It has a great Abgang

In an environment of almost total unfamiliarity, it’s so often that little instances of comfortability make all the difference in establishing a home. This past week presented case after case of these instances, for which I am very grateful.

All of Haus Burgenland III, the dorm that 5 of us Central College Abroad students reside in, has been tremendously friendly to the international students. From orientation parties, cooking in the kitchen, or just giving us directions, we have always felt welcome in Burgenland III.

Dominick, another resident of Haus Burgenland III, has taken some of us wide-eyed Americans under his wing. Last Monday night is a good illustration. Immediately after getting off the U-Bahn and walking to the dorm after class, I get a call. “Hey, want to go to a wine tasting?”

My thoughts at this moment: “Wine tasting? I love Vienna…wait, I’m wearing a $5 University of Michigan t-shirt from Steve and Barry’s…I wonder how this will compare to 1^st CRC’s communion wine…”

“Sure, I’d love to go.”

Thankfully, Dominick had demonstrated the proper way to taste and evaluate wine (a long "Abgang" is key), and I didn’t make a complete fool of myself in the presence of 140 different Burgenland wines and countless Viennese wine connoisseurs. I contemplated bringing a sample back to the States for 1^st CRC communion purposes.

The night concluded, as most good nights should, with a Doner Kebap and a late-night ride on Vienna's fantastic public transportation.

So much more has unfolded in the past 2 weeks, it has felt like an eternity in some ways...more to come soon. Ciao.

Edit: No one is mocking my blog...

Here’s a poem to capture my feelings about it:

Alone in the city, I shed a few tears
Drowning my sorrows in Viennese beers
Kidding snide comments pour salt in the wound
Still, my heart twangs, an instrument untuned
Nobody reads my yet virgin blog
My followers one, blue skies now fog
Yet I push fro, a new song I sing
Til’ justice is served, my blog’s praises ring
So bear through the pain, keep open your eyes
For after the night, comes always sunrise

Currently having a good time with the group in the Central College Office. Another post coming soon. Ciao.

No one sings about Schwäbisch Hall...

After spending seven out of the past eight weeks in Europe, I have finally succumbed to the last step of initiating myself as a student studying abroad: started a blog. It was inevitable.

Please bear with me as I struggle with the ever-present temptation that everything in my life is different just because it’s somewhat new and somewhat foreign. i.e. “I brushed my teeth with “Zahnschutz” toothpaste today!”

Nevertheless, as of approximately a week ago, I have arrived in Vienna, Austria, the gateway between East and West Europe. So far, the city has lived up to its billing. It’s beautiful. The 12-degree Celsius temperatures haven’t hurt.

But before devoting the rest of my time to Vienna, I can’t fail to mention Schwäbisch Hall (SHA). SHA hosted the one-month precursor to the Vienna trip. The students in our program studied at the Goethe Institut for three hours a day and enjoyed weekend excursions, Friday soccer matches and international cuisine. This quintessential German town was my home for a month, and it’s safe to say I will never have another home like it. It was the kind of diversity that only a suburban mega-church can dream of. Australians, Argentineans, Brazilians, Italians occupying the same classrooms and kitchens, learning and eating and drinking together. What ensued were some genuine friendships. I miss a lot of those people and will likely never see most of them again.

But Vienna is now my home. The city lyrically memorialized by Billy Joel, The Fray, and Owl City. I’m staying in the 6^th district, right outside of Mariahilferstraβe, the biggest shopping street in the city. The public transportation and friendly Austrians have made the transition easy so far. As I get acclimated to the change of pace here, I’m eager to see what’s in store. Mal sehen…

Ciao.