Smiles from Miles Away

So the last couple days have been spent touring Vienna, learning the history, and boring paperwork! Yesterday we went to the Belvedere palace since it was the last day of the Monet exhibit! It was fun to see the paintings but we really only saw the monet works because we are going back with the orientation program in a few weeks. It was freezing and snowing like a blizzard both yesterday and today. It seems as if I never left minnesota! We decided that we had to make snow angels at the palace because why not!
Today it was fun to talk about the differences we have already noticed between our home cultures and in Vienna at the orientation program. Some interesting things I have found so far
1. Store hours are strange. Everything is closed on Sunday and some places are open for 3 hours and day and it rotates so you always have to look up the hours if you want to go somewhere.
2. Smoking is unfortunately common here walking out my apartment door I can smell the smoke since in the main area people can smoke indoors.-not impressed by this part of Vienna
3. american music- it seems to be everywhere and even is a few years old. Today I heard old lady gaga, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, and more. I didn’t think American music would be popular here.
4. Public Transportation is amazing here! I can get anywhere in the city with the Ubahn system which is about 5 minutes from where I live and I only have to walk outside for about 30 seconds.

Today I went grocery shopping for the first time. I get so nervous not speaking much German and having to ask if the cashier speaks English. I decided to use the self checkout lane so I wouldn’t have to talk with someone and was hoping their would be an English options (classic american assuming it would be in English), turns out it was all in German. After using my card, a receipt (all in German) came out so I put the food in my backpack ( no paper/plastic bags here unless you pay) and left. An employee came out, rattling off something in German! I was nervous and told her I didn’t speak German so thankfully she switched to English! Apparently i didn’t finishing paying and basically walked off without paying!! I was so embarrassed and apologized profusely. she just clicked another few buttons in German and I was good to go! Ahhh lesson learned it is better to just ask in English than try to figure it out on your own!

It was easier buying items here than I thought with many US brands including Oreo, Kellogg’s, Kleenex, and more! I decided tonight to cook for the first time in my apartment pasta and sauce. Simple, but easy to make that would fill me up. Turns out my new roommate arrived and is from Italy. I felt so stupid with my pasta and sauce from a can haha but hopefully she can teach me a few cool cooking tips! Tomorrow we sign up for our student cards so hopefully we will finish early and it will leave time to explore the city further!

❤️Melanie