Becoming Culturized

The weeks are starting to go by relatively quickly, I have already worked 2 of my 16 weeks. I know that is going to turn into 14 and then be over. In order to take full advantage of being here, I started planning my weekends. I decided that this weekend was going to be a culture weekend. It was a balmy 10 degrees yesterday and absolutely perfect for a day of sightseeing. I had it all planned out and all the right pages were turned down in my guide book (I am one of those people). The first stop was to see the Museum-Quartier. In order to arrive there I had to take the metro to a certain station and transfer. When I arrived at the first station, I couldn't find the other metro so I just took the escalator up. The problem is, every time I emerge from the undergound, I am lost. I never know which way to exit from, so it is a surprise every time. In order to find my bearings I just start walking. (I am trying to add pictures to this blog because it would be much more interesting, but I think I will just create an album on Facebook because it just isn't letting me.)

The first building that I passed, unintentionally, was the Parliament building. Definitely a good surprise, but it took a little bit of time to place it on my map, as I had no real clue where I was. I then realized that the Parliament building is directly across from the Volksgarten, which is right in front of the Hofburg, my intended destination. I made my way through and came out facing the Hofburg, the Imperial Palace. The Hofburg serves as many different purposes, including the National Library, the Spanish Riding School, the State Apartments and the Imperial Treasury. After passing under the Burgtor, a triumphal arch commemorating the 11th anniversary of the victory of Lepzig in 1813, you are greeted by the cultural complex of the Museum-Quartier. There are two massive and impressive identical buildings that serve as the Natuhistorisches Museum and the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Further down is the actual Museum-Quartier that is home to the Leopold Museum and the Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien. I didn't go in because I was not going to waste this day inside an art museum...

Other highlights of my day included a street called Kohlmarkt -which has stores such as Bulgari, Tiffany's, Gucci, Louis Vitton - pretty much a playground for the rich- the Am Hof, which was originally the courtyard that they used to for public executions. Continuing on through alleyways I came across a big memorial that had candles and flowers all over it. There was fortunately an english engraving on that explained this was a Holocaust memorial. The guide book took me, evidently to Stephansplatz, the famous gothic church of Vienna. There are the tombs of the Habsburgs in the imperial crypt. I took a few worthy pictures and will include them in the Facebook album. I took another look inside and was once again harassed by Mozart looking men. I did not fall into their trap again...

The tour was nearly finished but I really wanted to check out the Albertina, which houses a gothic art collection, and the Wiener Staatsoper (the Opera house). I followed my little map down Neuer Markt and came out in front of the Albertina, The whole time I was memorized by the building across the street from the Albertina. Anyways, I continued on to find the Staatsoper. When I found it, I walked around it just to take in its architecture and beauty. Then I came to the back side of the building, and I was facing the Albertina. Little did I know before is that the building I was admiring before was always the Staatsoper. Oh well, no one was with me to laugh, so I laughed at myself. The Staatsoper has a student deal and if you show up an hour before a performance you can buy a standing place for something like 9 Euros, and enjoy the opera or ballet. (Something I am actually coming around to. Some would say I need to get away from Vienna, but I am starting to appreciate classical music)

It was still early in the afternoon so I decided to go back to the Schönbrunn, which I saw with Jodi and dad, and check out the gardens and the Gloriette. I need to go back to make my way up to the Gloriette and learn a little more about it, and to see the extensive gardens in the back. Jodi and dad - We saw nothing of the gardens, like, absolutely nothing.

After that I was culturally drained. Next Saturday we are going ice-skating... They flood a park so you can skate in trees and stuff. I am thinking I should wear a helmet and bring a 'shovel'. I would also like to take a day to just walk around the Ringstrasse, the ring that was used to protect the inner city. Apparently the buildings are pretty cool.

The weirdest thing that i can say so far about Vienna is that their fresh air smells different. I know this sounds ridiculous, but it is true. I spent all day outside yesterday and my coat and scarf smell like a different kind of fresh air, not a bad kind, just different. Kinda like when you go to a friends house and their house smells different than yours, but not in a bad way. Anyways.

I have signed up for a basic intro, never spoken before, German class. It starts in February and runs for 5 weeks twice a week. I need to learn something because the more time I spend here, the more German is staring to sound like Chinese. I am guessing we may learn numbers and colors, but maybe then I will understand waiters instead of giving them money and hoping it is enough...

I will add pictures to Facebook, so harass your kids or neighbors to take a look!!!

City Gardens

I forgot to add that I did see a little bit of my surroundings this weekend. I ventured out to see the neighbourhood. Right behind our apartment is something called the City Gardens. Because so many people live in apartments in Vienna, there is little space for people to have green spaces. Basically, there are semi-cottages crammed together with a small piece of grass. People even had above-ground pools. I am not sure if anyone lives in them permanently, but it is kinda like a jail for houses because they are all fenced in, with barbed wire on some of them. I tried to take some pictures but all the fencing and mesh on the fences made it somewhat difficult. The cool thing is that it is an area less than 5 acres in the middle of apartment buildings. Really cool. As soon as I can get my act together I will take pictures of my apartment and add them. Afterall, I am here for another 3 1/2 months...

As a side note, could someone please let Granny know that the map she gave me works wonders!

Only ban is on the U-Bahn

Due to popular demand, I figure that I should do a short write up about the company I am working for and what exactly I am doing. I am working for a bank called BAWAG P.S.K. Within the bank there are two separate entities, the BAWAG and P.S.K. A few years ago the two banks merged and are now considered to be one. The differences are that BAWAG is, and markets itself, as the bank for a richer customer. There is no difference in interest rates or loan policies, it just has a reputation of being that way. P.S.K. bank is not only a bank, but doubles as a post office. So basically you can go to any post office in Austria (I'm pretty sure) to buy a stamp or to take out a loan. P.S.K tries to market to a more 'Mr. and Mrs. Austria". Recently (about 3 years ago) a scandal happened involving the upper management of the bank and ruined its reputation. There is now an entire new management who have turned the bank around. They are trying to re-gain customer trust and attract new ones. This is where I come in.

I am working with the strategic marketing team, specifically in youth development. It has become my job to come up with new concepts for the integration of the youth website (www.b4-19.at) into BAWAG's. So far, I have been translating the articles and research (Google translate is my best friend) in order to understand what they have going on right now. The only thing that is worrying me is my North American perceptions and cultural norms. I am not used to having 'Flirting tips' on a bank website...

Now to more exciting things...

The biggest thing that I am having to adapt to is the non-existent smoking ban in Austria. Restaurants and bars have certain rules about where you can and can't smoke, but we all know that it just doesn't change anything. I came home last night smelling like an ashtray, something I haven't been used to since I was 18. The metro, or "underground", and office are two of the only places you are not allowed to light up a cigarette. Except for the lunch room at my office. They have these floor to ceiling glass walls that separate the two, extremely weird to see.

I am starting to plan my weekends a little bit more carefully. I am thinking of a trip to Berlin in mid-February to stay with a friend and then a ski trip to Innsbruck the next weekend, or possibly in March. Living with Hannah has made it so much easier to find out about things and deals. There is a card I can buy for 20 Euros and it gives me a 50% discount on all train travels. Not too bad, considering a round trip to Innsbruck would be 108 Euros.

I know this post isn't quite exciting... That's because I haven't seen too much yet. This is my tentative weekend travel schedule...

January 24 -- Vienna Sightseeing

January 31 -- Vienna

February 7 -- Bratislava, Slovakia

February 13-15 -- Berlin, Germany

I'll try to do monthly updates!!!

I hope to post related pictures with every entry. I don't have a picture worthy enough of St. Stephens yet... It will come.


The firework on top of my dessert. Dad and the waiters loving this whole thing.

A little overwhelmed...

We arrived a few days ago, Saturday morning to be completely accurate. I say we and mean my dad, Jodi and myself. Originally it was suppose to be just me and my dad, but somehow Jodi weaseled her way into getting a ticket... No, honestly, it wasn't planned that way but Jodi had come to the Montreal airport to say good-bye and just happened to have her passport on her. After a little convincing she was sitting next to me on the plane heading towards Zurich, Switzerland. The flight went by pretty quickly and I was even sung a tired version of happy birthday (twice because of the time change). Leaving Zurich towards Vienna was absolutely astounding. We arrived while it was foggy and still dark out, but as we took off and gained altitude, we saw the sun rise and the never-ending peaks of the Swiss alps.

We spent the first few days in Vienna as complete tourists. We made the short trip from our hotel to Stephensplatz, the location of St. Stephens Cathedral, which was mind-blowing. We were then approached by someone dressed as Mozart and were convinced to go to a show with music from Mozart that included beautiful dancing and opera singing. (Which turned out to be a 20 foot stage with poor dancing but fantastic classical music... Dad really liked it...) Right next to the Cathedral was the Spanish Riding School, so we obviously took the tour. I will admit, the kind of stuff that the horses are able to do is pretty cool. We weren't able to see a show or the practice but there is one in February... I might go just to bug Jodi. We celebrated my birthday dinner at a typical Viennese restaurant and of course the waiters were told it was my birthday. I am assuming they do birthdays big here because as they entourage of waiters were coming they turned off the lights in our section. Not only do they put a candle on top of the dessert, they practically put an entire firework. The next day we made our way to Schönbrunn, the old summer castle of the Austrian Royal family. Out of 1,400 rooms, we saw 40.

Monday morning eventually had to come, the first day of work at BAWAG P.S.K. (Pronounced BA-VAG) Everyone speaks a moderate amount of English because the new CEO and head of Marketing (my boss) are British and Norweigen. It is a little bit overwhelming being surrounding by German and having absolutely no idea what anyone is ever saying. I find that I am less distracted by others this way, but am completely zoned out should someone be trying to talk to me. I just kinda blankly stare at them until one of my colleagues mentions that I am the English girl. Most of the time they just walk away... The department has me coming up with new concepts for the youth program to recruit more teenagers to the bank. I am enjoying it so far (3 days in).

Jodi and dad left this morning, and I said good-bye last night. As Hannah and I were driving away in the car it dawned on me that I was now alone in this foreign city. As great as it is to have Hannah, it is a little bit overwhelming, but very manageable. Everyone can speak English (except for the employees of the drug store and grocery store), and are very friendly.

My 'flat-mate' is great and so is the apartment. I am living with a girl named Hannah who is from the U.K. She found me on my first day of work and saved me from an lonely lunch alone. We met on the internet through a forum for Austrian students looking for flat-mates. It turned out she works for the same bank, and on the same floor, that I do. A pretty convenient coincidence.

I am planning on staying in Austria for a couple of weeks to become more familiar with the city. I want to ski Austria and see as much of my 'home' city that I can. For now, I am trying to get by with smiles and guten-tag.