And so it begins...

Our School's logo!

This upcoming week is our first week of school!  I am very ready to start teaching again and be in the classroom.  This past week we had our staff orientation which was extremely helpful.  I was able to hear the history of the school and all the amazing things God has done to keep it alive and staffed.  Becca and I finally met the rest of the staff and have begun building many relationships.  It's exciting to see how excited everyone is to be here and the joy they all share for serving God through teaching.  I am ready to share these same experiences.  

Last Friday was the student orientation.  I was able to meet many of my future students and see so many unique interactions.  I truly believe we were able to experience a little bit of heaven.  In one school about 30 different countries were represented in an hours time.  They were so excited to see their friends and old teachers.  It was a cool experience.

I will be teaching Spanish 1 to High School students, Spanish culture and communication to Middle School students and Beginner ELL to middle school (English language learners).  In my ELL class, I have two Korean students and one Italian girl.  They are adorable and pictures will follow soon!  I would greatly appreciate prayer for this upcoming week.  While I am extremely excited I still have lots to do in order to fully be prepared.  Thanks again for reading my blog and for the prayers!

Some shots of my classroom!  

Still have some decor to do :)

Sights of Vienna

My time here in Vienna has been splendid thus far.  I thought I would share some cultural differences between Austria and America. It has been fun learning the differences and little hard adjusting to some.  Here is a list of what I've learned thus far:

1. Austrians love dogs!  They take them everywhere.  I've seen them in supermarkets, restaurants, train stations and even go into public bathrooms with their owners.  It is quite funny.
2. Austria is a very orderly and ruled based country.  If you do not follow their rules, they will let you know and somewhat discipline you.  Usually it is the old women taking their newspapers and smacking you which I have not experienced yet.
3.  Rules include: NEVER putting your feet on any type of seat, always standing on the right side when going up the escalator, never crossing the street unless the light is green, not walking in the bike path because they will run you over, and always bagging your groceries quickly at the grocery store
4. Stores are NEVER open on Sundays and Holidays
5. You will not find the toilet in the bathroom but in it's own room next to the bathroom
6. If you own a TV you will be taxed.  It is very common for the TV tax people to randomly show up at your home and make sure you do not have a TV and stealing from the government
7.  Both mayonnaise and mustard come in tubes
8.  Only refrigerate Milk after you open it
9.  Vienna is incredibly international and I probably hear about 10 languages on the Ubahn (Metra Station) everyday
10.  Everything is incredibly clean and kept clean!


Here are some pics from my adventures thus far.  I start teaching school a week from Tuesday and I am very excited to meet my new students!

Our first meal: Chicken Kabob

Center of the city!

Choosing their good side

Becca and I in the city center

The palace of Vienna where Hitler addressed the Austrians

Pretty Market 

A Memorial to those affected in the Holocaust 

Overlooking Vienna

Vienna with the Danube 

Becca and I

God has a good sense of beauty

The Dahl family with the High School Principal, Nels

An authentic Austrian meal: Chicken Schnitzel, vegetables, and grape juice

Becca and I at a staff outing

Becca and I's first meal in our apartment!

If you want to check out Becca's blog, click here:  http://beccasblog15.blogspot.com/

Venturing to Vienna

The past two weeks have been quite the whirlwind!  After 10 hours of traveling to Vienna, a couple sleepless nights due to jet lag and many very confusing German conversations, I finally feel settled in Vienna.  It is a beautiful city and most of the people here are very nice and welcoming.  However, there is a sense of spiritual depravity which is heartbreaking.  My roommate, Becca, and I have had a few chances to tour the city and the spiritual emptiness is very obvious in the Cathedrals, homes and people we encounter.  We are hoping to be able to establish quality relationships with people in our apartment building and in the city in order to share the love of Jesus Christ.  

Our apartment is located very close to the center of Vienna.  It is in a great location and very safe (hope that makes you feel better Mom :) ).  We still do not have internet yet but are hopefully going to get it this week.  We've been borrowing our fellow co-workers internet in order to stay connected.  We have met many fellow teachers at the school and everyone has been extremely welcoming and helpful.  They've taken us all over Vienna, introduced us to the culture, and have translated many conversations.  I've been able to see my future classroom and found out yesterday that I'll be teaching High School Spanish 1 & 2 (at the same time...yikes), Middle School Spanish culture and communication and Middle School ELL for beginners.  I currently have two Korean siblings in that class!  I am very excited to start teaching these kids and building relationships with them.  

Since we have been so busy, I have not had the time to put pictures on my computer.  I will be posting pictures soon though!  I also updated my prayer list and contact information so please check it out because I would greatly appreciate all the prayers!  Miss and love you all!  :)  

Auf Wiedersehen!

After two weeks of packing, multiple goodbyes and a wonderful going away party thrown by my parents, I am finally on my way to Vienna, Austria.  I am very excited and eager to start my new life abroad and to begin serving Christ in a new environment.  I've been so blessed and thankful for all the people that have supported and encouraged me through this time of transition.  I will continue to post pictures, funny anecdotes, and prayer requests.  Thanks again and check out the pics below from the Farewell Open House!         

Where's the Party?  Here's the party!  

Goodbye Cake!  Thanks Jewel-Osco

 The party planners

So Long!  Farewell!  David taking the song to heart

Now the party can start

Some of my wonderful students came!  

Typical Burns and Burick

My favorite neighbors

High School and College friends

Tobi closing out the party 

Off to Austria...

Hello and welcome to my blog!  I am about to start an adventure that is both exciting and a little scary.  Starting August 1st, I will be calling Vienna, Austria my new home.  In Vienna, I will be teaching in an International Christian School to students from around the globe.  My primary reason for leaving Chicago and going to Vienna is to present the gospel of Jesus Christ through teaching in Vienna.  I will be teaching both ESL and Spanish in the school.  There will be many opportunities to share the gospel with my students and I am excited to start doing so.  This blog will give you updates about the school, my students, life in Vienna, joys, frustrations and all my experiences.  I greatly appreciate all the prayer and financial support that so many of you have given!  God has been extremely faithful and has answered many of the prayers!

Before I leave, I have been going through many transitions.  I moved back in with my parents which has been wonderful!  I have enjoyed having two months with my family before I leave.  In addition, I went to Houghton, New York to attend a two week training/orientation at Houghton College.  It was an amazing experience.  I learned so much about living in a different culture, my future students and was able to meet people from America who were going all over the World.  I am so glad that I participated in this orientation because I now feel so prepared to teach and live in Vienna.  Here are some pictures from my trip!

The group going to Austria

Learning how to make African tea

Delicious!

Fun day in the park

Fourth of July weekend trip to Niagara Falls