…but where would they live?
My dad always says that sometimes you will discover signs that tell you what to do. He also says, that if there are three obvious signs, that you shouldn't do something, listen to it, more often than not, you will discover that something or someone is trying to tell you something. My dad is not... Continue Reading →
I am 26, originally from Austria. I married my best friend from Pennsylvania in Italy. We moved to Norway three years ago and now I study abroad in Hong Kong. That is my story in three sentences. With this you already know a whole lot about me, without ever having met me. You for instance... Continue Reading →
This is my life: Every morning A would get up first (and don't ask me how he does it, he is ALWAYS giddy and happy in the mornings) while I would need another hour or so to properly wake up. Usually he is really chatty in the mornings as well (me: not so much) and... Continue Reading →
My dad always says, he doesn't need a picture to proof that he has been some place. But my dad is generally shy of the camera. Whenever he sees any type of camera approaching him, he would disappear instantly. Let me tell you, skyping this way, is not a lot of fun. My mom, my... Continue Reading →
Italy, the entire country, is a battlefield of touristy sights in itself. The Colosseum, David, any of the Duomos, The Sistine Chapel, they all were breathtaking. But I think, what is even more amazing than the hundreds and thousand year old sights, is the food culture. Despite all the breathtaking views at the amazing sights,... Continue Reading →
This is a letter to all the little people that one day will become women. Growing up slowly dawns on you. It is a gradual process that doesn't happen over night. Mostly you notice that you are growing up not by how you react to the world, but how the world reacts to you. The... Continue Reading →
Did you ever feel like there was not enough time and you needed to rush between places? Well, in Iceland you can be in two places at once without ever feeling like you have to use time travel or travel faster than light. I know, that my childhood was a bit different than others. Not... Continue Reading →
Alright, so I don't know how you got through college, but me? I always worked full time while studying, staying up long nights and getting up super early to study before and after work. Trying to exercise enough not to go stir crazy and most of all with a lot of chocolate. I am doing... Continue Reading →
Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time. - James M. Barrie Facing the future, I often feel like a fairy that switches between evil and good in a split second. Lately A and I have been thrown into a... Continue Reading →
A silverback fears that his territory is in jeopardy when faced with other testosterone ridden males. He intimidates others and he knows he would win every battle, because he is the king of the jungle, the one that rules them all, no doubt in his mind. He is surrounded by glass, googly eyes staring at... Continue Reading →
Have you ever found yourself knee deep buried in your work and wondering how you ever got so far into it? When you feel like you eat, breath and sleep work and you don't see the end of it all the while loving every moment of it? Every time you accomplish a big goal, you... Continue Reading →
All you need is trust and a little bit of pixie dust... (James M. Barrie) A and I had our big fat Italian wedding with the Greek, American, Austrian, Philippino-sides of both our families only a few months ago. But by the law, we have been married for a year already. A long, wonderful, amazing,... Continue Reading →
My grandma spoke not a lick of English, and although she didn't understand the lyrics to it, one of her all time favorite songs was the song Stand by me, and I don't mean the original 1961 version, but the 90ies version by a Chicago-band called 4 the cause. I remember one time, when my dad... Continue Reading →
As I was sitting outside a cafe in the early May-days of this past month, I was amazed by how much you can see, when you actually are looking. I was sipping my cafe latte, basking in the early morning sun, wearing my sun glasses and just loving life. On the table next to me,... Continue Reading →
I once flew an airplane. No, seriously. I did. About three years ago, for my 23rd birthday in Vienna. My uncle is a hobby-pilot and he invited me along as a birthday surprise and I, being a somewhat-daredevil, happily agreed. After all, how often do you get to fly an airplane? Not often, I suppose,... Continue Reading →
As a child we never played charades, mainly because why try to mimic something if you could just say the word? Call it lazy, but up until recently, there was no need for me either to learn to mimic words, animals, public figures or historic buildings to just name a few. A and I just... Continue Reading →
Italy is amazing. And by amazing, I mean AMAZING. It ranges from a coastline that has your heart skip one, two, three beats to cities drowned in lights, from Gondolas that lead you over the canals to architecture that excites every fiber of your body. History? Yes, plenty of it too. Food? Do you even... Continue Reading →
It was pouring down rain all night and all morning, the storm was horribly loud and kept me worrying all night. As A and I both awakened the day of our wedding, we knew, that our chances on having an outside-wedding were dwindelling. But we kept our spirits up high and sat down to a... Continue Reading →
We are 9 days away from the I-dos and I just had a shocking realization. Apparently, you do NOT prepare a 10 minute speech with powerpoint slides for your wedding vows. Furthermore you do NOT give your wedding vows to half of your wedding party to proof read and get back to you with suggestions... Continue Reading →
We are only a few short days away from the big I-dos. And let me tell you this is a very emotional time, even when you are a stone inside. I have been crying happy tears for days now. There is no warning to them, they just burst out of my eye-sockets and I wish... Continue Reading →
A and I just celebrated our 59-month-ervarsy. I know, that is not actually a thing but this being said we are going to get married in a month's time. On our 5-year-anniversary. I would have never guessed, that one day I would be Mrs. G. Not in Paris, not in Munich, not in Salzburg or in... Continue Reading →
Tempt not a desperate man. - W. Shakespeare I think the worst part about being human is, recognizing when you cannot help. The moment, when you realize that you are helpless and you have to give up, even if every fiber in body is working against that notion. The moment, you have to just let... Continue Reading →
Sunday, 12. January 2014: The morning started out great. Or not. It was horrible, knowing that we could have seen the northern lights the night before if we only would have moved our asses out of bed and actually gone outside. Apparently they were so strong that you could even see them in and around Oslo,... Continue Reading →
A and I did not only travel to Tromsø to see the aurora, although it was one of our main goals. The other one was to see whales. To me whales are the most awesomest creatures in this world, second to A of course. I cannot tell you what this obsession is actually about but to... Continue Reading →
It is Friday. The second Friday of the new year. You know what that means? A and I are going on vacation!!!!!!! (This I tell you to firstly feel super jealous and secondly because A and I badly need this vacation). This being said, this will also be our last vacation before we get married,... Continue Reading →
Since our wedding is only a few weeks away, I want to give you a bit of an insight on what you have to expect when attending our wedding. I also want you to truly understand what I had and have to live with ever since A and I got engaged back in October 2012.... Continue Reading →
My heart is heavy, it has been for quite some time. Almost to the extend where it is getting hard to breathe. Every morning I wake with that painful ache in my heart and I know that what ever I want to do, ultimately there is nothing I can do about it. Sometimes you feel... Continue Reading →
The new year is two days old and I bet most of the resolutions the majority of us made are already broken. You know, things like "Don't eat too many sweets. Exercise more. Loose weight. Quit smoking." All the good ones, that we so quickly promise to hold and yet even quicker throw over board.... Continue Reading →
As this year comes to an end it is important to reflect over what actually happened this past year. It all happened so quickly that I was barely able to catch my breath between last year's New Year's and this year's. So what did happen this year? I mean other than Miley Cyrus breaking up with... Continue Reading →
I am by no means a do-gooder. I am a regular average person who has a bit more time on my hands than most people, which I decided to fill with volunteer work, rather than with other things. I am a full time student, work 80-90% at a store, run as often as my schedule... Continue Reading →
The only thing more annoying than someone asking you "are we there yet" is someone saying "oh-o" when going 70 miles an hour and you're noticing a slow decrease in speed of the vehicle only to come to a screeching stop in the middle of no-where somewhere off highway 15, when the sun is setting... Continue Reading →
It is the season, when Norway doesn't see much sunlight and every morning you awake feeling like it is still the middle of the night. Tell you what, it is difficult, having to rise out of bed when the sun doesn't rise until March again, that is if we are lucky. I am exaggerating, but... Continue Reading →
I recently started a new volunteer job at the red cross. I took the job because due to my busy schedule, it has been very difficult to devote much time to my regular volunteer work and I felt like, there had to be more that I could do on a day-to-day-basis to help. I am... Continue Reading →
Today I learnt a lesson from a man, who had nothing to give. I am not a materialistic person. I do not care what car you drive, how big your apartment is or how many ice cube trays your fridge can hold. It virtually means nothing to me, of course if you invite me to... Continue Reading →
As a person you evolve. It is not possible for you to remain the same, you get older, wiser, more experienced. As you progress in age and in wisdom, you should never feel like you want to be 16 again, or 18, or 20 or 23 or 45 or 78. Better yet, you should feel... Continue Reading →
It's a year ago that I called my mom and frantically yelled "ENGAGED... me.... A.... YEEEES" in her ear, her first reaction was a loud yelp, followed by uncontrolled wheeping. I hear the crackling of her voice still in my ear, it is about the best reaction you can get from your own mom. I... Continue Reading →
There about 21.0975 reasons to not do anything you ever wanted to do. There are also about 21.0975 reasons to do exactly just that. There are also about 21.0975 different sorts of pains, that you can feel, all at once, all while you are doing something you absolutely love-hate. 21.0975 meters, that's how long I... Continue Reading →
When I was little my parents always used to say, "until you are married, the pain you feel now will be gone". It was their way to let me know, that first of all, I apparently had to get married for all my little bruises to heal and secondly that no pain will last forever.... Continue Reading →
About four years ago I moved back to Austria by myself while A waved, forcing a smile, from the airport gate. I broke into tears, the second we stepped into the airport and I cried my eyes out for hours. I was the last one to board the airplane, not thinking once, twice but three... Continue Reading →
I run about 40 to 50 km a week. That's about 10 km 4 times a week. Depending on my schedule I run between 45 and 90 minutes sometimes even 2 hours. I follow my training schedule vigorously, which means that sometimes I run so fast that I can barely catch my breath and sometimes... Continue Reading →
My mom and I probably saw one too many Hollywood-wedding-movies, because as we experienced during my stay in Vienna, shopping for a wedding dress, is just not that much fun. I am not a good shopper anyways, I do good by myself, because I only have to listen to myself, but when other people are... Continue Reading →
I love my family, I really do, I think they are amazing. Cooko but amazing. So I was uber excited when finally, after a year's time, I was able to visit them again. I had so many plans that included cuddling my niece, playing with my niece, eating ice cream with my niece, taking pictures... Continue Reading →
I never check the 'I want a travel insurance' box, because I never think about not making my flight, canceling due to sickness or any other unexpected happenings. It's only 10 bucks extra but when checking that box, am I not in a way already asking for trouble? To me checking that box indicates, that... Continue Reading →
I promised A I wouldn't say anything and keep it my sweet little secret but I cannot let this day slide by without saying a few words, without sharing this with at least you, my most loyal reader: A. Dearest A, I cannot believe that today is the day. June 7th, 2013. I have been... Continue Reading →
I sometimes wonder about people. I wonder about their outlook on life and their ideas of what life should be like. I am equally impressed and disgusted by their actions, depending on who is acting and who is reacting and in what way. We raise children, planting the idea in their heads that they can... Continue Reading →
First off I want to say I don't believe in soul mates. I do believe that some people are better suited for each other than others and that every relationship requires hard work on both parts. But soul mates? No sir (and ma'am). This being said I believe that some people can touch your soul... Continue Reading →
I have to admit, after my 25th birthday, I underwent a little quarter-of-a-century-crises. I am not quite sure if the work-load and school-stress were getting to me, or if I was just being silly about turning 25. After all, nothing changes when you turn a year older, right? You do not magically get the superpower... Continue Reading →
Oslo is great. It really is, despite the freezing cold and the tons of snow and ice during the winter, and part of the spring... and fall and sometimes summer. But yes, you get used to it, to the cold and dark nights and the never-ending days during the summer, it's part of the fun... Continue Reading →
I love vacationing with A. I always learn something new. Whether I gain knowledge about something or get to know A even more. There is always something. It is so much fun and so exhilarating and exciting, even when we take the same trip over and over again. In the past year we went to... Continue Reading →
When Gollum looses the ring (yes, THE ring from lord of the rings), he gets really mad, angry even, almost uncontrollably. He does that, because he can't help himself, he was so drawn to the power of the ring, that being without it, is just madness to him. I tell you this, not only because... Continue Reading →
A bird loves a fish 