My Pink Notes» austria

an event in January

Vienna — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:56:58 +0000

Fasching is a festivity here in Austria where people wear costumes and parade on the street. It’s a big event especially in our city, Graz. Last January, there was a big assembly of people at the main plaza. Everybody who wants to join the festivity is welcome. Each is encouraged to wear a costume or a mask but you’re still welcome if you decided to come as you are.

I have heard many positive things about it like it’s cool to be there and so on but I did not go simply because it’s in January and that’s about the time when Austria is experiencing deep winter. If I can help it, I stay inside the house when the temperatures are low because I can’t stand the cold. So no matter how interested I was, I opted to stay home and just watch the whole thing on TV.

It was indeed a very interesting event. People got really creative with their costumes. I wonder… if I would have gone to that event, what would I have worn? I probably would have worn just simple costumes—nothing catchy since I would just be there to witness the event. Or, I would have completely hid my gender and dress up in one of those Slipknot costumes. Haha. Whatever it would have been, there’s one thing I am sure of and that is; I would have definitely worn a costume that will keep me warm.

To Shanghai Pudong Please

mytakeonthings — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:44:02 +0000

We might be moving to Shanghai.

It’s not yet sure but there is a 20% chance that Marcus will get a contract to work there. I know I will break my mother-in-law’s heart by saying that I am looking forward to moving in Shanghai more than moving back to Austria.

I truly like Austria and I my in-laws are such wonderful folks but I don’t know if I am ready to live there. I don’t know if I will be able to cope with the stressful life in a country where you have to always work really HARD to survive (this is where I appreciate Asia). I am sure that we have to do so many things upon arrival there like looking for a place to live, organizing that place, learning how to drive, learning how to speak and write in German, looking for a real job, and working on a real job. I am sure that Marcus will work thrice as hard compared to how he is working here. He will leave the house earlier, come home later, he’ll have fewer holidays, etc.

I am sure that things will be much much more demanding and that scares me a little bit.

I do hope that the Shanghai thing will work out.

Quick Note : WordPress.com is now using the new WordPress 2.5. Cool!

Moving Soon

mytakeonthings — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:02:06 +0000

I have like a month and a half left to pack all our things and ship them to Europe. I hate it! Not Europe but moving in general. I hate the stress that accompanies it. I hate leaving a place (I meant our flat, not this country) and people I know and became friends with. I hate starting from a scratch somewhere where we don’t know anybody. Fine, Austria is a small country and Marcus’ parent’s place can’t be that far but still, we will be in a new neighbourhood with new people talking new language (for me at least). Sure, I can already catch some sentences when I am watching movies in German but I have a difficulty understanding Austrians. You see one funny thing about Austrians is the fact that even if they are able to speak high German, they refuse to and I don’t know why. If I asked my husband to talk to me in high German, he says something like “Alright, but only to you.”

I hope that it’s not that difficult to get them to talk in English.

Excuses Excuses

Vienna — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:21:58 +0000

I will be gone for at least 2 weeks and I don’t know how frequent can I post in this time.

We decided to go to Guimaras and I have today to arrange all our flights and hotel bookings. After that all will be finalized. I will be flying to the Philippines tomorrow and Marcus will follow after a week then off we go to Guimaras together.

I remember that I promised to post some pictures from our Christmas Holiday Vacation in Austria and I just realized today (when I was about to make a promise to post Guimaras pictures when I get back) that I haven’t yet. So here are some photos taken last Christmas in Austria.

The photo on the left side is a tower up in the mountains some where in Steiermark. Errr…I am sorry I am not very good in remembering dates as well as names of people and places.

This is me giftwraping the Christmas presents

Me and Benjamin ready to go the Uncle Franz’ house for dinner

Eating Afpelstrüdel up in some mountain

A church on the way to Steiermark

A town…I am not sure what’s the name…sorry.

Marcus and Benjamin getting ready for a sleigh ride

my favorite shot of our visit in Steiermark

Vincent Bueno Did It Again!

mytakeonthings — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:55:34 +0000

Marcus and I went out to meet some friends yesterday evening so we were not able to watch Musical Die Show but my wonderful in-laws taped it for me because they know I really would like to watch it. They didn’t tell me who got booted out, they made me wait until we had time to watch the taped show this afternoon. So anyway, Vincent Bueno did an excellent performance once again. I am so thrilled that he made it to the final three. We are flying back to China on Monday so I won’t be able to watch the finals on Friday but I have a very good feeling that Vincent will be the winner. He shows ease when he performs, it’s really like he is born to do that. I hope that Austria can see that too. On the other hand, Gudrun was again put on the hot seat and like the previous two weeks, she’s lucky enough to get out of it. I have nothing against Gudrun, in fact I think she’s got a really lovely face but her voice is sounding soooo undeveloped for musical. She’s got a good voice, yes but I think her voice better used in pop singing than in musical.

Vincent Bueno : Getting Famous in Austria 2

mytakeonthings — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:16:37 +0000

We missed the “Musical Die Show” on TV yesterday because we went to Sternenzelt to watch “ Musical Forever”—a show with the Vereinigten Buehnen Wein Ochestra and four of Europe’s musical singers. This show featured famous music and song from various musicals. It was a very nice show and I think it deserves to be discussed in another entry.

Back to the “Musical Die Show”, there were just five remaining contestants and Vincent Bueno is one of them. Since I missed this show, I just read about it on the news this morning and I learned that Simone, my third bet, is the one booted out. Sucks! I guess, she doesn’t have that much fans like Gudrun who have been on the hot seat for the second time last night.

Anyway, I am glad that Vincent is still there. I think he is the best and I hope that the “Musical Die Show” voting population of Austria can see that.

Filipino’s Own in Austria

Vienna — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 06:23:05 +0000

Who is he?

He is Vincent Bueno and he is on his way to his fame here in Austria. A Filipino contestant in MUSICAL Die Show—a show here in Austria that is pretty much like the American Idol.Vincent is among the five contestants remaining in the show and I believe he have a big chance of making it to number 1.

Good luck Vincent!

Vincent Bueno : Getting Famous in Austria

mytakeonthings — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 06:10:59 +0000

We arrived here in Austria last Friday so we had the chance to watch the “MUSICAL Die Show!” in the evening. It is like “American Idol” kind of show but in this show they are not looking for the next Austrian pop singer but are looking for the next singer in a musical. Anyway, we watched it and to my surprise, there is a Filipino contestant. His name is Vincent Bueno. Never heard about him until last Friday. Of course, like Jasmin Trias and Camille Velasco (American Idol contestans), he’s probably not a Filipino by nationality anymore but he is Pinoy by blood.

I have to say, Vincent is really good and I believe he’s got a big chance of winning this contest.

This Christmas

mytakeonthings — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:46:38 +0000

This Christmas will be the first Christmas that Marcus and I will spend together and we are spending it as husband and wife. I decided to buy my Christmas gift to him in Europe. Upon arrival there, I still have two days to get him a gift. I just have to connive with my in-laws to take me somewhere where I can buy something. I am looking forward to be in Austria again because this means a lot of good cakes, chocolates, cookies, bread and Schnitzel. Also, I will be able to see my in laws again…haha, you probably don’t believe it but they are super nice folks. Eventhough we can’t communicate to each other that well, they have their own way of making me feel like I am a part of their family.

As to my family back in the Philippines, this would be my third Christmas away from them. I know it seems cruel but I don’t feel that sad because I am sort of used to being away from them already and I am sure that the feeling is vice versa. Of course I do miss them but we talk so often on Skype and this makes me feel that even though we are not physically together we are still very close to each other.

In other news, Marcus “R” went to work this morning. Yesterday is supposed to be his last day at work before our trip to Austria. We were supposed to spend this day preparing everything but unluckily, he still have to work today leaving me to do the packing and everything. I hate it. This new project he is in now seems to be very demanding. He works from 7:30 am to 7:00pm and he have to cancel our trip to the Philippines this coming February because he have to work in this time. Now, I don’t know if it is the best decision to stay here in China for another six months.

This Is The Day

mytakeonthings — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:32:43 +0000