This week our sweet student Antonia, a 10th grader from Botevgrad, told us a little bit about how's her experience going in Austria. She's been living in Salzburg, Austria, for about 6 months now, and she has some interesting insights to share!
Here we go:
"So, as you know I'm an exchange student in Austria. I came here after 15 long hours with a bus. Then, I was on a train for 3 hours having no idea where I was going. I was just sitting in the there, smiling at everyone, because I was scared. After those 3 hours went by I was in Salzburg, my second home for one year.
When the train door opened, I saw him, my second father. He was happy to see me. I hug him and I felt safe. After that, I turned and I saw four girls and my host-mother running towards me. I told myself that I'm lucky to have people like them around me.
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| At the train station... My first day here in Austria! |
As my host-mother said, my first day was "my free day from speaking German", but then I learned the language so fast! It's a little bit funny because now my German is better than my English.
About cultural differences in between Bulgaria and Austria, Antonia says:
"That's a large theme but, for example, in Austria everything is planned. You know where you are you on holidays 6 months ahead, or when is your next school test. In Bulgaria you aren't so organised. You can make so many things spontaneously."
"That's a large theme but, for example, in Austria everything is planned. You know where you are you on holidays 6 months ahead, or when is your next school test. In Bulgaria you aren't so organised. You can make so many things spontaneously."
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| My first prom! |
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| A pic from my Art class trip to Venezia, and the second picture is my host sis and I celebrating in Austria's traditional dresses. It was so fun! |
We also asked her about her Christmas time abroad:
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| Christmas day was so funny haha... Our first photo with a selfie stick! |
It was really strange, but it was wonderful. I was with so many friends and I was really happy, knowing people like them."
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| And also my first meeting with a donkey! |
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| New Year's was awesome with our friends from Stuttgart. We miss them so much now... |
"I'm proud to be part of Gehmacher's family. It's really funny because we are like kids sometimes, just laughing, singing, playing different kinds of games and so many other things together. I also have the sister I've always wanted. She is an amazing person and I also appreciate everything that she's done for me."
Thank you, Antonia, for sharing all of this with us! What's left of your exchange year will only get better and better!
