Alpine Mädl to Viennese Lady

Leaving the Austrian mountains to earn a masters in International Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna...I'm one ball of excitement and nerves! I can't wait to see what new things I will learn and be opened to while studying at the DA. Located in the heart of Europe, the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna benefits by being exposed to many international influences while providing a world-class education. The mountains will always be there for me but as an independent single 24 year old woman, it's time to live in a big city!


Some of you may wonder...what's the obsession with Austria? Why would she want to live there? The decision is difficult and at the moment nothing is permanent but for the next two years I will still be abroad. At this point, I still want to see much of the world and will take fate's path where it wants to lead me.

Let me explain my passion a bit....


I. It started at a young age hiking:

II.  I'm a Romantic:
As a romantic I love things that are old in style, warm, crumbling, and organic.  I'm instantly drawn to anything ethereal. I feel very fortunate that I've had the opportunity to choose the place I want to live in-not all of us are so lucky.  In my opinion, nature is the purest of these beauties. I will be sad to leave the dramatic Alps but look forward to the more abstract form that can be found in Vienna by appreciating architecture, museums, the old world, and the unconventional.  Beauty doesn't always shine.

Looking back on something I've written in an old blog...

"As every leaf turns and season goes by I'd say Vienna always awaits me. So it was more than a treat to visit my great Aunt, Tante Grete, und uncle, Onkel Friedl in this city full of buildings so white they sparkle when it's sunny, coffee so good it convinces one to never want Starbucks ever again, and pastries so detailed and handeled with care that they are just as priceless as imperial porcelein. But's it's also the street actors dressed as Mozart and Strauss and consistent patter of horse hooves coming from carriages that remind one of a time so rich in culture and royal mystique. I can't help but to stop and let it soak in...I'm in the opinion that the Austrians will forever have the Kaiser (Emporer) in their heart. I think a piece of him might be in me as well...or maybe it's just the Mozart Kugeln that are too tempting to resist."

So, I'm not trying to sugarcoat anything here but I just choose to appreciate the rosiness while still keeping  myself grounded and my head out of the clouds. Of course, this city also comes with downfalls like tourism and the overstimulation of souvenir stores in plenty (but hey, it provides the city with money to keep its galore)! It is a city of a couple million people so it has areas that the average tourist won't venture. The underground scene of Vienna is just as unique and representative of their culture as are the Klimts decorated in gold or the Opera intermissions illuminated by the reflections of champagne glasses that seem to glimmer with their little bubbles. This upcoming year I'd like to experience both of these cultures when I'm not hitting the books.

In my life facts are valued but I live for the emotions (the good ones!). I believe in loving things and loving others above oneself.  This is where I find meaning in life.  We must always try to understand each other rather than believing ourselves to be omniscient. If you hold on to your altruistic core values, you will attract other outstanding human beings. By living abroad and meeting many new people on a regular basis, I've quickly learned how to surround myself with truly good-natured friends and to hold on to those special relationships. Never keep someone around who makes you feel horrible! Sometimes people grow apart but if the relationship is worth anything then we must fight to keep it. Word of advice: snail mail shows so much more than any ole facebook message! But trust me I'm no perfect friend. There are times I look back on things and think "doh. I should've done this or that" or sometimes I write postcards with the intention of sending them about but never do...terrible! So a FB message will have to do at times ;)  I tend to be my harshest critic.  This past year in Innsbruck, I feel as if I spent more time on myself but it's really not about me, is it?

From one of my favorite shows, GIRLS:

III. Deeply Rooted:

If you've ever been to my house in Texas it's like stepping into an Austria of an older time with Texan accents, tributes to the U.S. Naval Academy, and American appliances ^^ Although I only grew up hearing German spoken between my mother's side of the family, we grew up with some of the culture and traditions. I will always be that silly light-hearted American girl but along the way, there was always some Austria in me as well. Throughout my life my Austrian grandparents, who emigrated to South America and then to the United States, have inspired me to continue their legacy by making a full circle to Vienna, close to where they were born and raised, so I can continue studying, working, and living to become a leader and difference-maker as an international citizen of the world.  I suppose it's not a surprise to be living in Austria...I just can't believe I was able to do so! My mother, born in peru with the Austrian family, and my father, traveled through the navy sharing the same passion for the "old world", shared with me this appreciation...and it stuck! Growing up we didn't visit Europe often because we are a family of 5, but we'd always hear the tales of my Oma and Opa when they were younger and of my great Aunt in Vienna. It wasn't until the last chapter of my life that I got to know her well. Now, I'm living everything out for myself and making it my own.

  It's kind of amazing that something you dreamed as a child is becoming true...it's really humbling. I couldn't have done any of this without the love and support of my family. This is the hardest thing about living my dream abroad-I'm away from them but for a time the sparrow must leave the nest to see what's out there.

Picture 1: My last night in Innsbruck with my mother
Picture 2: Always fascinated by the globe

Törggelen

Currently still in hot Texas anticipating my next move to Vienna to study at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. Spiced pumpkin recipes, chunky sweaters and boots are around the corner...I love a crisp Autumn.

 To get myself excited for the change in weather, I will reminisce on my experience called Törggelen-a South Tyrolean tradition I enjoyed last year with my friend Kiley, her boyfriend and his brother and friend from Vorarlberg. The tradition is based upon the harvest of the wine grape. Each Autumn when the mountain forests are painted with warm hues, local wine growers open up their homes and farm houses to guests to try the sweet and slightly fizzy "new wine". This is matched perfectly with roasted chestnuts, Speck( type of bacon or prosciutto), cheese, smoked sausages, potatoes,“Blattler” with sauerkraut, Kürbis (pumpkin, squash, vegetable) soup, “Schlutzkrapfen” (a kind of ravioli), homemade sausages and salt meat with sauerkraut, a butcher’s platter and sweet doughnuts. Be prepared to eat and drink! We had an amazing evening, the air was crisp and the Bauernhof (farmhouse)had a warm and cozy wooden dining area. All people were in good spirits-the family next to us from Bayern (Bavaria) was also rosy cheeked dressed in their traditional attire. It wasn't until we left our warm surroundings till we felt the fizzy wine dance in our heads!

A Year in Innsbruck

Another year has gone by and surprise surprise...I've still been living in Austria. This past year I completed my 2nd year of Fulbright teaching in Innsbruck. Mountains, students, and a lot of snow this year...It was amazing! If I were to catch my blog up on the events of the year, I'd be a bit overwhelmed and wouldn't know where to begin. End result: there'd be no blog. Instead I will leave you with a few photos. If you know much about me you know that I achieved many of my favorite past times-hiking, skiing, enjoying dinner parties, etc.

New Video

Hope you enjoy the Spring semester vid i made!

http://vimeo.com/25725302

Austrians Dominating Ski

The reason that makes Austria so enjoyable during the winter is with out doubt...SKI. No surprise there! Austrians truly live and breathe ski. Even if they aren't ski enthusiasts, it's likely the know how to ski. Although this was my first year to learn, I must proudly admit that I'm a natural! It must be in the Austrian blood from my Oma and Opa ;) to fully live ski season I bought a pass for the whole region of Carinthia..Although it wasn't cheap (about 520 Euros), I went skiing about 30 times this winter. So most of my weekends and some afternoons during the week were entirely dedicated to ski.



My favorite things about skiing in Austria

APRES SKI, of course. Being in a mountain hut with corny alpine dance music, Austrian beer, and racooned face skiiers couldn't be any better. If you throw a retro neon purple ski onesie, Aperol, and free bunny helmet ears, and night skiing it intensifies all of this fun. I can't wait for next year already!


Ski Events: It's all about the wave flagging, cheering, fireworks, meeting friendly people on the train there. This January I went to the 4 Schanzen Tournie with my Finnish friend Sarah and Sean after we had a reunion with my Danish friends in Copenhagen. We had an absolute blast! Thomas Morgenstern, who is also from Carinthia, ended up winning the whole event! Everyone was in very high spirits and the fireworks were going nuts!





The Spa: Well, after living the rough life of skiing all day, the Kaernten TAs are pretty infamous for hitting the spas afterwards.

A Few School Experiences

School Ski Trip: Nassfeld
So if you have already read or see any of my pictures, I've become a ski fanatic. I wouldn't negate you if you said I was bound to end up falling in love with an Austrian skiier. Anways, my trip with the students to Nassfeld, the biggest ski resort in Kärnten, for a week really gave me that push of confidence to start skiing faster (much more fun!). Every day we would have breakfast at our pension which was on the Italian side of the resort, eat breakfast, and go ski at 9 oclock. Lunch at 12 followed by cappucino then we went skiing again at 2 and would stay out until 4pm. The teachers would then scoot off to enjoy their free time before dinner at the hut nearby enjoying a little bit of Apres Ski. Dinner and games with the students (about age 12) came later and then once they were sent to their rooms the teachers would enjoy yet another Jause (snacks of bread, cheese, speck (ham), pickles, etc) at 12 a.m. I was exhausted and stuffed every single night! Because I also went skiing with friends on the weekend, I had a full 10 days of skiing in a row! Now that's a record!

School Ball:
In Austria it's traditional for the schools to have a ball for the graduating class in honor of them passing their Matura (the big test at the end of the year). Usually the ball starts off with them performing a few waltzes in white gowns and the boys in tuxedos, while family and friends watch. The rest of the night is very spirited as you could imagine. I had the honor of serving champagne! My students were very impressed.

Thursday Girl Talk:
Although I get along with most of my students, there is one group of very intellegent, sweet, and very funny girls who asked if we could have a conversation hour after school. Because they are so fun, this is a joy for me! If it's weather permitting we go outside with some snacks and chat about life, travel, family, futures, and of course boys. They honestly remind me of how I was at their age. We all have similar interests and perspectives on school and life in general. A few of them also love skiing, tennis, Roger Federer, and furry animals so we all hit it off. They're like a group of 8 little sisters I've never had before! Two cousins in particular wish I would marry their uncle so I would then be their Aunt! haha I'm honored to say the least...and from showing me a picture from their fancy phones, he's pretty cute!

Winter in Austria

Although I expected this, I've had a long drought of blogp posts since being here. Technically I've hardly written any. This I do apologize for! But please let me explain a few high lights of the Winter season in Austria.

I'll begin with the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Flying back to Austria from a brief celebration with my whole family and visitng my brother, Andrew, and his family, Christy and Eden (and since January a new baby boy!)in Madrid, I already missed my family but had an adverturous evening to look forward to! On the tiny Air Dolomiti airplane, which succeeds in giving you a fancy mousse or couscous type salad, complimentary champagne, and espresso within 45 minutes time, I happened to sit next to a lady who had just come from an English/foreign language conference. She insisted that I also request a glass of champagne with her as we watched the sun starting to set on the snowy Alps. I arrived back into Klagenfurt and planned to spend the rest of the day with my other TA friends who were celebrating Thanksgiving and were planning to visit the infamous Krampuslauf in good spirits. As the turkey was gone, the mashed potatoes were being licked off their plates, and the apple pie was nowhere insight but rather in full tummies, I was simply happy to see their faces and celebrate the beginning of a new season...Christmas!

The rest of this infamous Saturday evening was dedicated to the Krampuslauf. If you are not aware of what this exactly entails, I will try to explain it but must mention that it's also something you have to experience to get the full affect! Krampus is a part of an old Austrian/German tradition called St. Nikolaus Day, which is every Deceber 6th. Although the official date is the 6th, it's traditional that children get a visit from St. Nikolaus on December the 5th and receive either sweets for their good deeds or a few threats from St. Nikolaus's companion, Krampus. Krampus is essentially a very frightening little devil who looks like he dwells in the caves of the mountains all year long. So, a Krampuslauf is a run/parade through the city full of all the Krampuses from all the villages in Carinthia. In small villages and towns, like Feldkirchen and Hermagor for example, they have no hesitation to attack adults and small children with their bundles of twigs! See, very scary! Thankfully my first Krampus experience was experienced behind metal barriers on the streets so they couldn't come tackle us. With that said, I did get a few whips but it didn't matter as we were warm, happy, and excited with the company of each other, the spectacle of the event, and lots of yummy Glühwein!



Glühwein could possibly be one of my favorite things about the Christmas season in Austria...during Christmas there are stands of it everwhere! The old Füßgänger (foot go-er, pedestrian) zone of Klagenfurt was completely decorated with hanging twinkle lights and stands up and down the whole path. A bit of snow made the whole experience dreamlike. Paired with some roasted chestnuts from a stand nearby, it couldn't get better.

SKI: ENOUGH SAID...need its own post


To catch you up to speed, here is a video I made from Fall-New Years. http://vimeo.com/18665213

Liebe Grüße,
Kathi