update

i thought i would start my next post off with some pictures. these are mainly from salzburg, innsbruck, and vienna. the landscapes are truly breathtaking!

in other news: i recently got a job dishwashing at the winds. it is really hard work and i come home everyday exhausted and covered in water, but it is really fulfilling to be earning steady money. i feel like i am really on my way. i am also happy that i will be able to contribute some cash to my trip, even if it is just for spending money while i am there. i would like to take this time to say thank you to everyone who came to our yardsale. we made over two hundred dollars which went directly towards covering tuition. i am working on planning other fundraisers and i will certainly let you all know when i do! i also recently started summer school. i am taking government and english. i can honestly say it is a terribly boring and sorry excuse for education, but i just have to push myself through it and then i can be done with high school forever! i am afraid that's all for now, but i will be sure to post regular updates on all things austria!  

fundraising

recently i attended an orientation in cincinnati. it was a positive experience and i am really looking forward to my year abroad. i am trying to prepare myself as much as possible for the trip and therefore i am dedicating my summer to learning german, finishing high school, and of course raising money. i haven't been able to fundraise much because i have been so busy with school, but i have been eagerly trying to find jobs for the summer. my family and i are planning on having a massive yard sale on june 13th, which as many of  you know is the day of the street fair. we have huge amounts of goods to sell and i hope that you all come and buy something. financing the trip is a big hurtle that i have to leap but hopefully you can make it a little easier. the total cost of my tuition is $7200, which is a lot of money. my family and i don't exactly have money laying around the house and, given the financial crisis, it is particularly hard to find. that is why i am asking for donations. any money you give will go directly towards paying for my tuition and therefore you can directly contribute to the incredible cultural opportunity that i have been given. i am so grateful to everyone who has helped out so far. i am receiving an amazing amount of support from the yellow springs community and it is really making the whole trip a lot easier. 

once again thank you all so much. if you have any questions feel free to email me at beenotbea@yahoo.com