Episode 10: The End

Wow. Never ever would I have thought that I would be writing this blog post. Let alone be ending a trip of 4 months in Europe. This study abroad wasn’t just a simple trip to Europe, it was a grand adventure. It was a growing experience, a learning experience and overall an amazing experience. From leaving Oregon and getting stuck in London for a day to FINALLY arriving in Vienna, Austria. To think that was over 4 months ago. The memories I’ve made have been never ending and unforgettable. I will never forget the people, the friends I have made. Everyone at the Institute became like a second family to me. The professor are people I will never forget, Pokorny’s politics class, Hanreichs history course and Vedran’s diversity class. Each one I learned something so very new. They all opened my eyes and helped me look at the world in a different way. They taught me things about Europe and Austria that I never thought Id know. It was a part of this adventure I am so grateful for. 

Wow. Never ever would I have thought that I would be writing this blog post. Let alone be ending a trip of 4 months in Europe. This study abroad wasn’t just a simple trip to Europe, it was a grand adventure. It was a growing experience, a learning experience and overall an amazing experience. From leaving Oregon and getting stuck in London for a day to FINALLY arriving in Vienna, Austria.

To think that was over 4 months ago. The memories I’ve made have been never ending and unforgettable. I will never forget the people, the friends I have made. Everyone at the Institute became like a second family to me. The professor are people I will never forget, Pokorny’s politics class, Hanreichs history course and Vedran’s diversity class. Each one I learned something so very new. They all opened my eyes and helped me look at the world in a different way. They taught me things about Europe and Austria that I never thought Id know. It was a part of this adventure I am so grateful for. 

Vanessa, Ana, Micahaela, Me, Verena and Heidi at the AAIE Christmas Party.
Vanessa, Ana, Micahaela, Me, Verena and Heidi at the AAIE Christmas Party.
Vanessa, Ana, Michaela, Me and Hermann at the AAIIE Christmas Party.
Vanessa, Ana, Michaela, Me and Hermann at the AAIIE Christmas Party.

The other students. Now those are people I will never ever forget and I hope that the next group has as good as a time as we did. Going from spending every single day together for the past 4 months (literally every single day) to not seeing each other for two months is going to be hard. But while in Austria we have collected so many memories that will last for a life time. We have become a family and I will never forget the time we’ve had here.  

Thomas, Michaela, and Ana at a market in Bratislava!
Thomas, Michaela, and Ana at a market in Bratislava!
Some of the group at thanksgiving.
Some of the group at thanksgiving.
Vanessa, Michaele, Thomas, Ana and Kiefer in Budapest.
Vanessa, Michaele, Thomas, Ana and Kiefer in Budapest.
Vanessa and I at oktoberfest in Vienna!
Vanessa and I at oktoberfest in Vienna!

Now to say thank you. Thank you to Hermann, Gretl, Verena and Heidi. Thank you for making the Institute and Vienna feel like a home. For being so kind and welcoming when we arrived and for continuing to be so kind and welcoming through the whole trip. Thank you for every little thing you have done for us. You all are people we will never ever forget and I know we can not wait to see you again. Thank you so much for being one giant family. 

Everyone from the AAIE and Linfield group at the AAIE christmas party.
Everyone from the AAIE and Linfield group at the AAIE christmas party.

Thank you to our host families. The ones who took us in and housed us, fed us and showed us the city when we didn’t even understand the ubahn. Thank you for always being there for us. Thank you for coming to all of our events. Thank you for everything. 

Vanessa and her wonderful host parents Julia and Bernhard.
Vanessa and her wonderful host parents Julia and Bernhard.

Thank you to the other students on this trip. At the beginning I did not think we would do the things we did. I didn’t think we would spend every single day together, go on almost every trip together and become such great friends together. With out you guys this study abroad wouldn’t have been the same. 

Everyone ice skating!
Everyone ice skating!

Austria and Europe I thank you for showing me your beauty. For showing me sun in October and snow in December. For helping me grow into a better more cultured person. Thank you for teaching me so many new things and letting me meet so many new people.

A Church that looks like a castle in Vienna.
A Church that looks like a castle in Vienna.
 "Frohe Weihnachten." (Merry Christmas) in lights.
Views from Greece.
Views from Greece.
Roof Panorama of Budapest, Hungary.
Roof Panorama of Budapest, Hungary.
Hiking in the Alps.
Hiking in the Alps.

Thank you for all the experiences, good times and long lasting friendships. We will miss you. 

This isn’t a goodbye but a see ya later. 

Melissa Rockow 

Episode 9: Finals, the Institute and a Small message to Future Students

It’s finals week everybody, woohoo!! Well actually, it will be after finals week when you are reading this, but either way, everyone endured a finals week. Now although finals week was very tough and we spent lots of time studying, it was quite bitter sweet.

It was our last full week at the AAIE, a place I could call my second home. Over the course of the semester, we spent almost every single day there and to think that we won’t be back for a very long time and some of us may never be back. For all of those coming next fall (2019), make the most out of your time at the Institute. Make friends with the people that work there because they will become your second family whether you want it or not. And trust me, you’ll want it. Get to know Verena and Heidi and Lily, which is Hermanns’ sweet dog. Make the most of every opportunity they give you. It’s not something every school gets and Linfield students are so very lucky to have the opportunity to work so closely with everyone at the AAIE.

Make the most of Dorfgastein. It may be strange to just start in a small little village but trust me, it is an experience that will change your life forever. Get to know the people who run the pension. Get to know the Village and most of all get know yourself. Enjoy the crisp fresh air and the stars in the sky because that will not be in Vienna (even though it is still beautiful). Enjoy the amazing leisurely walks you will go on.

Second to last, get to know your group. Get to know all the other Linfield students and if possible, get to know the other students at the Institute. In the beginning, I would have never thought I’d be as close as I am now with all the other Linfield students on this trip. We’ve been through so many crazy adventures and have made so many memories together. Make the most of these friendships and cherish every moment with them because it’ll come and go sooner than you think.

Kiefer, Ana, Michaela, Vanessa, Thomas and I in Budapest.
Kiefer, Ana, Michaela, Vanessa, Thomas and I in Budapest.

Vanessa, Ana, Michaela and I in Bratislava.
Vanessa, Ana, Michaela and I in Bratislava.

 

Ps: This is not my last post I just hope that the future students coming next fall read this and take it in. You all will have the times of your lives here as long as you make the most of EVERY experience.

Best,
Melissa Rockow
Some of my favorite photos of some of the group! Including the ones above! (:

Vanessa, Michaela and Ana in Copenhagen!
Vanessa, Michaela and Ana in Copenhagen!

Vanessa, Ana and I in Rome during fall break!
Vanessa, Ana and I in Rome during fall break!

Ana and Michaela in Santorini during fall break!
Ana and Michaela in Santorini during fall break!

Vanessa and I at oktoberfest in Vienna!
Vanessa and I at oktoberfest in Vienna!

Thomas, Michaela, and Ana in Bratislava!
Thomas, Michaela, and Ana in Bratislava!

Episode 8: Innsbruck x2

Boy oh boy have I been many places in Europe!  However in Austria, one of my favorite places I’ve been is Innsbruck. Innsbruck is the capital of Tirol, a Bundesland here in Austria. It’s surrounded by the Alps and has a river running right through it. The very first time I ventured there was by myself and oh my did I fall in love. However I didn’t do as much as I did the second time, I still knew it was a place I wanted to visit more than once. The train ride there is something out of a fairy tale taking you through the alps. Everyone I met was so kind and welcoming and it’s so very easy to go around.

Mariahilfestrasse in Innsbruck during my first trip there!
Mariahilfestrasse in Innsbruck during my first trip there!

Train ride there!
Train ride there!

Now the second time is when I realized I loved it even more (not more than Dorfgastein of course). I took a day trip again however this time I was with Tommy and Ana. And the Christmas markets had just opened!! When we first arrived we walked around the market. Missing home a little bit, we decided to eat at Hard Rock Cafe. After that we decided to become full tourists and purchase the Innsbruck card. This is something you can get for either 24 hour or 48 hours and it lets you go to all the tourist attractions in Innsbruck for free, as well as giving you free transportation. With it we decided to do something I’d never thought I’d do. We went to the tip top of the mountain range in the area known as Nordkette. I believe the name of it is called Hafelekarspitze and even though it was quite cold, it was absolutely beautiful and breath taking, both literally and figuratively.

Ana and Tommy waiting for the cable car with their Innsbruck Cards!
Ana and Tommy waiting for the cable car with their Innsbruck Cards!

With the cable car going up, we first stopped at the little village area where a lot of skiers will stay and looked at the Christmas market there.

Ana in the cablecar!
Ana in the cablecar!

Ana, Thomas and I at the second point on the mountain!
Ana, Thomas and I at the second point on the mountain!

We then made our way up to the next highest point. Here there was a small restaurant and even more beautiful views.

Views from the very top of the mountain.
Views from the very top of the mountain.

Tommy at the very top of the mountain!
Tommy at the very top of the mountain!

After this we decided to go to the very top. When we got there with the cable car, we hiked or I guess walked up the rest of the mountain, it was only like 10 minutes up. At the very top of the highest mountains in mountain ranges they place crosses. Here we saw one of those crosses. Overall, I can say that it was extremely beautiful. You could see the whole mountain range and all of Innsbruck and it’s neighboring towns.

The cross at the top of the mountain!
The cross at the top of the mountain!

Eventually we made our way down and decided to walk around the Christmas markets which were always wonderful. Around 7pm we made our way back to Vienna knowing that Innsbruck would be a place to go back to in the future.

Ana and I at the second highest point!
Ana and I at the second highest point!

Austrian flag marking that this part of the Alps is still in Austria!
Austrian flag marking that this part of the Alps is still in Austria!

At the very top of the mountain again!
At the very top of the mountain again!

Melissa

Episode 7: Thanksgiving, Christkindlmarkts and First snow!

For most people, i.e. everyone back in the States, it’s Thanksgiving break and therefore Thanksgiving time. However in Austria, Thanksgiving does not exist; therefore, after Halloween it is STRAIGHT to Christmas. All the stores begin putting Christmas decorations out and lights are put up in the city center. The thought of missing and completely skipping Thanksgiving made all of us pretty sad. However, the AAIE made sure we wouldn’t miss a thing. On November 16th, we had a huge Thanksgiving dinner, from the turkey to the sweet-potatoes. But with a huge twist:  we Linfield students cooked it all. Yes mom, I said cooked it – from the turkey to the sweet potatoes. The AAIE set up a wonderful program where we went to a school known for cooking and service, used their kitchen and got help from one of their chefs. So for roughly 4 hours, we cooked our Thanksgiving dinner and let me tell you it was not easy.  It makes me even more grateful for all the parents and grandparents out there that have cooked Thanksgiving dinner every year. I do not know how they do it, they’ve got to be superhuman.

Vanessa, Me, Ana, Michaela and Thomas all ready to begin cooking!
Vanessa, Me, Ana, Michaela and Thomas all ready to begin cooking!

After we cooked, our guests began to arrive. Our guests were our host families and professors from the institute. We began with some drinks and a great speech from Hermann. Eventually we sat down and ate all the amazing food we cooked. And let me tell you that was some of the best Thanksgiving food I’ve ever had (besides my moms mash potato’s of course)!

All the AAIE people together!
All the AAIE people together!

Now typically, the day after is spent for resting because of all the food you’ve eaten. However, that day one of my friends from Linfield came to visit! Her name is Alex and she just recently finished her study abroad trip in Norway! Ana and I showed her around Vienna and later that evening we all (Ana, Michaela, Vanessa and Alex) went to the main Christmas market at the Rathaus (city hall). This Christmas market has about 150 stands and an ice skating rink.

The entrance to the Christkindlmarkt at Rathaus!
The entrance to the Christkindlmarkt at Rathaus!

Ana and Michaela at the market.
Ana and Michaela at the market.

There are several Christmas markets in Vienna and i hope to go to as many of them as possible. The Rathaus is more of a touristy area however it is absolutely beautiful!

On thanksgiving day (the 22nd of November) we all decided to spend it together and go ice skating! It was one of the best times I’ve had here and I will remember it forever. All the memories I have made here have been amazing.

Everyone ice skating!
Everyone ice skating!

With finals slowly approaching and only 3 weeks left here in Vienna everyone is trying to make the most of our time. Hopefully I will have a little bit more to share with you next time!

Melissa

Alex drinking coffee!
Alex drinking coffee!

Us girls at the market!
Us girls at the market!

Episode 6: Poland

Seeing as though my last blog was about a school trip I thought it would be fitting to write about another school trip. This time it was to Krakow, Poland. DISCLAIMER: Before I begin I would like to warn anyone reading this, I will be discussing and sharing photos of the former concentration camp Auschwitz and if you do not feel comfortable or want to read or see these things it is alright to stop when it says Auschwitz in bold letters. But other than that lets begin with Poland.

Now Poland is not somewhere I would have ever thought I’d go but boy oh boy am I sure glad I did. Not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it has some of the BEST dumplings I’ve ever had in my life. Yes I said that and yes they are the best. While we were there, the weather was not the greatest but it also set a mood that felt like fall, finally. And for some reason it made the trip much better.

On Thursday the 18th of October we took the night train. This may sound so cool, and it kind of was, but at the same time, it was not the slightest bit comfortable. It’s something everyone should experience and honestly, if I had a choice I would totally do it again because it beats traveling all day. Overall, the traveling was not bad! We arrived in Krakow around 7am and made our way to our hotel where we left our bags and ate breakfast. Around 10 am we headed out for our first tour of the old town in Krakow. What makes this part so beautiful is the large park surrounding the town. This park used to be part of the fortification walls that surround Krakow for most of its existence. While we were there, the leaves were changing color and everything felt so peaceful. We made our way through the old town and stopped at the old university museum where we got a tour of the inside. Interestingly the outside has this clock that at certain times of the day (I don’t remember which times) it goes off and out comes little figurines and go around in a circle. Now this may not sound significant, but in Krakow it was and it was quite a sight to see.

Here is the group just outside of the castle!
Here is the group just outside of the castle!

Eventually we made it into the center of the town where there was a long row of markets (that were amazing) and of course, a huge church. Now with this church came something that everyone should experience. Every hour on the hour, the window of one of the towers opens up and a man plays the trumpet for all of the town to hear. He plays what is called St. Mary’s Trumpet Call four times, in each cardinal direction (North, East, South and West). This call is a five note anthem that supposedly came about during the Mongol invasion and a trumpeter sounded an alarm playing this tune. However the trumpeter was shot before he could finish and therefore the call is only 5 notes. At the end of the call, the trumpeter sticks his hand out the window and waves to everyone in the streets. Now this is something so amazing and unique that I never expected to see or even hear of and it is something everyone should experience. We ended the day with some lunch/dinner where I had some amazing dumplings, of course.

A photo from the garden area of the Castle with a view of the church.
A photo from the garden area of the Castle with a view of the church.

Ana and I all bundled up inside the castle walls.
Ana and I all bundled up inside the castle walls.

The next day we headed up to the castle and had an amazing tour of the church inside the castle and parts of the actual castle. Later that day we made our way to Auschwitz.

Inside the court yard of the Castle.
Inside the court yard of the Castle.

AUSCHWITZ

Auschwitz is a former concentration camp from World War II and is known as one of the biggest. There are two parts of Auschwitz, Auschwitz 1 and Birkenau Auschwitz 1 holds many barracks and areas where some of the SS Soldiers had slept as well as the prisoners of the camp. During the tour they took us through a few of the barracks. In the first barrack they shared photos of the prisoners and maps of the grounds. The next barrack is where we saw the suitcase, the shoes, the dishes, and the hair of the prisoners. Each of these things had a certain impact on me and the hair is what impacted me the most. They requested that no photos be taken of the hair out of respect. To end our tour of Auschwitz , they showed us one of the gas chambers.

Here is a photo of Barrack #10.
Here is a photo of Barrack #10.

One of the Gas Chambers in Auschwitz 1.
One of the Gas Chambers in Auschwitz 1.

We then headed to Birkenau.  Birkenau was the largest area of the Auschwitz concentration camp and is split into three parts, the women’s side, the men’s side and then there was a third section that was never actually finished. When you walk through the gates you are immediately walking where prisoners of Auschwitz had walked. The guide took us along the pathway where newly arrived prisoners were sorted into two sections, able and not able. Able as in able to work. Many of the women and children were put in the not able section, because they had not wanted to leave their children. Here they were lied to and told they were going to take showers, but were actually sent to the gas chambers. The tour guide then took us to the memorial area where they have a memorial stone in every language that was recorded there.

The memorial for all the victims of Auschwitz.
The memorial for all the victims of Auschwitz.

After this we saw what was left of the gas chambers, which were burnt to the ground by both Nazi soldiers and the workers of the camp. We then headed into the women’s side of the camp where we saw their sleeping barracks. Often 6 to 8 people were fit into a bunk.  This concluded the tour. This tour of Auschwitz was not something I’d ever thought I’d do, but now that i have, i highly recommend everyone to at least visit a concentration camp. It is important to remember what happened and make sure it never happens again.

Suitcases from the victims.
Suitcases from the victims.

One of the two gas chambers in Birkenau.
One of the two gas chambers in Birkenau.

The last day in Poland, we went to the Salt Mines which I have to say were pretty awesome. You could actually lick some of the walls and taste the salt! I’m not sure how far down the salt mines go. However I do know that they are something everyone should see!

Michaela licking the wall of the salt mine!
Michaela licking the wall of the salt mine!

That’s much like all of Europe.

So far this trip has been an eye opening and amazing experience in which I encourage everyone to try and do.

Sign at Auschwitz 1.
Sign at Auschwitz 1.

The barbwire fence around Auschwitz.
The barbwire fence around Auschwitz.

 

Episode 5: Prague!

Prague. Famous for Ice hockey and food. Just kidding its famous for more than those things, even though its food is absolutely amazing. Before we start talking about the infamous Prague lets discuss a much smaller city known as Olomouc. On our first day in the Czech Republic we visited Olomouc. Granted, this is not typically on the itinerary for this trip but Hermann had known of a former student of the AAIE that was working at the university there, so it was added. When we got there we had our first Czech meal and let me tell you something, it was DELICIOUS. Czech food is known for being very heavy, i.e. more carbs and sodium than any person should consume. But boy oh boy, it is delicious.

Later that day we visited the university and learned a little about it and where it came from. The university is called Palacky University and it is the second oldest university in the Czech Republic. It was established in 1573 and its medical school is one of the best in the Czech Republic!

That evening we went out for another delightful dinner!

Here is the older portion of Prague, located across the river!
Here is the older portion of Prague, located across the river!

The next morning we made our way to Prague. We arrived in early afternoon and headed to the hostel. Now if you plan on traveling in Europe alone, hostels are the way to go. You can chose to either be in a co-ed room ranging from all different people or just single gender. The highest bed number in most hostels are 6 beds. But the people that stay there are typically young college kids traveling and therefore you can make new friends from many different places! In Prague all 5 of us girls stayed in one room which was nice.

The first day we had an afternoon tour which lasted roughly five hours and we a large portion of the city including the Karls University and the Karls bridge. Both of these were established and built under Charles IV. Along the tour our tour guide showed us some great places to eat and drink.

The entrance to part of the Karls University in Prague!
The entrance to part of the Karls University in Prague!

The second day we headed up to the Prague Castle. An absolutely beautiful site to see. The tour again lasted about five hours, which after the first tour, was a little bit rough. However, it was enjoyable and totally worth it! Inside the castle is a beautiful church called St. Vitus Cathedral. Along with this, there is a very small street called Golden Lane. Here you can find very short houses. Yes short houses. They’re almost like the houses in the Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit!  Inside are tons of little shops, even ones where you can purchase beauty products made out of beer and wine (i.e lotion, shampoo etc.). Overall the whole area is a must see!

Here is St. Vitus, located inside the Prague Castle.
Here is St. Vitus, located inside the Prague Castle.

The next and last day we had another tour and  then were able to have free time in the city. Later that evening, three of us group members, Tommy, Ana and I, attended an ice hockey game while the others headed back to Vienna. Why ice hokey? Well ice hockey is very big in Prague and it was probably one of the coolest experiences ever. The local team in Prague, known as Sparta ,crushed the opposing team 4 to 1! I highly recommend going to any sports games while in Europe, the experience is something different for sure!

Ana, Thomas and I at a the Sparta ice hockey game!
Ana, Thomas and I at a the Sparta ice hockey game!

After the game the three of us made our way back to Vienna.

Prague is definitely a must see, but there is one thing I must warn you about. there are a lot of tourists. ALOT. But don’t let that stop you from seeing this beautiful city.

Melissa

This is a building from the area of Cubism architecture.
This is a building from the area of Cubism architecture.

This is a random corner building in Prague.
This is a random corner building in Prague.

 

Episode 4: A Typical Week of School

Although it may seem like it, its not all travel here in Vienna. During most of our time we are either studying or in class just like the rest of Linfield! My typical week of school consists of 4 classes Monday through Thursday and no matter what track you are  on, English or German, you’ll have a steady course load throughout the semester. Although the English and German track only have one class together, we both start our weeks on Monday. My Monday starts around 9am (which is a perfect time! (; ) with an Ethnic Diversity class. This class is pretty interesting because we get to go to different debates and discussions over current political issues in Vienna. After Ethnic Diversity I would typically have a german class, however I recently took my entrance exam to start German classes at the University of Wien. That means on October 11th I will have my first class at the University! It also means that on Mondays I am done with class at 11am and have the rest of the day to study and explore Wien!

On Tuesdays everyone has German at the University and then in the afternoon, both tracks have an Austrian Politics class together. This class is very interesting because it mostly covers Austria and its political actions from 1914 to present day. Giving us a lot of history to learn. After class I typically head home to do some homework and then maybe explore Vienna at night. Wednesdays on the other hand are by far my longest days. Now that my German classes are at the University on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I only have two classes Wednesday; my Ethnic Diversity class at 9am and my Austrian Cultural History Class, which ends at 5pm.  I know its  a bit long but I do have breaks in between! This history class, although very hard, is very interesting. This is because every Thursday we go on a tour of something new and historical in Vienna. In the beginning we went to a Roman museum were the left over architecture of Vindobona lies. Vindobona was an old Roman military camp located in central Vienna. What blew my mind was that underneath a city the size of Vienna (414.6 km²) lies the remains of architecture from Roman times which, lets just say, was a very very long time ago.

Michaela, Ana and Thomas during the Roman Museum tour.
Michaela, Ana and Thomas during the Roman Museum tour.

The group during the Roman Museum Tour!
The group during the Roman Museum Tour!

After our tours, we have our Austrian Politics class again. This ends around 4:30pm in which I’ll typically head home for some dinner. Now Fridays are the one of the best days for any student because… 

We have the day off!!

Typically we’ll spend this extra day by beginning our explorations of Europe early, sometimes however, we have school events and community services planned. Recently, on the 28th of September, we had an amazing community service opportunity. We ventured to a near-by village and help clean up and ready a Volksschule (or an elementary school) for their open house. We helped them set up chairs and clean windows and because school has already started we were able to meet some wonderful kiddos! We also met the Mayor of the town… no big deal or anything. (: This experience was a heartwarming one and seeing everything come together was amazing. The people we worked with were wonderful and I would absolutely go back and do it all again.

Ana getting ready to clean some windows!
Ana getting ready to clean some windows!

Verena and Michaela hard at work!
Verena and Michaela hard at work!

The whole group plus members of the crew we worked with during community service!
The whole group plus members of the crew we worked with during community service!

Studying abroad in Europe isn’t only about the adventures you are able to take, its also about the things you learn while you take them. I have had so many opportunities to see things in Vienna that I never thought I would see – all because of my history class. And I never would have been able to meet a such community so grateful for seven people to come help them with their school if it wasn’t for the Institute. Everything that I have done ties into this school, and it is an amazing opportunity that everyone should take.

Stay tuned to hear about our school trip to Prague!

Tschüss!

Melissa Rockow

Episode 3: Host Families

Like many other programs, while studying abroad in Vienna, you live with host families. These host families can range from single mothers or fathers to families with children or you could even be living with grandparents! Some families even have other host students like Thomas’s. But either way, living with a host family is an amazing experience.

“I have really enjoyed getting to know my host mother. At my host family I am not the only international student, I have other students living with me. One from England, Japan and Latvia.” – Thomas Foy

For example, my host mom is self employed after retiring, with two kids and three grandkids. She is absolutely amazing! While living with a host family I have had many opportunities to grow as a person, and its only one month into the trip! Many of us see our host families everyday and therefore have the ability to speak with in german which helps  It is really an amazing experience. My host mom is big into fashion and all things Vienna. Sometimes she’ll give me tips on where to go and what to do. She typically gives me less touristy options and more Viennese options which has helped me acclimate to the city.

Each host family gives you breakfast, which lets be honest, is amazing! The breakfast isn’t your typical American breakfast of milk and cereal. You usually have bread with all sorts of toppings including marmalade, meat, cheese, tomatoes and even cucumbers! While living with my host mom I have had a different type of bread every day! Ana’s host family gives her a little piece of home every morning with an Oregon coffee mug. Along with breakfast you get one home-cooked dinner a week. Most host families take this time to share Viennese meals with you. For example, Thomas’s host mom makes a homemade Apfelstrudel  (Apple Strudel) during his dinners. And if you enjoy sweet dumplings then a Germknödel is just for you! These are dumplings usually filled with a fruit marmalade and taste AMAZING.

“My host family is very social and have introduced me to a lot of local events in Vienna. They are very sweet, always making sure I have everything I need and I also get to practice my German with them!” – Ana Alfaro

Overall living with a host family is wonderful and great for living in such a big city. The locations of each host family varies throughout the city. Thomas lives in the city center, while Vanessa lives near the Donau River. Michaela and I both live in the sixth district however, she is right across from the Naschmarkt and I am right next to a very popular shopping street. The locations provide everyone with so many great opportunities to explore the city. Even the location of the Institute is amazing. It is located right across from the Opera which is right in the center of the city. The institute is about a five minute ubahn ride away from everything! We’re basically located in Vienna’s 5th Avenue.

“My host mom is very active. she works from home but goes out during the day on her bike and takes her dog along with her everywhere. I also love hanging out with my host dog, her name is Adda.” – Michaela Adams

Everyone should experience living with a host family and I am so grateful to be experiencing it now. With only being a little bit over a month into this trip, I have grown so much as a person while living with my host mother. I can’t wait to see what the next three months have in store!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Melissa Rockow

Episode 2: Dorfgastein ->Wien (Week One)

We made it to Wien!

Welcome back! To finish off episode 1 we spent the rest of the week in Dorfgastein doing “leisurely walks” aka hikes up mountains and waterfalls. On day 4 we hiked up the tallest waterfall in Europe, the Krimmler Wasserfälle (Krimml Waterfall) is 1,247 feet and is extremely beautiful.

The whole group with our hiking guide
The whole group with our hiking guide

On the 18th of August we made our way to Wien, making a pitstop in the beautiful city of Salzburg. Salzburg is the home of the infamous composer, Mozart. while on a tour we got to see both his birth place and his living quarters. 

The place where Mozart was born.
The place where Mozart was born.

 We also learned that Salzburg got its name from the large amount of barges that were traveling on the Salzach river, caring Salt.  Over Salzburg is a beautiful sight to see with the Salzach River running through the middle.

The Salzach River, Salzburg.
The Salzach River, Salzburg.

Later that day we took the train to Wien were we finally met our host families!! Yay! Meeting my host mom was something that made me quite nervous at first. Yes it can be very awkward also. However after settling down and learning all the ins and outs of living with your host family, everything seems to fall into place and all the nerves you had before seem small.

With great luck, Austria was experiencing the hottest summer yet and my host mom took me to her favorite swimming spot. What’s a better bonding experience than swimming?

After spending the weekend settling in we began our first week in Wien. On August 20 we had orientation and a walking tour of Wien. Then we started our first class at the Institute, with another walking tour. That week we had roughly 4 walking tours, which at first seemed overwhelming but each tour showed us a different part of the city. Wien is roughly 2 million people and consists of 23 districts and without those tours, we may not have seen those places on our own.

During the summer, swimming is very popular and therefore, we swam ALOT. We also rented a small paddle boat on the Donau river. Which in Wien, is spilt into three sections, the Donau, the New Donau and the Old Donau. We spent most of our time in the new Donau.

Overall the end of Dorfgastein, Salzburg and our first week in Wien was amazing. As we continue our journey, we learn new things everyday. We have found new places and areas everyday. And we have had fun everyday.

Stay tuned to hear about our trip to Budapest, Hungary. (:

Thanks for reading!

Melissa Rockow

Ponchos are the newest fashion statement in outdoor clothing. (:
Ponchos are the newest fashion statement in outdoor clothing. (:

Part 2 of the the 3 part waterfall.
Part 2 of the the 3 part waterfall.

Vanessa standing on a bridge crossing the river.
Vanessa standing on a bridge crossing the river.

Flat land! We finally made it to the bottom!
Flat land! We finally made it to the bottom!

The end of the waterfall.
The end of the waterfall.

Episode 1: Portland -> Dorfgastein

Hallo from Austria!

Boy oh boy has it been an amazing first two weeks. From Dorfgastein, Austria to Salzburg, Austria and now Vienna, Austria. However, let’s start from the beginning. Our group of 7 flew out of Portland, Oregon straight to San Fransisco. From there we had a 10 and a half hour flight to London Heathrow airport(LHW). This is where our trip truly began and our 2 days of travel turned into 4 days of travel…

We had landed in LHW with a couple hours of layover time and decided to relax. After a few hours Ana, another group member, and I checked our flight and found out that it was canceled! Yes canceled! After a few hours of waiting and speaking with the airline, they helped us find a new flight the next day to Madrid then Vienna at 10am. However, this flight happened to be flying out of a different airport 1 hour away! The airlines supplied us with transportation to get there and they told us we would be able to get a hotel there as well.

After arriving at the new airport, London Gatwick, we went to the airline desk and told them our situation. At this point is was roughly 9:30pm and we had been awake for roughly 13 hours. The desk at London Gatwick told us that they had no hotel rooms to give to us seeing as they’re flights were canceled as well. Therefore, we were left with no hotel room. We stayed in touch with Linfield and the director of our school in Vienna as we tried very hard to find a hotel.

Around midnight we decided, as a group, to stay put and not find a hotel. While the group found a comfy spot in the airport, Ana and I managed to negotiate with a small hotel within the airport for a room to shower in, the catch: we had to wait until 4am. After agreeing and thanking them dearly, we waited the 4 more hours siting comfortably in the airport. Once 4 am came around we all rotated through the room to shower. Around 8am we checked into our flight and headed to Madrid. After landing and being on planes for well over 24 hours, we were finally off to Vienna. Along with flight cancellations we ended up missing our 2pm train on the 10th of August seeing as we landed later that day. We ended up finally staying in a hotel the night of the 10th in Vienna and catching the 2pm train to Dorfgastein on the 11th.

While in Dorfgastein we stayed at the Pension Theresa. Monday was our first full day that was filled with lots of hiking and eating. (Dorfgastein is located in the Gastein Valley and is part of the Austrian state, Salzburg.) Our hiking began with a gondola ride up the side of the mountain above Dorfgastein. From the top you could see the long mountain ranges and small towns neighboring Dorfgastein. You could also see the Spiegel See which is used in the winter time to create more snow for Skiing and Snowboarding.

A view of Spiegel See in Dorfgastein

On the way down we ate at an Alm. Alms are mountain farms where many people bring their animals during the summer. The animals typically recieve better nutrients while staying at the Alms due to the nutrients within the valley region.

Heading to the Alm!

The Alm we ate at for lunch.

 

After lunch we hiked down to the Mittelstation (Middle Station) of  the gondola. From there we rode the gondola back down to the bottom of the mountain. Ending our first amazing day in Dorfgastein.

And after our wonderful travels and amazing first day in Dorgastein, our adventure continued…

Stay tuned for more and thanks for reading!(:

Melissa Rockow

Ana on top of the mountain.

Herrmann (AAIE Director), Ana, Vanessa and Michaela looking out over the Alps.

Another view of the Alps while in Dorfgastein.