Living in Graz

Inspired by Astrid's story about her flatmates, I decided to describe my own experiences in Graz. First of all you have to know that I'm quite pleased of changing places which means that I could move to a new shared flat just every six months. The reason is that I like living in different districts, I like the sheer process of getting used to new surroundings where you can always explore so much and I enjoy making new friends (because I always assume that my new flatmates should become my friends;). What's more, I just adore "collecting" new addresses in Graz which might sound strange. Well, isn't it altogether just a pure expression of my affection for Graz?

Anyway, the first flat I moved in was almost perfect. At that time I even didn't know that I'd live just 5 min. by foot from our institute. Wittekweg, where it was situated, was a 100 m flower strip with quiet neighbours and a friendly caretaker. From one side the street was closed by building walls, separating it from St Leonhard Street and on the other side a narrow river was greeting you at the bend at the entrance. If you add to it that the supermarket and the bakery was opposite your house, you had two tram lines to pick from, an indoor swimming pool 200 m away, you could watch squirrels playing in the trees the first thing in the morning and your flatmate was the most friendly, communicative, reliable and motivating person in the world, you get a perfect picture of how life can go. Unfortunately I wasn't to stay there more than 6 months, because my flatmate graduated and came back to Germany, and a nice family took over our flat. Apropos Sebastian, my flatmate, I really owe him a lot. He was my most patient German teacher who could listen to me for hours, used to correct me when I was making mistakes and praise me when I was making some progress. I'll save the memory of him for my whole life... (at this point I always become sentimental)

Anyway, after leaving Wittekweg and St Leonhard I got a place in a dorm which I thought at that time could be an interesting social experience and the most affordable option. To my misfortune I didn't inform myself exactly what would expect me there. For most people who study in Graz the name of this dorm says all, namely... Hafnerriegel. Yes, the town's "skyscraper" which has become a kind of Balkan ghetto recently. I feel sorry most of all for unaware Erasmus students who are probably assigned to such locations by their exchange supervisors. Poor fellows arrive and are close to tears when they see the state of their room, mould in the bathroom and a filthy kitchen, abandoned already by the previous generation. Honestly, I felt the same. There's not much to tell apart from me living only with men once again. One of them was an Australian guy which I thought might be useful for my oral English practise, but unfortunately he turned out to be uncommunicative. Well, bad luck. After all I stayed only for 3 months (it must be a record ;) and left Graz for the summer.

When I came back in October I was desperately looking for a place to stay and accepted the first offer I got. It means that I'm sitting in a tiny 9 m2 room at the moment, having a view at the grey, communist style Augarten Hotel. Without doubts it's not the most beautiful picture, but at least I can spy on hotel guests having relaxing time in the swimming pool, because this indoor swimming pool is exactly what I can see from my window. Although it's a kind of degradation to exchange Wittekweg's conveniences (among others an opportunity to go for a swim for real) for fantasies about what would be if I were one of the hotel guests, it's still better than Hafnerriegel (I always try to look for some bright sides of life ;). However, when the northern wind blows, I'll be ready to change my place once again...