The Netherlands, Penn State and Cookies

gLast night I returned to the welcoming Westend Hostel lounge with my computer to watch Twilight and, of course, check Facebook. First, a band of six or seven male soccer players from California invaded the room, making racket at they crowded around the computerstation. After some time they migrated to the chairs and table next to me for a round or two of cards. Handsome, physically fit young men, from America, asked me to play, but I didn't know the game. And I was also on Skype with Robbin. We were goofing off like we normally do, when a young man with blonde hair sat on my other side with a book and a glass of water in hand. Poor guy, he was attempting to read while I was sitting there being my obnoxious self with my other half. I am sure I was talking loudly, and I know I was making weird faces and gestures at Robbin...
After my webcam stopped functioning harmoniously with Robbin's, the blonde man, who had been sneaking odd glances at me the entire time, asked me whether I was with the travelling soccer players. No, I told him, explaining that I was once a soccer player. I was in my running shoes and shorts and looked fit, according to this young man, whose name I learned to be Niels. And Niels, well, his English is flawless and his accent is almost flavorless! I never would have guess him to be from the Netherlands. But, alas, that is his home. What a friendly fellow- we hit it off right away, discussing his business as a musical theater artist and my idiosycracies, which he observed closely during my Skype chat.
Get this: he said I remind him of Alyson Hannigan...the same Alyson that was in American Pie...the Alyson that Chris Yarnell said I resembled last August. How crazy is that? A man from another country making the same statement about me. HAHA.
The two of us sat on the lounge for at least an hour, maybe an hour and a half, discussing life, philosophies and people. He offered to give me his container of Nutella because he would not be taking it with him when he left this morning. So I followed him to his room only to meet three guys my age...Penn State students. (?!?!?!?!) Really, this could not have been a greater surprise. I lost it and could not stop smiling at my luck. What a good night it was- friendly faces all around. Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions also departed today to meet other friends in Amsterdam. Everyone seems to be backpacking around Europe. How exciting!

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The following was recorded in my take-along tablet throughout the day at various locations. I wrote quite a bit...if you read this entire entry, I will bring you a present from Wien.



As I headed out this morning, my goal was to head for the hills (the rather massive, lush ones in the foreground of the Donaukanal.) I followed Kaiserstrasse until it became Bilderstrasse. Then I made a left, opting to follow a main highway rather than a handful of winding back streets. At one corner rested a lovely church. Something in my head told me to investigate exactly which denomination it housed. So I approached a glass-guarded bulletin board and attempted to decipher the German. I guessed “messe” to mean “mass” because it appeared frequently on the page and was often preceded by an adjective. The Biblical verses listen were those of the Old Testament. I rounded a corner of the church and noticed one of the tall, sylvan doors to be opened invitingly. Why not investigate, I thought. So I pushed through two sets of inner doors to find a grand, cavernous interior, white and pure in contrast to its dark, dampened exterior. I began to search for clues that would confirm my suspicion of its Catholic identity: Stations of the Cross (check), Tabernacle (check), confessionals (check), Easter candle (check.) I became quite certain that I had accidentally stumbled upon my Viennese Catholic church. Excellent! Only 30 minutes away…
I have yet to see a drive-in food joint here in Vienna. These people take time to sit down and enjoy their food (and even their drinks!- the only carry-out beverages I have seen have been those from Starbucks and the soda and beer containers sold from street vendors.) I rarely see anyone walking with food in their hands and face- with the exception of Eis (ice cream) of course! Today I passed a rather classy-looking McDonalds situated peacefully under a green, intricately-patterned bridge. Americans have polluted their own formerly dignified creations.
Today I also managed to wind up in the middle of the university Medical Center…I passed the ER, a children’s playground and an entrance/exit for families and visitors. Oops. I felt guilty about my misadventure upon passing a crew of nurses loading a young, bald, wheelchair-bound child into the back of an ambulance. Sight-seeing should not include a trip to the hospital…
From the Medical Center I continued to walk in the general direction of the low, pure clouds and heavenly hilltops. I ended up at the northernmost cluster of Vienna along the Donaukanal once more (which was rather fortunate because after taking so many twists and turns while walking, I became slightly concerned that would become lost returning to my hostel.) I had become quite worn down after the endless hike, not to mention the sun made a grand entrance for the day and had been beaming heavily down upon me for the first 2 hours of my expedition. I took a bench along the Donaukanal and pulled out my tablet to record thoughts and observations…and I took a load (and my shoes) off as well. From the bench I could see a red “Universitaet Wien” sign on the side of a towering, ivory-colored building across the water. I was nearest to my intriguing hills than I had been before, and contemplated following the waterside walkway in hopes of meeting their base. But when I headed further in their direction, I was met with the choice of taking a sharp right into uncharted territory or climbing a few flights of silver stairs to meet an overhanging bridge. I turned around and decided to head back toward the shopping strip and my hostel.
The walking is so intense yet necessary- no wonder Europeans remain so sexy and trim!
On my way southeast along the Donaukanal I decided to follow the example of some locals and descend the grassy hills along the waters to their banks. The people laying out around me wore skimpy bathing suits and short trunks similar to those donned in Anne Frank’s time. A massive passenger boat cruised by. This city is so liberal, but not corrupt. New York is all over the place with its liberation and has been for decades. Vienna is free but collected. Like one of those truly, deeply happy people that you come across once or twice in a lifetime. They know who they are, they do what they want, they have lived their lives according to their own rules, standards and expectations. But they have it all together, as opposed to being loose and all over creation. That is Vienna exactly. I have never felt so safe in an alien location. The people have a generally tame demeanor about them and individuals dress, act and do as they please. None of this is disrespectful or offensive (seeing as Europeans are more blunt and nonchalant about the same things that so many Americans are uptight about and question, as far as morals go.) Sexuality is not coronary-inducing idea. Fashion is diverse and subjective. People are not running nude in the streets, but they are comfortable with their bodies and flaunt that, like any vivacious person should. Alcohol is not a forbidden fruit. These Austrians embrace their human qualities and therefore appear to live more self-satisfying and fulfilling lives.
While I am still adjusting to the German-immersion, I already know that I could live in this city for quite some time. I would only ask to modify 2 things: increase the amount of physical human company (friends, please?) and grant me greater storage space for my possessions. I could do it. I love this language. And I enjoy meeting new people. Get it all in Vienna!


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I sat, reclined on a bench in the feisty Vienna sunshine, between the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum for at least an hour this afternoon. I was getting fed up with walking, but I did not want to surrender to the indoors, so I broke out my beloved Jack Kerouac and read a dozen or so chapters. I was accosted by a lady handing out roses, telling some sob story about her ill baby. I knew it was a scam (thank you, Robbin!) so I repeatedly said, "Nein. Nein!" in hopes that she would go away. And she did...she revoked her flower and headed off to chase a new batch of people. Some locals were sitting on an adjacent bench, smirking at me. I do not like when people stare...


After my legs began to burn and my butt became sore from sitting, I headed back to the hostel, only to discover a flock of incoming tourists waiting to check in. The mass was so large that it filled the entire entranceway and stairwell, preventing me from entering the building let alone access my living quarters. So I decided to hit up a local grocery store. It's cheaper to buy food in a store than to eat every meal at a cafe or restaurant. I purchased 3 Granny Smith apples, a liter of Cola Light, a bag of Pretzels and an egg and...mystery spread sandwich...all for under 4 Euros. I was very proud of my thriftiness. I now have something to dip in my Deutsch Nutella!

When I finally made it to my room, we had a new visitor who occupied the bed beneath mine. She was already asleep, so I tried to make as little noise as possible (my belongings are stashed away in the locker at the head of her bed...bad luck for her!) I grapped my lapton and tablet and treated myself to a hot beverage at Starbucks.

What a Monday...a week from today I begin my class at the Deutsch Akademie. I am nervous yet hopeful. Hopefull this freebie week of adjustment will prepare me for German overload. At least I will have something to do for three weeks.


Some pictures from today's excursions:


DonaukanalDonaukanal