The Alps and Other Things

So, exciting things that have happened here. We went to the Alps and hiked up a gigantic mountain. I stood at the top and looked down on what we call "mountains" in Tennessee. I also got blisters on my heels from my new boots, but they weren't really that bad.

I need to set the record straight from my last post. Apparently, work assignments change every time Arbeitsnachmittag comes around. So, while I may have raked leaves the first day, I cleaned the dorm on Tuesday and then swept up some leaves on Friday. So far I haven't done any work that I detested, although that day might come. Also, my class schedule is really fluid right now. I have nine classes: Schreiben, Sprechen, Horen, Lesen, Religion, Kulturkunde, Vokabeln, Lituratur, and Computer. In translation, that is: Writing, Speaking, Hearing, Reading, Culture, Vocabulary, Literature, and Computer. Because of music lessons for the high school students here, their schedule isn't set yet, so our schedule is also not set.

We go to Vienna next week. I just finished working on all my homework for the next week so that I don't have to do homework in Vienna. Several of the places we're going are places I've been, and we're gonna stay in a hostel, so I'm pretty excited about the trip.

I've been into Braunau several times this last week. JC, Luke, and I went and got JC a suit and Luke a phone fairly early in the week. We managed to get everything we needed even with our limited German. We are also becoming regulars at the Can Kebap pizza place which is run by some Turkish guys. The pizza is really good, much better than the Thai restaurant we went to on Tuesday for Ben's birthday.

I haven't really been getting up for breakfast, although I might start pretty soon (I say that about getting up for breakfast a lot). I think I've been up for maybe 2 breakfasts since I got here.

I've been playing volleyball as much as I can, and last night I played soccer in the gym and then when everybody (including the other language students) left to go play outside, some students and I played an interesting soccer game which I wasn't very good at (only one person lost and it wasn't me so I'm happy). They had a "bonfire" last night, which was really more of a campfire. In my mind, a bonfire is big. I didn't go 'cause I was playing soccer, but they seemed like they were having fun. I then called my parents and talked with them for two hours in my room.

Speaking of my parents, they sent me a package which was really exciting. I now have slippers! Mom sent cookies as well, but the slippers really excited me...I'm not sure why.

I'm probably forgetting stuff, but I will leave you with this picture: