SPRING BREAK 2009

Recipe for the best week of the year:
5 girls who know how to have fun
Cracker Barrel signs
9 days
little red car
Ohio, Alabama, Florida, every state in between
Vegan food
Junk food
wholesale food
farm fresh roadside stand food
White sand
Ice cream
seashells
My nephew, sister, brother-in-law
Tizides cousins, aunt and uncle
ipod full of music
Shooter
Coffee
gasoline
Dolphins, alligators, lizards, sting-rays, jelly-fish, funky fish
glue gun
chocolate cake
Strawberries
Ave Maria college
No schoolwork
palm trees
flirtatious dunkin donuts guy
sunglasses













CRACKER BARREL!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't know a simple travel game could breed so much hatred and contempt.
Theresa bought her Aveo only the week before. By the time we got home it was already 1000 miles overdue for an oil change. Theresa did all of the driving, since it was a manual. Which means you should have bought stock in Starbucks.
A little stiff. But everybody feels better after some stretching

The pecan farms in GA made me homesick. But that Jazz and Banjo and little Rebel aren't out there, I would swear this was home.
Alligator hunting. It involves driving to the nearest water-filled ditch, and looking in. Francis points at any puddle of water and says: "wa-wa. Awigawo." while making a jaw snapping motion with his hands.
There it is, our alligator. A real live alligator. In addition, we saw all kinds of other exotic wildlife: Dolphins swam by, a 2 foot baby shark only a moment later (only a few feet away), huge extinct looking birds, some tiger-striped fish, jellyfish, and a stingray.




The almost-finished Ave Maria Chapel.


Ready, set, swim....see the video at the bottom for the live action shot.
Auntie Jamie was very happy to have a couple of days to relish her aunthood.
Francis is redefining 'baby-sitting"
Christine almost sold her soul to the vegan cult. But when she enjoys a raw turnip this much, it might be allowable.
Ice cream, white sand, sunset, salt in my hair, sand in my toes. Spring break. Sounds like a song.
We got a pint a piece, ate it all. Our lips were blue, the sun was down and the water was cold. But that didn't deter us from one more swim in the sea
One of Christine's life goals is to marry a native tree-shimmying boy. She practiced every chance she got, so that when she does find the monkey man, she will be prepared to pick coconuts and live happily ever after in the palm trees.



We all collected shells and stayed up late making shell picture frames to commemorate this glorious week forever.
Yvonne, Regina, myself and Christine



California girl looks like she belongs on the beach.

The whole group of us: Yvonne, Theresa, Christine, Regina, and yours truly










Every once in a while, the windows would go down, the sunglasses on, the hair flew and we cranked it up for a round of Every Time We Touch.

Look at this kid. Doesn't get any better.

Pensacola beach. It actually had waves.

Darlings of Divine Mercy

I am so glad to be back with my household sisters! We are going to have a great semester!

March For Life XXXVI

Kristine getting a I'll-keep-you-warm-if-you-keep-me-warm hug

Joshua got a lollypop for good behavior

Haggard post-marchers, waiting for the bus (that won't be coming because it broke down!!)

Christine and Regina

Sleepy Yvonne

Kyle and Peter looking epic at the Lincoln Memorial

Me and my roomies and Kristine, whom we wish was a roomie

Sleepy,dreamy people....are you noticing a trend?

A really cool picture of Peter Lee

Our Favorite Minnesotan

Our favorite Guamian (?)

Two great PA People

Elizabeth is the only one NOT making a face!

And our favorite Michiganders

Hmm....where should we go?

Back in America

So, I have been back in the US for nine days. I honestly haven't had much time to really think about my Osterreich semester or even share it with my family and friends, since i have been at work almost every waking moment.
Today I went to K-mart. From the moment pulled into the parking lot, I got major I-miss-Europa pains. Let me explain:
1. I was driving (my new van, by the way). I was driving. No walking 30 minutes to a train station, no waiting for trains, no bus, no tickets. Just me behind the wheel.
2. It was a gigantic parking lot. It struck me that i don't remember ever seeing a parking lot of considerable size except a coupls somwhat small ones in Ireland.
3. Fat people. I know that sounds horrible. But it is true. Supposedly Osterreich is one of the heaviest countries in Europe, but I still don't remember seeing that many overweight people.
4. Annoying intercom systems.
5. People sprechend Englisch.
6. Signs in English. Loud signs, big signs, bright signs. Advertisement overkill.
7. The toy aisle was scary. I am afraid of what little boys are playing with these days in America - where are the innocent playmobiles and blocks and books that they had in the Gaming toy store? Oh, and Barbie dolls and an overabundance of pink in the little girl aisle.
8. It is HUGE! Everything is big. And there is so much of everything on the shelvee. I felt lost in it.
9. Messy. Messy shelves, half-opened packages, messy floors, disorganization.

I know, I am kind of being ridiculous, I was only in Europe 4 months. I have been in America for 20 years. I shouldn't have been that shocked. But, it really was just really weird.

Some other things that have shocked me/I miss about Austria/reasons I am glad to be back in America:

Wind. I forgot about Oklahoma wind. I only remember there being any kind of wind once, and that was on top of book mountain the night we climbed it in the wee hours just before flying home.

American currency. The first time I checked somebody out at work, I didn't even think about it. And then the next person I checked out asked for change for a five, and I automatically started digging in the change...and then I realized that I was back in America, where there are 1 dollar bills!

The roads are really wide. And, yes, Katie Hess: YELLOW LINES!

Cowboys. Men that dress like men, alleluia. I was getting really tired of the men of my own generation in Europe who all dressed like girls.

Pick-up trucks. I saw exactly one in all of Europe. I am glad to see dirty farm trucks with rubber boots and tool boxes in the back.

American cheeses don't count as cheese.

11x14 paper.

Still get a little jumbled when I say excuse me: pardon moi, scuzzi, and entschuldigen all try to come out.

Lack of acoustics. I miss high ceilings. I miss being able to hear myself sing. I miss being able to play my violin in a room that resonated. It sounds so much worse in carpeted rooms.

I miss the little Austrian roadside shrines.

Semmels. Do I miss them?

I had nuttella without Caitlin and Liz. It almost seemed wrong to eat it without them.

My Austrian bed. Feather pillow, duvet.


I feel like I have just woken up from a dream. A really sweet dream. And now I am back to reality. Things look strange, yet strangely familiar.

Honestly, I am a little frustrated at a) my utter inability to convey my experience to people interested in hearing about it, and b) people being rather disinterested. I mean, everyone seems interested at first, and demands that i tell them all about Austria, but soon they change the subject. I understand that they get bored, and I am not a good story teller anyway, but still, I want to share.

I am really really glad to be home again, home home, home in Ameria. I missed my family a whole lot while I was there. There was far too much growing up and changing without my seeing it.

My semester in Austria is continuing to unfold, and i realize now that I will continue to reap the benefits for years to come. Although, no doubt, my family and friends are going to be real sick and tired of hearing me say "Oh, I was there." and starting every other sentence with "In Austria.....".

Back in America

Beware the Krampus!

The full cultural experience. Advent in Gaming. Our entire quiet, sleepy Kartause has been transformed today. Every nook and cranny is filled with booths of local Austrians selling their wine, bread, cheese, honey, pottery, glass-work, wood-work, candles, flowers, ornaments, needle-work, art, and crafts of every kind. They have taken over our class-rooms and court yard. They will be here until right before we leave.

The highlight of the day, however, was just after dark. The courtyard filled with expectant people, me included. The Krampuses are coming.
I had been warned about the Krampuses. Fr. Seraphim showed us a video he made about them the other day in history class. So I had worked up some excitement.
I was not to be disappointed. They puffed smoke into the courtyard. Creepy music began. They knocked at the courtyard gate. They busted through the gate and spilled into the courtyard to the most epic music ever, if not exactly what I would have picked: theme music from Chariots of Fire. I was dying laughing.
No one that speaks English can tell me exactly what the Krampus is. They have been around since ancient times, of that much is certain (and by the smell of them, the costumes, made of real fur, are aparently originals) Apparently a Krampus is some kind of evil spirit that whips the people and eats the bad kids just before Santa Klaus comes. That way, I guess, Santa doesn't have to bother with making a list. Saves him some trouble with procuring the lumps of coal, too, I guess.
They are hideous to look at. A real feast for the eyes.
Tolkien might have had this in mind when he first started writing about orcs

Why is the baby not screaming in terror? A few children did get afraid, but most Austrian children just don't have a healthy amount of fear. American kids cry when they see the Easter bunny. But this ain't no Easter bunny.

This one demonstrating his whipping procedure. He had a horsetail and he wasn't afraid to use it. He was the one who got me three times. And by 'got' I mean singled me out in the crowd, and chased me down with steady assuredness. No amount of hinding behind guys or slipping through the crowd helps. You think you've lost him and then suddenly you feel his furry grip with the bear-like claws and he drags you away like an ogre. They have this really good tactic of completely enveloping you in this big bear hug, lifting you off the groud so you don't know which way is up and your autonomic nervous system begins to kick in. You dare not scream because that only gets you a mouth full of the beast's hair, which is probably from some yak 50 years since eaten. So you laugh. There is nothing else to do and everyone else is laughing at you. You laugh until you are let go and then you run, during which you are picked up by another Krampus.

I have to admit, it must be enormously fun to be a Krampus.

Caitlin getting mauled

This was the only one who wasn't terrifying. Kinda cute in fact. And he had no arms to beat you with or pick you up with.

Three smiling faces: conceals the slight terror that is gripping our hearts. Everyone else is smiling, so it must be okay. We keep smiling till we turn around, and then we gulp hard.

They are completely silent, as in no roaring, except for all these massive cow bells and gourds filled with beans to make noise-makers. It is actually a slightly creepier effect.

At the end, someone lights a torch and they all congregate in the middle of the courtyard, after about 15 minutes of harrassing the crowd. They all settle down and kneel down and remove their masks. And the show is over. What exactly the last part means....speculation on the part of Fr. Seraphim that it is the light of Christ?? Would research it, but they just don't have that kind of information readily available, or Fr. Seraphim would have found it out.

Christy tried on a sweaty smelly Krampus mask

This is what happened to the bad little girl

Book Mountain

This snow-ball fight got a little out of hand

Pfarrkirche Gaming

How green is my valley

Laura and Brendan

Caitlin, Rob, Paul, Jon

JP

Paul, Rob, and Jon having an 'epic' moment

That is my home down there. I can see my bedroom window.

Liz taking it all in

Check out the aquaduct

Caitlin having one of those moments....

I am really happy

Diana left snow-angels like Gretl leaving breadcrumbs

Laura, Liz and Brendan take a little break.

Whiskey to warm the heart. And because it is cool.

Diana signing the Book Mountian Book. Look for my signature on November 23rd, 2008, if you ever go there.

That is a cell phone tower. Now zoom in to the top. That is two boys near the top. I started climbing and got about 1/3 of the way up, and I had enough of the view that I wanted. It doesn't look so bad, but then you get up there and realize it is icy and the wind is blowing like the dickens because it is completely unprotected, and I realized the only joy I would get from this is the ability to say that I could do it, which is not exactly worth it to me.

At the top of every peak, there is Cross.

Somewhere up there are Jon and Rob.

sliding down is always more fun than climbing up

What does snow inspire you to do?

Pray...preferably in old Carthusian Monasteries?

Make a snowman?

This one was built by the Cassidy boys before Mass. Quite apropriate that the mural on the wall behind reminds us of the time passing away. Remember your death, o man of snow. Life is short, and eternity long.

Pick Misteltoe?

All that for this little weed? You should have seen what we went through to get this little thing down from the tree.

Cook? Something like Chili, corn-bread, apple-cake, fried apples and onions, and home-made hard egg-nog?

Our Spar run: going down the recipe list to make sure we got it all.

Liz and Caitlin trying to figure out which one of these packets contains chili powder. If only one of us knew German.

Fight? A little case of cabin fever? already?

Study?

Swim? Okay, enough of that studying business...time for a jump in the creek.

A display and proof of manliness and super-hero powers, so I am told. I still have a lot to learn, I guess. To me it looks like a like a bunch of idiots running around in shorts in the snow. But amusing, of that I agree.

Winter Wonderland

Last night was one of those perfect nights. It started with everyone in the kitchen playing games and instruments and making cookies. It progressed into a wild snow-ball fight with the first snow of the year, and ended with a movie in the audi max on the big screen, snuggled up in blankets. Rob making his superhero cookies

John Paul trying to teach Paul the flutist's pout

Caitlin, Liz and I made Rob some cookies, and cookie dough. We normally wouldn't be so eager to do so, but this once Rob deserved it. We mentioned we wanted chocolate. Spar closed in 15 minutes. Rob up and sprinted, in the freezing falling snow, all the way to Spar and returned with a giant Milka bar. That is an unprecedented act of chivalry unknown to mankind thus far. He has earned himself a place in a history book as far as we are concerned

Liz repairs Rob's pants. Rob plays in the snow. Rob returns pants with a big hole. Liz fixes Rob's pants again.

Rob's cookies....noticing a theme?

Last night was the first snow of the year. We got some 3 inches. A glorious and quite vicious snow-ball fight naturally ensued.

Getting in the holiday mood

The creek that some boys have jumped in every single day that they have been here, and you can bet they will again today.

This is my HOUSE! My window is the third from the right on the roof.

The Professor kids playing in the snow....might have to borrow some sleds from them later.

FUS Austira has got Talent!

My whole body hurts from laughing so hard. The talent show just got over. I was to the point of tears almost at times. You woouldn't get most of it. But trust me, hilarious.
Sorry, the pictures are pretty dark I didn't want to use my flash. Sr. Monica, Dr. Cassidy, Sr. Grace Ann and Sr. Faustina

Some of the Cassidy kids

Cassidy boys

My violin has talent...in Eva's talented hands.

Bob, John Hummel, and Horatio in an eat-off competition

Tierney and Danny and Grace doing a really funny original compostion/skit

Bethany and Katie probably were the funniest of all. A catholic spoof on that girl your hair is ridiculous youtube clip that went around last semester.

Josh, Mitch doing a yoda-ling song of their own

a well-studied Prof. Asci, played by Willie. Brain and Braun.

Vince and Dr. Minto

Fr. Ron, Mark, and Prof. Siefert

Cory and Doug, MC's

Laura, getting lost while trying to put her duvet cover back on her bed.....

Ellie did an incredibly good impression of Fr. Ron

This was cheating a little. Kalpakgians shouldn't be allowed to do impressions of other Kalpakgians....it is too perfect.

RD's Vince the ever fashionable man of many scarves, Diana as joyful Katie Hess, and JP as coffee slurping cynical Dr. Minto. Bravo.