hmm...

So today was the first day of class. I was really nervous cause I was afraid I'd be in over my head. Turns out, it's not bad. Apparently my class is more fun than the others. My level focuses on expanding vocabulary through reading, writing, listening, and speaking while the lower level classes are focuses a lot of grammar and boring stuff like that. The conversation part of my class focuses on topics we are interested in. So we get to direct it that way. From what we established today we will be discussing music, sports, culture, history, and some other things I have already forgotten.

I met a classmate today, which is nice since I know no one in my class. I am the only one from the bowling green program to test into a higher level. Anyway the girl I met is very nice. She is 21 and from Slovakia. She sings in a choir and plays a little piano. We seem to have very similar interests. So my classes overall weren't bad.

After class yesterday I went to get my cell phone. I stopped at an ATM to get money just in case I needed more than I had (many Austrian stores don't take credit card) and the machine froze with my card in it. Of course it was 1:24 and the bank was closed from 12:30-2 so I had to stand there for 36 minutes just waiting. On the plus side, I got to talk to many Austrians in German. So finally I got my card back and I went to the store and they didn't have my phone anyway. So I just went to the grocery store and bought bread, cheese, jelly, milk, and cereal. That's all I need for the rest of my stay.

So then I went into the city to get a cell phone and I found a great one which only costs 2 cents/minute to call America and 9 cents per text (most European phones are 20 cents per text). It was really exciting till I found out I can't receive calls or texts from outside of Salzburg. I'm going to get that fixed tomorrow.

So after class today I went to find Julie (my roommate), Shireen and Liz (girls next-door)to meet them for lunch. We walked around for a little while and then met our group for our Tuesday afternoon excursion. We went to the Festung, the big fortress up on the mountain in Salzburg. It was exhausting. we had to hike up the side of the mountain and it was really hot. Our tour guide was annoying cause she insisted on speaking German but then had one of the students translate everything for her. So I had to hear everything twice. My friends and I got bored and decided to be rebels so we started wandering off and getting intentionally left behind. It was fun. The view from the top was beautiful (pictures do not capture it) but the tour itself was lame.

So now I am sitting in a cafe that just turned into salsa night. So there is loud music all around me and people dancing but I don't care cause I have wireless. Julie, Shireen, and Liz are at a concert. So I'll be here for a little while and then I am going to bed. I should have more pictures up in the next hour. Check them out.

picasaweb.google.com/sbugsyk

Sarah