School has definitely begun. We have been thrown into our workload after a weekend in wonderland, parading around the Austrian countryside and dancing through the Alps. I am taking several different courses including: German 201, Political Science: Europe through the Eras, Ethics, Fine Arts, Music History and Bible Traditions.We have now had one of each of these classes and the week is officially half over! Only going until Thursday definitely has its perks. The homework load is manageable, with the most difficult part being the reading assignments. The courses are definitely reading and lecture based. The professors don't have good enough English to have us write many papers, so we have to make do with the large amounts of reading. Which leads me to my story for tonight.
Tuesdays are our worst days for school. We have the longest day and it includes Political Science, which is definitely not my cup of tea. With a large homework load ahead of us and a noisy Center surrounding us, Anna (one of my roommates) and I decided to head down to one of the pubs to do some Theology reading. Now, don't start judging me for that statement. I know you already are - but listen to our massive intelligence. The pubs are generally pretty empty on weeknights. They are also quiet and the people are all speaking German, which definitely is easier for us to tune out. It is also one of the only places open later at night that isn't a bistro - where it costs much more to order food. A single beer at happy hour is only 2.50 euro, which allows us plenty of time to read, take notes, and sip. After only an hour and a half, we are back at the center, with all our homework done, and headway made on Thursdays homework. Everyone else back at the Center is sitting in the TV room and trying to Facebook. Score for Kelsey and Anna!
On the way back to the center, both Anna and I couldn't help beaming about Salzburg. The people here are so quiet. They all love to walk and take evening strolls through Old Town, which is absolutely stunning, especially at night. The fortress is illuminated on the hill about the Old Town, the churches all illuminated, and the bistros and pubs hum with quiet conversations. The view from the river, dividing the Old Town from the New, is stunning. The current is strong, coming from the Alps, and the view it gives of the lights reflecting from Old Town is...undescribable. We decided to stop at a small store on the short ten minute walk back to the Center to buy ourselves a Mozart ball. The city is famous for their chocolate Mozart balls and neither of us had tried one yet. The older man in the store was dancing from foot to foot, speaking his German in a sing-song voice. We laughed with him, and spoke our basic German to pay for our chocolate. He called us princesses, which made us both smile even more. The men here act much differently from at home. From ages 8-98 they aren't afraid to stare openly at girls, or yell comments on your beauty from across the street. The most open to do so are the older men, sometimes those even walking with a cane. They are never vulgar or obscene, merely calling us beauties, or pretty girls. It was definitely strange the first time I was in Europe, but better now that I expected it. People here have much better manners than at home - except when it comes to driving, which I find humorous.
We have now been here for a whole week, which I find hard to believe. It seems so much longer than that. I feel very much at home here and am looking forward to spending the upcoming weekend in Salzburg as well. I didn't want to take off just yet- I have too much to see in this town yet.
Until another time -
Tschuss!
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