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