After just 5 days in Vienna, I'm already starting to get the idea of how amazing this place really is. The whole city is so beautiful, the arts are everywhere, there are virtually no homeless and very very little crime - it's very safe. The U-bahn is incredible. The food and beer is fantastic..... it's really just amazing here and I already feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the city - I've been exploring without a map and I have not been lost once (although I've been repeatedly told that getting lost is the only way to get to know the city).

We've had our first 3 classes of intensive German - 3 hours a day for the next 2 and a half weeks. 3 hours is a long time. I am in a class that seems a little easy for me, but the real difficulty is primarily related to staying awake though the class. My German is actually coming along pretty well. I do stumble plenty and I'm sure all of the Viennese know immediately that I come from somewhere else, but almost everyone will respond in German, rather than preempting in English, and I would say that I've been able to complete about half of my transactions completely in German. I really do love the language and I'd like to really become more comfortable. I guess that I've only been here for about a week, so I shouldn't expect anything too quickly.

I took some pictures of my apartment and just 1 or 2 of the IES Facility. You can see them on my Picassa sight HERE with all of the rest of my pictures The apartment is really great - I'm living with 4 friends in a 5th floor apartment (but no elevator) in the 6th district of the city. I really couldn't ask for a better place to live. It is very close to 2 U-bahn stops, several cafes, the Naschmarkt (the biggest market in Vienna), Mariahilferstrasse (one of the biggest shopping streets in Vienna), several supermarkets, bars, and restaurants. It's about a 25 min walk to the city center, where the IES facility is housed.







Speaking of the IES building, it is absolutely beautiful. It is housed in the Palais Corbelli, a palace belonging to one of the Generals in Franz Joseph's military. it is a beautiful 19th century building with tons of gold-leaf trim on the ceilings, paintings, chandeliers, etc.




Last night, a few friends and I went to the Rathausplatz Film festival and it was pretty amazing. The city sets up an enormous screen directly in front of the Rathaus (the incredibly beautiful town hall building) and show videos of music, opera, and ballet performances every night for about 3 weeks. They set up seating for thousands and there are about 20 restaurant stands that sell everything from Wursts and Bier to Sushi. And it's free! (well not the food). Last night, my friends and I watched Don Giovanni and there are some other great performances in the next week, so hopefully I'll be able to go back to watch those.


Today I don't have too much going on. German class, then an orientation, then hopefully a meeting with an academic advisor. I really hope that I can start getting into more diligent practicing - I've barely touched the piano and I should be starting lessons with my new teacher next week.