First Days of School

            Yesterday was my first day of school in Austria. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, and I didn’t want to get too nervous, so I really didn’t think about it much. When I first arrived in Austria, I met some girls that were going to be in my class. So yesterday when I walked in, I had a few friends. But that didn’t really matter. Everyone looked at me and for the most part seemed afraid to talk to me. I think everyone assumed they had to speak to me in English, and they were intimidated by that. So, the beginning was kind of hard. But eventually, people started helping me translate what the teacher had said and I began to feel more comfortable around my peers.

            The school system in Austria is very different compared to back home. I was told that we should call all of the teachers professor, and so I assumed the classroom was an environment full of respect. As soon as class started, I realized I probably should have chosen a seat in the back of the room so that I could watch everyone else and mimic their actions (this is a technique I have used often while I’ve been abroad). But instead I sat front and center, and I suddenly felt that everyone’s eyes were on me. Those feelings of discomfort were affirmed when the teacher walked into the room, and everyone stood, and I sort of missed the whole standing thing. I figured it out of course, just a few seconds too late. Now I knew everyone had seen the foreigner mess up yet again! But my teacher didn’t seem to mind, and we were asked to sit shortly after. So then this very nice professor proceeded to conduct an entire class in German. I was proud when I could pick out words! There is a huge difference between understanding my host family when they speak slowly and clearly to me, and a teacher who speaks very quickly, and just happens to spit all over my desk when she speaks! The first thing I noticed about my new class is how loud they were. I knew it was the first day of school, and everyone was excited to see one another, but this was just upright rude. The poor professor just stood in the front of the class and continued to talk to anyone who chose to listen to her. The girl sitting next to me just pulled out her phone and started texting right there. She didn’t even try to hide her phone under the desk! People basically just tune out the entire hour. At this moment, (despite the pool of spit piling up on my desk) I was glad I sat up front, because then I could at least hear what the teacher was saying! Another difference is that there really is no set schedule for the first three weeks of school. Half the teachers and students go to either Canada or the States for the first three weeks of school, and the schedule is literally all over the place! Most teachers come to our classroom, which is fortunate for me so that I am not left to fend for myself in this maze of a school! But with the crazy schedule, I can’t even tell you all the classes I will be taking, or even what classes I will have tomorrow! But, for the first week, school goes until 12 pm at the latest, so I have no complaints about that!

            Today as I was sitting in German class, it really hit me that I am going to be here for a whole year. And I would spend a majority of that year right there in the same wooden chair. Hopefully though, by the end of that year I will finally be able to understand what my teacher is trying to say to me! So for now I am just hanging in there, forever grateful to be on such an incredible journey!