Catching Up

Well, here is a little something people would call an update on what has been going on. Ever since I started the community service time flew by so freaking quickly that it slowly starts scaring me. Read on to catch up a bit.

“I am A Certified Ambulance Man”

After I finished the ambulance experience weeks (a total of 160 hrs) the community servants had to pass a test with an emphasis on CPR (that is reanimation guys or CardioPulmonary Resuscitation), asssisting an emergency physician, resuce after a traffic accident, anatomy and some (dry) questions on the Red Cross as an international entity (Henry Dunant and “stuff”). Oh boy, I aced this test.

Making new friends at the Red Cross turned out to be quite easy. There seems to be quite a strong bond between all community servants. In short, it’s great.

However, being a community servant, sounds cheesy I know, does change you and your believes - in a good way I’d say. I’ve been quite lucky that I haven’t seen gory accidents or so, but I have most definitely seen humans suffer (Old people who do not want to end up in an old people’s home, suicide attempts, diseases, cancer …)

A couple of cases really did hit me quite strongly. But there are always people around you to talk about these stressful “missions.”

Invisalign’s Treating Me Well

During the experience weeks actually the Invisalign treatment started. This way of correcting my teeth is quite practical. Every other week you get a new aligner that pushes your teeth into the wanted positions. I have to take 17. Multiplied by 2. That makes 8.5 months (I am already in my 4th week - 2nd aligner).

Invisalign and everything you ever wanted to know about it.

I have been wearing Invisalign on my upper jaw since 6 February 2008.

Take it out when you eat, drink (anything other than water) and brushing your teeth. After drinking (anything other than… and vodka, I guess. The doctor said it should be a clear fluid) and eating you are supposed to brush your teeth afterwards. Every other day or so I put it into a fizzy solution for disinfection.

People keep asking me questions like “Does it hurt?” I’d say you feel most of the movement in the first two days right after you get a new aligner. It’s not that much of a pain. I get all excited when it feels like your teeth are wondering around, because that is a sign that this technique is actually working.

Read more on how Invisalign is treating me and a detailed guide on what to pay attention during the treatment.

Guardian Weekly & That 70s Show

I didn’t know where to put this but I subscribe to the Guardian Weekly. I love reading international news and their coverage is quite excellent. Besides, I love their Sudokus, their cross word puzzles and in particular their cryptic cross word puzzle.

That 70s Show is hilarious. A friend borrowed me the 1st, 2nd and 3rd season of this ingenious show. Love it and I’ll keep watching. I plan on publishing a quotes post on it.

T-Mobile FAIRPLAY & Motorola K1

Next week I should get my Motorola cellphone. My first flip phone or clamshell. I am already on FAIRPLAY which means a monthly fee of EUR 25 with all calls inclusive except for text messages (EUR 0.20 each). That should ease the monthly pressure on my bank account (it’s been EUR 30> lately). Yeaha! I didn’t change my cellphone number. I am bound until spring 2010. That sounds like quite a long time.

Susi’s Going to Australia for 5 Weeks

Why do I put this up here? Well, first of all I am green of envy (DOWN UNDER is supposed to be fun!) and secondly I am going to miss Susi. Oh yes, I admit it :) If you gave me a one way ticket to Australia… I’d do it. I am just afraid that I could get fired from Zivi (that is the short for community service in Austria) and I wouldn’t wanna take the chances of that. Oh and Susi, spread the word: NO KANGAROOS IN AUSTRIA.

Besides, Susi promised to publish posts with pictures on my blog, so if you want to get an idea of what Australia looks like, make sure you come back on a regular basis in the run of the next 5 weeks.