Day Three, Adventures to Branau

Yesterday was the first day of classes. We all had to take a placement test. I think there were four of them....I didn't make it past test one lol. Gaby Vogel is the teacher and she told us not to guess, so i ended up I answering eight out of 40 questions, with a whooping five correct, so naturally I ended up in the beginner section (ahhh, what can I say, that 'ol pod cast studying will get you far!) There were about 4 people that opted not to take the test at all.

In class they only speak German. I would say that about only 1/8 of everything said in class is in English and that is either as a quick clarifier when the teacher isn't sure what the correct English translation is, or if students have question....which we do....a lot...but it usually evokes a short, one sentence answer. The faculty, staff and students are all very nice. Over the 36 hours my luggage was missing (seems like so much longer) the dean offered me own shampoo, toothbrush, pants and even underwear. lol, very friendly.

Also, the friendliess of the staff is what i attribute to my even getting my luggage back. Although I talked to the luggage tracker people in the airport, I didn't feel very confident about the information I had given them, and in turn, the information i received back (darn that communication being a two way street). On the campus tour yesterday, I stayed afterward to talk to the guide, Frank something. I explained my situation to him and he was so nice as to call the airport himself, on his own cell phone, and get things worked out. They couldn't tell him when the luggage would arrive, just sometime that night. When i got back to the dorm around 10, my luggage was just chilling in the hallway, and i fell out top of it shouting "gepack gepack!!"

I feel like Bogenhofen is trying to teach us Rosetta Stone style. Without any English words, and with pictures. Hearing German words is very frustrating. I can hear all of these "achkt" and "ts" and "tvs" sounds, but can't mimick any of it. After our trip to Branau, which is Hitler's birth place, I went to study hall. Melanie is the TA, so to speak, and was trying to help me in my pronunciations. Having people help you with pronunciation is rather intimidating, they get way in your personal bubble and stare at the way you shape your mouth. It can be kinda embarrassing almost because you can have them repeat the word 15 times and still not be able to make it sound anywhere close to what they are saying.

It's been raining basically since I've gotten here. But it's this beautiful, windless, storm-less, gentle rain. Lovely.