The semester in Austria has come to a close. Finals week was not too bad for me. The afternoon after I had my last final I went with Anna and Jeff to attempt the waterfall again (for Anna and I failed miserably the first time if you read my Another Moment with Anna blog about it). It was a great journey and wonderful to see it. It was much bigger than I had expected. We walked up the mountain and for much of it followed the creek that led to the waterfall. All of it was beautiful. I gasped when I turned the river bend and saw how massive it was. It was fun, especially because I was not studying 6 classes.
There was then barbecues, ultimate frisbee games, and other events for the next day or so till we left. We were posta have Mass on top of Book Mountain but it rained too much to do that. We had Mass at midnight on Thursday night and departed for the airport at 3am that morning.
It is strange to think that this tight community of 160 students will never be united in the same way that it was in Gaming. Sure, we will see each other and possibly get together, but it will never be the same. What we had there was special and unique. The bond that was formed was a special one. We like to look back at how we acted when we first got there: not looking people in the eye as you passed them in the hallway and awkward conversations in the Mensa. And now we laugh about it for it is silly to think of not paying attention to the people we know as we pass them in the Kartause or not having good times in the Mensa.
At our ending meeting they told us what to be aware of when returning to the States. We would understand everything people said around us and we might actually find it annoying. We will be able to read everything in stores and restaurants. And the occasional "Danke" will come out of our mouths instead of "Thank you." For me, I daily still say "Danke" by accident. My brother, Christopher, just laughs about it. It was different to understand everyone's conversations and it did seem loud. On one of my plane rides I thought the woman behind me would never stop talking. I don't think she did.
It is interesting to see different cultures and be consumed in one for a while that you forget the little things - or you miss the little things. For me, as everyone knows, I missed Dr Pepper and Twizzlers. I missed seeing my family and friends on a regular basis, or even talking to them at least. I missed going to a Mass entirely in English. I missed not having pork at every meal. When I got back to America the things I forgot were that I could read what everything was in a grocery store. A few days after I got back I went to a grocery store with a buddy of mine and it was wierd to know what every item was in the store instantly. I also forgot about the fast food restaurants that are everywhere, even if I don't eat at those places often. I also forgot that I didn't have to subtract 7 hours difference to talk to my brother down the hall; we are in the same time zone now. I am still forgetting that I have a phone to use, but that might be a good thing.
So I went back to home sweet Texas to see loved ones and friends. It was great to see everybody that I had to opportunity to see, although I did not see all of y'all.
For now I am back in Steubenville for a few weeks to take a Catechetics course, Content and Curriculum. I enjoyed going to Mass there again in Christ the King Chapel singing along with the strong, young voices of students.
