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
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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
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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).

A Feast for Fourty? No, six. [Animails #8]

One part of my year on exchange in Germany that I’ll never be able to forget is Christmas Dinner. With lashings of food decorating the dining table, I believed we’d be accompanied by a bunch of guests… I was wrong.

It’s something else that I find quite humorous. :]

This picture is highly inaccurate; double the amount of food on the table for an estimate of the amount food that was splayed out before me on Christmas Eve.

Ryan
x

Feuerzange…what?

Celebrating Christmas with a traditional Feuerzangenbowle….
you’ve got to love Germany. ;]

Many thanks to my amazing host family for showing me the spirit of the festive season so far. :]

Ryan

 

Mein Herz wird immer noch in Deutschland bleiben

Translation found in comment section. ;]

Für meine gute Deutsche Freunde,
Das Jahr bei euch war toll, und ich würde gar nix verändern.
Ich danke euch für alles. :]
Hier ist ein kleines Gedicht für euch. :]

Im Januar da kam ich an.
Ich wollte ein Jahr nur mit FUN.

Auch Sprache und Kultur wollt ich verstehn,
und viele Teile von Deutschland sehn! 

Ich lernte viele Freunde kennen
und werd sie für immer auch so nennen

Die Familien waren auch sehr nett
Immer hatt ich ein bequemes Bett

Erwachsener nach dem Jahr, das bin ich wohl
Jetzt mag ich sogar Blumenkohl

Meine Zeit in Europa war nicht lang genug
Ich freue mich nicht sehr auf dem Flug.

Ich will denn nicht so bald zurück.
“Ich bin ja Deutsche”, sag ich mit Glück.

Jetzt ist mein Herz nun doch geteilt
Da es nun auch in Deutschland verweilt!

Ich hoffe, dass ihr es gerne mögt. :]
Liebe Freunde, nicht lang mehr!
I don’t want to go home! :’[

Viele Liebe,
Ryan
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Interested in Innsbruck?

Not so much as I am, for sure. I have a little crush on Austria, I’m not going to lie. Ever since wandering by in April, I’ve craved a trip to one of Österreich’s gorgeous cities.

A country of culture, Innsbruck certainly doesn’t let down that reputation. Heading off with my host mum, Sam and that gorgeous French girl from the day before, we stopped numerous times on the way to take in the gorgeous views of the Bavarian Alps. :]

Some of the lovely little stops included Ettal Abbey, Klais and Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal World).

We eventually made it to Innsbruck’s centre just before sunset, and had enough time to head up to Hungerburg with a cable railway, where we visited a tiny little Christmas Market claiming to be at the highest altitude of any in Austria. From that point, we could peer over the vast valley that was Innsbruck.

Here are some of the photos from our adventurous day!

Lots of love from snowy Europe,
Ryan
x

The French know how to do it.

As is seen perfectly with an example of a delicious French recipe below: Soupe à l’oignon (French Onion Soup). :]
Freshly baked my host grandmother… boy, how she can cook!

Hope you’re all enjoying such lovely treats as I am!
Ryan
x

Start the clock!

It’s now a countdown to Christmas here in Germany and the typical family will be participating to the holiday season in every traditional way possible. Like many other families I’ve seen, ours has an Adventskalender too, adding to the neverending list of worldwide traditions that have originated from my beloved host country. :]

Here’s a quick snap of me opening the first of twenty-four sachets. I found a little book of German Christmas Carols and a delicious little chocolate elephant… my host mum thought it would be funny considering I’ve created the character Ella. ;]

Hope you’re all enjoying the lead up to Christmas!

Ryan
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