December 11

       Waking up to the sun shining through the window, lounging on a super comfy mattress, and hearing people play the piano downstairs was a great way to start off my first whole day in Vienna. The family I'm staying with homeschools, so they spent most of the morning doing that. Sarah managed to put together a list of things that I should see in Vienna and gave me a very useful map and set me on my way. I headed out around 12:30 with all my layers into the sunshiny day. There was snow all over the ground, but it didn't fall while I was out, thankfully. Here, the main public transportation is a trolley-tram which is basically lightrail but with a cuter trolley style. I took that to the city center, got off too early, and just walked the rest of the way and for the rest of the day. Clinging tightly to my map, I manuevered my way around. Whenever I could, I would try to hide my map so creepers wouldn't think I was an easy tourist target. There were a lot of stores that I recognized in the city center, just like every other big city I've been to in Europe or UK. That's globalization for ya. BUT, there are always the distinctive sights and buildings like St. Stephen's Cathedral here in Vienna. Wow. It is so ornate and huge! There are catacombs underneath, but I haven't taken a tour through them yet. I wandered around and saw so many German buildings, the names of which I don't want to find right now. In the streets of the city center, there are tons of Christmas lights! The lights on each street are different which made everything even more beautiful, and it also made navigating easier. Don't worry, I'll post pictures soon, but not today.
       That evening at 6, I went to a free concert of a Mozart boys choir which was alright, but the choir conductor talked too much, and it was all in German. I'm jealous of those young boys' pure higher registers! Those notes soar! After the concert, I made my way on the trolley to the Hudson's church where they hold Bible study on Friday nights. It was all in German, so Sarah kindly had me sit next to her, and she translated for me. That was an awesome experience. The message (which was delivered by her husband, Todd) was great, and I can't really explain the coolness of sitting through a service in another language but still understanding (because of my gracious translator). I met a number of the people from the church after the service, including a very nice woman who didn't speak any English. I helped clean up and set up chairs after the service, and I felt right at home. That evening, I don't remember what I did exactly, but somehow I managed to stay up until about 12:30 which wasn't the best day considering what we had planned for today.
       Are you ready for this? I went skiing for the first time today - IN THE ALPS!!! It was really fun, but it was a real challenge. Sarah and one of the Hudson's family friends, Meg, taught be the basics and were so patient with me as we creeped our way down the mountain. I took a few spills, but all on my butt, thankfully. No tumbling. A little later, I ended taking a skiing lesson from some old Austrian lady who spoke hardly any English, HA! There were two other Austrian girls in the "class," so I basically just watched them and the instructor because I understood maybe 10 words that went down in that hour. It was funny actually. The instructor kept asking, "Ok?" with her German accent, and I just smiled and imitated whatever motion she was doing. Essentially, she just taught us how to ski dance because most of the lesson involved wielding our ski poles in different ways (for balance purposes, I suppose). Even though I didn't learn many new things, the others got a chance to ski at their accelerated pace while I chilled with the beginners. It was cool. I ended up in a cafe while the others got stuck in a snowstorm at the top of the mountain. That hour was a very welcome relief actually because my legs were exhausted at that point. A few of us ended up calling it a day a little earlier that the other hardcore mountaineers, and we went to thaw out in the van. During the ride home a bit later, I played hangman with one of the kids (on his iPhone - that was the funnest game of hangman I have ever played. Yes, funnest IS a word) and had a great time. Pizza for dinner and chillin' at their house for the rest of the night. Wow, I'm tired of typing right now. I'm just plain tired, but what I wonderful day! How many 21-year-olds from California do you know who learned to ski in Austria? Awesome. What crazy and unexpected things God plans for us sometimes.
       Oh, I forgot to mention that during one of my spills, I twisted my knee. Ouch. I have ice on it at the moment, and there is a myserious bruise on the inside of my knee where nothing actually hit it. Uh oh. I'm just gonna wait it out until tomorrow and then start to worry.

Prayer Request of the Day: That this tweaked knee of mine would heal.