My family has "pizza night" together every Saturday, so I got to talk to the whole gang at once! I set my alarm and woke up in the middle of the night so I could talk to them while they were all together.

Baby Charlie!

 They're my main girlfrans!

My God-daughter Sicilia was blowing me kisses and playing peek-a-boo!

 I want to hold her!

Louie caught a snake and brought it in the kitchen to show me.

Nothing's changed!

It was my dorm's turn to hold a welcome party!

Lovely girlfriends!

Would it be tacky for me to get this scarf? There's a ton of American flag stuff here that I want so badly!

My fellow 'Mericans

The welcome team had an international student welcome party! It was great to meet even more international kids, though we've already met a lot!

Kebaps... I had no idea what they were until I got here. They're a Turkish food kind of like a gyro, made with lamb. They're the American equivalent of Taco Bell-- the only thing open late night!

Jed (Wyoming) and I getting our kebap fix. I'm not much of a fan of them,

but Morgan is obsessed :)

Learning how to Irish jig dance...preparing for Paddys day!

 I'll have the accent down by the time I leave-- Darren and Gemma

It has been hard for the Europeans to grasp that my name is Italian, but I don't speak it and they don't believe I'm Native American, because I don't look it. So the Irish said they'd claim me, but I'll have to go by O'Stancampiano.

I had my first German course of the new semester last night. I got bumped up a couple levels, so I was terrified I'd be way behind! I'm definitely not the best in the class, but I'm holding my ground. It'll force me to learn, which is what I want from this whole experience!

This is my neighbor Darren- I'd be completely lost without him! He had to teach me how to use the crazy laundry system, where to take out my trash, and so many other things. He also helped when I thought I broke my crazy Austrian window (they open all these different ways and it's so confusing!) and when I got locked out of my room.

Three amigos!

I'm not only learning German, but I'm picking up 'Irish' and 'Australian'. It's crazy how the same language can sound so different! I'm going to have this weird hodge podge vocabulary with crazy accents when I come home.

Today was my first day of classes and I survived! I think I'm really going to like my choices. I've already read 3/4 books for my Lit class and am one of two Americans taking the Race for the White House class :) I'm afraid I'll be embarrassed by my lack of knowledge, but it'll be an interesting class for me.

Little get together in the dorm last night:

These are my partners in crime.

Although it resembles an insane asylum, it's just the clubroom in our dorms.

We had a great night out on the town Saturday! We were in a group with people from Austria, Germany, Ukraine, France, and others who all study and live here in Klagenfurt. They were all super fun and nice and we hope to reconvene soon. I talked Thunder basketball with one guy and met another guy who studied abroad in Kansas! Small world.

 This is our friend Lisa who will be coming to Oklahoma this fall for study abroad!

I got my first piece of mail today!! I was so excited I had to open it on the stairs up to my room. Thanks Rick and I'm glad you're enjoying the blog :)

I also successfully ordered a bus ticket AND lunch in German!

I finished my German class today, so now I'm fluent. Basically. Not really, I'm just kidding, but I feel a lot more comfortable reading and speaking and have definitely improved my listening skills!

 Morgan and I had to do a presentation in German! We obviously rocked it.

(we were trying to keep a straight face because we had a really funny story)

Most of our class with Erwin, our phonetics teacher.

He's a famous actor in Austria apparently.

American-esque food! Mmmm

I had a very successful shopping trip :)