop a love for YouTube (distraction purposes as well as learning material)
Facebook during study breaks, so that you don't have to leave your room.
Forget to shower for days on end.
Sleep whenever you are tired, study whenever you are awake.
Drink lots of water.
Sometimes, throw yourself a pity-party. No guests allowed.
Forget you ever had hobbies.
Run. away+fast -- JK!
Do only what you want, when you want. Since you only want to pass the test, you will only want to study... but sometimes you can't mentally handle it, so do whatever the heck you want. It's like your birthday.
Have cool music on your iPod which should always be charged.
Have a variety of pens and highlighters and paper. Makes note taking bearable.

EARPLUGS!

Have attitude problems, and say it is out of your control.

Mumble whatever you want under your breath.
----------------------------------------------

Then it's over. Life is worth living again.

Oh wait... 5 more times?!