So I'm in Austria..

Tomorrow will be the 2 month mark since I left home in America. I can happily say- I regret nothing. Austria is the most amazing, beautiful, exciting place I have ever been in my life. I’d choose Austria over Disneyland any day.

I’ve made so many new friends here. I used to think AFS(my exchange program) was retarded when they said that people make lifetime friends through this. I stand corrected. Some of the best people I know come from New Zealand, Italy, California, Ohio, and Denmark. And Austria, of course. Honestly, these people are amazing. We’re all tied together in one crazy way- this exchange. We always have something to do, somewhere to go, something to talk about. We’re able to help each other through homesickness, school/ friend/ host family problems, and yes- even break ups. I’d be so lost without these people.

My school is just getting better and better. I’m in a lower class because, well, I’m not sure why. Although the kids in my class are 1-2 years younger then me, they are awesome. The first few days of school were so awkward and stressful(yes, I cried the first day of school). Everyone was a little apprehensive to get to know the new American girl. But, soon enough, we all became friends. They’re as interested in my culture as I am in theirs. I hate it when I have to explain to them that America isn’t really that exciting. Then they argue that neither is Austria. But I guess it works both ways. Anywhere is more exciting then the place you come from. I’ve met Austrians who think Ohio is cool. That’s saying something.

My classes are difficult, seeing as they’re all in German(with the exception of English and French class). I can’t describe how difficult it is to learn a new language, when you hardly even speak the language it’s being taught in. I hate French, but I’ll survive.

Weekends are always the best part. That’s the time when I get to really see and experience the city. Night life here is insane, though. People here will stay out in clubs or bars and pubs until 5 or 6 in the morning. And anyone who knows me personally, knows that I wouldn’t exactly be considered a ’night person’. But I do make the best of it, even if it means pretty much falling asleep on the subway home.

I’m not a big fan of the clubs here. I am old enough to get into them, and I’ve seen and heard a few. But they’re just not for me. I’m not into sweaty people grinding to bad music. I prefer the pubs and bars. It’s awesome just to be able to sit and drink a beer with good friends.

I’m trying so hard to think of what else is new, but nothing’s really ‘new’ anymore. I’m pretty adjusted to everything.

My German is getting better and better. I really enjoy eavesdropping on random conversations and surprising myself with how much German I can understand. The downside of this whole thing, however, is that my English is getting worse and worse. I’ve always been so focused on the English language, but now I’m starting to really suck at it! When writing letters, I desperately want to spell words with ‘sch’ and pronounce them differently. It’s quite the pain in the ass.

My host family is still amazing. I can’t express how lucky I am to have gotten such a great host family. I wouldn’t trade those three people for anything. They’ve been so, so nice to me. They help me with anything and everything. Gabi is possibly the coolest woman I know. She’s so funny, even when she doesn’t realize it. One time, I was homesick and a bit teary, so she was making me something to eat. She ended up dropping a pan and breaking a few wine glasses! I totally forgot my homesickness while I was laughing and helping her clean up the broken glass. Wolfgang is the ‘cool step dad’ type. I can honestly say now that I never know when he’s serious or not. He told me a story about men in the mountains having sex with cows… I still don’t know what to make of that. Ronja, my dear Ronja. My host sister is pretty bomb. She teaches me all the bad German phrases that I shouldn’t know, and we always laugh when we’re together. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to tell this family how grateful I am to be able to live with them.

I’ve been homesick a few times during the past two months. I’ve been so low that I just wanted to get on the next plane back to America. I wanted to be anywhere but here. I hated the language, the people, the food, everything. I missed my friends in America. I missed my family and I even missed my dogs. But after about two hours of that depression, I would eat some chocolate, listen to some music, and walk around the city with my friends. See, that’s the trick. I have no time for homesickness when I’m too busy having fun. And that’s not a bad thing.

This whole experience is for a reason. I’m learning so much here. I’m living, I am truly living. I’ve grown up within the past two months, and I’ll grow up a lot more within the next eight months. I’ll mature, I’ll change, I’ll be a different person. I mean, I’ll still be the same girl who flips off the newspaper delivery guy and builds useless things out of cardboard. But I’ll be even better, because I know what I’m doing now.
I know exactly what I want.

I recieved my host family!

After months of anticipation, I have finally recieved my host-family. I will be in Vienna, Austria for the first 6 months of my exchange. I will be living with a family of three. The daughter's name is Ronja. She is just a year younger than me. I've been e-mailing her for quite a few days now and I can tell we will get along well. We have very similar personalities and tastes in music.
My host-mother's name is Gabriela. She seems very sincere and nice. So far, she reminds me of my own mother! Her partner's name is Wolfgang. He also seems interesting.
I feel that I will truely get along with my host family. They appear to be a modern family, just like my own. We all have similar interests, and also some differences, which is good. I'm excited to learn about them, and their day-to-day life. I'm curious about the culture in Vienna. I'm nervous, but sooooo excited! This is only getting better and better.

I leave in just over a week. I've been counting down the days and studying German like crazy. There's not much I can do to prepare for this experience, but I've done all I can.

Brianna's Austria Adventure

My name is Brianna Welker and I am a sophomore at Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria, Arizona. I am planning on going to Austria for a year through AFS. AFS is an exchange program that has been around since 1947. I am very excited to be able to have the opportunity to study abroad. I believe it will be a life changing and maturing experience. I've wanted to go to Europe ever since my Mom's friend Kajta talked about living in Germany.

Austria has become my sole interest ever since I learned that if I were excepted I would be going there for my year abroad. I come from a strong German back round and I cannot wait to see what my family has been bragging about all these years. I am a decent speaker of the German language and I am sure I will become an expert after a year in Austria. I am excited beyond words. The Skiing, Mozart and European foods-are there really any other words needed.

With the help of a scholarship, my dream of becoming an exchange student is closer but I still need more financial assistance in order to make this a reality. We are having a garage sale this coming weekend, so stop by if you are in the area. All proceeds will be going to my AFS trip. We are also planning a dinner night at a local restaurant. The owner has agreed to donate 10% of the proceeds-more details will follow as we come up with all the fine details. I will also be selling subscriptions to "Brianna's Austria Adventure". This will be an monthly email from me in Austria. In this newsletter I will discuss places/Adventures I've been on-to include pictures, foods, customs and anything else that might spark some interest. The subscription is 60.00 for the entire year(10 months).

I will be leaving for Austria in September 2009 and will return the following July. I then will enter my Senior year in August 2010. I believe that this year abroad will allow me to develop into a responsible, mature young lady that will not only remember this for the rest of my life but I will also grow and become a better person for having been able to experience a culture so diverse from my own, and also learn more about myself.

I am so excited about this opportunity.

Thanks for taking the time to look at by blog and taking an interest in my Austrian Adventure.

To sponsor my AFS program and help my dream come true click on the "ChipIn" button.

Anything that you can give is greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

Brianna