Cheeseburger & Fries....Ham & Eggs....Wienerschnitzel &.....

Since its been raining for the last 24 hours, let me tell you a couple of stories about funny situations that occurred over the last few days---

The first was when we went to dinner the other night with some friends from the university. They took us to an authentic Austrian pub- we sat outside in an open courtyard- and the waitress brought us menus (ours fortunately in English). I was DETERMINED to order something different, but everytime I found something I hadn't tried before it had some 'deadly' ingredient that took it off my acceptable list. So eventually I relented and ordered my favorite- "Wiener Schnitzel" which is of course a breaded, and pan fried piece of pork- it came with parsley potatoes but rather than that, I REALLY wanted to have Spätzle.

The place I was introduced to this Austrian delight is interestingly Waverly, IA at the Brandenburg Restaurant (now sadly gone)- SO while in Austria and Bavaria I will try to get it EVERY chance I get! (I've even found it in the grocery stores now to make at home!!). It is a delicious side dish made of flour, egg, sometimes milk and salt. Anyway- I asked my friend Alexandra who teaches at Klagenfurt if she would order me Wienerschnitzel & Spatzle. She BURST OUT LAUGHING- and then told the other faculty at the table the substitute I wanted- and they burst out laughing- "What's so funny????" I asked to which Alexandra answers, "If that is vhat you vant then ve will get you Vienerschnitzel and Spatzle!...but just so you know, NO Austrian would EVER order those two things together!" Which brings up laughter throughout the table again-

Why is this so funny??

I say, "Well I'm glad that I can be such an American joke for you all"- more laughing-

Suddenly the waitress arrives, and Alexandra begins to order- All I hear is "vel kramidashing, der vodel ya vienerschnitzel and spatzle-..." The waitress looks up......Alexandra says, "Yah....der kleminishina americanish..." The waitress tries so hard not to laugh and chuckles into her pad-

In the end, Carol asked if it was akin to someone ordering a hotdog and broccoli- Say that, "Yah, it would be like that"-

The next day at work- I'm walking down the hall after my class- and I run into one of the Marketing faculty members (Ursula)- she is married to an accounting faculty member I know... she says, "I hear you had quite a time last night.." I say, "Yeah, it was really fun- we went out to eat with Alexandra and Susanne and her daughter..." ....Ursula says, "And I hear you had some vienerschnitzel with spatzle....." and she begins to chuckle....I go, "WHAT IS IT WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!"