Well what an eventful couple of weeks it has been! When I arrived back from France two weeks ago I was in a thoroughly summery mood, having spent a lovely weekend basking in French sunshine. This feeling was spoiled somewhat by the snow here in Vienna!
Today has been the first properly sunny day and the forecast is showing a rise in temperatures over the coming week, just in time for returning to a hopefully not too rainy, Scotland! At least it means that Spring has (hopefully) finally arrived in Austria. It has been a long, cold, dark winter and I really want to start wearing some summer clothes without adding in the necessary winter coat, scarf and gloves!
Last weekend, Sarah and I headed to Holland on the night-train. A journey which took 17 hours and felt (if possible) even longer when we were cramped into a carriage with 4 strangers. Despite that we arrived in Holland in high spirits, having spent the last two hours of the journey playing 'spot the dutch stereotype' - points were given for finding windmills, clogs, bikes, house-boats, canals and anything orange. Needless to say we found ourselves in Amsterdam slightly delirious with lack of sleep and a number of in jokes which were rather lost on Ellis and Caroline... and probably would be to anyone who hadn't shared in the pain of such a long train ride.
We were amused to discover that 15000 Scottish people had also descended on Amsterdam that day. They were easy to spot as they were all wearing kilts, had obviously been drinking since before they boarded their easyjet flights from Glasgow, were speaking in broad Scottish accents and came complete with bag pipe music - much to the bemusement of our Dutch friends, who had never seen (or heard) anything like it! The atmosphere in Amsterdam was great, lively and friendly. Even after they lost 3-0 on Saturday, the dutch news showed them to be in good spirits (probably helped along by the copious amounts of alcohol they had been drinking). You've got to love the Tartan Army!
We spent the day in Amsterdam. Our tour guides got lost trying to find the red-light district so we settled for something more sombre and headed to the Anne Frank house. Which was really interesting but of course also really sad. After a long day, we took the train on to Groningen, which is where Ellis and Caroline actually live. It was a really lovely weekend and it really felt as though the four of us hadn't been apart at all. Holland left a great impression on me, I lived there when I was younger and though the particular area we were in is very different to where I lived, I felt as though I'd come home in a way. I really want to go back and spend some time there - perhaps a summer working.
On Sunday, Sarah and I went our separate ways. She took the train back to Vienna from Amsterdam but as it wouldn't have got me into Vienna in time for work the next morning, I flew back from Muenster in Germany. I wasn't looking forward to this week of work. I'm heading home on friday and thought the five days would drag but I've had a really good couple of days of teaching. This particular school has finally allowed me a little more responsibility and the chance to take full classes on (with the supervision of the teacher) and I've really enjoyed the challenge. The sense of pride you get after standing up in front of a class of 26 rowdy 15 year olds and actually manage to engage them is amazing - I really love teaching and feel like I've finally found my calling.
I have mixed feelings about heading home; I really can't wait to see my family and friends again but I also feel like I don't have much time left in Vienna (only 2 months left) and I now just want to soak up every last minute of it. Though I also know that I would have been bored this week with everyone else also heading home for easter holidays and it'll be nice to have a break from work - I feel like I need it! Going home also reminds me that it won't be long before I leave Vienna for good and although I'm really looking forward to being back in Edinburgh, I'm sad that this year is nearly over. It has given me so many amazing opportunities to travel and as cheesy as this will sound to discover who I really am, outwith the comfort of home and familiarity. I now know that I can handle almost anything thrown at me. I always considered myself an independent person but now I know what true independence is and I hope I don't lose what I've learnt through my time here.
Until next time!
