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| Belvedere Palace |
I believe this is the greatest time of my life, while young. I have always wanted to meet people from around the world. I have always wanted to travel. Although the idea of traveling is far much more different from the reality of it or vacationing anyway. To live somewhere foreign is challenging/out of your comfort zone but exhilarating all at the same time. For the longest time, checking things off my bucket list would take centuries, so it felt like. Being here I've already checked off more in three days than I have in the past couple years of life: live in another country, learn a new language, meet new friends from around the world, try something new (hiking trip in march!), and learn to love who I am/was made to be. As cliche' "eat. pray. love." was and the phrase "i'm going away to find myself"; I honestly thing, it's corny/overplayed, but rather true and concrete. Although I'm still finding out who I want to become (professionally), I am confident in saying I finally know who I am, what I believe, and how I want to live my life. I believe this is the greatest achievement of all, yet the often underplayed.
I'm still in honeymoon-esque-stage-of-bliss with Vienna. I do miss things from/about home in the States but I do not regret this for the world. In fact, I'm dreading going back in 5 months, nor do not even want to think about it right now. If I get this chance again, I would say "yes" in a heartbeat. I'm excited for the future, of what's to come while here, and exploring things straight out of the history book. Friends and those I meet along the way, experiences I will have, and adventures I will take, will continue to be an added part to who I am. Since I've quit my hotel job and took this opportunity (polar opposite of self-empowerment) I'm the happiest I have ever been in a long time. I am so blessed to be where I am, with the people I am, and to be doing what people only care to dream about. It's truly an answer to prayer and an example of what an awesome God we serve.
When this chances come to you, it always does whether you are aware of it or not, may be coming or it may have already past; regardless you must take it, hold on it, and fight for it. When you get a chance like this, you can't think twice, there's no room for doubt. Fight for what you want and know it will come with sacrifices. Just like when you first learned to swim and or ride a bike, you have to jump in, even if you're scared, and know it's the best opportunity and step in your life. Trust me in this. When it comes, don't hesitate, you just say "YES!"
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Side Note: The following may be grammatically incorrect, free/random free-flowing of thought but includes insightful information for when your travels will lead you to Austria:
Here are some cultural norms I've discovered, not bad, wrong, or right but interesting:
1) Light switches - are squares (in US it's a vertical rectangle)
2) Flusing the toilet - you have to press a huge square above the toilet (about 10"x10" +/-)
3) Showering - The shower head isn't elevated/set above your head. Rather it's loose, with a hook existing covering mid-back/down. It's smaller, the base/floor is square shaped, and mine's even elevated about 8" off the ground.
4) Entering/Leaving Trains/Busses - To open the doors on the train (to enter/leave) you have to press a circle button or life a handle.
5) Honor system - Although Viennese people are known to be very proud people, sometimes snotty, they seem to be rather trustful. Even though you have to pay to use the wiener lienen (trains/busses) - you don't have to show your pass when you get on, but they may check, rarely that is. (i.e. if the states relied on the honor system of buying passes to use the transportation system, but would never check tickets, the system would fail).
6) Safe and Barely Crime - Vienna is really safe city. Little kids ride the transportation system here (I've seen as young at 8yrs old) by themselves, sometimes even in groups.
7) Operation Hours of Stores/Banks/etc. - Everything closes earlier here. Austrians seem to believe in a work/life balance. Not as obsessed and solely profit-minded as the American culture. Banks close at 3pm and most stores by 6 pm. They also seem to love and take pride in what they do.
8) Linguistic masters - Although europeans are well-educated, they don't like people to presume they speak English. (I guess it's the same as in the states. People in my hotel too, don't like for Spanish tourists to presume they speak Spanish, just because we're close to Miami, since it's common, and spoken in many communities, within the city of Orlando.) European education system is legit. Generally. Knowing 3-5 languages by the time your in HS/College, is smart. Communication is everything; lack of it always leads to problems.
9) Toilet Water - The toilets generally doesn't fill up all the way with water, sometimes none. (possible method to conserve water?).
10) Everywhere is Clean - Never use the seats on the busses/trains to rest your feet. Austria, like Germany, is a really clean everywhere you go. It's a sign of disrespect, since no one wants to sit on the dirt from your feet. (same in the states but untolerated here). Side Note (SN): You'll never, if not rarely, find trash, dirt, dust, or etc in the streets/anywhere. When I moved in I started to clean my room, but couldn't find a speckle of dust or dirt. Sweet :)
11) Organic is common - Most foods are naturally organic, almost a standard. (where in the states it's an extra cost / huge mrktg tool)
12) Bring a bag, or pay for one: It's common to pay for your plastic bags at stores (i.e. like ikea in the states too)
13) Smaller Everything - Everything is smaller (than the states): the houses, the cars, the people, the portion of food...except the cost of living that is! lol
14) Fast Drivers - They drive with a mission. Fast / sometimes crazy like those in Boston....well not as crazy ha.
15) Coffee-aholics - they love their coffee and they do know how to make it right everytime. There are even coffee (sn: cigarette ones too) vending machines in our dorm and everywhere!
16) Value time - With their coffee, reading the paper, eating, or whatever, they take their time and enjoy it. In the states, it's not uncommon to see people eating/drinking while walking or driving.
17) Men have style - One of the first things that stuck out to me was men's impeccable taste in fashion, matching, and etc. It's not presumingly that you're gay (like in the states) but rather that you care about your appearance and grooming. I have yet to see a sloppy male. I'm liking it the stats.
18) They are interested in American culture...just respect theirs as well - With fashion, music, and movies, they can tell you everything about America you want to know; where we reply with blank answers/faces about any culture and or country of choice, except ours. They just ask that you respect theirs. A majority of the music on the radios is american (i.e. usher, david guetta, black eyed peas, etc.) As unique and different as they are, irritant towards Americans at times, part of them is interested in our culture, and does so. They recognize sub-stereotypes within American culture (i.e. ghetto, cheerleaders vs social misfits, basketball men, etc.) I used to think we got fashion from them, but I think that is true with the men, but with the girls, I see a lot of American influences regarding their fashion taste. The women still put their own spins to our American fashion, revolutionizing it. So it's a tie.
(3rd day here, 18 things, that's it for now :) lol. )
