Spotlight on the Strassenbahn

We want you to get to know a bit about something we do everyday - ride the Strassenbahn (say SHTRAHssen bawn). So the following pictures and descriptions show a little bit about what it's like. :) It's basically a streetcar - of which there are probably hundreds around Vienna going all day long on various routes. They run on electricity and there are usually two cars attached with one driver in the front. Smoking isn't allowed on them (good thing!), but eating and drinking is. You see and hear all kinds of people and can learn about the Austrian way of personal space, eye contact, right-of-way, etc. It's pretty fun if you have the right attitude! Hope you enjoy it!

The sign to look for is the one that says Strassenbahn Haltestelle. It means "streetcar stop". 

What's that off in the distance?? It's a bird. It's a plane! It's a Strassenbahn!! 

Almost here..... 

Now The Strassenbahn is here and it's time to get on! 

The entrance to the Strassenbahn. That's Lisa and Andy Larson getting on (Andy's silly). To get on, you have to push the button above the Blue sign that says "Entwerter".
 

A sign inside the Strassenbahn above the door. They basically say "Warning - keep the doorway clear - the doors close themselves" and "Want to get off? Please push the button at the right time." By the way - what is the "right time"???? Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm....... in Austria.
 

A view inside the Strassenbahn including Anne. :)
 

The 9th graders in one of Chris' Bible classes. 

But it's coooooold!!!

I just finished teaching P.E. to the middle school boys (6th-8th grade). It's a very energetic group, and not always so easy to handle. Good thing that I have a co-coach, Dan Hanna, to help me out.
So, we've been teaching American Football - totally new and confusing to some, and very familiar to others. It's been pretty fun - eventhough I'm not so good at football. Anyhow, today has been probably the coldest day here so far - maybe around 40 or 45 degrees Farenheit. And it's windy also - making for some cold little hands on those boys.
Cold weather + middle school boy hands + wind = whiny time. It was funny at times and sometimes bothersome - but we made it through. They were running around with their hands inside their shirts and sweatshirts, while still trying to catch the ball. Some of them just couldn't believe that people play that game in rain and snow and really really cold weather.
I think that will help them remember to bring their sweatshirts from now on. :)