Semester Abroad

This Semester has been an intense growing experience for me. I have conquered my fears of talking to strangers, traveling alone and learned how to say the word "Strawberry" in about 4 different languages. I traveled to Saltzburg, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Athens, Serbia, Rome, Venice and Prauge. I have indulged my love of strange food and even stranger customs. I have been to Euro Disney, and wlked through the Alice Labarynth. I have seen a mime and gladiator. I have been in the presence of a Bouche and discovered a new faveorite artist, Alfons Mucha. I bought a European Barbie, got a Pavel Checkov doll who speaks in German, and had a drink in Rome with a priest from Wisconsin. I developed a taste for Sourkraut and dark beer (I'm 21 folks, so no worries. :D) Add this to the fact that I made a ton of new friends, traveled Europe, and avoided being sold to the gypsys and you may begin to understand just HOW AWSOME this semester was.
True, I'm counting the days till I'm home in the states ( because frankly, I'm a loud, friendly, badly dressed American, I enjoy being a loud, friendly, badly dressed American, and I miss being in the company of a loud, friendly, badly dressed Americans. That and I miss my dog.) But this semester was something I will never forget, and I hope to return to Europe one day. I will probably continue to say Gruscot and Danka for the rest of my days, and I will never wear pajama pants out in public again, but those are only a few of the things I will leave Vienna with. I now also have an Understanding of European Culture, a Knowledge of the EU, a wish to learn Check and a deep and insaciable love of toffenknodel and kaisersmarm <3<3

Study Abroad.

Love, Pie. One Deadly Pastery

are you...are you tlking about Sirius Black?

I met an extremely interesting person in Bavaria. There I was sitting, drinking a cappuccino at Mickey-Dees, casually conversing bout the next Harry Potter movie when from behind me, I hear the tell tale Squee of a fan girl. It seemed that one of the girls who worked at the grease filled establishment was a serious Potter fan. So serious that she had read the Potter books in English AND German, and ws also a LARP (Live Action Role Player). We (The girl, Chrissy, ALlison, Brooke, Natalie and I) chatted enthusiastically for awhile before we were called away for our Tour. I leaarned some very interesting things from our converstion.
First, and most importantly, The Germaan translator of the Potter books LEFT PEICES OUT. Outrageous. He should be disbarred, imprissoned and die in a fire for such n outrageous offense.
Secondly, Geekiness transends all ages, races, genders, creeds and countries. Neither the Germn Girl, nor the Americans could belive that Sirius Black was truly dead (we all admited to crying at that part) Nor did any of us like the epilouge that JK Rowling had so hastely thrown together for the last book. Actually, nearly all of our opinions on the books were the same, German chick and I both LARP ( She as Sirius and I as Remus and later Tonks). Basically, we are indecently nerdy.
And that is why the Geek shall inherit the earth. No matter what language the other nerd speaks, we are brought together by our fanatical love of fantasy and Sci-fi.

Darling, I was born a rambling Pie...

Wow. Four citys. Little over a week. Ridiculous. So many Pigeons.
Saltzburg was so beautiful, and the Sound of Music tour made my life. SO much singing gets done in the back of buses, you know? The salt mines were beautiful too, and it was interesting wandering round a little mountain town like Durrnberg.
Insbruck was...incredible? No I did not stay with the group, but I DID go to the Zoo, and saw three kinds of goats and a flock of moose. Pretty interesting that the things they find exotic over here are so commonplace back home. I also went to Venice, where I witnessed a glass blowing demonstation, went on a Gondella ride and ate gelato. It ws so incredibly beautiful! I still can't really belive it. ALso, while there, in front of St. Michaels I managed to coerce pidgeons to eat from my hand. Rock on.
Munich was, yet again awsome. The Modern Art meuseum was so interesting, but nothing compared to the Hoffsbrauhouse. That ws a fun time. The Bavarian Film meuseum was a dream come true, as I bought the Auren AND RODE FALCOR ( Neverending Story Anyone?). After that we went to Dauchou, which was an incredibly moving (depressing) experience.

all in all, great trip. Hostel life wasn't as bad as I'd feared, nd noone was kidnapped by Gypsys. Can't wait to go to Paris next week!

Did you get lost in Amsterdam?

I went to Amsterdamn last weekend, and it is the most beautiful city in the world! No lie, I'm moving there. The canals, the cobblestone streets, architecture and museums. Plus, everyone is super friendly. Heaven on Earth.
I only went to two museums while I was there, I was way too into exploring the beautiful city to spend anytime in side. The Anne Frank house was a very moving experience, true I cried. But the Van Gogh Museum...life changing. Van Gogh has always been one of my favorites ( I went to see the Colors of the Night exibibt when it came to the Moma) and my art is hevily influenced by him. (so is my uncles, btw)
Seing Almond flowers and Crows in Cornfeild in person, upclose was incredible, and even though I'd seen starry night before, it never ceases to be amzing. Love. Love van gogh, love amsterdamn. All I cound think of was the song Amsterdam by Guster the whole time I ws there.

Also, John taught me how to gamble. Which I think, is good skill to have.

Wein ist goot

So Vienna, one week. It has been...full. We've done so much in one week, it feels like we've been here a month. There were a few mishaps due to the language barrier (like being thrown out of mass) but other than that things are going smoothly. We've gone to three meuseums andI've already done two of the things I wanted to do in Europe, see Klimt's Kiss and drink European beer.

The food here is definitely interesting. I really hate something called kaiser-something that are tasteless dough filled with nasty bitter jam and topped with gross gunpowder. Apparently, these are a great treat. Yeah, ew. edit! its Germknodel !
beware. Well other than that everything's great. lots of yogurt, yay yogurt!

I also have a fine collection of plastic toys already. ^_^;; My faveorite is deffinetly a little green aligator key chain. Gotta cut back though, or I'll spend all my cash on them.

They have a killer Funk scene, cute boots, and well trained dogs. Looks like it's going to be a fun semester!

10 Words That Describe Pie

Childish - I think that innocence and awe in the world around you are two important traits that most people lose far to early in life. I hold onto these things, and other things associated with childhood like toys and dressing up because I feel like simple amusements are important to being happy and fulfilled.

Well Meaning - I think intentions are just as important, if not more important, than the outcome. I like to know that even if I do something, and it ends up hurting someone, its comforting to know that I had good intentions and only wanted what was good for them.

Artist - I love drawing, I love painting, and I feel that I'm a very creative person. I hope to be an artist as a career, so I guess that describes.

Fat - I've been fat my whole life, even though I've lost weight, I still feel fat, I still identify with with the fat girl. The reason I try to be so kind an understanding is because I was tormented for my weight. I feel like even if I became really skinny, I would still feel fat. I don't see this trait s a bad thing anymore. If I hadn't been overweight growing up, I probably would have become just like the girls I hate now.

friendly - I can be overly friendly. I think everyone is my friend, or could be my friend, so I try to befriend them.

strange- I have weird hobbies, I wear weird clothes, say and think weird things. Whatever. It makes me interesting.

cute- I love cute things! Hello Kitty, hearts little animals, everything's better if its cute. I'd like to think I'm cute.

bookworm- I read allll the time. I did alot more when I was younger, and I hd time to read.

moody- My mood can change in a split second, and I can get really depressed for no reason at all.

suporting- I like to think I encourge people.

Invitation to Insight

For this exercise I interviewed my baby sister Becca and my boyfriend John. I've known Bec since she was born, so 15 years, and I've known John since the first day of freshman year, so more than two years ago.

They both agreed that I care allot about the other person and what they are saying, and that I'm empathetic and try to understand the other persons point of view. Becca thought I was good at seeing other person's motivations, although John didn't really agree.

Becca thought I wasn't very good at being blunt, mainly because I was afraid to hurt someones feelings. She said sometimes, being overly friendly and sensitive isn't always the best approach. John also agreed with that, he thinks I see the world through rose colored glasses, and think that everyone is nice, even hardened crimminals.

I wasn't really surprised by anything they said, I know that I'm to trusting and that I think everyone's nice, and I do try to avoid hurting peoples feelings.

Truthfully, I don't really think these are bad traits so I'm not so intent on changing them. Perhaps being nice isn't the best way to get what you want, but I'd rather not hurt someones feelings than get my way. I also would rather think everyone is nice than be paranoid that everyone is out to get me.