Mach's Gut!

Hey y'all!

It's been quite a busy time here in Innsbruck in the last week or so. The biggest things that have happened here are:
-I went on a weekend trip to Vienna last week and
-It's almost Christmas!

So, one at a time here:
Last weekend, for a course that I did in school, called "Vienna in the 1900's" we went, as a class to... Vienna! We were there for two full days and one night. In our time there, we visited two museums (the Art Musuem and Natural History Museum), saw an Opera (Tosca), did a lot of walking around the city and visited some famous cafes, in a city known for it's coffee houses. It was a super busy weekend, but it was neat to experience the capital of Austria, which is so different than 'small-town' Innsbruck. But at the end of the weekend, I know that I was definitely ready to come back to a city I could breathe in! Another highlight of that weekend was that I spent the second night at my cousin's house, playing fun cards games and watching Tarzan in preparation for our trip to Hamburg to see the musical Live! On the way home the next morning (Sunday) I stopped at my grandma's house for lunch and a stroll in the forest. I spent a relaxing visit with her and ate way too much- which is a nice feeling for a student! The next time I will see my grandma, will be in December, for Christmas! Which leads into the next topic: CHRISTMAS.

It's a big deal here in Innsbruck. It's the second high-peak of the tourist industry here, because of the many ski resorts which draw thousands, and the Christmas Market!
The Christmas Market (or Christkindl Markt in german) is market that lasts over one month until Christmas. Several booths line the sides of the two main plazas in the city, selling handmade wares (such as wood carvings, knitted caps and homemade soaps etc.) and delicious Austrian food. I also can't forget the very famous, seasonal drink, "Gluehwein". It is hot wine with spices mixed into it, and is sold all around town, only during the winter season. This seems to be the focus for a lot of people, though. It's a bit sad when you are trying to look at all the handmade items, when it is so crowded with people drinking wine. In this way, it's a little bit like Oktober Fest. Lastly, an incredible amount of money goes into the decorations for the market. But, the idea of the Christmas Market is really quite romantic. If you can imagine...
Many tourists come from around the world to this small city hidden deep in the Alps. In the dark evening, the snow is gently falling as you stroll through the streets. The entire city is beautifully decorated, with Christmas trees in main squares and lights that hang from building to building across the street. There are many small wooden shacks set up to sell yummy pastries and some kind of really deliciously-warm drink. From them you can also see the warmth of hot coals and you smell chestnuts roasting. Looking at this scene, you begin to understand the traditions and culture that are deeply imbedded in the people of Austria and why they have much to display and be proud of during this peaceful time of year.

So, Christmas is coming soon, but before that there is a lot of school work that has to be done, as essay due dates and exams come up. Though I am a lucky one and don't have nearly as much as compared to me classmates!
This next week I don't have much class, so I am going to explore this Christmas market in depth, during the day- without so many people, and maybe buy some presents too!
Love you all!

Christi
P.S. My computer is down right now, so there may not be many of my own pictures, but here are some to help 'visualize' things better!

                                                                 Christkindlmarkt 2012

Of Ministry and Purpose

Hi.

       This past week, once again, has flown by! I guess where ever you are, where ever in the world, time seems to fly by, and so we need to make the most of it! This brings me back to what I said a couple of weeks ago about having a lot of spare time. Coming here, with the intention of focusing most of my time on school has turned out differently, and God seems to have different plans for me. Of course, it's nothing bad, just an adjustment. This past week, once again I had 3 days off at the end of the week during which I attended for the second time a women's bible study and the after-school program (I mentioned in a previous post), "Lernhilfe". The women's bible study has been a great blessing and a place to learn as well as pray and talk to each other. Did I mention yet that it's all in English- hosted by an American woman who arrived here in early summer...? It is a neat experience to be part of a group of women who are all in different stages of life, ranging from just-graduated from highschool to young mothers to mothers with children who are in university. We are definitely all learning from each other as everyone shares different perspectives and struggles. As for "Lernhilfe", I am now officially on the "list" of helpers and am volunteering every second Monday and am On-Call is case they need an extra person during the rest of the week. Oh yes! As well, I may be getting involved with the worship team at my church on the random Sundays that I am in town! Looking at all of this, and writing this all down, I am seeing how blessed I am that I have people who are willing to be flexible with my non-stable school schedule and are allowing me to be a part of ministries even though I can't commit to something for the same time every week. And it's also great to be working in the community, through the church, meeting other people who are locals and living in Austria.
       A few weeks ago, I was so focused on finding my purpose here, wondering WHY am I here? But lately, God has been quietly speaking, reminding me that sometimes you don't need a clear purpose. Yes, we often want to hear that purpose and sometime God does make it clear, but in this situation, I am confident that I am where God wants me to be right now and that either he will use me in time or IS using me. AND... I would love to audibly hear God's plan for my future here in Austria (and back home too) but I guess it all comes back to trusting God and building faith!
Well, that's about all for now. My classes end on Thursday this week, and on Friday at 6:00am I am headed to Vienna for the weekend- with my "Vienna in the 1900's" class that counts for credit! We will be touring the city and museums and on the way back I'll be stopping to see both my dad's sister's family and my grandma!

Have a good week everyone!
Christi

P.S. Classes are going well.

Of Holidays and time off...

Hello!
It has been a little while since I last posted, and naturally, a lot has happened, as it does when one is on an adventure, seeking new and exciting things.
In my last posted (almost two weeks ago!) I had posted a bit about being 'dreary', inside and out. With the weather not being so nice, and then I was feeling too well. But I wanted to follow-up to that last post. I had mentioned that I might look for a job or volunteer, looking for something to fill my time, since I really do not have as much class time as I had anticipated. So the next day I dropped off a resume, and then another resume, and I went to check out a ministry called, "Lernhilfe" which is a ministry that is basically after school tutoring for school children ages 10-15 and it also just a safe place for preteens/teens to come to after school and be surrounded by support and love.
Since then,  both jobs didn't work out. One of them would not fit in with my schedule and the other just didn't work out. And I'm not sure about the "Lernhilfe" yet, it is something I need to think about and pray through right now.

But I have found other things to do in the mean time of course.
On October 26th was Austria's National Day, and they celebrate very differently here than we would in Canada, meaning they don't really celebrate it at all. Only a tiny bit. Which is a new experience in itself. Oh yes, it also means no school on Thursday, and why not have Friday off too. So to 'celebrate' my friends and I communed with nature, which is a way of celebrating the land I think... and we went on a nice long hike! It took 4 hours to the top of the mountain, and 3 down again. Plus at least an hour of breaks added all together. We were really lucky with the weather, as it started to rain right when we were boarding the tram back into the city! Which then turned into snow, and we had our second snowfall! Since then it's melted down here in the valley, but it's snowed at least twice more on the mountain tops!

Another holiday, that is not at all huge like it is in North America, is Halloween (but I guess it's not a holiday here, since it's not celebrated...) I think I saw maybe three kids who were dressed up. Oh yes, I also saw some very smart kids who were dressed up, trick-or-treating in a huge apartment building, in the warmth, with in a many doors in a relatively small area. But it makes me wonder if the children get  many treats, since no one really celebrates Halloween. My American friend and I showed our European friends how to carve pumpkins, which is my favourite thing about Halloween.

Then last week, the day after Halloween, was another 'real' Austrian holiday. Called, "Aller Heiligen", is the name for November 1st, a Catholic holiday on which the Saints are remembered; as well, families go to the cemetery and light candles at the sites of relatives who have passed away, to remember and pray for them. It also means that there is no school or work for anyone.
Since it was a long weekend, and there was no school on the Friday either, everyone had a long weekend.
My uncle had work in Innsbruck, so he brought my cousin along, and we had a really nice time hanging out together on Thursday evening. We also got to see the new James Bond movie: Skyfall, on opening night! Ya! The next day, my cousin and I had bonding time, visiting the Olympic Ski Jump (walking up all 455 stairs, and enjoying coffee at the café on top), going shopping and having a really good lunch together. Too soon, they had to leave, but it was a lovely trip.

This past Saturday I went on a kind of retreat with a group of students who I attend a group called "Österreiches Studenten Mission" with- a Christian students' club. It was a really good weekend of getting to know some good people better, planning for the upcoming semester and growing in God. It is always good when there is very intentionally time set aside for prayer and meditation and worship. I came back from the weekend feeling really refreshed in my soul, and really exhausted in my body.

And now I am back in Innsbruck starting a new week of school, with new classes! Today I started a new course, "Intercultural Communication" (which I am stoked about!) and tomorrow I start "Mediation", which I am also super excited about... but I am being taught in German. So I am a bit nervous.

Well, that is an overview of my past 2-ish weeks! I will write again soon, and I hope to hear from all of you, how you are doing!
Ciao!
Christi

P.S. Thank you all for the comments, it makes me so happy to read them!

                                                             Hiking the Nockspitz

                                                                     Halloween

                                     This is looking down the balcony from our retreat house.