Author: Marjorie McVay

Within the first couple of weeks abroad in Austria, I was told to “be careful who I trust” and informed that reputations and rumors in the small city of Klagenfurt (where I attend school) are very prevalent. Not shortly after this, I became aware of people referring to me as, “that American girl”. How original… Nevertheless, this sparked my interest. I began to wonder how teenagers interacted with each other and how the social aspect in general differed from my home, and then I began to silently observe the scene.

In the beginning, there appeared to be no cliques within the school. I’ve concluded part of this can be contributed to the lack of  school clubs and sports. Many of the social groups at my school in Michigan are naturally formed as kids with similar interests and hobbies grow close through extracurricular activities. In the school I attend in Austria, each class has 20-25 students, and these students remain together in the same class for the majority of their school career. It seems this system creates a close class bond and students get to know their peers very well. After a few weeks of observation however, there did appear to be minor friend groups within the classes and grade levels.

These groups seemed to be based mostly on personalities rather than interests. The quiet, reserved girls stuck together, the loud and immature boys got on well, the more academic boys interacted, and the social, extroverted girls hung out together. Overall, all my classmates have interacted positively with each other, and this has been refreshing to me. However, there have been moments of gossip I have been able to distinguish despite the language barrier. It has appeared to me that rumors here are spread very easily and even more often and exaggerated than in my school in Michigan. This has been quite irksome as I suppose I thought I would be able to escape the drama and constant social climbing of my small hometown for five months by traveling here. But I’ve learned that wherever you go, people will always talk and there will always be a social hierarchy. It’s simply human nature. I’ve learned to accept this fact and disregard all the nonsense I hear about others as well as myself.

While sitting in on an English class, the teacher asked the students to describe Austrian teenagers using one general word. Majority of the class responded with “lazy”. This surprised me, as the overall Austrian lifestyle is quite the opposite of lazy. Many of the activities practiced by my Austrian peers are similar to those in America. For example, shopping at the mall, eating at McDonalds, playing soccer, or grabbing a coffee are common social outings. Despite these similarities, I have found it quite difficult to make close friends. All of my classmates have been very friendly, but not many of them have been very outgoing. I have often been the one who must initiate plans. Perhaps this can be explained by the language barrier. It must have been a little intimidating to speak English with a native speaker. . . Just as it was quite frightening for me at times to try my German with native speakers.

Because the drinking and smoking age is low (16 for beer, wine, and cigarettes, and 18 for hard liquor), both these activities are large aspects of teen life in Austria. Partying is a common topic of interest for most adolescents. Many teenagers meet and form friendships with those they meet at clubs, although they may not go to the same school. Almost every weekend, my classmates go to a disco where they meet up with their friends and classmates and party until around 3 o’clock in morning. This loose curfew has been another surprise to me, as my curfew in Michigan is 11:30-midnight (wanna reconsider that, mom and dad? Love youuu).

The most major difference I have observed in the social hierarchy, is the prejudice towards immigrants. While studying in the cafeteria one afternoon, I was joined by a group of four boys. After a few minutes of talking with them, they expressed that they were surprised I was interacting with them. This puzzled me, so I inquired what they meant. They explained that most girls in Klagenfurt neglect to talk to them, as their families immigrated from Bosnia, Serbia, Romania, and Afghanistan, and because of this they are viewed as “gangsters” or “gypsies”. This discrimination was shocking to me. I’ve been told this is not too common, but can be found in many schools. Of course similar discrimination is also present in America, however it seems more prevalent in Austria (perhaps this can be explained by the fact that we were all immigrants to America not too long ago). I believe much of this contempt stems from the European Union border control policies. Because anyone from the EU can immigrate to Austria and receive its free health care and insurance, many native Austrians believe the immigrants take advantage of this.

It has been fascinating for me to observe how people my age from a different part of the world interact with each other. Overall it’s not very different than my home in Michigan, but I have learned several valuable lessons that I will be able to carry with me for the remainder of my life. I believe I have grown to be more outgoing and confident in forming relationships. I have learned to make sincere apologies when necessary. I am now able to accept myself without comparing to others. I have acknowledged ever-existing social hierarchy and gossip, but have learned to pay no attention to it. Most importantly for me, I have learned to let people in on my life rather than pushing them away. I’m going to miss my friends and family so much as they’ve taught me an infinite amount of valuable information about Austria, culture, independence, language, relationships, and myself. However, I know the relationships I’ve formed will last a lifetime.

 

There are so many aspects of Austria’s culture and country that I will miss. . .  one being the FOOD. I have thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to the delicious Austrian cuisine. Meat and potatoes are not the only options here!!! I have tried multiple delectable dishes. Almost everything is made with natural ingredients and from scratch! No canned peas here. A few of my favorites. . .

Käsnudel: a dumpling filled with sharp cheese curds. But its taste is much more divine than the simplicity of its name. It is often topped with melted butter and herbs.

 

Germknödel mit Vaniliesauce und Mohn: warm, soft, doughy bread covered in vanilla sauce or butter and poppy seeds. The inside of the bread is filled with a sweet marmalade. This tastes heavenly while sitting by the fire after a long day of skiing in the Alps.

 

Käse Spätzle: this is one of my favorite entrees. This dish consists of soft Spatzle noodles (homemade egg-noodles) with melted cheese and sautéed onions. Absolutely delicious.

 

Lebkuchen: Gingerbread cookies! Christmas in Austria would not be the same without Lebkuchen. Often topped with nuts such as almonds, Lebkuchen are an essential item to be sold in the festive Austrian Christmas markets. These homemade delicacies are just as beautiful as they are tasty.

 

Wiener Schnitzel! This is the national dish of Austria. It’s a thin, breaded and deep-fried, boneless meat which is often eaten with potatoes and ketchup.

 

And OF COURSE Jausnen: this cold assortment of breads, meats, cheeses, spreads, and vegetables serves as a snack or small meal. There seems to be an infinite amount of cheese, meat, and bread types here. Horse radish, yummy mustards, and homegrown herbs are commonly included too. You can chose to put whichever meats with whichever cheeses and whichever spreads and vegetables, so its basically like a giant mix-and-match buffet. Still trying to find a way to smuggle some Jausnen with me into the States. . . (My apologies if you’re a vegetarian)

 

In addition to the above specialties, I have also enjoyed:

1. Maroni: roasted chestnuts! In the fall and during Christmas time, stands selling Maroni flood the city streets. The smell of these sweet nuts will forever remind me of Christmastime in Austria.
2. Leberkässemmel: though the literal translation is “liver-cheese”, this sandwich contains neither liver nor cheese. While I’m not quite sure which meat this snack actually contains, it’s mouth-watering and served on a warm roll with spicy mustard.
3. Mozartkugel: this sweet originated in Salzburg in 1890 and is named after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This nougat coated in dark chocolate with a pistachio marzipan center can be found almost anywhere in Austria. Some traditional companies still produce these individually by hand using the original recipe.
4. Kärtner Bienenhonig: Kärten, the Austrian state I live in, is specially known for its honey. Bee farms produce the freshest, sweetest honey. The honey is often eaten with bread and butter for breakfast. I’m hoping to bring a jar back to Michigan with me. . . Or ten.

Food is a very important aspect of the Austrian culture. The Austrians pride themselves on their healthy, fresh, enticing cuisine! I anticipate no longer having an appetite for the canned vegetables and fluffy bread in the U.S. I have loved every new food I’ve tried (with the exception of liver), and I hope to bring a little bit of this cuisine back home with me. . .  a little bit of Austria.

Over the past four months I have been studying in Austria (WOW) ,and I have been questioned many times regarding my home in America. Classmates, family members, teachers, friends, and even store clerks are just as curious about my culture as I am about their Austrian culture. I find many of their questions a bit amusing. . . So, here are the eight most frequent questions I am asked:

1. “Have you ever been to New York City or LA?” Which is usually followed by, “I really want to go to New York City or LA” in an eager voice. No, I have never visited either of these places in the US. . . And this response usually provokes a shock. EVERYONE here wants to experience these two famous cities.
2. “Are the high schools really like the movies? You know, like American Pie? And with the cheerleaders and school lockers and house parties with the red cups and varsity football teams that wear the cool jackets and school mascots?” I have to explain this is usually a quite exaggerated view of our high schools, but definitely some of the portrayed images are accurate.
3. “What do you think of Obama?” However before I am able to respond, I often am presented with the inquisitors’ opinions on our US government… When I told one man I came from America, he responded, “Oh, the country that starts all the wars,” with a smirk and chuckle. I didn’t understand what he had said at the time as he had said it in German, so I just responded with a nervous laugh.
4. “Isn’t the drinking age 21?” This is always asked with a tone of disbelief and followed by, “That’s so old!” Most people I speak with believe this to be absurd, however one man I spoke with agrees with the age regulations in America. He is addicted to cigarettes and explained if he had been older when presented the opportunity to smoke, perhaps he would have considered or been more educated on the health effects.
5. And of course, there’s the infamous fast-food myth: “Does everyone eat McDonalds?” Sigh, no… There is an abundant amount of fast food chains with thriving business, but this stereotype is blown out of proportion. I usually explain most people do not consume fast-food for all three meals, and many Americans avoid fast food completely.
6. “Is school really easy in the US? I heard from a friend it’s really easy.” Also a no. I explain the level of difficulty depends much on your plans for college, how much you choose to work, and the classes you select. My peers are fascinated by the idea of being able to select your own classes. Most schools in Austria have a set schedule of classes with little variation or freedom to choose the classes students must participate in.
7. “Do you have your driving license?” Normally in Austria, teenagers acquire their driving license at age 18, so they are fascinated by the idea that teenagers in America are allowed this freedom two years prior.
8. “Does everyone in America talk unclearly and have funny accents?” Students learn British English in school, so they believe Americans speak and write quite improperly.

While I have found these questions extremely humorous in many cases, I have realized many of them contain quite stereotypical views of America. Though many fragments of these clichés are true, it’s made me aware that several are hyperbolized. I have found that I am also often confronted with questions containing Austrian and European stereotypes by my friends in America. While many of these views are harmless, I hope over the past four months I have given my Austrian friends an accurate taste of America, just as I have learned that not all European and Austrian stereotypes are reliable. I’ve loved more than anything creating my personal view of Austria, free of any conventional views. And I hope I’ve been able to prove that not all Americans are unhealthy, ignorant, and uncouth.

Read all of Sarah’s posts from her high school program in Austria…

It has now been TWO months since I anxiously parted with my hometown. . . Wow. Since I have arrived in Austria, I have been fascinated by the differences between my home in the United States and my new home. I carry a notebook with me to quickly jot down any differences I observe, so here are just a few. . .

1. NO PEANUT BUTTER. Well, I did manage to find some “Erdnuss Creme”, but it required extensive searching. My host family was surprised when I explained my passionate love for peanut butter, as they had never bought it. I was deprived of my daily dose of PB for a month, so now I carry a jar with me in my backpack.
2. Public transportation is much more widely used than at my home. I take a train and bus home from school every day, as do most students. Since I had never ridden a city bus before I arrived in Austria, I was very confused by the process. My confusion caused me to get off at the wrong bus station twice… Once too early and once too late… But I have figured it out now, and I’m quite proud of myself!
3. Dogs are allowed in malls, restaurants, grocery stores, and most other public places! I love it, and I wish Michigan would adopt this cultural difference. If only I could bring my little Henry with me everywhere I went. . .
4. Shoes are not to be worn in school unless they are “house shoes.” This rule is exercised to keep the floors clean. I was perplexed by this difference originally, as it just felt a little funny and casual to walk from classroom to classroom barefoot. There are no clocks in the classrooms either, which is quite painful during a Religion lecture in German.
5. Cigarettes are MUCH more commonly smoked. It is normal to walk outside after school and see a few groups of students smoking cigs right by the school entrance. Not only do adolescents and young adults smoke, but many older adults as well.
6. THE FOOD IS SO DELICIOUS. Every night I take a picture of the dinner my host mother prepares for me because it is always amazing (sometimes I send the pictures to my mom because she does not cook for me). The food is always fresh and homemade. For breakfast, we eat bread made at a local farm, butter, honey or homemade marmalade. I am given a sandwich for lunch with fresh vegetables, butter, cheese, meat, and fresh bread. We also eat dinner much earlier than at home; anywhere from 4-6. Sometimes a light dinner of various meats, cheeses, bread, and vegetables is served; this is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. I hope to find a way to sneak some of this delicious “Jausnen” into the States. Also, the sandwiches at the gas stations are incredible (I don’t think I would ever buy a sandwich at a gas station back home…), and the chocolate is a billion times better than in the US.
7. First names! Karina, Elena, Lukas, Felix, Alina, Rafael, Emilio, Claudia, Gregor, Gerlinde, Raimund. They’re so European. And I love it. I’ve decided to name my future children Felix and Gregor.
8. The clothing style is quite different here than at my home in Michigan. I’m so in love with the edgy European fashion. A typical outfit considered “stylish” for girls consists of distressed jeans, an infinity scarf, a leather jacket, Converse sneakers, and a trendy sweater. Also, most of the boys have their hair short on the sides and long and spiked up with gel on the top… But I’m not as fond of this trend.
9. The lifestyle is very active and overall healthy. It is standard to go on a hike, walk, or bike ride as a family on Sunday. I’ve particularly appreciated this difference, as it has allowed me to spend time with my family and friends and explore the incredible landscape.
10. The holidays are different! I am especially excited about Christmas. In fact, the festivities are already beginning. The expansive Christmas markets will soon overcome the streets in the cities. On the fifth or sixth of December, St. Nicholas and the Krampus will visit the houses of little boys and girls. The Krampus is an ugly monster with horns, unkempt fur, and a long tongue. His job is to punish the poorly-behaved children by swatting them with rusty chains and then kidnapping them. St. Nicholas rewards the well-behaved children with gifts, nuts, and sweets. On the 24th of December, families will celebrate Christmas by eating a large feast, revealing the Christmas tree, and opening gifts afterward. The 25th is spent eating, singing, and relaxing as a family, but no large festivities occur.

I’ve found that my host family and new friends are just as eager to learn about my culture as I am to experience their Austrian culture. So why isn’t everyone curious to learn about other cultures and customs? On the other hand, however fascinating these comparisons may be, perhaps the differences and similarities between us are almost irrelevant. Before beginning this expedition, I had an idea in my mind that the Austrian people would be completely different than myself. In the two months, I have been here, I’ve learned that it’s not the people who are different… only their customs. Maybe this thought I had before departing was irrational or this conclusion is rather obvious, but if everyone were as open-minded and welcoming as the people I’ve met thus far the population would be much more educated as a whole.

 

“Why did you chose to study abroad?” This is a question I am presented with two to three times each day. While I would like to have a concrete answer to this broad question, my decision to study in a different part of the world for a semester was quite spontaneous… actually very impulsive. I suppose I had a few reasons and goals for going abroad before I left my hometown, but as the homesickness slowly begins to torment my mind these last few days, I have begun to reflect on my logic more in depth. And after three weeks, these reasons have transformed rather greatly.

Originally, I was drawn to Austria’s incredible landscape, and I was intrigued by the outdoor lifestyle that accompanied it. Since I’ve arrived, my family and I have hiked up two mountains, gone on multiple trail runs through heavily-wooded forests, and I’m excitedly awaiting ski season. Along with my interest in the physical features of a different country, I was curious to meet kids my age and compare their lifestyle to my own. Thus far, I have found the differences and similarities between my peers and myself fascinating. I thoroughly enjoy observing their behavior and being introduced to their life inside and outside of school. Since I have arrived, I have decided it is not solely about comparing and contrasting with my new friends and classmates, rather building relationships with them.

Many of the people I have met are eager to spend time with me and learn about my culture. Forming these relationships are perhaps the most important aspect of my time abroad, because although I will leave this beautiful country behind eventually, I intend to stay in touch with many of the people I meet for the remainder of my life (I already promised my host parents an invitation to my wedding).

Along with relationships, my desire to learn the German language has increased greatly. Generally, German is viewed as a harsh language, but the more I listen to the people around me, the more beautiful and compelling it is. This language, and specifically the dialect of Kaernten, is a large part of the culture. Being exposed to a new culture was a large contributor to my decision to study abroad, and since I’ve arrived I have learned that the cultural differences are more prevalent than I expected. Whether it’s the food consumed at dinner, the common clothing style, the interaction between pupil and professor, weekend activities, the etiquette at mealtime, or the home decor, I am presented with rich culture every second of the day.

Overall, I’ve realized this experience abroad will allow me to find myself. Yes, this is cliché, but it is also very true. Each day I spend in Austria, my knowledge of myself expands and my self-confidence grows. I have realized I will be forced to ask others for help regularly (something I am not particularly good at), and I will make mistakes often. I must push outside of my comfort zone, whether it is navigating my way through an unfamiliar city, introducing myself to new people, or experimenting with my sparse German. I will learn about myself from how I chose to handle situations with my friends and family, such as cultural differences, and personal dilemmas, such as homesickness or getting lost on my way home from school. My confidence, passion, and view of the world as a whole will continue to grow with each challenge I face, and this is an idea which makes me extremely excited.

P.S. I captured the image above on my first mountain climb! It was spectacular.

So, after an extremely long journey from Grand Rapids, in which I almost missed my flight from New York JFK to Paris, I have arrived in Österreich. The first thing I did in Austria? I went to the pet store and bought cat and dog food with Katrin, Greenheart Travel’s partner and country manager of STS Austria. I have now been in Austria for about five days and have survived three days of school at BG BRG Mössingerstrasse… Yay! I cannot express my love for this incredibly gorgeous country nor my extremely generous host family. I am fond of the leather jackets the girls at my school wear, and I hope to return to Michigan with some of this European flare.

The language barrier is frustrating (it is very difficult to understand a history lecture in German), but my vocabulary has already expanded quite a bit. My host family has been very encouraging and is eager for me to learn. I hope to add a few words to my vocabulary each day. For example, today I have learned heiß: hot, langweilig: boring, Schwein: pig, Kopt: brain, and Märchen: fairy tale… Really not much commonality between these words.

I have loved every second of every day thus far. And you can’t beat this view.

Hello! Or I suppose I should say, Guten Tag! The extent of my knowledge of the German language consists mostly of “hello”, “goodbye”, and “how are you?”, which is surprising considering I will begin my long journey to the small town of Feistritz im Rosental in Austria in exactly 2 days, 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 10 seconds. Before I state the details regarding my upcoming adventure, I should provide a brief introduction of myself.

My name is Sarah McDonald Lime, and I am a 16 year old living in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am most interested in Biology, Anthropology, and Psychology. My hobbies include trail running at my cottage in Canada, passing the lacrosse ball with my younger brother, and watercolor and printmaking (generally expressing surrealistic themes in my artwork). In the future, I would love to breed either baby guinea pigs or piglets, and I am determined to explore the world in search of leprechauns. My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Henry, is my best friend, and I don’t know what I would do without him. And lastly, my sister Emily, the most eccentric person I know and the most prominent reason I enjoy adventuring, has influenced me more than anyone else in my lifetime. From an early age, Emily was feeding me concoctions of soap and tissue and water with the idea that it would provide me with super speed, reenacting murder trials in which I would always seem to play the hopeless victim, and forcing me down the laundry shoot which she believed to be a passage to an alternate universe. And perhaps it was my naivety feeding her playful, harmless manipulation, but I believe she has taught me that the link between imagination and exploration leads to discovery of one’s self and others, thus inspiring me to embark on this adventure.

This adventure I continue to refer to is a cultural exchange program (Greenheart Travel) which will send me to Austria to live with a host family for five months. I cannot wait to meet my host sister: Chiara, host father: Christian, and host mother: Gerlinde! I will attend school in Klagenfurt, though I am not sure which classes I will be assigned. I look forward to skiing, hiking, exploring, and traveling to Italy for a pizza dinner with my host family!

So, with only three sleeps left in my own bed, I am feeling quite anxious, but very excited. The fact that I will be thrown into a completely new lifestyle for five months has not quite registered with me yet, and I don’t imagine it will until I am on the plane from Grand Rapids to Detroit. I hope all my reservations (the language barrier, not doing well in school, struggling to make new friends, missing my friends and family, and being too reserved), will fade once I arrive. Okay, wish me luck! Hopefully I will be able to navigate my way through the Grand Rapids, Detroit, New York City, Paris, Vienna, and Klagenfurt airports. . .