Holy Buckets- I'm a SENIOR?

Hello Everyone!

I was talking to a good family friend who suggested I restart the blog. Well... why not? It's a lovely procrastination tool, and a great chronicle.

Things are sure different today then they were a year ago. Then I was unpacking into a funny little room in a bizarre flat in some German city. I didn't know what was going on, and was so so far from home, family, and friends. This year I'm still in a funny little room, but am in a house full of friends. Interestingly, move in this year was rougher than the last. It was hard, and I was unhappy- but thanks to Mom, my room is bright and cheerful and I adore it. I look forward to coming home to it each day. Now I know more or less what is going on, though I do find myself utterly lost and confused in some of my classes. I had a bleak moment in my Philosophy of Law course when the Philosophy kids... did their pretentious 'I'm smart, I'm an academic'  swagger. PASS- I plan to drop that tomorrow in favor of a great internship that I secured TODAY! I will be working on the Patty Murray re-election congressional campaign. It sounds like it's going to be great. Actually, I will have to keep a blog for the internship seminar- but it's going to be private. Besides, I signed a waiver so I don't think I'm really allowed to talk about it anyway.

My other classes are great. I really love my Global Security class. I surprise myself with what I know, and the ideas I have. It's a really good feeling, and so I'm looking forward to my thesis in the spring. My other class I am SUPER excited about- it's all about the politics of wine. My professor seems passionate about it, which is the best. Each week he's going to suggest a wine for us to try while we do our homework. We're not allowed to actually drink in class- which is truly unfortunate - but we have some wine tastings throughout the semester.

So the academic year has roared to life in a few short days. It's really wild how much I feel like I need to be making big, huge, life choices. However, since I've been feeling lately that whenever I make big plans they get annihilated, I'm taking a big huge break from planning. I'm rolling with the punches- or rather I'm trying. Let's be honest, I like making plans almost as much as I like getting what I want... so it's real hard for me to let go and go with it. New things are good though, right?

USA

It is so good to be back. I can't even convey how nice it is to understand what is going on all the time. It's been such a joy seeing familiar faces, and I do SO love the United States of America.

Picking up where I left off, Mom and I had a lovely time skiing the Alps. We ended up going to Axamer Lizum, which is where the Olympic women's team competed in some year or another. It was heavenly. The actual ski area was a lot smaller than, say, colorado resorts, but there were loads within 15 minutes driving time from one another and Innsbruck. We had an amazing time, and the coolest part was there was a sun dog the entire time we skied. Dad was definitely with us.

After skiing the morning, the three of us drove into Zurich for the night. That was a beautiful drive and we came to the conclusion that the Alps are very different than the rockies. Steeper, smaller, and jagged.

The flight home was a little bit of a nightmare, as we flew the day after those attempted bombings. We flew through Amsterdam- which was a mistake, as that's where those planes originated. First we had to cut down our carry ons to one item each, which was rough after meticulous planning and packing counting two carry ons per person. Mom and I sacrificed our backpacks to the checking system and crossed our fingers, after frantically pulling out laptops and anything else that might be considered breakables. Our short flight to Amsterdam was easy, Mom got a chance to shop duty free in Amsterdam (her favorite?), and we arrived at the gate 2.5 hours early- at the boarding time. We then proceeded to have our passports scanned & were asked a bunch of questions, went through security AGAIN, were patted down and had our carry ons dug through. We got on the flight to find a friend, Mrs. Janco was a flight attendant. She pampered us the whole way and it was fabulous. The only annoying thing about the flight was that the last half hour we couldn't have anything out. No books, no blankets, no water bottles, no nothing. Fortunately, we were allowed to continue using the little screens on the seats with the provided headphones. Using our own was a no no. It sucked, but I thought it was worth it to get home.

Twenty Six: The Alps

The Alps

It makes me wiggly with excitement to think that I’m actually in the Alps! The drive in to Innsbruck was beautiful today. The mountains all around we’re perfectly snowcapped and it’s wonderful! Tomorrow morning we’re going to ski! In the Alps! THE ALPS! I cannot wait, it’s a dream come true.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Twenty Five: The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music

On Christmas Day, we all went on ‘The Original Sound of Music tour.’ It. Was. Awesome. They drove us all around Salzburg to see the sites in the city and also outside the city limits. It was beautiful, and actually very interesting! I was shocked to realize how many liberties Hollywood took. I mean… I always understood that Maria was no Julie Andrews, but really! For example, you’ll recall the final screenshot as Maria, the Captain and the Children climb over the mountain? Well… that mountain is on the border to Germany. So, to avoid the Nazis, the Von Traps fled into Germany? Silly. Anyway, it was amazing, we went to see the Gazebo where Liesl and Rolf sing Sixteen Going on Seventeen and Maria and the Captain sing Something Good. You can no longer go into the Gazebo because some 70 year old woman was trying to frolic around on the benches like Liesl and broke her hip. Too funny. We also saw the church in which the wedding took place. And later we went on a Salt Mine tour, which was fun! On the bus ride back from the Salt Mines, we drove past the mountain on which Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest is situated! The tour guide over emphasized that the Eagle’s Nest is NOT where Hitler lived. The Eagle’s Nest functioned as a conference center and tea-house. His second home was somewhere below in a compound that was destroyed in the final bombardment.

Twenty Four: Stunning Landscapes

Stunning Landscapes

Though this is true in the United States as well, there are so many views that are simply breathtaking. I just love it! This is above the Salzburg Castle, looking out towards Germany, and the Alps. It just won’t be the same in Bloomington! I will miss very much looking out my window and seeing the Alps or the Black Forest.