SOMETHING ABOUT TORNADOS – From Austria to America

something about tornados

Austria to America. All I was asking for was a basement when my husband, my 3 little ones and I moved from the suburbs of Vienna to the Cornhusker State of Nebraska. I felt a lot of fear to live in a state that is known to be in the so called Tornado Alley.

(weather radio, weekly test)

It was as early as March when Nebraska had its first Tornado Watch of the season. I’ve never experienced anything similar. Yes, there are thunderstorms, supercells, funnel clouds and Tornados around the Alps. There are even some stormchasers that run http://www.stormhunters-austria.com. Since the 1950´s there has been about 90 registered Tornados in Austria.

So I informed myself well in advance. I went around and asked our new friends, neighbors and acquaintances in Lincoln about Tornados and what to do. Do I keep on driving? Do I leave my house and drive to an official shelter? Do I run down to school? What exactly means a Tornado Watch and what is a Warning? Sirens? When do they go on? What if I don´t hear them?

What I hear makes me wonder and think about it even more. Not everyone is taking precautions. Not all have basements. Most never experienced a Tornado. A lot don´t take shelter during a Tornado Warning. Some simply pray and hope for the best. Most people live with the Tornado Warnings for most of their lives and take them what they are. Nature.

Someone then told me to buy a weather radio! How safe I felt all of a sudden. I bought even two. Just in case. One that fitted in my purse and I could take with me outside of town, anytime. That made me feel safer. (Oh, later that year I got my first iPhone – what a great help to get those weather apps).

We learned fast that not every Tornado Watch meant to go and run down to your basement. We learnt to live with it, like everyone else does who lives in a state that is constantly struck by Tornados. I’ve learned my lesson in being more calm about Tornados, but I’ve also realized that it´s the awareness that keeps you safe!

The awareness and an unfortunate accident kept us safe during several Tornado Warnings outside of town last May. Read more about this crazy experience on my blog: http://theaustrianwalnutproject.wordpress.com/tag/tornado/

How the American School System is experienced by Austrian kids and their parents – An Expat Story

My daughters first day of school in Nebraska will be not only the day when she went to school the first time in her life. She went to school in Nebraska. It always will be the day we officially started our journey in Nebraska. Good Bye Austria.

Welcome USA!

It was the fear to bring my kids into a situation like this one. Being in a country they´ve never been before. A country their language they didn’t speak or understand. Observing for many weeks she started little by little to speak, read and write in English. She was enrolled in the ELL Program. Today she is able to follow any conversations and has little problems to find the right words. School was not only a challenge for her, but also for me. Elementary schooldays in Austria start at 8am and usually don´t go any longer then lunchtime. Kids don´t eat at school in Austria, unless they are signed up for an after school program, which usually is another building, or within walking distance of school or it´s one of the newer full-time elementary schools.

Her first day started at 9 am and lasted until 3.38 pm. I still don´t know why schools out at that time in Lincoln, Nebraska. This was a long day. But – and this was the biggest surprise for me – the teachers convinced me to look after her in between and come by for lunch. Unless you are volunteering at the classroom (depending on the teacher) parents are usually not seen at elementary schools in Austria.

I loved the experience to help teachers, to join my daughter for lunch anytime! or to stop by and drop of her lunchbox. Lunch-boxes are something that we have never used before. Kids either have lunch at home or at the after-school program here in Austria. This includes a full 3 course meal. Soup, main dish and often a dessert. The menus have a bright variety and there´s never a meal served twice a month!

I decided to let my kids eat 2 – 3 times a week the school lunch, because I wanted them to have the total experience and to get to know the culture. Of course my daughter quickly found her favorite new dish. Corn dogs.

We were lucky. More than lucky. She was surrounded by wonderful, amazing, and caring teachers and students. One thing that was given to my daughter during those 2 years in Nebraska was a lot of love and joy throughout her journey. It made her grow beautifully. It made her open for others. It made her see things from another perspective. It made her what she is today. My wonderful 8 year old daughter.

See my blog for more thoughts about Nebraska and Austria.

http://theaustrianwalnutproject.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/u-bahn-in-vienna-vs-john-deere-in-nebraska/

Miramare

Well, when you already live in Austria and you think you have pretty much seen already everything there is to see (although we say that this is doubtful, very doubtful) what to do, where to go when the ‘Wanderlust’ takes a hold of you?

Austria’s surrounding countries of course :)!

At this point we want to emphasize that this website is not only solely about Austria, but it is more about how it is to grow up in Austria. What impressions and experiences have shaped us? What do typical Austrians do in the course of their lives, where do locals go on vacation, and so on and so on? You see we believe that where you were born, and where and how you grew up is part of you and part of your culture and it shapes you into the person you are today. We are not staying that people cannot change and, of course, there are exceptions to the rule. After all, the opinions posted on this website are ours alone, the ones of the TTMAA team. Nevertheless, we truly believe that it becomes more and more important to learn about where we all come from, to emphasize and be passionate about learning from each other, that way we take a further step towards understanding each other and with that, we will be better prepared to solve the challenges of the future, of a world that truly turns into a village.

But now enough with the philosophizing :). So, throughout the next few months we are  going to post about nice weekend or even day trips you can do while living, studying and working in Austria to the surrounding European countries.

And just thinking about what we want to share with you guys now, makes our hearts grow fonder and we sigh wholeheartedly.

One of our fondest adolescent memories is touring Italy after we finished high school. Pretty much all of us Austrian’s do it at some point and we are very fond of the Italian food.  But to get back to the subject, not far from the Southern border of Austria there is a castle on top of a hill right above the crashing waves of the Adriatic Sea. The Castle Miramare.

Miramare was once owned actually by part of the Austrian empirical family, even though after the city of Triest has gained its independence (together with the rest of Italy) it is now owned by the city of Triest.

The castle is actually only 4 and a half hours by car from Vienna through Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia (which is the perfect opportunity to check out also this beautiful capital city). Kind of the same distance like when you would be driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

Entrance is free and you will only have to pay for parking. And after visiting one our most favorite castles in the world, you can take a dip into the ocean and then end a perfect day by eating at one of the many delicious Italian Restaurants along the  promenade.

And now, check out the pictures from the road trip we took 2 years ago. Enjoy!

For more info: http://www.castello-miramare.it/eng/home/home.php

The Swarovski Crystal World

Any idea what this bright green monster is? It is the entrance of the Swarovski Crystal World.

We’re pretty sure you’ve heard of Swarovski before? Yes? Well if not, let us give you a short introduction of this Austrian company. It is a producer of luxury cut lead class (or crystals), headquartered in Wattens (Tyrol) and was founded in 1895.

Jumping a few decades into the future, to the year 1995 to be precise, which marked the 100 year anniversary of Swarovski, the multi-media artist Andre Heller created a place of true amazement with 14 subterranean Chambers of Wonder.

In 2003 and 2007 the so called home of the crystals became extended with new chambers. More than 8 million people have been enchanted by this world of experiences encompassing the full spectrum of art, music, dance and literature. This unique crystalline theatre is Austria’s second most visited museum, right after Schönbrunn Palace. There is a daily bus transfer between Innsbruck and Wattens available

All in all, we did hear that the Crystal World in all honesty was a little bit overrated. Nevertheless, our conclusion is that if you are into crystals, glass cutting, contemporary museums, and Swarovski, and – above all – are thinking of getting one of those pretty little crystals from this world-renowned Austrian company, then what better place to buy it then at the Swarovski Crystal World, right ;)?

Anyway, check out the pictures and decide for yourself.
We would love to hear your opinion: HOT or NOT?

Austria’s World of the Ice Giants

Have you ever been inside the cave?

Where ice giants room and rage.

Visitors behold!

The giants are cold, and very old.

Though welcome you to their world,

to their icy fairy world!

Are you into caving? Or just into huge ice giants :)? Then this post is for you.

Austria is home of the World of the Ice Giants, or Eisriesenwelt in German, the largest ice caves of the world and also one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Europe!

The caves extend 26.1 miles (or 42 km) inside Hochkogel mountain and are located about 25 miles from Salzburg.

The ice caves are open from May till October and you will want to make sure that you are dressed as if you would during a deep winter season, even if you visit the caves during the hottest summer months of Austria in July/August. For more detailed information, follow the link below and book your guided tour ;)!

http://www.eisriesenwelt.at/en/home.html