Sunday, May 27, 2012

Greetings, Friends and Family/Grüße, Freunde und Familie!

(Yes, I have an English - Spanish website and an English - German greeting.  It's because I love living in a multicultural, multilingual world!)  :-D

Dear Friends and Family,

Welcome to my blog for the next 2 years of my life in Vienna, Austria!  :)

Currently, I'm still in Indonesia, finishing out the remaining time I have as best as I can and trying to spend time with my sweet friends and students here.  Most of the major tasks in my life are over, but I still have smaller ones awaiting my attention, so I'll make this post brief.

I don't know many details yet about my new, upcoming life, but here are the few facts I DO know:


  • I'll be teaching secondary English at International Christian School of Vienna.
  • I might also be teaching drama, either as a class or as an extracurricular program.
  • We do NOT have school uniforms!!
  • We teach American curriculum!!
  • I'll be sharing an apartment with a girl named Andrea.  All I know is she's American and just completed her student teaching at the school, so she already knows a bit about the culture and the school, which will be helpful.  (We have yet to actually contact each other, but I might have to hold off on that until I get home to Indiana next month.)
  • I'll be living and working as a missionary teacher.  If you would like to learn more about how to support me prayerfully or financially, please send me your email address and I'll get in touch with you.
  • The tap water is completely drinkable and comes directly from the Alps!  (This is probably exciting to no one, but I can't wait to drink out of the faucet again and NOT have stomach issues!)  :)

This is my prayer card for this job!  Ohhh, how I'll miss the breathtaking, Indonesian scenery...

I know now, without a doubt, that is what God wants me to do next in life.  I had positive vibes from the very first communication with the recruiter back in March, I had a blast being interviewed three times, and I'm getting to know other teachers through our own Facebook get-to-know-each-other group.  I don't know much about European culture, I know three words in German (one of which isn't appropriate), and I've never been to Europe, but I know God will help me adjust to and love my new environment and friends that He's preparing for me there.

Over the past few months, I've been very encouraged by Audio Adrenaline's song, "Walk On Water".  For me, it was reinforcement that God was calling me to Vienna and NOW, despite any apprehensions I had about finances or cultural differences.

As I learn more about what I'm doing, I'll update this blog as often as I can.  Time to go finish my smaller, doable tasks now!

Feel free to leave a comment or question for me!