End of Summer School -- Salzburg, September 26, 1969

Picture postcard: Dom in Salzburg, erbaut 1628 von Solari under Erzbischof Paris Lodron

Dear Parents--

This is the last day in the summer school.  Boy, am I glad!  Yesterday was the final test on which I got an A, and that makes an A for the course.  Not bad!  We graduate later today.

We don't have to be in Innsbruck until Wed (1. Oct).  In the meantime, Pat, I, and some others are going to Vienna and Munich.  We were going to Prague, but Czech. is closed during the purge.  It doesn't matter to me -- I can save the money for Berlin, where we're going after registration, when we have 2 weeks of travel.  University opens 20. Oct.

About my money after I get settled in Innsbruck, I won't be spending money except on vacations.  The only big expense I expect is my skis, but Dr. Lanzinger can get us a super discount!  I think when you come to visit, we should travel in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain.  It will be fun.  More from Vienna.

Love,
Steve.

Arrival in Paris -- August 20, 1969

Picture postcard: PARIS La Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre.

Dear Mom and Dad,

This may be the first postcard ever written to you from the Eiffel Tower.  I am standing in it now.  The voyage was most pleasant.  I won the big finale bingo game on the ship.  Prize was $27.  Came in very handy.  Saw this beautiful church this afternoon.  Walked around its towers.  Living is not too expensive and ND paid us $10 for the day.  Headed for Salzburg tonite.

Steve

Why We're Here

I'm always surprised when I see a collection of letters published because I think, "who's organized enough to keep all that correspondence anyway?"  Especially correspondence of one's own.  So one day earlier this year when I was going through old stuff I didn't have time to throw away when I moved I found a bunch of my own.

For now I'll say that it is all from the academic year 1969-1970, when I was 19 going on 20.  Being born in a year that ends in 0 is something I've always felt special about, although the only practical benefit is that it's easier to remember how old you are when somebody asks you unexpectedly.  I'll freely admit that it's seemed less special as the years go by.

Anyway, I had the good fortune -- and that's surely what it was -- to spend that academic year in the heart of Europe.  When I think of how much my parents trusted me to let me do that at that time, it's kind of overwhelming.  They must been incredibly apprehensive but they never showed it.  Good on them.  I am forever grateful.

I thought it might be fun to just transcribe this correspondence as is.  What did a 19-year-old boy who'd never been much out of the deep Midwest think it was worth letting family and friends know about his experiences so far from home?  An innocent abroad, for sure!  Let's get started.