Well, here I am! After the 19 page applications, interviews, camps, orientations, language practice, and much more, here I am in Austria: a beautiful country that I already love so much and Ive only been here for 20 days, almost three full weeks. I am currently living with my wonderful host family in Wolfurt, Austria. Wolfurt is a town just outside of Bregenz, which is the capital of the westernmost province of Austria called Vorarlberg. I live with my parents, Ursula and Peter, and have three host sisters: Eva (12), Martina (15), and Monika (17). Martina just departed for her exchange year in Missouri, USA. In addition we have two cats and two rabbits! Next door lives Oma and Opa (grandparents), my Aunt and Uncle, and three host cousins: Simon, Michael, and Matte. Just like my home in Florida, there is family everywhere, which I truly enjoy! My town of Wolfurt is absolutely beautiful and I love it so much....not to mention that there is a wonderful ice cream shop called Kolibri, only a two minute walk from my home. I will attend school in Bregenz beginning on September 10th. And i can either take a bus or ride my bike to school if I wish. One thing is for sure.... and that is that I need to start biking more often because I joined another exchange student and my host cousin for a bike ride to Buch, which is the next town up. I practically died because it was all uphill! I couldn't even ride the entire way :/ but thats ok! Eventually I will get it! Im used to flat ground in Florida :D (Picture is a view from the window in my room)

I had the chance to attend the Bregenzer Festspiele which is an Opera festival held out on the water of the Bodensee in Bregenz each year. The stage is open air and also built in the water. It changes every two years. This year the Opera was "André Chénier". It was amazing! Ive never been to an opera before so it was definitely something new. The songs were in Italian, and the subtitles were in German, so I could understand a few words here and there but not many. Nevertheless, the show was outstanding. I attended it with my host father, cousin, and two other exchange students in my area. We also had the opportunity after the show to go into the sounds board room and see how it is all put together, and we also had the chance to go up onto the stage after the show was over. (1st pic is of the stage during the day while on a trip in Bregenz and the 2nd is MArk and I on top of the shoulder of the stage after the opera)

I also departed on the 12th for a two week language camp in Altmünster am Traunsee. This town is right on the Traunsee which is a large beautiful lake, with extremely cold water. All of the new inbound exchange students joined together for the camp. We had 6 hours of classes a day and then had free time to experience the town and lake. We went for two walks/hikes that were absolutely beautiful. We also traveled to Hallstatt, which is an amazing town. Its built on the side of a mountain right near the lake. We went into the Salt Mines in Hallstatt and then spent the rest of the day wandering through the town. Pictures cant even begin to capture the beauty of the scenery here. After returning to the camp from our outing to Hallstatt, we had another week of learning but it was so much fun, being with all of the exchange students. We will all join again in three weeks for a hiking weekend. 

1st pic: all August Inbounds at the top of our "walk" (it was most definitely a hike)

2nd: Callie and I (Florida Girls) in HallStatt

3rd: Hallstatt

4th: Simon (Canada), Austin (Kansas), and I wearing our amazingly attractive salt mine outfits :D

Just some random things about living here:

- We never put ice in our drinks, they are usually always warm

- Unless you get water from a sink, you will most often be served sparkling or bubbly water

- the "Y" and the "Z" on keyboards are switched so I spell everything wrong :)

- The chocolate is AMAZING...to say the least

- everywhere you look, its like a postcard, if not more beautiful!! 

- there are very few stop signs because there aren't that many people to need them, but people yield most fo the time to pedestrians and bikers although cars will weave in and out of the smallest places to pass by other cars or objects 

- all cars are stick shift

- Lunch is the big meal of the day where mostly everyone gets together and has a nice home cooked meal

- breakfast and Dinner usually consists of bread, sliced meats, cheeses and jams. Also fruit

- each town is somewhat built around a church, whether it be big or small! (this has been my saving point many times when trying to find my house!! I look for the top of the church and eventually make it home :)

- Much time is spent outside: swimming, running, playing sports, hiking, eating, anything really, which is wonderful because Austria is too beautiful to stay inside!  

- and many more things i'm forgetting right now......

Most importantly, no matter how few or many differences there are from the two cultures, I wouldn't change anything. I love the changes and adapting to them is all part of the experience :)

Well today I have just returned from language camp! Im trying to learn more German everyday and hopefully will start to pick it up little by little. Everything so far about Austria is amazing! I love my new country, home, and family! Ill try to keep my blog updates as often as I can! I hope that all of my other Florida outbounds are having a wonderful time on their exchanges too :)