Not quite ready to say goodbye…

The fantasies of my glorious return home, with cheering faces, helium balloons, a welcome home banner and all of the people I love, are beginning to fade as the reality of it all begins to surface.  Students are beginning to go home and classes are nearing their end.  I’ve already begun packing and suddenly I’ve changed my opinion on leaving this place.  The last month or so I’ve been sentimental, but looking forward to planting my feet on American soil.  Suddenly, I’m not so sure I want to leave.

sweet sangria

Last summer when I worked at Forever 21, a clothing shop for young women, a mother and daughter came to the register I was working to purchase their pile of clothes. One of the articles of clothing the daughter had chosen were these black gypsy pants and she began to explain to me that she had just been to Europe and all the girls were wearing them.

Just killing time…

Been waiting so long for the snow to melt, and then summer’s here. Almost like Kansas weather. Miniscule Spring. Maybe it’s the product of global warming, or maybe it’s just the Austrian climate. I don’t mind though, and neither do my fellow Austrians. There seems to be a lot more smiling faces among my friends, classmates, passers-by on the street, and even the grumpy old man with the traditional hat on the Stadtbus has a smile on his face these days. There are picnic-ers, rollerblade-ers, ice-cream eaters, sandal wearers.

Semester Break, Part 2 (dedicated to Wan-ting)

So I was standing there, in front of the 2,000-year-old Roman structure. The great amphitheater built for ancient Roman entertainment and gladiatorial events, where blood was spilled and so many violently lost their lives, the Coliseum in Rome. I find it now ironic how peaceful I felt standing in front of this magnificent piece of architecture. A place remembered not only for its genius construction but for the violence. It’s funny how calm I felt.

Semester Break, Part 1

Yes, I’ve been absent for a while. I apologize. But, it’s been for good reason. Traveling around Europe, enjoying colloquial foods and wine, visiting world famous sites and catching up with old friends. Good reason to me.

You’re not an American

“You’re not really an American.” I was told this the other day by my friends here and it wasn’t the first time I’ve heard this comment.

Christmas Vacation

Procrastination seems to be my middle names these days.

Frohe Weihnachten und ein Gutes Neues Jahr!

Christmas is approaching and I have a busy couple weeks ahead of me. Sitting in my room, writing this blog; I feel like I should be doing something productive like packing maybe? Or doing laundry. Nah, it’ll get done before I take off for Vienna tomorrow.

Tis the season

Tis the season for all things Christmas…

gobble, gobble

For my friends here, American Thanksgiving is what Joey, Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Monica and Phoebe celebrated on the popular TV show Friends. When the idea came up to celebrate Thanksgiving they recalled past Friends episodes, laughed about Monica stuffing her head in a turkey and recalled the friends gathering around on Thanksgiving to share memories. They asked me if that’s what Thanksgiving is like and it made me laugh. “I guess every family is different.” The plan was set, Thanksgiving in Salzburg, and this year they would made their own memories.