Class: 2009

Major: Business Administration

Hometown: Springfield, VA

Writing From: Dornbirn, Austria

Program: LC Exchange Program

LC Activities: Connection Leader Coordinator, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Junior Class Ring Award for Leadership

International Travel Experience: first time abroad

Other Posts:

Thanksgiving and a Swedish magazine (12/16/2009)
In the news (12/16/2009)
Casino in Bregenz (12/01/2009)
Passing time in Dornbirn (11/18/2009)
Current events (11/18/2009)
Saw mill - dinner at the boss's house (10/28/2009)
Crazy weather! (10/19/2009)
Recycling (10/19/2009)
Students and dorm life (10/19/2009)
Saw mill - no more pile - planer and ripsaw (10/05/2009)
Business Plan Development - Easy Start Up! (10/05/2009)
Opening a bank account in Austria (09/21/2009)
The saw mill (a Kermit moment) (09/21/2009)
My new home (09/11/2009)
Orientation at FHV (09/11/2009)
First impressions (09/11/2009)
Arrival (09/11/2009)
Thoughts and motivation (08/18/2009)

For me there were no mind blowing revelations that I have experienced so far. But then again I am still in the Austrian culture, and something really might hit home when I get back to the States. I must say that before coming to Austria I really wasn't that patriotic. But being here has definitely made me appreciate the States and the life I have there. I see the world as much more complex. For one, Europe is not just "Europe." Each country and even in Austria, each town is different. Yes, you're still in Austria but every town has a different dialect for the most part. You can tell who is from Vienna versus those from Vorarlberg. The dialect here is so different that people from Germany have an extremely tough time making out words and understanding. I never knew that 30 min away you could have a completely different dialect. And so different that those traveling there might not know what you're saying. That's wild.

I can comment on how I see American culture but, I would rather do so when I return to the States. That is, I believe, when I will notice the greatest differences.

In my first post, I addressed the topic of race. I thought I was going to stick out like a sore thumb. In the first few days when walking to and from school just about everyone that drove by was staring at me, even in the cafeteria at school. I quickly got over this but it was uncomfortable at the time. I remember thinking to myself, "Is it because I'm black? Is it because of the way I dress? Or is it as simple as they haven't seen me before?" The most uncomfortable experience was probably in the cafeteria.

I mean we stare at everyone no matter who they are. So, it took me a minute but I realized that it is because no one here knows me. People are trying to place you, where are you from, why are you here, etc., etc. But after a little while and once people got to know me, it wasn't a problem at all. I would say (and some local Austrian students would say) that I have gotten to know a great deal of people here and now have no problem walking around. Now that people know who I am it's no problem. It just takes a while for people to get used to you and I realized I stare anytime someone is new as well. So often times, we have to remind ourselves that what is on your mind (for why you're being stared at) might not necessarily be on the other person's mind.