Well, I got a little packing done on Monday night, but no studying. When I got home after the concert, it was 8pm and Martina, the girls and I all had dinner together. Then Martina and I enjoyed one last cup of coffee together before I went up to my room to pack and study. Laura decided she wanted to help me pack and then Lisa came up too… needless to say with the two of them in my little bedroom, nothing got done. Once Martina came up to put the girls to bed I managed to get a little packing done, but then I was ready to go to bed myself at that point. I knew I had to get up early to shower and do my hair and a little more studying in the morning.
Tuesday morning, I got up and actually put some effort into doing my hair. I blow-dried it straight. It was a silly thing to do because it was raining and so my hair tends to get curly and frizzy because of the humidity. I packed my makeup and gown in my little carry-on and went to the college about an hour and a half early. There I got some studying done before our final at 10.
The final ended up being only two pages long and I didn’t have too much trouble with it except for remembering the plural forms of the nouns. I did find out later from a message on facebook from Jasmin that I got an A in German, so I must have done pretty well on the final.
After the final four of us went for one last coffee together at our favorite little café. Then back to the college to hang out before lunch. There some of us started getting ready for the concert. I did Sara Marie’s hair for her. We had our last meal at the restaurant and then it was time to really start getting ready. Our concert was to begin at 3:30 and we needed to get dressed, do hair and makeup, and warm up.
The concert was wonderful. Everyone sang so well, and it was my personal best since I’ve been here. I wore my red gown from my friend Shannon’s wedding. Unfortunately with the little weight I gained while being here and eating all the wonderful food, it was a bit tight and with the boning was almost like wearing a corset. On the plus side, I now understand why some singers like to wear corsets, and I just may become one. It forced me to breath low and really use my breath support. This in turn let me sing really well. Both Mary Dibber (my coach) and Yvonne (my teacher) really congratulated my performance, as did the other faculty. They said my coloratura sounded wonderful as always, and my lower/middle range was clear. Even Yvonne’s husband (a professional tenor who sings throughout Europe) came up to me and commented on just how much my middle range has opened up and become clearer over the five weeks. His mother came up to me as well and complimented my performance. Her compliment for me was one of the best because her husband (also there) is some big-to-do with a Bach society or something (well known in the music/vocal world in Austria and Germany). Martina, Martin and the girls were also at the concert, and of all the children of host families there, Laura and Lisa were the best behaved. They never spoke while someone was performing like some of the others did. The other children had left by the time I sang, so I didn’t have that distraction. Instead, I had Tom Enman. When the piano started playing the chorus part in “Poor Wand’ring One” Tom sang the words. I smiled and thought it was great. I agreed with him that it is much better with the chorus part in.
After the concert we had a cake and champagne reception. We all took our last pictures with each other all dressed up and with the faculty. (I’ll post some of them when I get home because all my pictures are still on my camera and my chord is in my checked luggage).
I left the concert with my family and we all walked to the bus. We just barely caught it and had to run (I was still wearing my gown and heals) and cross the street where there wasn’t a cross walk. (In Austria they are pretty strict about that and you may get a hefty fine).
Once back at the house I finished packing, and kept checking the weight of my suitcase on their scale. After that I called it an early night and went to bed.
On Wednesday morning, I got up and got ready to leave. Then I enjoyed one last breakfast with Martin before he left for work. I then brought my entire luggage down and sat and watched TV with Laura curling up on my lap. At 9, Martina and the girls drove me to the train station. It was really hard to say good-bye. Laura was crying a bit in the car, then hugged me and then wouldn’t let go. I promised to skype with them and keep in touch. We hope to see each other again either when I am back in Austria, or they come to the states (Laura does want to go to NYC).
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