There are some towels

This post has nothing to do with my towel situation, which still makes my brain hurt and so I'm just going to leave it alone. On a much more positive note, I just bought boots, skis, and poles for EUR160.00. The skis are kind of broken in the back, but I was assured (in both German and English) that it doesn't matter and that a little glue will fix it right up. Time to rip up the Alps tomorrow!

Everyone warned me about cultural differences, but so far it hasn't been to difficult to acclimate. Check back with me in two months though, after I've gone that long without Taco Bell and Walmart.

Speaking of Taco Bell, the dogs here are probably the most obedient in the world. There's a dog that hangs out in the second floor of our class building. It's rather unnerving sometimes to see dogs just sitting there, staring at you, not doing anything, no owner in sight. I've yet to hear one bark.

I am doing my best to not force my American ways upon the people here, but it can be tough in some instances. Every time I need to cross a street (read: anytime I go anywhere), I feel like I am the guy who invented jaywalking. The Austrians, as a general rule, DON'T do it. Yesterday, just outside the dorm, there was a guy standing there at the crosswalk, staring at the don't walk symbol, just waiting for it to change, while there were no moving vehicles anywhere in sight. So we proceeded to just go ahead and cross, and a few seconds later he did the same, as if he just realized for the first time in his life "Oh wow, that was rather clever, wasn't it, what have I been doing just standing there all this time?"

Diversity Totals:

Black - 3

Asian - 1

Turkish - at least 4, and one of them makes a mean kebap.

In all seriousness, the Diversity counter is meant to illustrate the relative lack of diversity here in Innsbruck, at least compared to what I'm used to in the U.S. Although I guess I don't know what I mean by that, since I grew up in the 'burbs and went to Catholic school my whole life. I guess I'm just talking about what I see on TV. Still though, you get the picture.

And finally, a couple pictures:

This picture was taken on our first hiking trip on Monday

and this is everyone hanging out in the girls' apartment in Tirolerheim after the AWESOME dinner that they made for all of us!

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!