Last week was the Mid Europe Music Festival in Schladming, Steiermark Austria. A five day event of Band concerts, Master Classes, Seminars and general music-related activities. I like to describe it as similar to the Midwest Clinic only a lot more fun.

Not everything is held in the towns Congress (exhibition hall). There are five stages set up around the center of town, a typical market square found in almost all Austrian towns and cities. Throughout the day featured ensembles (this year, the 20th year, around 84 ensembles representing over 40 European and foreign countries) give concerts of various kinds. There are open air cafes, restaurants and bars filling the Markplatz lined with shops and hotels. Like one big block party.

Thursday was the best. This was the  faamous "Lang Nacht of Musik" where from about 4pm until midnight there is constant music on the stages and in the Platz at various spots especially thin front of the Post Hotel. Shops stay open, there are sidewalk cafes in the middle of the square and by all the stages. All sorts of ensembles perform at them all night. When one finishes, another takes it place.

Though complete local  Kapellen (lead by the Schladming Stadt Kapelle) are featured, the bulk of the performers are Blaskapell; pop groups with lots of brass in their ranks of both local and European wide fame. Most common are what are known as Bohemian (Boemisches) bands; brass ensembles (often with several clarinets) playing traditional, polks, waltzes and marches which are an integeral part of traditional Austrian music.. Among the outstanding ensembles of this type is a group known as GranitDur, a band from Naarn in Machland in Upper Austria in which I have two friends the Cousins Laura and Christina Froschauer. They are among the best in Europe.
I saw them there in 2019 and looked forward to this years show.

Something happened to me this year which  surprised me. Three years ago I was sort of detached; listening and watching (videoing) them and conversing with their families. This year I found myself totally immersed in the atmosphere, clapping, singing and generally fitting in with the crowd. I was totally into it. I was sitting in the Post Hotel patio by the stage when a local woman sat down there. We exchanged some pleasantries in German/English and found out her husband was a member of the Schladming Kapelle. she offered me wine and as her husband and other of their aquaintances joined us we all had a fine time enjoying the performance. Two of those people I saw the next morning at a coffee shop and we spent a leisurely breakfast time. I was surprised that, returning from the rest room that one of them paid for my breakfast!

Was it me finally adjusting to my new life here? I felt myself acting more Austrian than before even attempting to interact and converse with other local people and musicians, talking in both English and my version of "Tarzan" German. Somehow I was able to interact pretty well. What ever I didn't understand in German, I was able to understand the gist and meaning of what they were saying. I felt very comfortable and less "Alien" than last time.
As a result, I'm finding it easier to interact with locals.

I might say I'm assimilating. Or adapting. My language skills are slowly improving as I'm starting to recall some of what I learned nearly 60 years ago. It's a difficult language to learn but with the help of friends and local people, I think I'll be able to master it in the 5 years I have to in order to become a certified permanent resident. One thing's for certain: It's much more interesting here and easy to connect with strangers than back there.I'm getting to know more and more locals now becoming a "regular" at many establishments here and other towns becoming somewhat of a personality by residing here, the sole American. I practice my German, they their English and those that don't speak it I'm becoming quite good at deciphering their meaning.

So, my assimilation is going apace. I have 5 years to learn fluent enough German to achieve permanent resident status; no problem if I live long enough. At least I'm making the effort and can count on numerous chances and resources here to fit in