Last Week Before the Real Deal

After three long weeks, this week was my last week of German and the Orientation Program. Then next week we finally start classes! I finished german class on Wednesday, even though it really goes until Friday. You're allowed to skip two days and I hadn't missed any so I just decided to take today off and tomorrow I can't go because I will be on a train to Munich for Oktoberfest!

On Sunday, a group of us went to 1516, a pub in town that brews its own beer and plays sports, including American Football on Sundays. We watched the Giants and Eagles play on the big projector and the Giants won! It was nice to watch the game, drink a few beers, and eat a burger. It felt like a Sunday at home. Before that, we had gone to the Albertina, which has a Monet & Picasso exhibit. I really enjoyed it and the museum itself is beautiful! It had art as well as the Hapsburg staterooms so it was a nice change from the usual museums that are strictly art.

On Monday, I did laundry, something not easy here considering the washers are very small, completely in german, and the dryers have been broken for a week! I also have started working out again, using the gym upstairs but there is hardly any machines so I think I will be joining a gym near Westbanhof on Mariahilferstrasse, that isn't too far away. We went to ride as usual on Monday, and it was a lot of fun. We had apfelstruddel shots there because they were having a special offer and they tasted delicious - only in Vienna would they have apfelstruddel shots. We pregamed with a bunch of Italians whom I had met through Haus Erasmus and my german class. It was fun to hang out with people from another country.

On Tuesday, we didn't want to do the Library tour that was planned for the OK Program so I wandered around the city with Elizabeth in the afternoon while she ran a few errands. First we ate at Aldente right by school, a delicious little italian place. I got a really great panini. We also got gelato at Bertolotti's on Mariahilferstrasse (I got Nutella, Cookies, and Stracciatella flavors) which was so delicious! Then we wandered fro Mariahilferstrasse towards Museumsquartier. It was nice to just walk around the city and see a part of it that we hadn't seen much of.

On Wednesday, I had my last german class which was such a relief. Then we got noodles across the street from school. They were really good and at this place (I think its called Wok, its right next to the Roast, another delicious place to eat by school) you get a rewards card where after like 8 or so stamps you get free noodles! I also got a small salmon maki roll, which in Vienna you can find good sushi on the street, something i am LOVING. Then we went to Belvedere, a palace in Vienna with wonderful art museums in it. We had a fantastic tour guide, who had a PH.D. and was great at explaining how all of the art was connected and how the artists influenced each other. He made it very interesting. We saw some paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, & Gustav Klimt (who has a large exhibit here). We saw "The Kiss" which is Gustav Klimt's most famous painting. I liked the painting a lot before but after the tour guide explained the background behind it I like it even more.

Elizabeth, Emily, Me, Cori, and Sarika at Belvedere.

The beautiful gardens of Belvedere with Lower Belvedere at the bottom.

After Belvedere, I went with Cori & Elizabeth's group to the Opera where we saw "Eugen Onegin". But before that we went for a drink at Onyx Bar in the Do & Co Hotel that has a great view of Stephansdom which is right outside of the Hotel. The Opera House was beautiful and it was interesting to see an Opera. We had standing room tickets so you go early and save your space by tying a scarf on the banister in front of you. Then we went to get dinner, we got subway...it was not the same as home, they just don't do turkey here which is so sad. And then we came back and watched the opera. Luckily they have translations above you on a small screen but its hard to watch the screen and the opera at the same time! And our seats were on the side which made it hard to see as well, but overall it was a very good experience.

Onyx Bar with Cori & Elizabeth. 

Pete and I at the Opera.

The opera and orchestra. Saving our spots with scarves.

Today, I skipped German and worked out. Then I met Elizabeth at school to go back to her dorm to help her move her stuff out. She was only living in Haus Panorama for a month so now she has to move! But luckily her Mom & her Mom's friend arrived today so she'll be staying with them in the same hotel for the weekend. After we brought her stuff over to the hotel, we met her mom & friend and went to lunch on Mariahilferstrasse. We sat outside at this cafe and I ordered the risotto bolognese which was not risotto at all but meatballs with potatoes...it was quite delicious but not what I was expecting. Then we got bortolotti's gelato...I need to stop eating so much gelato once it gets cold out...and walked around. Then I went to Volksgarten near the city center which has beautiful rose bushes and sat on a bench and read a book for an hour or two, it was a beautiful day and I wanted to take advantage of the weather and the gorgeous parks here before I no longer have the opportunity! Then for dinner, I met back up with Elizabeth, her mom, and her mom's friend as well as Cori & John for diner in Prater, this huge park with Vienna's famous ferris wheel, which is one of the oldest in the world, built in 1897! We had dinner right under the wheel and then walked around the park where Vienna was having its own Oktoberfest! We had these pastries that were filled with a light marshmellowy center, they were very delicioius.

 Volksgarten

Vienna Oktoberfest.

Tomorrow I am off to Munich for Oktoberfest! I am sure I will have much to share about that adventure. I will be meeting up with some DGs! I will be staying with Kailey, Maya will be staying nearby, and Emerald will be coming for the day on Saturday. I cannot wait!

Breweries, Parliament, & Abbeys

This week was a busy one but a lot of fun! On Monday the OK Program had us do a Scavenger Hunt to learn the school and city better. We had to find out how much a small piece of the original Sacher-Torte is, dress up in traditional Austrian clothes and take a funny picture, and find out the opening hours of a Billa grocery store. It was quite an interesting afternoon. Then of course, we went to Ride Club on Monday night, as its Erasmus night, it was fun as usual. They play good music and everyone was dancing.

Wednesday, after german class (which has been actual torture, but only a few more days left!), Louise, Elizabeth and I met up to get lunch. We ate at a delicious Italian Restaurant in the city center. We ate outside and I had pumpkin soup and a pizza with ham, mushrooms, and artichoke hearts. It was fantastic. But then when we got the check, there was a "set menu" charge of 2.50 euros per person, typical tourist rip off but we loved the food so we didn't complain too much. Then we went to the Sacher Hotel's Café to get the original Sacher-Torte, a chocolate cake with a thin layer of jam that is famous to Vienna, and a Apfelstruddel to share between the three of us. It was busy so we took it to go and sat on a bench in the city center and ate our delicious desserts. We tried to tour Stephansdom with Cori after that but the woman said it closed at 4:30, even though our guide book says it is open until 10, so we are going to try to go back on Monday a little earlier instead. We went to Loco on Wednesday night, which was fun but I definitely prefer Ride because Loco was so crowded and you can't really dance there.'

Louise and I with our Sacher-Torte & ApfelStruddel!

Thursday, the OK Program took us to the Ottakringer Brewery, one of Vienna's most popular beer companies and the only one with a brewery in Vienna. We toured the Brewery and our guide described how they make it and how the process works. I have toured a few wineries so it was interesting to see the difference between the process of making wine and beer. Then our guide took us to the cellars where the old huge barrels are that they used to make the beer in before the new technology. Some people actually went in the barrels! There was a tiny opening that if you went in sideways you could fit. It was quite funny, I didn't believe the guide when he told us that you could actually get in there! After the tour we were able to go upstairs and try some of the beers that they make. They had 8 beers on tap and I tried a few of them. They were all pretty good but they had one that has a blackberry lemonade mixed into it that was really delicious!

The barrels that people crawled into!

On Friday we toured Parliament in the afternoon. The building is very old and beautiful. Sadly some parts of it were destroyed during WWII when the Allies bombed it because Hitler had people working out of the building but a lot of it was still intact. It was interesting to learn a little bit about the Austrian political system. The public is able to go and watch during the sessions so maybe I will go check it out one day.

The old state room of Parliament.

Friday night, I went out to dinner with Louise, Xander, Julian, and Abe. We went to this restaurant I found in my guidebook called Gasthaus Ubl. The book said it was a traditional Austrian restaurant with friendly staff and delicious traditional food where many locals go. We had a fantastic austrian meal. Julian, who is from the Netherlands, helped us a little bit with the menu because they didn't have an English version of the specials. Everyone really enjoyed their food. I had a glass of their house red wine and Schweinbraten mit Semmelknödel und salat which is a roast pork with gravy, a big dumpling, and a salad. I really enjoyed it. Then we went to Zanoni & Zanoni, one of Vienna's best ice cream places to get some dessert. I had one scoop of kaffee (coffee) and one scoop of shokolade (chocolate). It was definitely one of the best ice creams I've ever had, it was so creamy and rich in flavor.

Yesterday, the OK program took us to Melk. First we went to see Adlerwarte Kreuzenstein, a castle near by Vienna. Then they put on an Eagle Air Show, which was quite frightening with the birds flying over your head but interesting. Although the guy spoke in only german so we didn't get as much out of it as those who knew what he was saying. Then we took a bus to Melk but stopped on the other side of the Danube River to eat at a traditional Austrian restraunt. I had the fish that came with vegetables and herb potatoes, it was really good. Then everyone got apfelstruddel which was also delicious. We all had sturm as well, which is only offered here in the fall because it is like the pre-version of Wine, its fermented grape juice, very sweet but alcoholic. Its almost like a mixture of wine, juice, and champagne. After lunch we went to Melk where we toured the beautiful Melk Abbey that has been around for over 600 years. It was gorgeous and it was a beautiful day for it. Then we got drinks in the town of Melk before heading back home to Vienna.

Adlerwarte Kreuzenstein castle.

Louise and I infront of Melk Abbey.

Hannele, Brianni, Me, and Louise with the beautiful view from Melk Abbey.

Today I am meeting up with Elizabeth and Cori to go to the Albertina Museum where there is a Picasso and Monet exhibit. Tonight we're going to a bar in the city center called 1516 where they have American food and play American Football on Sundays. I'll be rooting for my NY Giants to beat the Philadelphia Eagles!

Palaces and Wine

I'm really loving my time here. I've made a good group of friends and I've been keeping busy with all of the orientation program activities and german class.

On Thursday we did a walking tour of Vienna. It was nice to see some things that I hadn't before and get to know the city better. We walked through the main area called Stephanplatz, where Stephansdom, St. Stephen's Vienna's famous Cathedral is. We walked inside quickly but a few friends and I definitely want to go back. We also saw the Museumquartier and a beautiful rose garden. The tour guide didn't talk very loudly so I wasn't able to hear as much as I wanted to but it was still a good tour. On Thursday night a bunch of us went to three other richmond students' apartment and then went on to Praterdome, a nice club on the other side of town. It was a lot of fun but we'll definitely have to go back. I had a few casualties that night. I lost one of my contacts and my knee is all bruised up from falling twice, that's what you get for wearing heels I guess! Its feeling much better though as are my feet which were swollen (in Spain I got tendonitis in my feet and ankles so I was worried it would be back but it went away after a day).

View of Hofburg Palace from the rose garden.

Stephansdom

Friday we had german and I had a test! It was only to see how much we have learned and wasn't graded but I was not feeling it. Then we had the afternoon off so I caught up on a few tv shows and made lunch. I made eggs and toast and put pesto on them, it was good! I'm so happy I found a genovese pesto because its just like the one that my mom and grandma makes and if you know me you know I swear by that pesto. Then I trekked halfway to another district to put money on my laundry card at a bank and did laundry for the first time. It was not easy, the instructions were in german! The dryer didn't dry my clothes all the way but luckily nothing shrunk. Then Friday night a group of 10 of us went to this Italian restaurant I found online that had good reviews. It was a beautiful night, we sat outside in a square in front of a beautiful white church, and had some delicious wine and fantastic italian food. It really hit the spot. I had a tortelini with ricotta and spinach in a creamy white sauce and the girls split a margarita pizza too. It was just want we were looking for, we will definitely be back.

Saturday, we had to meet at school at 7:30 in the morning to go to Graz. We toured Graz with a guide. It is so different from Vienna, it seems not as modern but it was a very cool city. We want to go back and explore it more! We also found this delicious chocolate shop there that sells Austrian chocolates, I had a few truffles and they were so good, they reminded me of the chocolate store in Richmond. Then we went to an Austrian Winery where we had a "traditional austrian meal" that was not what we were expecting. We thought we were going to get schnitzel or goulash but instead it was cold cuts and cheeses. It was good but not very filling. We then went up on this patio with a beautiful view of Austria and tried different wines from the region. It was a great day.

the palace in Graz

Me, Emily, Cori and Elizabeth at the wine tasting.

Today Elizabeth, Cori, (two friends from Bentley in Boston) and Natasha (an Italian friend) went to Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the Vienna Zoo. It was a beautiful day and its a very nice zoo so it was the perfect thing to do on a Sunday afternoon when almost everything in Vienna is closed as it is an official catholic state. We saw elephants, giraffes, great pandas, even penguins. For dinner a group of us met up in Stephanplatz, the center of the city, and went to a Japanese restaurant and got sushi. It was very good! and They put us in a room where we had to take off our shoes and sit around a low table. It was a fun Sunday evening.

Tuluba, the first elephant born in Vienna and a Great Panda.

This week should be very busy. I will be continuing my german, going to the opera, and i'm sure going out many nights.

30 degrees Celsius in Vienna!

It has been very hot here the past few days! On Sunday a bunch of us went to the Danube River where all the locals go in the summer to take advantage of the heat and relax for the day. It was beautiful, if only I had brought a bathing suit! Who knew that it would be so hot here? I'm going to buy one soon so that we can go to the hot springs when it gets cold!

On Monday I started my German class! We've been learning a lot. We learned how to greet each other and introduce ourselves. Austrian's often say Gruß (pronounced groose like loose) Gott! Which means Good Day. Today we learned the numbers and I was able to use my german to ask where the U4 is! Then in the afternoon we had our first OK Program things where they explained the Buddy Network Trips and we finally got our ID cards. On Mondays they always host parties at this place called Ride Club which is up the U6 with cheap drink specials for Exchange students. It was a lot of fun to dance with my new friends and meet even more new people!

Today after German I got some street noodles for lunch (similar to lomein and so delicious). Then Elizabeth, John, and I met the rest of our groups at Schönbrunn Palace to do a tour. It was a beautiful day for it! After waiting a while to get in, we toured the rooms of the Palace. It reminded me a lot of the Real Palace of Madrid that I saw this summer and the Palace of Versailles in France. Marie Antoinette was actually the daughter of the queen who decorated the palace here in Austria. Then we toured the huge gardens and climbed to the top to see the view and then get ice cream sundaes and water. Mine was a berry yogurt flavor that was deliciously refreshing.

 The gardens had flowers that resembled the Austrian flag!

 My new friends (Sarika, Louise, Elizabeth, John, Jeff, Alex, and Cori) at the top of the gardens with the Palace in the background.

The view from the top of the palace with Vienna in the background.

I am finally beginning to really settle in here. I've made a lot of new friends that I really like and my room is all set up. Vienna is a wonderful city to live in, I've always been a city girl and I'm really enjoying it. The u-bahn is very easy to use here and I like having so many things at my disposal. Vienna has so many nuances that make it special like all of the street food and I can't wait to experience more of them.

One of the views of my dorm and the street food kiosks outside of my u-bahn station.

Well, I need to be off to bed so I don't sleep through my alarm for German class tomorrow! Tschüss! (pronounced chooss, which means goodbye!)

Settling In

Friday we had our first meetings of the program. I met a lot of new people, a few kids from Bentley, some from Babson, some internationals, and Louise, a DG from U of Miami in Florida! Louise also lives in Erasmus and apparently she asked the desk how many exchange students were staying in the dorm and they said only 20! Usually Erasmus is the big party dorm but apparently they're doing construction this semester so we are out of luck.

Here is a picture of the area where WU is, its very 70's and very industrial.

On Friday I went to Haus Panorama, a dorm with lots of exchange students and we we pregamed there and I met even more people which was nice. Then we went to Loco Bar, a place were the OK Program for WU puts on different events for the exchange students throughout the semester. It was fun and was a great way to meet other students in the program!

Yesterday I was able to skype with my parents and with my roommate from Richmond, Chelsea. It was really nice to see and talk to familiar faces. Then I met up with a group of people and we explored the city center in the afternoon, I was able to cross a few more things off my shopping list which was nice. Then last night we went to Panorama again and pregamed on the 17th floor balcony, it had an incredible view! Then we went to a beach bar, Hernann, where everyone lounges around in chairs on a sandy bank of the Danube River.

Here is a picture of my new friends Louise and Alisa on the balcony!

Tomorrow I start my german class and our OK Programs.

About that German Class...

So now I really appreciate my time in spain because at least there I know a decent amount of spanish. I either feel lost or like a complete asshole when trying to do things like purchase things at a store or order food. But a lot of people seem to be pretty nice about it. Only one women was like "no!" when I asked if she spoke english. But another was very nice in line helping me get the cashier's attention, and she thanked me and Xander for helping her pick something up that she couldn't bend over to get (I'm assuming she has a back problem but she was just speaking loudly in german so who knows!). I used my dankas tonight though so I'm working on it...?

Yesterday Xander and I wandered around the city center and found a place that wasn't too pricey to eat dinner at. I order the menu of the day type of thing and it was a delicious cucumber soup and salmon on top of pesto pasta (for those of you who know me well, know how much i LOVE pesto), so I was very satisfied with my first meal out in vienna. Then I got a good 12 hours of sleep but had some really freaky dreams, thanks to my lumpy pillow and lack of sleep the night before.

Today Xander and I met up at my underground station and took it to a street nearby that has lots of shops and restraunts. We did some shopping for necessities that we couldn't pack and went to get noodles, they were so delicious. In vienna you will find tons of street kiosks or street shops that sells noodles, kebabs, etc. and they're very popular with the locals! I ended up having to go back to a store because I bought a straightener box that was the display (it was in german, how was I supposed to know?) But then I also went to get some food and made myself a decent dinner of chicken and peppers and carrots.

Then tonight Xander and I met up and went to a pub and had Austrian beers. They were pretty good! We were going to try to go to a club that some people had posted on the group about but when I talked to Abby, one of my DG sisters who studied here last semester, she said the subways close at midnight on the weekdays and you have to take a night bus and we weren't sure we were ready for that yet.

After talking to Abby today I am feeling much better. She told me that it will be easier to meet people once orientation starts on Monday. I also just finished facebook chatting with Leah, another one of my DG sisters  who is studying in Madrid, and she confirmed the same thing. It's nice to have a sympathetic ear who has been through what you're going through only a week ago!

Hopefully tomorrow after our information session I will have another friend or two.

Safely Arrived in Vienna!

Well, I arrived safely. I got about 2 hours of sleep on my flight to london since it left around 6 and then I got about an hour and a half of sleep on my flight to vienna, so I'm feeling good. The vienna flight was a little late but not too bad. London Heathro is a bitch to navigate when transferring flights, let me tell you. Especially when you're carrying heavy bags.

Once I arrived, my buddy, Clemens, picked me up. What a relief! He drove me to Haus Erasmus, the dorm I'm staying in and I picked up my key. Then we went to some district department where I registered myself with my district (7th). Clemens made fun of me for not crossing my 7's, apparently no one here will know what a 7 with out a line across it means. Who knew? Then he was the best buddy ever and took me to get towels, sheets, shampoo, a map, and an austrian phone! We also got a coffee, the iced chai latte was pretty good. He was so helpful. And it turn out he also wants to be a Consultant! We seem to have a lot in common.

When I got back to my room, I discovered a note from my roommate, Eunae, who is from Korea. She was here last semester as well so she is "on travel" while orientation goes on. I'm not gunna lie, I'm feeling pretty isolated right now. The dorm is dead silent and it doesn't seem like there are too many people here yet. I wish I had a roommate at least to keep me company. Maybe I would have liked an apartment situation better? But the dorm is well equipped, with a bathroom, fridge, and lots of storage space.

I need to start unpacking some things so I can find shoes to wear out to dinner. I'm meeting Xander, another Richmond student, for dinner in the city center! I'm so glad that he suggested this because I would probably be curled in a ball in the fetal position bawling if he didn't. That's what 3 hours of sleep, isolation, and a new environment will do to you I suppose. Tomorrow I need to get more things and get some groceries.

Auf Wiedersehen America!

Ah I'm freaking out! I leave tomorrow for Vienna! My flight is at 6 but I'm leaving for the airport around 3 in the afternoon. My bags are all packed. 2 Medium suitcases at exactly 50 lbs. each, a carry on, and my longchamp bag....too much? who knows.

I'm sure I'll be a funny sight in the airport dragging all these around. I'm also freaking out because the housing office closes at 12 on Wednesday and I arrive at 12:10, meaning I can't get my key...My Buddy from the BuddyNetwork is supposed to be able to get it for me if I can't make it but he isn't answering....So first freak out of the trip begins! Also, I realized I booked a return trip from Prague that actually leaves from Vienna....and its non-exchangeable & non-refundable, so had to book a new return train. Today has not been the best day, hopefully tomorrow is better! I have to finish getting some things together before I go to a farewell dinner with my parents. It's at this place called Rod's in Morristown and we're eating in an old train car, very Austrian if I do say so myself.

My next blog post will be coming from Vienna! Hopefully I will have good news that I arrived safely and was able to get into my room!