Sorry for the delay- internet was down. From Monday, the 22nd.
I had a really great and busy weekend!
Saturday was pretty chill though. My host parents
went on a ski tour in the morning and helped prepare for a Rotary event in the
afternoon, so I was alone most of the day. At 16:30, a Rotarian and his wife
picked me up (they are also good friends with the Heiders), and we drove to
Sangt Lambrecht, a town southeast of Murau, just on the boarder to Kärnten.
That evening there was a big concert attended by 3 organizations similar to and
including Rotary International. The venue was a 1000 year old palace/castle
with many surrounding churches. It was a building very similar to the one in
Seckau. The performers in the concert were school students, just about my age.
They each played either solos or in small groups, a couple songs. I liked this
because it kept things interesting and moving along. Very talented young
people! After the concert all the Rotarians went to a nearby restaurant and
buffet. At this point it was about 21:00, and I was getting tired. We stayed at
the restaurant another 2 hours or so and got back to Knittelfeld at midnight,
and then I talked with my parents and sister until 2am.
Sunday was great! I woke up at 8 for breakfast, and
then we drove back to Sandt Lambrecht, but that day it was just the members of
Rotary. We toured the facility, and at one point something awesome happened. I
was about to go up some stairs (I was at the end of the group), and the
president of my Rotary club, a highly regarded orthopedic doctor, wanted to
show me some exercises to help with my injury. He explained that many doctors
make the mistake with leg injuries and say to not put weight on your leg and by
extension not let your leg touch the ground at all. He showed me how to roll my
bad foot as though I were walking, but my body weight alleviated to the
crutches. Before I knew it, he was telling me to gently apply my weight to the
leg and ten minutes later I was walking with just one crutch! When the tour
group later came back, I showed off what I learned! It was the weirdest feeling
ever to be walking again. I expected it to be painful and frustrating, but it
felt amazing! The rest of the afternoon I experimented with my leg. The group
of Rotarians visited the Murauer beer brewery and then went out to eat a late
lunch at a Gasthaus in Murau. During lunch I talked a lot with 2 children of a
Rotarian. They were 11 and 12 and very interested in the United States and my
exchange. I realized I haven’t talked much with younger kids, and I really
liked their facial expressions when I told them some things about life in the US.
At about 16:00 Maria, Andi, and I got back to the house. I called Dad on the
phone and told him about my therapy “lesson.” He told me I should use my own
judgment, but should probably wait until Wednesday (when I can officially start
walking). As always, I decided he was right, so I am still using the crutches
like I have been the last 6 weeks. I’ve waited 42 days, I can wait another 2.
Oh and I forgot to mention that we were joined throughout the weekend by an
Italian Rotary club. I talked to a few of them, but with me knowing no Italian,
it was difficult!
So that was my super busy weekend! I really enjoyed
it! 2 more nights on crutches! :D
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