"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!"

It's been roughly 1.5 months since my last blog post.  Much has happened, much has changed.   I will try my best to catch you up, on the daily blogs this week, consider this "part 1" lol.

I didn't hope my blogging would be as scarce but my procrastination, combined with naturally accident prone-self, proved to be a deadly combination.

I unfortunately have been in loss of my new mac book pro, purchased prior to departure.  I cooked a really great dinner, so proud of myself, so I decided to take a picture (cheesy/pathetic...i know lol).  Since my laptop was up, thought it would be more convenient to use my webcam and save upload time as well.  Little did I know, the juices from the steak were dripping onto my laptop.  Epic fail.  Wish I had a better story, but that was the day my laptop went into a coma.  Since then, I've been without a computer from april to early may.  Unable to communicate to family and friends back home, do homework for school, and occupy those really boring moments.

On the other hand, it made me utilize my time well.  At the university, I had to get my homework done by that day, since I was unable to work from home.  I started reading books again, creating collages, redecorating my room....really touching into my creative and artistic roots.  Unwilling to bear no communication with my family and friends, during the remaining 2-3 months, I bought a new netbook while awaiting to bear the repair costs, until I'm back home (where $ works in my favor lol).

In true Jaimie fashion, take the good/leave the bad.  If you can't do anything about it, make a joke about it. Laughing is good medicine.  So my new laptop is Austrian by birth/purchase, so it has a german keyboard, but programmed in English.  A dear friend of mine suggested we should name it.  I wanted a name that would reflect strength and durability.  New to this "naming your stuff" lol, I asked for suggestions from the expert.  Then she said the wisest words of all...."Arnold".  Genius I thought....Arnold after the Schwarzenegger....after all it's Austrian and speaks English.  Genius.  And that's how my new netbook was named.

Arnold has help up nicely.  Been much of a lifesaver and aid to keep communication alive back home.  Yet, with doing homework at home, I keep procrastinating updating my blog, when distracted with the busy and exciting social life of an erasmus student, when school does not inflict.  Wish it wasn't so but here's to a fresh start, in documenting the rest of my travels and adventures, in a timely/daily manner.  Prost...a cheers to a successful future...in the small world of my blog. Haha.  (Yes, I'm pathetic and corny at times, I know lol.)

Mumble Jumble - Reflection of Social Culture.

In lieu of posting a much overdue post/update, I came across an old blog draft.  I wrote it one evening, after a long walk throughout the city, much in thought, I had to get my thoughts out.  Unfortunately, I didn't finish my it.  Although short and sweet, it bears much meaning.  At least to me. Ha.  Without further ado.....

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(March 31, 2011)

15 minutes have passed, and I don't know why but I'm having a hard time finding the right words to say, that would due my story justice...

What started out as a journey to explore a whole new world, it's cultures and norms, while discovering/learning more about myself,  has become something much more beautiful - the people.

I know it's only been 1 month and 9 days (but who's counting right? ha) but I found the people here to be one of the most transparent, real, hospitable, and welcoming cultures, that I have ever experienced so far.  At a glance at first, you just see stereotypical cold, snobby, seemingly expressionless Viennese people.  But when you get to know them and talk with them they are sooo much more than that.  People I have barely known have welcomed me into their world, shown/taken me the local sites, hotspots, and shown me absolute hospitality and genuine kindness.

I feel like with the people here, you get what you get; although cold, they are genuine.  Back home, we are nice but I would never go out of my way, nor I know anyone else, who would go out of their way to help a stranger (unless they're Mother Theresa).  My culture is very welcoming but fake at the same time.  I love my world, my country, and culture with all my heart, but sometimes just taking a step back, looking outward in with a new perspective, you are able to then able to see your world for what it is.