Sunday, July 18, 2010
Today we had our first breakfast at the dorm (a breakfast buffet is provided for us seven days a week from 7-9 am.) It was a typical Austrian breakfast, which, to Americans, is more akin to lunch. An Austrian breakfast consists of sandwiches with meats and cheeses and vegetables (almost always cucumbers, bell peppers, and tomatoes [and sometimes radishes.]) However, they do have butter and jams out, in case you prefer that to meats and cheeses, and have cereals as well (although cereals here are served with hot milk rather than cold.) They also serve coffee, tea, cacao (what they call hot chocolate) and juices with breakfast.
At around 10 or so I went to practice for a while, and then in the early afternoon we had “auditions” for the voice faculty, which was basically a chance to familiarize them with our voices, etc. The voice teacher assignments should be posted soon.
This evening, my friend Katie (also from UMiami) and I went to a restaurant outside of town (closer to our dorm than Salzburg proper). We wandered through the large garden behind the dorm and down the road to see what options were available, and stopped at one when we were eventually starving. It was an extremely odd restaurant in that it served both Italian and Thai cuisine. It was not a fusion of the two, but rather just served some Italian dishes and some Thai dishes. Strange as it was, the food was fine and affordable, so all in all, a nice evening.
Bedtime now! Goodnight all!
Day Two
Saturday, Jul 17, 2010
Today was orientation, so we got to go to the College for the first time. Yesterday, we were told that the dorm is extremely conveniently located and that the College is a short 10-minute walk over a hill and into town. (They said, maybe 15 minutes if we walk really slowly.) Well...everyone in my group can attest that the College is certainly not merely a “short 10-minute walk over a small hill”. It is, at least by American standards, a hike, rather than a walk, over a mountain, rather than a hill, and takes at least 15-20 minutes (if you hike very briskly, as I do--but the vast majority of the group made it in no less than 30 minutes), rather than 10 minutes. So that commonplace exaggeration told to many by their parents, “When I was your age, had to walk to school everyday in the snow, uphill both ways!” is partly true for my group and I — we definitely walk to school uphill both ways! Thankfully, there is no snow.
Once we arrived at the College we had an orientation to the program with the program director, a few members of the voice faculty, and with the director of Salzburg College. It was held on the top floor of the College in the library, from which there are beautiful views of the city, the mountains, and of the Salzach (the river that flows through Salzburg.) The orientation was informative, for the most part, but was longer than necessary. Following the orientation we were led on an “orientation walk” around the city in order to get our bearings, which was quite useful. Salzburg is gorgeous!
That’s all for now! More tomorrow.
Today was orientation, so we got to go to the College for the first time. Yesterday, we were told that the dorm is extremely conveniently located and that the College is a short 10-minute walk over a hill and into town. (They said, maybe 15 minutes if we walk really slowly.) Well...everyone in my group can attest that the College is certainly not merely a “short 10-minute walk over a small hill”. It is, at least by American standards, a hike, rather than a walk, over a mountain, rather than a hill, and takes at least 15-20 minutes (if you hike very briskly, as I do--but the vast majority of the group made it in no less than 30 minutes), rather than 10 minutes. So that commonplace exaggeration told to many by their parents, “When I was your age, had to walk to school everyday in the snow, uphill both ways!” is partly true for my group and I — we definitely walk to school uphill both ways! Thankfully, there is no snow.
Once we arrived at the College we had an orientation to the program with the program director, a few members of the voice faculty, and with the director of Salzburg College. It was held on the top floor of the College in the library, from which there are beautiful views of the city, the mountains, and of the Salzach (the river that flows through Salzburg.) The orientation was informative, for the most part, but was longer than necessary. Following the orientation we were led on an “orientation walk” around the city in order to get our bearings, which was quite useful. Salzburg is gorgeous!
That’s all for now! More tomorrow.
Day One, Continued.
Friday, Jul 16, 2010
I found the supermarket and got myself essentials such as pasta and sauce, bread, jam, vegetables, milk, eggs, yogurt, fruit, etc.
We then had a “meet-and-greet” at which we met the director of Salzburg College and the director of the dormitory, both of whom were very nice. We were welcomed with traditional Austrian summer snack fare of fruit "gespritzers" (selzer water mixed with fruit juices such as apple or orange juice) and two different homemade Austrian spreads. One is a potato spread that originated in upper Austria called Erdäpfelkäs and the other is a cheese spread with paprika called “Liptauer.” These were served with classic Austrian bread rolls called “semmel.”
All was quite tasty!! Following our snack and brief orientation, we all went back to our rooms and unpacked, got settled, took showers, and went to bed!
I found the supermarket and got myself essentials such as pasta and sauce, bread, jam, vegetables, milk, eggs, yogurt, fruit, etc.
We then had a “meet-and-greet” at which we met the director of Salzburg College and the director of the dormitory, both of whom were very nice. We were welcomed with traditional Austrian summer snack fare of fruit "gespritzers" (selzer water mixed with fruit juices such as apple or orange juice) and two different homemade Austrian spreads. One is a potato spread that originated in upper Austria called Erdäpfelkäs and the other is a cheese spread with paprika called “Liptauer.” These were served with classic Austrian bread rolls called “semmel.”
All was quite tasty!! Following our snack and brief orientation, we all went back to our rooms and unpacked, got settled, took showers, and went to bed!
Big update due!
Hello all!
Looks like I’m due for an enormous update! I have been slacking off on the “blogging” only because I have been doing the opposite in all other respects! Classes, German studying/homework, voice lessons, coachings, practicing, and various group “field trips”/excursions have occupied my time!
I did, however, keep a file of daily notes for myself documenting my experiences, lest I forgot anything before sitting down to “blog”!
(I keep placing “blog” in quotations because I still find it a bit odd that “to blog” has now become a verb in the English language.)
At any rate, I’ll now delve into my account (starting at the very beginning — a very good place to start!! =)
Looks like I’m due for an enormous update! I have been slacking off on the “blogging” only because I have been doing the opposite in all other respects! Classes, German studying/homework, voice lessons, coachings, practicing, and various group “field trips”/excursions have occupied my time!
I did, however, keep a file of daily notes for myself documenting my experiences, lest I forgot anything before sitting down to “blog”!
(I keep placing “blog” in quotations because I still find it a bit odd that “to blog” has now become a verb in the English language.)
At any rate, I’ll now delve into my account (starting at the very beginning — a very good place to start!! =)
Arrival at the Dorm
Friday, Jul 16, 2010 at 3:23 PM
Hello!
I've made it to the dorm! No one else is here yet--most of the participants arranged to fly into Munich where they will be met by a staff member and be driven as a group to Salzburg.
The room is nice! It is a typical dorm room, (very small) but it is clean and has plenty of room for my things. There are two small closets (so I do not have to share), and the closets can be locked with the room key, which is great! The desk also has a locking drawer. Another plus is that we have an (albeit cramped and a bit odd) en suite bathroom. It has a tiny, strange shower without a pan. It's just a curtain around a drain in the floor, but on the same level as the rest of the bathroom. Mom tells me that this, too, is standard in several parts of Europe, but I personally think that they should consider adopting American shower designs.
On our floor there is also a kitchen for our use in which we're each given a small spot in the fridge and freezer, as well as an individual pantry box. The fridge and pantry boxes are under lock and key, which is nice. I'm thrilled that we have a full kitchen, because I'd hoped to be able to save money by cooking for myself rather than eating out every night.
I bought (another) fan on my way here this morning. It is larger than one than I brought (by about 4x.) It was a superb decision--it is SO hot here at the moment! It is about the same weather as summertime in DC, except that NONE of the buildings here have air conditioning! I've been walking around exploring the town and going in and out of shops, cafes, and restaurants, and not a single one has a/c. I haven't been sleeping well because I've been boiling hot, so I figured I can neither sing nor study without sleep for five weeks, and clearly the only solution was a good fan. It has already made the room bearable.
It turns out that there is internet availability in the dorm, which must be a new addition, because in our information from Miami they recommended internet cafes in order to keep in touch with our families, etc.
The whole place is quite a nice set-up, really. Very clean, and located in a gorgeous, green area on the southwest outskirts of the city. It is surrounded by fields and flowers and mountain views. Behind the dorm there is actually a four-acre garden which I have yet to explore!
Tonight we have a meet-and-greet type thing at 6:30, but that's all for today. Tomorrow is orientation and "auditions" for the voice faculty so that they have a chance to put a voice with a face, etc.
Well, I can't think of anything else at the moment, so I guess that's all for now! I'm heading out to try and find the supermarket (I've been given rough directions) so that I can get some provisions in the kitchen!
Charlotte
PS: Here are some photos of the dorm from the website:
Bird's eye view of the building:
Desk and bookshelf:
Bed and desk:
Hello!
I've made it to the dorm! No one else is here yet--most of the participants arranged to fly into Munich where they will be met by a staff member and be driven as a group to Salzburg.
The room is nice! It is a typical dorm room, (very small) but it is clean and has plenty of room for my things. There are two small closets (so I do not have to share), and the closets can be locked with the room key, which is great! The desk also has a locking drawer. Another plus is that we have an (albeit cramped and a bit odd) en suite bathroom. It has a tiny, strange shower without a pan. It's just a curtain around a drain in the floor, but on the same level as the rest of the bathroom. Mom tells me that this, too, is standard in several parts of Europe, but I personally think that they should consider adopting American shower designs.
On our floor there is also a kitchen for our use in which we're each given a small spot in the fridge and freezer, as well as an individual pantry box. The fridge and pantry boxes are under lock and key, which is nice. I'm thrilled that we have a full kitchen, because I'd hoped to be able to save money by cooking for myself rather than eating out every night.
I bought (another) fan on my way here this morning. It is larger than one than I brought (by about 4x.) It was a superb decision--it is SO hot here at the moment! It is about the same weather as summertime in DC, except that NONE of the buildings here have air conditioning! I've been walking around exploring the town and going in and out of shops, cafes, and restaurants, and not a single one has a/c. I haven't been sleeping well because I've been boiling hot, so I figured I can neither sing nor study without sleep for five weeks, and clearly the only solution was a good fan. It has already made the room bearable.
It turns out that there is internet availability in the dorm, which must be a new addition, because in our information from Miami they recommended internet cafes in order to keep in touch with our families, etc.
The whole place is quite a nice set-up, really. Very clean, and located in a gorgeous, green area on the southwest outskirts of the city. It is surrounded by fields and flowers and mountain views. Behind the dorm there is actually a four-acre garden which I have yet to explore!
Tonight we have a meet-and-greet type thing at 6:30, but that's all for today. Tomorrow is orientation and "auditions" for the voice faculty so that they have a chance to put a voice with a face, etc.
Well, I can't think of anything else at the moment, so I guess that's all for now! I'm heading out to try and find the supermarket (I've been given rough directions) so that I can get some provisions in the kitchen!
Charlotte
PS: Here are some photos of the dorm from the website:
Bird's eye view of the building:
Desk and bookshelf:
Bed and desk:
Arrival in Salzburg
Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 at 8:13 PM
Hello all!
I've landed safely in Salzburg and am now at my hotel! The night of my flight from DC there were thunderstorms in the area and we thus sat on the runway for 2.5 hours until they passed and until air traffic control granted us clearance. Once we took off, however, the flight itself to Frankfurt was uneventful. I slept nearly the entire way (including through dinner, which I was not pleased about!) Of course, I missed my connection to Salzburg because we took off so late, but luckily managed to get re-booked onto a later flight. The second flight was fine, but a bit bumpy and nerve-racking because it was a tiny prop plane.
I decided to take a cab to the hotel because I was too tired to drag my (heavy) luggage all over public transportation. The cab driver was a nice lady who told me where to find good food nearby the hotel for €1, €3, and €5. She said, "it's good, fresh food, as from the farm markets, not cheap, bad food like McDonalds!" Haha. She also informed me that a favorite coffee house of the locals is just around the corner, and that it's where I'll find "Salzburg's best coffee" and that I "must try it!"
The hotel is very small (standard in Europe, but quite small by American standards,) but is clean and has a private full bathroom (not always standard in Europe!) And, as promised, there is free wifi and free breakfast. The only down side is that there is, of course, no air conditioning, and it was very hot today. Luckily, however, I brought a small fan which I've made use of already!
Anyways, that's all for now, I suppose! Off to find that cheap but good food mentioned by the cab driver and then to bed!
Charlotte
Hello all!
I've landed safely in Salzburg and am now at my hotel! The night of my flight from DC there were thunderstorms in the area and we thus sat on the runway for 2.5 hours until they passed and until air traffic control granted us clearance. Once we took off, however, the flight itself to Frankfurt was uneventful. I slept nearly the entire way (including through dinner, which I was not pleased about!) Of course, I missed my connection to Salzburg because we took off so late, but luckily managed to get re-booked onto a later flight. The second flight was fine, but a bit bumpy and nerve-racking because it was a tiny prop plane.
I decided to take a cab to the hotel because I was too tired to drag my (heavy) luggage all over public transportation. The cab driver was a nice lady who told me where to find good food nearby the hotel for €1, €3, and €5. She said, "it's good, fresh food, as from the farm markets, not cheap, bad food like McDonalds!" Haha. She also informed me that a favorite coffee house of the locals is just around the corner, and that it's where I'll find "Salzburg's best coffee" and that I "must try it!"
The hotel is very small (standard in Europe, but quite small by American standards,) but is clean and has a private full bathroom (not always standard in Europe!) And, as promised, there is free wifi and free breakfast. The only down side is that there is, of course, no air conditioning, and it was very hot today. Luckily, however, I brought a small fan which I've made use of already!
Anyways, that's all for now, I suppose! Off to find that cheap but good food mentioned by the cab driver and then to bed!
Charlotte
Introduction
Hello all!
I have decided, a bit belatedly, that rather than continuing to send out email updates to individuals, I will hereafter instead keep a blog detailing my five-week stay in Salzburg. For those who may be unclear or who have forgotten, I am here in Austria through the "University of Miami at Salzburg" program studying German and Voice (both for academic credit at the University of Miami) at Salzburg College. Additionally, I will attend numerous master classes (a master class is a class taught before an audience by an accomplished musician-the eponymous "master"- who individually instructs students in performance and technique), concerts all around the city, and performances at the prestigious Salzburg Summer Music Festival.
The "Salzburger Festspiele" boasts four weeks of concerts and opera performed by many of the world's greatest musicians (such as conductor James Levine, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, pianist Martha Argerich, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and soprano Anna Netrebko, to name only a few!) It is extremely exciting to be in what is, during the Festival, often referred to as the music capital of the world, and to witness this showcase of the preeminent musicians of this century performing their craft.
I will do my best to document my daily life, experiences, observations, and reflections as I attend my first study-abroad program! Though I have visited Europe a number of times in the past, I have not yet had the opportunity to explore beyond the United Kingdom, and have long awaited the chance to do so!
More to come shortly as I commence documenting new experiences! Thanks for reading!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Charlotte
I have decided, a bit belatedly, that rather than continuing to send out email updates to individuals, I will hereafter instead keep a blog detailing my five-week stay in Salzburg. For those who may be unclear or who have forgotten, I am here in Austria through the "University of Miami at Salzburg" program studying German and Voice (both for academic credit at the University of Miami) at Salzburg College. Additionally, I will attend numerous master classes (a master class is a class taught before an audience by an accomplished musician-the eponymous "master"- who individually instructs students in performance and technique), concerts all around the city, and performances at the prestigious Salzburg Summer Music Festival.
The "Salzburger Festspiele" boasts four weeks of concerts and opera performed by many of the world's greatest musicians (such as conductor James Levine, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, pianist Martha Argerich, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and soprano Anna Netrebko, to name only a few!) It is extremely exciting to be in what is, during the Festival, often referred to as the music capital of the world, and to witness this showcase of the preeminent musicians of this century performing their craft.
I will do my best to document my daily life, experiences, observations, and reflections as I attend my first study-abroad program! Though I have visited Europe a number of times in the past, I have not yet had the opportunity to explore beyond the United Kingdom, and have long awaited the chance to do so!
More to come shortly as I commence documenting new experiences! Thanks for reading!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Charlotte
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