Ankunft in Österreich

            As my RegioBahn train connection from Rosenheim to Wörgl crossed the border between Austria and Germany, a border that wasn’t marked by a sign but rather a text message saying something to the effect of “you’ll now pay a lot more for using your phone,” the cloud cover was gone and the sun shining. “Finally, the sun that we were promised for the last few days,” said the nice Münchnerin to whom I’d been talking for a while. Although I didn’t catch her name, we had a really pleasant per-Sie conversation in which she even complimented my German, telling me that aside from a bit of an accent - aber ein bissl akzent ist schön (a bit of accent is pretty) - my German  sounded perfect. Her comment brought two different thoughts to my mind. The first thought: do all native German speakers tell any foreigner who attempts to learn German that s/he speaks impressively? And the second: I was flattered that a random woman from Munich had given me such a respectful comment, and that she even talked to me at all.  After talking to that woman, a woman from Vorarlberg (the part of Austria bordering Switzerland) and I chatted near the door of the train before exiting.

            Our conversation went something like this, with her speaking in a thick Vorarlberger accent: “Saalfelden already?” “Yeah, we’ll be there shortly.” Wow, that was fast, I’ve been traveling from Bregenz since 8 am! (This at 2pm). Isn’t the weather like a dream? And the landscape” “Definitely beautiful, Austria, that is. I can hardly believe that you’ve been traveling for so many hours, Bregenz doesn’t seem too far from here..” “Austria is a big country, eh?” “Yeah, I suppose so. How long are you staying?” “I don’t know, you?” “Not sure. Need help carrying your bags at all?” “Nah, I’ve got it. Thanks, though.” “Then I hope you have a great stay here. Take care.” “Same to you.”  By the end of this conversation, I felt excited and accomplished. Speaking to someone from Vorarlberg can, in some ways, be compared to attempting to speak with a person who grew up in Louisiana on a Bayou–hard. But I was able to do it, probably with the kind words from the Münchnerin to thank for the confidence to reply to her speaking to me. 

            Having spoken with two older German/Austrian women on a train, I realized something about myself that I already knew.  It doesn’t matter where I am, I’m a talker just like my mom.  Nobody sits next to someone on the train for 5 minutes or stands next to the exit door on the train in Europe and just talks to the person next to them, except maybe me.  It’s a character trait that I’m happy to have, so thanks, Mom, for molding me into an outgoing and friendly-to-strangers person.  Some things never change…even in a country where they probably should.

            8 hours later, I arrived in Saalfelden, greeted by the familiar and friendly face of Heidi.  There were apples to be picked and collected when we got to her house, because on Saturday they would take the apples to a neighbors to be pressed and made into apple juice.  Then of course there were Semmels (bread/roll type things), Speck (Bacon type meat), and Pinzgauerkäse (cheese) for a Jause (snack) that needed to be eaten. 

            It feels good to be back in the land of German with an Austrian accent, the Alps (there are really few to none in Germany), good cheese, and, of course, Semmels!!! More about what I’ve been doing in this paradise of a place later.

Pfiatdi! (western Austrian for good-bye)

Ashley