Yesterday was pretty crazy. The students arrive by plane, train, and automobiles. Someone from the staff has to go and pick-up the students and some students arrive in their own cars. Either way the staff is always adapting to changing flight plans and unexpected changes in the roster. It seemed pretty hectic the first day trying to remember all of my job tasks and getting instruction from the staff when they had time.
One of my jobs is to prepare coffee and tea before every meal. For the first few days with just the short-term workers and staff it was pretty simple. Now that all the students are here, I have to prepare 6 carafes of tea, 5 carafes of decaf coffee and 5 pots of regular coffee. The coffee is prepared in the large 80 cup pots. The pots are put on timers to go on before breakfast, lunch and dinner. The pots and carafes must all be washed and dryed and setup for the next meal after each meal.
I think the number of students this time is either the highest or second highest number; around 53. I helped setup the classrooms in the Library and the basements. We assembled two new whiteboards on stands with rollers for the library and front lounge.
Everyday I also collect all the recycle materials and take them to the collection bins. There are 12 different kinds of recycle here and it is mandatory in Austria to recycle. I can only remeber some of the 12 types: paper, plastics, metal, glass, cardboard, dark glass, light glass. Most of the vegitable scraps are collected in a barrel and taken to the compost pile each day. What an intersting smell.
There was a meeting of all the students and staff to welcome the students and pray last night. All the staff and all the short-term workers were introduced to the students so they know who we are.
I am sure I am missing something else, but I have to run and vacuum the kitchen and get it mopped before dinner.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Day Trip
After breakfast today, we all took a trip to Vienna to visit a museum and a park. Some of the students that arrived early went as well.
We visited the Museum of Military History. They have collections of weapons and paintings of battles from the 1700 and 1800. The inside of the museum is a historic building and are made of marble and ornate columns. The ceilings are painted with murals depicting Austrian emperors and kings. I was able to get some pretty good pictures before I was informed that you need a permit to take pictures. Not sure what that was about, since everyone and their brother were taking pictures. Even taking pictures with flash which is a no-no.
There was a separate section detailing the integration of Austria by the Nazis into a unified German state. They had many peices of Nazi propaganda and field artillery. There were also a few american Jeeps and ambulances mixed among the German tanks. It was a bit uncomfortable walking around so many Nazi artifacts and thinking about what all that was used for.
We took our sack lunches to Schloss park and walked the trails and take pictures. There is a very good and popular ice cream (Eissalon) parlor there.
Every short-term worker has a table number assigned to them for hosting tables when the students arrive. Table hosts 1-7 hosted tables tonight as a warmup with some students and the rest of the STWs and staff. I am #16 so I might host a table tomorrow night when all the students finally arrive.
The jet lag is getting better, although I am still trying to stay awake during the day and taking Tylenol PM to make sure I sleep at night.
I think tomorrow is a dry run of our assignments before the classes start on Tuesday morning.
We visited the Museum of Military History. They have collections of weapons and paintings of battles from the 1700 and 1800. The inside of the museum is a historic building and are made of marble and ornate columns. The ceilings are painted with murals depicting Austrian emperors and kings. I was able to get some pretty good pictures before I was informed that you need a permit to take pictures. Not sure what that was about, since everyone and their brother were taking pictures. Even taking pictures with flash which is a no-no.
There was a separate section detailing the integration of Austria by the Nazis into a unified German state. They had many peices of Nazi propaganda and field artillery. There were also a few american Jeeps and ambulances mixed among the German tanks. It was a bit uncomfortable walking around so many Nazi artifacts and thinking about what all that was used for.
We took our sack lunches to Schloss park and walked the trails and take pictures. There is a very good and popular ice cream (Eissalon) parlor there.
Every short-term worker has a table number assigned to them for hosting tables when the students arrive. Table hosts 1-7 hosted tables tonight as a warmup with some students and the rest of the STWs and staff. I am #16 so I might host a table tomorrow night when all the students finally arrive.
The jet lag is getting better, although I am still trying to stay awake during the day and taking Tylenol PM to make sure I sleep at night.
I think tomorrow is a dry run of our assignments before the classes start on Tuesday morning.
Guest Services, Professors & Ice-Cream!
Sandy, Faye & Diane have been assigned to guest services. Guest services is responsible for setting up and cleaning up after meals. We will soon be put to work tomorrow for cleaning, washing and taking care of the student dorm rooms. Everything is very organized here and Dottie is quite the leader. We are expecting 53 students from Russia, Ubzepakistan, Czech, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukaraine & Moldova. We won't be able to take any pictures of the students due to putting the students at risk of their lives and persecution should it get in the wrong hands. According to the staff the fullest they've been in a while so we should be busy. Also, each of us will host a table for lunch and for dinner every day.
One of the professors we met today is from Romania. He has taught in country classes in Poland and Moldova. Now he will be teaching a course this session at TCM. Another professor is from Australia and he stopped at TCM for rest and was off to do an in country class in Ukraine.
We also had our first experience ordering ice-cream in Laxenburg today. Eissalon was a happening place. You had better know what to order before you even get to the counter. This was a bit intimidating since none of us knew what the flavors were as everything was in German. We've figured out that 'cona' is cone. Several flavors sound similiar to English words and fortunately the lady helping us seemed to speak some English so told us how much it was in English. When we were at the museum earlier today, the lady there did not know English and we couldn't remember our German numbers so our trip leader, Debbie, helped translate. Guess we need to have them write it down if we don't have that help in a future trip. Sandy got 'Heidenbeer' and Jeff got 'Kaffe'. Heidenbeer seemed to be a Raspberry Sorbet and Kaffee was coffee ice-cream. Both very yummy! Both for only 2.50 Euros. Thank you Ken & Donna for your Euro coins!
One of the professors we met today is from Romania. He has taught in country classes in Poland and Moldova. Now he will be teaching a course this session at TCM. Another professor is from Australia and he stopped at TCM for rest and was off to do an in country class in Ukraine.
We also had our first experience ordering ice-cream in Laxenburg today. Eissalon was a happening place. You had better know what to order before you even get to the counter. This was a bit intimidating since none of us knew what the flavors were as everything was in German. We've figured out that 'cona' is cone. Several flavors sound similiar to English words and fortunately the lady helping us seemed to speak some English so told us how much it was in English. When we were at the museum earlier today, the lady there did not know English and we couldn't remember our German numbers so our trip leader, Debbie, helped translate. Guess we need to have them write it down if we don't have that help in a future trip. Sandy got 'Heidenbeer' and Jeff got 'Kaffe'. Heidenbeer seemed to be a Raspberry Sorbet and Kaffee was coffee ice-cream. Both very yummy! Both for only 2.50 Euros. Thank you Ken & Donna for your Euro coins!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Library
inside. This surprised us, because we only expected them to have a
couple. They mentioned some of the students will have cell phones and
laptops. Often times they skip the steps we are used to and go
straight to cell phones and laptops for communication. They most
likely share them with the church, but could own them. Example of
technology reaching the world even in very poor places. Many students
barely can feed their families.
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