February 13, 2019

The Ausländer Project: the Australian in Vienna who thinks she’s a flute, but wants to be a violin

We’re sooooo excited to introduce ‘The Ausländer Project.’

We’re tired of bad news and the negative vibe sticking to the word, “Ausländer,” in the mainstream media. We’re also tired of the media’s negative portrayal of the people the word refers to. We’re hoping to take the word Ausländer and make it a positive word, empower it and make people proud to own the title.

We intend to do this by featuring the stories of all kinds of characters who have (somehow) ended up in Vienna from all parts of the world.

Info

What the hell is The Ausländer Project?

We’re tired of bad news and the negative vibe sticking to the word, “Ausländer” and the people it’s referring to in the mainstream media.

With The Ausländer Project, we’re hoping to take the word Ausländer and make it a positive word, empower it and make people proud to own the title. We also hope to remind the Ausländer who feel a little lonely in Vienna that they’re not alone, but one of many.

We intend to do this by featuring the stories of all kinds of characters who have (somehow) ended up in Vienna from all parts of the world. As when you think about it, how random is this city to end up in? This can only mean interesting stories are behind the lives that many Ausländer have built for themselves here.

Whether you’re from Afghanistan, Australia, Britain, Syria, Croatia, Bosnia, Germany, or Burgenland – We’re all Ausländer.

And don’t go sticking on certain nationalities the title ‘Ausländer’ and others the term, ‘Expat’ – We’re. all. Ausländer.

If you’re an Ausländer and have an interesting story to tell, and like the idea of supporting the mission of The Ausländer project, get in contact with us: editorial@viennawurstelstand.com

After all, we’re all Ausländer somehow, right?

We met our first Ausländer, Catherina Lee from Australia, in her favourite place in Vienna – the majestic Konzerthaus. Scroll down to read more about Catherina.

Vienna Würstelstand (VWS): How the hell did you end up Vienna?

Catherina (C): I first did a violin masterclass when I was 14 with a bunch of different professors across Europe.

I met Gerhard Schulz – who’s my professor now – and he said “yeah, you’re talented, maybe you could be in my class.”

So I did the exam when I was 15 and I started studying here in Vienna.

VWS: And you came without your family?

C: Yes.

VWS: What was it like when you first arrived here?

C: I started my Bachelor (at the Universität für Musik) immediately, which now I think it wasn’t the smartest decision I made.

I was 15 and had the idea – “I wanna be a real uni student!” Then I started, but didn’t speak German at all.

I had to take all of these classes – musical acoustics and history – and no one knew I was 15, so they were talking to me like an adult and calling me – “die Dame”!

VWS: Do you have any regrets?

C: Yeah, I think at the beginning I wasn’t given enough rules and restrictions. I mean, I was living alone in a city at 15 so I was free to do whatever I wanted.

This meant, of course, that I was never practicing!

VWS: If you were a musical instrument which one would you be?

C: I know it’s so lame, but I think I’d probably be a violin.

I wish I could say I would be a piano, ’cause that’s so much cooler, so much more powerful.

But realistically, I’d probably be a violin.

‘The violin (and especially the viola) resembles the human voice more than other instruments. And it looks like a woman’s body!

But I’m not very curvy, so I probably should be a flute.’