A Few More Photos to Share

Architechture in Graz

The Opera house in Graz

All of us out at Propellor enjoying the super bowl

The main square of the city

Architecture and the mountain in the background with a fresh layer of snow

My Week So Far

This week, I am feeling the frustrations of being in another country with a dialect that is different from my language that I feel I'm just not quite completely grasping. The systems between the universities here are so different. At U.S. universities, housing and everything is taken care of when you enroll and you just have to send in a few forms. Here, on the other hand, the housing companies are completely different from the university. You can't write a check here. You have to either pay in cash or have the money wired. Also, we had to sign up today for Austrian health insurance (it's mandated by law -- everyone here has it), but the bad part is I'm covered under my parents health insurance in the U.S. and the U.S. government requires that when students go abroad they buy some international health insurance. I am triple covered right now. Ugh. So I had to pay for the international health insurance, and now I find out I have to pay 25 Euro/month for my health insurance here.

Another frustration is the language. Kirsten and I have been slacking a bit on speaking German. It it just so easy to come back to the dorm and speak English because everyone does. But we decided that we were going to try and speak German because classes are getting more difficult when we only speak 4 hours of German each day. So, we came back here and started speaking German, and we were told by some of our friends that they don't understand our German. I don't know how it's possible. When I speak German in class or to my roommate, I am quite understood. Oh, I'm sure my language will get better, it is just frustrating today. Yesterday, for me was worse. Kirsten is having her bad day today.

I just found out about 20 minutes ago that Graz has a Hooters, yes a Hooters, just like the U.S. Also, when we were walking around downtown yesterday, we found a Chi-Chi's mexican restaurant. It was really cold walking around yesterday, but today it is even colder. Tonight we have a social with the other international students and our buddies(mentors) and then I think we're going to go out a bit to celebrate Trevor's 21st birthday. 21 isn't a big birthday here, but we think that Trevor still needs a taste of what we would be celebrating if we were back home.

Okay, that's good for now. Oh yes, I did get to watch the Superbowl Sunday night. It got done here at 4am. Needless to say, we were a bit tired the next day when we had to wake up for classes that started at 9! I hope everyone is staying warm back home!!!! :)

Austrian Nightlife

The previous two nights, Friday and Saturday, Kirsten and I were able to explore the way Austrians pick each other up in the bar. We went out to a dance club, both nights, called Gekko. It is very interesting watching the young people here interact. It is quite different from the U.S.

I feel that in the U.S. women pretty much control the bar (i.e. in big groups, guys come to them, etc.) and guys go out in pairs looking for girls. In Austria, it seems to be completely opposite. (Now remember, it was my first weekend here.) Guys and girls both dance here to songs, but guys dance in big groups, while girls seem to pair off more. And not only do guys dance in big groups, but when Kirsten and I tried to join them, it was like they didn't want us to. The guys always had their arms around each other. Kirsten kept saying, "Oh, look! They love each other so much!" I think eye contact in bars is a big thing here. Austrian men seem to be shy/intimidated by girls. There are a couple that would have a pick up line, but then they wouldn't know what to say next. It was a bit entertaining.

Last night, the Austrian girls didn't seem to like us all that much. We're chalking it up to being American and actually being able to dance, but we're going to have to figure out this one further. Everytime that we would leave or go on the dance floor, very subtly, but obviously an Austrian girl would shove or elbow us. It was so odd. I feel it was quite similar to catty American girls, so I'm really not worried about it. They were just jealous. :)

So yes, it was quite interesting. Friday night we stayed out until about 3am and then last night we got in at 4:30am. The clubs open here around 9pm and are open until about 6 or 7am. It is the craziest thing. At 4:30 we were so tired, we just couldn't dance or move anymore, but we looked around and the party wasn't dying. My mentor and her friend came out with us and when we were leaving, they were going to leave, but once we went outside they said they were going to go to the next bar. I don't know how they do it, but I'm eventually going to be able to! I'm going to have to build up my stamina!

Okay, I can't think of anything else about the nightlife here to say. But I do get to watch the Superbowl today! They're showing it at a bar not far from where I'm living at 10pm tonight. Go Saints!!! (Now, if only I had my Mackenzie jersey here with me.)

Almost a week

Here is a picture of my roommate, Astrid, and I at a social for our international group. A group of us out on the 2nd night at the classiest bar I've ever been to.

They have toilet paper in every color. Kirsten and I chose pink.

A view of Graz

A picture of Graz

So, laying here in bed at 4am I have just realized that I have not blogged from Graz yet! I did just get a constant stream of internet today, so it isn't completely my fault! It is wonderful here in Graz. I absolutely love it! It is better than I thought it would be. I have met some of the nicest people. They are willing to help me with anything and everything. My roommate is very nice and always is willing to do something. Life is a bit crazier here than in the U.S. when it comes to going out. Yesterday and today, for example, Kirsten (the girl from Eau Claire I'm with) and I took naps in the early evening in preparation for our nights out on the town. Young people don't go out here until 11pm or 12am and stay out until 5 or 6am. Needless to say, we are having a hard time adjusting to that. We have typically been going out around 10pm and coming back around 2:30am. We are just used to the American way I guess!

Class is going really well. I'm taking the cultural immersion class everyday from 9am-12:30pm. My professor really seems to like Americans and likes to speak with us alot and ask us questions about our culture. It's actually quite interesting how interested he is in American culture. At the university here, people can actually study American/English culture and declare it as a major. I think that's really cool. Okay, well now it is 4:30am and I am quite tired. I will try and keep up better with this. I did get a cell phone and have been in contact with my mom more often than anything. So if you want to get a quicker version of how I am doing, you can always ask her :)

I hope all is well for everyone...oh yea, it's snowing here. :-P

In Munich!

It's currently 10:33 am where I am now. I'm waiting for my last plane to Graz. It takes off in about an hour and a half. Currently, it is 3:33am back home when I am typing this. I am soooo excited!

The flight over was...long. I sat next to a Croatian women that did not speak German and spoke limited English. She had leg cramping and kept trying to get me to help her even though most of the time I didn't understand. I don't think she understood that when I had my earplugs in watching a movie or listening to music that I just wanted "me" time. During the flight, I realized that I forgot my extra pairs of contacts back home and my stuff to get around campus that I recieved from the university. I will have to email my Mom and ask her to send me all that stuff! Oh, the joys of packing a day before I leave. I just have to say I'm glad that the long leg of my trip is over with.

I hope everyone is sleeping well. I'll post once I get to Graz! :)

Now less than a week away!

I am exactly 6 days away from my adventure beginning! I am sooo excited! I have had bits of anxiety creep up here and there, but I feel that as soon as I am organized with my packing, I will feel a huge sense of relief. I have to just keep reminding myself that Austria is an industrialized country, so if I forget anything, I will be able to buy it there. :)

This is going to be an extremely busy week for me. I am in Wausau today and tomorrow, then heading to Eau Claire on Thursday. Friday and Saturday during the day I will be up in Minnesota visiting my Dad and then returning Saturday night. Then on Sunday, I have laundry and packing to do. Then Monday, Mom, Mark, and I leave for Chicago around 9am. Whew...makes me winded just thinking about it!

That's all for now! My next post will probably be from Europe!!!!! Bis dann! (Until then!)

Less Than a Month Away

(A picture of Graz -- where I'll be going to school.)

I am exactly 27 days away from my trip to Austria. I will be flying out Feb 1st from Chicago, connecting in Munich, and arriving in Graz about 10 hours later. I will be there for 5 months (returning July 6th).

I can't even describe how excited I am. At this point, I have felt no nervousness. Over the course of the semester, I will be blogging on here to let everyone know how I'm doing, what I'm doing, and posting pictures of my trip. This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!