Settling In
I am now in my apartment (everything except one suitcase which is still in Wels) and have started at school. So far so good. Today I spent the morning running errands, trying to get myself registered, and get a form from the bank so that I can get paid. All good things. Only in Austria though do they have you running all over the city to get this done. I guess I am getting used to it though, and it all feels rather normal.
Out of the ordinary though was Sunday. On Sunday morning Katie and I headed out to Kirche am Steinhof, a church I have been obsessed with since the first time I was in Vienna. It is built and decorated in the Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) style, which I love. But, sadly, ever since I was first in Vienna, the church has been closed for renovations. Finally on Sunday it was reopened to the public. Katie and I caught the bus out there, and arrived to a packed house. But, as in all churches, no one wanted to sit up front, so Katie and I snagged a couple of seats in the front row. There was a full choir with strings, beautiful music (mostly Mozart, this being Austria). The Archbishop of Vienna officiated, and the mayor was in attendance (as were all the local television stations). The restorations are magnificent. After the service Katie and I went around taking pictures. To check out pictures of this, and of my new place, go to http://caitlininaustria.shutterfly.com
School is off to a good start. I have only met 2 teachers, but both have been very friendly. I am disappointed though that my contact teacher would like to speak english at school. I assume the others will follow suit. My last school was such a good place to chat and listen to german. This one will not be. I have an office with a computer, which is really nice, but also separates me from conversation. There is no shared space (like the smoking room at Wels, that everyone congregates to). But I am certain I will have a good year anyway. The school is a HTL and focuses on Chemistry. Most of these kids will end up working in Labs. My schedule is nice. Every other weekend, I have a 5 day weekend. woo. Either I will travel and be really broke, or stay around town and try to find things to do (hopefully a good mix of these).
Out of the ordinary though was Sunday. On Sunday morning Katie and I headed out to Kirche am Steinhof, a church I have been obsessed with since the first time I was in Vienna. It is built and decorated in the Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) style, which I love. But, sadly, ever since I was first in Vienna, the church has been closed for renovations. Finally on Sunday it was reopened to the public. Katie and I caught the bus out there, and arrived to a packed house. But, as in all churches, no one wanted to sit up front, so Katie and I snagged a couple of seats in the front row. There was a full choir with strings, beautiful music (mostly Mozart, this being Austria). The Archbishop of Vienna officiated, and the mayor was in attendance (as were all the local television stations). The restorations are magnificent. After the service Katie and I went around taking pictures. To check out pictures of this, and of my new place, go to http://caitlininaustria.shutterfly.com
School is off to a good start. I have only met 2 teachers, but both have been very friendly. I am disappointed though that my contact teacher would like to speak english at school. I assume the others will follow suit. My last school was such a good place to chat and listen to german. This one will not be. I have an office with a computer, which is really nice, but also separates me from conversation. There is no shared space (like the smoking room at Wels, that everyone congregates to). But I am certain I will have a good year anyway. The school is a HTL and focuses on Chemistry. Most of these kids will end up working in Labs. My schedule is nice. Every other weekend, I have a 5 day weekend. woo. Either I will travel and be really broke, or stay around town and try to find things to do (hopefully a good mix of these).