Everyone,
I wanted to add a welcome from here in Salzburg, where I am already living at the Meierhof where you all will be staying for three weeks (see my updated post below for information about your rooms and what to bring).
I’m sitting in my apartment here with the windows wide open and I can turn one way and see the current group of Salzburg session fellows from all over the world who are here for a session on Asia and the Pacific. They are sitting out in small groups on the various terraces, talking over coffee and tea and enjoying the sun and the view over the lake and the mountains. Just about every week another international group comes to the Schloss and settles in to work on some major global issue. (Visit the Salzburg Global Seminar website to get a sense of what else goes on here).
And like you will, they work sometimes indoors in a formal lecture hall or in seminar rooms, but at other times, you can find them seated on benches by the lake, or with their feet in one of the fountains, or lounging on the grass next to the rose gardens–still at work but enjoying the day and the spectacular site.
Every once in a while someone will look up at the group of swans (a gaggle of swans?) who are lording it over the lake’s edge with their ducklings (goslings? swanlets?)–all making lots and lots of noise because they want to be fed.
If I look in the other direction from the lake terraces I can see the fort on the small mountain that looms over the old town of Salzburg–huge and white against the blue sky, and a wonderful place to explore during a few hours off from classes and work. 
It’s also fun to wander the main street–for shopping or just to enjoy all the wrought iron signs!
And then if I turn just a bit further I can make out the platform towers for the diving boards at the swim center next door (see the post on those pools below too). I can’t see too much, but I can hear lots of laughter and lots of splashing coming from the slides!!
So start making your packing lists, make sure you have the little things: such as a passport, maybe a plug adapter for your laptop if you’re bringing one, and sunglasses. Oh, and don’t forget to pack in a raincoat too. Just in case!
Looking forward to seeing you all. Very soon.
Susan
