Last Concert

So I just woke up and realized. "Whoa. Where did my summer go?" Tonight is our last concert performing Bartok's Marvelous Mandarin with Paris Opera conductor, Marius Stieghorst. The concert is also the final round to the meistersinger vocal competition. The rehearsals with Marius have been wonderful. I am both excited and terrified to play under him. If we can have favorites, he is definitely my favorite to work with since being here.

Let me remind myself again. Tonight is our LAST concert. 

I think if it weren't for the proof of my picture taking, blog writing, and journal entries I would go "Wait, it's over? But, I didn't do anything yet."

I'll miss being woken up every morning at 5 am by the Mail Truck crashing into the courtyard and dropping (I literally mean, dropping) off the mail.

I could create an endless list of the things I'll miss, like the sparkling mineral water (I have become quite the addict). Or mention how I will need withdrawal support not being able to have gelato everyday (sometimes twice, #noshame). It's been hot as the Oklahoma Prairie over here. Don't judge.

But, maybe not right now.

What I do know is that I'll be thinking of Europe a lot this up coming year. Just even processing my time here will take a while. My appetite for world travel has been awakened and been found hungry. At this point I have no idea if I'll come back to AIMS. But, after coming here, I realized this world just got smaller. There's lots to explore and it's too small to be making excuses anymore not to see it.

Tomorrow, I have a single day off before my plane takes me back to the great US of A. What am I doing with it? Well, today after our dress rehearsal I'm once more, and last more, going to the train station to buy myself a ticket. A ticket to Vienna. I had intended to get over there earlier, but you really can't do everything while you're here. Though in many respects I've certainly tried. I'll leave for vienna on the 5:30 train and come back to Graz at about 1am. I'm doing this trip solo, to which I'm looking forward.

I don't regret any of my time here.
And I think that says something.