The six days (shoot this trip is flying by!) I’ve been in Austria have brought with them a number of wonderful things. There’ve been endless, delicately designed buildings to see, magical Christmas markets to explore, punsch and gluhwein to be drunk (more on those later), great Austrian food to try-the list goes on and on.
But out of all of these thing I’ve experienced thus far, the one I cannot get over is the abundance of kindness I have been the recipient of. I feel like I before I can get into any of that other good stuff, I at least need to touch upon the great people I’ve encountered so far.
On the plane, there was Addie. It was so weird- and if you know me, you know that “so” is being drawn way out- that we would sit together, because when I saw her walking into the airport I had this bizarre feeling she would be my seat mate. Naturally, I used this super creepy and borderline crazy thought as an icebreaker, and like I suspected, she was insanely nice. She was from Mass (born in Greece) and heading to Zurich to see her daughter, whose husband works out there, and help out when her third baby is born this week. Any flight jitters I had were immediately calmed by our flowing conversation about our own families, reasons for traveling and life in general. 20 minutes prior to landing in Switzerland, I started to have a ridiculous panic attack (I ended up throwing up in the Zurich Airport bathroom three times- new record whoo!) and she talked me through it and reassured me as if she were actually family. I was so happy to have met her and sad to say goodbye. If it hadn’t been for Addie, the plane ride would have been one hundred times worse. It was while we were saying goodbye that I realized what an example she was of the fact that everyone who comes into your life seems to come with some type of purpose, even if it’s only for a fleeting time.
On my second flight into Vienna I sat next to a lovely British couple, and upon landing was immediately in touch with my good friend who lives in the city. He instructed me on where and which train to catch to the central station and was there waiting when I arrived. It’s so good to see such a great friend after a long period of time, let alone in a beautiful, foreign city. After 11 hours of traveling, it almost didn’t feel like reality. His friends were so incredibly nice, offering up a room, treating me to food and drinks, and getting me into some of the city’s most secret spots for the night I was there as if they too knew me. I was shown around Vienna and welcomed into a party hosted by a salsa dancing, music writing, delicious guacamole making woman from Guatemala. From there we went to a quiet bar where another friend was celebrating his birthday and I was again introduced from one friendly person to the next. My favorite part of the whole night was the fact that everybody I met came from such different backgrounds. Hearing how they all wound up in Austria was so interesting. Everyone I talked to was so warm and welcoming that it was almost easy to forget 24 hours prior I had been in New Hampshire worrying about whether or not I’d be capable of refraining from my usual nervous, socially awkward self when put in a new situation. Of course, a beer or two definitely helped 😉
That first day passed remarkably fast, and all too soon my friend had shown up at the apartment I was staying to bring me to the train station. My navigation skills unfortunately suck, so I cannot even begin to start on how relieved I was that he had been willing to get up early on a Sunday after a super late night and be my guide. Thank you, thank you, thank you once more to him and his friends for taking me in the way you all did! I feel so spoiled
And then there’s Emmaline and her delightful grandpa Roggie. The fact that these two have willingly signed up to put up with me for seven days (hey Em, you get me for a bonus 5, ha!) is a reason to be sainted in itself. Roggie, one of the most knowledgeable and lovable people you will come across, has provided me with more insight to Salzburg than I could have hoped for. Each day he has advice and tips for Em and I, sending us to various concerts and sights. I’ve so enjoyed our talks over breakfast and dinner, and our games of Herzln (yet another card game I am horrible at). Within minutes of walking into his cozy house I’ve felt at home. And for a giant homebody like me, that’s saying a lot.
Emmaline, of course, has been nothing but an awesome and energetic host. Each day we’ve been running around like crazy women seeing this and that, all while she’s helping out with Roggie. The girl is Super Woman pretty much. Despite what she says, she’s been a great tour guide and it’s always nice when we get to do something that she hasn’t done yet either, like going to see a giant castle in Bavaria and walking around Munich. I might be jilting the woman of the hour out of a long, reasons why I’m so happy to be with her here in Austria, ramble, but I have more posts to write, and obviously none of them will be included without her. Plus, shout out to her awesome mom whose messages and comments always brighten my day. Thanks for sharing your family with me 🙂
So what it boils down to- and yeah, I’m starting to get lazy writing this because it’s midnight over here and if I don’t go to bed soon I’ll confuse my stomach into thinking it’s dinner time again (still not on any type of clock)- is that I can’t say enough good things about the people I’ve been around so far while I’m here and the immense kindness they’ve shown to little old, sometimes obnoxious, me.
Loving the people here, loving the people at home, appreciating you all.
More on Austria tomorrow. Maybe. I’m not very good with writing promises 🙂
The Gap Year 