Last updated on August 12th, 2007:

"I began working in Austria at bwin on the 2nd of May, and continue to pursue my MFA on the side. I just recently included some images from my office space, my German course, a street performance in Graz, as well as a few words about my recent happenings."

La Strada:

This was a rare mixture: street circus that also takes the street as its theme. The things we typically see in the background, sometimes left behind us, became the incidental playthings of these street performers. A nice cup of tea, barely sipped, was just as important as matches or an old bucket, also ideal for juggling. It really brought me back to the days when clowns were entertaining, clever, and witty.

Below is just a few images from one act that I caught. This act was really cool. It was slow at the beginning, and simple, but really picked up pace towards the end. Just before a huge thunderstorm swept in overhead.

Here's a link to the 'La Strada' site...

http://www.lastrada.at

With alittle push from my girlfriend, I enrolled myself into my first German course. What better place than the Internationales Kulturinstitut (IKI), which is a non-profit organisation. It has specialised in teaching German as a foreign language for the last 20 years and is one of Vienna's most renowned language schools.

I enrolled in German 101, and had a wonderful experience. It was alittle difficult to manage 2 classes per week for 2 hours at a time, but it certainly helped me to get through the basics of the language. I plan to enroll myself again in September, but this will be a program internally within my company, so I'm not sure that it will be as good as IKI. However, the program within my company will be free, and that says a lot.

Monthly, IKI has between 250 and 350 students from all over the globe learning German, and although the images below don't show it...there were about 12 different countries represented during my studies. Students, mostly working adults, came from all over the world; Montenegro, Serbia, Iceland, China, Ireland, Japan, United States, Portugal, Columbia, India, Malaysia, Norway, Czech Republic, and Germany (our Teacher).

In the images below, we are all pointed to where we come from on the map, which was alittle like playing Twister. If you click on the image of us standing shoulder-to-shoulder, you'll see the larger image of us, which also displays the Karlskirche in the background. A beautiful backdrop for class, it was great!

More about IKI...

They are an Österreichisches Sprachdiplom (ÖSD) examination centre and a member of the Union of Austrian Language Schools (CAMPUS AUSTRIA), which was founded by the Austrian Ministry of Education. IKI has two locations. The school office and five classrooms are located at Opernring 7, while five more classrooms are in Bösendorferstrasse 9. Both are close to Karlsplatz/Oper underground station which can be reached on the U1, U2 and U4 trains, the 1, 2, D, J, 62 and 65 trams, the 4A and 59A buses and on the Badener Bahn.

http://www.ikivienna.at/en/

It's been awhile since I've publically given an update on my happenings, so here's one...

As you can see from above, I've recently uploaded some images of my workplace on my personal website. I've not been updating this site frequently enough, but I hope to make some headway this weekend.

In general, the weather over the past few months has been quite hot (87-102F) and it's a major change for Austrians. Records continue to be broken throughout Europe and the weather has been a bit extreme over the last few years. Probably globalwarming, but...that's an old story.

So, I've been employed for about 3 months now, and I've begun to really settled into my role. Unfortunately, the role I set out to obtain it's exactly the role I possess today. In fact, the role itself isn't all that interesting, but I try to stay positive because in reality it's a job that allows me to be here with my girl and live internationally. Two very important things in my life. However, I'm not sure how long this justification will hold out, because I'm starting to get alittle weary with my particular role in my department, but overall the company is really cool and the people are awesome! Thinking positive, maybe things will change in the future, as there's going to be some changes happening over the next few months. My fingers are crossed.

As far as my language learning goes, my German has basically been on Summer vacation because I've not been enrolled in classes. As you may or may not have known, I took one class in the Spring and it was successful. I learned more in those few months (4 hours/week) than I had learnt over the last 2 years. Unfortunately, I must wait until the Fall before I enroll in the follow up class. I should also point out the plain truth, which is that I'm quite lazy when it comes to learning (in general) and so it's a chore to sit down and review a German article with a dictionary each evening I arrive home from a day's work. However, I anticipate that whenFall arrives, I will become more active. The cool thing is that this company is holding internal German classes, which I've already signed up for, and it begins in September. This will force me to take time out of my day/week to focus on the German language, which is good for me.

Other than that, I am working out at the gym about 4X a week, and have been doing so for the past 3+ months. I find that I'm back on par now, and from now on I can take it to the next level and really start to build some muscle. My motivation was the fact that pant sizes here in Europe aren't like they are in the States. It's rare to find a size 38 inch waist on pants, and considering that I arrived here in Austria with a 40 inch waist, that didn't bode well for my retail therapy. So now, I'm happy to say that I'm at a 38 inch waist and just in time for the Summer sales. :)

My girl (Lili) and I are planning to take a late Summer vacation, probably to Tuscanny or to Paris. This will be good, considering that I haven't been out of Austrian's two main cities since arriving. Although that may sound fun, it's tough when you don't have a car to travel alittle. Arriving to Austria, the best thing about being here is that it's centrally located and you can travel to many (if not all) the major European cities within 90 minutes by plane. So, this late Summer holiday will be the fulfillment of that opportunity, and I hope to make many more once my 25 days of vacation kicks in after 6 months of employment. That's another advantage of working in Europe, the holiday vacation days that they give you almost doubles to that in the States.

So, that's it for now. Other than that, I continue to miss my family, of course, as well as my friends....and Mexican food. I hope to have some visitors next year...such as my Cousin, my Mom, and possibly my Brother and Dad. We'll see though. Also, I will probably be making my way back to the States next year to do some traveling and enjoy California once again. When living there last Fall/Winter (2006), both myself and my girl didn't have much time to travel outside of San Francisco. I would really like for her to experience Santa Cruz and the other great cities up-and-down the coast. Also, it would be great to visit some of my best friends down there in So.Cal.

Until next time...hope all is well.

I think an update on my progress with my graduate degree is over-due, so here's the basic update. Basically, I am receiving mostly "A's and B's", with exception for an "F" I received because I didn't withdrawl from a class before the the cut-off date. Unfortunately, they can't over-ride that class, so my GPA will suffer from it. Now, I'm taking that same class, and will most likely receive an "A" for my efforts. But, I'm about a year and a half down with my program, and now it's time to focus on my Thesis and Directive Study Program with my Instructor (i.e., Advisor).

This began me thinking about my Graduate program (in general) at the Academy of Art University. Well, this Spring 2007 Semester, I am taking a few courses, which include an Account Planning and Branding course. I have been looking quite forward to these courses, considering that my emphasis will lay here, and find that these two courses will be crucial to my future success.

So, each week I log into class, expecting to learn something new, hoping to discover some new method or insight into the art of branding and the management of it. Instead, I've become really discouraged lately as it's just become a sort of typical Internet Discussion Board where everyone involves sort of just discusses their own personal feelings and experiences with brands. Rather, I would have preferred to attend a more professional course, wherein I could acquire skills that I could eventually walk away with and feel good about the money I invested.

I think it's great that we can have the luxury of a 21st Century Dialogue--which creates opportunities for different colors, cultures and worlds away to communicate via positive dialogue in ways that would have been impossible a few short years ago. And from time to time, I see a few glimmers of genius from each student, but I think it would be idealistic of me to think I could gain a great deal from my fellow classmates. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly appreciate and value each of my classmates' opinions and enjoy reviewing their respective assignments, but they are for the most part based on a limited knowledge of the subject. I would hazard a guess as to say that most of my fellow students come into this class, not as experts but as pupils from a wide variety of disciplines. Including myself in that. As a result, these few courses on Account Planning and Branding, our assigned books, and a couple of related classes, make-up the base of our knowledge.

I would have personally prefer to receive more Account Planning and Branding specific information from experts in the field, regardless of whichever format that were to present itself in....videos, case studies, Instructor's comments and experiences, etc. Because I believe that once I can learn the proper Account Planning and Branding skills, then applying them through the watchful eye of my Instructor, coupled by the creative input from my fellow classmates, would be essentially become the proper balance in helping me to succeed as I move out into that "real world". Because when I finally venture out into that real world, employers will be calling upon me to provide accurate branding strategies for whatever means in order to propel that business.

Being that my this is a graduate course, I would have expected the weight of the course to be revolved around providing answers that have already been fleshed out by experts in the field, rather than theoretical discussions using our current feelings towards brands. I am afraid that when I walk away from this course I will have only learnt a great deal about Advertising in general, but only the basics of this what brands are and how they function, something that I am very interested in at the current moment.

Having said that, I am strongly considering a post-Graduate course dealing specifically with Marketing (e.g., Branding, Advertising). There are two programs that I am considering at this time, and the leading of the two is in Monaco, namely the Master of Science in Luxury Goods and Services (MScLGS), which is a 10-month course completed in five 7-week terms. The program is designed for recent graduates and professionals who wish to acquire knowledge and skills specific to the luxury industry. The MScLGS seeks to produce innovative and imaginative managers who can fill senior positions in strategic planning, identity and brand management, product policy, new product development, and product portfolio management in the luxury goods market.

So, who knows... that's where my head is at the moment. Thought I would share it.

Today, I received my official working permit, so I'm now part of the Austrian and European community. I had to wait 2 months for it, and I've decided to kick of this celebration using the religious holiday of Easter. Easter in Austria is observed for a few more days that in America, so a week off seems like a good idea. Before I left, I wanted to share with you some of the traditional aspects of Easter, as I've also gone ahead and attached a few photos from last year's celebration.

Easter in Austria: Food

Food plays a prominent role in any holiday, and Easter is no exception. The pig has always been a symbol of good luck and prosperity among Indo-Europeans and the age-old custom of eating pig or boar meat is still alive, also you might find lamb on the menu, or rabbit...and not the chocolate kind. (This was a shock on my first Easter here, and I had to inform my girlfriend that us Americans don't typically eat the Easter bunny.) In addition pastries and bread also figure prominently into Vienna's Easter fare, Easter bread with raisins is baked in twisted or braided strands and with the coffee later the traditional Sachertorte might be served. At many Easter dinner tables you will find a basket of dyed eggs and of course a nice wine from the so-called "Austrian Tuscany" regions of Styria. And of course, a lovely centerpiece, typically made from a pussy willows mixed with spring flowers like tulips with and beautiful hand painted Easter eggs hanging from them. Easter dinner like other meals in most parts of Austria are a time to slow down and enjoy the time with family and friends, so sitting at the table for five or six hours at a time is not uncommon. Another part of the culture I had to adapt to.

Easter in Austria: Some Of Their Symbols And Customs

If you look back through the centuries at some of the symbols and customs associated with Easter, curious origins emerge. In the early days of Christianity, the church incorporated many pagan rites of spring into its Easter celebrations as it struggled to gain acceptance as the primary religion in Europe. Pagan rituals using bells, drums, bonfires, processions, and dancing, all once employed to drive away the bad spirits of winter and celebrate spring, were adapted by early Christians to celebrate Christ's Resurrection instead. Easter in Austria: Fires

In the Alpine provinces of Austria, Easter fires burn on mountain peaks after sunset on Holy Saturday, and bands of musicians go through the towns, playing sacred hymns. They also burn crosses in the region I will be visiting, and I can assure you that it has nothing to do with the Nazism or Kl Klux Klan worshipping. Many of the rituals pre-date the 1940s, and the fire is seen as light. Granted, I was shocked alittle when I first saw it. They are sometimes called Judas fires, because effigies of Judas Iscariot are frequently burned in them. The Easter eve bonfires predate Christianity and were originally intended to celebrate the arrival of spring. The burning effigy once symbolized winter.Easter in Austria: Passion Plays

Before the invention of the printing press, the church relied on visual aids such as paintings, sculpture, and even theater to teach the illiterate the gospel and to spread the faith. Passion plays focused on the events surrounding Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection. These plays were popular in the Middle Ages, but by the second half of the 18th century, largely forbidden. In Austria though, they can still be seen. The oldest from 1613 is performed in Erl in Tyrol every six years, as well as in Thiersee, also in the Tyrol, and for 200 years at the Roman quarry in St. Margarethen in the Burgenland. These plays, however, are performed during Lent or Easter, nor are some perfromed year.

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this, and Happy Easter to you all!

As of today, I become an official member of the Austrian and European Union community. I was fortunate enough to obtain both a residence and working permit in Austria, and am quite relieved. The process took about 2 months, but today it has finally ended. I will begin to take courses in German on April 10th, and my first day of work begins shortly thereafter on May 2nd.

This year, instead of just watching Fasching from the television set, I participated. With the help of my friend, Wolfy (Wolfgang), we managed to come up with these outfits for the celebration. Here's a weblink to a video, from the local media channel...

http://www.kleine.co.at/allgemein/video/regional/351636/index.do

As of January 31st, I began my journey back to Europe. This time within the city of Vienna, Austria.

To become more acquainted with this beautiful city, might I suggest watching this 25 minute video...

Click here to view the video.

Last I wrote on this blog, I was just returning from my living in Austria, however over the last few months I have been trying to get back to the first-world, even though I still don't own a cell phone.

I'm scheduled to move into an apartment in San Francisco on November 1st, which I'm happy to report. When in comparison to the three story building I occupied while living in Morocco, this new San Francisco apartment fails in comparison. This new San Francsico apartment is small, but that's all I can afford at the moment, and it's all relative anyway. The good thing is that my apartment is in a very central location, and just a few block from Union Square. This works well for me, because I work only a few short blocks from Union Square.

During these last few months, I've also managed to find work. The work is going well, for the most part since starting on October 1st. The company is called eLUXURY, and it's basically the online retail division of LVMH, which is the world's largest conglomerate of luxury goods. I'm getting the hang of working 9-to-5 again, but it's come with some strain for sure. Coming from the last 2+ years having no sort of schedule what-so-ever, this 9-to-5 stuff was a harsh welcome back. Actually, it was more like a welcome "kick in the nuts"! The job itself isn't a real high-paying job or even a sexy one for that matter, but it does offer me an opportunity to move within the luxury industry which is a definite advantage, as I am given the advantage of transferring to the 50+ brand divisions under LVMH.

Other than that, school continues to push forward. I've had a few bumps over the last few days due to the fact that I'm trying to juggle a new job and commuting (2 hours - oneway). But, I hope things will begin to smooth out over the next weeks as I finally get settled in. I'm excited for Spring Semester, because I'll be taking courses that really have to do with my particular interests. And, if possible, I might have the opportunity to take in-person classes now that I'll live in San Francisco. Until now, all my courses have been taken online, and although they've worked well for my schedule, they're still not as good as in-person class could be.

The other thing that's highly on my mind is my girlfriend's arrival...

She'll be arriving in a few weeks from Austria to stay with me for the next 90 days. During that time she'll be looking for employment within International and Human Rights Law, so hopefully there will be something available for her in San Francisco. :)

Of course, if there's any of my friends out there that are coming to the Bay Area or even Northern California for that matter, than I would hope that you get in contact with me. The best way is via this Blog or my personal email if you have it.

As expected, the first few days here on American soil with my family were remarkable, but they are slowly fading with each passing of the day. It's not that being here isn't glorious, it's just that the excitement has faded a bit for both parties. Now, it's back to the normal way of life, as it should be. However, what I find difficult to extinguish are the day dreams of a better future for myself, which I had sought out to make reality since going abroad. What's also omnipresent in this daily and normal life that I find myself in is this constant reminder that my day dreams of a better future are in fact the only reality I have. The reality being that they're still only dreams. Which can be a bit depressing and mentality draining, as I begin to compare that with what I held to be true in the way of a normal life in Austria for the past several months. Sure, it's good to back home...for starters my reading comprehension is at an all time high, and it was great to hang out with my older brother again, however the excitement of adventure and the unknown only alludes me here in America. And I'm not one of those people who are anti-America, as I wouldn't change my Nationality for anything, but it's just that America (for me) is not the end all be all.

One main reason could be that the love I still have for my girlfriend, which is harder to just let slide than originally conceived, remains deep within me and prevents me from finding that solidarity here in America. As is the case currently, she remains in Austria, but we remain connected through the marvels of 21st century technology. Unfortunately, the technology has yet to implant nor develop the subtle touch or smell from a loved one, so all we can do is continue to share comments about our future. What is remotely true for me as it has been said many times over, is that a bond grows stronger with distance. But, what I know to be in fact true is that our relationship has a solid foundation which enables this distance relationship to take place. However, the blossoming of new experiences surrounding this foundation have begun to whither. As much as we attempt to un-earth our history in remembrance of our love, it frequently feels more like a dusty old vase that was once adorned with the vibrance of an audience. As you may notice with reading this, my thoughts and emotions are mixed, having felt both positives and negatives from this return home. Often I feel like the ground I stand on isn't complete, and if I don't continue to build up on it than it will just dry up and crumble beneath me. In other words, without the constant revitalization of new experiences, the ground becomes less fertile as the days linger on. I wonder, is what I'm talking about my job, my environment, or just the love I left in Austria? To be back on solid ground has only proven itself to be rooted in confusion at best.

There were weird and interesting cloud formations over Graz yesterday mid-day around 5pm. The wind picked up rapidly, and really out of no where a Thunderstorm came that lasted only about an hour. Turning daylight into these beautiful colored cloud formations that were like nothing I've ever seen before. The pictures don't really capture it, but as I hope you'll see, they were amazing.