Geheimnisparty!
I have been meaning to make an update for a while, but Andreas’ and my Internet access was severely limited for a while, so it just hasn’t been possible. The main reason (if you must know!) was excessive movie downloading (we just discovered bit torrent) and a short but intense love affair with America’s Next Top Model. When you have no access to American TV you go a little crazy sometimes. Won’t happen again.
But I wanted to mention a fab surprise birthday party I organized for Andreas last Friday. I must say, it took a lot of planning (in German!), but everything went really well. Andreas had Physics lab all day with 3 of his friends, and I had planned for the three of them to somehow get home before Andreas, and then the other 7 guests would arrive one by one. Amazingly, that’s exactly what happened! They all biked their butts off to get here, and Andreas took the street car & walked in the door only 3 minutes after Physics friend #3 arrived. He was completely shocked, which was of course the idea.
Anyway, everyone crowded around the kitchen table & we barbequed some meat and I made potatoes, and two people brought salad. Later on we drank some and danced some and just had a good time. I am a bit glad that it’s over though & finally have room in my brain to think about something else!
In other news, I have 1 week left in my German course, and am really excited for the end. Last weekend Andreas and I went back to Bad St. Leonhard and decided to have a German-only weekend. It was tougher than I had thought, but Andreas said that I was noticeably better on the second day. I also found it slightly less stressful to be left alone with his mother (ie. I could actually talk to her). It’s amazing that when I first got here there was just no hope, and now it’s so much smoother. Definitely feels good to have accomplished something that big.
Otherwise teaching is good and life is good. Sean is coming to visit next week for a few days which I’m really looking forward to. Hope he likes shopping at H & M! 
Pre-party potato chopping; Andreas coming home; kitchen cuddle; David, Sebastian, Max
