I love London

Over the last one or two weeks there were a lot of hellos and goodbyes - many people left, but new ones arrived, and I did not have the time to write a new blog post. I also spent one weekend in London with my roommate, and I want to tell you about this wonderful weekend and my new favourite spot in London, Camden Market:

Saturday was mainly spent on travelling to London. We took the National Express bus because it was only half the price compared to the train, but it also took twice as long. We wanted to go directly to our hotel, but unfortunately the tube we were in was stuck because of a broken signal. It was a slightly disturbing experience, and unfortunately only the beginning of a streak of bad luck regarding public transport.

Two hours too late, we finally arrived at the Warner Brother studios outside of London - after a very relaxed train assistant had charged us £4.50 for who knows what...I am not the biggest Harry Potter fan, but the studios were very interesting because they offer an insight into the world of movie-making. It was astonishing to see how many of the sets had been built in real life instead of being computer-generated, and how many hours of work there are behind each and every one of them. After browsing through the souvenir shop, we cancelled our plans of going to a club because we were both too tired and wanted to rest our feet.

The next day we set out for Camden Market - and public transport messed up our plans once again. First, we stopped inside a tunnel a second time, but luckily only for a short time because we had to let another train pass. Then we could not change to the line we had planned because its trains did not stop at that particular station on that particular day...

After finally escaping the maze of the London Underground, we were greeted by a crowd of people bustling through the streets in Camden. The shopkeepers were only just setting up their displays for the day, but the place was already crowded with tourists and locals alike. It is very tempting to buy something at the next best stand, but I advise you to stroll further and always try to negotiate - eventually you will find what you like at a reasonable price. The market unbelievably big, so many only follow the main road in order not to get lost. They definitely miss out on something! In the very last corner of the market, we found a tiny shop that sells home-made mini cupcakes that looked almost too beautiful to eat. All the sales huts and many walls around Camden Market are covered in artistic graffiti that are far from being vandalism. Do not miss the part called Horse Market, where the architecture is wonderful and you can find many stands that sell exotic dishes at a low price.

If you come to London, the Camden Market is a must-see, not only if you like shopping. Take your time to stroll through this lively and multicultural place and dare to step away from the main street in order to explore its hidden treasures.

The end of a great year

Almost exactly one year ago, I arrived in Graz with a car full of tools and bags and we (that is, my dad and I) started to prepare what was to become my little student flat, my tiny refuge and a large piece of independence. Now I am packing all my things into suitcases and bags again - and a year ago I would never have thought that leaving this place would be so hard.

The last exam is written and my first year at university is over - a good time to reflect and resume.

I had never thought I would meet so many interesting people and find so many good friends in such a short time. We had the best times together - a more or less spontaneous trip to Stockholm, for example! -  and we are planning to make a dignified exit tomorrow, including a hiking tour and a dinner.

In the course of this last year I learned to budget, to deal with burocracy - and I finally learned how to cook. In fact, I even started to refer to cooking and baking as a new hobby!

As far as university is concerned, it was a challenge to get used to it at first. Suddenly, I had to make my own schedule, decide myself when and what I need to study and so on. The tasks and exams - especially in English - were often challenging and I saw too many of my colleagues fail or give up. I think the freedom and the challenges helped me to grow, and I realized how many hidden resources and how much self-motivation I can mobilise when it is needed. Most importantly, I have hardly ever been this eager to learn and I'm still convinced that studying languages is the right path for me.

Last year, I moved into this flat, with a suitcase in my hand and vague expectations on my mind. Now I'm leaving this flat that I've started to call "home" in order to go to the UK, where I will be living and working for the next three months. In less than two weeks, I will be standing at the airport in Vienna, with a suitcase in my hand and vague expectations on my mind - and the hope that this summer will be just as incredible as the last year as been.

"To Berlin, please!"

An adventurous journey, for free: sounds like (almost) every person's dream, doesn't it?

Well, all the lucky ones who were chosen to take part in the "Can you make it"-challenge will get exactly that! The goal of this challenge is to make it from a certain starting point - one of four cities in Europe - to the finish line in Berlin in a matter of seven days. 

Piece of cake, you will think - but of course there is a catch. The participants cannot use any money, including credit cards, nor can they have a personal mobile phone. They only get a few cans of energy drink which they can try to trade. They have to rely on luck, hospitality and their negotiating powers in order to get food, a place to sleep and - most importantly - a ride to their next checkpoint. The participating groups cannot just choose any route they want, but they have to pass six checkpoints on the way, where additional challenges are waiting for them. If the participants master them successfully, they earn more energy drink that can be traded for other goods.

All participants are travelling in groups of three and have to stay together at all times. There are several other rules that must be obeyed, otherwise they will be disqualified. If participants are sure that they will not reach Berlin on time, they can always give up and travel home - but seriously, who would admit defeat and not keep fighting until the very last minute?

As far as I have read from the homepage, there is not just one winner. Everyone who manages to arrive in Berlin on time is a winner, and on top of the unique experience they have had they are invited to an awesome party :-)

This year there is also a group from the University of Graz who will take part in the challenge. I am going to follow their adventures online for the next week. Their starting point will be London. I am especially curious how they are going to make it across the sea!

The application for the next challenge probably won't start until next winter, but who knows, maybe you will see me and two of my friends in next year's challenge, trying to make it from one place to another only relying on luck and our charm!

Couchsurfing

You are an adventurous traveler looking for a cheap accomodation? Hotels are too fancy, but hostels are too crowded for you?

There is a whole community  of like-minded who take part in a concept called couchsurfing. Basically, you offer strangers who are looking for accomodation a place to stay for the night - usually a convertible couch. The couchsurfing website works like a social media site, where you can create your profile and add details about yourself, the place you live in, and the people you would like to host. You can meet other couchsufers in your area to talk about your experiences, offer your couch to travelers or look for a place to sleep while you are travelling.

I have never tried couchsurfing myself because even though it states that it is safe, it seems too dangerous when you are a woman travelling alone.

There are a number of alternatives to couchsurfing:

Air B&B, for example, can be a cheap alternative to hotels. Again, someone offers you a place to sleep (sometimes their whole apartment!), but you pay to stay with them exactly as if you were staying in a hotel. It seems a lot more trustworthy than couchsurfing, but the difference is that it is not free.

An unorthodox alternative is HelpX. HelpX is an online listing of host organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&Bs, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats. In the typical arrangement, the helper works in these places for an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts. It seems to be a great way to gain practical experience and get to know new cultures.