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: