Mission to Graz

26-30 Sept 2011

Having made arrangements with veteran Teaching Assistants (TAs) to tag along with them to Graz.  I hauled my weary bones out of Wombats early Monday morning.
I was exhausted.

I had spent my Sunday struggling to polish my MA thesis that was due for submission on October 14th.
I had to carry my bulky heavy bags to Graz; I had nowhere to leave them in Vienna.  My camping bag I swung onto my back (with tremendous effort I might add), my rucksack onto my chest.  I dropped my coat oever my rucksack onto my chest.  I dropped my coat over my rucksack, a copy of Terry Pratchett's Small Gods poking out of the coat pocket.

I made my way to Meidling station to rendezvous with the second year TAs.  I bought my ticket.  I bump into the elders, Tori, Simon and Fabian.
I was told that I resembled a pregnant woman.  I don't deny this, although I believe  that almost any and every pregnant mammal could move with more grace and dexterity than I could muster.

On the  train we chatted and exchanged jokes.  In Graz (two hours before junior TAs were expected).  I found myself turned away from Existentialhaus and forced to walk the hot humid streets of Graz.  I was reluctant to wander far for fear I lose my way, my navigation skills being exceptionally poor.

I remembered then, that I had no toothpaste.  Immediately I became self-conscious and concerned for the well-being of my teeth and general oral hygiene.
I bought some toothpaste.
In another shop I bought sparkling water.
The heat was intense.

I returned to Existentialhaus closer to the pre-ordained time and find the reception more enthusiastic.

At the door I meet fellow TAs.
New blood, fresh spirits just like me.
We chat.
Exchange polite niceties.

There is some trademark bureaucracy to be administered and in the ensuing confusion it is suggested that I did not pay the seminar fee.  Strangely enough my Graz room mate, Peter, suffered a similar misunderstanding but after a phone call we get our key.
A few days later after some breathless persistence and blue-face insistence we clear things up.

In the afternoon we were hungry.
The group of TAs has been cleft in twain, one is to remain at Existenialhaus (and in future they commute daily), the others are escorted to the hilltop refuge of St. Martin's schloss.
Beautiful and picturesque.

We eat a meagre but long anticipated meal.
Relishing every bite.
Then, there were speeches and talks.  This was followed by wine, juice and mixing with the new kids.
A night of chuckles and bonding ensued.


Tuesday was another eventful day filled with lectures and seminars.
The TAs were divided into groups.  These groups gave us an insight into work as a TA and also helped us to understand the mindset and thinking of the youths we would be assisting.

We played games and sometimes we spoke German.  Owing to time constraints the seminars were intense (although the late night bonding may have exacerbated conditions in the late Summer heat).

Our evenings were packed with activities including a tour of Graz.
There were ample opportunities to get to know people.
The problem was of course, that Schloss Martin presented quite the hike and in late hours it was more feasible to get a taxi or indeed stay where we were (i.e. to not leave castle and some nights we didn't.  Except for those few abortive attempts to find a nearby pub.

Thursday was an emotional day topped off by a talent show.
There were various displays of our generations great potential, including some great dancers, musicians, singers and a dash of interpretative dance as well!

Afterwards, we shared a laugh as we drank the last of the wine, accepted the good advice of our mentors exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses before succumbing to fatigue.

The next day, some of us were a little worse for wear.  It was a good week.
Friday was marked by the dash for train as the mass exodus of Graz had begun.   Some were wise to stall and wait a little long but many of the rest of us found ourselves squeezing into aisles, our bodies pressed tightly together, faces buried in sweaty armpits and worse, before being ushered on, on what felt like a perpetual poke toward the furthermost carriage.
With much ado I found a seat.
Our journey back to Vienna had begun.
Monday would bring a whole new world of experience.