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:

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

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