In Seriously Good Company

This afternoon, as Olivia dined with our voice teacher and her husband for lunch, I realized that this trip has put so many new people, inspirations and just downright good company into our lives. The kind of experiences I've had here... I never could've dreamed of back home... I've met students from all over the world JUST in my classroom, not to mention on trains and trips... a famous cartoon artist... my voice teacher is a world renowned opera singer and her husband is the second chair violinist for the Wiener Philharmoniker (not to mention just a wonderful person)... I've met the US ambassador to Austria... Remi and Cormac, Jacqueline and Christophe, and various rich Viennese elitists.

As I mentioned earlier, last night Olivia and I met the newly appointed US Ambassador to Austria, David Girard-Dicarlo. We had the privlige of sitting in on an "Election Debriefing" lecture that he was giving at Webster. His lecture was very non-partisan and unbiased, especially for a Republican who (before he became ambassador) was one of the men heading up McCain's campaign... just a presentation of the facts, history and some great viewpoints. Lots of great quotes! I learned a lot of new information and established even more perspectives on old inforation. But overall, it was a very cool experience (and free food!). Olivia and I also enjoyed the fact that the man had an actual, legitimate entourage (lol!).

This morning, Olivia and I had our bi-weekly voice lessons. It was a good day for the both of us, vocally, and we've received some of the best praise thus far (Althea is by no means mean, but a good compliment should be cherished forever! lol). Althea has certainly warmed up to Olivia and I. She now enjoys taking a 1/2 hour outside our lesson time to discuss life, politics, dating, child-rearing, and everything under the sun. The woman is hilarious, and the kind of person I can see Olivia and I hanging out with on the weekends if we were closer in age--larger than life, passionate, Greek firecracker with serious opinions! Her husband, Alexander Steinberger, is this incredibly polite, soft spoken Austrian man who has kind eyes and and a sweet smile. His English is pretty decent, although he is much too modest about this fact. Ariadne, their adorable 4 1/2 year old daughter, takes a great deal after him in appearance... but she inherited her mother's wit and will power!

After our lessons and after our hour long conversation with her about politics, her Greek family, and how romantic it is to sleep under a mosquito net (don't ask!), Althea invited us to join her and Alexander for lunch. Excited about a free, home-cooked meal (yeah... we're in college, can you tell?) and the opportunity to enjoy their incredible company, Olivia and I stayed. We helped Althea prepare the typical Austrian dinner--potatoes and schnitzel. The potatoes were baked and then cooked in a butter and rosemary sauce (yes, she grows the rosemary herself) and I FINALLY learned how to make schnitzel :) Then, she threw in a Greek dish--long red peppers glazed in a lemon, olive oil, arregeno sauce and then baked until mushy. A-MAZING. This woman's kitchen is small, but mighty! Every appliance you could possibly imagine--and top-of-the-line no less! If I were a serious cooker, this would be the kitchen of my dreams.

So we all sat around the table, chowing down, sipping Elderflower water (super tasty) and Blauer Zwiegelt wine... talking about typical Greek hilarities, immigration, price-haggling, China shopping, culture, and music. In fact, the topic of School House Rock came up, and suddenly we were all busting out our belting voices to do our best renditions of "Preamble" "Just a Bill" and "Interjections." Alexander was happy to practice English, and thanked us for having such understandable, clear English dialects (lol). Olivia and I have decided that Althea and Alexander will be the most HILARIOUS old couple someday.... they interrupt each other ALL the time, and it goes from one story to another to another to another... conversational ADD! It was awesome!

Alexander also introduced us to Jascha Heifetz, one of the greatest violinists of all time and a huge influence on he and Althea, both. The most effective singing mimmicks this man's playing... it is truly incredible... truly. He was nice enough to make us both copies to take with us. Please do yourself a favor and look up some of this guy's stuff.

But, it was a good day. Really.

And tomorrow morning, Olivia and I are taking off for a day trip to Salzburg. It'll be raining all day, but we'll still be out and about :)

I've been in what you might call "a glass of emotion" these past few days. It's a combination of homesickness, the fact that I'm completely broke, that I haven't been able to talk to Eric in a bazillion years, other personal issues and the fact that I'm severely missing my family and friends. I felt like SUCH an idiot on the U-Bahn today... I had my iPod on shuffle, and LeAnn Womack's song "I Hope you Dance" began to play. Listening carefully to the lyrics for the first time in my life, I was so inspired and touched that I literally began to cry--on the UBahn!!! What is WITH me?! lol. It was just what the doctor ordered, though. It made me realize, in a time where I was beginning to doubt everything, that I live a wonderful life... it's not perfect, sure... but it is so enriched. I love and am loved. No matter what I will always have my faith. And to answer the question of whether I "sat it out" or "danced" in life... I think I have chosen to dance. I was thankful to realize this... to see past the crap in life and just see a beautiful, blessed life full of beautiful, blessed people.


I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking
Loving might be a mistake, but it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance

Time is a real and constant motion
always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their youth
and wonder where those years have gone?


Love you all SO much!