The Hero's Journey

I have always wanted to go to the USA. I have been fascinated by this country ever since. Of course I'm not that naive that I woulnd't be aware of negative aspects of the United States or that I believe the USA is like it's portrayed in Hollywood movies and drama serieses. Anyhow, there is something which attracts me ... is it the so called "American Dream" where everything is possible? ... is it the saying "The Land of the Free"? ... or the sparkling and overwhelming fantasy world the dream factory "Hollywood" produces ... Actually, it doesn't matter what attracts me, I just need to know that I'm attracted by it and that I got the chance to live there for a year and study filmmaking.

The Salzburg University of Applied sciences gave me the chance to go to United States, more exactly to Bowling Green, Ohio for studying. It was granted in January 2007 and it was far, far away then ... but now ... it's pretty close, and sometimes closer than I'm aware of.

Two weeks ago, Martin (who is also going to study at Bowling Green), David (who is going to South Utah) and I went to Vienna in order to get our visa, which is not as easy as getting a visa for another country. You need to fill out a thousand forms, there is even one for men between the age of 16 and 32 with questions asking for war and weapon experiences and even if you plan a terroristic action in the United States of America. Well, well ... I really do wanna meet the person who invented that question. However, after a lot of organisational work for two weeks we finally were in vienna at the US-embassy claiming our F1-visa (Non-Immigrant Student Visa). At the entrance, we had to hand in all our electronical gadgets and they scanned us for metallic objects. Aftwerwards, we had to stand in line at a counter where we had to hand in the thousand forms we need to fill out. They took our fingerprints electronically and after 10 minutes, they told us that our visa has been issued and they whished us a pleasant stay at the Unites States of America - Thanks again for that, old lady!

The last four days at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences are ahead of me. I'm going to write my last three exams, and than I'm over and done with it. My room gets emptier and emptier with every object of utility I sell, like my television, my lamp, my microwave, etc. and all those signs tell me that the day, when I fly to the United States of America and are going to stay there for at least a year, is coming closer and closer.

Now, there are only 6 weeks for me in Austria 'till I'm sitting in the plane heading to Ohio, and a lot of things like an apartment, an insurance, a scholarship, ... needs to be organised. Actually, I'm a little scared, but good scared though. It's something new, exciting but uncertain, and to be honest , I like that feeling a lot. It's gonna be stress, but the fact that I know that I'm going to study filmmaking in the United States of America makes it all worth the work. Let the Green American Dream beginn.