Berlin Berlin

Up to day 4 of the Berlin experience.

Yesterday I met the Habsburgs. They are wonderful people and I had a lot of fun with them. We talked a lot about me now and about what I am doing during my stay in Europe. We have decided that I am going to start working for them already. I start tomorrow. I am only going ot be doing a few hours a day and helping out with the kids. They still really really want me to go with them to Tuscany next week and I think that I am going to (Joe I am so sorry. Meet in Switzerland??)
I am going to take them up on their job offer and I will be back here in September to start work for them. I have seen my "small" apartment, which is just incredible! 2 bedrooms, my own garden access etc. And I just can't say enough how wonderful the Habsburgs really are. THey have started looking into German doctors for me here inGermany and also in Zurich in case we can get me in anywhere before I leave again.

So my new plan? I move into the Habsburgs house next week. possibly Sunday night? I will fly to Switzerland next week and be there for the 5th (gaetan!) and the 6th (Mögu und Phippü) then I will fly to Tuscany with the Habsburgs on the 8th. I am so sorry there is no email but Gmail, or the turkish internet cafe's connection aren't working, I will talk to you all soon xoxo

Berlin Berlin

I am back in Berlin and having an awesome time.

Reasons why I love Berlin:
I don't have to ever pay more than 4 Euro for a meal :)
I can flirt with a mobile phone sales guy and get my phone for 20 Euro (instead of 70)
It is WARM (nothing like that Darwin chill!!)
It is Berlin and has some of the most amazingly ecclectic people and architecture.

In short, I am really really loving being back here and am having so much fun.
Yesterday saw me at exhibitions and parks and today i walked the whole of the city. Tomorrow I meet the Habsburgs so wish me luck.

Here is my phone number in Berlin in case you want to get in touch:

+49 175 9088 944

leaving on a jet plane (*has to be THE most used line!!!)

So I am off tomorrow - for those I didn't manage to see - SORRY I will see you back in Darwin on the 24th of July. (I have my flights booked now to Perth on the 30th of July for the specialist appointments)

I land in Berlin Tegel Sunday morning 10am. I have a fair bit planned that I want to do in Berlin and am excited! I will be buying a German Simcard as soon as I can and will post the number here. as of the 2nd/3rd of July I will be in Switzerland and you can contact me on +4176 455 1571. I will also try and check in on my emails as much as possible - so let me know how you are all going.

will keep you all as updated as possible.

Love and hugs to everyone.

ALL DONE

Just finished my last exam :) It went ok I think. so that is it done! First semester over. And what a Semester! Being offered my honours to fast track me into a PhD, figuring out exactly what I want to do, all that health rubbish that was going on (;-)), everything else on top of it all. I am glad it's over, I am really looking forward to my holidays!! And seeing most of you soon!

sigh

my mantra of the week? - I ROCK :)

(and am extremely modest!!)
I just got asked if the German Department can keep my last assignment on Ancient Mythology and modern German Literature because it is the best assignment they have read and they like to keep the best examples to show other students.

Today I made further plans. So at the moment Europe looks like:

24.06 - arrive in Berlin
26.06 - meet the Habsburgs
27.06 - going to the Sonic Youth concert, Berlin
30-2 - potential weekend with Habsburgs/Potential weekend in London (LIS?!!)
02-09.07 -Fribourg (party with Gaé le 05.07)
NOTHING SOLID PLANNED (Potential trip to Austria/Slovenia)
18-20.07 - Sommerpalast Kulturfest, Stuttgart
21.07-22.07 - Frankfurt
23.07 - Brunei
24.07 - Darwin

let me know if you want to steal me any other times :)

general

So on the night before my biggest exam - what does my brain do? yep - shuts off completely and decides it's time to update everyone on the goings on here!

I am one exam and all my assignments down, but tomorrow is my major Linguistics exam, Wed. German exam and in between are a million and one Dr's appointments. And not only mine :)

I am now official Taxi for my mum who has broken her kneecap (again - although the last time was over two years ago now). She is doing ok but still in pain a fair amount of the time (I think she just likes crutches ;))

Thursday I have appointments all day but Friday I am free so, Darwinians, I think it is time to actually let me out in public and I think semi-farewell drinks are in order :) Europeans? be warned - I am there as of Sunday morning. Plans are still fairly up in the air. I meet the Habsburgs next Tuesday and we will be discussing me going with them on a weekend then.

My friend Joe and I are talking about meeting up and potentially going to Slovenia/Austria/Italy/.. who cares, it's Europe and it will be fun ;) I am still open to any suggestions of meeting anyone :)

I am getting really excited to be going.. but I am kinda scared too. It will be hard and good? Here's hoping that the insane butterflies that have been residing in my stomach and heart stop once I finally get over there. (and just to let you all know how excited I must be? I am already packed - Since when have I ever done packing before the last minute?? he he)

Meine Seminararbeit/ My Paper on the surveys

a HUGE thank you to all of you who filled out my survey for my linguistics paper! They helped me so much in writing my paper.

I got it back this morning and... I got an HD+ (yes they put a plus on there - never knew they could:)) and I owe a lot of it to all of you so THANK YOU SO MUCH xo

ON MY WAY TO BEING DR BETH :)

:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Today I got official word:

"we're happy to accept you into Honours
in 2008 (assuming that you continue
on the stellar path you've trod up
till now)" 

They've reshuffled the whole program to make it work for me so that I can get the right amount of credit points for the right things. I am jumping in little circles again because they said some really great things about my work and about how I have been performing. I guess all my hard work really is paying off. Out of a subject with 250 students, I got a special mention in the professors end of semester remarks for all my input and help througout the semester. So I am happy.

And now well on the way to becoming Dr Beth :) so be warned! :)

FINALLY :):)

so here it is FINALLY - my update about life in general and my plans for the next few months. Sorry, I have been waiting till I had everything organised and decided before I wrote anything - or there would have been seventeen posts a day!

SO:

Firstly EUROPE:
I leave darwin Saturday 23.06.2007 at 1700.. and arrive in Frankfurt, Sunday 24.06.07 and then fly to Berlin on the same day and arrive at 1010 (berlin Tegel). As yet I have nothing organised for Berlin. The Habsburgs want to meet me and I would love to spend a few days with them but otherwise my time is free.
After the 02.07.07 I plan to head towards Switzerland and maybe spend a week and a bit there? after that I am planning to head towards Italy.
MY PLANS ARE EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE - please let me know where you are going to be and when. I leave from Frankfurt again on 22.07.07 and head to Brunei where I will be spending a few days.
(Butterball - should I come to the UK? or will you meet me somewhere?,
Dave - Italy? France?
Michel, Phippü - Martini night II??? :) Bis baud!
Felix, Isa - sagt mir bescheid, wo ihr die Ferien verbringt!
Gaé - on se verra à Fribourg?
Maria, Tobias, - Ich würde euch super gerne wieder sehen! Vielleicht in Berlin? Oder sonst wo in Deutschland? Ich käme euch gern besuchen. Es ist ja gar nicht so weit von der Schweiz entfernt.)

ok so now THE EYE:

this week my eye got a lot worse (I have a form of Lupus/Vasculitis but they have no idea what is setting it off or how to actually cure it). My doctor was very worried and I spent just about every afternoon this week at the hospital having more tests done etc. There is one specialist in Australia (in Perth) whose specialty is inflammatory diseases of the eye. She is very hard to get into. I have an appointment with her on the 31.07.07. I have been told to expect to stay down there for a month because of all the testing etc that is going to have to happen. Depending on how things go in Perth, I may have to go to Portland Oregan (USA) for a further consultation with the leading specialist for inflammatory diseases.


OTHER PLANS:

Andrew's (my brother) wedding is on August 11. And I will be going to Southport, QLD for that.

My offer with the Habsburgs is still standing (which i am just so excited and happy about) and I am hoping to be well enough with my eye to take them up on their offer at the end of August/beginning of September, which will see me heading back to Berlin.

Uni is going really well. All my assignments are in and I have my exams starting next week. I am currently deciding whether to do a double degree BA/Blang (languages) or BA Grad dip.Ed (education) at the same time as my honours year next year... see what I come up with.

TAKE CARE AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVE, PRAYERS AND SUPPORT - I am so blessed to have you all in my life. xo