Bilder sprechen das Auge an.

Here is my favorite picture I took on my last day in Vienna.

Auf Wiedersehen…

If you ever consider being an au pair, I strongly advise that you go through an agency that carefully screens its families.

I woke up on Thursday morning, cleaned the boys’ rooms, and then Dorota told me she didn’t need me for the rest of the day.  I decided to head into the city for some sightseeing and chocolate shopping.  I returned home around 6:30PM and was greeted with the following:  ”You cannot stay another night in this house.”

Yes, my family kicked me out onto the streets.  They told me they were unhappy with my work and that I needed to pack my bags and leave immediately.  But this was not a calm, matter of fact conversation.  What followed was the most hateful tirade I’ve ever heard in my life. 

Both parents were in my face screaming at me with such an extreme level of anger and disgust that I would expect them only to have if had abused their children, done drugs in their house, or stolen from them.  I just stood there nonplussed as they told me that I needed to see a psychiatrist because I hadn’t adjusted to Austria by that time,  that I’m fat and lazy like every American, and that I walked around the house like a princess.

I told them that I didn’t understand why they were treating me so cruelly because I’d been nothing but nice to their family, and Reinhard actually responded with, “Nice doesn’t pay the bills at the end of the day.”  Wow, that is some cold shit.  I guess it is easier for them to “get another one” rather than tell me how I should be doing things differently.

Luckily, I’m resourceful.  I took the tram into the city, checked into a hotel, and made arrangements to fly out the next morning.  I can’t help but think what would have happened if they’d kicked out a naive 19-year-old girl with no credit card and no sense of direction.  I’m sure they still wouldn’t have batted an eye.  To them, au pairs are “the help,” and the help is sub-human. 

My agreement with this family was that I work 25 hours a week and have the weekends off.  Instead, I was working 12 hour days with only Sunday off.  They were obviously looking for cheap slave labor instead of an au pair.  (Did I mention that I was never paid while I was there?)  Au pairs are supposed to be treated equally, like family members, but I was seen as inferior.  And they resented the hell out of the fact that “the help” had dignity, self-respect, and a better computer. 

I do have to mention the wonderfully kind people in Vienna who helped me the night I was homeless.  The front desk clerk at the posh Kaiserpark-Schönbrunn Hotel pointed me in the direction of a place that was in my price range and he even stopped by after his shift to make sure that I had made it there ok.  And the ladies at Hotel Viktoria gave me a discount on the room and a free meal that night.  It is nice to know that there are still kind people out there who are willing to help a stranger.

I’m trying to see this horrible experience as a lesson, albeit a very expensive one, about what is tolerable and what is not and how important communication is (although, I’m not sure that would have really helped me in this particular situation).   It certainly put things that have happened to me in the past  into perspective.

Deutschkurs

Reinhard and I got my German course all figured out, and I’ll be starting at the beginning of next month.  I somehow tested into the 1B level, but I decided to start all over with 1A just to be on the safe side.  It’s definitely going to be the most intense language course I’ve ever taken – it’s Monday-Thursday, 9AM-12PM!  Ouch.  It’s also expensive – 4 weeks costs €250!  Our agreement was that I pay half the course fees.  At this price, I think I’m only going to take the bare minimum of what I need to stay here legally as an au pair.

To be honest, I’m a little worried about my energy level with the addition of 12 hours of class a week to my work schedule at home.  Even without class, I can’t make it through an entire day without an afternoon nap which I take when the boys are doing their homework with Dorota since I can’t help as it’s in German.  I’m not sure if my body is still getting used to the move or what, but I’m inclined to believe it’s just how I am…especially now that my access to Diet Coke is extremely limited.

This Gothic peel tower is a 5-minute walk from my house!

Mitternachtssnack

Milka and Puntigamer.  I am definitely in Austria.

Schönbrunn

I am a big fan.

the view from the Gloriette (quite a hike up that hill!)

Schönbrunner Schloßpark

Geburtstag

Today is Sebastian’s 6th birthday!  He was so happy to finally get a membership to Club Penguin, a website that destroys the ability for children to lead normal lives and, instead, makes them obsessed with designing penguins and “Puffles.”  I made him this sweet Craig Thompson-inspired card and gave him my favorite Halloween candy.

Puch bei Weiz

Today, my family and I went to Steiermark to visit Reinhard’s parents.  We walked around a lake and the kids played in a park.  I also had the best pumpkin soup of my life.

After lunch, we went to see the family I stayed with when I was first in Austria in 2000. It’s so beautiful there in their apple orchard. I really should have appreciated it more when I was 16!

(Good GOD, am I short!)

Rodaun -> Hietzing -> Karlsplatz

I took the tram into the city (very easy and scenic) to take my placement exam for German class.  Bad news: I didn’t get enough questions correct to place in Level 2.  I’m completely ok with that as I’ve only studied German for 3 months!  More bad news:  There are no more spots left in Level 1.  Now I have to find a new school which is going to be difficult as they’ve all had several weeks of classes already.  We’ll see what happens on Monday when Reinhard makes some calls.

Unfortunately, today’s weather was miserable and I didn’t feel like walking around and sight seeing. I did notice that Inglourious Basterds is still playing here. Maybe I’ll see it for a 5th time?

P.S. I’m on Skype now if any family or friends would like to chat sometime!

Do the D.A.N.C.E.

I have to mention this.  I picked up Sebastian from school today and we decided to have an epic sword fight in the backyard.  I decided we should have a soundtrack to it, so I brought my iPod and some speakers outside.  You know what he picked out?  The Tough Alliance, Justice, and The Exploding Hearts!   A hipster in the making?

Siebenhirten -> Thaliastraße

I ventured into the city today for the first time since my arrival to see a show (Ramona Falls and Dear Reader) at a small club called Chelsea.  It only took about 20 minutes once I reached the tube station.  I was a bit worried because the last train back was at 12:30, and I thought I might have to miss part of Ramona Falls’ set in order to catch it.  Thankfully, I got to see everything but the encore!  Do yourself a favor and pick up the album Intuit.  Best album I’ve heard in a long time.

Apparently, there is a scenic tram that takes you right to Schönbrunn.  I might try that out this weekend if I have time!   Tomorrow, Dorota and I will go into the city so I can take my placement exam for German class I’ll be starting next week.