Too much to do, never enough time
I doubt even four months here will be enough.
Summation of orientation weekend:
Half of it felt like high school all over again (meeting a small group of people for the first time, plus all the clique-ish behavior to go with it...)
Quarter of it felt like still being at college (many girls squished into the same living area - sharing the same facilities - and of course nightly drunken escapades)
And the rest actually felt like another country (the language, the basilica which was very interesting, the gorgeous mountain views).
I actually had a complete transaction, ordering and paying for ice cream, successfully in German!
I also once again realized why I hate the night life scene. I really just find it so horribly dull, repetitive and achingly unfulfilling. Ok once in awhile It's fun to get my dance on, but sometimes anima... humans really are just humans, no matter what part of the globe they come from.
In Wien
German intensive has started - oh, why did they put the inexperienced, mumbling (in a huge, echo-y room, nonetheless), timid guy in front of Americans to teach complete beginners a new language? I think it will be a long 3 weeks... but then again, I often enjoy torture challenges like this.
Ironically, I'm finding little chance to actually USE this German. Really though, that's when I'm in the largely touristy areas, where most people walking around are actually more likely to be foreign than Austrian and so English must be the common language. It seems every time I earnestly attempt to use the little German I know, they hear (or see?) how uttterly American I am and reply nonchalantly in English. They hand me English menus. Come on man, I'm putting in an effort here! I listened to those tapes! To just have it handed to me! Bah.
Then again, the kabab guy near my apartment spoke no English, and we had to struggle through our German then. Now THERE'S the Austria I thought I was walking into!
I'm back to practicing > 2 hrs a day again - already I feel right back where I left off the last time I felt hardcore about it. I'm glad my fingers came back, but then it's not just the fingers.... I'm actually excited to audition tomorrow, I'm in love with this music and I can't wait to express it! I bought the sheetmusic today (i've been working from copies) so I can have a piano part for a pianist to play with me. German music, published in Germany, and bought in Germany! Priceless!
Other than that, I still have much exloring to do, but I've already planned out a couple trips - I ordered a Eurail pass so I will definitely be going to Paris, Munich, (Rome, but seperately with my parents!), and Salzburg!!
Annnnnd lastly - the convenience of markets, shops, and ATMs is great. We have a market RIGHT behind our place - some things are so cheap here!! I got some quite decent red wine for... not 5 but... ONE AND A HALF EURO. Stuff that cheap in the States is, well, fruitjuice.
I have already had my fair share of schnitzel, so last night I decided to show my roomies a traditional Italian dinner and I actually made pasta sauce and cooked pasta for us all!
Too bad if you think this is too long an entry, I like keeping track of all my observations in this unique experience! I do apologize for the pics though, the way internet service is paid for in Europe is also unique, as we are charged by the upload/download and thus I can't upload pics to the internet from home or the landlord will not be pleased (and we don't want to upset this guy... he was nice enough to register us so we didn't have to do the ordeal ourselves!). I need to sort out my wireless capabilities yet - it won't work at the IES center, where I CAN upload images. So until then - stay tuned for pics!
Summation of orientation weekend:
Half of it felt like high school all over again (meeting a small group of people for the first time, plus all the clique-ish behavior to go with it...)
Quarter of it felt like still being at college (many girls squished into the same living area - sharing the same facilities - and of course nightly drunken escapades)
And the rest actually felt like another country (the language, the basilica which was very interesting, the gorgeous mountain views).
I actually had a complete transaction, ordering and paying for ice cream, successfully in German!
I also once again realized why I hate the night life scene. I really just find it so horribly dull, repetitive and achingly unfulfilling. Ok once in awhile It's fun to get my dance on, but sometimes anima... humans really are just humans, no matter what part of the globe they come from.
In Wien
German intensive has started - oh, why did they put the inexperienced, mumbling (in a huge, echo-y room, nonetheless), timid guy in front of Americans to teach complete beginners a new language? I think it will be a long 3 weeks... but then again, I often enjoy torture challenges like this.
Ironically, I'm finding little chance to actually USE this German. Really though, that's when I'm in the largely touristy areas, where most people walking around are actually more likely to be foreign than Austrian and so English must be the common language. It seems every time I earnestly attempt to use the little German I know, they hear (or see?) how uttterly American I am and reply nonchalantly in English. They hand me English menus. Come on man, I'm putting in an effort here! I listened to those tapes! To just have it handed to me! Bah.
Then again, the kabab guy near my apartment spoke no English, and we had to struggle through our German then. Now THERE'S the Austria I thought I was walking into!
I'm back to practicing > 2 hrs a day again - already I feel right back where I left off the last time I felt hardcore about it. I'm glad my fingers came back, but then it's not just the fingers.... I'm actually excited to audition tomorrow, I'm in love with this music and I can't wait to express it! I bought the sheetmusic today (i've been working from copies) so I can have a piano part for a pianist to play with me. German music, published in Germany, and bought in Germany! Priceless!
Other than that, I still have much exloring to do, but I've already planned out a couple trips - I ordered a Eurail pass so I will definitely be going to Paris, Munich, (Rome, but seperately with my parents!), and Salzburg!!
Annnnnd lastly - the convenience of markets, shops, and ATMs is great. We have a market RIGHT behind our place - some things are so cheap here!! I got some quite decent red wine for... not 5 but... ONE AND A HALF EURO. Stuff that cheap in the States is, well, fruitjuice.
I have already had my fair share of schnitzel, so last night I decided to show my roomies a traditional Italian dinner and I actually made pasta sauce and cooked pasta for us all!
Too bad if you think this is too long an entry, I like keeping track of all my observations in this unique experience! I do apologize for the pics though, the way internet service is paid for in Europe is also unique, as we are charged by the upload/download and thus I can't upload pics to the internet from home or the landlord will not be pleased (and we don't want to upset this guy... he was nice enough to register us so we didn't have to do the ordeal ourselves!). I need to sort out my wireless capabilities yet - it won't work at the IES center, where I CAN upload images. So until then - stay tuned for pics!