Due to some technical difficulties, I had to create a new blog. Sorry for the inconvenience. You can view it here: NEW Life as a Hunton.
I FINALLY took time to get these pictures together from Italy. Michael and I had a wonderful time visiting several Italian cities at the beginning of February. What a beautiful place! We were in Florence on Valentine's Day, and I'm not sure if that will ever happen again. But, the memories we made will be more than enough for me. Check back within the next few days for our Egypt pictures...and a funny video of us riding a camel!
Michael started his second semester this week. Thankfully, his professors are taking things slowly here at the beginning. We've really enjoyed being back in Vienna again without it being completely chaotic. Another bit of good news is that Michael gets a break for Easter! We weren't expecting him to have any more time off, but we are taking advantage of it and will be going to Greece for a few days. I'm really excited!
As for me starting back to school, I began the online leveling courses through Lipscomb which are the prerequisites for me to get my MBA. The courses are modified to be completed within 4 weeks, but I doubt it will take me that long since I currently have no other obligations. :) So far, I'm really enjoying it. Most of all, it's nice to wake up in the morning and know that I have specific goals of tasks to accomplish...besides cleaning, emailing, or blogging.
Now, you may be wondering when I will start the MBA program. Well, I'll tell you. Our plan is to be in Houston until Michael graduates in December, at which point we want to move back to Nashville! Our moving is contingent on Michael getting a job, but we're hopeful it won't be too difficult. I mean, who wouldn't want him? I can't imagine anyone not being interested. Anyway, I can start the program in January and, if all goes well, I can finish in December 2009.
My last exciting bit of FABULOUS news is that I have a Skype phone with a local U.S. number! Getting the phone and being able to talk semi-normally with other people is by far the best thing that has happened since we've been in Vienna (aside from the traveling, of course)!!!! It's not perfect, but I'm so thankful that people can call me, or I can call them, and it's actually clear reception. There is no doubt in my mind that God is good...this phone proves it!
Michael's computer is in the shop, but when it returns, I will post pictures from the last few months. I know you can't wait, so be checking.
As I mentioned earlier, Michael and I had the privilege of hiking up Mt. Sinai early Saturday morning to see the sunrise. It was an incredible experience...one that words can hardly do justice. We left Cairo Friday afternoon to make the 6 hour drive to Sinai. For those of you who don't know, Cairo is quite inexpensive. We spent the night at Desert Fox, which is a very "modest" campsite near the base of the mountain and paid 20 pounds for a place to sleep. (That is equivalent to $4). In spite of the rugged accomodations, we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Desert Fox, especially since we only slept 3 hours.
Our adventure began at 2:00 a.m. when we were woken by one of the camp's workers--his name was Humdee. He was a character to say the least. Anyway, we met our guide and left base camp around 2:45. The moon was full, so we were fortunate to have great natural light even that early in the morning. Due to the crowds of tourists, we chose to take a path less traveled so we could avoid everyone else. The hike took us around 3 hours with a few stops along the way. Once we approached the last leg of the hike, we encountered a couple hundred other hikers. Luckily, we were still able to go quickly without getting stuck behind too many slow-pokes. The final ascent to the top of Mount Sinai consists of several hundred "stairs" that were built by a monk who said that climbing the stairs daily was a means to do his penance. Without a doubt, I believe him.
That stretch of the climb was very challenging. Not to mention, we were now surrounded by other hikers who were, more often than not, dressed inappropriately while also not in good physical shape to complete the task. However, we persevered. Instead of following the main path, we would climb around people who were going slowly of had stopped to breath. We finally made it to the top just in time to see the sun rise. You would have thought no one on that mountain had ever seen the sun rise before by the way they were frantically taking pictures and screaming as the sun rose over the horizon. Regardless, we enjoyed the view but stayed away from the edges since Michael is not too fond of heights. :) 
Descending the mountain was less time consuming, but we still encountered some obstacles. Remember those inappropriately dressed and/or physically unfit hikers I mentioned? Well, they all decided to go down the mountain when we did. AND, they chose the same path we had, which caused us some minor delays. At times, it was more dangerous for us since they were around! Once again, when the opportunity presented itself, we scooted around them and then practically ran down the rest of the way.
Overall, we enjoyed Mt. Sinai in every way. I'm glad we endured the climb and were able to experience the breath taking view while remembering what incredible events have taken place at that very sight. My legs are a little sore, but the pain is well worth the experience.
We made it safely to Cairo yesterday, and we are already enjoying our time here. Ashley took us to her high school devo last night, and then we had the opportunity to ride a faluca (?) on the Nile River. We sailed and ate lunch, and the weather was beautiful. It's so nice to be the visitor with someone else to be in charge of entertaining. Ashley has a tentative itinerary for us, and we are thrilled to be along for whatever adventures we find.
This weekend we are going to hike up Mount Sinai. It still seems weird to say that those are our plans, but it's becoming more normal at the same time. The people here are welcoming and hospitable, which we greatly appreciate. I entitled this post 'Welcome IN Egypt' because that was the overhead greeting when we landed at the airport yesterday. Hilarious. Anyway, more to come...
For those of you who may be interested, I wanted to give you and update regarding our travels thus far. Last Tuesday, we headed to Venice. From there we ventured to Florence and are currently in Rome. On Wednesday, we fly to Cairo where Ashley (Michael's sister) is doing a youth ministry internship.
I don't even know where to begin when expressing my thoughts about what we have seen and experienced. Already, our time away has been worthwhile. I find myself growing more comfortable in cities after the first day, and I have to keep reminding myself that first impressions are not an accurate depiction of my true feelings. Meaning, I tend to misjudge our Expedia hotels until I have more time to develop a relationship with them. :) However, I'm getting better!!! (Michael is very happy about that.)
All of our "post-worthy" adventures are not coming to mind right now, but I will share this one story that just occurred. We took a tour of the Colosseum in Rome this afternoon. We decided that a break at the hotel would be the next best option. Before arriving back at the hotel, we stopped in an internet shop (where we currently are now). Our back-pack was a little bulky, and Michael accidently knocked a magazine rack over upon entering. He hurridly helped the employee pick up the books from the ground. Then, we didn't even have our passports and couldn't get on the computers! I'm flustered at this point, which is no surprise, and we both scurried back to the hotel.
After an hour of relaxation, Michael decides he wants to download the pictures from his camera onto the computer. We searched our quaint hotel room from top to bottom...and no camera. We were both at a loss because Michael had been carrying the camera around his neck the entire day. He checked with the front desk at the hotel--nothing. Then, as a last-ditch effort, he came back across the street to the internet shop. He returned minutes later with camera in hand. We are both quite relieved.
Not only are we fortunate to be in Italy, but we are so grateful that Italian luck came our way!
Just when I thought I would be back in the routine of blogging (and catching up with pictures), I've fallen behind once again. A week and a half ago, my grandfather passed away. He had been struggling with Parkinson's disease and had suffered some strokes recently, so his health was poor. My grandmother died almost 3 years ago, and he has been ready to go since that time. We were fortunate to have this extra time with him and are grateful he's moved on to a better place.
Michael and I both made the trip back to Nashville for the funeral, and I'm spending a couple more weeks here with family. School is going well for Michael as he is finishing his first semester project. He has a break during the whole month of February, and we are going to travel! We are both very excited about this upcoming adventure...not only will we see more of Europe, but I also get his undivided attention!
At this point, it almost seems like the time to post pictures from the holidays has passed, but I will share them anyway...just not yet. :)
This is a glimpse of my time in Houston. These are the girls that I have grown to love, and I miss them dearly. I was fortunate enough to spend a few days with them before Christmas, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. We ate plenty of Mexican food and cherished the time we had together.
I have neglected to finish any picture collages yet, but I promise they are coming soon. Please keep checking--don't give up on me!
We thoroughly enjoy having David and Sara here these past week in Vienna. We crammed quite a few adventures into our time together, and it was well worth the lack of sleep. (Sara might feel differently b/c it usually took her a couple of hours to fall asleep). Regardless, we had our fair share of traveling and sight-seeing.
Here's a brief run-down:
We spent last weekend in Prague, and it was really, really cold. We piled on the layers and saw some of the major sights. I can understand how people say Prague is beautiful, but I agree with others that emphasize getting out of the "touristy" areas. All of the streets lined with cheesy souvenir shops are similar to Gatlinburg, TN...if you've never been to Gatlinburg, then let your imagination be your guide for that description.
Michael had class on Monday, so we came back to Vienna. The next day was full of museums and time in the city. Until then, I hadn't participated in many tourist attractions b/c I knew my visitors would want to venture out. I'm glad to have an idea of what people would really enjoy and also that which can be avoided.
Tuesday afternoon, David, Sara, and I went to Salzburg. Unfortunately, we had to leave Michael behind b/c of his project. This minor excursion was mine and David's opportunity to go skiing. As I type, my thumbs are still jammed from a tragic fall...let's just say I thought skiing would be more like riding a bike than it was. Lucky for me, I only fell twice. It should have happened several other times, but I'm sure God was watching out for me. If you would like more details, let me know. I won't impose them upon everyone though.
Last night we waited in line at the Opera House for standing room only tickets. For 2 Euro, we had stood in the highest section and were able to enjoy the Opera performance. Note to self, make sure to wear comfortable shoes, and be prepared to sit at some point. The interior decor was beautiful and orante, and I kept thinking about how incredible it is that Mozart performed in that very place!
We all feel more cultured after this past week. Now, I have time to gather my pictures and get them ready for you to see! [That is, assuming that people are actually still checking the blog :)]
While I've really enjoyed being home these past few weeks, I don't have the necessary wires to upload my pictures. This makes me sad because I've been fortunate to see so many good friends, as well as family, and I'll have to wait until we go back to Vienna before I can show how much fun we had!
We fly to Vienna on Jan. 2 with my brother and sister-in-law who will stay with us for 9 days. Leaving home is easier when family goes with us! We plan to see Prague and Budapest with them, and it will be quite nice to be together. And, for anyone who is curious, Taylor will not be joining us on this adventure.
Happy New Year to all!
I made it back to the US safely and was surprisingly not as tired as I imagined I would be. I spent two days in Nashville before heading to Houston, which is where I am now. It's so good to be back with friends. I am reminded of how sweet it is to "be" with friends. Talking on the phone is sufficient, but it's completely different and refreshing to be in each others' presence.
Michael has another review this week and will be home on Friday! We are both so excited about having time with family over the holidays. Speaking of family, I saw my niece, Taylor some before coming to Houston. I will share my favorite story of Taylor, and I promise it will be worth reading even though I don't have pictures on this post. :)
Characters in the story: Mom, Dad, David, Sara, Taylor, and me.
Setting: lunch at Jersey Mike's.
It was Saturday afternoon, and we met for an early lunch so "little miss Taylor" would be home in time for her nap. Taylor is smart. She knows how to push the limits so lovingly set by her parents (David and Sara)...especically when grandparents are around. Taylor had settled on sitting in Bubby's (my dad) lap and continued to eat her sandwich.
For some reason, Taylor thought it would be a good idea to slowly stuff her mouth full of bread. In the process, she dropped crumbs on Bubby's arm. She was cleaning the bread crumbs off his sleeve, when she quickly realized her mouth full of bread was not a pleasant situation. David and Sara, seated at the opposite end of the table anticipated her next move, knowing her solution to this problem.
Sweet little Taylor proceeded to turn Bubby's hand over in the shape of a cup, and before anyone else knew what she was doing...out of her mouth came the soggy bread. That's right, she spit it right into Bubby's open hand, so conveniently ready and waiting for her.
The uncontrollable laughter drew attention to our family in the restaurant, but we didn't care. The situation was surreal enough that we were trying to grasp the reality that it had even happened! Oh the joys of having niece who has no problem being the center of attention!
In celebration of completing my German class and Michael having his mid-review, we decided to take a weekend trip to Germany. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew we would have a good time, but I must say that our experience far exceeded my expectations. I'm not a museum goo-roo by any means. The thought of spending hours in an art gallery is not appealing to me.
However, my attitude towards museums in general has drastically changed after this trip. We were fortunate to visit 3 museums, all of them unique and educational. We also were able to squeeze in some shopping--always a good addition to a trip!
I'm trying to be creative with my photo-collages, and I must give credit to Michael for this idea. His projects necessitate an understanding of the location, so he spends quite a bit of time manipulating maps. Therefore, this suggestion was naturally his first. Either way, I think it turned out well. I realized we didn't take any pictures of "us." Oh well. We'll do better on future trips!
My countdown continues...since today is almost over, I can say I only have 6 more days until I fly home! And, as you can see from my last post, I'm going to incorporate a little German into my blog. I'm sure you can figure out what the title of this blog means in English. If not, ask a friend.
For several weeks, we have seen Christmas lights being hung in the streets, but they had not been turned on. A good friend of mine was studying abroad here this fall, and she was anxiously awaiting the beautiful lights. Unfortunately, the lights came on the night they left! I wanted to post these for her, but I also knew others would enjoy them as well.
We've been listening to Christmas music, which is making us even more excited to be coming home soon! My count-down has begun...9 days. We had a wonderful time in Germany last weekend, and I will have those pictures ready soon. Weihnachten kommt!
During my parents' visit to Vienna, we spent a weekend in Paris. Unfortunately, the public transportation was on strike, so we endured more walking in the bitter cold weather than we anticipated. Regardless, the trip was memorable, and we enjoyed sharing the experience together.
These pictures are a brief summary of our adventure. My dad and Michael were avid photographers, which I appreciate. Their passion means one less thing for which I am responsible. For those of you who prefer a description of each picture, scroll down; and, remember you can double click the image to make it larger. 
Top left going clockwise:
-Notre Dame cathedral
-Eiffel Tower illuminated (Luckily, you can also see the blur of an Asian woman who darted across the street in spite of oncoming traffic. Michael was proud of this picture.)
-Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
-Eiffel Tower
-Stained glass inside Notre Dame
-Dad, Mom, and me
-Arc de Triomphe
-A bridge we liked because you can access the main part at two different places
-Michael and me with Notre Dame in the background
-Eiffel Tower
-Interesting building with a "green" facade (The exterior was wet from where the plants, grass, etc are watered)
-Les Invalides
-Interior of Notre Dame
-L'Open Tour bus (This served as our taxi for the weekend!)
-More stained glass inside Notre Dame
-Notre Dame cathedral
-Michael and me
-Champs-Elysees
A few more funny details of our trip...The first day we went by the Louvre but decided not to stay because it was getting late. The next afternoon we arrived at 4:30 thinking we could finish our evening enjoying the exhibits. To our dismay, they were closing at 5:00 due to the transportation strike. However, at least we realized this (by reading the MANY signs posted) before buying tickets, unlike another guy who was practically begging for a refund. I don't think they felt sorry for him though.
Another missed sightseeing excursion happened the morning we left. Due to long lines and it not being our top priority, we waited to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, it was very foggy that morning! On the other hand, the temperature had dropped and it was windy, so we weren't too upset.
Two more days of German class. Michael's mid-review is also on Thursday. Then, we are headed to Germany for the weekend!
Today in class we learned about German phrases related to the size of countries/cities, population, etc. After we participated in a class exercise, we paired up to discuss our individual countries and the related statistics. My partner, Marina, came to Austria from Italy. We handled the assignment well and did as we were instructed.
One of the ladies in another group is from New York (we will refer to her as Linda). Since Marina and I were finished, we listened to the other students' discussions. I was participating with Linda's group as they were asking her questions. My utter disdain for Linda's ignorance was validated when she doubted the accuracy of my answer to the question: "how many states comprise the U.S.?" She adamantly believed there were 51, if not 52, states...starting with Puerto Rico.
Additionally, my teacher asked me if Texas was larger than Austria. My response, of course, was, "yes, it is much larger." Linda, confident in her knowledge of geography, once again questioned my response. Unbelievable! I tried to contain my frustration at this point, but it is hard to endure the consistent stupidity when second-guessing questions which are not even directed towards you. However, I behaved myself.
For those of you who know me well, I do not like being told I am wrong. On the other hand, how gratifying it is when, in spite of facing opposition, my answer is confirmed through Wikipedia that Texas is, in fact, 8 times the size of Austria!
It just doesn't get much better than that. Job well done.
Yep, my sister-in-law is pregnant again, so we will have another Whitfield grandchild in June! I hope no one jumped to conclusions by the title of this post; however, it would be funny if you did. Not cruel, just funny.
Michael and I are both so excited that David and Sara will be having another child, and we hope Tay-Tay enjoys it after the baby arrives. Since she is the 1st grandchild for both families, she's had quite a bit of attention, to say the least. Here are some pictures of Taylor (and David) from Halloween. Isn't she the cutest lady bug?! (I borrowed these pictures from David and Sara's blog.) 
My parents are coming to visit for Thanksgiving, and we are headed to Paris this weekend! I'll post pictures after we return--Happy Wednesday!
That's right--we had our first snow yesterday! What a relief to know we didn't have to drive during the inclement weather. Once again, I appreciate public transportation at a time like this. My only opposition to snow is that it eventually turns to slush, and when one has to be out and about, the slush is not a friendly companion. Who wants wet shoes/socks and cold feet?
Regardless, we enjoyed the snow, even though it didn't last very long. Please excuse the angle of the picture of us. As you can see, the tripod was not cooperating! :)
Another week of German class...hopefully I'll have some stories soon!
I'm not afraid of my feelings, but I recognize my hesitancy to be vulnerable. Ultimately, I fear not being able to control what happens. This reality was painstakingly clear today as we headed into the city. Michael was going to studio, and I was going to my first day of German class. Instead of being able to tell Michael I needed him to accompany for moral support, I asked if he wanted to see where the Deutsch Akademie was located. After a little protesting, he agreed to come with me. Michael is wonderful because he understands me even when I can't express what I'm thinking. I don't give him enough credit for that.
Why was I nervous? Oh, maybe because there was no guarantee that any other students would speak English, and the class is taught entirely in German! Luckily, 6 of the 7 students know English; although, the nonverbal communication of confusion is universal and quite humorous. It will be interesting to see what results from taking this course because I'm hopeful to know more than just basic conversation, but we'll see.
I have a new appreciation for people at home who don't speak English. It's intimidating. Sometimes I feel like I draw unwanted attention to myself, but, in reality, people couldn't care less about figuring me out. I must overcome my fear of being embarrassed and embrace this experience for what it is worth. However, I promise to share the embarrassing stories so that everyone else can enjoy a good laugh at my expense!
This is my formal apology to Lucy and Ethel for not having this post completed sooner. By providing a "floor plan," I hope it's easier to grasp the lay out of the apartment. We have plenty of space, which comes in handy when we do laundry. (For those of you who don't know, we hang everything to dry. It's not as energy efficient to have a dryer, but I sure wish we did!)
We did not dress up in Halloween costumes, but, for those of you who have posted pictures of your cute kids (or your adult selves), I am thankful. Michael is feeling much better, and we appreciate everyone's concern. Provided that Michael has progressed with his project, we hope to be touristy this weekend. I start my German class on Monday, and my hope is that the experience will bring many laughs and great stories to tell. We will keep you updated!