12 months in photos.

As much as many of the more conservative and less tech-saavy people seem to think that social networking sites are the work of the devil, I do have to agree. And when it comes to something as important as connecting with loved ones across the world, what an easier [and more practical] way to do so by using facebook.

And what’s my favourite thing about this Zuckerberg founded web-giant? :]
The profile pictures. Simple images that depict what you’ve recently been up to… and after 12 months of traveling around Germany and Europe, experiencing the best it has to offer, I’ve had a range of pictures displayed on my facebook account that give an insight into my adventures. So here’s a little look in to those people who I don’t have on facebook. :]

NB: They get soooo much better as you go along. ;]

Strangest feeling in the world.

No, it’s not having a baby move inside a mother’s belly, it’s not the numbness surrounding my fresh septum piercing and it’s definitely not about what happens to every man when he (and his best friend) wake up in the morning.

I’m referring to being back home in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia, after a year living in one of Europe’s oldest cities, and Germany’s third oldest. I miss it already. Everything here feels as if it’s part of a Salvador Dali dreamscape. My vision is warped and all I’m seeing is pretty colours, hardly seeing the Sydney, or home, I once knew. I’m not sure if it’s the jetlag after a 28 hour trip or it’s the strange Australian food… but all I can say is, if I’m not feeling back to normal within three weeks, i’ll still be asking myself “what the bloody hell am I doing here?”.

Augsburg, I miss you baby. And to all those people who are wondering where a blog about a year on exchange goes from here, it doesn’t stop. Those cute little Animails cartoons shall be frequently posted and I shall simply move my home base from Germany to Australia, so expect a lot of lovely pictures of Sydney! She is a beautiful city, I have to say… it’s just a little hard seeing all her beauty when I haven’t slept well in the past 96 hours.

A very tired chump,
your Ryan. :]
x

Sickness, snow and skiing.

Can you guess the link between the three words above?
No, I wasn’t ill in the snow whilst skiing down a mountain… too literal.

Yesterday I got back from three days in southern Germany staying at my second host family’s winter apartment. From there we could take the fifteen minute drive each day across the border into various Austrian ski resorts. One I remember distinctly was in Unken, simply because I didn’t actually go skiing… Two evenings before I became incredibly sick… here comes the graphic description kiddos. ;]
Lots of vomiting to the point of being physically drained… I ended up in complete pain with a serious stomach ache, head ache and a lack of food in my belly… I couldn’t eat for the next 24 hours. I was bed ridden… and it sucked.

The next day however I felt a bit better, and fit enough at least to go outside and get some fresh air. So I went with my host family to ski area Almenwelt Lofer, and instead of skiing, spent a few hours wandering the mountains and getting lost, then later wandering the cute little Austrian town down below.

I’m happy to say I’m now a lot better. Thank the heavens for pain medicine… it made my agony bearable. I’m also happy to announce that the photos aren’t too bad… although the shotty weather didn’t help my little digital camera much… :p

Wishing all the vomiters a fun trip back to recovery.
Ryan
x

The near impossible goodbye.

For Agustina ‘Gusti’ Cora,

Everybody on this [relatively] green planet is aware that at some point in time, they’ll lose a person dear to them, whether by death, moving overseas, or an incredibly messy breakup.
I myself have come to this point in my life at numerous occasions, all unfortunately in relation to the big D. However, recently I had to say goodbye to one of my dearest friends here on exchange, someone who’s been on my side for the past year and who became a sister to me.

Last thursday I met up with her a few hours before her flight and had some lunch at her house (her host mum’s an amazing cook by the way). Afterwards, her, her host parents and I, all drove to München Flughafen (Munich Airport) and waited out the long check-in process,  the heavy amount of tears between her and other exchange students who wished to see her off, and the countdown before she should head through security, not to be seen again for a horribly long period of time.

I vowed to stay strong and didn’t cry whilst waiting on her exit home to Argentina. It wasn’t until she passed through security and we had to part ways that my heart decided to finally show a bit emotion and I bawled my eyes out like a school child. Saying goodbye brings out the worst in people. But it also brings out the best… because after sobbing to myself for twenty minutes I realised how much I cared for this person… and in that way it was hardly a goodbye at all.

In theory and in length of time etc, it may be a while before I can even afford a plane trip to Buenos Aires, but the one thing I can say I feel ok about now is that it wasn’t a goodbye, because it wasn’t permanent. It was just a good ‘ol “see ya later mate” with waterworks involved. She’ll be in my heart forever. :] She won’t be gone that long though!

Best not to think about it as goodbye. We’ll get our catch up time soon enough.

Here’s hoping that flight costs don’t inflate any time soon.
Will never ever forget you, sis. ;]
And neither will Augsburg, Bayern and Augustus Beer.

Lots of love,
Ryan
x

Out with a bang.

This was not a reference to a bomb explosion… relax, people! :]
This was in fact a reference to two things… although both ironically similar to a bomb, well, explosively speaking at least;
a) fireworks
and
b) firecrackers.
Both of which I encountered in a single New Years Eve celebration in Berlin.

You may often [or not] hear the expression “it was like war”. Well, let me tell you something; if you’re not one of those lucky 1,000,000 people who make it onto the two kilometre ‘Party Mile’ before they close the entrances, you’ll feel like you’re on a European warfront. Apart from the booming of the midnight fireworks (as well as unofficial, and unscheduled firework demonstrations throughout the night), there was a cacophony of bangs surrounding us for the duration of the evening. Firecrackers, as well as the loud smashing of glass bottles (not to mention the “duck or you’ll be sprayed with shatters of glass” dance) led us to hitching  ride in a taxi back to my host dad’s apartment a little after one in the morning.

Oh the joys of exchange. ;]

I’m telling you now… I certainly won’t forget my most recent, and [unfortunately] last, trip to Berlin.

Highlights:

• Cheese fondue before heading into the city for New Years.
• Roncalli Circus, and seeing german actor Christoph Waltz in the flesh
• Seeing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in the Berlin Philharmonic
• Having Elton’s Your Song sung to me by a drunk german
• Spending an hour in Zara
• Watching the musical Tanz der Vampire (Dance of the Vampires) in German.
• Viewing a visually erotic cabaret called Wunderkammer performed by a Brisbane acrobatic troupe in Berlin’s beloved Chamaeleon Theater

Here’s a few pictures… I had a major fascination with the Berliner Dom on this trip…. fascination, not a fetish.

Enjoy.

A highly excited Ryan
x

We are young…

In the noble words of former Britpop band Supergrass (and no I’m not referring to keeping our teeth clean, although dental hygiene is important), “see our friends, see the sights, feel alright. And that’s exactly what I intend to do… make the most of my youth, in fact the most of my life. :]

You never know when one may just kick the bucket…

So quite recently I took to seeing those upbeat lyrics in action and rounded up a few friends and explored Augsburg’s amazing alleys, main streets, christmas lights, and cinemas… (yes, that’s a plural). Photos can be seen below. ;]

So get outdoors kiddies, and I don’t mean kick around a football… try something new…
because we are young, and before arthritis and wrinkles kick in (I hear it happens sooner than you think), we seriously need to live the true meaning of being a fun-loving teenager.

Ryan
x

It’s amazing what a little sunlight can do.

I couldn’t help but resist taking some quick snaps of Augsburg today… it’s truly a gorgeous city, and in the right light, and through a camera lens, it can be even more beautiful. ;]

I’m going to miss Augsburg more than words can even explain…. but my heart is craving to see Sydney again. That gorgeous harbour city that looks like this on a beautiful day:

Will miss my dear new German hometown.
Don’t forget me. I won’t forget you. :’[
Ryan
x

The second Christmas Dinner

Legit. I didn’t realise how big christmas was in Germany until Christmas dinner… well, the second one at least. Last night I visited my former host family in Zusmarshausen and we nibbled on a delicious goose with traditional Bavarian cuisine such as blaukraut (red cabbage), knödel (potato dumplings) and even a christmas salad as entrée. It was a delicious [second] feast…. it was surely worth a couple of photos. ;]

An amazing Christmas was to be had! I hope everyone feels the same way. :]
Ryan
x

The feast begins…

It’s not every day that a family sits around the table and gorges over a hot stone….
So is the tradition in my lovely current host family… we devoured the most delectable treats grill-able, ranging from salmon, prawns, beef, calf and lamb, to capsicum, mushrooms and beans.

Not to forget the other bowls of food which required no grilling whatsoever… ;]

Here are just a few shots of our evening (it did start off rather traditionally by attending church at St. Ulrich’s).

Even more joyful Christmas love to come.
Ryan
x

P.S. My Christmas adventures (much like those fine moments in my every day exchange life have inspired recent sketches for the ANIMAILS collection).

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

So yesterday I was singing in the rain snow. :]

Two shots of my street blanketed in a fresh layer of fluffy white snow and two of Munich’s Marienplatz in the evening… gotta love living in Germany. <3

Ryan
x