Statistics

Below are some numbers describing my stay in Gaming so far. Some of these statistics were blatantly stolen from the University's blog. However, since I just cited my source I'm allowed to do that.

There are 181 students enrolled in the Austria program for the Fall 2009 semester.

Average GPA of students in the Austria program: 3.22

Average Age of students: 19.5

There are 70 male students and 111 female students.

Michigan is the 4th most represented state with twelve students including myself

My major is the most represented major here in Gaming with a total of 31 Nursing students; theology is second with 28.

I've been in Austria for 31 days.

It will be another 78 days (I think) until I return to the States.

I've taken 685 pictures since arriving in Austria and I deleted 146 of them.

I'm taking five classes for a total of 15 credits. My classes are: Philosophy of the Human Person, Foundation of Ethics, Christian Marriage, Introduction to Sacred Scripture, and History of Western Civilization II.

I've participated in more Masses than I can count since coming here but I've only been to Urs, the local bar, twice. I really feel those two numbers should be closer together.

I've gained four pounds since coming to Austria.

I eat on average three kiwis a day. The most kiwis I've had in one day is six.

No Longer a Teenager

One of the perks of being in Austria: my birthday comes six hours earlier. I'm twenty years old today.

Weekend in Gaming

While most of the student body went to either Switzerland or Prague in the Czech Republic I spent my weekend back in Gaming. This is partly due to my peculiar financial situation but also because 1.) I want to explore Gaming itself and 2.) I have what can only be described as a literal mountain of homework sitting on my desk. It should also be noted that I got a job cleaning the Mensa after meals. So, on Thursday evening, after slaving away with my mop and bucket, I met my roommate Jason G. at the Keller (the Kartause restaurant) where we enjoyed a few beers and more importantly the company of his grandfather who was visiting from the States. I probably had close to a liter of the Keller's light beer which is more alcohol than I've had before in one sitting. As a result I now believe that I truly understand what Benjamin Franklin meant when he said, "God gave men alcohol because he wanted them to be happy."

Friday I had plans to hike to the waterfall outside Gaming with a half dozen students, including good friend Andrew Rall. However our hike was delayed by a thunderstorm. The rain began to let up by 4PM and we decided to brave what was left of the inclement weather. Of course after hiking the three miles to the waterfall it began to downpour once again so that upon returning to the Kartause we were all fairly drenched. Still, it was a pretty great time to be had.

Every night also consisted of movies, beers, and board games until Sunday came and I'd hardly done any homework. I wish I could say that my weekend had consisted of lots of productive and profound studying but sadly most attempts just ended in impressions of books on my face as I napped. I did get a fair amount done throughout the day on Sunday but unfortunately I have enough homework still that the school week is going to be incredibly hectic. However, on a positive note, I definitely aced my history test this morning.

What little profound studying that may or may not have actually occurred.

unproductive, not profound "studying" that definitely occurred

Salzburg/Munich part 1

Even though I'm sick, on Thursday I decided to join some students/school faculty/local children for a game of soccer. Despite having taken some hard hits, falling into an almost comatose state on my bed afterward (because I was sick), and having actually never played real soccer before, this turned out to be a great decision. I had a great time playing and apparently I'm a very good defender. In the words of Kevin Gallagher I was, in fact, "a beast". This would have been the highlight of my day except that, that evening Student Life was playing The Sound Of Music - which takes place in none other than Salzburg, Austria. I had not seen that movie in probably ten years and I had forgotten how great/funny it is so that in fact was the highlight of my day.

On Friday morning I once again donned my sweater vest and ate my zimmel as I prepared to embark on my weekend trip to Salzburg and Munich. Salzburg is about three hours from Gaming and, upon arrival, we immediately made our way to Franziskanerkirche for Mass followed by lunch at Sternbrau where I got to try my first red wine. Then began a walking tour of Old Salzburg. This time, my particular group was lead, not by Fr. Seraphim, but none other than the entertaining Jess, one of the two resident directors here at Gaming - the other being the stylish Vince. A few interesting facts about Salzburg: the name itself means "salt city" in reference to the huge deposits of salt that were mined there and are responsible for the city's wealth, much of The Sound Of Music was filmed in Salzburg, and then there was something else I meant to write here but forgot.

a fountain seen in The Sound Of Music

I then had some free time so I found a few people and we wandered the city, checking out the various shops. Eventually we stopped at a cafe where they had hot chocolate so thick it was the consistency of pudding - except it was way more awesome than pudding could ever hope to be. That evening I attended a classical concert across town featuring a quintet playing Mozart which was thoroughly enjoyable.

However, the night was still young so I went to the beer hall in Salzburg, the Augustiner with Steve Eskro, my roommate Jason Gast, and many other wonderful people. However, with an empty stomach and a stomach flu, I did not do much drinking. Finally, I decided that the best way to end my first day of the most epic trip of the semester so far was to go to McDonald's and participate in the most glorious BigMac my lips have ever devoured.

see, sweater vest

this is not much drinking

Day Trip to Vienna

On Saturday, Franciscan University made its day trip to Vienna. At 10AM our buses arrived at the church Kapuzinerkloster in old Vienna where we then had Mass. The student body then split into groups and we began our walking tour of Vienna. As we walked through the city Father Seraphim Beshoner, head of our group, pointed out the most notable features, most important of which was probably the Irish pub (and I don't say that to trivialize all the other notable features. The Irish pub is just that

important). We stopped and toured several churches and historical buildings including St. Stephen's cathedral and the Hofburg imperial palace. Also, I met Sammy, the 7 year-old son of one of the FUS staff, on this trip. Sammy's pretty cool: he can speak German, English, and Slavic (though being bi- or trilingual isn't uncommon here like it is in the United States), and he's very witty as well.

Sammy (left), Father Seraphim (right)

We then ended our walking tour with lunch around 2PM at Melker Stiftskeller where I got to try their house beer, Hofbrauhaus Traunstein . . . at least, I believe that's what they call it. Once we concluded our lunch I was on my own until the buses departed at 8PM. Wanting to see the Schonbrunn palace I joined a group of about a dozen other students and together we hopped on the underground and emerged twenty minutes later outside the park that surrounds the Schonbrunn itself. Here we were able to walk the gardens, get an excellent view of the city below, and tour the palace itself. We eventually got lost in the park as we tried to find our way back to the underground but eventually we found our way . . . only to get lost again in the city looking for the Opera house - which is where we were to meet the buses. Unfortunately we didn't have the time to stay for the Opera or stop at that Irish pub we walked directly past (the very same Father Seraphim had pointed out earlier) so we got some food to go before returning to Gaming.

Steve and I enjoying our lunch

Outside the Greenhouse at the park

brother and sister household

looking down on Vienna

Today, the students finally had an opportunity to tour the Kartause itself. The Architect, who not only owns the Kartause but was responsible for its renovation over twenty years ago, gave a talk in the church highlighting the importance of the Kartause from its conception to its present day. I don't know his name as he was introduced to us simply as The Architect. Even his secretary who has worked for him for over 25 years refers to him so. We also got to visit the bell tower, library, ballroom, and the three chapels present on the grounds - one of which is a beautiful Byzantine chapel with its religious icons hand-painted by the ITI theology students who used to stay there until last summer.

Apparently the Kartause monastery used to have a series of secret tunnels as well, until the Russians destroyed them during their occupation. Now, however, I must return to my studies as classes begin again tomorrow and I'm supposed to have the entire book of John read by that afternoon.

Oh, also, I was told today that I look like Peter Pan. I thought that was pretty hilarious.

8/27/09 First Day of Classes

Thursday was the first day of class so I awoke bright and early, donned my sweater vest, ate my German bagel, and heroically attended two classes, mass with Bishop Kung, then two more classes - all one almost immediately after the other. I have another full day of classes tomorrow to look forward to before a school trip on Saturday to Vienna . . . then about 150 pages of reading assignments to do by next week. After the first day of class. All those people who told me that "classes in Austria are chill, dude" lied to my face.

So, a breakdown for your convenience of the elaborate torture Franciscan University has scheduled for me over the next four months:

Christian Marriage with Dr. Asci

Foundation of Ethics with Prof. Seifert-Wolter

Philosophy of the Human Person also with Seifert

Intro to Scripture with Prof. Cassidy

History of Civilization II with Fr. Seraphim T.O.R.

But seriously, I'm excited about all my classes; not just because I have a penchant for torture but also because the prospect of learning all this cool stuff is pretty sweet. Also, my professors are what can only be described as awesome. So much so in fact that their lectures are like pure doses of awesome being injected directly into each students' bloodstream. No wonder FUS's study-abroad program is rated among the top five in America - we get our students high off of learning during class days and then send them across Europe over the weekends in this altered state of mind which can only be referred to as "enlightenment."

We are Guests in Gaming

A common topic of discussion among students here at the Kartause is how much the staff at the Mensa (the Kartause's dining hall) supposedly hate us. The staff seem to be easily irritated by our presence and apparently just changed the locks on the Mensa doors and they're the only ones with a key. This means that when staff forgot to unlock the doors this morning the resident assistants could only stand by helplessly as a crowd of students quickly massed for breakfast. Not even the resident director had a key and the student body had to wait half an hour before a local with a key could be found.

However, I don't think the Mensa workers hate us - though it may be possible that they dislike us just slightly. I find this perfectly understandable when I try to imagine working for an American cafeteria when suddenly my place of employment is flooded by nearly 200 Germans babbling in a tongue I cannot understand . . . and they're all wearing lederhosen. They say things in German and I don't know how to respond, they yodel, and they break all the rules out of ignorance. That seems like more than enough reason for me, the exasperated cafeteria worker, to resent these intrusive foreigners. Thus, I applaud you Mensa workers of Gaming, for putting up with the mass of American students galavanting around your home.

Americans like Steve Eskro

Day One in Gaming

At 3 PM Saturday my plane took off from Detroit and my trip to Gaming, Austria began. It was the smallest plane I'd ever been in, seating around 50 passengers. As the earth shrank away below me an ever expanding landscape became visible until we were engulfed by Michigan's overcast sky. Moments later we emerged to a crisp blue sky and bright sun complimenting the haphazard terrain of the clouds below.

After an uncomfortable flight on that cramped plane we landed in Washington D.C. little over an hour before my next flight was to take off. Approaching the gate I recognized the crowd of FUS students already waiting to board. After just enough time elapsed for me to exchange hellos with everyone I knew the plane began boarding and I went from experiencing flying in a plane smaller than any I'd been in before to the largest. After finding my seat I was immediately traded spots with another student so my neighbor could sit next to her friend. /the flight attendant explained that our flight from D.C. to Vienna was over 4,400 miles and soon after we were in the air.

My new neighbor, Sarah, a junior education major, and I talked awhile before dinner. Then, after eating I tried to sleep. No luck. Playing music, watching TV, and adjusting to every position imaginable didn't help either. Giving up on sleep, I decided I would accept a friend's challenge and thus ensued two-and-a-half hours of trying to beat Greg Hurst's record accomplishment of reaching level 49 on Gobbling Snake. However, my controller was on the fritz and time and time again my snake would spontaneously go in all sorts of directions I never told it to go in - this almost always resulted in the death of my snake. It was over two hours of pure insanity. But, let it be known, that despite a whacked controller I beat level 49 and made it all the way to level 50. Greg, I saw, I came, and I succeeded; your challenge has been beaten. However, I must say that, in order to make it all the way to level 49 on the horrible, horrible game, you must have the patience of a Carthusian monk, the skills of a ninja, and the good looks of Brad Pitt.

Sick of Gobbling Snake and with nothing else to do I spent the final hour of my flight in a sort of tortured daze, staring into the back of Matt's head. However, we finally landed and I somehow made if off the plane alive . . . only to be knocked senseless by Steve Eddleson's tackling hug at the baggage claim. After those first few very exciting moments where Steve practically yelled "HEY MAN! IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU!" and I checked to make sure all my appendages were still attached I waited to claim my luggage. And waited. "I bet United Airlines lost my luggage," I said jokingly as we all waited for our bags. An hour later I could be found in Lost & Found filling out paperwork for my missing bags. Yes, United did in fact lose my luggage. Right now all I know is that one bag is still in D.C. while the other is still unaccounted for. Meanwhile I was left with only the clothes on my back, 100 Euros, and my carry-on consisting of a couple textbooks, my computer, and my camera. Bring it Austria!

After taking the bus to Gaming it was time to clean up before Mass, and of course the most logical way to do just that when you have no clothes, no soap, and no towel is to jump in the river outside the Kartause - which is exactly what I did. It was cold. That evening the FUS staff hosted a social with free beer, and thus did I get to try my first alcoholic beverage. Now, I'm back in my dorm room hoping that by the time I wake up tomorrow I'll be over the jet lag - I haven't slept in 32 hours.

UPDATE:

I apologize if this post is incomprehensible. I was essentially in an exhausted stupor when I wrote it, posting it the next day without evening proofreading it; so it's pretty rough.