I haven't done a whole lot of anything today except relax. Well, I guess that's what I've been doing for the past two or three days, too, but so it goes. There isn't really anything productive I could be doing, so I don't feel too bad about it. I went on a bike ride to see if I could find my way to the building in which my Intensive German course is held. I got myself pretty lost and wasn't even sure which way I needed to go to get back to my dorm. Suddenly, though, I came upon an intersection and right across the street was the building I needed. I got insanely lucky. I don't think I've ever been so excited to start school, except maybe in kindergarten. (Although I don't know how excited I'm going to be to start my "real" classes in October).

When I got back to my dorm from my bike ride, there were about five giggling little girls right outside the building. There's a playground right beneath our balcony, so there are always little kids running around. I love to listen to them speak in German. It's very funny and humbling to realize that six-year-olds can communicate better than I can. Anyways, I said hello to the little girls and we began to have a conversation. I think it was my favorite conversation I've had so far in Austria. I told them I was from America, and they continued to tell me every single person they know who lives or works in America. It was pretty cute. One little girl was already hanging all over my arms. They grabbed me, said "shhh," and led me into my building. They walked down the stairs towards the basement and pointed out a matress with "ein betrunkenen Mann" (a drunk man) laying on it. They said they've seen him going in and out of the building for the past three weeks or so to sleep. Umm...scary!! I asked if he was always drunk and they said yes. That explains the disgusting, well, drunken man smell I've noticed every time I go down the staircase. It's a mixture of body odor, puked up alcohol, and cigarettes. (Brick House people: it's like 10 times the smell of the hotel room after the Texas Lucero concert).

Anyways, the girls were very cute and spoke simply enough for me to understand them completely. I think my new goal is going to be to talk to as many little kids as possible. One of the girls gave me this:















Adorable. I told them that my friends and I used to make these when I was their age and I also taught them the English word (lanyard).

In other news, I'm still trying to make my room more homey without spending much money. I bought this thing for only 5 Euros yesterday at the top of the Schlossberg. I'm going to hang it on my wall once I find something to hang it with.

















It sort of looks like an 80's watercolor, but at least it's colorful (and therefore better than my blank white walls). I think I'm going to buy a few plants, and I'm also saving beer bottles to use as candleholders. If you have any other cheap room-decorating tips, send 'em my way.

I hope everyone had a good weekend!