The Alps and Other Things

So, exciting things that have happened here. We went to the Alps and hiked up a gigantic mountain. I stood at the top and looked down on what we call "mountains" in Tennessee. I also got blisters on my heels from my new boots, but they weren't really that bad.

I need to set the record straight from my last post. Apparently, work assignments change every time Arbeitsnachmittag comes around. So, while I may have raked leaves the first day, I cleaned the dorm on Tuesday and then swept up some leaves on Friday. So far I haven't done any work that I detested, although that day might come. Also, my class schedule is really fluid right now. I have nine classes: Schreiben, Sprechen, Horen, Lesen, Religion, Kulturkunde, Vokabeln, Lituratur, and Computer. In translation, that is: Writing, Speaking, Hearing, Reading, Culture, Vocabulary, Literature, and Computer. Because of music lessons for the high school students here, their schedule isn't set yet, so our schedule is also not set.

We go to Vienna next week. I just finished working on all my homework for the next week so that I don't have to do homework in Vienna. Several of the places we're going are places I've been, and we're gonna stay in a hostel, so I'm pretty excited about the trip.

I've been into Braunau several times this last week. JC, Luke, and I went and got JC a suit and Luke a phone fairly early in the week. We managed to get everything we needed even with our limited German. We are also becoming regulars at the Can Kebap pizza place which is run by some Turkish guys. The pizza is really good, much better than the Thai restaurant we went to on Tuesday for Ben's birthday.

I haven't really been getting up for breakfast, although I might start pretty soon (I say that about getting up for breakfast a lot). I think I've been up for maybe 2 breakfasts since I got here.

I've been playing volleyball as much as I can, and last night I played soccer in the gym and then when everybody (including the other language students) left to go play outside, some students and I played an interesting soccer game which I wasn't very good at (only one person lost and it wasn't me so I'm happy). They had a "bonfire" last night, which was really more of a campfire. In my mind, a bonfire is big. I didn't go 'cause I was playing soccer, but they seemed like they were having fun. I then called my parents and talked with them for two hours in my room.

Speaking of my parents, they sent me a package which was really exciting. I now have slippers! Mom sent cookies as well, but the slippers really excited me...I'm not sure why.

I'm probably forgetting stuff, but I will leave you with this picture:

First Week

The first week got off to kind of a rocky start. I missed my flight in Frankfurt (that is the most annoying airport EVER!), so I had to wait for four hours until the next available flight. I tried to stay awake on the approach to Salzburg, but I just couldn't and I actually slept through the entire landing. Alejandro, who picked me up, was a little late, so I changed my money into Euros. I slept some more in the car on the way to Bogenhofen, and after I got all checked in, I slept through supper.

The next day we took our placement tests and I got put in the advanced class, although I was told I would have to do some catching up, but that it would be okay because others need to catch up as well. That's about all we did.

Then, on Wednesday, we had our first German class. It was taught by Amy, who is basically a teacher's aide. It went well, since she was just as scared of teaching us as we were of learning from her. After class, we registered for our international student ID cards and Austrian train passes. I also registered my computer so that I can now access the Internet in the library pretty much anytime I want.

We also participated in den Vorstellungsabend, which is basically just a program where each group (SMs, Thelogie, Gymnasium levels, Sprachshuler, etc.) introduce themselves through a skit of some sort. Ours was “The American is always right.” It was a gameshow with the following questions (the American answers are provided):

What is the capital of Austria?
Venice

Who is the president of Austria?
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Where is Austria located?
Somewhere near Afghanistan

What do Austrians eat?
Goat

What year did Austria go to the World Cup?
1939 (the host then comments, “No, Austria has NEVER been to the World Cup!)

What is Mozart known for?
His chocolate balls.

What animal is Austria known for?
Kangaroos

What is Austria shaped like?
A boot.

Name some famous Austrians.
Hansel and Gretel

What is the Austrian National Anthem?
The Sound of Music

What do Austrians speak?
Austrian

Who was the Austrian Empress who was assassinated?
Princess Diana

At this point in the sketch, Amanda stands up, yells that the answer is Cici, corrects the “boot shape” answerer and explains that 1939 was the World War, not the World Cup. The host asks her who she is and where she’s from. It is revealed that she is from Canada, so she is disqualified and the Americans win and sing We are the Champions.

Thursday, we had our first full day of classes. Because I'm in the advanced section, we have German, Writing, Reading, Culture, and Religion. Religion was by far the easiest class to understand. Thankfully classes are only in the mornings and we have most afternoons free. We have "arbeitsnachmittag," or work afternoon on Tuesdays and Fridays. My work detail is essentially landscaping, which, since it's Fall, means that we rake leaves.

So far, I've slept through breakfast almost every morning, listened to several sermons in German and traveled to both Braunau and Hagenau.

I will leave you with this picture of rock stacking: