Well I’ve taken a bit of a hiatus from blogging but I’m back, I promise. The past month has been rather eventful and I feel quite content having settled into my apartment and routine here in Vienna.

A quick rundown of events which have transpired:

-David coming to visit. The walking tour of Vienna, the Opera, and amazing culinary delights. We enjoyed a candle lit, music filled dinner in Grinzing in which David sampled traditional fare and I enjoyed a stuffed goose. Yes, you read that right. Stuffing, Goose, and beat salad. The ultimate comfort food.



Fall colors by the Hofburg.



-I met up with my friend and former professor Heidi. She treated me to a delicious meal at a traditional restaurant complete with savory and sweet pumpkin seeds, the best wine I’ve had yet, and delicious desert. (I wasn’t kidding about culinary delights!) It was so wonderful to see her and catch up. IES seems like such a long time ago, though being back in the city allows me to relive many memories!

-Fellow Fulbrighters and I were given a tour of the Theater an der Wien. I wish my pictures had turned out better. The theater itself was stunning, and shined with blue and gold décor. While the tour was done I German I felt that I understood a decent amount and was able to follow most of what was being said. Progress.

-Following the tour my friend Lauren and I ran to the Musikverein to take in the Brahms Requiem. I don’t even know what to say here. Having studied this piece in my IES music history course I was beyond excited to hear it in person, by the Vienna Philharmonic. It just doesn’t get any better than this..

Well, needless to say, I was pretty much floored by the first note and giddy with excitement throughout the performance. Bliss.

-In the spirit of all that is musical and Viennese I continued my evening at the Opera with An Italian in Algiers. We played the overture back in High School- oh wind ensemble!- so I was also ridiculously excited about this performance. My friends and I honestly enjoyed every moment of the Opera, though it was wildly sexist and totally un pc.

-We ended the night at our favorite bar. I’m not entirely sure what its real name is, but we refer to it as “Scrabble Bar” as we play German Scrabble every time. The owners know us and our drinks of choice. Can’t complain.

-Tag dur Offen Tur. (Open House). I stood in the back corner of the language room as groups of parents and prospective students were led around the BHAK and ultimately to the language room. I felt a bit awkward just standing in front of American-ness (a flag, baseball glove, my bike and build stuff) and didn’t really know what to say. I ended up introducing myself and talking a bit about America. The students sitting with me would then give a schpeel  auf Deutsch about my classroom appearances. This was quite entertaining as they would refer to me as “die Kaitlin” or literally, “the Kaitlin.” Yes!

-On Thursday Nisha and I rode the CATS train home. No, really. The engine was completely black, with the white cat from CATS perched near the window… OEBB does such interesting advertising partnerships I really just can’t explain this.

What?!

-I actually went on a rather successful run last Sunday as the weather was unusually warm and sunny. Through the old neighborhood, up Kaasgrabenstrasse, and down through Grinzing. Oh, memories.