Austrian Internship: Day 16

This morning saw me getting up at 6:45, surprisingly to a new roommate (I knew I was going to have one for the night, but when I woke up, it was a different fellow than the guy who had asked to sleep with me), and heading out to attending a mass and a celebration for another Red Cross in a neighboring district with Markus and Chris and two other gentlemen in an ambulance.  The mass itself was amazing - in an old church and in traditional style, the organ accompanied a large wind band that played from the balcony.  My Germany isn't amazing, but I'm getting to the point where I can understand at least a little of what the priest was saying this morning.

After the mass was over, the entire congregation went outside to bless the new ambulance car of the region, and then we all paraded down the street (yes, we marched to actual marching music and walked in time behind the new car) to the Red Cross building, where there was a celebration much like the one Hawkins and I attended in Neuseidl am See our first day here.

I have decided Austrians are some of the most generous people I have ever met.  I swear I'm going to gain 15 pounds just from the amount of food people want to buy me to "try their culture."  I'm loving all this culture so much!  The food is spectacular.

Tomorrow begins the "real" ambulance work - I'll be on call from 7am-7pm, meaning I'll be at the station in uniform waiting for an emergency to attend to.  For now, I'm just relaxing, and probably going to try and nap away some of the weight I gained at the mass celebration.  It works that way...right?

I'll let you all know tomorrow how my first day on call goes!

-J

Austrian Internship: Day 15

Greetings, friends, family, and travel lovers!  Today sees me sleeping late for the last time in quite a while, I think, reading, writing, making silly Flipgram videos, and just generally enjoying my last day off before work starts!

Last night was fantastic for me.  Markus, the chief here in Jennersdorf, made me some amazing lasagna for dinner, and afterwards, two new friends, Claus and Phillip, took me out to see the town, and showed me the best spot for ice cream.  I had vanilla chocolate chip mixed with cookies and cream - talk about some great ice cream!  After we made the rounds of the city for the evening (the sunset was beautiful), we came back and just chatted for an hour or so.  Claus knows a good bit about the Austrian economy, and so we discussed American vs Austria economics!  Right up my alley.

It's funny, one of the main questions I get here is "Is America just like the films we see here?  Does everyone own a gun and are all the buildings super large and is everyone always busy?"  It's a good question, I suppose, because all they see are images Hollywood portrays.  I have to explain to them that my hometown looks much like Jennersdorf - a bit of town mixed with a lot of country, fields, and woods, and that most of America doesn't go around bustling in a city with a gun on their hip.  It's been extremely enlightening for me - I have a better grasp of the way things work in Austria compared to the US, and I can see why both cultures, American and Austrian, sometimes misunderstand one another - we just don't know everything about each other, and thereby make assumptions.  I have been so happy to learn about my Austrian colleagues.

Tonight at the bbq I had so very much fun.  I made new great friends (swapping music makes good friends too, I've found), and tried SO many delicious new foods.  Markus translated his welcoming speech into English just for me, and I walls extremely impressed. I think he is trying to get me fat, though, with all this great food.  ;)

The team is super nice to me.  I feel very at home, but I wish I spoke German so I could interact more (and be more polite) with those around me.  It's hard to make friends when there is a language barrier!  But I am still making friends.

Tomorrow I leave to serve in an ambulence around 7:30am. Real work starts, and I'm excited!

Austrian Internship: TWO WEEKS!

Servus!

It has been two weeks since I first wrote in this blog about flying over to Europe.  A part of me can't believe it, and another part of me wonders that it's only been such a short time, as I feel as if I've been here forever.

I am so glad I am in Jennersdorf.  I enjoyed my short visit to Eisenstadt, but I've been in so many cities while I'm here that it's really nice to be back in the country.  My quip about the South being friendly has proven to  be true, and even though everyone here is a little nervous about speaking English, they've made me feel extremely welcome.

Today we had a lunch of Schnitzel and cordon bleu with fries (pommes), at it was super satisfying.  Apparently too, the Red Cross here in Austria has a partnership with Red Bull (it is actually made here in Austria...which I didn't know), and they gave me three cans of it this morning.  I have plenty of caffeine between that and the coffee.  Whew.  So if I seem a bit wired in the next few posts...you know why.  ;)

Today has been really laid back.  I've gone grocery shopping and, done some laundry (necessity once you get to a certain amount of socks), and I've worked on compiling all my best short stories, narratives, and poetry into one document.  I had the great idea to see how much I'd have, and as of right now I'm at 55 pages.  I still have yet to pick out some of my favorite Scarlequain blog posts to include too.

My volunteer service technically starts on Sunday.  I'll be on call in an ambulance - sounds really crazy to say that!  The rest of the day I'll keep writing and reading, and hopefully talk to some people back home.  I've found some good internet spots!

Can't wait to get working.  After my training I'm eager to see what being on call is actually like.  From what I gather it probably won't be very busy, but still - it's a brand new experience!

Until tomorrow,

-J

Austrian Internship: Days 12-13

There is SO much to tell you between today and yesterday that I can hardly think or remember to tell it all.  It is such a flurry of extremely kind people showing us around and providing things for us, and driving us places...

Yesterday: We finished our first aid training and we finished a small crash-course in paramedics (as we will be helping in the ambulances), guided in everything by our great friend, Mario.  He role-played for us, quizzing us on what we knew from breath-less-ness to strokes, to heart attacks...you name it, we had to treat it.
Mario also taught us our way around the Austrian super-markets: where to get the best and cheapest food, and he even taught us the German to order it.  I'm still a little shaky, but his help was fantastic.  And ALWAYS there are great coffee breaks where we just sit and talk like good friends.  Mario I will dearly miss when I have to leave.

After being picked up this morning by Sandra today and driven to Eisenstadt,  we went to the Esterhazy Palace into the concert hall Haydn himself performed in regularly - it was still in wonderful condition (you should HEAR those acoustics...) - and we got to see the Josef Haydn Brass Quintet perform his own work in his own concert hall.  I can't even begin to describe to you how ecstatic I was.

We heard the second movement of the Trumpet Concerto in Eb,  which I am currently studying to perform later this year, a piece from Don Giovanni (which I found fitting, as we have studied it in music history for a year), Der Rosenkavelier,  a favorite of Josey and mine, and even some Duke Ellington (It Don't Mean a Thing...).  They were absolutely spectacular musicians.  Technique, tone, interpretation...everything was fantastic, and overshadowed by the fact that I was sitting where the Esterhazy family would have sat to listen to Haydn's original work.  I feel musically complete: a pilgrim to my musical origins.
Completing the pilgrimage, we visited Haydn's mausoleum in the church in which he played regularly (thanks to Sandra, the admission was free).  I have trouble fathoming being so near such a great composer.  It was...awe-some.  I wish I could describe it in better words.

Shortly thereafter, wte at a local pizzaria, and Hawkins and I split a pizza that had bacon, ham, corn, and several different types of peppers.  I think Mom would have really liked it - it was very good!  Then, we visited Mario at the LSZ, which is the dispatching headquarters for all of Burgenland.  There, they take care of all fires, ambulances, disasters, and even rescue helicopters.  It was extremely interesting, and I was glad to see the side of the work which we will not be participating in.

Later in the afternoon, Hawkins and I went our separate ways, and Sandra drove me to Jennersdorf.  The Red Cross here is very modern looking (it is one of the newest buildings), and I met whole team upon my arrival.  Everyone is super friendly, and even though most people are nervous to speak English to me, I am already getting along so well with everyone.  I feel right at home - there are hills and cornfields and winding roads just like at home in TN.

After I got settled in, Michael (a volunteer here), Markus (the chief of the Jennersdorf Red Cross), and Joe, Marcus' friend who speaks very good English, as he has been in America several times, all took me to a nearby town, where there is "late night shopping."  I didn't know what they meant at first, but all it means is that the shops are open later than 6pm...they remain open until 9 or 10pm.  Being used to this, I didn't think it was anything special, but it is nearly like a fair.  There are some rides, lots of music, and traditional food all over the streets.  We had a great time, and Joe and I got to swap lots of stories about places we have mutually visited.

I am SO glad I am in Jennersdorf.  The town reminds me of home, and the people go so far out of their way to make me feel welcome.  I know my time here will be extremely enjoyable.

Tomorrow, I plan to sleep in and get to know the Red Cross here better.  I don't have ambulance duty for another few days, and before that, there is a station-wide cookout that Markus has invited me to.  Joe suggested I teach the guys here how to throw American football, and I just might do that.  I think that will be a lot of fun.

I wish I could convey to you how great the last few days have been here.  I have seen and heard music from composers' actual performance areas I never thought I'd hear.  I've met such gracious people that barely speak my language, but make me feel like a part of the team already.  And I've experienced so much culture!

At any rate.  I'll be heading to bed soon.  I'll write you again soon!

-Jonathan

Austrian Internship: Day 11

We started our training in first aid this morning with Mario, a fantastically friendly Austrian who speaks fantastic English.  We spent our time today learning how to deal with all sorts of first-aid issues, from heart-attacks to fainting and everything in between.  We'll be a "third wheel" so to speak on the ambulance services helping with anything from CPR to carrying patients to the ambulance, etc.

Today was actually cooler than it has been our entire stay - it was around 65F the entire day and raining, which I greatly enjoyed.  Mario speaks excellent English, but a lot of the medical vocabulary neither of us know in English, and so we spent a lot of time comparing words in English and German.  It was highly educational not only in first-aid but also in languages.  We got to have several coffee breaks (as he just left around 7:30 and we began this morning at 10) where we just discussed our hometowns, and the differences between cultures in America and Austria.  Everyone here is extremely friendly and hospitable, and let me tell you, it was great to put my mind to some form of work again.

We finish our training and CPR work tomorrow, and then after that we get shipped off to our respective places.  I'm looking forward to seeing the smaller town of Jennersdorf (I think I've been misspelling it for a while...my apologies to my Austrian friends), as I have experiences a lot of the cities in Germany and Austria.  I am told that people there are very friendly, and are eager to meet me.

Not much else to report from today, but I am very happy with the way things are working out.  Hopefully Bruno will be able to come visit us in TN as he is currently planning.  I'd like him to see some of my hometown like I have seen his.

To all my wonderful Austrian friends - thank you so much.  You have been incredibly gracious and kind to me, and my stay here in Neusiedl wouldn't be nearly as educational or enjoyable without you.

Until tomorrow!

Tschüß!

Austrian Internship: Day 10

I an stuck in the paradox of feeling as if I have been here forever, and as if the days are zipping by.  At the same time, it feels as if they couldn't go any slower.

Today, I expected to start our first aid training, but apparently that begins tomorrow.  We have a dinner with the president of the red cross tomorrow (a wonderfully friendly older gentleman whom I liked instantly), but other than that there is nothing else on the schedule.  Just waiting for time to pass at the moment.

I am so glad I've been keeping up with this blog and sharing it on Facebook and things.  Without it, I wouldn't have made several of the encouraging connections the Lord has brought my way: people who have let me know they are close to me in Europe and just a phone call away.  It really helps ease the minds of friends and family at home too.  Where I am the internet is so limited I can't use Skype.  I guess even though it may sound silly, I am thankful for the social media the Lord has given me access to so as to stay connected with my family.

I read 1 John 4:18 today.  It was the Verse of the Day on the Bible app, and something I really needed to hear.  Being over here and feeling somewhat alone makes me fear and feel insecure.  But it was so nice to be reminded that my God loves me and will not leave me, especially when I'm 5,000 miles away from home.

I've discovered an easy way to get off caffeine: no access to it.  I think the last cup of coffee I had was our last day in Nuremberg.  The caffeine headaches haven't been too bad, and I spose it's good to get off for a while.  I'll be going back to school soon anyway where I can have it all the time.
It's little things like this that have led me to be more prayerfully thankful.  My family, my dear friends, access to water (or coffee), internet, air conditioning, and even decent food are all things that I regularly take for granted,  and it wasn't until I was forced to go without them that I realize how blessed I am: and I'm still in a first-world country!

I may go strolling around town or down to the lake later on after I do some more reading.  It's only 10am here and we won't be picked up for dinner for another 8 hours, but to be honest I'm getting tired of walking and sight seeing.  I've been seeing tons of new sights recently, and the down time is more than welcome.

We found out the best place to get wifi, believe it or not, is on the toilet.  That's the strongest place in the whole building.  And we don't know why.

I should have broght more books with me to read.  We had 8 hours of down time today and I finished Gatsby and am half way finished with my other book.  I don't know what I'm going to do later.

We have about 30 minutes before we leave for dinner...no, it's not like I'm counting...

I'm not sure I can adequately describe the perfection of the dinner that we had tonight.  Our host invited us out on to his ivy-covered porch which overlooks all the countryside (you can see all the way to Hungary), and began the evening with a cucumber based drink called Moscow Mule.  We talked and sipped our drinks as the sun began to set, and after a time Bruno himself got up to prepare dinner, which was a wonderful mushroom goulash with fresh bread and couscous.  As it got darker outside we lit a lantern and sat in on the middle of the table,  and we had tirimasu for dessert with Turkish coffee.  Our conversation ran from the UN to history to professions to cultural pracrices...All sorts of things we discussed.  I felt so welcomed and right at home by everyone; it was good to laugh and share and compare experiences, and I was fascinated with stories of Bruno experiences with communism and the Iron Curtain.

Tomorrow begins our first aid training with a friend we met tonight named Mario.  He speaks English very well (almost Southern at times as he learned from a North Carolinian), and he is very friendly to us.  I'm really looking forward to it.

I posted yesterday that I'm almost finished with the books I brough, and Sandra, our friend who has organized practically everything for us here, saw that and graciously brought me a bag full of great books for me to read when I am finished.  I am so very thankful that we are being so well taken care of.

Goodnight, from an extremely full, thankful, and satisfied Jonathan.  Until tomorrow!

P.S. I have been assured by Mario, Bruno, and Sandra all that I shouldn't be worried about people who can speak English in Jannesdorf.   Plenty of people are able to speak English there, and apparently people are friendlier down South too.  Wouldn't ya know it.  ;)

Austrian Internship: Day 9

Today isn't technically our first work day, but we're starting the morning with a ceremony and a small dinner to dedicate several new buildings for the Red Cross chapter here in Neusidl.  I'm not sure what else is on the agenda, but if it's not much that's fine with me.  I need a little time to recover from running all over creation.

I only stay here until Thursday,  and then I'm shipped off to Jannesdorf where I'll spend most of my time.  Hawkins will stay in Eisenstadt.  I'm hoping that someone will speak English there, as I know no German and since I'll be losing my travel companion, and once again, I'm unsure if I'll be able to keep my blog updated due to connectivity.  Here the wifi is so weak I am limited to my phone, which is slightly annoying ad I was hoping to Skype home.  Hopefully that will happen soon.

At the dinner we attended our first Austrian Mass and here we are practically famous.  We've been interviewed by two different newspaper reporters and had our picture taken.  There are tons of people here, and an authentic Austrian wind band playing.  It's a super big deal and all because the Red Cross here is opening a new room.  I was pulled aside by an older Austrian gentleman who said he swore I looked like an Irishman.  When I told him my ancestors are Irish, he laughed and shook my hand saying "Ah, Irishmen es good!"  That made me happy.

I don't think we have anything else lined up for the rest of the day, but that's fine by me.  I think we may take a nap and enjoy ourselves before we start work tomorrow.  The wind band is still playing in the background, and finally the wind is blowing.  It's a good day.

We found out that tomorrow all we have to do is have dinner with the Red Cross President, Bruno.  Everyone here is so nice to us, and we've spent the evening reading and listening to music.  I finished the Great Gatsby for the second time, and I've slept a bit.  Soon though, we're going to be on call for the ambulence for 12 hr shifts.  That promises to be fun.

I'm finishing my evening by starting one of my school books, believe it or not.  It's not like it seems though...I got the book at an AEI conference, and have been planning on reading it for pleasure, and it was only recently the book was added as the sole book for the course.  I'm happy to read a book I enjoy before class begins.  ;)

Goodnight from Neusidl! I can't wait to see you all again so I can share my wonderful stories with you in person.