The Challenges

I'll admit - the program isn't quite as challenging as I had initially hoped. Yes, occasionally I'll get my butt kicked with German lied but generally, I feel like I have much more free time than I had anticipated. I feel ready with my role and was memorized before I got here. So instead, I have decided to delve into my own list of goals:

Challenge #1 - Hair. My lovely friend, Kathleen, inspired me to experiment with hair styles because her hair always looks GLAMOROUS. I mean, seriously, she can twist and turn her luscious red locks into any style she wants. So I've decided to do the same! Most of my mornings are free until German class at noon so I take my time in the morning getting ready. Nothing quite as wonderful as having time to drink coffee and play with hairstyles.

Sneak peak:

I've gotten up to 8 styles now, all with pictures that I'll be sure to post soon. Each morning is a new creation!

Challenge #2 - Exercise. I have been running! Every morning! I started last week and have only skipped one day due to a serious outbreak of blisters on the bottom of my feet. That aside, I feel absolutely wonderful. I'll admit, my first day was a complete surprise to me. I honestly thought that if I eat breakfast, drink coffee, and put the running outfit on, running would come naturally. Boy was I wrong. I was huffing and puffing and felt horrible the entire rest of the day. I knew this was going to be a tough week. But after about 7 days, I'm able to run 2 miles nonstop. That's really all I need. I'm not training for a marathon. Just a nice jog in the morning to fulfill my craving of healthiness.

Challenge #3 - No bread. For 24 hours. Done! Very difficult considering all I've eaten in Salzburg is sandwiches followed by jam and butter rolls followed by pastries. I had no idea what an amazing intake of bread these people live on! This may as well have been my hardest challenge. But I did it. I'll try another day when I'm inspired again. My dinner tonight was definitely a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Whoops.

Challenge #4 - Auditions. So far, I have two auditions lined up immediately when I return home. I am thoroughly addicted to Yaptracker and other various audition sites. I live, eat, and breathe this research. It's really gratifying to know in my heart that I will probably get rejected to more than half of these things I'm looking at. But truly, that's the life of an artist, right? Might as well suck it up and realize that now.

Challenge #5 - Opera. I watched La Traviata this morning from the Salzburg Festival 2005. I know the story, obviously, and have seen parts of several versions of it. But I've never watched the entire thing all the way through. In fact, I realized, I haven't watched hardly ANY operas in their entirety. With that being said, my NEWEST challenge is try to get through 1 or most of 1 opera each day that I'm here. I started today. Wish me luck!

These last 2 weeks will, hopefully, go by in a breeze! I'm getting extraordinarily homesick. But have enjoyed my time GREATLY and have learned oh so much.... :)

Until then,

<3 Allie