It's been a week since I arrived in Vienna. I am working as an au pair for a few months for a lovely family and it has already been hard getting to grips with the Austrian dialect and changing nappies before breakfast! Most places I go, I feel like I can chat to people, in shops, at bus stops etc. which is really good for improving my German. However on the bus back from town I had to pay double... I explained to the driver that my trip into town was half the price and he said that would get me nowhere. Not wanting to hold the queue up any longer and feeling that my German was failing me, I gave up and sat down. An hour later and the last person on the bus, I arrived at my stop and showed the driver both tickets (half price and full price). He explained that I must be a student/under 26 therefore it was half price. I had a bit of a rant about wanting my money back and that he should have asked me if I was a student and that I didn't know due to being foreign. He said it was too late and I should tell the driver next time. I got off the bus and cried, feeling really frustrated and alone! So if you're a student, I advise flashing your card at every opportunity!
Aside from that teeny tiny glitch, I love Austria. 'Quaint' perfectly describes the endless rolling hills and colourful houses with their own character and story to tell. Inside Vienna, the architecture is so beautifully intricate and the city seems easy so far to navigate (I have an awful sense of direction!) I can't wait to explore more. I met another au pair, Dominika who helped me find my way around the city. On Thursday we went to Schönbrunn Palace to watch the Vienna Philharmonic's Summer Concert. I had never been to Schönbrunn before and it is so beautiful, espescially looking up to the gloriette on the hill, which lit up red and blue during the concert. Unfortunately, despite being close to the stage, the music was quiet and we went for a wander around the city instead.
I have also had my first experience at the dentist (in both several years and in a foreign country). Due to my EH111 card, I didn't have to pay (or at least not yet...!) I am also on insurance overload with my host family and I bought some for my whole year abroad. It is also advisable for British citizens to register with .LOCATE, even if for a short trip abroad.
Finally, I apologise in advance if this doesn't read well, I've noticed it's already hard to think in 'proper' English and when the parents ask me for 'the correct way to say things in English', I have to think a while as my poor little brain can't handle two languages!
