"Just step outside" is a great phrase to live by - especially for my experience this year. Simply stepping outside (literally or figuratively) will open many doors. Maybe you'll end up on a horse. Or make a new friend. Have a new experience to blog about. Or maybe you could be going outside of your comfort zone - in a good way of course! So, I am going to do my best to step outside this year. On another note, the amount of social deprivation I feel after two days of no wifi is ridiculous. No matter how many times I tell myself that I am going to become less of a social media lover, it doesn't happen. However, these past two days without wifi have been utterly refreshing. AND A LOT OF FUN! But I have some other things to catch up on first... On September third, I went with my host dad to go shopping for some things he needed to build this really cool "playground" for the dogs! I purchased a lock and a marker because (at least I understood that) we were going to visit an awesome bridge in Passau. It was spectacular! The bridge, of which the name has slipped my mind, is a pedestrian bridge that stretches across the Inn river and connects the peninsula of Passau to the Innstadt. Recently, lovers have begun to place these locks that represent their love on the railing of this bridge - taking after the love lock bridge in Paris. Naturally, I had to participate! I wrote on my lock and included a line from my favorite Ed Sheeran song on the back that describes our relationship perfectly. After locking it on the bridge and snapping a couple pics, I made a wish and threw the keys over my shoulder into the river (according to tradition). |
After leaving the bridge, we strolled down the river walk and I got to see my school up close! I saw magnificent architecture along with the location where three rivers come together - thus Passau is nicknamed the "Three River City." Before heading back home, we stopped and I got some ice cream (chocolate!). |
Funny miscommunication story:
I was told a week or so ago that we would be driving to Austria for an organization's get-together. However, I was under the impression that we were driving to Austria on a Sunday. The Saturday before that Sunday, I was asked if I was ready to go to Austria... either way, I got dressed quickly, grabbed my camera and rushed out the door.
The organization is called Animal Spirit and it is a non-profit organization that rescues animals that are "unfit" to be sold. These animals are saved from becoming meat. This is where our two new foals came from.
We toured the area, saw some of the rescued animals, and I ate my very first veggie burger! It was actually quite delicious! I loved the experience because I was walking in the hills of Austria and the hills were actually alive with music! There was a lady playing accordion music!
I felt very accomplished the next couple of days:
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So finally, the past two days have been fantastic (other than the lack of W-LAN). I got to go shopping and I had the best experience! We went to a department store in Walkichen and the sales lady that helped me ushered me into a dressing room. She proceeded to bring me water (with a straw) and my host mother Kaffee (in a ceramic cup and saucer) with chocolates. She brought me clothing options and I either turned them away or tried them on. At the end when I had decided what I was going to buy, shed took my clothes and gave me the tags of the items. After I finished looking around the entire store and I went to check out, I handed the cashier the tags and they packaged my clothing and I paid. Thank goodness they took Visa... |
Yesterday, we went shopping in Passau and I bought a new Handy (cell phone) because my old one just wouldn't suffice. I got a great deal on a new smart phone! We went shopping in the StadtGallerie and ate at an amazing little cafe where I got hazelnut ice cream. | We had wifi again this morning and I've stayed in most of the day since it's raining. However, I just got back from Austria! We went back to the Animal Spirit farm and my family bought another foal! Even with the rain, it's been a great day! |