Its Australia Day over here (Australia time of course), and its snowing. Not very Australian! But i got my host family to look at vegemite this morning. Whilst i downed piece upon piece of bread, they wouldnt touch it. They just kept saying, 'why is it black?' But that was about Australia Day for me, it was ok though, i told them about the settlement of Australia, and why today was Australia Day, and told them heaps of stuff about local animals and cities, and goverment, and everything, so maybe it was a good Australia Day after all....
Last night i went to see the symphony. We saw Mahler 3, and it was absolutely awesome. If you have ever seen movies like Amadeus or Farinelli where you see the big Opera houses, with all the gold roofing and frescoes, and busts everywhere of the famous composers, then you have the Congress Hall in Graz. This place was awesome! It was quite small, with about 2000 seats including the level about where we were. But they had sold out of tickets and so they sold about 500 more standing tickets. It was incredible to see so many people standing through the whole of Mahler 3! I think what was more pleasing to see was that this was just a regular night, and they got so many people in, far out, it was awesome! The other thing is that i have discovered that i can go and see the opera for about �5 or �6 becuase i am a student. It is seriously a far cry from $128 back home!!!
And school is still great, although it is starting to slow up. I think the excitement of the 'first time' for everything is starting to wear off and im left with just school but its ok because it gives me time to learn German and just think, which are the two things i came here to do.
I had a really interesting though today actually, i was thinking about how much damage we do when we talk to people. Now this will come out as a really space cadet comment, but here i am in a foreign country, where people do speak english, but only when prompted. And everyone is so happy to meet me. Then you spend more time with them, and gradually the say something, or you say something, that sort of turns you off them. And before you know it you are sworn enemies. Not that this has happened to me, but because just interacting with people you watch them, and my language barrier has permitted me to look at these sorts of things more deeply. But i realised that by just saying several words you can totally ruin someone's day. Thats really interesting! The question is, how do you avoid doing that?
Ok that did come out kinda spaco, but i think its a really interesting thought. Im off to assume the lotus position and ponder it! Haha!
Paz