Huneke and Kremer letters

Jan. 5, 1983

Dear Everyone,

Hi! I'm sitting in a cafe on my lunch break and an old couple asked me to sit with them and started talked and I understood about 3/4 of what they were saying, even though they were talking very slow for me. Then they found out I spoke English and we spoke 1/2 and 1/2. There are a lot of old people here, some like this couple are great, others - the old ladies esp., are old bags. There are places like this all over - I'm drinking my 'Heisse Schokolade.' (hot choc.) and everyone around me is having their coffee and pastries and sitting with people they may or may not know. These little cafes are all over, as are places with wurst and Bread etc. It's raining outside and everyones surprised they haven't had snow. The Center were we have classes is on the ring near the center of the city. Two more ladies just took the couples place at my table and I'm not picking up 2 much of the conversation - they have a Vienna dialect. We just smile at each other and I'll pass the sugar. I feel like I'm getting to know the city a little bit - it's beautiful! I now know how to walk home now, instead of taking the Strassenbah (streetcar), and I see a lot more that way - I walk past Stephansdom Cathedral, through the Hapsburg palace and its imperial gardens, past the Parliment and the Rathaus (town hall), and by all the main shopping area. I'm rooming w/ Sheila Hennesy - a Pi Phi - and we have 5 or so Austrians on our hall, but they don't come back till next week and have all of Feb. off. The U. of Austria has something like 90,000 students taking classes! I've talked to the son of Helgas sister - who Murray knows - but haven't gotten hold of Mrs Doujak yet. I called today and since Mr. Doujak is a doctor an answering service for all the doctors in Vienna answered and started babbling so I threw the phone to our German Secretary and she handled it, and appologized for my being a stupid American. I'm meeting w/ the Broadway lady next week - she sounds really nice. All the people here wear dark coats or furs. We're going tonight to a place where you drink the new wine of this year in underground cellars and supposedly get drunk after 2 glasses and the Taxis and Strassenbahs make you pay a deposit for the ride home in case you throw up. Sounds like fun. Our program director Haiti says well all be hungover tomorrow. Shes a great lady - really funny. My German teacher is also great - Helga. I'm also going to take E. Europe since 1945 from some man and Art in Vienna since 1800 by a layd who is supposed to be a WITCH and a complete bitch (excuse me) but knows a lot about art (were having her talk to us this afternoon) and I'll take classical music too. We're going to the Opera Sat. and I'm going to Salzburg next weekend and hopefully opening the ball the next weekend and then to Russia hopefully the 30th-6th. So there's not that much European travel in the immediate future. I'm learning tons about Austria and esp. Vienna - we're [?] told about the people, customs, history, [?], food, how to act etc. Everyone from last quarter just loves the city etc and I can see why. I think I'll be completely sick of wurst, wienerschnitzel, potatoes etc - everything is boiled, fryed or wrapped up as a sausage or breaded or is a pastry. The beer is great! We're each supposed to find a cafe we like and come a 'regular' where they know us. We had waltzing lessons yesterday which was fun - we all stepped on each others toes basically. Tomorrow is a national holiday for the 12th day after xmas and little boys go around dresses as the 3 kings and singing. We saw some yesterday - they're really cute. We're going to hear the boys choir Sun - I think. Everyone in our gorup is great - a variety of people but a good mixture. We've been doing things in a herd but are starting to break off and do stuff in smaller groups and alone which is good cause then you can talk to the Austrians. Mom, our Studentenheim (dorm) is next door to a brass shop you would love. But I haven't

done any shopping. When you go in a store they walk up and was you what you want and make you nervous if you just browse. I hope your trip was good Mom & Dad and school's good for [Mur?] and [Lori?]. It still doens't seem like I'm in Europe for some reason - just in a city where they switched the signs and language! Well I'm off to hear the lady talk - the legend we've been hearing about for the past couple days - horror stores! Well write soon and write lots!

Having Fun

Wishgn you were here!

Love,

Chrissie :)

Chrissie Huneke Stanford in Austria Leugerpkit 32 A1010 Wren Osterreich

Mr. and Mrs Humeke 1206 San Mateo Dr. Menlo Park, Calif. 94025 U.S.A

March. 8

Hi Kids!

Lori - Margaret (cousin) sent me this letter and really wanted me to continue it - I can't cause nobody will bother sending me stuff overseas so you can do it instead - I get 1/2 the profits though.

Mom & Dad - Enclosed is my check for spring tuition and my deferment slip. Please give Murray my check and the slip and have him take it to the cashiers office ASAP so I don't have a late charge. It'll be $120 extra if it is not done by Reg. Day for spring qtr. Nice little check huh! rom my mkt acct - not at $3307.15 (including the $500 I asked you in my last letter to transfer to my checking)

I got a letter from you mom - thanks. Right now you may be in Mexico - I'm planning to call this week so I'll wait till youre back - if you went.

I start break on Wed. next week (16th). Our travel group now is Sheila, Moby (don't start any false Atherton gossip mom - we're not going out or anything. Thought you might think so since we met for a weekend. I know your mind too well! :)), Trish and Anna and were planning to go down to S. Italy, hopefully going to Sicily and Capri - no official plans really. When next qtr. starts can you have: Trish, Anna, Shiela and Natali (another girl in Vienna) over for dinner sometime? I want people who were here to tell you all about everything! :) I'll tell them to call! I'm planning a Vienna reunion party next fall at home - I thought I'd warn you in advance! maybe we can throw a ball in the living room?! (just kidding). You were right about the dates of my break - April 23 - May 6. But word has it that it's a misprint (for 2 week break) and it's only supposed to be a week long, but one person said they may keep it as 2 weeks since everyone's planning for it now. :). It'd be great if you came over! I was planning to go to Spain, Portugal and Morocco (Africa) for those 2 weeks but if you came I wouldn't. But if you came another time - say either earlier (Ap. 4?) or later (May 9 or May 16 weeks) or whenever I could do

both. Obviously I'm the more flexible so whatever you can do. It sounds like I'll only have 3 days of classes a week if all works out, so it'll be a more expensive qtr w/traveling probably, but maybe not since I plan to use more contacts next qtr - not many of them were on this side of Europe where I went this qtr. I'm doing something w/ Bob Fritz' friends daughter & her friends next Tues after my last final and the Bechtel ladys friends' daughter who I've had lunch with twice is taking me driving around outside Vienna Friday, and I'm having my last dinner with the Doupakes Fri or Sat - they loved your letter. The Broadway lady, Sandi, is taking me around the Zentral Office of her company on Thursday, somewhere between all of this studying for finals fits in - I'm not sure how exactly where yet! I still have 2 conzerts for music class to go to and write papers on. A busy week. Vienna is one heck of a great city; I want you two to visit here!!! Mom, you should stay over here longer if dad needs to get back. You two can go around England etc. together and then we can go to Italy or France or here or somewhere together - it'd be great! or have Jane come meet you here - better than any gift to show!

Well I'm [?] hit some books. It's getting warmer hear yeah! I didn't even need mittens once today! You know it's spring since the hat and fur stores are starting to convert into ice cream shops.

Sand all mail to Cliveden now!

Miss you all - take care!

Love always,

Chrissie