Finally Settling In

I am finally feeling relaxed in Graz. I am not running around all the time trying to get things done. I officially have my bank account, my bus pass, my vorteilscard, my student ID, took my midterm, enrolled in my classes, payed my rent, and now get to just enjoy my stay instead of being stressed out. It feels pretty good to be able to just go home after class and not to a thousand other places to get all these things done. My German class is going well. I had my midterm on Wednesday, it wasn't too bad... except for all the directions were also in German, so I am not sure if I actually put the right words and sentences where they need to go. I think I will find out tomorrow, and I will let you know how I did. Unless I did really horrible, in that case, I'm going to not say anything about it so my mom won't get mad.

Things that are different here than in the U.S.:
Tax- When you get something to eat or drink, if it says "2.50 euro" then you pay 2.50 euro, nothing more, nothing less.

Red Solo Cups- I mentioned in an earlier post that there is not really any plastic containers here. My mentor, Greta, asked if we really use the red cups at parties. I told her yes and she said she would pay a lot of money to get these so called red cups... and she would save them and reuse them at every party she had. She also said she would throw a party just for the occasion of having red solo cups.

Dogs- Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has a dog here. I love dogs and I like that every where I go, I get to see an adorable Canine. However, people do not like you to touch their dogs. You really shouldn't even make that "oh my gosh, look at that cute dog!" face, because the dog owner will purposely avoid you.

Last night we had stammatisch at the office pub and the quote of the night goes to my new acquaintance Matt Wyndham from Australia- "We are the only country in the world who eats their national emblem, the kangaroo."
... Interesting, kangaroo burgers anyone?

Until next time,

Tschüss!