Vienna Waits For You...

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Hello hello hello hello,

It's about 6 o'clock at night right now and I'm in an insanely good mood, so decided to let everyone know about my adventures since we last spoke two days ago.

Yesterday was a bit stressful. I found out that every class I'd picked out for my study plan back at UVM was not being offered here this semester, even though the university had assurred me it would be. I had to scramble to find classes with enough credits that I'd be a full-time American student, which is 12 credits. In the European credit system, 24 credits is about the same as 12, so I've been trying to match up new classes and been in contact with UVM and it's been a big hassle. I finally figured it all out, though, and hopefully will get the classes I picked when it's time to register. Had a massive headache after the whole affair , so I stayed in last night, watched a movie, and went to bed.

There was a big party last night by the Australians for everyone to go to representing their nationality. I chose not to go, as I said, but my roommate went. He had to be up at 6:30 and came back I don't even know when but I'd say about 3am. 6:30 rolled around and American Girl by Tom Petty started blasting for his alarm. I thought it was a little sappy to hear that , but oh well. After that, it went off EVERY FIVE MINUTES UNTIL 8 O'CLOCK. He somehow didn't hear a peep from it. I contemplated through it into the street for a garbage truck to run over.

Class was a blast today. Since so many people were at the party last night and were not in any state to attend class, there were probably only 7 of us. It was an equal number of guys to girls , so we did this little game/activity where we were paired up and put into "therapy." We were each given a picture and had to design a life and why we "loved the other." Mine was this short, fat, bald guy wearing a zuit suit smoking a guitar. Think Danny DeVito. I named myself Giuseppe Scorbutico , was 59 and from Naples, and an "electrician" . Elizabeth, my Australian friend, was my partner, and was my 25-year-old Croatian haircutting fiancee, Olga. It was pretty entertaining, had a really great time.

After that I found the secret underground mall Miriam had brought me to on my first day, with the help of Elizabeth and Meghan. I've been trying really hard to remember the places Miriam took me to that first day, but my memory is blank as to where they were in the city. It's driving me nuts! I can picture everything...I just have no idea where it all is. Was so overwhelmed and tired that it's just all gone blank. Oh well, with time I'll find it all again! At the mall I got a Krapfen, which if you remember is my new favorite Austrian food, and it was all good. The mall's also in the vicinity of the Hauptbahnhof, the train station, so I stopped there and got some McDonald's quickly. Don't judge me. It did make me feel like I was going to puke, though, so I don't know if that's good or bad.

After that, I came back here but quickly left again. I went back to my old internet place and printed out an application for an absentee ballot, so hopefully can send that back to Westerly tomorrow so I can vote! Nanny and Grampi, feel free NOT to make a comment :-)

I then went to the bank and got my debit card here. The lady behind the counter thought I was a little weird for asking if it was activated. The FIRST time I've ever gotten a card and NOT had to activate it! I couldn't believe it. I was also really happy 'cause my food money has already been deposited by the university onto it, so I'm in good shape!

I stopped at Libro, which yes, means book in Spanish, and is basically the Austrian Staples. I found "Twilight" in German. Took a lot to resist buying it. I have to finish some other books first, then read Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire auf Deutsch, and THEN I can think about trying to read Twilight. It's so cool, though, to flip it open and understand it perfectly! Guess my German IS improving! My roommate is taking after me, too. He bought the 7th Harry Potter book auf Deutsch and wants to try to read that to improve.

When I finished my errands, I came back and fought with Skype for a little bit, but FINALLY figured it out. I now can call anywhere in America for only $2 a month! How awesome is that?? It's weird getting used to it, though, I literally just sit here, flick on the microphone button, and talk into my computer. I've already talked to Mom with it, and then actually also to my friend Alison from school . I tried Dad but he dodged my call. Loser. I'd be trying more of you, but my roommate is getting his beauty sleep after his rough night last night. Once he wakes up, though...!

That's about it, though. Things are winding down in my DeutschIntensiv, which is kind of sad. Reviewing for the final tomorrow and have that on Monday , and then Wednesday is the oral portion.

Going to Vienna tomorrow!!!! Meghan's roommate DeLinda grew up in Texas but with Austrian parents, and they actually have an apartment still in Vienna, so we're going to stay in it! It was kind of a quick change of plans, we'd had a hostle for $20/night in the Museum Quarter. It will def. be nice to save the money, though, and with our Vorteilscard, the train is only going to cost $15 each way. I use the $ but obviously it's all in Euro. I had $3 American with me, and gave one to Elizabeth and one to Libor, and Libor gave me some Czech money which is really cool but the equivalent to 2 euro. Oh well haha

Going to Vienna is: me , Meghan , Elizabeth , George , Libor , DeLinda , and Thomas . We don't really have plans, we'll probably figure that out on the train tomorrow . Going to meet up with my friend Wolfi , who was an exchange student at UVM last year. He grew up in Italy but on the Austrian border so grew up speaking German and now goes to the University of Vienna. Saturday night we're going to the opera, to see The Magic Flute. It's all auf Deutsch and will have subtitles, too, but it should be really cool! We're all going to get wicked dressed up, so it should be a good time. Hillary has requested I make a pit stop at the chocolate shop we went to right by the Hofburg Palace, which was already in my personal plans.

That's about it, though. Won't be back at my computer until Sunday, so I'll let you know how the trip went then!

Auf Wiederschauen!

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Comments

[regina]

great chatting with you today...have a blast in Vienna! As far as the opera goes...it aint over till the fat lady sings!

[nambo]

none
Glad we were able to use skype the other day......vienna should be interesting......try the white sausage, its great....sub-titles should be different at an opera.....have fun

[[e-mail]]

So bummed to have missed your call but it was GREAT to hear your voice! The kids have listened to it a couple of times! Sounds like you're off for an interesting weekend - who would've thunk it - Matthew Greene is going to the Opera! Don't be fooled by Regina, I won't be there, so when the audience gets up to leave, it really is over!!

[Alissa]

...the magic flute?
Urgh, so I hate Mozart, pretty much as a blanket statement. My German Grandparents decided to up our cultural education by taking us to some modern opera of Die Zauberfloete. It was terrifying: The magic flute was a giant penis and the queen of the night ripped her boobs off and spent the rest of the aria bleeding. So I doubly hate the magic flute. And that stupid Papageno song (der Vogelfaenger bin ich ja, stehts lustig, heisa-hopsasa) gets stuck in my head periodically. Lucky me. Hope Wien was gut!