Total Immersion

So, I know today isn't over, but i have so much to tell you all about that i figured i would just make 2 posts. So this morning i got up around 6 am, so that i could get my voice moving. After I got up and moving I went down to warm up for the competition. Oh yes, i forgot to tell you all about the competition! Today I competed in a competition here for a chance to sing in a formal recital at The Mirabel Gardens Palace. This is huge. So after i was all ready, it was still raining pretty hard, so i decided to take a taxi over, because i was wearing a nice dress. The front desk called the taxi and when i got out to it, i figured that they had told them where i was going. Well, no such luck, the man didn't speak a word of English. So I had to give him the address and between my broken German and his almost non-existant English, i somehow managed to end up in the right place. Anywho, so i went into the college to warm up and practice a little but more. Then it was time! I headed over to the church where the competition was taking place and collected myself and walked in confident. I sang Zuiegnung by Strauss to start off and it was the best i had ever done it, i was really proud of myself. I thought my line and diction was much improved even from last week. Then they asked for Where the Music Comes From by Hoiby and I was also pretty proud of this one as well. I messed up the last word and said feel instead of love, but darn it, i sold it! Hahaha! Then they asked for Se Florindo, and i really had a lot of fun with that one. And the final piece they asked for was Va! by Massenet from Werther. I was fairly happy with this one as well, overall i think i did the best that i could do right now, which is all that i can ask from myself. We should find out the results very soon and i will let you know as soon as i know. Even if i don't get picked it was a fantastic experience and i learn something every time i compete.
After i was done, i was starving! So i headed to our favorite local pizzeria and had the most amazing artichoke pizza! i know i keep saying everything is so good, but it really is! After lunch i headed to Billa, the local grocery store, and let me tell you this was an entirely new adventure. First of all i had to smart about it because i had to carry everything home. Second, everything is in german, so i had to use a lot of critical thinking skills. For instance, they have a totally different way of doing their fruits and veggies. You as the buyer have to weigh them and place a sticker on it. Everything has its own number, but on somethings i did not see a number. So it was very confusing. But i figured it out and eventually got the hang of it. Then i went to get fresh out of the oven bread, smells amazing! Then to the cheese counter, these people love their cheese. Anywho, i wanted to get some mozzarella for tomatoes and mozzarella, but i couldn't find it for the life of me. I asked the attendant and she proceeded to tell me in German that it was around the corner in another case. Talk about being totally overwhelmed with language! So all in all it took me like 1 1/2 to go through this tiny little grocery store to get a few things. Then i headed back with my groceries to the dorm. Then i took a nap because we are going to be up late tonight and i wanted to be able to enjoy everything. Tonight is the opening of the Salzburg Festival, and they have some open air concerts and opera showings as well as a traditional fire dance around the fountain in the square, should be incredible!! I will tell you all about it tomorrow. Also tomorrow we are going to the Salzkammergut! Look it up! It's beautiful and should be amazing! Well for know ciao!
Living the Dream,
Lauren Frick