Deutsch

This week I started a German course with Rotary. I now have German lessons twice a week, and I really look forward to improving my German! I love these classes because it’s an awesome time to catch up with other exchange students living in, and around Vienna, and our teachers are awesome! Claudia, was an exchange student to Argentina in 2005-2006, and she is really fun to be around. She is very welcoming and I know if I have any problems I can go to her. It also seems easier to speak German around her because I don’t feel like I’m being judged. The other teacher speaks like a billion languages (7 I think) and is also really fun! He is more of a grammar police, but that’s good for my progression! They both have an awesome way of teaching, not the classic classroom style. On Thursday, we had a ‘Schnitzel Jagd’ or treasure hunt through Vienna. We had to ask people on the street for help and directions, and it was a super fun way to practice German! It’s totally something I can do by myself too! Then on Friday, we went to the library (where we all got library cards for the year) and picked out books in German. We have to read them in the coming months and then do a report on them at the end of the classes. Hopefully my German improves enough to pull that off! I’ve been feeling like I haven’t been improving as much as I want to, and that bums me out a little. But today, I was at the gym with my iPod on shuffle and a German rap came on that I had bought before I came to Austria. Back then, I only understood the title. But I realized as the song went on, that I knew almost every line he was saying. Such a big accomplishment! So maybe I am doing better than I thought!

During the treasure hunt, we came across the first advent in Vienna. In the coming weekends, there will be several of the Christmas Markets scattered around Vienna, and I’m so excited for them! Although I’m trying not to get too excited for Christmas yet, it’s hard not to at these markets! The cute little booths with typical Austrian crafts and foods really puts you in the Christmas mood! And really, it’s only six more weeks until Christmas break! Which means only seven weeks until I get to ski! Wooohooo!

Some masks at the Christmas Market