Oh, my sweet Wien

Hello all :)

This weekend was spent with old and new friends roaming around in Vienna for the first time and how Vienna stole my heart.

    This past weekend I went to Vienna! I have a friend, Connor, from the University of Arkansas studying at a business school in Germany for the semester as well. This pa

st weekend, he and his friends were visiting Austria (Vienna and Salzburg) and this seemed like a good time for me to take my first trip out of Graz since being here! About a week ago, I had booked a bed at the same hostel they were staying at and told my friends here they should come with me! Nobody really took the bit since it was still our first week here. So, I didn’t get much accomplished in planning and had just planned on me traveling alone and tagging along with Connor’s travel plans. Then at the last minute 2 friends of mine decided to come and then I found out that 3 other girls were also going to the same hostel and wanted to hang out! It worked out perfect. We rode the 2 ½ hour train ride to Vienna from Graz right after our intensive German class on Friday and found ourselves amid the grand buildings of Vienna by 5pm! It was so perfect.

      We might have gotten a bit lost in getting there but while the herd of us stood at many a corner pointing at the signs and maps – there was always a helpful face who was happy to offer assistance in perfect English. We finally found the hostel (Wombats Lounge) which was welcoming and in the perfect location, right off a U-bahn stop and a short walk away from the center of Vienna. I even got upgraded into a smaller room and with friends! I met up with Connor shortly after arriving and he was pleasantly surprised at my 5 person gathering of females close in tow in comparison to his traveling band of three. We bonded fast and soon went out in search of some infamous Weiner snitzel J While the whole group did not make it to the same restaurant for dinner, it was nice to sit and share commonalities with Connor as we explained campus life to our friends new and old (old, as in known them for 3 weeks!). This same group (Connor, his two friends, me, and my two friends) then bought a few bottles of champagne and trekked over to the city’s Town Hall located right across the street from the city theater building. The town hall has a huge ice skating rink in front of it! I’m not talking like a little oval that you skate in circles around and become cold and cranky after the 7th skate around – I’m talking two oval rinks and little mini – tracks for the more experienced skaters to take on the twists and turns at a higher speed. It was all lit up with pink and purple lights and the Town Hall proudly shown in a gold aura onto the ice below. It was majestic, to say the least. We fell, we laughed, we looked ridiculous and I wouldn’t have had it any other way! After this we all then went to a bar and danced the night away knocking elbows with locals and tourists who chose this special weekend to share with Vienna as well. It was sad half the group decided to not take part in the Weiner snitzel nor the epic ice skating but those of us that did partake in the festivities grew very close in an experience that no figurative language can accurately describe.

         It was a late night and early morning of sightseeing. We decided to start the day among produce and antique thrift stores located in the famous Vienna Naschmarkt. It was so fun to taste olives and sweets then to smell the roses and the fish at the next stand. My ears perked at the different accent of German being spoken and the new words I hadn’t heard before. I saw a nice looking woman standing at a small fruit stand – noticeably smaller than her neighbors. I bravely went over and asked in German if I could have one apple and she responded quite nastily that she only sold her apples by the kilo – which is a lot of apples! I looked sad and was about to turn away until an older woman behind me heard the conversation and said I could have one of her apples since she was buying a kilo! It was precious! I offered to thank her and even tried to hug her out of happiness. That I had had this whole conversation in German and even had witnessed such a wonderful act of kindness was kind of awesome. I was a happy girl for a while after this. And yes, the apple was awesome too. The food portion then turned into a thrift store and I hustled an old man to sell me a wonderful leather shoulder bag for just 20 euros! Quite the steal for such a beautiful bag.

      After, we then took the U-bahn to the St. Stephan’s Cathedral located in the heart of Vienna’s Old Town – which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the quintessential image of Vienna when you think of the skyline. The Romanesque basilica was consecrated in 1147 but was badly damaged in a fire in 1258 and then again in 1683 by a Turkish siege and once again in 1945 by flying sparks. This cathedral has been in a constant state of restoration it seems! We hiked the 343 winding and narrow stairs halfway up (whole tower is 449 ft./136.7 m) the tower and through our panting and one girl having a semi-panic attack we made it! We thoroughly enjoyed the amazing view from the top. You could see everything! It was awesome. On the way back down and then I noticed one the inlet windows looked out perfectly onto the green dome of a nearby church with locks all along the screen covering the window. It was beautiful and made me smile at how sometimes all it takes is just little things catch you more off guard than the actual thing you are striving to get to.

       We then wandered the area surrounding the Cathedral looking for a cute little coffee shop that a book had recommended off the beaten tourist path – Kleines Cafe. Coffee houses are an indispensable social part of middle class and intellectual life since the 19th century for the Viennese. Apparently, when the Turks fled the city in 1683 they left behind a large quantity of coffee beans and this supposedly launched an epic Viennese tradition! So, one just had to enjoy a common type of Viennese coffee in a hipster café nestled between an old basilica and a dreary February afternoon.

          After this we made a short walk over to the imperial palace of the Habsburgs residence in the winter – the Hofburg Palace. Their summer palace was just a few miles away! Same city! We went into the Museum of the Austrian National Library located in the State Hall of the Hofburg. It was rather expensive (like everything in Vienna) to get into, so we were expecting some grandness – and oh, man did our jaws drop when we got to the top of the stairs and saw the books stacked to the ceilings of which were elaborately decorated in Frescos! The baroque State Hall is one of the (world’s) most beautiful historical libraries I have ever seen. Emperor Charles VI (1685-1740) had ordered the construction of this for his Court Library. It was beautiful and there was a special exhibit about the children of Austria and the children of the Imperial Habsburg Family in all languages which made things easy to follow and appreciate. In another section of the Hofburg Palace is another museum dedicated to the Imperial Treasury. The other European Enthusiast in my group and I decided to pay a fortune to get into the museum to view the treasury displays of the Habsburgs power. We were the only ones of the 6 who went in – and it was epic. We saw the Imperial crown of Rudolf II, made in Prague with matching orb and scepter. The Cradle of the King of Rome made of silver gilt casually in the same room as a Portrait of Marie Louise! An Agate bowl from the 4th century and a Narwhal horn measuring 8 ft.! Ceremonial robes of the Norman kings, including the Coronation mantle of Roger II of Sicily – kind of a big deal. Yet, the most outstanding item among the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire is the Imperial crown, thought to be made for Otto I (in 962!!!) in the monastery on the island of Reichnau or maybe Milan. The Habsburgs were such an affluent and important imperial family in European history – it would be a sin to not go view their massive display of their power via gold, jewels, mementoes, and holy relics collected by the family. I loved it :)

      Despite being exhausted, we decided to keep going on our adventures! We went to a little bookstore off the beaten path again – Shakespeare and Company Bookstore. It was a precious little bookstore with old and new books that you could sit and read or pay and take for another day. I read a book about Vienna while my friends searched for English words while you could hear the St. Stephan’s Cathedral chiming from outside as the hour changed. It was perfection and it reminded me again how amazing traveling, reading, and experiencing every moment can be if you are still and observant enough

to see it.

         After this we went to a local bar just around the corner and congratulated ourselves on our busy day with 2 pitchers of sangria. Because Sangria is the national drink of Austria and everything… nein, nein, nein. We then went to a very fancy bar that was recommended – First Floor. We were asked if we had reservations as our sore bodies rolled in and we had to pay a euro for them to check our coats – which was mandatory! It was beautiful but maybe on another occasion J We had the cheapest mix drink they had on the menu while we sat at the bar and laughed about how it wasn’t quite the best place for a starving student in Europe to go! We all vowed to go back once we were wealthy enough to afford their house martini! We headed back to the hostel to meet up with more friends who had come just for Saturday night. We all hung out in our room and then we went out to this bar called Loco. It was really fun despite my pure exhaustion from the constant state of GO we had been experiencing.

          Sunday we woke up early and filled our tummies with unlimited breakfast and packed a lunch. We had planned to be on the train home at 4 so we could spend the day doing things we didn’t get to do the day before. It was the only day of the weekend where the sun was actually shining!! It was gorgeous and Vienna definitely looks better with a bit of sun on her cheeks! One of the girls we were with was desperate to go to the grand Belvedere palace complex a little out of the city center area. Four of us in total made the trek out there and everyone but she decided to not pay the museum ticket but instead to enjoy the sun and the grounds that were surrounding the palace. Belvedere was the summer residence of Austria’s greatest military leader Prince Eugene of Savoy – most known for freeing Vienna from the Turkish siege in 1683 and defeating the Turks in the 1697 Battle of Zenta. The palace is vast and quite impressive! There are actually two palaces of the Belvederes, major representations of the Baroque Era, built by the architect Lukas von Hildebrandt in 1716 and the second as a place for “festivities” in 1722. The museum boasts of works by Hans Makart, Anton Romako, Ego Schiele, Moritz von Schwind, and especially the large collection of Gustav Klimt (The Kiss and The Bride).

        After this we went to the legendary Schloss Schonbrunn – another UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. This palace used to be the favored hunting ground of the Habsburg family and their summer residence. This place is epic – it looks like a village! Huge buildings in a square formation with servant’s quarters, stables, gardens, and anything else that you can think! It was crazy. We popped out our sack lunches and let the sun and awe sink in a little bit. We decided to splurge on the Grand Tour since we didn’t experience the artwork of the Belvedere. The Grand Tour consisted of 40 rooms out of the 1,440! It all reminded me of Versailles except a slightly different twist… much like how Vienna reminded me of Paris but something just isn’t quite right when saying that. Crystal chandeliers, rich fabrics from all across the world, and such a grand presence was vivid in every single room we went through. The apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (SiSi) are followed by three ceremonial rooms decorated by the Austrian painter, Josef Rosa, and two Chinese chambers follow! The Maria Theresia apartments are so elaborate and the nicest rooms on the tour. She had a Blue Salon where there is Chinese tapestries hanging and is the room where the negotiations were held that led Karl I (last of the Habsburgs) to abdicate on the 11th of November in 1918. The Vieux-Lacque Room with some crazy oriental paneling, the Napoleon room (my favorite), and the crazy nice Millionenzimmer with these intense rosewood paneling and Indo-Persian themes painted on the walls. The Great Gallery where they held all the balls was impressive and again brought me back to the Versailles Paris in an odd way. We didn’t have time experience the just as intense garden surrounding the palace called th

e Schlosspark. Next time!

         That concluded my time in Vienna for the weekend. Good times spent with old friends from Arkansas, new friends who came with him, and new friends that I’m honored to spend the next 6 months with. As the train ride home sped through the Austrian Alps, the same ones I was going through just a few weeks earlier, I became emotional thinking about how lucky I am to have this experience. No wasted moments or opportunities. When I was winding around the Alps last time there was snow everywhere and the clouds hung low now the sun was shining and the grass was green… Austria and I are ready for spring to be on our cheeks!

Wish you could have come along! Venice for Carnaval this weeked :)

Bis Bald My faithful followers!

Mal

Geburtstag, Deutsch Class, and my Graz

Gutentag faithful followers! 

I am still alive and will apologize up front for my failure in doing this in a timely fashion. The moments that are free are spent online or coffee shop sitting on facebook and such and not on here! I will pay more attention with the months to follow :)

AHH! So much has happened. I had to make a list of all the things I want to talk about because it's so much. Yikes. 

So my Geburtstagggg! Geburtstag means birthday in German and it sounds very gross so I enjoy using it as much as possible.

I had made some friends at my orientation that I have been hanging out with all the time it seems. I make friends very fast in general and being an echange student just increases the speed even more! My friends and I, in total 5, all went to town the day of my birthday. It was so fun! We roamed around and it was almost like we had a photoshoot because one of the girls brought her fancy camera out for the day too! We roamed all around taking the tourist pictures while we laughed and happily spoke English. We got Doner Kebabs - which is a broke college student's most favorite delicacy. It is pita, veggies, and lamb or chicken with this amazing spicy sauce and it's huge and just typing about it makes me want one and I've already eaten one today! haaa! We enjoyed these and explored the city a little more! It was the first day that the sun actually came out too! It's been a bit dreary here which reminds me of what the woman on the plane said! So, the sun was a special birthday present :) After frolicking the afternoon away we all parted ways to prepare for the night. We all went over to my friend's apartment and made dinner together with wine in hand. It was so nice! It was about 8 of us and we had all met each other just that week! I couldn't have asked for a better birthday dinner with new friends and new adventures ahead. After dinner we went to the English speaking pub - for my 5th time that week! So many people were there to celebrate my birthday and presents were exchanged! Even the bartenders (who think I'm hilarious) gave me presents! I have the best Erasmus buddy who made me a necklace with one of the landmarks of Graz and a book on how to be Austrian. She kept saying, "how do you have this many friends after one week?"! HA! It was funny and hard to explain that it's probably not me but the beer and socializing for why so many people came! Regardless - it was a perfect night spent with friends and I couldn't have asked for a better geburtstag :) 

The next day was a little rough starting since I might have enjoyed the geburtstag party too much! I met up with my friends and we all went to this crazy thing that Graz has - Insel an der Mur, which means Island on the Mur. The Mur is the river that Graz sits on and it is quite a nice little river. So, there is a huge floating glass building on it which probably has more than just a cafe going on for it in the summer, but in the winter it's just a cafe. All 4 of us just sat there laughing about the night before and talking about the past and future. It was nice and reminded me of my many cafe sitting times in Europe last adventure. We were there all afternoon with the hopes of going to a museum but it didn't quite happen ha! Saturday was a day of recovery and chilling.

Monday my German Intensive class started! I live right by campus so I think I scored big on that convenience! A lot of people live far from the main part of Graz, and when I say far I am speaking in European terms because you can get anywhere in Graz via the bus/tram system in like 15 minutes! So "far" as in not perfect walking distance like me. I rolled out of bed and had a quick 5 minute walk to my class and happily saw a familiar face - my friend from the University of Arkansas who is also studying abroad here is in my class! She has had 3 more German classes than I have so that was surprising to see her at my same level. My teacher is a funny man named Herwig and you can tell he really loves teaching! He doesn't dress like a normal teacher haha I enjoy him despite only undestanding 70% of what he says! He draws all the time to help explain things which I like. I am finding the course to be rather hard though. Hard as in I probably need to study outside of the class more than I do and focus a little more :) But with that being said I'm glad I'm at this level to be pushed and to be confused because that's sometimes a good thing! I can see how that wouldn't work all the time in a learning atmosphere. Let's hope it does in this one! hah! Classes are from 9 to 12:15 so we have all afternoon to hang out and explore Graz! Which is kinda awesome! Everyone finds my building quite convenient as well and every day we have spent eating lunch in my little hang out area of my dorm. Have I spoken about my dorm? It the classic American style dorm with a kitcen for a floor and then my roommate (who still hasn't shown up!!) and I share a room with a bathroom. The kitchen scares me and I haven't used it but it seems to be the social hang out area and maybe if I had any cooking skills or even like utensils to eat with or a pot to cook things in it would also be a social area for me too! I'm such a mess that I just have been making sandwiches and eating cheese in my room! Ha! I might need to give in and buy some pasta and a pot? I'll keep you updated on how this one goes. I think I'm becomng quite malnourished...

Tuesday I met up wih Lilith and her friends for trivia night. OMG. Y'all.. I'm so bad and it's in English! It was a little different this time since one of the parts was song lyrics. You listened to a song and then had to write down the next words after they stopped playing it and all of them except one was in English and I was so confident in them as I was singing along! I finally felt like I could contribute! So, I was all pumped and took the pen and wrote about half the answers and we get our thing back and I didn't get any right! It was sooo funny until I realized that one of the girls was actually kinda mad! ha! Oops! Stupid American

On Wednesday, my friends and I went to the Kunsthaus Museum. It is a modern art museum right along the river and the buidling is this weird huge terd thing with tentacles! It's really awful and apparently nobody really likes it but I guess it's different and eye catching! Apparently the architects call it "the Friendly Alien". It's so ugly. It was a great museum... well, I guess I don't really appreciate modern art but I did enjoy myself. On the top floor there was this glass area that looked out onto the infamous Schlossberg and the river. It was a beautiful sunny day and we just sat and enjoyed some wifi and the classic austrian imagery :) Later that night, my big group of friends all went to the English pub again and we had so much fun! It was  great because I knew more people and met more. 

Friday was one of my good friend's birthday - 20 years old - and we all went out to a nice sit down Italian restaurant. It was about 10 of us and so nice to have pasta! I haven't had a nice sit down meal really since I've been here. It was very relaxing to just sit and enjoy each other and celebrate another geburtstag! After dinner we decided to try out a new bar on a different part of town. It was called "Brot und Spiele" which literally means "Bread and Games" haha We were all joking that we were going to a brothel since where my friend lives is by the train station and train stations in Europe are notoriously the bad part of town. We got there and it was not at all what I was expecting! It was this huge building with billiard tables everywhere and dart games. Which, nobody even played we were just wanting to try a new place! It was funny and our huge group finally found a spot to sit and celebrate. After this we went to a dance club. This was our first experience in a club in Austria and the theme of the night was "90's" but it was so cute because they spelled it "90ties" haha we all got a chuckle from that while we sang along to our childhood songs. It was very fun!! 

Saturday was an awesome day! We woke up kinda early and it was a beautiful day!! We finally went to the Schlossberg! (Schloss means "castle" and Berg meand "mountain") It overlooks Graz and was fomerly a fortified hill that is 1,500 feet above sea level. It was leveled in 1809 by terms of a treaty Napolean dictated to the defeated Austria. You can take a cable railway to the restaurant on top or just climb which is what we did! It only takes like 20 minutes or so to walk up it. At the top, you can look at the entire city! It was amazing to be up there with the sun shining. I might have gotten a little emotional thinking that I get to live here for the next 6 months! There is also a Clock Tower and all these interesting things - even an outdoor theater and Japanese gazebo. I loved it and would like to go back :) After this we had lunch at this seafood deli type restaurant and got filled with yummy fish and chips Austro style. We then went the Palace Museum in town. It houses the cultural history collection of the Universalmuseum Joanneum and a great collection of very interesting gems from the royal family! The baroque interior of the Herberstein Palace (which now houses the museum) is a wonderful setting that makes the gems and trinkettes even more elaborate. It was modern too! They had all these multimedia type things that captured your attention when drifting a bit after the 5th fancy goblet of some prince. I loved the mixing of the modern with the old, beautiful palace. While we were leaving we ran into a friend and they were exploring the city as well and convinced us to follow them! They took us in this huge department store that had 7 floors! They promised us the surprise at the top would be worth it and we all followed them up to the very top floor and it was a patio and cafe that was among the red roofed houses and buildings. You could see the Town Hall and the Schlossberg! Everything. It was epic and I'm totally making people go back there with me. We could see it from the Schlossberg and were so jealous of the fancy dressed women relaxing in the sun on this elaborate patio and then we were there! So awesome. After this we decided nothing could top it so we parted ways and promised to meet up for more geburtstag fun for my friend. Apparently my phone isn't working - as I can't make phone calls or text people for some annoying reason!! I didn't realize this until I had gotten off the bus and was trying to call my friend to tell me where to go after I got off the bus! Ah! If anyone knows me - I do not do well in these type of situations. I was trying to stay cool but I had no idea which way to go since I had only been there once and in the daylight! She doesn't live in that great of an area and it was about 8 on a Saturday!! I was begging the stars that someone would call me and I could figure things out but it didn't happen and after strolling the streets for 15 minutes I decided I looked pathetic and possibly asking for trouble. I decided to get back on the bus and go to the main area and just wait for someone to realize that I wasn't on time and to call me. While at the main area, I convinced myself this would be a good opportunity to speak some Deutsch so I approached a man and asked to use his phone - right, I know! Why the hell did I approach a man?! I have no idea. He was so awful and told me absolutely not! It was mortifying and I just sunk back on the bench by myself not knowing what to do! Then! My friend finally called and all was fine but it was sooo horrible! I was a mess but I didn't shed one tear :) I guess that means I'm getting tough out here! Once the trauma shock wore off, I was able to enjoy a home cooked meal with friends before we headed out the english pub we always go to! haha classic. I sound like maybe I go there too often, yeah? It was such a fun night and I actually stayed at the bar until it closed enjoying a beer with the bartenders and another friend. Turns out my favorite bartender is from one the towns in Ireland that I have visited! Wexford! It was this sweet town south of Dublin and so many great memories there. Small world. 

Today we got up rather early again to go to another museum! We had purchased a 24 hour pass for a really good price so we thought we might as well use it. We went to the Natural History Museum Joanneum Quarter. We had heard great things about it! It was very interactive and awesome! It was brand new with great exhibition space and it houses fascinating exhibitions by all the natural sciences departments of the Universalmuseum Joanneum! I loved it! So many crazy things that I couldn't even appreciate. 

After this we grabbed food and I came back and napped the day away. I had great plans to be productive and sadly the only thing I'm going to accomplish today is this entry! So be very greatful that my mom has been pestering me about it all day - or else this wouldn't have happened!

Sorry about the length! Pat on the back for those that made it this far! 

Happy and healthy here :)

Bis Bald faithful followers

Sprechen Sie Englisch?

After many hours in the air - I have finally arrived in my new favorite place of Austria!

It is my first few days here already and things have been all over the place with Mallory Moments at there finest :) So, sit back and relax because we are defintely not in Kansas!

I had mentally prepared for my journey across the pond to be very very dysfunctional and horrible. I had a plane from KC to Chicago then Chicago to London then London to Vienna where I was to take a bus to the train station in Vienna (not by the airport) then take a train 2 1/2 hours south to Graz. Alone. Now, wouldn't you think that al this would be horrible?! And it wasn't at all! I had not a single issue. In fact, all of my flights were early and a helping hand was always near to lift my 35 lb carry-on suitcase (which was bright pink and very American, damnit). The 8 hour flight to London was actually empty since as the stewardess told me after I looked at her with fear in my eye at how little people were on the plane that, "nobody wants to go to Europe in the winter." Duly noted after being here a few days. Holy crap is it cold! Anyways - so I arrive at the train station in Vienna and realize there is another young girl who is also illy prepared for the cold with huge suitcases and another young girl who had a big back pack and looked friendly. I approached her and spoke my first of many "Sprechen Sie Englisch?!" She smiled and said yes and our English attracted the other young girl. We ended up all sitting together and talking for the entire 2 1/2 hours on the ride to Graz where they were both going to be students at. 

When we arrived, I met up with my Erasmus Buddy, Lilith, who took my hot mess of a self to my dorm to put my bags in my room and then we went and ate. It was this cute, dark bar with smoke everywhere from the hipster youngins and I enjoyed my first real meal over the past 2 days. I think I was overcompensating for being so tired but I couldn't stop talking and Lilith and I got aong so well. Sharing stories and enjoying each others company while I was dying to sleep at the same time. She speaks better English than I do! 

Finally, we left the bar and she walked me back to my dorm. I was hoping to see my roommate - who has yet to surface - but was disappointed. I unpacked my things and tried to figure out the wifi, also leading to disappointment. 

I woke up the next morning (Tuesday) completely unaware of where I was. I gathered my thoughts and unfortunately had not gotten over my jetlag. It was a rough day. I went downstairs to meet up with Lilith since one must register in the city of Graz within the first 3 days of their arrival. She was running late and so for some reason I thought that nobody else would be coming through the doors that morning so the first girl I saw I ran up to her and assaulted her with a hug and loud expressions of English. The girl was shocked and politely said with a german accent that she had no idea who I was! haaaa! It was not Lilith but another person's Erasmus buddy! We exchanged names and I apologized for the harrassement so early in the morning and then Lilith showed up ten minutes later! We went all around town buying things that I hadn't thought of packing and talking! We hung out all day and then we went out our own ways. We were to meet up later on in the night at a bar in town that only speaks English! As a way for Austrians to have a place to learn English in a real setting - such as a bar equipped with English bartenders and brands. She told me the address and I hoped that I could get myself there at 7! And I totally did!! I wandered around a bit in the dark but I managed to get to the bar from my dorm within 15 minutes walking time! How impressive am I? Navigating my way in the dark, alone, and my second day in this town. It was an accomplishment. Made me feel quite invincible. The bar was having a Trivia Night - all in English! Which, one would think that having the American girl on their team would be awesome, unfortunately I didn't know anything! It was so hard and I was so impressed that these Austrians were playing hard trivia games in another language! It was a great way to meet new people and Lilith's friends. While I did speak English the whole night, I feel that is okay :) I had a great time and was in bed by midnight to be up for my orientataion for my german intensive course!

(Wednesday) I had to wake up very early! 8:30! haha but um yes, that is early! I picked out my outfit and just had to walk a few blocks but ofcourse couldn't figure out what building it was. The building numbers are quite odd for some reason. I met a nice girl from England looking at the map and we roamed around together. She is awesome and I am glad I met her! We finally found the building and I recoginized another girl from my dorm and we all three sat together exchanging anxiety over how intense this german intensive course was feeling. It was jus the orientation so they didn't go into too much detail. After it ended, we actually made a lot more friends who were just waiting outside and not knowing what to do within the next 2 hours we had free before the written placement test. We all went out to lunch together and exchanged information and promised to meet up at noon outside the building to go discover the town together. It was great! Most of them were American and very cool. We met up again after our written placement tests - which were so hard! I tried my best though :) Four of us hung out all day trying to figure out how to get cell phones! It was very stressful and we ended up not even being able to get one! haha I made some new friends and it was crazy that I spent the whole day with girls I had just met that morning. That is what the best part about traveling I think is :) Those moments. 

That night, last night, we all then went to the same bar I was at the night before for an Erasmus Meeting. Which just really means a big gathering of exhange students from all around the world! I mostly hung out with the same people I had met earlier in the day but it was nice to get out with them and enjoy a beer! I'm glad I went! Back by midnight again, did some skypng and facebook then hit the hay! 

Today I woke up and went to take my oral placement exam! Which for some reason, I really wasn't worried about. I just figured, like the written exam, that I can only do my best and I be placed in the best level. It went really well and I placed at the B1 level! Which is higher than I was expecting! After taking three weeks of B1 I will be able to take classes at the University taught in German! So that is very exciting :) It was questionable when I was deciding to do this semester abroad as to if I was going to make this level :) and I did!! I love this language and very passionate about it and I happy and proud of myself for pushing myself to do this journey :) Prost to that!

All today I just hung out with new friends around town. Got lunch and coffee together. Two girls from Georgia and one boy from Turkey. They are great and we are planning on meeting up again tonight for some drinks in town! Should be very fun - again at the same bar! Tonight I turn 22 at midnight and I am so happy to have made friends to share this moment with! Missing my friends and family at home a lot - but I'm making the most of this amazing new home of mine for the next 6 months!

Prost to new experiences and Geburtstag shannigans coming soon!!

Sorry this was so long!! So much has been happening! I'll fill eveyone in on how the city is and all that! Haven't done too too much exploring so I will this coming week and talk more about how pretty it is :)

Thanks for reading through! 

Auf Wiedersehen!! Bis Bald :)

Mal

The most nonhelpful tips for packing

Gutentag faithful followers

Here I am again. Or hello again blog world - to those who embraced me as a young 18 year old abroad last time. 

I ask for all of you to lower your expectations before you continue reading.

Tips for going to Europe:

1.) pack that one black dress

2.) if going to Europe, over pack in the shoe department because the shoes in Europe are so overpriced - it's disgusting. 

3.) pack deodorant and tampons for the trek. They do no understand the luxury. That is all I will say. 

4.) pack only neutral colors. Europeans do no appreciate the color of Spring according to the American nor do they appreciate your gaudy-cool new purse that screams you are an American. Stripes, skinny jeans, and scarves will get your farther than any neon color will. You are welcome.

5.) Find a light weight jacket. I lost the perfect jacket and am still upset about it. Find it and embrace it because Europe is in the constant state of "light - jacket weather" it seems. I think they refer to this weather as "spring".

I have yet to even pack. I am putting it off because of my expertise packing skills and procrastination.

Blogs blogs blogs. I enjoyed my last blog and promised myself I would restrain yet, here I am.

I am feeling rather un-emotional for leaving this time.

I can't quite explain it. I think I will have a major break down while I am abroad with all the emotions I am pushing off - but until then ... let's embrace my procrastination of emotions that are tied with leaving the country for 6 months. 

People keep calling me "spoiled" for going abroad already for a year and now again for 6 months. You know what? Maybe I am! Actually, I totally am. I am totally spoiled for having this experience AGAIN. I am going to make this second opportunity count for all those that don't get to be able to do what I do. This is dedicated to you. To second chances. To those changes you should have taken and knew you would never get the chance. This is what this blog is. What I should have done the first time. To having that second chance and being able to explore what that means.

So raise your cups - to second chances and moments lost!

I shall not make you sad but I shall make your proud. But, still keep your expectations low my followers.

I will be arriving in Austria this Sunday and hopefully meeting an amazing person who calls herself Lilith, and my Erasmus Buddy. I have to admit, she sounds perfect but I am trying to keep my expectations low. For one can only be so cute over e-mail. Right? Or maybe she is as cute as she seems - stay tuned for the developments to arise. 

Oh, the dysfunction to come. 

Bis Bald my followers. 

Bis Bald.