My adventure began back in March. The Orff Institut requires a bank check or money order denominated in Euros. Three hundred and fifty of them to be exact. So I had to figure out how to get this money to Austria with my application.
First I tried one of my credit unions. No idea. Then the other, larger one. They suggested the Chittenden Bank. I withdrew some cash from that credit union, then ran down the street and hit the ATM for the remainder and went to the Chittenden.
Problem #1 - I wasn't a customer. We got past that (after all they were going to make $40 just for writing a check.) The nice, competent young woman had to ask around to figure out how to do the transaction - nobody seemed to know. I guess Vermonters never go to Europe.
Problem #2 - It was after 2:00 PM. Trading in Euros was suspended until the following day. I paid my $492 anyway hoping that the dollar wouldn't weaken appreciably overnight.
It did. We had a snow day (actually an ice day - it usually takes ice to close a Vermont school; otherwise we suck it up and go.) I get a mid-day call from the bank. I'm 52 cents short on the transaction. The dollar did weaken slightly. They couldn't make the trade until I drove in with 52 cents.
It was a freaking ice storm for crying out loud! Finally the teller relented and said she would put 52 cents in for me. The transaction went through, the next day I picked up the check and repaid the teller. Whew! I sent off the application and check with a passport photo and spent $24 on postage for the privilege of getting a receipt and a delivery window of less than 9 weeks.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Mastering the German Language
I went to Joseph-Beth booksellers in Lexington and bought "Drive Time German", a set of four hour-long CD's that claims to be "A complete course in German from the language experts." I figured with a seventeen hour drive ahead of me I could use each CD four times. Except by the third CD it was starting to move really fast and the phrases had gotten quite long.
Nonetheless, thanks to my facility in languages (I've almost mastered English), I was able to learn many interesting and useful phrases in German, such as "My name is Eugene Werkner" and "That is no large car; it is a small car." and "Do you see a brown dog or a small blue building?"
I also learned how to order asparagus and ham in a restaurant. Thank heavens the CD taught me how ask for beer. That way if there's no asparagus and ham on the menu at least I'll be able to get drunk.
By the third CD I was mastering such important phrases as "blienegnjgltkdnvgojkansddojn" and "jaoskdfvnoaksdnva." I can't tell you how much better equipped I feel for this European adventure! And to think that this wonderful language program was just $24.95. I recommend it highly.
Nonetheless, thanks to my facility in languages (I've almost mastered English), I was able to learn many interesting and useful phrases in German, such as "My name is Eugene Werkner" and "That is no large car; it is a small car." and "Do you see a brown dog or a small blue building?"
I also learned how to order asparagus and ham in a restaurant. Thank heavens the CD taught me how ask for beer. That way if there's no asparagus and ham on the menu at least I'll be able to get drunk.
By the third CD I was mastering such important phrases as "blienegnjgltkdnvgojkansddojn" and "jaoskdfvnoaksdnva." I can't tell you how much better equipped I feel for this European adventure! And to think that this wonderful language program was just $24.95. I recommend it highly.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Introduction
I'm writing this blog at the suggestion of some co-participants in the advanced Orff classes at the University of Kentucky, June16-27, 2008. On July 4 I'm boarding a plane for Austria and from the 5th to the 13th I'll be attending the international course that is taught in English at the Orff Institut in Salzburg.
I asked around at UKY and didn't find anybody at UKY who had attended the international course at the Orff Institut. Erik Nielson, who spent the year there back when Herman Regner was putting together the American volumes doubted any of the folks from his time would still be there. All this means I am going on an adventure and don't quite know what to expect. Add to this the fact that I'm not much of a traveler....
Presuming that I can find Internet access in Salzburg, I intend to post to this blog daily, or as often as I can so that folks find out what goes on at the Institut. I also hope to provide pictures. Perusing Google Earth, I couldn't find any of either the Institut or Schloss Frohnberg, the residence hall which was used in the exterior shots of the captain's house in the Sound of Music.
Should I put on a straw hat and skip down Helbrunner Alee with my suitcase singing "I Have Confidence"? The locals would probably want to wring my neck....
I asked around at UKY and didn't find anybody at UKY who had attended the international course at the Orff Institut. Erik Nielson, who spent the year there back when Herman Regner was putting together the American volumes doubted any of the folks from his time would still be there. All this means I am going on an adventure and don't quite know what to expect. Add to this the fact that I'm not much of a traveler....
Presuming that I can find Internet access in Salzburg, I intend to post to this blog daily, or as often as I can so that folks find out what goes on at the Institut. I also hope to provide pictures. Perusing Google Earth, I couldn't find any of either the Institut or Schloss Frohnberg, the residence hall which was used in the exterior shots of the captain's house in the Sound of Music.
Should I put on a straw hat and skip down Helbrunner Alee with my suitcase singing "I Have Confidence"? The locals would probably want to wring my neck....
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