Goldeck Mountain

This is really all I have to say..

"Mountains inspire awe in any human person who has a soul. They remind us of our frailty, our unimportance, of the briefness of our span upon this earth. They touch the heavens, and sail serenely at an altitude beyond even the imaginings of a mere mortal."




Weekend in Spittal was simply stunning and salient, to the eye and the leg muscles. 2000+ meters above sea level

Something so moving about the creation of mountains, whether you believe in their divine creation or natural evolution, makes one realize how man-created constructions have no comparison. They don't endure time. Nature will never lose its beauty and ability to inspire those who behold it. One can say art is the closest thing to nature that touches our souls but even then nature is often the inspiration behind it. I am simply belittled. My main hope is that we can protect these monumental creations rather than corrode them.



On Sunday Rob and I decided to accompany Sam back to Klagenfurt to watch the Kaernten celebration of when it officially joined Austria in 1920. The parade was absolutely entertaining, charming, and really showed how important culture is to the Austrians. On the other hand, it could potentially serve as a rallying ground for austrian nationalism-which could be a bit too extreme. This is by no means all of the people who participated in the events. I value the importance of traditional culture but not the political antics behind it that create outsiders. With that said, if you move to a country I am in the opinion that you should also respect its historic culture.

A Kaiserwetter Friday

Kaiserwetter: I'd define this as weather fit for the emperor. Blue skies and sunshine. I'm not sure if many people use it anymore but I feel it's quite Viennese :)

Today is Friday and I have already started my weekend as I am not required to teach today. The weather couldn't be more beautiful today so I've just been enjoying the morning sitting on my Balkon drinking coffee and watching the kittykats and new puppy Chester, who belongs to the grandchildren of Inge and Arni, run around the garden and am enjoying soaking up some sun...almost reminds me of home. In my opinion the sun is the strongest medicine for happiness, I don't know how I'll be able to cope without it this winter. Lots of hot tea, baths, and snowy mountains should hopefully do the trick. In any event, I didn't want to spend too long on here today since I'd like to go frolic around the hills but my first week teaching was truly great. The main part of class time was spent making introductions and giving a little perspective of my life as an American. Some of the teachers are so nice too-offering me to come along whenever they go to Klagenfurt, Vienna, Italy, school ski trips, or simply to their homes to eat a warm meal and show me around their town. I'm sure I'll be taking advantage of a view of these opportunities. Especially the opportunity to walk one teacher's golden retriever....no surprise there. The students are also a bit of fun and I think they already appreciate a younger english resource.

Otherwise, tomorrow I'm traveling to Spittal, Austria for a big hike with a couple friends Sam and Rob from England. I'm pumped! Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with a couple chaps :)

always missing my pups...

Learning and Loving Austria

It’s amazing what extraordinary circumstances can bring people together. Last week I was in the Austrian Alps in a small ski town called Hinterglemm with about 80 other brilliant individuals from the United Kingdom and the United States who share a similar passion for things like travel, foreign language, education, and austrian culture. As a result, stories ensued and bonds were created. The sole negative aspect of the trip was the fact that it ended. As a new friend Alan may be able to explain, it was “action-packed”.

Day 1: Monday, September 27th




As I’d been isolated from most social interaction for the past week, I was giddy to get on a train and watch out the window to find what landscapes would be holding my attention for the next couple hours and what type of people I might be encountering soon enough.

The first day was full of introductions, names to be forgotten (but then mostly relearned), overly excited Americans-including myself I’m sure, and Brits simply content for their safe and sound arrival. For dinner we had traditional Austrian cold cuts and bread like Semmeln, most endearingly referred to as “Buns” that created many puns for the rest of the week. Thank you Dave-the-Laugh. I’ve learned so many new words and expressions in the English language, compliments to the British. Did you know you it’s possible talk in rhymes? I would always go up the apples to my room. “The apples?” Yes, the apples…apples and pears, I go up the stairs.

The Austrian staff was so welcoming, we knew a great week was ahead of us.

After din conversation was flowing that spilled into the local pub a hop down the road. Unfortunately, my friend Allen (USA-from north Carolina but known for living in Alaska wrestling bears and cutting down trees, and wearing lederhosen in Hinterglemm) spotted a trampoline. So of course if you know me well enough, there is no doubt I could pass up this extremely wise opportunity. Well, I did a back flip and landed on my face. I had a very attractive scrape on my nose for the rest of the week.








Day 2: Tuesday, September 28th

Informative workshops and many useful name games. Most of the Kärnten group still refers to each other by their alliterated names followed by hand movements…here’s a few: simple Steve, sparkling sally, sober Sam, weird Walter, ravenous rob, nice nick neutral nick (he didn’t want to be naughty), action-packed Allen, emasculated Emil, kind Katie, light-hearted Lucy, trembling Tim, etc. I myself was kinesthetic Katherine. For most of the daz we learned useful tips and conversation starters that we could use with the classroom.
The second night was also at the local pub. This was called the Hexenhauesel-there were all of these alpine witch looking things everywhere and it probably would’ve scared me as a child but the bar was nonetheless pretty cool.

Day 3: Wednesday September 29th






Being a more hands on and interactive learner, I really enjoyed the beginning of day 3 because we were able to attend workshops of our choice. Mine included pictures/images as well as music. These workshops aimed at giving us ideas to teach our students things in a creative manor. They were very helpful! For example, you can take a song and require the students to fill in the blanks to improve their vocabulary and then relate the message to a more serious topic. It's a fun and interactive way to start a lesson.




My favorite part of the trip above all was hiking up the mountain…At reaching our destination, a restaurant hut adorned with flowers and antlers, we took in the majestic views and huddled around listening to Austrian songs like “Edelweiss”, a couple of American ones such as “Country Roads”, and a special one for the Brits, “God Save the Queen”. It was just a bundle of charm really. I just regret not bringing any Euros for hot choc. I looked a bit ready for a warm shower as I’d been insisting to stand out in the cold spitting drizzle to look at the mountains, was famished from passing up Wienerschnitzel, and still sporting a my trampoline face. Haha Thank goodness for that peanut butter Kashi bar I brought along, I think I probably would’ve fainted. Regardless, the experience was extremely soul satisfying…to breathe in and fully take in the beauty of God’s creations, I don’t know what can top it. Petting the cows and horses made a nice touch too, I was in heaven. :)

That evening many of just cozy-ed up in our pajamas and duvets and watched a movie….and my tummy was finally happy and full of Frittaten Suppe











Day 4: Thursday, September 30th
The last full day was full of assistant presentations and excitement for the upcoming evening. My partner Sam and planned a Nuclear Energy lesson by showing a picture of the catastrophe caused by the explosion of the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine. The students were required to use their english by describing with adjectives what was going on. Aiming for a higher level student audience, we then required everyone to discuss the pro and cons of nuclear energy.
That evening we all had to prepare a skit or form of entertainment with our group…because not everyone in our group had a particular talent, we went with an Avant-guard piece that included everyone. I thought the Vienese would appreciate it. This pure post modern genius (essentially made up as we went along) involved us filing in stone cold soberly and lining up, proceeded by spinning in our own individual and creative manor. It was then followed by a spontaneous outbreak of laughter and collapse to the ground. Then it was up again and out of the room again in a somber manor. This continued cyclically as we followed our leader Ross. It was whispered by many that we represented the lives of humans as we file in monotonously during the work week with no true emotion and then unwind on the weekends finally showing our true personalities and breaking that wall of self-discipline and seriousness.

All in all the performances were really great. Cameos included Lady Gaga, Simon from American Idol, and the infamous Hans-our Austrian extraordinaire full of yodeling, secret Austrian anthems, lederhosen, a pair of glassy blue eyes, and BFF with Maria von Trapp (I forgot to mention but we called her up and sang to her as well!) The rest of the night we lived our little hearts before we had to say goodbyes the next morning.

Day 5: Friday, October 1st
The morning’s mood matched the gray rainy weather outside as we all were hustling to get our things together and leave. The main thing that kept my spirit up and tired eyes open was whistling on the train with Sam and Rob as we made our way back to Kaernten. We were already missing the days that had passed. When I got home I poured myself a hot bath, put on the kettle for tea, and then went to bed at 5:30 pm.

…die Klarinette die Klarinette...

Cheers daahling

Haus Mutter und Vater

"House Mother and Father"

If I haven't explained very well before, I live in the home a couple who is in their sixties who have grandchildren that frequently come, one of them everyday. They are the Greschitz's. While they live in the downstairs, I live in the fully furnished upstairs where there is very nice sized kitchen, living room, bedroom, and balcony-luxuries like a tv, couch, and maybe kingsized bed included! Upon arrival I had everything I needed to cook, clean, sleep-besides food and internet, of course. It's been great! They truly are kind but I always get nervous when I walk around upstairs because the floors creek and they are just right down below-no doors really separating the floors. They pretty much always know when I come and go but I don't mind it so much.

Inge, the wife, is extremely accommodating. She's helpful in every which way. Yesterday she showed me all around the garden and told me I could pick any of the fruit and herbs anytime I'd like. When I arrived here she'd already put a jar of raspberry jam on my kitchen table along with marzipan chocolate and coffee. And if that doesn't show you enough....

Today Inge really made me feel at home...Although it wasn't particularly eventful during most of the day, it turned out very well. For the first half of the it I walked to the center of town, bought some postcards, drank a grosser Brauner (austrian espresso), and then went grocery shopping. Oh how Grocery shopping can be so painful-mainly because you have to walk it back home. My motto here is often based on the label as well-would rather buy a product that's bland or a label that has cow's, mountains, and austrian flags on it? Simply choice, really.

In any event, I'd been back home for a while trying to eat up time before I could start to make some form of a meal this evening. Later as I was finishing my dinner of a boiled potato, red cabbage, and tomatoes (odd, i know. and i don't have any spices yet either) I got a call on the Greschitz's phone from my the teacher friend, Bruni Morak, who welcomed me into her home the first day. So Inge called me down and Bruni invited me to an art showing in town center. This already made me feel better because I then had a full evening!

The best part came when I hung up the phone and returned it to Inge....I turned to her and she asked as she pulled open the oven "moechstest du eine Stueck Apfelstrudel?" Well, proud to say I've been quite watchful about what I've been eating her, but really? Is it even possible to resist Apfel Kuchen straight out of the oven and steaming of hot golden apple sweetness? Mind you, the apples came straight from the garten too. I accepted and still have a piece for tomorrow. I might have to watch out though, this could turn out to be another version of Hansel and Gretl.

Herr Greschitz is just the cutest. He's completely white haired, pink cheeked, round faced, and so jovial! I think he might consider me one of their grandchildren already. Tonight he was extra charming as he opened the door for me when I got home from the art show with Bruni. He wearing just his tiny boxers as we were making full conversation. I just thought to myself, as I was explaining to him how great the Apfel Strudel was since he hadn't had any yet, that this isn't uncomfortable or abnormal at all, right?

okay, liebe Gruesse.

There Are No Kangaroos in Austria

Servus!

Hiiii I just got Internet today! I'm actually using an Internet stick so we'll see how long this works out for. Feldkirchen is quite charming. It's quite small but I think I'll enjoy living here and having the opportunity to socialize with all ages (unfortunately less of my own age since most students go back to Uni in Vienna, Graz, oder Salzburg, etc). With that said, I'm really looking forward to my conference I will be having in Hinterglemm this upcoming weekend so I can meet other students in the Kaernten area. I'll also be making plenty of trips to nearby Villach and Klagenfurt to be with the assistants there as well!

Although I've really just been here a couple days, I can already say I have already dived into the culture! The head english teacher picked me up from the Klagenfurt airport and took me straight away to her home in Feldkirchen to eat Gulasch Suppe and Apfel Strudl....yum! I must say though...their dialect is so difficult to understand! haha I'll just have to get used to it.

The day after the same family invited me over again for Mittagessen, the main meal of the day, we had Risotto. Then they asked if I would like to go mushroom picking (schwarmmel?...i forget the spelling) with their son and his girlfriend or go with them to their friends house where he has his art gallery. I chose the latter, mainly because it was harder to understand the 21year olds. Since they don’t speak much of high german around me, I was being quiet enough. The art was great though! The man's home is situated higher up on one of the tall hills in the area...the art consisted of sculpture and oil painting which was very color, religious, and expressive. They also offered coffee, wine, beer, and Himbeer Kuchen (raspberry torte/cake)! It was pretty neat. I loved that you could also smell the cows that were surrounded their home. They had a huge St. Bernard as well.

Today I did all of the necessary duties of a new Auslaender...new bank account, registering with the city, etc. I have this really cool Austrian Ausweis, identification, now!! I feel so European ;) After all of the going back and forth today, I took a break and went home to where I live with the Greschitz couple. I live right above them in their home. Die Frau, Inge, lets me pick her grapes, raspberries, and apples!! I'm in heaven haha. Seriously though, the grapes taste like no grape I’ve ever had before...you know that rich taste you have from drinking grape juice? It’s actually exists…who would’ve thought! Austria in particular is known to be one of the most organic countries in the world. My old professor said they often rank #1. After that I went wandern-hiking trying to try and explore. There's a path behind the school I tried to discover. I may have found it.

Otherwise, the weather has been great since the day of my arrival! It gets really chilly at night as the day turns out to be gorgeous….at least for this week. It already feels like Texas winter her in Austria!

Fulbright Teaching Assistantship in Austria

It certainly has been a while since I've had any activity on this blog but senior year of college has been too enjoyable. But as graduation came around great news ensued. I found out I received a teaching assistantship in Feldkirchen, Austria. The town is located in the southern part of Austria close to the Slovenian and Italian borders....and the mountains! I'll be teaching high school English from October to may. I couldn't ask for a better post graduate opportunity.

So here starts the blog again! The people, events, and experiences will be very different. I'll also be living in the home of a teacher, my German will improve exponentially. I just hope I catch onto the Austrian country dialect!

A few other goals include visiting my brother Andrew, sister-in-law Christy, and baby niece-Eden in Spain as well as the Danes, my favorite Fin, a Pole, as well as revisiting the city of my study abroad dream world, Bamberg.