Hallstatt!

I finally got to visit the place that I have wanted to go to the most since coming to Austria. When I originally found out that I was coming to Austria I wasnt the happiest camper. I was a bit disappointed and I needed to find ways to get excited. So I google image searched Austria and the most beautiful picture came up. Which I proceeded to set as the backround of my computer. 

This was the picture and I used to look at it everyday to get myself excited about living in Austria. But little did I know it was very close to Graz and completely manageable to get to. So I finally made my journey there yesterday. We didn't really pick the most amazing day to get considering it was cold and rainy but nonetheless it was beautiful. We got there in the morning and took a ferry over to Hallstatt then checked out all of the sights. Due to rain we parked ourselves in a cafe for quite some time to eat some traditional Austrian food. The city is fairly small so we walked the majority of it and at the end found ourselves at a nice little Kinderspielplatz (playground). This playground had literally the coolest things in the entire world. So me and 8 of my friends (all in our 20s) spent plenty of ti me reliving our childhood in this beautiful town. We then went up to the top of one of the mountains where the salt mines are. This gave us the best view and it was literally breathtaking. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, the most important accessory. But I managed to get some mediocre pictures on my phone to commemorate this experience.

The Robinson sisters take Europe

  Ashley came to visit me this past week and I decided I would show her all that Europe has to offer, well what I wanted to check off of my life before I left. We did a few days in Graz where I showed her the lovely little city that I reside in. We went to a few sights that I hadnt seen so that was nice. But then it was time for the big traveling. We hopped on a bus and went to Venice for our first stop. We arrived later in the day and decided to head onto the island to get a few things done. We went to the beautiful Doges palace and toured around the ancient history. Then we wandered around the city and got some dinner. The beauty of Venice is that you really get the most out of it by aimlessly wandering, finding things and then hoping you happen onto some piazza that you are familiar with. This was my second time in Venice but being there for Carnevale was definitely a whirlwind where I didn't get to truly experience the city.  We also managed to sneak into a glass blowing demonstration. A truly Bill Robinson move, and we were so happy we broke the rules for this one. 

     The next day we went back onto the island and had a great Italian lunch on one of the main canals. Then the rest of our day consisted of walking around and stopping to rest on small canals and watch everything around us. Venice is definitely a great people watching city. We stumbled upon a boat race, and old man in a gondola taking pictures of us and also a guy who wanted his picture taken with us. I guess it is helpful to be tan enough to be mistaken for an authentic Italian. We honestly had the perfect day walking in and out of shops and just relaxing to take in the view. Also it didn't hurt that the weather was gorgeous. 

     Our next stop was to go to Barcelona! Neither of us had ever been to Spain so this was definitely an exciting experience. Barcelona is a gorgeous city. Being on the beach, having amazingly unique architecture and such a youthful vibe makes it a city you just cant get enough of. Our first stop was to go on a bus tour so we could get all of our history and sightseeing out of the way. We stopped at La Sagrada Familia, one of the most famous churches in the world. It was created by Gaudi, but is such an ornate creation that he died before it was completed, it actually still isn't completed after more than 100 years. Then we stopped for a traditional Spanish lunch and stopped for a siesta so we could rest up for the beach. Being from the Ocean state I have been craving a beautiful sand beach and that is just what Barcelona gave me. After the beach we made our way down the packed street of La Rambla to get some authentic seafood paella. This is a traditional dish of the region and it was pretty tasty. Although I do think it could use a little hot sauce. I should probably start carrying it in my purse. But on the upside sangria is everywhere in Barcelona and when you order it they literally give you a glass large enough to swim in! 

    On our last full day in Barcelona we again took advantage of the beautiful weather and made it a beach day. We grabbed a picnic and ate some tasty snacks while taking in the sand and the surf of Spain. Later we adventured to the cathedral of Barcelona and the Batllo House built by Gaudi. This was one of the most stunning things I have ever seen. And of course my camera died right before I could take pictures of it. But it is such an interesting and beautiful work of art. The next day we flew into Vienna so I could give Ashley a crash course on the capital of Austria. which I think I did rather successfully. Then she flew home and I was left to count down the days until I will be back in the U.S.! 

Beach Vacationing in Croatia!

    As soon as I got back from London I was told that everyone I knew was planning a trip to Croatia. So of course I decided I needed to be a part of it. We compiled a nice small group of eleven people and went out our way. We went armed with train tickets to Zagreb, backpacks and no plans past that. As we got to Zagreb we decided we should get our act together and think about what to do for the next four days. So we looked at the bus schedule and hopped a ride to Zadar. Zadar is a mix of history and the coast so it has the great vibe of tourism and relaxation. When we got to Zadar we were smitten, although we still had no where to sleep that night. After haggling with a Croatian woman about staying at here house we decided to hope for the best and go into the city to find a hostel. Luckily the whole city of Zadar has wifi! So we quickly found an excellent location in the middle of the city and headed off to the sunset. According to the crazy woman at the bus station Zadar has the third most beautiful sunset in the world, so we were anxious to test this out. It was definitely the truth. There is also something called the Sea organ on the water which was were excited to check out. According to  my trusty source wikipedia  "there are 35 musically tuned tubes with whistle openings on the sidewalk. The movement of the sea pushes air through, and – depending on the size and velocity of the wave – musical chords are played. The waves create random harmonic sounds." This may not sound cool but standing by a beautiful sunset on the coast and listening to this is really a unique experience. 

     The next morning Mindy and I set out to find coffee while everyone was getting ready and we stumbled upon a huge open market. Everywhere you looked there was amazing fruits and veggies so of course I had to stop and buy the most perfect tomato in the world. Awesome purchase on my part. Did I mention that Croatia is super cheap? For the two of us to have some delicious pastries and coffee it was approximately 4 euro. So as a tourist Zadar is definitely a bang for your buck city. So since we are all so spoiled we decided that we have had enough history and wanted to hit the beach. So we packed lunches and trekked to the coast. The rock coast, because there is no natural sand on their beaches. It was in the low 70s but still sunny enough to have an enjoyable time on the beach. Especially when we all decided to get into the freezing cold Adriatic sea. The water was amazingly clear and beautiful and I likened the temperature of the water to the ocean in Maine around July. So it was actually pretty nice for me coming from the Northeast. Of course all of my warm climate friends didn't feel the same way but regardless we enjoyed it. 
   After a quick nap we decided to go out to a great dinner of seafood! I ordered so delicious seafood pasta and if I have to say so it was better than my grandmas. Which is really saying a lot. It was a great meal, in a beautiful place with great people. The next morning I set off to Zagreb, wandered around there for the day and then made me way back to Graz. It was honestly the trip of a lifetime. How often do you get the chance to take 11 of your friends to Croatia to go to the beach and just kick back. Its probably something I will never do again, and thats what this experience is all about. 

London Calling!

    Lets just preface this trip by saying that even if it was the worst experience of my life and I hated it it still would have been amazing because it was my first time in an English speaking country in three and a half months. That doesn't seem like such a big deal but try it out and see what you think. I was making small talk all over the UK i was so excited. Someone behind me at the grocery store? People at restaurants? You better believe I was taking advantage of our common language. The weekend of May 9th I decided to take the UK by storm and have a little jaunt across the pond. As soon as I flew from Graz to Stansted I was basically ecstatic by all of the English ads and people with cheeky accents. I stayed with my friend Eric and our first matter of business was to get a proper burger. This was no regular burger, I got to have cheddar cheese which to all those Vermonters and Americans that means nothing. We eat cheddar like it is going out of business. Well not in central Europe! Those succulent bites were enough to double think my decisions to live in Austria. Being adventurous travellers such as ourselves we tried to maximize our time and visit Scotland while I was in the UK. This was done by taking an extremely spacious, comfortable and luxurious overnight bus from London to Edinburgh. Im clearly kidding, night buses are awful and cramped. I have never actually felt like a homeless person in my life until the time I washed myface and brushed my teeth in the bathroom of a bus station. Living the dream over here. But quite honestly it was the most efficient way to get there and a way to have the most time possible. I did make Eric promise that Scotland would be worth my time and I would gauge this by two things.

1. Seeing people in kilts 

2. Hearing bagpipes 

     Lucky me as soon as I stopped being a homeless squatter in the bus station we explored the city. I immediately saw people in kilts. Success. Then as we were walking around in the distance over the Scottish hillside I hear the faint tune of bagpipes. It seemed way too easy! For my whole life the Robinson side of my family has been telling me how Scottish we are and what our clan is and how our tartan looks. So it was really a special moment for me to be able to be in Scotland, a place I know that my grandfather really adored. But, now I know why everyone in Braveheart was always rebelling and pissed. The weather is Scotland is atrocious! It literally always rains, in waterfalls. Walking up to Edinburgh castle seemed almost treacherous with the amount of rain pouring down on us. So to dry off we dipped into a nice little restaurant called Maggie Dicksons. This place is famous in Edinburgh because of its namesake. Poor Maggie was executed, pronounced dead and while her family was carting her body home she suddenly woke up and was declared fine! So after our little history lesson we decided to have a little fun. We went on the Scotch whiskey tour where we learned all about the process of creating and aging whiskey. I literally learned things I never even fathomed. It was a great tour topped of by a visit to the largest Scotch whiskey collection in the world and a shot. It definitely cemented the fact that I am not a whiskey drinker. Then of course since it was still pouring we set out to find another cafe. This time we went to the Elephant house where J.K. Rowling wrote a good amount of the Harry Potter books. Being a Harry Potter freak this was a dream come true, their pastries were pretty delicious as well.

      The next day we topped off our trip to Scotland with a 12 hour bus tour of Loch Ness and the Scottish highlands. Believe me after a day of being soaked to the bone sitting on a bus all day was an absolute joy. We passed the memorial to William Wallace, which of course led me to spout out as many Braveheart references as possible. Then we made our way into the Scottish highlands, quite arguably one of the most beautiful places on earth. It literally looks just like Braveheart. After driving through the Highlands with some lovely scottish background music we made it to Loch Ness. This is a place I honestly never expected to visit. But just to think that I have been there is so amazing. We took a tour around Loch Ness, and saw Nessie.Thats a lie of course we didn't see Nessie. But nonetheless it is a beautiful lake and it was great to be a part of the folklore and excitement. Finally when we got back into Edinburgh there was a glimmer of sunlight. Just enough to capture some spectacular pictures and be on our way back to London.

   After yet another amazing overnight bus where a small birdlike girl was sleeping on my shoulder we finally made it into London. Then it was time to kick it into high gear and do the London in a day tour. I saw all of the obligatory sights and some that I was unbelievably excited about such as platform nine and three quarters and Abbey road! I also got to see all of the historical royal sights! But the crowning moment of my day was definitely getting fish and chips from a little hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere London. And it was amazing, honestly I could eat it everyday! My U.K. adventure was awesome, I am so glad I made it over the pond to see some excellent things! 

Me in front of the tower of London.

My Oh My the Month of May

After my whirlwind month of April I didn't think that anything would ever top all the the things that I had seen or the things I had done. Then May started. May was an amazing month. The mayor had all of the exchange students to a dinner where he gave us free food and wine, score.

The weather was beautiful, perfect for tanning!Then all of the exchange students took a trip to Southern Styria to go on a wine tour! 

 And I also had a visit from my favorite (albeit only) sister! So now since I have been the lamest blogger in the world I have to attempt to recreate all that I did so in 40 years my grandkids will think I am cool and exciting.

Where has the time gone?

   As my mother so kindly reminded me yesterday when I was skyping her I will touch down in Boston in almost exactly two months. Three months ago when I arrived I would have said the day couldn't come soon enough. But now as I think about it I can't even imagine what it will be like to live in Rhode Island/Vermont again. Don't get me wrong I am extremely excited to live with my friends in Vermont and start my senior year of college(Gasp of anxiety about that one). I am even excited to go back to a country when I understand the language and know how to order at the deli. But its an extremely bittersweet thought. I love Austria more than I would have ever imagined. I feel like when I go home and think back on Austria it will feel fake because it has been such a surreal adventure. Being dropped into a different country not knowing a single person or how to communicate with people scared me beyond belief. I used to lie awake at night and ask myself why I would ever want to subject myself to this. But now I realize that along with that discomfort and crippling fear is the most amazing experience of my life. I have met so many interesting people and travelled amazing places. Since my last blog I went to Prague and Munich with some friends from UVM. These are two places that I would highly recommend visiting. Prague has an amazing old world charm and is a beautiful place to visit. The food in Prague was incredible and being a foodie I loved every gravy laden potato and meat combination that I ate.

 Munich has such a fun vibe to it I couldn't help but love it. Plus I was with some great friends from home so that always makes travelling a bit sweeter. We managed to go on Fruhlingfest weekend, which means Springfest weekend. So while UVM had their Springfest we all had our own in Munich. It was such an incredible time and it led me to decide that Germany is my favorite country. So to commemorate that I bought a stein that was way too expensive but gorgeous and such a great souvenir.

 

 I feel like I would be incomplete without this experience. So as I reflect on the last three months, I look forward to the next two with total excitement. I have some amazing trips planned and my sister is coming to visit in a few weeks so I can share my experiences with her. So I plan to make the most out of my next few months here because there is a thesis and grad school waiting for me at the end of this journey. Two things I am not exactly jumping for joy about. So yes if anyone ever asks if study abroad is a life changing experience, it is. You just have to get past the initial fears to dive in and love every second of it.

                                       Loving my life Mini- Oktoberfest weekend in Munich

Eurotripping: Family Edition

So since I have been away for what seems like forever I figured I would do a quick recap of what this trip has brought me. My Uncle Jim and Dad came into the airport April 3rd and we had an amazing reunion at the Schlossberg Hotel. Quite arguably the nicest hotel I have ever been to. Photos do not do it justice but it was honestly majestic. 

And that is just a picture of our living room. I did not let them rest but rather we decided to kick their jet-lag. Since it was a gorgeous day we went to a quaint little outdoor cafe and ate lunch. Then we went to the most epic part of Graz, the Schlossberg. Its basically just a clocktower on top of a big hill, but the people in Graz love it. it has amazing views of the city and on a gorgeous day its the place to be. After I ran them around all day we went to a great Italian restaurant where i could get chicken! To most Americans this isn't a big deal, but to study abroad students its basically gold. Due to the way chickens are raised here (not factory farmed) the prices are crazy. So on my meager student budget chicken is a luxury. We called it a night and got ready to explore Graz for one more day. The next day we hit up the Schloss Eggenberg, a beautiful old castle and also the armory where they keep ancient weaponry. All in all Graz was a success. The weather held out and my family loved the quaint charm.

Off to Vienna! On the first day we explored the Schonbrunn Palace. It was a palace for Austrian royalty but now they allow tours. As we got there I was excited to show them the easter market because there was some delicious food there last time we went. The tour was great but we were exhausted so we rested a bit before venturing into Stephansplatz for some traditional Austrian cuisine. They both had their first Austrian schnitzel and sacher torte, a must have dessert. The second day in Vienna we wandered around the city and went into St. Stephen's cathedral. It was a beautiful place but of course my dad couldn't help but want the bird's eye view from the top. So I confronted my fear of heights and took an elevator up to the top. In between moments of shaking with fear and fighting the onset of an anxiety attack I got to enjoy the beauty of Vienna from above. Even tho it was a bit drizzly it was still a great sight.

Then hit Switzerland, a country I have literally always wanted to go to. In my mind it was going to be all cheese, chocolate, and watches just dripping from the alps. Apparently thats not quite how it works, at least not in Zurich. As we got to our hotel I was slightly confused, why was this nice Marriot in the middle of something called a Techno park and where were the mountains..all I saw was a crane outside of my window. Well once I got over my issues with Zurich I really started to enjoy it. Yes things are expensive, never let someone trick you and tell you it isn't. Unless you are prepared to spend $45 on a pasta dish I suggest not travelling there. Even though I was not paying for anything (thanks Dad) I still cringed every time the bill came. As a cheap college student one of those bills could have fed me for weeks. But Zurich is a beautiful city, we were there over Easter and we found a quaint church in ENGLISH to go to and then had fondue for dinner. The look on my face in this picture is pure joy that cheese was the main staple of my meal. It was an amazing time. But we decided Zurich didnt need four days so we cut our trip in half and made our way to the alpine town Luzern.

Luzern is about an hour train ride from Zurich and as soon as we were on the train watching the mountains we knew we were in for real Switzerland. I could already envision myself frolicking in the Alps. Luckily when we got there the weather changed and turned out to be beautiful unmasking the glorious mountains. We didn't waste any time and as soon as we arrived we decided to go up Mount Pilatus. Imagine gondolas at Stowe...but that go up about 7000 feet. It was wild and once again i was confronting my crippling fear of heights. I would have to say that going up that mountain was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Close your eyes and imagine the alps....exactly as expected. 

Luzern is exactly the type of sleepy town that I had been looking for in Switzerland and I have to say that it stole my heart. The second day in Luzern turned out to be even more amazing, while trying to decide what to do we stumbled upon a boat cruise. This boat literally brings you right through the alps while cruising along gorgeous Lake Luzern. If I thought they day before was amazing I was in for a treat. It was a gorgeous day and it was one of those experiences that I never wanted to end. Being casual alpine travellers we decided to go down to the beach later that day and have a picnic at sunset. Eating delicious cheese, fruit, bread and wine from Switzerland capped our perfect love affair with Switzerland. 

      Next we were on to Roma! Since I am Italian, Italy is of course my favorite country. I love the food, the people and the history. But mainly the food. After a scary taxi ride from the airport (honestly the worst driving I have ever experience) We go into our hotel. We couldn't have asked for a better location, it was right across the street from the Trevi fountain, one of the best landmarks in Rome. We used that first night to get acquainted with the area and establish ourselves as regulars at a restaurant...literally we went there three times in two days. I got to meet up with my friends from UVM which was amazing, it always shocks me how small Europe is. The next day we got to hit all of the important Roman architecture and more importantly we toured the Vatican. Since becoming a die-hard Angels and Demons fan at approximately 14 years old I have been waiting to see the Vatican forever. We went on a three hour tour and still barely scratched the surface of all of the amazing history within the smallest country in the world. I am not Catholic but touring the Vatican was an amazing time. I can only imagine all of the secrets within those walls. The next day it poured so what did we decide to do? Oh walk around outside through the Roman forum and the Colosseum of course. Walking through history that old was honestly unbelievable. I couldn't fathom that thousands of years ago people were making beautiful art and goods, so far ahead of their time. I was so impressed with the Roman forum but by the time I got to the last pile of rocks and I was soaking wet it was due time to go. The next day I had to say goodbye to the family and I flew back to Austria while they flew back to the states.
 

This trip was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Spending time with my dad and my uncle, two people I love so much and experiencing the trip on a lifetime with them was incredible. The sights that we saw and the times we had together were priceless. (Although I am sure my Dad's wallet doesn't feel the same way) This has been the highlight of my life. Ich liebe Europa!

Studying?? More like "Traveling Abroad"

   As of tomorrow I have officially lived in Austria for two months. Although I am not really an Austrian, every day I feel less like a tourist and more like I am making a life in Austria. The time is literally flying by. On the first day that I was here I was counting down the days until my family came to visit for April break. Well in two days that dream will become a reality. I honestly can't believe that I get the chance to show my Dad Europe for the first time. I'm sure his kid in a candy shop attitude will be so gratifying. In two days I am about to set off on the journey of a lifetime, touring Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. Can I really ask for anymore?
  I used to try to imagine what my life would be like abroad, and somehow everything is exceeding my expectations. My life is literally exactly what I want it to be. Although I have been the lamest blogger ever I have had an amazingly exciting last month. I went to Berlin which was an epic experience. The history, and atmosphere is incredible. I would suggest it to anyone. There I got the opportunity to set foot on some of the most influential places in recent European history. It was breathtaking.

I hit up Budapest with an amazing group of people. Stayed in the most questionable hostel ever...honestly I am lucky I didn't contract anything. I guess thats what happens when you stay at a place called the Grandio Party Hostel. Yet I had probably the most fun I have ever had in my life. I also got to experience a city I had never even thought to visit, and let me tell you it is highly underrated. 

Then I decided I needed a little Groovy UV reunion so I visited my friends for a weekend in Vienna! It is a beautiful city and it was only made better with good friends to show me around. Taking my study abroad life and meshing it with friends from home was an incredible experience. We are all here having life changing experiences and we got to share in the Erasmus magic :)

Oh, I also go to classes here...haha I can't say that its the biggest part of my experience though. I have had 7 days of classes so far. I am taking four classes and they are each one day a week, so I smartly scheduled 4 day weekends for myself. I am really enjoying the courses that I am taking because they are all about language. This is proving to be relevant to my Speech pathology interests and its interesting to see a different take on linguistic issues.
Studying in Austria is everything that I could ever wish for. It breaks my heart to know that when my Dad and Uncle leave this trip will officially be half over. Only more reason to get the most of everything. I just need to fill every day until July 2nd when I land back in Boston. I don't think that will be too much of a struggle! Well now it's time to start an incredible 3 week vacation, like I'm not on vacation already :)

Wearing Yoga Pants, One of the Deadliest Sins...

     So everyone has told me that Europeans dress more formally and have better fashion that us lazy Americans. This sentiment is reflected in the fact that they never wear yoga pants, ever. In America yoga pants are a way of life, a main staple in every girls wardrobe. But to be respectful of my new home I have kept my yoga pants away from the public eye. Until today that is.I understand the no yoga pants in class,  restaurants and public in general but I thought I had found a loophole. I walked up the Schlossberg today, which is a mountain! So I was all decked out in my yoga pants, north face, and nikes thinking that was perfectly acceptable. The incline is pretty steep. So after huffing and puffing my way up the mountain I was met with shock and disgust by the people at the top. The amount of double takes I got you would think I had walked up the mountain naked. As people strolled around in their jeans and high heeled boots the judgmental stares could have set me into flames. I could even see peoples eyes behind their sunglasses staring me down.  Did these people honestly wear heels and walk up a mountain? I think they all cheated and took the elevator, but thats besides the point. At one point today I was riding the tram and a man literally looked down at my pants and then locked eyes with me, like this awkward moment was my punishment for my fashion faux pas. This disdain for yoga pants shocks me. In America, people practically worship yoga pants, women for their comfort and ease and men for the way women look in them. I think Europe is seriously missing out on this fashion phenomenen. So apparently my idea of a yoga pant loophole does not exist. I guess the next time I go to the gym I should wear a dress and stilettos...

Fasching!

Servus Fasching! This is my new favorite holiday...ever. So Fasching is a big holiday based off of Carnival, its basically the Mardi Gras of Austria. Since being in Austria for two and a half weeks I have learned that Austrians will use anything as an excuse to party, and Fasching is no exception. Every year there is a huge parade through the city center and then everything is shut down so the whole city can literally party in the streets. And let me tell you Austrians are good at that.
  For some crazy reason they wanted the international students to be involved...so we all painted absurdly large t-shirts and represented our countries. Well any lack of American pride I might have had previously was erased as I skipped through the streets chanting U.S.A in a tall tee. Per usual the school turned it into a huge party so at 10am we all got together to paint our faces and act ridiculous. As we hit the streets I realized that Fasching is no baby parade. The floats, costumes and performers were clearly very passionate about this day. So I can only imagine how they felt about a bunch of international kids dancing in the streets singing their national anthems, (by the way this was not required...we just all got very patriotic at one point or another). So of course in this proud moment there was a camera broadcasting live on Austrian television. Which made me feel like I was essentially a part of the Macy's Day Thanksgiving parade of Austria. Basically superstar status. So here is my little moment of fame, yes I am running around and throwing confetti...the moment was just too priceless.

http://tvthek.orf.at/programs/3622897-Das-Steirerland-im-Narreng-wand/episodes/3622895-Das-Steirerland-im-Narreng-wand
If you check it out the International students come on at 18:40 approximately. Only in Austria are 20 kids in tshirts considered anything special...

 Here I am repping little Rhody....a place that apparently no one has ever heard of. Go figure. Also they can't seem to grasp the fact that we are named Rhode Island yet we aren't an island. Oh well,  im clearly WICKED excited to be from RI.

This is me being friendly with my favorite border neighbor Canada, the back of her shirt said "Canada, Eh?" Absolutely epic.

So after trekking through the streets of Graz for a few hours we decided it was our time to partake in the festivities. There were so many street parties that we literally just fell into one. Then proceeded to dance like fools for hours. I am legitimately sore from this. Dancing around the streets of Graz both in the parade and after was amazing. Definitely something I have never experienced before!
                                                         Ein schöner Tag!

Venezia! Carnevale 2012

Yesterday morning rather than getting home at 4:30AM I was going out to get on a 5 hour bus ride. Why was I doing that? To go to Venice of course. My morning started off amazingly, waking up and singing my Venice song with Mindy and drinking coffee made of powder...yumm. After an hour of whining and getting ready we hopped in a taxi with a very confused driver wondering why we wanted to to go the University at 4:30 in the morning. As we pulled up to our double decker accommodations I knew we were in for a good time. Never before have I sat in a classy bus with tables, Greyhound take note.

Thats me and Allison on our super classy bus.  We settled in for the long haul, thank god we had some delicious snacks (gummi candies and chocolate, Breakfast of Champions) After cruising around Austria for awhile we stopped at a rest stop for 40 minutes so everyone could get food, or buy alcohol as it seemed all of the middle aged bus riders were doing. Luckily this was the most amazing rest stop I have ever laid eyes on. Step aside Rt. 95, Austrian rest stops have scenery to die for.

 After many grueling hours on the bus, and I mean grueling. No bus ride is complete without a man that looks like Gandalf sitting behind you smelling like he has never bathed...oh you mean that only happens to me. Of course it does. We finally got off the bus and made our way to the water taxi. This was hands down the best 6,50 Euro I have ever spent. We got to take in Venice by water for our delightful 40 minute ride. And it only got better once we arrived on shore. The backdrop was magical and the costumes fantastical. Carnevale in Venice is a costume designers dream. The masks, outfits and makeup were unbelievable. After wandering around we decided it was time to sample some Italian cuisine. It was a cute little restaurant with a great location,  here is my lasagna.

It was a great lasagna but dont be fooled, its not as authentic as you may think. Being an expert lasagna maker myself I was not overly impressed, but who am I to complain about Italian food in Venice. Luckily we got some epic Gelato (twice) which made up for any lasagna misfortunes. 

For the rest of the day we walked around taking in sights and quite honestly allowing ourselves to get lost. My UVM friends were all in Venice so it was a big priority to reunite with them. I was thrilled when I finally got to see them, meeting up with Anna and Maddie just about made my trip :) 

We decided it was time to get into the spirit and get some masks so we headed down by the water and bought some from the street vendors. I then refused to take it off for the rest of the day. Someone even asked to take my picture, so that officially means I participated in Carnevale. As night fell we grabbed dinner, a delicious pizza, and then walked around. The city was transformed by night.

With music blaring, lights everywhere and people in costumes swarming around, it was unreal. Venice is my kind of place...one where everything is covered in glitter and its acceptable to literally dance in the streets. My trip to Venice was one I will never forget and will hopefully relive. Well until I can next go to Carnevale, Ciao Venezia!

Going to Church in Graz

     This morning Leesa, Mindy and I woke up bright and early and took a trip to church. We all thought it would be a great experience and fun to try out. Yes the mass was completely in German but we decided to overlook that detail. There is a nice church about 2 minutes away from my apartment so we went to explore it. This was the most interesting mass I have ever been to. Aside from the fact that I didnt understand anything it was also completely different from any church I have ever been to. Today was family and kids day at church so there were about 30 little munchkins running around the church, and when I say running I mean it. They were chasing each other up and down the aisles and climbing all over the pews. I loved watching them! Although I am sure that their parents were not thrilled. The priest was wonderful he went around and shook everyones hand before the mass started and I stumbled through the three words of german that I knew so he wouldn't think I was an imposter. But Im sure that when I started shaking halfway through the service due to a lack of heat he could tell I wasn't exactly used to this. Yes you heard right, they don't heat churches in Graz, because its too expensive...churches in America should take note. My own church just closed a few months ago due to their inability to heat the church. They should have just gone without. There was more dancing, arm motions and singing at this church then I have ever seen. I am going to attribute this to the fact that in order to stay alive in the sub-zero temps the parish needs to dance around. All in all it was a beautiful service and there was an extreme tenderness and care towards the children which I thought was great. The church was gorgeous and I am really curious about when it was built, most likely before America was even founded. I didn't take any pictures during the mass because well thats not really acceptable, but I found some online that someone else had posted. So here if you are curious here it is.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/russianchild007/5735709513/

 Also Im hoping that by next week my German is good enough to be able to sing the songs haha...waving my arms around and stomping just doesn't cut it for me :)

My life in Austria so far...

     Coming to Austria and not knowing a single person was a scary experience for me. Telling family members and friends that I was hopping on a plane without knowing a soul on the other side made both parties cringe with anxiety. When I first got here I had one mission in mind. I know its lame but it was to make friends. So on my first day of german class I stalked out all of the English speakers (literally) and announced we would be friends (It didn't happen quite that way). This was the biggest accomplishment I have had thus far. I made a great group of friends and this is definitely a way to enhance a study abroad experience.
    On top of all of the administrative things I needed to achieve this week such as setting up a cell phone, registering with the city and making a bank account I found myself doing fun adventures as well. Sunday night was the Superbowl and of course craving American culture and food all of my friends (and basically all of the people in Graz that speak English) decided to go to the Office pub to watch the game. There I had the best nachos that have ever existed on the face of the earth and also stayed up until 5am watching the Superbowl. I'm clearly a diehard football fan ;). It was probably one of the best nights of my life and it made me remember why I came to Austria. The next few days went by like a blur being filled up by errands, meeting new people, and trying new things. I started German class and now im practically fluent...meaning I can say my name and if im lucky where I am from. There was an international students night on Wednesday night which was an excellent time.  It was like  starting college all over again but everyone is much more interesting and excited. The night was amazing, especially when all of us American girls decided that it was imperative to do karaoke to N'Sync and Backstreet boys. Which is not even acceptable in the States nevermind Austria...so that clearly made us a lot of friends. Then it was back to the grind, studying for German class and being a real student. While doing everyday life chores I realized that doing laundry is literally a marathon type activity. The simple 40 minute wash and 60 minute dry that I take for granted so often in the states is fictional here. Try 3 hours to dry clothes...and then for some reason it still doesn't work. So I am the proud owner of some very nice slightly damp and crinkly clothes, yay me. I had my first german exam yesterday and then the weekend started! So to celebrate we all went to a nightclub in Graz. My first European clubbing experience. The cloud of smoke and house music was exactly what I expected but the dancing was not. No one was touching, which was refreshing because I could dance without being harassed. I also found this disconcerting because it was so different from the sweaty tangled mosh that American clubs often turn into.  One point for Europe!
    So all in all im having an amazing time. I have great friends, an amazing city to live in and even German class is a pretty entertaining experience. So I guess I will just have to wait and see what exciting things come next <3

The Cultural Divide- America vs. Austria

    After living in Austria for a total of 9 days I have been noticing many things that differ between my my home in the States and in Austria. Out of all of the things I have seen and learned these stand out the most:
1. You can smoke just about anywhere you please. Which both disgusts and shocks me. In a country with amazing healthcare system you would think that at one point or another someone would have had a thought to run a PSA about how smoking can kill you.

2. You can bring yours dogs anywhere you please! Which delights me and makes me so happy. Except when they get too close to me in a restaurant...then I am displeased.

3. Everyone speaks more than one language. When people talk about how many languages they speak they don't even count their native language. So this means I speak zero languages....

4. Everywhere in Austria is laid back except for the grocery store...

5. I am too loud and obnoxious, I have heard a similar sentiment about myself in America but in a country of soft-spoken and reserved I'm practically a public menace.

6. I get told I act like an American, in America if told that I would probably break into God bless America and whip out a mini flag, here this is not a good thing, so this leads to a lot of embarrassment.

7. Most educated people in Europe know the geography of the states, Canadians even know our capital cities. So where does that leave me...stupid and acting like an American

8. People have preconceived notions of Americans, that we are all looking to conquer other countries and steal their resources...well I guess I can't argue that.

9. Public transit is always on time in Austria! (except for today for some reason, but thats a different story)

10. Everyone eats fried food but no one is fat, hmm but in America everyone eats fried food and everyone is fat...I must find the answer to this predicament.

This blog is not meant to be a social commentary but being labeled and stereotyped every second forces me to think about it. If I ever wondered why the rest of the world dislikes Americans the answer is right in front of me...we bring it upon ourselves. We are different both in amazing ways that I appreciate and in shameful ways that I am not proud of.  If I want to be loud, excited and friendly should I stop just because the people around me don't understand me?

Living the Dream

      This is day number three in Austria...but it feels like I have been here a month. Getting here and getting settled was by far the most difficult thing I have ever done. Flying over I had no one else in my row! But of course I couldn't sleep at all so the time difference was so difficult for me. When I first got to Austria my amazing "buddy" (it's an international mentoring program) Christina picked me up from the airport and my first stop was IKEA! haha how European of me. So then we got my keys and grabbed lunch where I ate my first schnitzel, which is awesome! Christina and her boyfriend brought me to my apartment to settle in and I tried to sleep. That is when major panic set in and I was basically ready to drain my savings and fly home. But I spent a little time with my flatmates that night and they are very welcoming so it made me feel much less homesick. The next morning I was left to my own devices to find my way to German class, thanks UNI GRAZ for not giving me any assistance. But I made it to class where I proceeded to make friends with all of the Americans in class, Typical. We hung out all day and shopped and then split up with plans to meet for dinner. I got back to my apartment and by some strange occurrence my lock was broken which locked me out of my apartment subsequently locking my flatmates in. No one was very happy about the situation especially because the landlord seemed to think it was appropriate for us to wait until Monday to enter or exit the apartment. Unacceptable. Luckily they were crafty enough to figure out how to unlock the door. So that was exciting. Then I hit the town with my  new American friends and everyone proceeded to stare at us because we were the loud obnoxious Americans...Shocking. We had a great night and they are a wonderful group of people who make me feel alot less homesick. Saturday was frigid! I went to the mall with some Americans and people from Graz and it looks just like an American mall. Hollister and all (which by the way smells the same internationally) I made plans to go out with my Austrian buddy at night and we went to her boyfriends apartment and just hung out and then went out. It was so much fun and they are such interesting people. Today I am just catching up on American television and lounging around but the superbowl is on later! So all of the Americans are getting together to watch it at a pub downtown. All I have to say is there better be wings and nachos. So I am very excited to celebrate this very American event in Austria. Now that the initial bout of homesickness had passed I am in the shock and awe phase where everything seems to exciting....im hoping this lasts for quite awhile. But we will see what each new day brings! Auf Wiedersehen. (yes...I do feel like Heidi Klum everytime I say it :))

7 Days left and Millions of things left To-do

    So as I get ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime in 7 days thats it, 7 DAYS, I feel the need to reflect on how I got to this point. Approximately a year and a half ago I decided that I wanted to go abroad for a semester, first because all of my friends were going and also because I really enjoy experiencing new food. As it became a more tangible option I wanted to go because I found that I love exploring and testing myself in new situations. So I decided why the hell not? I might as well go wander around Europe while I have the opportunity to do it. 

    If anyone had asked me a year ago where I would be going abroad my answer was Italy. Being Italian American (but not in the questionable jersey shore way) it has always been my dream to live in Italy. What can I say, I love pasta! So Milan was my first choice. On my study abroad application I pretended I was cool and easy-going and would love to be placed anywhere as long as it was Europe. Well I over-estimated my cool laid back personality (which does not exist). When I was not assigned to my first, or second choice location but to my third, Graz, Austria, I was distraught. Literally I called up anyone who would listen and I cried...uncontrollably...for lengthy amounts of time. I barely knew where Austria was and I definitely did not have any secret love or admiration for the german language. After reeling in my overprivileged American temper tantrum I made my way to a friend's house where ironically they fed me pasta and convinced me that Austria is full of rainbows and unicorns. This is when I had the amazing realization that one of my best friends, Anna, was also going to Austria and would be two hours away. After watching the Sound of Music and creating a list of travelling aspirations with Anna, I left dreaming of schnitzel and rolling hills. To help make our dreams a reality we created this map of all of the must see places in europe. 

 Now that I have embraced the idea of living in Austria for five months (who needs Milan fashion week anyway?) I am both excited and nervous to journey to somewhere unknown. The next 6 days will be full of saying tearful goodbyes, attempting to stuff my life into a bag weighing 50lbs. and alternating between complete elation and crippling fear. Im hoping to have a life changing experience, but if that doesn't work out, at the least I'll see some really amazing things. So here goes nothing, Europe here I come.