Easter Break & ushering in my last month...

I returned from the Southeast a while ago and for those of you who don't know, it was a week spent roaming the coast of Croatia.  Like every major holiday, I was given 12 days off, so I felt that one last big trip was necessary.  Particularly because I am returning to the U.S. of A. in just 4.5 weeks!!!! Yeehaw!

I teamed up with a fellow teaching assistant, Liz, and together (mind you, having planned VERY little for this trip)I think we did a pretty dern good job.  Here's the run down.

Day One: Train from Salzburg > Zagreb (the capital of Croatia).  
We found dirt-cheap, first class tickets to Zagreb and after 6 short hours, we found ourselves in Zagreb at a hostel with a black lab, naturally named Nastia :)  Also, even though Croatia entered into the EU last summer, it is not yet part of the Schengen Agreement (for those of you not familiar with European travel, movement and law, it just means you have to show your passport at the border) so we got checked on the train, a first for me!

Day Two:  Zagreb > Plitvice National Park > Zadar.  
We caught an early bus to the Plitvice National Park, which is filled with beautiful lakes and waterfalls.  On the nearly three hour bus ride we caught up with other post-grad Americans working in Brussels.  They were also on the move with a fellow Austrian TA, but she seemed rather disinterested in our affairs.  Once we arrived in the park, we (and our backpacks) hiked all around.  Here are some visual aides, for your enjoyment.  It felt like water was just seeping out of the ground and pouring over every surface. 

a collage of the pathways, lakes, and waterfalls 

After hiking around the lakes, running into a Tacoman, and SOMEHOW catching our bus, we headed off to Zadar.  Just so you are all pronouncing it correctly, the Croatians say ZA-daar, not za-dAR, and certainly not Zaider (you silly, silly girl from Philadelphia), emphasis on the first syllable.  Once in Zadar, we checked into our extremely-centrally located hostel and went to go catch a disappointing sunset.  According to Alfred Hitchcock, the sunset in Zadar is the world's finest: ""Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world, more beautiful than the one in Key West, Florida, applauded at every evening." (1964). Well, our first night was gray and a little drizzly but the second night did NOT disappoint.  After sunset, we had a pizza feast in great company.  We met up with Liz's good friend Ali (a Kentucky girl currently living and working in Brussels) and her comrades from her hostel.  At dinner we were three Americans, two Frenchmen, one Mexican and a Taiwanese-Canadian.  Sound like a song you may know, right?  :) 

Day Three: Zadar! 

We spent all day roaming around Zadar, which was not hard.  Smalllll town but very historical!  It was ruled by the Illyrians, Romans, attacked by the Venetians, Austrian, French, and then again Austrians again.  During WWII, the city was occupied by the Germans and then bombed by the Allies, leaving about 60% of the Old Town totally destroyed.  THEN in 1991 Yugoslavia launched an attack and Zadar was essentially under siege for three months.  But, now it is all pretty, and in tact and belongs to Croatia, whew!  

sunsets, old architecture, and BOATS. 

I also got to go on a long run, which is easy in coastal European countries because the coast (or river, or lake) practically always has a pedestrian pathway alongside.  I did a sunny 75 minutes down the coast and through a beautiful park.  In the middle of town we saw the old forum, and seriously there are just piles of old artifacts lying around.  Children play upon them, adults drink coffee on them, it was the beginning of a trend: Croatians really incorporate their history into their daily lives. 

We also met a hilarious Belgian named Manu.  He was more than a character.  At one point, after showing me how to deconstruct my shrimp, he sucked the head out and dropped the legs on the floor only to then break into a fit of choking on pepper.  He then introduced us all to Rakija, essentially Grappa. 

Day Four: Zadar > Biograd > Krka > Sibinek > Split     

As I mentioned before, we met and dined with some friendly Frenchmen (one an author, the other a software engineer) and since we were all headed in the same, general direction: south, we thought it be wise to all go in on a rental car.  Not only did we all save money, but we got to take the coastal road down (at some points just feet away from the water!) and make stops along the way.  The best stop was a second, water-fall centric national park: Krka.  So many consonants, so few vowels!   Here, more visual aides: 

Day Five: Split > Mostar, BiH > Split

We talked our French friend Sylvain into driving us into Bosnia, or as he likes to call it: "smuggling".  We left pretty early and by 12:30 we had arrived in Mostar.  Mostar is a fascinating city and I really felt like we had just dipped into the east somewhere, where remnants of a modern war were still very visible.  Mostar is named after the bridge keepers who used to guard the Stari Most, the old main bridge in town.  According to Wikiepedia, the Star Most, "built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most recognizable landmarks, and is considered one of the most exemplary pieces of Islamic architecture in the Balkans."  Sadly, it was destroyed during the Bosnian war.  We visited a local museum that displayed photographs of the town during the war, which was really fascinating.  It's crazy to believe that during my lifetime such a destructive war took place. 

After walking around town, eating massive amounts of Bosnian food, trying the local beer, and exploring a new country, we headed back to Croatia with, most importantly: new stamps in our passports!

a mixture of bosnia and croatia. 

 Day Six: Split

This was by far our most relaxed day. We took a city tour of Split and learned all about Diocletian's Palace.  Our tour guide was a fabulously passionate Zadarian (?) who really made the ruins come alive.  Fun fact: scenes of Game of Thrones were filmed there (not as extensively as in Dubrovnik, but good enough!).  Be jealous you nerds!

We had a delicious lunch at an olive oil bar and then hiked up the top of Marjan Park (where I ran earlier that morning).  Sadly the Burra (cold, northern wind, personified as most European winds are, see: Föhn) was blowing that day and it was rather chilly.  For dinner we made reservations at a lovely restaurant with the kitchen right in sight, an old Croatian women hard at work.  Simply charming. 

Day Seven: Split > Zagreb

We flew midday to Zagreb and then had all afternoon to explore the city.  I must say, of all the major eastern European cities, Zagreb is by far the most charming.  It really had mixtures of Vienna, Berlin, Prague, Sofia, and even a titch of Amsterdam, but never felt over-touristy.  It was a place I could picture myself living in, never feeling too on the outside.  I just had a really good feeling the whole time.  I just cannot explain it.  

Day Eight: Zagreb > Salzburg.  We got up super, early, spent our last Kuna, and lounged in our own 1st class compartment for 6 hours.  Once I arrived home, I had a job interview with the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, who might have opportunities for me in Portland (FINGERS CROSSED) and Denver.  Then, I lounged around in sweat pants, recuperating.  

My Easter celebration was alright, I've been relaxing all week and I think it is rather subconscious, more like a calm-before-the-storm thing.  Meaning: my last month might be rather busy.  

Next weekend I will head to Bozen, Italy in the region of the South Tyrol, which used to be part of Austria and they actually still speak German there.  My main goal is to see the DOLOMITES. mmmmmm mountains.  I also have a 5k in Salzburg!  Then, I head to Frühlingsfest (think Oktoberfest in the Springtime!) with some girlfriends from Western Austria and THEN the next weekend I might head to Bayern to visit friends and Augsburg (meine Heimat!) and THEN for my last weekend I will be in Vienna for the Austrian Women's run! yahoo! 

So there it is. 

Hmmm. 

My New Year (from February!)

For me, the new year has just begun.  Finally, I feel close to 100%, can run again and have settled back into a more routine, routine.  For the past month I've been juggling visitors, eating out, showing people the touristy sights, visiting Turkey! and feeling more like a visitor myself.  But, today marks the beginning of the new semester at school and I too feel renewed.

So!  What have I been up to?

First, Cate and Eric (two good friends from Linfield) came and visited.  We lounged (they had been traveling for three weeks leading up to their arrival in Salzburg), hiked around Salzburg, ate traditional food, drank traditional beer, took a tour of the Stiegl brewery & museum

...caught up on life back in America and what I've been up to, and somehow I was able to talk my school into letting the two join me on a student-planned trip to the Schladming night slalom.  Even Arnold Schwarzenegger was there!  It was quite the event in beautiful weather

Eric departed after a few days and Cate stuck around for a bit before jetting off to New Zealand, we we're like mini roommates for a while, quite fun.

Then after she left, I flew off to Turkey for my school's semester break.  Luckily for me, one of my very favorite and best friends from the states, Ms. Caroline Craft, was to join me and my friend Liz. We all meet at the Ataturk Airport and bussed to our hostel, in between the coast and the Galata Tower. In Istanbul we saw the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, the Bazaar, Spice Market, the coast, took a ferry to the Asian side, ate delicious falafel, soups, meat balls, herb salads, baklava and drank the most amazing, street-side, freshly-squeezed pomegranate juice imaginable. yum. Here are a smattering of photos:

Interview Season

I'm in a state of complete confusion and conflict.

And (yes, I'm starting a sentence off with a conjunction -- so hard) let me also just say: 

I do not know what I'm doing in the next couple of months. 

Okkaaayyyy?  Let's just clear the air and get that out there.

But, that does not mean I am option-less, indifferent or inconsiderate to the people my decisions will effect.  In fact, the opposite: I have many options, really care about where I will be and what I will be doing, and am thinking about my family, my current co-workers and all my dear friends both far and near. 

So, here is a peek into my haphazard thought process and what I'm currently "going through":  

I was officially offered my teaching assistantship for a second year, starting in October, at the same school.  This is great news and I am so thankful to be recognized as a vital part of the USTA program and the HLFS Ursprung. I also love Austria.  It has fully rejuvenated my love for silly German dialects and over-exaggerated mountainscapes (like, really Austria, can you calm down?).

My experience has been quite honestly, nothing but positive... Well except for you January, you know what you did to me and my ears, nose and throat.    

That being said, I must remind myself of why I came here in the first place:  to gain experience teaching and to see how international agricultural systems work and how agricultural education is supported by public policy.  Additionally, I wanted to live on my own, by myself, think about me! my future! and what I am really passionate about.  Essentially: a little taste of isolation and contemplation.

When I first packed my bags to leave I was more than prepared to leave for two years to teach because applying for jobs back home is a heart-wrenching experience that makes me feel like poo on a log, and I was just plain scared of getting rejected so.damn.much.  Now? Well, here are the reasons why I think my days in Austria are numbered and that my work here is complete.  

1.  I am no longer scared of applying for jobs.  This is kind of a lie.  Yes, of course, I am still scared but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop.  I now have two years of work experience in working with both local and school communities, planning lessons, writing, editing, teaching, instructing, explaining, collaborating, helping, achieving goals, and learning.  Plus, it doesn't hurt to have money saved up and family that (hopefully!) has beds you can crash in :) 

2. I have options now!  The title of this post is "Interview Season" for a reason.  I applied to countless jobs in February and March and now I am finally harvesting requests for interviews.  Such a great feeling.  First, in February I was offered a summer horticulture internship in Poteau, Oklahoma at this place here in this link!  3 months of paid labor and learning in practically-Arkansas.  This is definitely an option I'm considering.  Second, I just received e-mails about interviews with a German-speaking emersion summer camp in Vermont (just for the month of June) and with an Americorps program in Portland that would start in June.  I also re-applied for the FoodCorps (in California, New Mexico and Montana).  FoodCorps is like an ex-boyfriend who you keep going back to, I just can't help myself! 

3. I miss American and it's people. This might seem an illegitimate reason to some, but hey!! I'm entitled to my homesickness, I am allowed to love who I am related to, I am positively permitted to miss my friends and want to live in communities that always understand me :)  More importantly, I do not think I'm not the best version of myself when I live by myself working only 13 hours a week.  I am kind of lazy and I'm bad at keeping in touch; I'm not a great friend, a good athlete, or a good daughter, grand daughter, and sibling (also, soon-to-be-aunt!).  I want to come back to the U.S. and share what I've learned here, starting running competitively (or maybe even join a BA rugby league in Seattle or Portland) and help make the U.S. food system a system that empowers its citizens. 

There are so many other reasons why I want, or do not feel I can stay, but I think my mind just might be made up. I'm sorry if you were planning a trip to visit me, maybe I can just accompany you.  I am a great tour guide (ha!).

That all being said, I am excited what the future holds, I'm tired of dreading it, or fearing it, it will take it's path.  As a very wise professor once wrote me (in German, but I'll translate it for you): 

The path into the future is rarely straight

and well, if that means I might be spending 3 months in OK, or start working right away in PDX, so be it: I am ready.  

So, ladies and gentlemen put May 29th on you calendars!  I arrive at Sea-Tac at 3:35pm! 

Now, off to enjoy my next two months.  

Next stop?  

Croatia!