German Classes, Travel Plans, and a New Internship!

Well I've been in Austria for 2 weeks today. . . I can't even believe it myself!  The days seem to fly by as I start with a 3 hour German class and then spend the rest of the day exploring the city, catching some up on sleep, and maybe doing a little bit of homework. . . ;)

Last Saturday we spent the day wandering around Vienna. . . we went to the Nach Market where there is a flea market on Saturdays.  Every other day (besides Sunday when almost everything in Vienna is closed) it is a outdoor marketplace with fresh fruit, veggies, and sweet snacks.  After the Nach Market, we made the trek over to the Belvedere Palace where there is a beautiful garden and orangery.

{Nach Market} 

{Belvedere Palace}

After our 3 weeks of intensive German classes, we have a 10 day break before our Semester classes begin.  I will continue to take German classes, but will also add a cultures class, a music for nonmajors class, a religion course, and a teaching internship.  I heard about the internship during our orientation and decided to apply for it because it seems like a great way to get to see the Viennese lifestyle and meet local people.  Once the semester begins I will be assigned to a school (probably a kindergarden class), where I will help out for about 5 hours every week.  We have a seminar class that accompanies the field work, and we have a paper due at the end of the term.  Granted, I am neither an education major, nor am I fluent in German; however, I am really very excited to get to work with the Austrian kids! 

For the 10 day break, I am planning to travel to Barcelona and Portugal with two of my friends, Meg and Tonya.  We are still working on our travel plans and figuring out the logistics, but it will be a fun trip and I will get to meet up with friends studying in Barcelona! 

I have a really great group of friends here already . . . we even had a small dinner party at our apartment last week!

{Friends over for dinner!}

Needless to say, I absolutely love Vienna and couldn't be happier to be here!