Train Coming.
Train Station: Wien Meidling
Post Office: 9th District
28 November 2006
27 November 2006
Theft
Well, I'm in Vienna again, (finally) preparing for my visit to the University tomorrow. I took the last bus from Eisenstadt at 19:30, which left me with two hours to kill before Martin finished his band practice. I decided to go drink a beer and dive into my copy of "American Short Stories" borrowed from Alexa. Before executing said plan, I went to the Bankomat (ATM) and took out €30. I arrived at my preferred cosy locale in the 8th district, ordered a beer, and drifted off into the stories for about an hour and a half. The other patrons hardly entered my consciousness, aside from two young men speaking an eastern european language looking for a table. I momentarily thought of offering them space at mine, as I was alone at a table for five, but decided not to as the establishment wasn't full. After finishing my beer perhaps an hour later, I went to pay, only to find that my wallet was devoid of cash. Confused, I told the waitress that I needed to look for a moment. I searched my pockets and backpack in vain, and distinctly recalled placing the three €10 bills into my wallet. I told her what happened and left the remains of my purse in her posession (a deposit of sorts) as I went to the Bankomat once again. She mentioned the presence of the strange young men, and said they had left in a hurry immediately after requesting the menu. What I don't understand, but am thankful for, is why they didn't just take the whole damn wallet. All of my cards (none of them credit, OK) are still there, thankfully. I'm just angry that I wasn't more vigilant. I had my wallet in my coat, which was draped over the chair on which I was sitting. Well... at least it was only 30 bucks... I guess... in the future I will be sure to keep my valuables somewhere out of reach. Sometimes we small-town boys have a few lessons to learn from the metropoli.
I fear I may be slowly acquiring the Austrian xenophobia as well, since I am tempted to blame those eastern-bloc bastards' entire half-continent. A bit ironic for a stranger in a strange land...
I fear I may be slowly acquiring the Austrian xenophobia as well, since I am tempted to blame those eastern-bloc bastards' entire half-continent. A bit ironic for a stranger in a strange land...
21 November 2006
Lazy Blogger gets Back to Work
Photo: Approaching Eisenstadt on the Train
Well, my visit to the University didn’t go exactly as planned. I spent the night in Vienna, hoping to go to the “Studienberatung” (advising services) for my chosen programme in the early morning, and then return to Eisenstadt for my tutoring appointments from 1:30 to 4:30. It turns out that the advising office for the translation department is only open from 1:00 to 3:00 on Tuesdays, which are the only days that I’m not normally scheduled to be teaching in the high schools. So, that is the only weekday on which I can reasonably accomplish anything in Vienna. So, I’ve reserved next Tuesday in my calendar to ensure that I don’t make any tutoring appointments. I should have done that last week, but I was contacted by a new client and it is important to make myself as available as possible for money-making opportunities. I also plan to go to the American Consulate next week, where they have an office called “Citizen Services” to help people like me integrate into Austria. I plan to ask them what my options are for obtaining further residency permits, which should be very helpful in achieving my long-term goal of staying here. Anyway… the 28th is reserved in my calendar, so it will actually happen in a week’s time.
I really need to move to the capital after this school year is over- I spend too much money on bus and train fares. I cannot be a small-town boy anymore.
Other than that there is little to report:
The “Christkindlmärkte” (Christmas markets) have opened up in cities across Austria, serving up large portions of kitschy gift items and tasty Glühwein (heated red wine with sugar and spices- very good!) to keep the patrons warm, toasty, and in the Christmas spirit. It hasn’t gotten too cold yet, with temperatures failing to dip below freezing. Some complain that this is not “Christmassy” enough, while others (like me!) are grateful for the reprieve.
For New Year’s, I have been invited to return to the little cabin in Carinthia (where I went in August) for a little celebration. So, I’m not going to France this time around, but I really love the atmosphere up there in the mountains and I hope to see some snow for a change. It’s also a cheap way to get away from the usually scenery for the holiday.
Christmas will be celebrated in Eisenstadt at Alexa’s place, just as it was last year, something that is slowly becoming tradition, as I’m the adopted “cousin” of the small family. Speaking of family and Alexa, my clan has adopted her as well- sending gifts from America in thanks for her friendship. So, little Konstantin is now running about school with his Ohio University t-shirt and bragging to his friends. It is a nice parallel to the fact that my father will soon be skating about with an Austrian national hockey jersey to show off to his friends. I like to think of it as diplomacy through paraphernalia.
I have also been taking advantage of the highly nostalgic and personal quality provided by the postal service (in comparison to electronic mail), writing and receiving long letters from friends in the “new world”. Anyone who writes is guaranteed a reply:
Arthur Cornwell
Florianigasse 24-26
7000 Eisenstadt
AUSTRIA
(hint hint)
Much to my initial confusion, Eisenstadt was swarming with Americans today. This is such a small town and so far from the well-beaten tourist path that our kind is considered rather exotic. I eventually approached a small group of the tourists and enquired about the purpose of their visit to learn that they were a choir group from Pennsylvania touring the country. There were about 100 people in their group, making their presence in the pedestrian precinct quite ubiquitous. I also talked briefly to the choir director, a stern woman in a hideous reindeer sweater, who was nice but gave me a dirty look for smoking. I had almost forgotten about the ever-present stigma attached to the habit in the US. She implied that I must feel at home having so many of them around, but I didn’t have the impudence to tell her that they invoked a rather opposite sentiment in me. Please don’t misinterpret this- it is not meant as an insult to the entire country- but there are some reasons why I want to live here and she happened to remind me of them.
(I just asked Anna, my roommate, for advice on softening my writing so as not to be offensive. She said she wasn’t sure if that last sentence was helping or making it worse. I’ve decided that I needn’t apologise for how I feel. Deal with it.)
Well, my visit to the University didn’t go exactly as planned. I spent the night in Vienna, hoping to go to the “Studienberatung” (advising services) for my chosen programme in the early morning, and then return to Eisenstadt for my tutoring appointments from 1:30 to 4:30. It turns out that the advising office for the translation department is only open from 1:00 to 3:00 on Tuesdays, which are the only days that I’m not normally scheduled to be teaching in the high schools. So, that is the only weekday on which I can reasonably accomplish anything in Vienna. So, I’ve reserved next Tuesday in my calendar to ensure that I don’t make any tutoring appointments. I should have done that last week, but I was contacted by a new client and it is important to make myself as available as possible for money-making opportunities. I also plan to go to the American Consulate next week, where they have an office called “Citizen Services” to help people like me integrate into Austria. I plan to ask them what my options are for obtaining further residency permits, which should be very helpful in achieving my long-term goal of staying here. Anyway… the 28th is reserved in my calendar, so it will actually happen in a week’s time.
I really need to move to the capital after this school year is over- I spend too much money on bus and train fares. I cannot be a small-town boy anymore.
Other than that there is little to report:
The “Christkindlmärkte” (Christmas markets) have opened up in cities across Austria, serving up large portions of kitschy gift items and tasty Glühwein (heated red wine with sugar and spices- very good!) to keep the patrons warm, toasty, and in the Christmas spirit. It hasn’t gotten too cold yet, with temperatures failing to dip below freezing. Some complain that this is not “Christmassy” enough, while others (like me!) are grateful for the reprieve.
For New Year’s, I have been invited to return to the little cabin in Carinthia (where I went in August) for a little celebration. So, I’m not going to France this time around, but I really love the atmosphere up there in the mountains and I hope to see some snow for a change. It’s also a cheap way to get away from the usually scenery for the holiday.
Christmas will be celebrated in Eisenstadt at Alexa’s place, just as it was last year, something that is slowly becoming tradition, as I’m the adopted “cousin” of the small family. Speaking of family and Alexa, my clan has adopted her as well- sending gifts from America in thanks for her friendship. So, little Konstantin is now running about school with his Ohio University t-shirt and bragging to his friends. It is a nice parallel to the fact that my father will soon be skating about with an Austrian national hockey jersey to show off to his friends. I like to think of it as diplomacy through paraphernalia.
I have also been taking advantage of the highly nostalgic and personal quality provided by the postal service (in comparison to electronic mail), writing and receiving long letters from friends in the “new world”. Anyone who writes is guaranteed a reply:
Arthur Cornwell
Florianigasse 24-26
7000 Eisenstadt
AUSTRIA
(hint hint)
Much to my initial confusion, Eisenstadt was swarming with Americans today. This is such a small town and so far from the well-beaten tourist path that our kind is considered rather exotic. I eventually approached a small group of the tourists and enquired about the purpose of their visit to learn that they were a choir group from Pennsylvania touring the country. There were about 100 people in their group, making their presence in the pedestrian precinct quite ubiquitous. I also talked briefly to the choir director, a stern woman in a hideous reindeer sweater, who was nice but gave me a dirty look for smoking. I had almost forgotten about the ever-present stigma attached to the habit in the US. She implied that I must feel at home having so many of them around, but I didn’t have the impudence to tell her that they invoked a rather opposite sentiment in me. Please don’t misinterpret this- it is not meant as an insult to the entire country- but there are some reasons why I want to live here and she happened to remind me of them.
(I just asked Anna, my roommate, for advice on softening my writing so as not to be offensive. She said she wasn’t sure if that last sentence was helping or making it worse. I’ve decided that I needn’t apologise for how I feel. Deal with it.)
31 October 2006
Viennalle
Just a few days ago, it was still warm enough to scuttle about Vienna by motorcycle. Here's me in my traditional Austrian suit, on my way out the door to some stand-up comedy:
That week I also had visitors from America, namely my grandparents, aunt, and uncle. They caught the very last of the good weather, with mild temperatures and sunny days (apart from one rainy one in Eisenstadt). I had a wonderful time showing them around my adopted habitat, surprising myself with the amount of knowledge I have inactively absorbed about the capital over the past months. We took the tram around the ring and then walked up Kärtner Strasse to the cathedral. Lovely.
Since then I've been dividing my time between Vienna and Eisenstadt, fulfilling my tutoring appointments and enjoying my holiday from the public education system. I have made arrangements to visit the University of Vienna on Friday to pick up an application and inform myself about the available masters programmes. My American friend Sarah is already studying there and she invited me to attend a class with her. I'm very excited about the prospect, so keep an eye out for a blog reportage on this subject. I'll try to remember to bring my camera.
That week I also had visitors from America, namely my grandparents, aunt, and uncle. They caught the very last of the good weather, with mild temperatures and sunny days (apart from one rainy one in Eisenstadt). I had a wonderful time showing them around my adopted habitat, surprising myself with the amount of knowledge I have inactively absorbed about the capital over the past months. We took the tram around the ring and then walked up Kärtner Strasse to the cathedral. Lovely.
Since then I've been dividing my time between Vienna and Eisenstadt, fulfilling my tutoring appointments and enjoying my holiday from the public education system. I have made arrangements to visit the University of Vienna on Friday to pick up an application and inform myself about the available masters programmes. My American friend Sarah is already studying there and she invited me to attend a class with her. I'm very excited about the prospect, so keep an eye out for a blog reportage on this subject. I'll try to remember to bring my camera.
10 October 2006
Autumnal
I've been suffering from a bit of writer's block regarding the blog. One of the main reasons for this is that after having been here for almost a year's time, there aren't many differences between Austria and the US that I notice anymore which compel me to write. Well, one thing that is different from my time here last year is that I'm living in an old house rather than a brand new dormitory building. This entails dealing with old-house things such as drafty windows, bugs, garden maintenance, and most recently, heating. It has become quite nippy here in Eisenstadt, and I have finally had to capitulate to the cold in deference to my energy-saving sensibilities and switch the furnace on. A simple task, you might assume... but would you Americans know how to operate this device?
This is our water heater. It is also our furnace. I had been accustomed to the large, rattling, behemoth contraptions found in American basements which take on a living, monstrous quality to small children and blast hot air into our homes. The one from my childhood on 65 Morris Avenue was particularly frightening, as it was a relic of the 1950's and seemed to have a web of spidery tentacles reaching up into the house from below. The one before that, in Millfield, I believe was an oil-burner and had the additional quality of emitting a very noxious smell. Another thing you'll find in all basements in the land of round doorknobs is a large hot water heater, which stores a large amount of water in an insulated tank. These aren't particularly frightening to rugrats, but they do have the disadvantages of staying on all day and all night when no hot water is needed, as well as running out of hot water if more than two people would like to shower in the morning. The system pictured above is not only practical in that it precludes the need for two devices, but it heats only the amount of water needed, at the very moment that you need it. Not only can you shower for five hours without running out of hot water (as my landlord remarked), but it also keeps a steady flow of warmth flowing to the radiators in the winter. Now that I've finally figured out how to turn the radiator part on, I can keep the house from freezing and regulate the temperature in each room with the valve on each radiator. No need to heat the kitchen and dining room at night, so, more energy saved! I just hope that the pipes never develop a leak...
Other than fiddling with the furnace, I've been very busy with school(s). My usual teaching assistantship has begun again, and I'm constantly running back and forth between my new Gymnasium and the familiar HTL trying to coordinate lesson plans with two dozen different teachers. After the normal school day is over, I head over to the Lernquadrat and tutor for about 3 hours up to four days a week, come home and collapse momentarily before pounding out my lesson plans for the next day. Then, when the weekend finally comes, I head up to Vienna to relax with Martin, or he comes down here and I cook delicious meals for us from my new cookbook, "Kochen für Wenig Geld", or, "Cooking for Little Money". Sehr praktisch. How are you, my lovely readers?
This is our water heater. It is also our furnace. I had been accustomed to the large, rattling, behemoth contraptions found in American basements which take on a living, monstrous quality to small children and blast hot air into our homes. The one from my childhood on 65 Morris Avenue was particularly frightening, as it was a relic of the 1950's and seemed to have a web of spidery tentacles reaching up into the house from below. The one before that, in Millfield, I believe was an oil-burner and had the additional quality of emitting a very noxious smell. Another thing you'll find in all basements in the land of round doorknobs is a large hot water heater, which stores a large amount of water in an insulated tank. These aren't particularly frightening to rugrats, but they do have the disadvantages of staying on all day and all night when no hot water is needed, as well as running out of hot water if more than two people would like to shower in the morning. The system pictured above is not only practical in that it precludes the need for two devices, but it heats only the amount of water needed, at the very moment that you need it. Not only can you shower for five hours without running out of hot water (as my landlord remarked), but it also keeps a steady flow of warmth flowing to the radiators in the winter. Now that I've finally figured out how to turn the radiator part on, I can keep the house from freezing and regulate the temperature in each room with the valve on each radiator. No need to heat the kitchen and dining room at night, so, more energy saved! I just hope that the pipes never develop a leak...
Other than fiddling with the furnace, I've been very busy with school(s). My usual teaching assistantship has begun again, and I'm constantly running back and forth between my new Gymnasium and the familiar HTL trying to coordinate lesson plans with two dozen different teachers. After the normal school day is over, I head over to the Lernquadrat and tutor for about 3 hours up to four days a week, come home and collapse momentarily before pounding out my lesson plans for the next day. Then, when the weekend finally comes, I head up to Vienna to relax with Martin, or he comes down here and I cook delicious meals for us from my new cookbook, "Kochen für Wenig Geld", or, "Cooking for Little Money". Sehr praktisch. How are you, my lovely readers?
01 October 2006
A Sample from my Translation Work:
Denso 4- and 6-axes robots
Market Leader
Denso is the clear leader in the important small-assembly robot market segment with a significant and steadily growing market share. We are without a doubt thankful to act as a purveyor of this integrated line of 4- and 6-axes robots.
Represented worldwide
DENSO is a very well known company in the robotics market. There are currently more than 30,000 DENSO robots installed worldwide. In Japan – known for its leading position in robotics –we are one of the largest producers and by far the largest user of robots. From this position we know not only what all is possible with the use of robots, but also what is required of them in daily use. Due to our advanced technology and market position we will continue to expand our standing in Europe.
For (almost) every application the proper robot
We would like to introduce to you our new programme of 4- and 6-axes robots. This especially broad portfolio has further increased our robot family's position in the market. For (almost) every application you will find the appropriate robot model: 4- or 6-axes, small to mid-sized, for loads from 2,5 to 20 kg, with various scopes.
Design and Function
Immediately recognisable qualities of our robots are the elegant design and compact construction. The form of a robot probably belongs to one of the less important factors regarding industrial equipment, but an elegant appearance has nonetheless a positive effect on the overall impression of your facility and working environment. The carefully enclosed cables are not only optically pleasing, but offer formidable advantages in terms of maintenance and cleaning. The compact footprint allows for utilisation under even the most limited available space. A wide spectrum of models is a matter of course for us. This includes dust- and splashwater- proof variants, as well as models for use in clean rooms.
BLECH!!
Market Leader
Denso is the clear leader in the important small-assembly robot market segment with a significant and steadily growing market share. We are without a doubt thankful to act as a purveyor of this integrated line of 4- and 6-axes robots.
Represented worldwide
DENSO is a very well known company in the robotics market. There are currently more than 30,000 DENSO robots installed worldwide. In Japan – known for its leading position in robotics –we are one of the largest producers and by far the largest user of robots. From this position we know not only what all is possible with the use of robots, but also what is required of them in daily use. Due to our advanced technology and market position we will continue to expand our standing in Europe.
For (almost) every application the proper robot
We would like to introduce to you our new programme of 4- and 6-axes robots. This especially broad portfolio has further increased our robot family's position in the market. For (almost) every application you will find the appropriate robot model: 4- or 6-axes, small to mid-sized, for loads from 2,5 to 20 kg, with various scopes.
Design and Function
Immediately recognisable qualities of our robots are the elegant design and compact construction. The form of a robot probably belongs to one of the less important factors regarding industrial equipment, but an elegant appearance has nonetheless a positive effect on the overall impression of your facility and working environment. The carefully enclosed cables are not only optically pleasing, but offer formidable advantages in terms of maintenance and cleaning. The compact footprint allows for utilisation under even the most limited available space. A wide spectrum of models is a matter of course for us. This includes dust- and splashwater- proof variants, as well as models for use in clean rooms.
BLECH!!
30 September 2006
Politics
Tomorrow is voting day here in Austria, an event preceded by the obligatory campaign hysteria. Although advertisements are to be seen and heard everywhere and the press has whipped itself up into a frenzy, this is more subdued than the maniacal barrage we experienced in Ohio in 2004. For an outside observer who can't vote I take a good degree of interest in the matter. Those of you familiar with European parliamentary system probably already know that it is quite different from our own two-party system. Here they have a quite practical thing known as proportional representation. This means that each party receives a proportion of seats in the parliament corresponding to their percentage of the vote taken. As a result, many governments are formed via coalitions between parties. Here is a quick overview of the Austrian parties:
ÖVP (Österreichische Volkspartei - black): The current leader in the polls with 37%, this is a center right party whose platform is based on economic conservatism, lower taxes, and support for business leaders. The current chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel, is a member of the ÖVP and was recently caught in a scandal. He has claimed that Austria has an adequate health care system and there is no need for reform or the use of foreign caretakers in old folks' homes. However, it was discovered that he was paying a Slovakian woman (referred to in the media as "Frau Maria") €2,40 an hour to take care of his geriatric mother-in-law. This has damaged the party's reputation, however they are still enjoying a slight lead in the polls.
SPÖ (Sozialistische Partei Österreichs - red) Here are your classic European social-democrats, who are promising "new fairness" for the country, more daycare centers, and the abolition of tuition for state universities. This along with support for the working man and other social benefits comprise the party platform. They currently have an approval rating of 35%, so they are in a very close race with the ÖVP.
Grüne Partei (Green): The far-left environmentalist party supports initiatives for alternative energy (but against nuclear power), public transport, and proposes to change gender discrimination in salaries, noting that women are paid about a third worse than men in the private sector. Some pundits have charged the party with obsolescence, as the environmental issues which form the staple of their platform have become a mainstream credo for all European parties and the general populace sees environmentalism as self-evident. Certainly the party had their place in the 70's and 80's before this was the case. If only we could be so advanced in the states! They do, however, retain a crucial role in parliament with 11% of the vote. Should the reds come to power, they would be an obvious choice for a coalition, although party leaders have also proposed a coalition with the blacks, which would make for some odd bedfellows.
FPÖ (Freiheitspartei Österreich - blue): These are Austria's right-wing and xenophobic nuts. They promise "Austria instead of Islam", "German instead of not understanding anything", are extremely critical of the EU, and want to beef of security of existing border crossing and prevent the opening of new ones (which is currently underway). These sentiments are attractive to some, as they have 9-10% of the vote.
BZÖ (Bündnis Zukunft Österreich -orange): This party formed as a splinter group from the FPÖ, and are practically indistinguishable from them. They are constantly getting into squabbles with the FPÖ, most recently over the right to call themselves "Die Freiheitlichen", a rip off of the FPÖ's slogan "Die Freiheitspartei". A judge ruled against them and they had to change the slogan. This is amusing, but nothing that is taken very seriously by the public. They currently have about 4% in the polls.
KPÖ (Kommunischtische Partei Österreichs): Yes, the communist party still exists. They have enjoyed some recent success with the election of a communist governor in Styria, who is apparently quite charismatic and philanthropic and has been effective in following through on his promises within the province. On the national level they only have 1% or less of the vote.
Who would you vote for??
ÖVP (Österreichische Volkspartei - black): The current leader in the polls with 37%, this is a center right party whose platform is based on economic conservatism, lower taxes, and support for business leaders. The current chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel, is a member of the ÖVP and was recently caught in a scandal. He has claimed that Austria has an adequate health care system and there is no need for reform or the use of foreign caretakers in old folks' homes. However, it was discovered that he was paying a Slovakian woman (referred to in the media as "Frau Maria") €2,40 an hour to take care of his geriatric mother-in-law. This has damaged the party's reputation, however they are still enjoying a slight lead in the polls.
SPÖ (Sozialistische Partei Österreichs - red) Here are your classic European social-democrats, who are promising "new fairness" for the country, more daycare centers, and the abolition of tuition for state universities. This along with support for the working man and other social benefits comprise the party platform. They currently have an approval rating of 35%, so they are in a very close race with the ÖVP.
Grüne Partei (Green): The far-left environmentalist party supports initiatives for alternative energy (but against nuclear power), public transport, and proposes to change gender discrimination in salaries, noting that women are paid about a third worse than men in the private sector. Some pundits have charged the party with obsolescence, as the environmental issues which form the staple of their platform have become a mainstream credo for all European parties and the general populace sees environmentalism as self-evident. Certainly the party had their place in the 70's and 80's before this was the case. If only we could be so advanced in the states! They do, however, retain a crucial role in parliament with 11% of the vote. Should the reds come to power, they would be an obvious choice for a coalition, although party leaders have also proposed a coalition with the blacks, which would make for some odd bedfellows.
FPÖ (Freiheitspartei Österreich - blue): These are Austria's right-wing and xenophobic nuts. They promise "Austria instead of Islam", "German instead of not understanding anything", are extremely critical of the EU, and want to beef of security of existing border crossing and prevent the opening of new ones (which is currently underway). These sentiments are attractive to some, as they have 9-10% of the vote.
BZÖ (Bündnis Zukunft Österreich -orange): This party formed as a splinter group from the FPÖ, and are practically indistinguishable from them. They are constantly getting into squabbles with the FPÖ, most recently over the right to call themselves "Die Freiheitlichen", a rip off of the FPÖ's slogan "Die Freiheitspartei". A judge ruled against them and they had to change the slogan. This is amusing, but nothing that is taken very seriously by the public. They currently have about 4% in the polls.
KPÖ (Kommunischtische Partei Österreichs): Yes, the communist party still exists. They have enjoyed some recent success with the election of a communist governor in Styria, who is apparently quite charismatic and philanthropic and has been effective in following through on his promises within the province. On the national level they only have 1% or less of the vote.
Who would you vote for??
20 September 2006
Wohngemeinschaft
Wow, great job writing comments everyone! I do need the reassurance that someone is reading, and I really enjoy your thoughts and feedback.
What's new in my life:
I rented out the extra bedroom in my house, which is wonderful because I now have a little bit of company and my rent became extremely cheap. My new housemate's name is Anna and she is also an English teaching assistant. She is from the D.C. area, and is teaching in two schools in Mattersburg, a nearby town. She had arranged for a room in Wiener Neustadt, but apparently the landlord was a very nasty woman and wouldn't allow her to have any guests (her father flew in with her, and she wouldn't even let him stay), she didn't have a kitchen, and no opportunity to get the internet. I told her that guests are no problem for me, and she liked the house so she moved in the very day she first saw it. We also decided that we both really need the internet, so someone from Austria Telekom is coming tomorrow to hook it up. I'm glad she motivated me to do this, because there is a special offer now where it only costs €10 a month for the first six months, and then €20 after that for 400 megabytes of usage, which is plenty for surfing and reading email. Good news for you demanding readers, because I will be able to write much more often.
I encountered the old Herr Bock again the other day. He is the geriatric and senile father of my landlord, and therefore also the former owner of the house. He was standing outside the door one morning when I went out and he asked me what I was doing in his house! I calmly explained that I rent the house from his son. He asked me where I was from (again) and I told him I was an American, to which he responded to by raving about his experiences as a prisoner of war. Just one of the many quirky aspects of living in the Florianigasse...
What's new in my life:
I rented out the extra bedroom in my house, which is wonderful because I now have a little bit of company and my rent became extremely cheap. My new housemate's name is Anna and she is also an English teaching assistant. She is from the D.C. area, and is teaching in two schools in Mattersburg, a nearby town. She had arranged for a room in Wiener Neustadt, but apparently the landlord was a very nasty woman and wouldn't allow her to have any guests (her father flew in with her, and she wouldn't even let him stay), she didn't have a kitchen, and no opportunity to get the internet. I told her that guests are no problem for me, and she liked the house so she moved in the very day she first saw it. We also decided that we both really need the internet, so someone from Austria Telekom is coming tomorrow to hook it up. I'm glad she motivated me to do this, because there is a special offer now where it only costs €10 a month for the first six months, and then €20 after that for 400 megabytes of usage, which is plenty for surfing and reading email. Good news for you demanding readers, because I will be able to write much more often.
I encountered the old Herr Bock again the other day. He is the geriatric and senile father of my landlord, and therefore also the former owner of the house. He was standing outside the door one morning when I went out and he asked me what I was doing in his house! I calmly explained that I rent the house from his son. He asked me where I was from (again) and I told him I was an American, to which he responded to by raving about his experiences as a prisoner of war. Just one of the many quirky aspects of living in the Florianigasse...
14 September 2006
Yes, I'm Still Alive
I like how everyone starts to get upset if I don't write for a few weeks, even though no one bothers to write comments....
Yes, I'm still alive. I'm in Eisenstadt, and I don't have internet access at my house so I don't exactly have a lot of opportunities to write. I am currently at the one and only internet cafe in the city, which charges 2 euro for 25 minutes, which is pretty much a rip off. I have got a website translation lined up (x-technics) which should pay quite nicely, and maybe next month I'll be able to afford to get the 'net hooked up. Until then, the rest of you will just have to be patient.
Also, I'm trying to find a roommate in my house, because its soooo boring all by myself!!
More later....
Yes, I'm still alive. I'm in Eisenstadt, and I don't have internet access at my house so I don't exactly have a lot of opportunities to write. I am currently at the one and only internet cafe in the city, which charges 2 euro for 25 minutes, which is pretty much a rip off. I have got a website translation lined up (x-technics) which should pay quite nicely, and maybe next month I'll be able to afford to get the 'net hooked up. Until then, the rest of you will just have to be patient.
Also, I'm trying to find a roommate in my house, because its soooo boring all by myself!!
More later....
24 August 2006
Work Work Work!!!
Sorry I've been neglecting the blog a bit, but I've been terribly busy diving into the teaching profession and the dark, murky depths of English grammar. (You may have noticed that I chose to use the present perfect in the previous sentence, because we always use this form when talking about a period of time that began in the past but continues until now). Do you know the difference between 'will' and 'going to'??? Well, my friends, we use 'will' when we decide to do something the moment we are speaking or we are unsure of the named event taking place, yet 'going to' indicates that something has been previously planned or the mentioned consequence is likely. Does this rule actually hold true in the real world of native English speakers?? I hardly think so... I make no distinction between 'will' and 'going to', which makes it terribly difficult to correct the worksheets on this topic. But there MUST BE A RULE to regulate this linguistic chaos! I could probably ramble on about the idiosyncrasies of our language for some time (ask me about modal verbs sometime), but I think you get the point. Sometimes the 'correct' answer given by the book sounds like complete rubbish and would never be said by anybody, but is defensible given the 'rules'. It can be pretty frustrating, but I'm studying a lot and getting the hang of it. In addition to the grammar, there is the bookkeeping part. That is, keeping track of what each student has worked on, their progress, homework, and tests. Yes, I get to write my very first English test today. On the menu: Some vs. Any (no distinction made in German), Modal Verbs, Present and Past Simple, Present Progressive, and Will vs. Going To. Blech!!! On the positive side, I'm getting to know my colleagues very well and through them I am exploring the possibilities within the proffession, of which there seem to be many. I'm happy to be collecting the experience and making the contacts. (Contacts are EVERYTHING in the Austrian professional world). So, I think I'll go write that test... and meet my fellow teachers at the wine festival this evening... all in a days' work!
16 August 2006
2.5 Weeks From Now...
I met with Dr. Bock, my future landlord, today to go over the mechanical systems of the Haus and take care of other business. Naturally, I brought my camera!
It doesn't look like much from the outside, I admit... but...
It has a very charming garden.
The dining and living rooms.
I am so happy about this place!! Not only is it very charming, but it also has a lot of space and is a very short walk from the center of town. I can hardly wait to move in!
It doesn't look like much from the outside, I admit... but...
It has a very charming garden.
The dining and living rooms.
I am so happy about this place!! Not only is it very charming, but it also has a lot of space and is a very short walk from the center of town. I can hardly wait to move in!
14 August 2006
Carinthia
Vienna, Friday afternoon: Six friends (Alexander, Andreas, Martin, Patrick, Renée, and myself) pile into Alex's Renault Espace minivan and set off on the Südautobahn for our 4.5 hour drive to...
Thomas's cabin in the mountains of Carinthia, not far from the village of Bad Kleinkirchheim. Elevation: Approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet). Temperature: 10 celcius (50 fahrenheit).
We awoke to a rainy and cold Saturday morning, but this didn't stop us from taking a hike and collecting wild mushrooms.
This creek also runs past the cabin and emits a sleep-inducing burble.
After our hike, we visited this local Buschenschank for a cup of Glühwein (Wine-pub and hot spiced wine, respectively), where I spotted this little alpine boy being photogenic.
After all that rain in the woods, the fire was most enjoyable.
More fire on Saturday night, this time outside.
We had much better weather on Sunday, but had to drive back to civilization in the late afternoon. Too bad, really!
Thomas's cabin in the mountains of Carinthia, not far from the village of Bad Kleinkirchheim. Elevation: Approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet). Temperature: 10 celcius (50 fahrenheit).
We awoke to a rainy and cold Saturday morning, but this didn't stop us from taking a hike and collecting wild mushrooms.
This creek also runs past the cabin and emits a sleep-inducing burble.
After our hike, we visited this local Buschenschank for a cup of Glühwein (Wine-pub and hot spiced wine, respectively), where I spotted this little alpine boy being photogenic.
After all that rain in the woods, the fire was most enjoyable.
More fire on Saturday night, this time outside.
We had much better weather on Sunday, but had to drive back to civilization in the late afternoon. Too bad, really!
11 August 2006
Mini-Holiday
I'm escaping to the mountains of Carinthia (aka Kärnten) for the weekend. Expect pictures on Monday or Tuesday!!
02 August 2006
Fotos von Ohio (Für die deutschsprachige Leute)
Ich weiß, dass ihr alle wissen wollten, was ich denn in Amerika gemacht habe. Naja, was besonderes wars nicht... aber ein Paar sachen zu beschrieben gibts doch schon.
Warum brauchen Amerikaner so viele Energie? Weil wir solche Autos fahren! Ich war den ganzen Zeit mit dem riesen grossen Truck unterwegs. Das ist das drittes Auto meines Elterns, und ich habs gebraucht damit ich in die Arbeit kommen konnte. Hässlich, oder? Einmail habe ich einen Parkstraf bekommen und der Polizist hat die Farbe des Trucks als 'other' aufs Zettel beschrieben. Ganz witzig.
Eichhorchen und Vögel.
Hier ist ein ganz toller Ort in südost Ohio. Hier geht ein Flüsschen durch eine enge und tiefe Falte. Von oben kann man in den Taich springen, was ein bisschen gefährlich ist aber viel spaß macht!
Mein Bruder und ich im selben Ort.
Die Mutter war auch dabei.
Ja, das war schöne Zeiten aber ich freue mich wieder in Österreich zu sein. Hoffentlich habt ihr die Fotos genossen :) -dein Arthur.
Warum brauchen Amerikaner so viele Energie? Weil wir solche Autos fahren! Ich war den ganzen Zeit mit dem riesen grossen Truck unterwegs. Das ist das drittes Auto meines Elterns, und ich habs gebraucht damit ich in die Arbeit kommen konnte. Hässlich, oder? Einmail habe ich einen Parkstraf bekommen und der Polizist hat die Farbe des Trucks als 'other' aufs Zettel beschrieben. Ganz witzig.
Eichhorchen und Vögel.
Hier ist ein ganz toller Ort in südost Ohio. Hier geht ein Flüsschen durch eine enge und tiefe Falte. Von oben kann man in den Taich springen, was ein bisschen gefährlich ist aber viel spaß macht!
Mein Bruder und ich im selben Ort.
Die Mutter war auch dabei.
Ja, das war schöne Zeiten aber ich freue mich wieder in Österreich zu sein. Hoffentlich habt ihr die Fotos genossen :) -dein Arthur.
01 August 2006
Is This a Beautiful Country? I Vote Yes.
Today I wandered around the Burgenland with my good friends Alexa and Monika. My shutterbug factor was high, so I have some nice images to share. As always, click on the fotos to enlarge them.
This is a photo of the Kogelberg, which is a hill situated between the towns St. Margareten and Rust. It is a gorgeous spot with wonderful views of the Neusiedler See and it is a nature preserve. It also features a quarry from which the stone to build Vienna's most famous architectural monuments was extracted, as well as a series of sculptures. The rainbow certainly enhanced the experience.
Through one of the sculptures you can see St. Margareten below.
A ubiquitous feature of the Burgenland: Vineyards.
After our hike, it was time to go to the Cselle Mülle (pronounced something like 'jelly-moo-lah'), an old mill that is now a cultural center. Even the dove-house that you see here is a registered historical site.
Although the roast pig was quite tasty...
the real reason that we went was for the Kroatische Folksmusikfest (Croatian folk music fesitval). Not a bad day, all things considered! What do you think? Write a comment!
This is a photo of the Kogelberg, which is a hill situated between the towns St. Margareten and Rust. It is a gorgeous spot with wonderful views of the Neusiedler See and it is a nature preserve. It also features a quarry from which the stone to build Vienna's most famous architectural monuments was extracted, as well as a series of sculptures. The rainbow certainly enhanced the experience.
Through one of the sculptures you can see St. Margareten below.
A ubiquitous feature of the Burgenland: Vineyards.
After our hike, it was time to go to the Cselle Mülle (pronounced something like 'jelly-moo-lah'), an old mill that is now a cultural center. Even the dove-house that you see here is a registered historical site.
Although the roast pig was quite tasty...
the real reason that we went was for the Kroatische Folksmusikfest (Croatian folk music fesitval). Not a bad day, all things considered! What do you think? Write a comment!
29 July 2006
Ich Bin Wieder Da!!
Hello Everyone!!
I spent a good 24+ hours in airplanes/ports, trains, etc., and I have arrived in the lovely city of Eisenstadt again. It is really nice to be here again. It really feels much different than the first time that I got here, when everyone and everything was completely new and unknown. This time it felt a lot more like returning home after a long vacation since I knew exactly where to go and how to get there. Alexa picked me up at the train station and we had a nice excursion in the city, where I checked out my future house (very rustic with a courtyard, in a nice part of town) and there was a large street festival with some sort of "Burgenland Idol" singing contest going on. I was very impressed with the vocal talents of Burgenländische teenagers... one 15-year old sang an incredibly impressive version of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", which is certainly not an easy song to sing! After some hazelnut ice cream in the pedestrian zone (YUM!), we returned home at about 10:00 PM local time, had a glass of wine, and I slept for 12 hours. After a few cups of coffee this morning I feel relatively normal again. Martin is coming this afternoon to pick me up and take me to Vienna for the weekend... so that will be fun. At some point I will upload some more of my Athens fotos and post them for you...
To everyone in Athens: Thank you all SOOOO much for the wonderful time you all showed me. You know who you are!
Keep reading/writing comments and I'll keep writing :)
I spent a good 24+ hours in airplanes/ports, trains, etc., and I have arrived in the lovely city of Eisenstadt again. It is really nice to be here again. It really feels much different than the first time that I got here, when everyone and everything was completely new and unknown. This time it felt a lot more like returning home after a long vacation since I knew exactly where to go and how to get there. Alexa picked me up at the train station and we had a nice excursion in the city, where I checked out my future house (very rustic with a courtyard, in a nice part of town) and there was a large street festival with some sort of "Burgenland Idol" singing contest going on. I was very impressed with the vocal talents of Burgenländische teenagers... one 15-year old sang an incredibly impressive version of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", which is certainly not an easy song to sing! After some hazelnut ice cream in the pedestrian zone (YUM!), we returned home at about 10:00 PM local time, had a glass of wine, and I slept for 12 hours. After a few cups of coffee this morning I feel relatively normal again. Martin is coming this afternoon to pick me up and take me to Vienna for the weekend... so that will be fun. At some point I will upload some more of my Athens fotos and post them for you...
To everyone in Athens: Thank you all SOOOO much for the wonderful time you all showed me. You know who you are!
Keep reading/writing comments and I'll keep writing :)
24 July 2006
Final Days in Athens
My how time flies! I've been here for about two months without writing a blog entry, so I'm feeling a bit guilty. I've been spending a lot of time with friends and family, enjoying nature, and working at RVC Architects. I have some more photos of outdoor adventures on my other computer... so I will post them with stories at some point. To all of you in Austria... I can't wait to get back to you all!
Court Street, Athens, Ohio
Court Street, Athens, Ohio
22 June 2006
oh.... OH
Hey everyone.... yes I'm alive and I'm chillin in SE Ohio. I've got the wheels in my head turning and I'll be posting a massive ATHENS OH blog post in the near-ish future. The ideas are flowing. Give it time.
I will say that it is good to be back- a different yet familiar world.
Keep reading. Love to all.
I will say that it is good to be back- a different yet familiar world.
Keep reading. Love to all.
06 June 2006
Back on American Soil
Well, I've made it safely back to the US. My flight was uneventful, and Eric and Kara were waiting for me in Newark. We had a nice gleeful reunion and took a bus to Grand Central Station. Luckily the money change was still open there, since I knew the rates in the city would be better than at the airport. The man there told me that I was wiser than many people who had several years on me in a thick New York accent. Then we took the subway to Times Square, where we stepped out for a bit to gawk at the chaos and stand around in a stupor. After that it was back on the train to Greenwich Village to meet Erin at the restaurant. We had a delicious meal there and were treated to several free drinks, appetizers, and deserts. After Erin got off work we went to a bar around the corner for a few beers before heading back the apartment in Brooklyn. I slept from 3am to 9am and just woke up feeling fresh and perky. Eric, Kara, and Erin all slept until 11, when I woke them up after going out for breakfast on my own. I'm waiting for them to get their stuff together so we can go do a bit more exploring in the city. Very exciting to be here!! I should be back in Athens in around 5 days or so. To close, I must say that New York is a nice place to make the continental transition.
I wanted to post a picture but I can't find the cable to connect my camera to the computer. It's either in Austria or in my big suitcase in the car in Newark. Oh well!
I wanted to post a picture but I can't find the cable to connect my camera to the computer. It's either in Austria or in my big suitcase in the car in Newark. Oh well!
29 May 2006
Last Weekend in Vienna
The weather was mostly rainy this weekend, but I managed to snap a few decent photos anyway.
A soldier sleeps on the train.
A soldier sleeps on the train.
26 May 2006
Much Needed Update
Sorry about lack of blogging lately. I've been sort of absorbed into my own little life here, and haven't really experienced anything too earth-shaking, but a few updates are in order.
It is now 10 days until I fly to New York, which is so soon that I can hardly believe it.
Good news: I have found employment at a tutoring institute starting in August. The pay is good, so I plan to return to my beloved Austrian earlier than expected. That means my 2 months in Athens will feel more like vacation than a 4 month sentence to boredom and frustration. Yay!
Funny situation did develop with my students the other day. They were reading an article out loud, and the word "beat" in the simple-past form came up. My students insisted on pronouncing the word like "bet", and I said "no.... its 'beat, beat, beaten'". They then proceeded to tell me that my English was inferior for being the American variety. Umm.... NOBODY says "bet" for "beat" in England either kids! When the teacher returned to the room, I wrote all of the forms of the verb on the board, and asked her how she would pronounce them. She said... drum roll please... "Beat, bet, beaten". ARRRG!!!
Afterwards I called Bridget, the TA from England, for reassurance. She said that I was right.
Take that kids! It's MY native language! Not yours!!! Get over it.
Get ready Athens... here I come.
It is now 10 days until I fly to New York, which is so soon that I can hardly believe it.
Good news: I have found employment at a tutoring institute starting in August. The pay is good, so I plan to return to my beloved Austrian earlier than expected. That means my 2 months in Athens will feel more like vacation than a 4 month sentence to boredom and frustration. Yay!
Funny situation did develop with my students the other day. They were reading an article out loud, and the word "beat" in the simple-past form came up. My students insisted on pronouncing the word like "bet", and I said "no.... its 'beat, beat, beaten'". They then proceeded to tell me that my English was inferior for being the American variety. Umm.... NOBODY says "bet" for "beat" in England either kids! When the teacher returned to the room, I wrote all of the forms of the verb on the board, and asked her how she would pronounce them. She said... drum roll please... "Beat, bet, beaten". ARRRG!!!
Afterwards I called Bridget, the TA from England, for reassurance. She said that I was right.
Take that kids! It's MY native language! Not yours!!! Get over it.
Get ready Athens... here I come.
17 May 2006
05 May 2006
02 May 2006
aufregung
Sorry about the melodramatic message. Just felt a bit freaked out and needed to vent. It happens from time to time.
Had a smashing weekend- went to a fab party in Vienna. My friend Jeanette finished her internship at the American Embassy and had a going away shindig. There were only about 8 of us there, but the crowd meshed really well and we all had fun keeping J awake until her 7 o'clock flight. Present were a Brit and a girl from Ireland. Ludwig and I got on the topic of British English (I'm an expert :-) and asked him if he had ever heard of "choccy bickies." Of course he hadn't, so I shouted across the room "Nea love!!! What are choccy bickies??" Her reply: "Oh, sorry, we 'aven't got any!!"
Needless, to say, the room erupted in laughter.
After everyone calmed down (this took some time) I repeated the question.
"They're chocolate biscuits!!! It's not really that hard is it??"
"Well, we would call them cookies..."
Had a smashing weekend- went to a fab party in Vienna. My friend Jeanette finished her internship at the American Embassy and had a going away shindig. There were only about 8 of us there, but the crowd meshed really well and we all had fun keeping J awake until her 7 o'clock flight. Present were a Brit and a girl from Ireland. Ludwig and I got on the topic of British English (I'm an expert :-) and asked him if he had ever heard of "choccy bickies." Of course he hadn't, so I shouted across the room "Nea love!!! What are choccy bickies??" Her reply: "Oh, sorry, we 'aven't got any!!"
Needless, to say, the room erupted in laughter.
After everyone calmed down (this took some time) I repeated the question.
"They're chocolate biscuits!!! It's not really that hard is it??"
"Well, we would call them cookies..."
28 April 2006
Trying to prepare for reverse culture schock
OK.... those of you closest to me probably already know that I shall be back in Ohio for the summer...
yippee-do-da-yay
So, things on my mind:
1. I have to find an apartment next year. I can't stay in the Studentenheim without paying for a room for the entire summer. Obviously I can't afford this. Also, I have to pay for the month of June according to Mr. Peter the wanker Heimleter. I thought my contract said only until the end of May??? I must look through my documents and check. And consult a lawyer if necessary.
2. How the hell am I going to survive 4 months in the United States? I heard they don't even have espresso there!! (JOKING) Jesus christ. I have to fly to New York on the 4th of June, and then my lovely brother and his girlfriend shall pick me up. I really do love them... lovely people really... but they're going to expect me to show them about a metropolis when I'm jetlaged when I really will just want a nice bed to sleep on and something... something... FESTGELEGT to wake up on.
3. My love life here is an absolute mess. Again, those of you close to me probably know the story.... what the hell awaits me when I come back? Should I keep fighting to be free and single?? I HAVEN'T BEEN PROPERLY LAID IN AGES!!!! Actually, I think the last time was actually in ATHENS!!! AAAHHHHHH!!!!!! (I really think L is the best option... but I don't trust me to trust myself)
4. I really don't want to pack all of this shit up. Why am I so disorganized??
5. I'm in debt. Why did I give citibank my Austrian address? Will I ever escape this malady? I am EDUCATED and TALENTED!!! When is somebody going to pay me more than 1,000 euro a month??? How is it that some people have everything and others have nothing?? Perhaps I should find a real profession.
yippee-do-da-yay
So, things on my mind:
1. I have to find an apartment next year. I can't stay in the Studentenheim without paying for a room for the entire summer. Obviously I can't afford this. Also, I have to pay for the month of June according to Mr. Peter the wanker Heimleter. I thought my contract said only until the end of May??? I must look through my documents and check. And consult a lawyer if necessary.
2. How the hell am I going to survive 4 months in the United States? I heard they don't even have espresso there!! (JOKING) Jesus christ. I have to fly to New York on the 4th of June, and then my lovely brother and his girlfriend shall pick me up. I really do love them... lovely people really... but they're going to expect me to show them about a metropolis when I'm jetlaged when I really will just want a nice bed to sleep on and something... something... FESTGELEGT to wake up on.
3. My love life here is an absolute mess. Again, those of you close to me probably know the story.... what the hell awaits me when I come back? Should I keep fighting to be free and single?? I HAVEN'T BEEN PROPERLY LAID IN AGES!!!! Actually, I think the last time was actually in ATHENS!!! AAAHHHHHH!!!!!! (I really think L is the best option... but I don't trust me to trust myself)
4. I really don't want to pack all of this shit up. Why am I so disorganized??
5. I'm in debt. Why did I give citibank my Austrian address? Will I ever escape this malady? I am EDUCATED and TALENTED!!! When is somebody going to pay me more than 1,000 euro a month??? How is it that some people have everything and others have nothing?? Perhaps I should find a real profession.
19 April 2006
Anthropology through Television
My good friend Nina has flow to northern Germany for a week to visit her family, and she very generously offered to lend me her television during her absence. Thanks to the free (well, included in my rent) cable available in the Studentenheim, I'm taking this as an opportunity to play anthropologist and make note of some cultural differences in TV land. I have never been an avid TV viewer. Throughout my college years in Athens, I never subscribed to a cable or satellite service since I found that most programming generally insulted my intelligence and was a monumental waste of time. Many of my friends here were shocked to learn that I was an American without a TV. Imagine that! Who knew that such people existed? I always found that reading a good book or perhaps watching a well-selected film was more stimulating than the incessant string of verbal and visual incontinence spewed across the North American continent.
I would like to report that European television is radically different and more sophisticated... but on the whole its really not, with a few exceptions. Lets start with the crème de la crème: daytime TV. In the afternoon hours the airwaves are crowded with "Gericht-Shows", which are so tawdry that they make "Judge Judy" look like a serious documentary. They're set up in a similar way - your basic court-TV - with a victim, suspect(s), lawyers, and judges. But, they're obviously scripted and generally play out like a soap opera. I'll spare you the details, but in one episode of "Familien Gericht" that I managed to watch in full, a 50-something year old woman was unknowingly smeared with some sort of potion by the accused before the "trial" started. When she appeared before the court she began acting very drunk and blatantly hit on the judge and even began unbuttoning her top before the judge called a medic. It was very special. High quality viewing, I must say. Hey, at least I'm practicing my German listening comprehension.
Things get a bit more interesting in the late evening. At this point almost all of the advertisements feature mostly naked women and telephone numbers for which you must pay at least €1.25 per minute. There is a channel dedicated to broadcasting nothing but mammaries and the women who own them posing on some sort of sport-themed set; be it a soccer field, boxing ring, or even an RC-car track. I think they must have been running out of ideas by the time they got to the RC cars. I fail to see the erotic value of miniature motorized cars. Very strange.
Last night I couldn't go to bed early, so I was flipping through the channels when I came across something interesting. It was some sort of film featuring a band of live dogs running around a large metropolis in Italy. All of the dogs had names, and it had a narrated plot. I got to watch the dogs run around Napoli and find their food in garbage piles. The main dog, who had some Italian name which I forget, decided to sneak onto a ferry to follow a poodle "of a noble house" to Capri. He managed to get the human family in Capri to adopt him by seducing the children with his cuteness, but he quickly grew bored of life in the Villa, because "a golden cage is still a cage". He managed to escape and catch another ferry back to Napoli, but he had to bathe himself in a dirty river before returning to his gang since they "would never accept him smelling of shampoo". In the end he was happy, having returned to the freedom of being a stray dog in Napoli. I have never before seen such a thing on television. It was odd but entertaining, and the dogs were obviously very well trained.
What conclusions can I draw from my viewing experiences? I'm really not sure... The only thing I feel confident in saying is that my viewing pleasure is a result of unfamiliarity with TV culture here and my ability to pick up a few more words and become even more comfortable with the German language. If I see anything else worthy of reporting in the next week, I'll be sure to provide my loyal readers with a synopsis.
I would like to report that European television is radically different and more sophisticated... but on the whole its really not, with a few exceptions. Lets start with the crème de la crème: daytime TV. In the afternoon hours the airwaves are crowded with "Gericht-Shows", which are so tawdry that they make "Judge Judy" look like a serious documentary. They're set up in a similar way - your basic court-TV - with a victim, suspect(s), lawyers, and judges. But, they're obviously scripted and generally play out like a soap opera. I'll spare you the details, but in one episode of "Familien Gericht" that I managed to watch in full, a 50-something year old woman was unknowingly smeared with some sort of potion by the accused before the "trial" started. When she appeared before the court she began acting very drunk and blatantly hit on the judge and even began unbuttoning her top before the judge called a medic. It was very special. High quality viewing, I must say. Hey, at least I'm practicing my German listening comprehension.
Things get a bit more interesting in the late evening. At this point almost all of the advertisements feature mostly naked women and telephone numbers for which you must pay at least €1.25 per minute. There is a channel dedicated to broadcasting nothing but mammaries and the women who own them posing on some sort of sport-themed set; be it a soccer field, boxing ring, or even an RC-car track. I think they must have been running out of ideas by the time they got to the RC cars. I fail to see the erotic value of miniature motorized cars. Very strange.
Last night I couldn't go to bed early, so I was flipping through the channels when I came across something interesting. It was some sort of film featuring a band of live dogs running around a large metropolis in Italy. All of the dogs had names, and it had a narrated plot. I got to watch the dogs run around Napoli and find their food in garbage piles. The main dog, who had some Italian name which I forget, decided to sneak onto a ferry to follow a poodle "of a noble house" to Capri. He managed to get the human family in Capri to adopt him by seducing the children with his cuteness, but he quickly grew bored of life in the Villa, because "a golden cage is still a cage". He managed to escape and catch another ferry back to Napoli, but he had to bathe himself in a dirty river before returning to his gang since they "would never accept him smelling of shampoo". In the end he was happy, having returned to the freedom of being a stray dog in Napoli. I have never before seen such a thing on television. It was odd but entertaining, and the dogs were obviously very well trained.
What conclusions can I draw from my viewing experiences? I'm really not sure... The only thing I feel confident in saying is that my viewing pleasure is a result of unfamiliarity with TV culture here and my ability to pick up a few more words and become even more comfortable with the German language. If I see anything else worthy of reporting in the next week, I'll be sure to provide my loyal readers with a synopsis.
16 April 2006
Accidental Art
I am constantly tortured by a cryptic message perpetually beamed into my room from the office complex across the parking lot. It appears to say "Out of You". I'm not entirely sure because it's a bit too far away to be able to read clearly. Why? What office needs to be reminded of this seemingly senseless message for 24 hours a day 7 days a week? Who would pay for an LED display for such a purpose? I attempted to veryify the content of the message with the zoom lens on my camera, but this is obviously futile without the aid of a tripod. Nonetheless, the result is accidentally artistic:
08 April 2006
Easter Fun
Today is the first day of the Easter break for me, which lasts a lovely one and a half weeks! I'm not really doing anything exciting, just staying in Eisenstadt to do some babysitting and tutoring to try to earn a little bit of money. Someone sent me this cartoon which I found to be rather funny:
The first rabbit says "My ass hurts!!" and the second one says "What?"
hee hee.
I also saw a billboard depicting a nest with two packs of Lucky Strikes in it, and the tagline was "Good Easter Bunny". Indeed.
To my anonymous comment-writer: Sorry for my didactic tone! Just happens I guess....
Happy Easter everyone.
The first rabbit says "My ass hurts!!" and the second one says "What?"
hee hee.
I also saw a billboard depicting a nest with two packs of Lucky Strikes in it, and the tagline was "Good Easter Bunny". Indeed.
To my anonymous comment-writer: Sorry for my didactic tone! Just happens I guess....
Happy Easter everyone.
03 April 2006
People are so Easy to Impress
Happy Monday everyone- I was up and at it at 7AM today sporting the suit and tie again. My schedule at the Gymnasium was somewhat vexing, since I had to teach two hours- one at 8:00 and one at 12:30. So, I had plenty of free time to sit around and think about what I was going to say for job interview #2. Once I finished my lessons I started heading down the hill, enjoying the walk in the lovely spring weather. In the past few days its been about 20 celcius and sunny- absolutely lovely! As I was walking, a man stopped and got out of his car and approached me. "Are you the student from England?" he asked. "Um, the Englisch teaching assistant from America..." I replied. He asked if I offered tutoring and said that he would like for me to meet up with his son. He gave me his card and drove off. That was a nice unexpected economic opportunity... but it does feel a bit strange to be stalked on the street for language tutoring... such is the attraction of a native speaker wearing a suit! Thankfully he didn't take up too much of my time, since I had to be in the palace at 14:00.
The Hungarian woman at the front desk flirted with me before sending me across the courtyard and up four flights of stairs to meet with Herr Schimpl. He was very nice, gave me an espresso and a cigarette (only in Europe!!), and he didn't really ask many questions. He mainly talked about dealing with the Arbeitsmarkt in order to obtain a work permit. He said that they often take foreigners as interns, which would probably be the best way to apply for me. He asked me to fax a copy of my visa, and said that he would apply for the permit. So, he essentially offered me a job but made it clear that it all depends on the Arbeitsmarkt now. He said that once he had heard back from them we would look into different payment options, but assured me that I would earn enough money to live on. He said we would know within two weeks. All in all it went exceptionally well. So, sorry kids... but it sounds highly likely that I will be staying in good old Europe for at least another year (and hopefully longer!). I'll come back for a few weeks if I can get the time off and someone offers me a plane ticket (*wink wink*).
Meanwhile, I spent Sunday with Alexa and Konstantin in Hungary.
Here is the border, a whole 15 minute drive from Eisenstadt. I got another Hungary stamp in my passport here. I now have two.
We were on our way to Fertörákos, a small village on Lake Neusiedl.
Just a church I saw along the way.
And here is the Hungarian side of a lake. A lovely day, really.
The Hungarian woman at the front desk flirted with me before sending me across the courtyard and up four flights of stairs to meet with Herr Schimpl. He was very nice, gave me an espresso and a cigarette (only in Europe!!), and he didn't really ask many questions. He mainly talked about dealing with the Arbeitsmarkt in order to obtain a work permit. He said that they often take foreigners as interns, which would probably be the best way to apply for me. He asked me to fax a copy of my visa, and said that he would apply for the permit. So, he essentially offered me a job but made it clear that it all depends on the Arbeitsmarkt now. He said that once he had heard back from them we would look into different payment options, but assured me that I would earn enough money to live on. He said we would know within two weeks. All in all it went exceptionally well. So, sorry kids... but it sounds highly likely that I will be staying in good old Europe for at least another year (and hopefully longer!). I'll come back for a few weeks if I can get the time off and someone offers me a plane ticket (*wink wink*).
Meanwhile, I spent Sunday with Alexa and Konstantin in Hungary.
Here is the border, a whole 15 minute drive from Eisenstadt. I got another Hungary stamp in my passport here. I now have two.
We were on our way to Fertörákos, a small village on Lake Neusiedl.
Just a church I saw along the way.
And here is the Hungarian side of a lake. A lovely day, really.
30 March 2006
Mailbox Surprise
In the post today:
Sehr geehrter Herr Cornwell,
vielen Dank für Ihre Bewerbung für den Bereich Schlossführungen.
Wie mir Frau Barbara Hollndonner mitgeteilt hat, hätten Sie Interesse an einer Führungstätigekeit für den Zeitraum Juni - September 2006.
Obwohl wir unsere Personaldispositionen für 2006 grundsätzlich getroffen haben, möchten wir Sie dennoch zu einem Gespräch einladen, um allenfalls eine Anstellungsmöglichkeit für diesen Zeitraum zu finden.
Ich darf Sie ersuchen, mich telefonisch zwecks einer Terminvereinbarung zu kontaktieren.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Schloss Esterhazy Management GmbH
This means:
Dear Mr. Cornwell,
Thank you very much for your application as a tour guide.
As Ms. Holldonner has told me, you would be interested in a position for the time period from June to September 2006.
Although we have essentially chosen our staff for 2006, we would nonetheless like to invite you to come speak with us to possibly find a position for this time period.
Please telephone me in order to set up an appointment.
With Friendly greetings,
xxxx
Esterhazy Palace Management Inc.
It sounds like they want to give me a job. But, it isn't exactly a direct offer, so I'll just have to go in and see how it turns out. I'll have to ask some serious questions about the hours and pay to determine if it's really feasible to support myself over the summer with this job. So, the summer matter is still up in the air... I apologize in advance to friends/family IF I can't come back to Athens to visit! Hmmm. Wish me luck i suppose.
Sehr geehrter Herr Cornwell,
vielen Dank für Ihre Bewerbung für den Bereich Schlossführungen.
Wie mir Frau Barbara Hollndonner mitgeteilt hat, hätten Sie Interesse an einer Führungstätigekeit für den Zeitraum Juni - September 2006.
Obwohl wir unsere Personaldispositionen für 2006 grundsätzlich getroffen haben, möchten wir Sie dennoch zu einem Gespräch einladen, um allenfalls eine Anstellungsmöglichkeit für diesen Zeitraum zu finden.
Ich darf Sie ersuchen, mich telefonisch zwecks einer Terminvereinbarung zu kontaktieren.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Schloss Esterhazy Management GmbH
This means:
Dear Mr. Cornwell,
Thank you very much for your application as a tour guide.
As Ms. Holldonner has told me, you would be interested in a position for the time period from June to September 2006.
Although we have essentially chosen our staff for 2006, we would nonetheless like to invite you to come speak with us to possibly find a position for this time period.
Please telephone me in order to set up an appointment.
With Friendly greetings,
xxxx
Esterhazy Palace Management Inc.
It sounds like they want to give me a job. But, it isn't exactly a direct offer, so I'll just have to go in and see how it turns out. I'll have to ask some serious questions about the hours and pay to determine if it's really feasible to support myself over the summer with this job. So, the summer matter is still up in the air... I apologize in advance to friends/family IF I can't come back to Athens to visit! Hmmm. Wish me luck i suppose.
23 March 2006
GREAT News!
In my mailbox today:
"Dear Mr. Cornwell,
I am pleased to inform you that the Austrian Ministry of Education has notified the Fulbright Commission that your application for an extension of your position as a U.S. foreign language teaching assistant for the 2006-2007 academic year has been endorsed...."
I'm all ready for another year in Burgenland. I'm so happy I could cry!!!
"Dear Mr. Cornwell,
I am pleased to inform you that the Austrian Ministry of Education has notified the Fulbright Commission that your application for an extension of your position as a U.S. foreign language teaching assistant for the 2006-2007 academic year has been endorsed...."
I'm all ready for another year in Burgenland. I'm so happy I could cry!!!
19 March 2006
Mini-Vacation
Just arrived back in Eisenstadt from my mini-vacation in Fürstenfeld. I must say I'm feeling a lot better and a change in scenery was much needed. Alexa, Konstantin, and I all packed into her car on Friday afternoon for the 1.5 hour drive on the A2 to her hometown. We arrived at her mother's apartment to unpack our things and we went out to dinner. I ate some mildly spicy potato-stuffed sausages, apparently a Styrian specialty, and they were delicious. Afterwards we went out to all of Alexa's old haunts to drink some wine, play darts (I won twice!), and heat up the dance floor. Along with us was her brother Michael, who happens to be the BZÖ party-head for Styria. The BZÖ is a rather far right party, and I thought I had best avoid talking politics with him, but we had some rather good discussions anyway. Turns out even the far-right in Austria are against the death penalty and think Bush is an idiot. Who knew? On the next day we went to visit Alexa's father at his home. He's a photographer and a well-travelled and genial guy. He lived in a beautiful old farmhouse in the countryside. The place was so rustically european and beautiful, but unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me at the moment. The kitchen was huge, and it had a 200-year old wood-fired oven in it. I felt so at home there because it was so cosy and reminded me of Athens in a strange sort of way. All in all it was a nice weekend escape. Here are a few more photos for your viewing pleasure:
This was snapped during a walk along the river. Sorry, Dad, but I don't remember the name of the river! Look it up on your Austria map!
And the next day we walked to the top of this hill and looked down on the city.
One of those uniquely european things that always sticks out to me: the roundabout (or traffic-circle, if you will). It's a highly effective device that's often much more practical than a normal traffic light. For example, you can turn around in the intersection; or, you don't have to wait at a red light if there's no traffic. Not only that, but they are usually very decorative too. Most of them in Eisenstadt have gardens or even miniature vineyards in them, but this one in Fürstenfeld has a fountain! I wonder if anyone ever crashes into it...
Speaking of traffic: Hey kids, why don't you go play in it!!!
17 March 2006
Ablenkung
Must report that I'm in a mild state of depression. It's no fun not knowing what the hell is going on with my future, feeling lonely, and there being no sign of warm weather yet. I'm going to Fürstenfeld with Alexa for the week-end, which should serve as a nice change of scenery. I'll be sure to bring the camera and report back to ye grand olde masses. At the moment I've got to stop eating nutella with a spoon, clean up my pigsty of a room, and get ready to go. Enjoy the weekend everyone... and of course the Spring Break to all of my OU friends!
13 March 2006
Party
Oh, happy birthday to me. I'm glad someone caught some of this stuff on camera. (Thanks John!)
American cultural imperialism dictates the unhindered diffusion of the beer bong!!!
Madness.
If you pass out at one of my parties, you will be loaded into a shopping cart and wheeled around wrecklessly until a crash of sufficient magnitude causes you to regain consciousness.
Ouch.
American cultural imperialism dictates the unhindered diffusion of the beer bong!!!
Madness.
If you pass out at one of my parties, you will be loaded into a shopping cart and wheeled around wrecklessly until a crash of sufficient magnitude causes you to regain consciousness.
Ouch.
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