Ich hab' mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren (I lost my heart in Heidelberg)

The castle at night. This picture (as all pictures) do it no justice, you just have to come and visit to see for yourself!

Tomorrow will be the last day of my 4 week language course which is sad as our little class has become quite close, it almost feels like the end of an era (dramatic!) as we all go our separate ways.. some people are studying medecine, some chemistry, and it's interpreting for me.

I wanted to mention a bit about the various sports I've been doing. I feel really motivated and keen to take all the opportunities that are available to me. Boxing really killed my arms for about a week. I think I pushed myself too hard, but then again I did get shouted at for not keeping up with the press ups. Note: I can hardly do them with me knees on the floor, let alone with boxing gloves on! 'Fit for Fun' was doing lots of running, weights, sit ups and push ups and generally feeling sick! 'Bauch Beine Po' (tum, thighs and bum) had really good music but was a lot like 'fit for fun' so I'll do one or the other. I've also been to Hatha yoga and Kundalini yoga. I preferred the latter, despite the odd breathing technique of 'fire breathing'. It was a little amusing at first, but after an hour we all got into it and afterwards I was the most relaxed I've been in ages, I recommend it to anyone!

I love sitting here and watching the sun set, the most beautiful pinks and blues I've seen in my life....

Wilkommen in Deutschland

I can't believe it's been more than a month since last writing here! Since posting, I've moved to Heidelberg, Germany and am all settled in, nearing the end of my four week 'Sprachkurs' which focuses on my grammar, ahead of lectures beginning in October. The highlight probably is the 30 minute break in which there are coffee, pastries and rolls on offer. Yum yum yum!

I am already so happy here and hardly have a moment to myself, I've; done all the registering at the town hall, got a new SIM card for my mobile then had to get a contract, bank account is all up and running (just lacking the money!), bank details and address info documents have been sent back to my home univeristy, been to a hippy wedding reception, enjoyed many a good sunset sitting on the sofa on the balcony, enjoying brilliant Lebanese food and learning a little Arabic every day, been aching all over from boxing and keep fit classes and have also tried my hand at yoga.. I've bought a lovely bike with a basket and enjoy any excuse for a cycle, I have been offered a job, baked a chocolate and beetroot cake, seem to make friends with only Physics students, dream in German, love a good Heferweizen, got a haircut and my nose pierced! There's so much going on I've no doubt missed something, I really need to make it a habit to get back into blogging!

ne me quitte pas

I'm exhausted from a long weekend travelling to meet up with friends, catching up over calzone and watching the Scotland v Italy rugby match at Murrayfield, the first one I'd ever seen! The photo above is Suzie, Annie and myself (l-r)enjoying the sunshine before the game.

As everyone does, I've been wondering recently what I will do with my life after graduating (2 years away but when did that ever stop me from daydreaming?!) Then I spoke to a friend who is travelling, asking what his plans are when he returns back to Australia and he said "I barely plan the next few days, let alone a year away". That is my main goal I guess, living for the moment and enjoying the now. I'll only be who I am and doing what I am doing right now, so best to revel in it while I can.

Nevertheless, I would quite like to fill up all my spare time abroad with some volunteering plans (I figure the busier I am, the less time I have to dwell!). I am looking into teaching/childcare/human rights and of course interpreting/translating jobs but the latter seems SO hard to get into. I am also really interested in spending next summer working at an orphanage/doing community work, but there seems to be so many companies offering this and other gap year type work I have no idea where to start narrowing down. Please feel free to share your experiences on this! However I worry that if I started doing such work, I wouldn't want to return to do my final year of my degree..

“Love for yourself means love for all, love for animals,
love for everything, for you are all one.”
— Swami Vivekananda

puppy power!

We have a new addition to the family! We've always had golden retrievers and have had a 2 year break since having our last dog so the time seemed right to get little Oscar! We absolutely adore him, he seems so at home already but I wonder if he's going to grow up into a dog or a lion as his paws are HUGE!

#

I really enjoyed a weekend showing my sister the city I've called home for the past two months (Vienna, if you've not been reading).

I'm finally back home after getting annoyed at airport security (why is it never consistent? They took my photo this time at Heathrow!) and staying in Newcastle for a few nights (the Wagamamas was deeeeelightful!) and we watched the final Harry Potter (how unconvincing are their older selves?!) Glad I wasn't tempted by the shops as my wardrobe/chest of drawers are groaning, I really have gone crazy these last years... I'm thinking I won't really *need* to buy anything for a good few years, but that's not going to happen, living in Germany and France (Paris, no less...) however there is that pesky suitcase weight limit..... it's all about the capsule wardrobe, Beth!

Tonight was not only my first night back, but also Zumba night. Mum is obsessed with it (this brings with it her discovery of Shakira, Lady Gaga and J-Lo!) and I was surprised to find myself absolutely knackered after an hour of it... I was very impressed that women A LOT older than me kept going that long... I blame it on being weighed down by lots of cake and sausage/schnitzel from my time abroad... I wonder how long I can use that excuse for?! I'll definately be going back next week!

Hello August!

I've finished reading 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'. Although quite amusing and an easy read, to me, the story didn't really go anywhere (perhaps I should read the sequels?!) and was left unsatisfied with the lack of deep and meaningful quotes I thought I'd find. (I need to accept things for what they are!)

I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you've never actually known what the question is (We always search for answers and solutions and never really know what we really want in the first place?). I guess this book, more so than others, can be interpreted in so many ways and that is why you either love it or loathe it?

Anyway it was the first book I've read in far too long and I'm going to try and keep rotating between English, French and German books.

This weekend I visited Sigmund Freud's old residence where you can sit down and read his works and lots of other books on psychology in the 'Living Library'. Hundertwasserhaus and Kuntshaus Wien left me feeling very happy and inspired, I want to visit the church he designed!

Tonight I'm going to register for my classes at Heidelberg university, book flights and look up info on my accommodation! They've been extremely helpful in sending me lots of emails keeping me up to date on the never-ending stream of paperwork us ERASMUS students have to do.

Know hope.

Where has this week gone?! It's zoomed by so quickly... not that I'm complaining because in a week I'll be meeting my sister for a weekend here before flying back home to see my boyfriend and family, all who I've missed like crazy! I've also missed walks on the beach! Wherever I end up living will have to be near the sea (helloooo south of France?!)

Last weekend 'Haus der Musik' made me fall in love with classical music (if the men dressed up as Mozart on the streets didn't), after watching the following:



So so so brilliant, I have been humming Strauss all week!

After this, I went to a restaurant all on my own! Something I've never really felt comfortable about doing before. I know this comes without a second thought to some people, and I love eating at different places, but on my own?? I would always worry what people thought of me/where should I look if I have no one else to talk to? Wouldn't people think I was weird/staring at them? However I got over these silly thoughts and enjoyed a nice Italian meal with some wine and Sacher torte for dessert, yum! I felt a little invincible... one small step for man...