Thursday, August 29, 2013

Cow tongue, celebrating the end of auditions, and internships

Earlier this week, I went the Naschmark and bought groceries in one of Vienna's biggest open markets. The food was super fresh and delicious. So fresh in fact that two of my roommates found worms inside their fruit. I got ripped off when purchasing nuts. But the biggest faux paux of the trip was the mystery meat. 

I feel the need to try new foods now that I am in a foreign country. This is certainly a noble endeavor. However, as my roommates have advised me after the fact, one should know exactly what they are eating. I purchased meat at he Naschmarkt. I thought it was bacon or some other kind of lunch meat. However when I opened it up and started to cook it, I realized it didn't smell familiar. 

Then one of my roommates chimes in, "Hey, that looks like cow tongue; my mother used to make it all the time." So we googled what cow tongue looked like and it didn't quite look like what was in my frying pan. I tried to dig the packaging out o the garbage container and locate what it was called. Well the packaging didn't say what it was. So to this day, I have no idea what kind of exotic meat it was that I bought that day. 

The moral of the story is this: Alicia is not allowed to go grocery shopping by herself--ever. 

Yesterday was the vocal auditions for placement in the music workshop. I felt very good about my audition. I was content with my diction, technique and tone. As it turns out there are many very talented musicians and I am honored to have the opportunity to work with them, and grow as musicians together with such wonderful people. 

Afterwards everyone decided to go out to an event put on by our resident assistants. We were going to locos (a bar) for loco Wednesdays. Because my roommates and I are all auditioning for the music workshop we all went later than our fellow participants in the European Culture and society section. 

Navigating the U-ban as I-don't-know-that-much-german speakers is super interesting. We called our R.A. (who was apparently in Italy at the time and we had no idea) several times in trying to get to where we needed to go. Then we arrive and enter our first encounter with local Austrians. 

Apparently I have no idea how to order drinks in German. Also my rommie got hit on by this one random guy who was dancing in our area. I was cracking up because she was very unsuccessful in trying to display her disinterest. And then later in the evening I was hit on by that guys wingman and the interaction was interesting. The conversation follows:

Me: Wie heisst du?
Him: mumble drunkenly auf Deutsch about loving all kinds of women
Me: nervous laughter
Him: Wie alt bist du?
Me: Zweiundzwanzig jahre alt.
Him: Zweiunddreissig?
Me: Nein. Zwansig, zweiundzwansig. 
Him: 22. Shit your young. 
Me: How old do I look?
Him: I am 28 so...

And that was my first interaction with the locals.  

Moral of the story: Dress down at bars so I don't get mistaken for an old woman. 

On a happier note, I received a musicology internship through my program and am super stoked about it. My roommate is also participating in the internship which is mega cool.  


Sunday, August 25, 2013

Shopping, Walking, Ect.

SHOPPING ADVENTURE!
We finished orientation on a Saturday afternoon and drove from Mariazell to Vienna. It was an interesting couple of days.

Fact: Practically everything (like grocery stores and many restaurants and pharmacies) are closed on Sunday in Vienna.

Fact: Grocery stores close early on Saturday, like 6 pm.

Fact: We arrived in Vienna and had to move in, meet the landlady, and deal with all of that craziness.

Reality: One of my roommates and I ran to the grocery store when we arrived with our resident Austrian RA, and grocery raced to get a few nights of food.

WALKING ADVENTURE

A few roommates and I decide to go attend the Stephansdom mass. We decided it was nice enough to walk. We found the place okay. Then we tried to get home. Imagine a girl in heels, dressed tot the nines for church and all hovering around a map saying, "Perhaps, I think it is that way?"

We walked in several circles. Eventually, we made it home.

I laid down on the bed and then "Hey, were going on a walking tour of the district in a few minutes."

Reality: It is true that the Austrians walk everywhere, all the time and a lot.


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Orientation Update

I cannot believe I have survived International Travel. I have met many amazing peoples in my travels to Study Abroad. 

On my flight to Dusseldorf I met a very nice lady who offered me food and hand sanitizer. She was from Poland originally, but she was visiting friends in Germany.  During the flight we chatted about her sons, her beautiful garden and her cute dog. In turned I shared with her a little about my family and background. And the most ironic thing is she was a music theory teacher and I was to be studying music.

My roommates are all super awesome and everyone I have met so far has been super nice.

Once you get over the jet-lag it is all a pretty awesome experience

 

Monday, August 19, 2013

Flying out of the Country tomorrow

I can't believe the time to leave is almost here. The last few days have been spent preparing for my impending trip. I have said my goodbyes, without tears I might add, and have packed my bags. Although I am fairly certain I picked up a cold, because my throat is a little soar, but we deal with it. I am beyond excited to begin this semester and learn all I can about music on Vienna.