happy birthday canada!

Celebrating the birth of a country in well, another country isn't exactly the same as being in the country with the birthday.

First off, well.. there are only so many Canadians here, so it's really a gathering of bodies to celebrate that commonality. And its funny, because of all the exchange students, people from around the world become 'temporary Canadians' to come celebrate. Not normal that is for sure, but excellent all the same. 


If I were at home, I would most likely be spending the weekend camping with family friends, the boys would all be fishing, while the girls sit back and give moral support. We would have a big BBQ, drink a couple beer, and maybe catch some fireworks that night. Really just taking the day as it comes from a lawn chair. 


Here in Vienna, I am officially alone in my apartment. The last of them headed out the door in the wee hours of the morning. Even as a solo Canadian here now, I made myself a big pancake breakfast, and smothered it in home-made straight from Canada maple syrup, thank you Dad and Tyler. I don't know how 'Canadian' pancakes actually are, but you can't get much closer than maple syrup as I have been discovering since my arrival here. 

Now what are good, very much Canadian foods besides maple syrup? I can honestly say I still struggle when fellow exchange students ask me this. What is a Canadian dish? Maybe I should be embarrassed at this, for not having a better answer.. but really.. what is there in Canada that does not have some sort of influence from another country or origin? Living with Albertan's my answer is now beef. I know that counts, but still.. its a just a cow. 


Ah well, for now I will listen to Blue Rodeo and attempt my packing before celebrating this 144th birthday with a handful of "Canadians" here in Vienna. See you in 4 days Canada!! 

mango's on sale!

What the best thing and the worst thing about being the last to move out of an apartment? Well the same answer works for both.. leftovers. Sure, its a whole load of free food, but it not the good leftovers like pizza or shepards pie. Instead here I am stuck with enough olive oil for a year, some 6 lbs of rice and 3 heads of lettuce. Seriously!? what can I make with that?!

Thankfully I have a nice variety of food leftover myself, with some eggs to work through, some feta cheese and even some tomatoes. I have 5 days left, and I am avoiding grocery shopping, too many leftovers. Unfortunately I am onto the last few pieces of my mango's from last weeks mango sale.. they  are spectacular but now I see my food selection is getting less and less flavourful.

At least I have salt...

FIVE days until I return home, hopefully to show some of the recipes I have learned.. maybe. Also, being June 30, 2011, it is Mom and Dad's anniversary, so.. Happy 21st Anniversary Mom and Dad!!

one week.

You know how some things just remind you of a song instantly? Like how 'Livin on a Prayer' by Bon Jovi will always remind me of Brent, how any song off Great Big C's 'Play' album reminds me of Mom and Saturday cleaning days, or how 'Walking on Sunshine' by Katrina and the Waves bring me back to Sunday afternoons by the water at Grandma and Grandpa's. 
Well, when I think 'one week', like I have been all day, I hum along to the the Bare Naked Ladies hit song from a few years back. I think you can guess that I am a week away from flying home, and I am excited. 


This past weekend in Vienna there was what I recently learned, Europe's largest Open Air Music festival taking place, the Donauinselfest. I didn't catch much of it unfortunately, but they had bands like Train, Portugal The Man, Vanilla Sky, and even Europe. (I know Brent, be jealous.) Sadly I missed Europe and The Final Countdown.

Oh yea, Europe.. and allllll that hair will also ALWAYS remind me of Brent and Tyler, and the dance moves for 'Cherokee'.

Due to what I think is uncooked meat, the rest of the weekend consisted of a lot of sleeping and tea. Not so much to show for food, maybe soup tonight.. but we'll see. Won't be chicken anytime soon.

For the next week there isn't much planned, few last things I would like to see before I leave, otherwise cleaning up my half of the room, and trying to fit the last 6 months into a suitcase, and of course more goodbye get-together's than necessary. I can't say I like saying goodbye this often.


...Goodbye! :)