The flight experience and …Austria

Well…I’ve arrived! There’s been a lot to take in, and this has been the first moment that I can sit down and really write about what’s happened so far! I took a train from Wien to Graz, which had free wifi, but I was too tired to set up my handy dandy arrangement. Thanks to very technologically savvy people in my life, I decided not to take my laptop with me. For starters, it weighs like 15 pounds. And my carryon weight limit on the way back is 13 pounds. THIRTEEN POUNDS. sheesh.

So, my older brother set me up with a small portable keyboard, and this nexus, which will be serving as my “laptop” for the next three months. (Thanks to my dad for loaning me the nexus!) I was skeptical at first, but I have to say I’m pretty impressed. I can transfer my photos wirelessly from my camera to the nexus, blog, and pretty much use Word thanks to useful apps.

Voila!
Anyways, I’ve been pretty exhausted. I’ve been going nonstop since Finals week, to moving out of my apartment, to packing up and flying here, so as much as I tried to avoid it, I got sick on my flight over here. I didn’t throw up, but I had a fever, and felt awful. To top it off, the Warsaw airport had no water fountains, so I had to buy water to stay hydrated. And don’t get me started on the bathrooms in the Warsaw airport…aheh, all I’ll say is, make sure to triple check that the door is locked. I only double checked. 😛

On the plus side of things, I ended up getting to fly business class on my long flight over there (whaat!?) I have no idea how that happened, because my ticket was dirt cheap! But i”m not complaining. 😉 (And don’t tell anyone but I kept my pillow they gave me, because it was so comfortable, small, lightweight, and portable. 😛 ) If i hadn’t felt sick to my stomach and had a fever, I think I would’ve slept really well on the plane!

I arrived in Wien, and it was rainy and cold. I was staying with some friends of my aunt and uncle, and they were so kind to meet me at the airport. THen I got a whirlwind tour of Wien, via car, and headed to their house, where I ate a dinner and then promptly went to sleep.

Today they took me to the train station and I caught the train to Graz! I’ve met my host family and am settling in. I’m feeling pretty rusty on my German, but hopefully this immersion process will work quickly. It’s funny how I’ve forgotten a lot of conversational German, that’s useful when touring/living there. 😛 Oh well, it’ll come back!

Another thing that will be interesting to see how it works…is being gluten free. I’ve been gluten free for almost 2 years now, but it’s not very well-known here. I’m not celiac, but eating gluten is something I tend to avoid. On the other hand, since I don’t have a major allergic reaction it’s almost easier to just you know…eat the delisish foods in front of me. But I was at the grocery store today and they had a small quater-aisle with gluten free items, which was nice! So far I’ve been too desperate and tired to try to eat gluten free though, so we’ll see what happens with that.

For now, my host mom bought me some fruit and I am drinking water to try to kick this sore throat. All I want to do is sleep, but I think I”m going to try to wait until this evening. Fingers crossed that tomorrow I’ll feel back to normal…or at least not sick.

OK now some pics!