Langauge Camp Photos

I thought I would post some photos that were taking during my Language courses in case you can't open the link

Language Camp

I have not posted in the last two weeks because I have been thoroughly busy at language camp that every exchange student in Austria was required to go to.There were about 45-50 kids, all from different countries across the globe. I met so many people that I know I will stay good friends with, and most of the closest friends I made were from South America, like Ecuador, Columbia, Paraguay, etc. There were also two boys from Bosnia, a girl from Sweden, several people from Canada, and about 20 kids including myself from America. We were a very interesting group.
Before classes actually started on the second day, the teachers split us up into five groups depending on how much German you actually knew pre-language camp. I was originally placed into the group second-highest from the top, and then later in the week I switched to the highest class. That was definitely something. Our teacher, Roland, spoke perfect English because he studied in England therefore having a really cool Austrian/British accent. He only spoke to us in German though the entire school day and even outside of class he would encourage us to speak in German. It was a challenge.
We had class Monday through Saturday, from 8:15-10:30 then a twenty minute break, then class again from 10:50-12:00. Then lunch from 12:00-1:30 then class again until three.Then we all had free time until our 6:30 suppertime where we were allowed to leave the school and go exploring, walk down to the lake, go swimming in the lake, use the lake's wifi, walk to a cafe, walk to a gas station or grocery, take a taxi into the neighboring town to go shopping, etc. The possibilities were endless.
There was no wifi at the school and they only had three working computers with internet for 50 internet-craving teenagers. So this is also why I haven't blogged. I'll post a link to pictures or something so this is'nt just a huge boring text.
Needless to say I had a blast and made some awesome new friends. And I think the classes worked because I almost started typing this in German.https://www.facebook.com/erica.scott.77582/media_set?set=a.1411887792360731.1073741830.100006185702387&type=3

First Day In Austria (Sorry, long entry)

Yesterday I took flight (3 times in fact) on my way to Austria. I flew from St. Louis and had a 3 hour layover in Chicago, then flew from Chicago to Berlin, which is an 8 1/2 hour flight, then had a 6 hour layover in Berlin. Which was okay because I made a couple of new friends! Since I was flying alone, I didn't socialize much with strangers except a friendly smile in passing. But one girl named Samantha saw me wearing my Rotary blazer and approached me, saying she had been a Rotary youth exchange student to Spain two years before, and she was now headed to Spain to do another year of youth exchange. But first she was headed to Gmunden, Austria to visit her friend. (What a coincidence!) Even though we had only met, we sat together for about five hours during our layover since we ad the same flight to Salzburg, and talked and had a good time. She even made me a necklace! Also during the layover, I made an Italian friend, from Sicily! He was very very nice and we joked a lot about America and Italy. We exchanged numbers so now we keep in touch, along with Samantha!

After my layover in Berlin, my flight to Salzburg seemed really short. So when I arrived, my family was waiting for me, alon with Heinz, my Rotary counselor.

They have all been extremely nice to me and welcoming, I couldn't have asked for a better host family or counselor! Plus, they live in a very nice home and I get my own room with loooots of closet space! They live about 7 or 8 minutes away from the well-known Lake Traunsee. It is beyond gorgeous. I walked down there today with one of their dogs (they're babysitting one while their father is in Turkey) and took lots of pictures.

Here is my view of the Lake Traunsee.

I'm having a blast! I'm so blessed!

2 Days

I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but tomorrow around five I'm leaving Cape to drive to St. Louis with my family to stay overnight so I don't have to get up at 4 am to make my flight the next morning! We will be staying with family and I'm excited to be seeing all of them before I go. It's kind of surreal at the moment that this is actually happening. Can't wait till I get there!
Packing: Done!

Wish me luck!