Sonntag, 18. Januar 2015

Blueberry Ginger Cheesecake

Hey (once again),


I nearly forgot to post the recipe for the cheesecake I prepared for my boyfriend's 30th birthday yesterday! I didn't imagine it to be thaaat good, but I was really impressed...

here we go!

Blueberry Ginger Cheesecake

Ingredients:

45g butter
300g Cantuccini and Amarettini cookies (finely milled)
3 sp. powdered sugar
750g ricotta
100g sugar
4 eggs
250g mascarpone
15g ginger, milled
100g candied ginger
zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon
2 tsp. lemon jiuce 
1 tsp starch
500g blueberries

springform baking tin of 26cm buttered and sugared

1. Preheat oven 175°.

2. Take the  milled cookies, add powdered sugar and melted butter. Blend well and put it into the buttered and sugared baking tin. Bake for 10min. Take out and leave to cool down a little bit.

3. Blend ricotta until it is smoothly fluffy. Next, add the sugar and eggs one after another.

4. Add mascarpone as well as milled and candied ginger, lemon and orange zest, lemon juice and starch.

5. Put on the cookie layer in the baking tin, spread evenly.

6. Put water of 2cm height in the griddle, wrap tinfoil around the baking tin and put it in the water.

7. Bake 60-70min. Take out and loosen the cake on the edges. Put the cake into the fridge for at least 6 hours.

8. Take 350g of the blueberries and heat it together with a tsp of starch, 50g sugar, lemon zest and juice. Put it on the edge of the cake, left cold blueberries to centre. Put into the fridge to cool down again.

9. Cut into pieces and serve!

Here's a picture of my cake. I added some grapes and flower decoration! :)




Edgar Allan Poe

Hey guys,

as I have had English classes from kindergarden up to the last year of highschool, I have always tried to read everything related to English language and culture. This resulted in graduating in English as well. This meant that I had to choose a topic which had to be presented in the oral exam of my graduation. First, I honestly didn't know what I wanted to work and do my research on. I was skimming through many English books and suddenly stumbled over a poem from Edgar Allan Poe. From the first moment on I was impressed by his style of writing and painting pictures in my head. I started to do some research on his life to get an idea where his gloomy, melancholy expressions come from and read many of his poems and short stories. Soon I was full of enthusiasm about everything he wrote.  
In first place, I want to tell you a little bit about his life. Following I will post the poem I love most, which is "The Raven".

Edgar Allan Poe daguerreotype crop.pngEdgar Allan Poe, born on January 19 1809, was an American author, poet and literary critic. He is considered the inventor of what we know as short detective fiction, what can be particularly noticed in his macabre and mystery short stories. Poe is also known as the first one who tries to make a living solely by writing - what resulted in a financially rather difficult life and career. He was an orphan at the age of two and had a quite difficult relationship to whom was then his father. They were very often quarrelling due to the lack of money. In 1827 he enlisted in the Army, in the same year he published his first collection of poems named Tamerlane and Other Poems. Even though these poems didn't turn out to be very successful, he declared his firm wish of being a poet and author. This time is seen as his initial period of writing. 

Not only was he successful in writing poems and short stories, he also tried to make his living as literary critic. He soon got well-known for his unique style of criticism in literary journals and periodicals. At the age of 26 he married his 13-year-old cousin. One year later he published his best-known poem "The Raven", what still nowadays is the first work that is mentioned when it comes to his legacy. 
Melancholy, dreariness and morbidity played an important role throughout his whole process of writing, but also lived on when is death is concerned: the reasons for his death at the age of 40 is still unclear. However, they have always been linked to alcoholism, brain congestion, cholera and many more. 

As already mentioned, his writing includes many short stories and poems, some include the following (in alphabetic order)

  • The Cask of Amontillado
  • The Fall of the House of Usher
  • The Murders in the Rue Morgue
  • The Pit and the Pendulum
  • The Purloined Letter
  • The Tell-Tale Heart
  • A Dream within a Dream
  • The Haunted Palace
  • To Helen
As already mentioned above, the poem I love(d) most was/is The Raven. The poem is about a talking raven who is visiting a despared lover who is lamenting the loss of his loved one, Lenore. As style is concerned, the poem makes use of internal rhyme (see for example in the first paragraph - suddenly there came a tapping, as of some one gently rapping) and alliterations throughout the paragraphs (such as lost Lenore; the rare and radiant; entreating entrance).  Not only did it play an important role in Poe's life (not financially though), it is also one of the most famous poems ever written.
I want to finish off my post for today with the poem itself and hope you enjoy reading through it as much as I do.


The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels name Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

Donnerstag, 15. Januar 2015

Of wanna-be stars, casting heroes and echoes in eternity...

Hey y'all!


I'm in my last days of university this semester, studying English US & UK culture, German grammar and Spanish grammar and Mesoamerican culture - means: I need a little bit of distraction from time to time (what is quite often because my head is full of dates, places, events, sentence and grammar structures and so on).

But let's focus on what I wanted to tell you. :) As usual, at the beginning of every year, casting shows start to pop up on TV - from singer songwriter contests - where one contestant is worse than the previous one - to starvingly thin models waiting to be found for doing modelling jobs on the catwalks of the world. I clearly see the point of trying to achieve your goals and taking your singer or model career a step further by participating. But if you have absolutely no talent at all, why going there? Could somebody explain that to me!? PLEASE! Do some people honestly believe that they are gifted with whatsoever talent the world urgently needs to know about? Let me show you what I mean and click on the link below...


Even though the video is in German, I am sure you see (and hear) what I mean...
BUT there is at least some light at the end of the tunnel! THANK GOD! By now, I have seen one singer songwriter who really impressed me, whom I could listen to all the time, go to concerts, buy her CDs and so on - and this is X Factor UK's talent Lucy Spraggan back from 2012. I immediately fell in love with her song "Last Night", her genuine and natural kind of behaviour, not stuck up unlike many others. I think the lyrics of this song are hilarious too, just fun to listen to - and maybe some can relate to them when waking up on a crapy Sunday morning... ;) here we go!


Admittingly, there are other bands and musicians whose careers started in a casting show - for instance if you think of Kelly Clarkson, One Direction, Leona Lewis or Paul Potts who probably wouldn't have got so far without winning "Britain's Got Talent" - but there had been some talent beforehand. These would have taken their chances anyways. Others simply shouldn't even dare to step a foot on stage, work on their self-assessment and better weigh their options.

However, there will always be pro and contra when it comes to expressing your opinion on casting shows. Those who are gifted, will make their way and get famous sooner or later... if not, well, there's a reason why it didn't work out.

I'll leave you with another song from Lucy Spraggan now. It is a beautiful, but at the same time sad song too called "Tea and Toast" (there would have been better studio remixed versions, but I like this one the most). Enjoy and have a nice evening!!




Mittwoch, 14. Januar 2015

Cotswolds

Hey all,

as the sun begins to shine more often and winter - hopefully - turns into spring soon, my boyfriend and I are starting to plan our travels for this upcoming year. First and foremost, let me tell you that there is a plenty of destinations we would love to go to. But as usual, students' bank accounts often don't allow too much. However, we have come up with some ideas: some of them will be taken into account when planning our summer vacations, others will be forgotten immediately for several reasons.

But, I have fallen in love - with a place I really want to go to (with my boyfriend, friends or alone - I don't care!): the Cotswolds region in Southwest England! To get an impression, look at the following pictures:
(c) http://www.tourist-destinations.net/2014/08/cotswolds-england-travelers-guide.html




(c) http://forum.femmeactuelle.fr/threads/5918-*****-Coin-causeries-avec-caf%C3%A9-offert-!-*****/page10

http://www.cntraveller.com/guides/europe/england/the-cotswolds/where-to-stay

















































Convincing enough? ;) Who would not like to see this picturesque, enchanting, charming, calm,... place? Beautiful honey-colour limestone villages in a scenis rural setting, rolling grasslands (that somehow remind me of the shire in The Lord Of The Rings) and many hidden corners are waiting to be explores.
Doubtlessly, it is one of the most beautiful areas of England and definitely deserves to be declares as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by the UNESCO.

Geografically speaking, it covers the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, in the North it is limited by the Avon river, in the East it's the city of Oxfors, in the West it's Cheltenham as well as the Themse valley and the cities of Lechlade and Fairford in the South.

Cotswold Way
http://www.traildino.com/trace/continents-Europe/countries-United_Kingdom/trails-Cotswold_Way




















When going back in history, the area has always been of great importance, especially because of its sheep. These were famous throughout Europe for their heavy fleeces and high quality of wool. Still nowadays, these sheep can be seen on the hillside.

While skimming through pages of information on Cotswolds, I have come across a walking trail called Cotswolds Way. It is a 164km long walk, starting in the city of Bath going northeastwards to Chipping Campden. Along the trail you will find several sights, among them the battlefield of the Battle of Lansdowne, the Somerset and Tyndale Monument or the Broadway Tower. Have a look at this tower here.

File:Broadway-tower-cotswolds.jpg
http://wikitravel.org/en/File:Broadway-tower-cotswolds.jpg



















I found a website that offers several packages, from a six-day up to a eleven-day trip, varying in the distance you want to cover, including overnight stays etc. It would be really interesting and also a little challenging to go on this kind of holidays - since we have never done that before, we will really think about that one!

That's it for today... we will see what I am going to tell you next time!

Good night y que sueñen con los angelitos!


Montag, 12. Januar 2015

12 years a slave - not only a movie review

Hey all,

during the Christmas break I finally had the time to watch several movies I had wanted to see at the cinema, but - as usual - didn't have the time to do so. Among them was "12 years a slave" directed by Steve McQueen, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt. I can't really tell why it caught my attention, I only know that I wanted to see it. It has got several awards, such as the Academy Award, the Golden Globe Award and the British Academy Film Award as best movie, Nyong'o also won the Oscar for best actress in a supporting role as well as Ejiofor's Britih Academy Film Award as best actor in a leading role.
To be honest, award-winning movies are not necessarily good too, on the contrary, winning movies often only perfectly fit given standards and therefore win prizes.
However, this movie deserves every prize it has won and is doubtlessly one of the best movies I have seen recently.

In short, 12 years a slave is a historical drama which tells the story of Solomon Northup, a free African-American who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. All this happens during a period of time where slavery is practised throughout the American colonies in the South. I only knew a few facts about this time, that's the reason why I did some research on that topic to understand everything a little bit better - and wanted to share some facts (and thoughts) with you.

In America slavery began when the first African slaves were brought to Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. A long period of personal nightmares, as abuse and cruelty is concerned, was about to begin for most of them. All of these slaves who were taken to what now is the United States helped build the economic foundations of the new nation.
Virginia was back then a sparsely populated area, inhabited by people who try to make the colony profitable for England. When Dutch arrived, they brought 20 African slaves with them who then stayed with white families to support them. As the colonies started to prosper, slaves grew more and more important. But unlike their European counterparts who held citizenships in their home country, slaves were never subject of the English common law in America - they were workers without rights.
In 1641 slavery was legalised. This meant a dramatic change for the slaves: they became the personal property of the landowners and could be owned for lifetime. In 1660 English King Charles II established the Royal African Company to bring what they called the "Black Gold" from Africa to America because their labour was so profitable.

When England finally outlawed its slave trade in 1807, the American colonies relied on their own internal slave trade. By 1860, a million people were moved and sold within the colonies, tearing families apart and going miles from the East coast to the South.
But not only were they kept for doing hard work on the plantations, women were also taken as prostitutes or to be misstresses of their masters. The enslaved population was controlled by legally authorized violence.
Slavery has always had its critics in America though, as slave trade grew, so did opposition and eventually America became a country divided. This division into the Northern part of the United States being against slavery and also abolishing it step by step, and the Southern part which held onto slavery, teared them apart in the American Civil War (1861-65). Even though four million slaves were freed, the legacy of slavery kept on playing an important role in American history, up to civil rights movements in the 1960s. 

There would be many more things I could tell you about this cruelty and brutality called slavery, but let me get into some details on the movie itself now.

As already said, it is based on the life of free man Solomon Northup, who is taken as slave in 1841. Solomon is an educated, hardworking man and violinist, living in Saratoga Springs in New York state together with his wife and two children. He is offered a job as musician in Washington D.C. he can't resist - the place where he gets kidnapped, delivered to a slave pen and taken to New Orleans afterwards where he is given the name "Platt". The first master he works for gets soon very impressed by his "talent" and knowledge since slaves are supposed to be illiterate and not even capable of any writing or reading. Life could have been someway "easy" - that is to say, with hard work all day long, but without any harm and brutality - but tensions are being built up with one of the overseers. Resultingly, Solomon is sold to an other planter, who turns out to be extremely sadistic, cruel and honestly believing that he has the total right to abuse his slaves. For instance, the slaves are beaten if they don't pick at least 200 pounds of cotton every day. Young Patsy, played by Lupita Nyong'o, is praised lavishly by the master because she picks 500 pounds a day. The landowner also sees her as his misstress, is attracted to her and rapes her frequently, what on the other hand causes his wife to become jealous for no reason. 
After a betrayal, Solomon seems to lose his confidence of regaining his freedom ever again. During construction works where he gets to know a Canadian labourer, played by Brad Pitt, who expresses his opposition to slavery, Solomon tries asking for help one last time. A letter is sent to Saratoga Springs, resulting in the arrival of the local sheriff some time later. He is accompanied by a shopkeeper from Saratoga. They have come to free Solomon Northup, though the master is furiously protesting against it and tries to prevent him from leaving because he still believes that he can rule over his slave.
After 12 years as slave, he is restored to freedom and returned to his family. What is left unknown - and still is nowadays - are details on his death and burrial.

The movie is quite shocking at the beginning. Well, throughout the movie you have sequences that will definitely take your breath away and leave you astonished for a moment. Due to the fact that it tells the story of a real person and the fact that it happened to so many more people, you really start to think, collect thoughts and pity those who had to live in these times experiencing all that. It's somehow really frightening what people can do to each other. Further, if you think about the time - and that it's not thaaaat far in the past. Discussions about race, ethnicity and even racial segregation are not that far-fetched - when you think of earlier happenings in the United States last year or the Charlie Hebdo shooting last week....

But that would be too much for now... 

Hope to have you reading my posts soon again!
Good night!

Donnerstag, 8. Januar 2015

Living abroad - part II

Hey guys,


let me tell you something: being sick is not funny at all! I have been tied to bed for several days now and it has got more annoying with every day that has passed... the only steps I have taken were from the bed to the livingroom, back to the kitchen to grab a cup of tea, heading back to my cosy bed and falling asleep again immediately. Thank God, the worst part is over and I'm starting to feel better again.

That's why I thought of continueing my Living abroad post - since the best is still to come!

Well, as I already told you in my last post, Venezuela didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. Many things went wrong in every possible way. I guess the worst parts really were, on the one hand, returning without having learned any Spanish at all, on the other changing a lot during the months I spent there.
But let me continue with a period of time I would call the best of my life!

When taking the plane to Mexico City, I was a little frightened. I didn't know what to expect. Especially because I couldn't really handle the information I was given before leaving: the reason why I could go to Mexico that quickly was because two Austrians were sent home due to acting improperly while being there. I didn't know what that meant - and I also didn't want to spend any moment on thinking about it. Anyway, it couldn't get any worse than in Venezuela.

My host parents were already waiting for me at the airport, taking me home to a town with about the size of Graz and three hours South of Mexico City. It immediately felt like HOME! Admittingly, my first host family had a rather difficult time living with me, getting me to go out and all that because of all the things that had happened in Venezuela. 
I started to go to school and was lucky enough to join a class of only eight other students. I was one of the first exchange students to go to school there, meaning that I was standing out like a sore thumb. At first, I didn't really know how to react to that, since I wasn't used to being someone "special" and being someone everybody wants to talk to. It felt strange at the beginning, but after a while I got used to it. 
My classmates were adorable too. I had a fun time going to school, studying together with them and all that stuff. 

After two months I had to change my family due to my exchange programme's rules. That's where everything started to work out perfectly! My host dad was the best I could ask for, always joking and inviting me to drinks (considering that he himself was breaking one of the "4D rules - no drinking, no driving, no drugs, no dating" implemented by the exchange programme, I always had to smile whenever he offered me something), taking me wherever I wanted - just like me dad here in Austria! Both my host dad and mum were giving me what I had hoped to experience in Venezuela: having quarrels and discussing them if necessary, but they always made me feel not only welcome but part of the family. 

What I have completely missed out: my fellow exchange students. For being a relatively small town we were quite a lot who where living there, I think we were ten if I remember correctly. There was one guy from Germany and you know what I loved most about him? Right from the first meeting he told me not to talk any German with him because he was there to learn Spanish. First, I was a bit astonished, but it was the best thing he could have said, because throughout the whole time we spent together we hardly spoke any German. My host family also forced me to learn Spanish and were not willing to talk to me in English, even if I had difficulties understand certain things at school. To sum up, the best thing that could happen. Otherwise, I wouldn't have learned it I guess. 

Much of talking about Mexico, let me show you some of my favourite pictures. Most of them were taken during my vacations I spent there in 2005 and 2007. Each picture is followed by a short description. 

Have fun!


Cathedral in Oaxaca, southwest Mexico

the highest mountain in Mexico, the third highest in North America - Pico Orizaba

my town's cathedral

my city's townhall

Xalapa, a city close to the Gulf of Mexico

cathedral of San Miguel de Allende, the most beautiful I have ever seen

Cañon del Sumidero - a canyon in Chiapas, which is deeper than the Grand Canyon

Castle of Chapultepec, Mexico City where Emperor Maximilian from Austria lived 
inside Chapultepec

beach at Celestún at the Gulf coast
everything painted in pink - flamingoes wherever you go in Celestún


columns at Chichen Itzá

one of the new Seven Wonders of the World - Chichen Itzá pyramid of the sun

Chichen Itzá

monument of historic importance - National Museum of Anthropology

Teotihuacán, an important site North of Mexico City

Teotihuacán

heavenly Caribbean beach close to Tulum


Mayan archaeological site right next to the Caribbean Sea

perfect advertisement

Tulum

most magical place I have seen - Palenque



Pacific Ocean at Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

Pacific coast sunset

Montag, 5. Januar 2015

Living abroad - Part I

Hey guys!


I have been thinking a lot about my time abroad and guess some might be interested in that part of my life as well.
Some of you may already know that I lived in Venezuela and Mexico for quite some time. In detail, this means that I was supposed to spend my 11th grade of school in Venezuela.

First, I wanted to attend classes in an English-speaking country. I applied for a place to stay in Australia, but due to September 11th all of those who had applied for a year in the United States switched to Australia or New Zealand. As a result, the places for Australia were taken, New Zealand was no option either - so I had to re-think my exchange year. Coincidently, I talked to a friend's cousin who had lived in Venezuela only a few years before. She was telling me about it very enthusiastically, what led to the decision to spend my year there too.

Finally, I left Austria on September 8th 2002, heading towards Barquisimeto in Central Northern Venezuela. After a very long flight from Munich to Frankfurt, the overseas flight to Caracas and a national flight to my hometown-to-be, I got to meet my host family after a 19 hours journey. I got warmly welcomes by my hostparents, my district's governor of the exchange programme and a German girl who had lived in Barquisimeto for quite some time. Honestly, I can't remember anything about the first days in Venezuela. What I quickly realized though: my Spanish wasn't as good as I thought it was.


I started to go to school, along with the girl from Germany I had met the day of my arrival, a guy from Quebec, Canada and a girl from Switzerland. Everything seemed to work out perfectly, the only point really bothering me at that time was that my Spanish didn't get any better because of speaking too much German instead of taking the chance of practising my Spanish. Unfortunately, with the days and weeks passing by the relationship with my host family got worse. With every day I spent around them, I felt more uncomfortable, because they were screaming and yelling at me for no reason all of a sudden. As a result, I spent most of the time outdoors with friends - and once again: not practising my Spanish. But that came to an end when the political situation got more complicated - and dangerous - for strangers. School was closed by the beginning of November, malls, cinemas and nearly everything related to public life followed the upcoming weeks due a national strike that about five months in total. Due to these two factors - the poor relationship with my host family and the political circumstances - I soon began to incredibly miss home, spending most of my days crying in my bed. The worst part was sill to come though....

Waking up two days before Christmas, I found myself home alone. That wasn't really surprising since my host parents rarely told me anything when they were leaving. Suddenly the door bell rang, opening the door, there was my neighbour telling me that I had to come with her because my host parents had left to see their sons in the United States and wouldn't be around until mid January. First, I was like: WHAT?! You have to be kidding me! But soon I realized, nope, she is not joking at all! I immediately called my programme's local chairman to tell her that I wanted to leave Venezuela asap! She was telling me to calm down and to move in with her, but I didn't want to stay any longer.

Two weeks later I took the flight back home, which costed half a fortune due to lack of gasoline and overseas flights in general. Believe me: tears were streaming down my cheeks when I finally arrived in Graz. Never had I felt that releaved before. Even thouh it were only three months I had spent in Venezuela, I had changed a lot. I was a quite shy and quiet person before leaving, but very vivid in comparison to the person I was when I got back home. Friends of mine didn't even recognize me, especially because of my physical appearance: I had lost about 15kg, pale skinned and very sad and exhausted eyes. That wasn't me...

I got spoiled in every possible and didn't spent one second on thinking about finishing my year somewhere else. Admittingly, I hadn't done much for school in Venezuela. As a result, I had a very difficult time keeping up with the others in order to pass my exams. It turned out to be completely impossible to make it through the school year without having to repeat it. This resulted in calling the chairman of the programme here in Austria and asking him about a place where I could finish my exchange year. I wasn't really confident about getting a chance to finish it, on the contrary, I had already started to do the impossible and tried anything possible to pass my exams. To the surprise of all of us, he told me to grab my stuff, buy a ticket to Mexico and leave the following week. First, I was somehow shocked and wasn't sure about leaving again because of the terrible experience in Venezuela. But I took the chance, what resulted in the best decision I have ever made in my entire life!!

But that's something I will tell you about in my next post...
so, stay tuned and see what I am going to tell you about my incredible eight months in Mexico!
I'll upload some pictures as soon as I get back home, for now: Have a nice day!