Österreicher

A milestone happened today. Something that was huge. Today I was getting off the U-bahn and someone stopped me to ask directions. Me! They thought that I was an Austrian or at least someone who could spoke good German and who would know where to go. Pah! I don’t think so. I just said that I wasn’t from around there and that I didn’t know where to go. I felt pretty good about myself and my head has gotten much bigger since that little incident. Proudest moment of my life.

Today for class we went to the Wien Museum and learned about the stages and growth of this beautiful new city of mine. My first excursion to a museum. You know they always say that you become your parents. I have already seen myself morph into my mom. I laugh like her, I buy the same things as her and I walk just like her. I had yet to see my behaviors become like my fathers until this trip. My dad used to have to drag me into the field museum or to (my favorite) a national park/forest. He is going to laugh when he reads this, but I love going to everything here. Every historical or art museum, every park, every building, everything. I want to walk around and see things until my eyes get blurry or my feet send shooting pains up my entire body. So Dad, you would be so proud of me. I am like you now. I am interested in the stories behind every building and I am totally that person who asked those questions to the tour guides. Even though you don’t know it: Thank you, Dad. I am officially admitting to becoming just like my father.

I also morphed into the typical Hope College student, buying my “Universität Wien” sweatshirt. I’ve realized, though, that I will get funny looks if I wear it here and that it really is only cool in the states. The sweatshirt will have to be my lounge wear or something that I use as a layer, since the weather here is completely unpredictable.

Our day ended with the cutest little family I have ever met in my life. Trevor took Alex and I to his host family. They are a youngish couple with two little boys and a little girl. They are happy to have American people there to help them learn and also to talk to their children. We spent hours talking and eating. I am completely 100% jealous of Trevor’s living situation. I do wish that Alex and I actually have a host family, but our gig is nothing that we can complain about.

Off to roam the city and get lost!