"He just didn't have enough time to touch everyone!!..."

Alright chaps?!

It's been a good few weeks since my last post, so I felt it was time to update. I'll try and update more often from now on. Hopefully that will go better than all the other things I say i'll try and do (i.e keep my room tidy and do loads of work...)

So whats new? Well, naturally, lots of things... for example, I'm only having to get on the wrong bus/tram ONCE these days before getting anywhere now... JOKESSS haha I think i'm finally sorted on the public transport front. So now all I have to do is strut on with a big smug face, and i'm quite good at that, so no worries there... ;-)

I am, however, continuing to be bitten by mosquitos. Yeah, that's what I though right - mosquitos in Austria? Oh well, they seem to like my face especially, can't say I blame them though!
(that's a joke right...)

So much has happened since I last posted... hmmm...
I've finished the pre semester german course, and came out with the austrian grade equivalent of an A. So at least everything is going well on the academic front, because in all reality, thats the real reason i'm here right? (Just, going out and getting absolutely razzered is like, a bonus... ;-) )

Okay, so I can now tick two more places of my "to go" list - I travelled to Vienna and Bratislava (Slovakia) for the gap between the pre german course and the start of semester, and I can honestly say it was the most amazing trip ever!! Full of adventures, from getting completely wasted in an Irish pub and coming back to find people IN OUR BEDS in the hostel, to almost being shot upon arrival in Bratislava - every moment was exciting in some way or another. I think the people I went with really contributed to why the trip was so fantastic - Sarah and Tyler, they made my travels so so SO much fun!

So I came back to Graz, ready to start uni! It was a stressful first week, running round seeing various people to try and sort out my classes here, but like I said earlier, the classes i've ended up with now seem pretty sound (yes, no matter what country I move to, my roots always lie in Corby and the slang with always be prominent in my speech).

It wasn't ALL stress that week though... No, not at all. My halls picked up, with the start of classes and all, and that Friday, we had our very first hall party! A great opportunity to meet new people, I thought. So there I was, getting ready, psyched about all the new people I met... then all of a sudden, it was 2am, and I found myself with the lovely Lauren Rosie holding my hair back as I threw up in my bin :-) Yeah, I did speak to loads of people, and meet lots of newbies, but I sure as hell don't remember what I said or what they look like. Haha! You can move someone as far away from their home comforts as you want, but some things NEVER change :-)

Just as I'd sorted out my timetable, it was time for the lovely McGowan to pay a visit. It was seriously a breath of fresh air! He came here for 5 nights, and it was absolutely incredible to spend so much time with him again. It felt so comforting to have someone familiar around and he looked after me so well, as he always does. I miss him already,but no matter how far away he is, I know he's always behind me, and that means more than anything. :)

So this pretty much brings me up to date. Long story short...

I finished the german course, travelled for a bit, stressed over my timetable, partied a lot, threw up in my bin, and enjoyed time with the lovely bf...

More to the point, things are generally going really well here now. I'd be lying if I said it was without a single hiccup, and I've had my fair share of bad days but, doesn't everyone every now and then? Whether you're in Austria, or back in the comfort of your own home, everyone has good days and bad days, it'd be unrealistic to expect things to be any different over here.

What's important is, generally I am happy here... and everything is really starting to fall into place. The experience is without a doubt worth powering through the toughest parts - They always say nothing that's truly worthwhile comes without a price!

Keep smiling guys!

Lauren x