So its been two days I think, maybe one.... i'm not sure. Welcome to the joys of jetlag! Anyway its been one or two days since I landed in Vienna. I still haven't seen the city, I've been kept under house arrest by AFS personal (this is another way of saying "AFS Orientation). Me and a bunch of other AFS students are staying at a youth hostel, or for those of you who know a little German, that would be a "jugendherberge" Its nice, clean and simple. So far I've only caught a glimpse of Austria and that has been mostly through windows. On the plane, on the bus, and from my dorm window. So far what I have learned about Austrians is:

They don't have towels in the jugendherbergen, I did not bring one and had to purchase a small "Handtuch" from the front desk. It may be small, but it is the wonderful color of purple, which makes up for its size ;) although a six foot tall blond still needs to partially drip-dry.

They are very punctual. "Punktlichkeit" is seriously very very very very important. Woe is me. The chronically late, for ever never on time Swede has been thrown into a very unfriendly waters. The worst part is there are no clocks, and I have no way of telling the time, my phone doesn't work and they took it anyway. Talk about the worlds biggest guessing game. To give you an idea of just how punctual they are I have a little story.

Setting: The dining area at the Jugendherberge

Characters: Me, a couple hot Australians, and a janitor

Plot: Finishing our meal

The AFS students are currently not the only people staying at the jugendherberge, I happened to stumble across two very attractive Australian teenagers in the cafeteria. They heard me talking in my American accent and were all interested in the U.S. We started talking at the salad bar, I'm waving my hands around as I talk and send my water glass flying all over the floor, luckily nothing broke, and I kept my cool. This girl did not get all red in the face! After we bonded over a flying water glass I sat with them at dinner. They were fascinated with how cold Wisconsin was and could not believe that fish could actually live in freezing water and that we were crazy enough to fish for them. They tried to talk in an American accent and it was quite funny what they thought stereotypical American sayings were. Things like "y'all" and "like" were used quite often. I tried to talk in an Australian accent and they said I sounded too British. I asked them what a stereotypical Australian saying was and they replied, "Shall I put some shrimp on the barby" or something like that, but then they had to go and explain that you actually can't put shrimp on the barby cause they just fall right through! It was great. They had also found a sweatshirt in Vienna that said "Austria, no kangaroos!" So those of you who thought I was going to Australia are not alone. Anyway, back to being punctual. We were sitting and talking and one of the staff came up and told us we had five minutes left to eat because he had to clean the dining room. The Australians laughed and said ok we'll be out in a bit. I told them they better set a timer cause Austrians are very punctual. They laughed and sarcastically said "ok we'll make sure we are out in exactly five minutes" So we set the timer and would you believe it, in exactly five minutes and zero seconds later the janitor was back. EXACTLY FIVE MINUTES, ON THE DOT, LITERALLY DOWN TO THE SECOND. I am being dead serious. These people must have clocks for brains. It was seriously unreal.

So far I've learned more about Australians than Austrians. My roomate is also Australian, what do you know maybe I will see a kangaroo before I leave! I'll be keeping you posted!

Over and Out
Signe