Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Got my 6 photos for my visa in Austria

As you can see from the title, I got my photo taken for my visa while in Austria.

There are a few things that I'm finding that are different from the States. One is the type of outlet that Austria uses. It's different from the one in the U.S. So I have to get a plug adapter so I can plug electronics into the outlet. Plus I have to make sure that it can handle up to 240 volts. My laptop will work over there. I just need the plug adapter. One thing that will not work over in Austria is my cell phone. My phone does not have international capabilities. So I will have to use the phone that Franciscan will give us when we get to Gaming. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to do that because I like having the phone I have now. I've seen a photo of the phone that we will use in Gaming, and it reminds me of my old Nokia phone. I just hope that my parents will be able to call me once I'm in Austria. I guess we'll see.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

First Austria meeting

So we had the first Austria meeting today. We got an idea of what to expect. We also got a folder full of info about the necessary things that need to be done. We also had a sheet that had the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Glory Be in German. I hope I'm able to learn them by the time I go in January. I will probably have to increase the amount of financial aid for next semester so I can cover all of the costs. Most likely I will have to get a loan or something like that. Hopefully it will work out. But I am definitely going to Austria because I got a spot in the program! Thank God! I'm glad I didn't wait any longer.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Update on Austria

After making some prayerful considerations, I have decided that I am going to go to Austria for the Spring 2011 semester. I just feel that it's the best thing for me, since I have regrets about not going this semester. Plus, since I'm going in the spring, I won't fall too far behind with my major. This is mostly because a lot of the classes I need are offered in the fall. So I can concentrate on working on the Theology major, plus take a couple other classes. So I will probably take Theology of the Church, a Theology elective, and two philosophy classes. I figured it would be good to take some more philosophy classes in case I decide to got on to grad school. I can then take Content and Curriculum along with another theology class. I should be able to graduate on time. So the first meeting is tomorrow morning at 11am.

I'm happy that I'll finally get to go to Austria! :-)

Monday, September 6, 2010

Another Update

So I figured it was time to update what I've been doing.

My Car: So you all remember the problems that I was having with my car. It turned out that it did need a new engine. So I had the mechanic do the repairs that the car needed, including the new motor. I had to rent a car so that I could get back to NJ to renew my license. I was home for just a few days because I had to come back to Steubenville to do Orientation. I was on the Orientation team. Once I got back to Steubenville, I had to get rides to and from my apartment, since my car wasn't ready yet. I then got my car back the day before the start of the Fall semester. But once I got the car back, I noticed that there would always be some kind of liquid on the ground underneath my car. Plus my car ran kind of rough. Then one day, I drove to the Kroger in Wierton. I parked in the parking lot, went in to get something, and then went to my car. I turned on my car, but it would not go into drive. It wouldn't go anywhere. So I had to have it towed back to the BP. It turns out that there was a hose that had to be replaced, since it was leaking oil. So I had to get rides to and from campus from my household sisters (especially for 6:30am mass...I wasn't going to walk in the dark from my place). I even spent one night in Tommy after Stella business meeting because I had an 8am class the following morning. But anyway, I got my car back this past Friday. It now works great. I'm really grateful to have my car back, especially since it had looked like I would have had to buy a new car.

Orientation: I was on the Orientation team again this semester. I was with the Grad - Non Trad group. This is the same thing I did last semester. I really enjoyed meeting the new students. Although it was a little stressful not having my car with me during orientation. But I enjoyed all of the different events at orientation. It's funny that I remembered a lot of the skits from my orientation a year ago. And I remember Fr Dominic Foster's address to the new students, where he wants to see adults four years from now and not eighteen year olds.

Household: Even though I've been a star for a few months now, it's weird being on the other side. I'm no longer a visitor or a twinkle. So I feel a sense of responsibility. I tabled at the household fair this past Friday with Genevieve. I found that I had a harder time trying to explain about our household than Genevieve did. But that might be because she's been in household longer. We haven't gotten any twinkles just yet. But it's still early.

People in Austria: This semester there are a lot of my friends that are in Austria. And a lot of them are Stars. I used to eat lunch in the Caf with them. Now when I go to the caf for lunch, I end up eating lunch by myself because everyone I would sit with for lunch are now in Austria. I'm getting to the point where I don't want to go to the caf for lunch anymore because I'd end up all alone. I really miss everyone, and am just tired of having to eat by myself. I mean, I live by myself. When I go to the caf, I want to sit with someone. If I want to eat alone, I could just go to my apartment and have lunch. It's also hard because I would have been in Austria this semester. Why didn't I go, you may ask? Well, the main reason is the cost. And considering that the last time I flew on a plan, Ronald Reagan was president (in 1985). I mean, I'm happy I'm at school. But there's a part of me that's wondering if I made a mistake by not going to Austria this semester. I hear so many people who talk about how amazing Gaming is. And it breaks my heart to think that I may never get to see it. I don't have to go for a semester. I just want to see the Karthouse for myself. I have a passport, and I've never used it other than to renew my drivers license. I just wish that I could go to Gaming.