The second I entered international security, though still at an American airport, I began to feel like I was leaving what I knew. The family behind me through the checkpoint lines was speaking rapid German. By rapid I probably mean normal paced, but compared to my audio retarded recordings in introductory German classes, it was fast. I am excited for everything ahead of me, but the language barrier seems to bring the most apprehension. After three semesters of college German and the first half of the first disk of Rosetta Stone (who knew it takes longer than a week to complete the whole thing?), I do not feel adequately prepared to find my way through Austrian culture.

With language on the mind, I began to notice language barriers that are inevitable no matter how hard someone studies. There are sayings and implications that simply do not make sense in other tongues. I noticed this specifically during finals week at Penn State. I had been up early enough to get a desk in the library during its busiest time of the year. When I had finished studying and was starting to pack my things, there was an international student hovering beside me. He clearly was looking for a seat and as I was packing I told him “Oh just hold on a minute I’m leaving”. I, and presumably every other American, would take this to mean that I am offering him my seat. Instead, he stares at me blankly before releasing a genuinely surprised smile and asking, “Can I sit there?”

There are better hypothetical examples than this, but the above story is the moment when I began considering these examples. Others that came to mind include “It should be under…” when looking up names, “I was heart broken” without any physical injuries affecting the heart, and “what a joke” referencing an instance lacking intended humor. Translated literally, none of these make any sense. Even if I succeed in becoming fluent, it will be in a very Amelia Bedelia sense of the word.

I am excited to reach Vienna and plan on spending time both discrediting and reaffirming stereotypes. Mostly, I’ll let you know if people really walk around in lederhosen. I also plan on exploring the people and comparing their mannerisms and values with those of Americans. Come explore the city of Wien with me!