Hagenau and Bogi in Snow

I've posted pictures of Bogi and Hagenau during the Autumn, and I know I posted some during the winter of my 1st year here, but I wanna show you the "latest" in this region's winter. They are all landscapes and little "experiments" I've conducted with training my artistic eye. I will be the 1st to say, "I am an ameteur." So don't judge me. :-P

I took these pictures on the 19th and the day of Weihnachtsfest (21st).

The Inn River by Hagenau . . . and a few of its inhabitants.

Roberto and the swans.

The sundial in front of the Schloss in Bogi. Can you see the wheel?

The bench around the tree in front of the Bogi-Shop.



Where do you want to go?

Welcome to Bogi... in winter.

The bridge between the girls' and guys' dorm.

The dock by the pond.

Seriously, when I saw this tree, I saw this picture.

Clouds over Hagenau

Schloss Hagenau

wintery shore

The boats and dock in a blanket of snow.

Docked by the castle's reflection

Sunny, wintery shore

Ladder/dock to the boats/canoes.

Hybernating boats.

Cold light.

Lonely

I absolutely love how this tree looks, with the snow on top.

Ok . . . well, I was busy today. Setting up 3 different posts in 1 day, and I'm still not done. I need to post pictures from the Skiwoche (ski week) in Switzerland with the academy students. Oh, I'm gonna see if I can finish it for tomorrow. Don't know how much longer the Bibo (library) is gonna stay open tonight, but I'm sure it'll be open tomorrow. 'Til then!

Salzburg with Odette (10. Dez.09)

Hey, people. Sorry I haven't posted anything for a while: things have gotten really busy all of a sudden. Anyway, it's Christmas break and I don't have as much access to internet as when classes are in session. So if you don't hear from me between now and January 6, don't be alarmed; I'm cut off, but I'm not dead. Ok, on that note, let me tell you of this event.

On December 10, Odette Ferreira, the director of ACA (Adventist Colleges Abroad), made her annual visit to Bogi (in her rounds of visiting all ACA schools). That evening, she treated all of us 3 students and all our 2 German teachers to a night out in Salzburg. We started the evening with an Advent (Christmas) concert. Next, we wandered through a Weihnachtsmarkt (outdoor Christmas market). Finally, we had dinner at an Italian restaurant; talked, laughed, discussed, and so forth until we drove back to campus. It was a really nice evening. We had fun (and a small little accident--a bump on the van) and now I'm thinking about French in France for next year. Hey, who knows?

Right at the Roman hall, where the concert was held.

The Salzburger Dome at the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market)

Some of the ornaments on sale.

and other random stuff for every taste.

Another angle of the Salzburger Dome and the University of Salzburg.

The tree in the main square.

Some charming candle holders.

At the Italian restaurant. I thought, you know, those jumping Bogi fish have been tempting me for way too long: I'm ordering fish! I do not regret it at all.

The next day, Odette had to leave. I understand that she is retiring, so this is her last trip to Bogi--at least as the director of ACA. I couldn't pass up this opportunity. Besides, this is not the 1st time we've met.

Ah, and next, the Weihnachtskonzert (Christmas concert)!

Missionsteam in Vienna (20.-22. Nov.)

I'm tired, but I'm gonna do this now 'cause I have no idea when/if I could do it later. Friday, around 14:00, I left with Bogi's Missionsteam to Vienna (making it my 5th time in the city). The Missionsteam was going to hold the Sabbath services and programs in the English-speaking Vienna SDA church. We got there around 17:00 (5pm) and started getting ready for the program we were going to hold that night at 19:00 (7pm). On Sabbath, we spent the entire day with the congregation from 9 til after 9 that night. Afterwards, we went to walk around in Vienna for an hour or two. We left Sunday (today) at about 9:30 and got back just a little after noon.

It was a good experience and I had fun. It was a bit odd, having to speak in English after I've been telling myself, You're here to learn German, speak (only) German! The congregation was predominately Filipino with a few African countries represented in the mix. It was pretty cool.

Oh, and don't get me started on the potluck *mouth-watering*. . .

Well, I took a few pictures. They are not of my better quality ones, but here they are:

This is the street where the Vienna English SDA church is (and the sign to the next-door building)

Ah, the sign

Pastor Felix Metonou! I knew him and his wife when he was studying his last year at Bogi. So far this year, every time I've gone to Vienna, I've spent the night with him and his family. They are wonderful.

Most of us were involved in the team's choir or some other musical number. So there was a lot of practicing going on.

During the practicing sessions, some potential musicians would come up and watch.

Here, Ray is giving his testimony.

Now, it's Florian's turn.

Won Jeung, our youngest language student, is playing the flute while Sonja plays the piano.

At the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) in Vienna, right in front of the Rathaus (City Hall). This picture is really cool. Bottom-left corner is part of Won Sok's face. He was jumping up and down, trying to get in the picture. I didn't realize that he made it in, until when I was looking through all of them this afternoon. I just made it look like a cartoon for "artful" content.

Alright. This was nice. Where/What to next?

Eisenstadt (take 2)

Last time I was in Austria, I went to visit and tour Eisenstadt on my own. There was only 1 problem: Everything was closed. I didn't know that this was normal; especially since I went between Christmas and New Year's. Okay, lesson learned.
Well, I thought, why not go and try again after the Wienreise? I'll already be in Eastern Austria and we have Friday free. To top it off, I know someone who lives closer to Eisenstadt and she told me I was welcome to stay with her. Perfect! So, I took advantage of this opportunity. Another thing, 2009 is pretty much declared as a "Hayden year". Hayden lived a large portion of his life in Eisenstadt. This town was making a big deal about him (it's 200 years since his death) and I was sure there was going to be some sort of deal, as far as attractions were concerened. Well, I didn't take much pictures, but the nicer ones I took, I've put on display here:

Walking from the train station to the city center, I came across this interesting landmark. The city wall (part of it) from the 1400s.

Schloss Esterhazy, where the royal family lived here and Joseph Haydn lived and worked there.

There was an interesting exhibition on Haydn in Esterhazy. It was kinda funky and modern, but interesting.

The Haydn Hall inside Esterhazy.

The sign above Haydn's house.

The entrance

In the building

A museum of diocesan objects. They had an exhibit on Haydn, so I thought "why not?"

Not in my itinerary, but very interesting nontheless. This was an important man from this state who gave his life for Austria's freedom from 1934-1938. He died in Dachau's concentration camp.

Haydn's botanical garden

Info about the garden

The Adventist church in Wiener Neustadt, about an hour away (southeast) from Vienna.

I don't remember ever being so close to woodpecker before

I had lots of spare time that Sabbath. This was the best shot (not the best of all time though).

A small figure the married couple I stayed with had. I was touched when I saw this. I liked that they had it right by a lamp, so I practiced a few interpretive shots. Not many, I confess, 'cause I didn't want to make the couple wonder what was wrong with me.

It was great. I had a nice relaxing time and got to see just about everything I wanted to see in this town, which is also the capital city of Burgenland (look it up in the Austrian map). I love small cities.
Well, I'm back in school and trying to get back into the roll of things. I was out for a week, after all. Hope you all are doing well and know that I do think of you and pray for you. Have a good day!