End of the year dinner w/ “The Crew”

I was invited to the employee end of the year party/dinner. Christian the boss boss told me that all the guys at Gruener were saying "Tyler has to be there" which I mean really I can't even express in words what that means to me. These guys have allowed me to really have the semester I wanted while I was here in Austria. They have quickly become family to me and I have learned more than they know from them.

Check out pictures here

I have learned from all and especially Benni (we called each other Crockett and Tubbs from Miami Vice)

1. If you are having fun, even behind the bar, the people will have fun.

2. Relax but make sure you’re keeping your eye on things. For me this was collecting glasses periodically, making sure bar surfaces were clean, running the dish washer, refilling straws, and serving drinks.

3. I learned most of the typical drinks ordered at Pavi and the hand signals that go with it.

4. Benni: Taught me that even when being the boss you can still have fun and be friends with your staff.

5. Benni: The importance of paying those even if they don’t ask for money. “You work for me, you get paid” that is the way it works no questions. Always pay people for their time and their work. And in turn people are more motivated to work for you. Especially when you are allowing them to have the time of their lives when otherwise they wouldn’t be able to afford it.

6. When you’re family your family. There are moments when Hugo, Sebe, Philip, Benni all advised me as if I was their brother. When Brandon Moseley came to visit they took him and showed him the greatest night we had while in Austria. I told them I really wanted to show my friend a good time and they took the invitation with open arms. Those moments I will never forget and those are the reasons I will return to Austria even if solely to visit these guys. These guys really helped me make this semester what I dreamed it would be.

These are just a few pictures…the pictures can not even begin to express how much I appreciate everything they have done for me and the times we’ve had together so far.

 

My favorite jams while here in Austria

As of right now these are two of my favorite tunes. I’ve got more on my YouTube profile.

This song is by Dj Krafty Kuts. He won “Best DJ” three years in a row which is no small achievement. It was awesome getting to see him perform live. The guy had 6 turn tables on the stage at once. He specializes in all forms of break beats which is what makes him so unique. He appeals to pretty much everyone and the song below is one of my favorites.

 

I first heard this song when Clemens was Dj’ing at Pavi…I wish the song was longer.

Blog topics from Christian and Amanda

1) What did you do for Thanksgiving?  Anything interesting?  I know it’s past, but it’s good for people here to see what students do celebrate while abroad.

What did I do? I slept and it was glorious. About 35 of the international students got together in the dormitory that is nearest to the school and had a big dinner there. The American students that cooked tried the best they could to recreate a typical thanksgiving dinner. From the pictures it looks pretty damn good.

2) I saw in your blog a post about the Swedish magazine.  Could you elaborate on that, please?

Definitely. My good friend Zebastian Nylund wrote an article explaining and commenting on his semester abroad here in Austria. The article was for a magazine published (I believe) for his school. I got credit because the pictures that you see are ones that I took. I thought it was pretty awesome that my pictures were worthy of any magazine period! Thanks Zebastian!

3) How do you think you’ve changed during your time abroad?  How do you see world now?  How do you see American culture?

What a loaded question. The answer is definitely yes. For me there were no mind blowing revelations that I have experienced so far. But then again I am still in the Austrian culture and something really might hit home when I get back to the states. I must say that before coming to Austria I really wasn’t that patriotic. But being here as definitely made me appreciate the States and the live I have there. I see the world as much more complex. For one Europe is not just “Europe.” Each country and even in Austria, each town, is different. Yes your still in Austria but every town has a different dialect for the most part. You can tell who is from Vienna versus those from Vorarlberg. The dialect here is so different that people from Germany have an extremely tough time making out words and understanding. I never knew that 30 min away you could have a completely different dialect. And so different that those traveling there might not know what you’re saying. That’s wild.

I can comment on how I see American culture but I would rather do so when I return to the states. That is, I believe, when I will notice the greatest differences.

4) In your first installment, you addressed the topic of race

Studying abroad will be challenging. I'll be facing all the unknowns. I guess honestly one of my biggest fears is being the "black" guy, to be honest with you. However, I know that Europe tends to not see race as much, but rather where you are from. So I think it will be very interesting to be seen as an "American" and not so much as "African-American."

Would you say the above was true of your experience?  If so, could you elaborate a little bit on it?  I understand if you don’t want to address this topic.  It’s your call.

I thought I was going to stick out like a sore thumb. In the first few days when walking to and from school just about everyone that drove by was staring at me. Even in the cafeteria at school. I quickly got over this but it was uncomfortable at the time. I remember thinking to myself, “Is it because I’m black? Is it because of the way I dress? Or is it as simple as they haven’t seen me before?” The most uncomfortable experience was probably in the cafeteria.

I mean we stare at everyone no matter what they are. So, it took me a minute but I realized that it is because no one here knows me. People are trying to place you, where are you from, why are you here, etc etc. But after a little while and once people got to know me it wasn’t a problem at all. I would say (and some local Austrian students would say) that I have gotten to know a great deal of people here and now have no problem walking around. Now that people know who I am it’s no problem. It just takes a while for people to get used to you and I realized I stare anytime someone is new as well. So often times, we have to remind ourselves that what is on your mind (for why you’re being stared at) might not necessarily be on the other persons mind.

In the News (Vol.at)

A little earlier this month I received an e-mail from Sabine asking if I wanted to take part in an interview. The interview was being done on international students studying here in Vorarlberg. I just happen to check my FHV e-mail account and saw the e-mail. So, I replied saying sure I wouldn’t mind helping (what I thought to be) a fellow student out. The next day (12.2.09) they came to the classroom and video taped us in class to see what the learning environment and class setting was like. Then at noon I was interviewed. I had NO CLUE that this was the news channel for all of Vorarlberg. But it turns out that it was. My friend Phillip posted up the link he found on the Vol.at website. I was like, “Say what!” It was on the front page of the website for a while to my surprise lol. But none the less here is the link.

Click the picture to go to the page. The video is near the bottom with the story above it.

The basic questions were:

The basics, what’s my name, where am I from, how long have I been here in Vorarlberg, what brought me here and how did I chose this particular place and school to study, what is one big difference that I’ve noticed? Those are the main questions that I remember! But, yea it is wild to see myself on the news. Apparently, many of the students here and people.

Below is a rough translation provided by Google Translator:

Tyler Cookson comes from the USA and at the University of Applied Sciences in Dornbirn spends a semester abroad. He already knows the cart, which he pronounces Carrrrren "and would like to go) (still in Moorrrrenbraumusem Mohrenbräumuseum before having to leave again.

Laura Kirjonen loves the "mountain" in Vorarlberg. Tyler and Laura are among the 58 visiting students who currently attend the University of Applied Sciences Dornbirn a semester abroad.Most visiting students - a total of 13 - to come this semester from the U.S. as Tyler. Finland is close behind with eleven students. From Sweden, Germany and Turkey are each five students.Three students are from Spain and from Mexico. The remaining countries of origin are Austria, Belgium, Slovakia, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Australia and Korea.

When asked whether he might Vorarlberg, Tyler replied fervently, "I love Vorarlberg" Here he has now met several families who regularly invite him to dinner.
Laura likes it so well in Vorarlberg, because the people here can speak High German, when asked why: "The Vorarlberg dialect is difficult for me unfortunately. But people also speak High German, and this is perfect! "

 

Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever

I got this in an e-mail from my mom!

Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever
Scroll to the bottom to read the text

"Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas  decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever.Great stories.

But two things made me take it down:'

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.
Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard."

Sunrise Avenue @ Conrad Sohm

Thanks to my good friend Benni (the boss at Pavi) I got to see a pretty cool concert last night. The tickets were not sold normally, rather people could only win tickets. I was talking with the boss at Conrad Sohm and he was telling me that they just finished playing to an audience of over 60,000 people. The music was definitely good and I think I’ll actually get some of their music. Hanging out with Benni behind the bar was a blast. Stupidly I did not bring my camera!

The band is currently touring Austria, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, and Eastern Europe. Their first able sold over 400,000 copies and 800,000 singles.The band is from Finland and the link will take you to their official website (www.sunriseave.com).