It’s Sunday morning, I’m sitting in my bed short an hour of sleep (up yours daylight savings) and reflecting on a busy and exhausting week.

Since writing last, a bicycle has been bought, a squirrel has been spotted, 2 subjects have been finished, some caramel slice has been baked, crepes have been consumed and many other thrilling events. (I just reread that short list and it seems like the furthest thing from exciting but I can assure you they all were.)

Last weekend, Isabella, Chloe and Jena (aka the other three members of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) went to Milan which resulted in a pretty quiet weekend. Saturday just consisted of some life admin such as buying a bike, doing homework and watching Fight Club with those who were at Moosmahdstrasse on Saturday night. The bike is brilliant – slightly too big to ride in jeans but we’re managing – and means that I run many superfluous errands just because I can including impulsive trips to Messepark, which is like Westfield but smaller. This was the first place I visited when I got my bike and in true Austrian style they were handing out free beer. Although not a beer drinker myself, I learnt that the box on the back of my new mode of transportation can fit eight bottles which were brought home for housemates.

Sunday was pretty similar but also involved going out for dinner with some of those who were around – Aurelien, Nikki, Laura, Adam & Thibaut. A waiter spilt curried egg(?) on my stockings.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday consisted of full days of a new elective – experimental illustration with Martin & Thomas Poschauko who are German illustrators obsessed with Pearl Jam and Radiohead. It was brilliantly busy and we spent three packed days just drawing on lightboxes, painting, etching whilst listening to The Tallest Man on Earth. They have a book called NEA MACHINA if you’re interested. It’s pretty sweet. Wednesday was finished off with doing some homework in front of the Socceroos vs Germany match. I wore my Australia Tshirt and we ate chocolate. Thibaut left in the half time break for what we assumed was a toilet stop but came back with a fully baked cake as a ‘test run’ for another pot luck dinner the coming night.

Thursday was Da Jeens birthday! Yay! It was also my first day off uni since I’ve been here which was a lot less productive than planned. I woke up, went to 4 supermarkets in search of condensed milk, dessicated coconut and golden syrup to introduce my friends to caramel slice then spent majority of the day in the kitchen with Jena, procrastinating by baking and writing ludicrous poems about our stay here so far. We also found rotting carrots (potentially sausages) under the cupboard which was a highlight. That night we went to one of the other houses for a little birthday party for Da Jeen, Alejandra and Märt where we signed T-shirts, played pool, ate cake and then went out to a local American bar, Mr Johns, where the volume of Avicii was high and the temperature even higher. At midnight or so, an old Austrian man came out with an accordion wearing lederhosen and sung some pretty off music. He also had some clapping spoons which he proceeded to hit everyone with in the name of ‘entertainment.’ It was enough to make Chloe and I go home.

Friday we had creative writing where we watched 8 mile in class (cheering!) and then Jena, Corina and I did some group work together at school for a website we’re building. It looks great! Following that, I went home for a nap, only to be introduced to the Japanese man in our building for the first time. He’s notorious for practicing his opera singing and until now I had no idea what everyone was complaining about. It’s terrible. Actually, it’s quite good just inappropriately loud and inconvenient. That night we went to Maddie’s for a housewarming party she threw. It was so beautiful and the food was amazing – cheese, speck, some pavlova, turkish cheeseballs, falafels, zucchini cake etc. Although I had a great time, we didn’t stay too late as Saturday was going to be a big day.

Adam, Thibaut, Aurelien and I drove to Mellau early, skis attached to the roof with magnetic roof racks (seriously cool invention). We planned to stay there the whole day. It’s a ski area in some of the mountains behind Bödele where we’d been mostly going. You park at the bottom of the mountains and then have to catch a gondola up a long way to get to the runs. It means that you’re pretty high up and have a fantastic view on pretty much any piste you go on. It was a brilliantly sunny day (as shown by some pretty terrible sunburn that night) which meant we had a crystal clear outlook which provided for almost too many photo opportunities. When cloudy, it’s also amazing because you’re above the clouds – there’s a webcam on their website if you’re interested. It’s worth having a look at. We skiied around for a while, played lots of ‘would you rather’, had naps on the 8 seater, seat-warmed leather chair lifts or in the occasional gondola and enjoyed sandwiches looking over the Austrian alps. It’s incredible here. People came over that night and we went out to Mr Johns again (becoming a bit of a habit.) I had fun (also becoming a bit of a habit). Here’s one too many photos (definitely becoming a bit of a habit).

Okay, off to go do some group work for school (needs to become more of a habit).

Maddie’s housewarming

Three girls live in her flat – hence cute cake decor

Took so long to find these babies

Carrots or sausages? 

Watching the soccer and doing homework

Spring is definitely here (German class outlook)