Sprechen Sie Englisch?

I've settled into Salzburg- and by settled, I mean I unpacked my suitcase and attended my first seminar for the global program I'm in. I'm staying at the Schloss Leopoldskron and the adjacent hotel; it was also a filming location for The Sound of Music, but it's Salzburg- the whole city was a filming location for The Sound of Music.

Because of a scheduling mix-up, I moved in on Saturday, a day before the program officially began, so I had to walk into town to get dinner. 

I've been to Europe before multiple times, and every time I travel over a thousand miles away I expect to feel different. I assume the air is going to feel different on my skin or that the birds will chirp in a different language, but everything feels the same. Walking down the rural path and onto the busy streets feel like Brewster, Massachusetts, and with the exception of the alps on the horizon, standing in the grass by the water feels like I'm in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Thats not to say that either town can be compared to a tourist city in Austria, but the slight similarities make me feel comfortable in an entirely unique place. Its a strange juxtaposition, but it's beautiful... and unlike any place I've been before.

I walked into a cafe and realized I should be ordering in German, but I don't know how to. I wish I spoke German, I like to tell people I speak German, but I cannot speak German. 

Like I mentioned before, Salzburg is a tourist-heavy city, and like many large European cities, the locals speak English, so I had no problem ordering food and conversing in English. I still found myself feeling like a dumb American. My program is in English, but nearly half of the college-aged participants are from countries that speak different native languages. I wish people didn't have to sacrifice culture for convenience, and I wish I had spent more time doing my homework on the town I will be spending three weeks in, but that's not the way language or the world works. All we can hope for is an attempt to explore the area outside of our comfort zones.

By the looks of it, it's going to be a great three weeks.

I'm looking forward to learning about my fellows, guest speakers, and how my generation is approaching a new understanding of media literacy and civic participation. 

One last thing: my blood is now 11% prosecco and 67% cappuccino. There's a reason college students love Europe, it's a step up from Dunkin Donuts iced coffee and questionable night-life choices.