My trip to the U.N.

On Thursday, I went to the U.N. with Jess, another teacher and another fellow grad from Taylor University. Our art students had an exhibition there, so we got security clearance to go see it.

(Here's a link to more info, if you're curious about it:  U.N. - Vienna branch.)

:)

This view, as well as the next photo, are the only parts of the U.N. we can see from the U-bahn (train) whenever we pass by.

Look at the gorgeous sunset!  The second half of last week was unusually warm for January/February, so it was a great afternoon to trek around the U.N. plaza.

Someone attached a note to the U.S. flagpole, expressing their condolences for the school shooting in Connecticut in December.    :'(

(This was some water/irrigation/structure that was donated by China.  I accidentally deleted the plaque that described it.)

Not sure what this is, other than the obvious figure of a woman...

Our students' artwork exhibit

After the U.N., Jess and I headed to Starbucks and then to a girls' basketball game nearby.  It was a fun way to (almost) conclude a super-busy week!

Seussical Jr.

 Last weekend, our school had 2 performances of "Seussical Jr.", a musical.  It was a sweet production that featured various characters from Dr. Seuss books all together in one musical.  The cast was comprised mostly of middle schoolers and a few little girls in the elementary grades.

Thankfully, I had no huge role in this production.  It fell mainly onto the music teacher, since she has a class time allocated for middle school music.  However, I did help out backstage and with makeup during Tech Week, which was fine because that was all I could handle!

Here's (most of) our cast on opening night!

Aren't they cuuuuute???

When I said I helped out with makeup, I should clarify and say that all I did was apply foundation.  I had no part whatsoever in the lovely makeup art on these girls' faces!

I don't remember what the 3 characters on the left were, but the next 3 were Gertrude, Mayzie and Yertle the Turtle.

Yertle and Gertrude are back, with Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, and a feisty, nameless monkey.

These photos are from the last night of rehearsal.

Enjoy!

Wintery, owly love in my apartment!

In an effort to combat the winter blues around here, I've decorated my apartment for the months of January and February to give myself something to look forward to when I'm home.

My kitchen area

During my first week back in Austria, I would come home and make these light blue snowflakes for hours until it was safe for me to go to bed.  It was very relaxing in every way!

I got the owl image from Pinterest and the snowflakes from school, which had been made by students in the art classes and used as Christmas decorations.

Penguin image, courtesy of Pinterest, too

My living room area

Love owls  :)

My ghetto snowman!  I love this thing!  :-D

This is my owl puppet named Phoebe that I'd bought at IKEA with other teachers.  She hangs out in my living room and watches over the little owls.

My coffee table

German for "Coffee for us"

See?  I'm practicing!

This sugar bowl is a piece of Polish pottery, which is something I'd never heard of til I arrived here.  All pieces are made in Poland and are hand-painted.

I bought this at a Christmas market last month.

This is my bedless bedroom.  It's mostly a storage area.  (I sleep on my amazing couch in my living room!)

So much snow on my bedroom windows!

Last night, I had some girlfriends over for dinner and games.

Here I am with Tracy...

...and here she is with Lou.  They're both elementary teachers and are super sweet!

Bedtime now.  I'll post again soon.

My first Epiphany

Happy New Year 2013!  :)

(I can't believe it's been a month-and-a-half since I've blogged on here.  Sorry!)

I had a very short but fun Christmas break at home in Indiana.  My flights were on time, and I had no problem with returning to my apartment here in Vienna on a Friday night.  

During the next afternoon, when I was still asleep (jet lag), I had a knock on my door.  I NEVER open the door if I can see through my peephole that it's a man, but it was these cuties!

Aren't they precious??!?

The boy spoke English and told me which church they were affiliated with in their door-to-door work.  The little girls were dressed as the three kings for Three Kings' Day/Epiphany and were collecting money to give to a charity.

 After I gave them some money, they wrote some Latin abbreviation above my door frame.  
(I've since wiped it off.)

Brochure they gave me

It was a sweet introduction back to Vienna!