The four days of orientation provided by the
Austrian-American Educational Commission were an excellent introduction to the
institutions and culture of Austria. It
was basically three days of lectures and meetings with the Fulbright Commission coordinators. These people are ausgezeichnet (look it up), providing enough assistance but not too much which is the point. During the first day of orientation the program director, Dr. Lonnie Johnson, best summed up their job by saying, "If we were to insulate your experience so as to dilute all hardships and mistakes, we wouldn't be doing our job."
The first day's lecture was a PowerPoint slide reading, big fun. Because the office is situated next to a busy street, a little traffic noise in the background was fairly consistent. However, on Tuesday a vibraphone wielding street musician decided to set up shop directly underneath our window. So, the we were listening to a dry reading of a PowerPoint slide when all of a sudden metallic versions of Mozart start careening through the window. First there was Mozart's queen of the night aria, then there was Pavarotti's Ne Sun Dorma, and then there was Khachaturian's Sabre Dance, the list goes on. Words cannot express how thankful I was for this character. His renditions weren’t too bad and the opportunity to focus the mind elsewhere was welcome by all. The lecturers realized what was happening but did not do anything about it, much less comment on it. I could barely hold in my laughter. Ohhh contrasts.
The first day's lecture was a PowerPoint slide reading, big fun. Because the office is situated next to a busy street, a little traffic noise in the background was fairly consistent. However, on Tuesday a vibraphone wielding street musician decided to set up shop directly underneath our window. So, the we were listening to a dry reading of a PowerPoint slide when all of a sudden metallic versions of Mozart start careening through the window. First there was Mozart's queen of the night aria, then there was Pavarotti's Ne Sun Dorma, and then there was Khachaturian's Sabre Dance, the list goes on. Words cannot express how thankful I was for this character. His renditions weren’t too bad and the opportunity to focus the mind elsewhere was welcome by all. The lecturers realized what was happening but did not do anything about it, much less comment on it. I could barely hold in my laughter. Ohhh contrasts.
I bought a little cell phone on Wednesday. Now, I just need
to make some Austrian friends. Things
are slowly getting checked off my list.
On Thursday evening I and couple of other music dorks, i mean, Fulbrighters went to see R. Strauss's Elektra with stehplatz or standing room tickets. They were only 4 euros!!! This one act opera was excellent. It got off to a slow start but then really opened up towards the act. What a dramatic opera. Suicide, murder, and betrayal.
On Thursday evening I and couple of other music dorks, i mean, Fulbrighters went to see R. Strauss's Elektra with stehplatz or standing room tickets. They were only 4 euros!!! This one act opera was excellent. It got off to a slow start but then really opened up towards the act. What a dramatic opera. Suicide, murder, and betrayal.
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