Graz Living

Welcome to MTV Cribs Euro Edition!
In this episode we'll check out the Styrian retreat of teaching assistants Emily, Laura, and Zach, and violinist Yasha.

We'll start in the dining/entry area. These fine furnishings are just a taste of the vast collection of Ikea originals from the 2009 catalogue that make this house a home. Sprinkled across the table are the bus and tram timetables consulted by the four housemates when the driver is on vacation (365 days a year). A 19" television and LL Cool J-style boom box provide the basis for the entertainment center in the adjoining space.

Next, let's check out Emily's bedroom. The bed is a roomy standard twin size, and no, folks, you don't need to get your eyes checked- those are actual vintage Cabbage Patch dolls lying across it! As if these collector's items (or two best friends... you say tomato I say tomahto) weren't enough, a genuine As Seen on TV Snuggie graces the foot of the bed (a gift from a dear friend in Tennessee who thinks she's really funny). The picture frames gracing the walls and desk were handcrafted by the artisans at the "Everything's 1 Euro" store.
The grand vista from Emily's room is also pictured here, the red brooms providing a dramatic contrast to the lush green landscape. Not pictured here are the three closets (read it and weep, Ellie Bear!) that hold Emily's Gap couture.

Connected to Emily's room is the bathroom shared by the two female housemates. The tub is the perfect place to soak after a long day of teaching 1 or 2 lessons and catching up on internet TV. The radiator doubles as a towel rack and heater (and is probably the most ingenious thing I've encountered in Austria). (Sidenote: this room is exactly what it's name suggests: a BATHroom. The toilet and another sink are in a different room down the hall. This set-up has me scratching my head, too).

Moving on to the kitchen, we'll see even more Ikea furnishings. This is where the housemates spend much of their time, as the home does not have a couch and the wicker chairs in the dining area are mostly show pieces (and falling apart). Pound after pound of pasta, and every once in a while a bowl of rice, is boiled in this room daily.

Finally, let's step outside from the kitchen's back door to see what you've all been waiting for: the swimming pond. In recent months it's been taken over by frogs, a resident newt, many different types of algae (Dad and Andrew would LOVE it), and cold weather, but we're assured that it's more human-friendly in the summer.

And there you have Emily's humble Graz haus.
Next, stay tuned for a special episode of "Pimp my Stratus"!