One Week In..

Whew, what a whirlwind week. I woke up Monday anxious for my trip to Graz, and my impending first encounter with Ursula, a teacher at my Stamschule. She picked me up at 8:30, and we drove out to see a room for rent at her friend’s mother in law’s place. Interesting connection. The 10m drive was beautiful as we passed foggy pumpkin fields and gorgeous countryside. The room, well, what can I say? It was on the top floor of said friend’s mother in law’s house. It came with a lovely bathroom, a balcony, or rather the top of the tin roof, and was complete with pink walls, pink linens, and plenty of other pink things. There was a wicker basket full of old German Shepherd stuffed animals in one corner. The Virgin Mary was everywhere on the walls. It seemed a bit chilly, so I can only imagine the winter. I would have been allowed to cook in the very cluttered kitchen, use the sweet indoor swimming pool- though I wasn’t allowed to drown!- sun myself in the garden, and use the washer and dryer for free all for 260 euro. This is an amazing deal, but if you can’t tell from my description, I didn’t feel comfortable at all in this space. Also, I would have to take the bus into town with her grandchildren that I would have taught that same day in school.



Old Vienna- the Strassenbahn to Grinzing.



 Thus, I am still a bit homeless living in the Sporthotel for a month. While I have plenty of minor complaints, I’m in Austria, I have a job, and I will find a place to live. This place is cheap and its something for now. I’m not alone, as Nisha and Sergio are also living here for now. Nisha is a British TA working here in town, and Sergio is a Spanish TA who happens to be in the Bundeshandelsakadamie with me. Walking buddy! The two of us actually had a rather hysterical conversation about the hotel, and how we feel a bit trapped here. There is nothing to really do in town, people seem to leave every weekend, and local teenagers race their cars and motor bikes every single night (they’re bored it seems). While it is quite charming here, there’s just not much to do. I don’t mean to sound harsh, and I would love to give this place a shot in terms of living here, but it seems there is nothing! We’ve agreed to celebratory drinks after our first day, and to making our stay as awesome as possible. We’ve got this! We will begin searching for places in Vienna as it just seems logical right now.

So, on to orientation. Overall this was a wonderful week in Graz, though my mindset was constantly changing. It was so nice to meet other English TAs, but a bit challenging to remain socially on for the entire week. I do feel very confident after having gone through seminars on teaching and classroom essentials, and having taught and observed in a gymnasium in Graz. My group presented the class with games and exercises surrounding the UK and US, and the students were wonderful. The teacher we worked with had been a German language assistant in Edinborough, and married a Scottish woman, thus spoke with a distinct brogue. Picture an Austrian man speaking perfectly Scottish English. I love Europe. Other highlights of orientation included staying in a castle, a walking tour of Graz provided by local high schoolers, great traditional food, lots of wine, new British and Irish friends, talking with the Austrian director of Fulbright and potentially getting a free bike, and performing as Celtic Tiger with a group of Irish TAs during our final evening together. As a part of the talent show extravaganza we decided to show off our skills and dance a free for all reel. I was the only trained Irish dancer, but the others hopped around behind me, we ran around in a circle holding hands, and Bryan stole the show by pulling a Michael Flately in his hott pink short shorts and black tee shirt. We went over pretty well I must say.



Graz! Home of Arnold Schwarzennegger. Ja Wohl.



Well, now that I’m rambling, I’ll end this by mentioning my lovely Viennese Saturday with my dear friend and travel companion Lauren McCullough.



Being with Lauren brought back memories from our anthro trip to Hawai'i.



Lauren and Steph have been traversing Europe for three weeks, and are ending their trip here in Wien. I was so happy to take them around the first district, and through my old neighborhood for some delicious Heuriger food. Spending the day with them was a nice piece of home. There we were chatting about life in a park, not in Ithaca but in front of the Hofburg. I live here. In Austria. Holy crap. This is real!?! Spending the day in the city also solidified my somewhat frantic desire to find a flat or other accommodations outside of Hollabrunn, as I just don’t think this will work. By living in Vienna I can have the best of both worlds. I’ll keep you updated!

The Hofburg, one of my favorite buildings in Vienna.

Time to go for a run about town.

Cheers,

Kaitlin