Just another day in paradise

  

Ok so it's not really just another day in paradise but I suppose we could call it "just another saturday in Vienna."  But either way I was in my element yesterday (saturday 6/28) as I, again, went into the city to do some sightseeing on my day off.   

But before I got to the actual sights that I was planning on seeing...I happened upon a small little store in the middle of Vienna called Bobby's Market.  It turns out that "Bobby" (whoever that might be)  wanted to look out for the english citizens of Vienna so he opened a British/American market.  In this little market I found things like betty crocker muffin mixes, doritos, oreos, and much much more.  But much to my surprise (and probably anybody else who reads this)  the thing I was excited to see the most was ....drumroll please....the cinnamon poptarts.  I didn't realize how much I liked them until now but putting that poptart in my mouth was like tasting a piece of heaven!  :)

Anyways, after entertaining my taste-buds I eventually found my way to my sight of interest for the week, Karlskirche.  (now this is the part where I should tell Allie, who will be reading this, to go get Joe because this just might be a post he'd be interested in....)  For anyone who doesn't know german, Karlzkirche means Karl's Church.   (and now for the brief history lesson for the history nerds...is Joe here yet? :))   

   -While Vienna was suffering through the plague epidemic in 1713, Emperor Karl VI promised that as soon as the city was delivered, he would build a church and dedicate it to St. Charles Borromeo.  (Borromeo was a former Archbishop of Milan and a patron saint of the plague; 1538-84)  In 1714, Emperor Karl VI announced a competition to design the church which was won by an architect by the name of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. (I dare you to say that name 5 times fast!) The beautiful baroque building (shown in the pictures) was the result.  The huge dome and the portico are borrowed from ancient Greek and Roman architecture while the echoes in the gatehouses and minaret columns reflect Oriental styles.  Inside the building you can find carvings and altarpieces by the biggest artists of the day including Daniel Gran and Martino Altomonte.   The building of this church  took close to 25 years and sadly the designer, Fischer von Erlach, didn't live to see it finished.  he died in 1723, leaving his son to complete the task.  

Oh yeah...and I definitely put my feet in the 'cement pond'  out front.  :) hehe

Back to the future

As much as I love living over here, sometimes it feels as if I've gone back in time.  For three reasons specifically...

-First...I went from a really nice (fairly) new LG verizon cell phone (with unlimited texting) that I carried with me everywhere, to a really old, pay-as-you-go, junker nokia that I 'conveniently forget' to bring with me every time I go somewhere.  Talk about a step back...but to be honest I really don't even miss having a phone.  It's actually quite nice....simple and peaceful.  :)  

-Second...the people here have never seen Nike Shox.  People are always telling me that they look "futuristic" and asking me if they actually make me jump higher.   Sometimes if I'm feeling particularly spunky I say yes and then proceed to demonstrate like an idiot (only clearing about 6 inches or less) and then say "SEE?!?!"  They usually just look at me like I'm the dumbest little white girl they've ever seen...but I get a kick out of it.  :)  

-And third...The first time I did laundry here, I made quite an important discovery.  Which was....They don't have dryers here!   So once a week, instead of putting my freshly laundered, sopping wet clothes in an electrical dryer and pushing a button...I turn my room into a dryer buy hanging up all my clothes on two drying racks that take up way too much room.  It's kind of a pain because I have to crawl on the floor, under the racks, to get from my bed to my closet and I have to shrink about 10 sizes just to get through the door.  But in a way it's actually kind of fun.  It makes me laugh to find myself crawling on the floor like I'm a little baby.  I can imagine it would be a funny image for someone to walk in on...provided they fit through the door.  :)

Little things like this help humble me and remind me to be grateful for all the little things we have.  It's funny to think that all this time I've been taking everyday things, such as a dryer, for granted.  Like I said, I really am glad to be living here, but there are a few things that I'll be glad to get 'back to the future' for.  :)

Coexist

I haven't posted much lately because there hasn't been anything exciting to post.  But I suppose I could share a few boring details with the people who just want to know how I'm doing.  :)  So here is  a story that has scarred me forever and keeps me from sleeping at night.

In one of the conversations I had with the previous nanny when I first got here, the subject of spiders came up.  I don't know how and I don't know why but it did.  (and we all know how much I just LOVE spiders!!  haha NOT!)  She informed me that "there's not SO many but you will probably see quite a few in the basement."   Well folks, guess where my room is....yup the basement!!  She also felt the need to tell me exactly where in the basement they like to hang out.  As it happens, their favorite place is right by the window in my room.  And...as it happens...of course...my bed is right by the window!   What she failed to tell me what how big they were.  But don't worry I found that part out for myself later.

A few days ago I woke up and like every morning I went to the bathroom to take a shower.  But as I was getting ready I felt something kind of squishy on my shorts by my hip.  I looked down to see something brown smeared all over my white shorts.  My first thought was chocolate because well...I may or may not be but definitely am guilty of eating chocolate in my bed while watching a movie the night before.  :)   But as I took a closer look I realized that it was most definitely NOT chocolate.   It was in fact guts and smushed body parts of a very large spider.  I started to hyperventilate a little but once I caught my breath enough to remove the spider goo from my clothes I went back to my room to look at the bed.  And sure enough, there on my bed was the other half of that blasted creature's insides and about 5 of his ridiculously long legs.  The thought that that stupid, son of a *#&@!*$@$%$^*@#   had the nerve to come near me made my stomach lurch and I sprinted back to the bathroom because my stomach now felt the need to release most of it's contents.  I spent a good portion of the morning puking and hyperventilating before I was actually able to get my shower in.  

I think in the back of my mind there was a fantasy that told me that moving across the world would get me away from spiders...but, if I don't gain anything else from living over here, hopefully I eventually learn to coexist with the the horrid creatures we call spiders.

A lot of people have asked me about the food...so I wrote a few little poems to help me describe it.  But keep in mind that I am NOT poet and I have been told on many occasions that I have no rhythm.  :)  So this is just my attempt and if it backfires...I'm sorry.  :)

Austrian Dinner Parties

After All day on my feet

my hunger cannot be beat

I cannot wait to eat

so at the table I take a seat

Before we can begin 

everyone must come in

the kids and I wait to begin

while the adults sip their gin

With the table elegantly set

we ask if we can start yet

but our needs are not met

and my stomach gets more upset

At last the gin is gone

hopefully we eat before dawn

finally the food is brought on

as I try to stifle a yawn

Thank goodness the salad is ocming

because my stomach is now rumbling

Is this really salad? I'm guessing?

Oh no! There's no ranch dressing!!

Next we have asparagus

I really wish it was tasteless

I try to not gag or grimace

but I'm afraid it's hopeless

Finally the main course

hopefully it's not horse

down my throat I must force

unknown meat of unknown source

I send a prayer above 

that a dessert I won't get sick of

thank goodness I get a hold of

ice cream...mmm...I love.  :)

Mayo

Mayo here, mayo there

Holy crap! It's everywhere!!

In the morning, in the night

What a horrible sight!

On tomatoes, even a potatoe

It has become my biggest foe

On the meat, on the bread

I think I'll drop down dead

Mayo here, Mayo there

Oh gag me!! It's everywhere!!

Divine

Chocolate, chocolate oh so divine

I've never tasted anything quite this fine

I just might build a shrine

to this chocolate oh so divine

Meat and Bread

When I am not in bed

I am kept well fed

when every single spread

consists of meat and bread

the meat is not so bad

but much better I have had

I am always more glad

when I only have a tad

the bread is so delicious

I wish it were more nutritious

of weight gain I am suspicious

but the bread is so dang delicious

I am kept so well fed

it's hard to get out of bed

when every single spread

consists of meat and bread

It's ok...I live here

Today I set out on my first solo adventure into the city.  My main plan was just to find the ward building I would attend on sundays and figure the quickest route to get there.  After walking around aimlessly for about 2 hours with my 'tourist' backpack and the directions to the church I'd written down (which were useless)  I finally found it!!!  It was definitely one of those moments where you see what you've been looking for and the heavens open, shining a bright light on it and you can hear angels singing!!  It felt so good to see it for many reasons, the main two being first, I now know where to go every sunday, and second, it was the cleanest part of the city so I was able to sit down on the steps and rest!!!                       Now this next part is for the history nerds like...oh...I don't know.......JOE JESSOP!  ...for instance :)

After my rest on the steps of the church, I got back on the U-bahn (I'm really becoming quite a public transportation guru!)  and headed for one of the city's main attractions, Stephansdom.  I'd heard so much about it that I just had to see it for myself.    Stephansdom is in the center of Vienna and considered by many to be the soul of the city itself!  A church has stood at that exact site for over 800 years, but due to wars and just time itself, the only part of the orginal 13th century Romanesque church that is still in tact is the main enctrance known as the Giant's Causeway and Heathen Towers.  

As I was standing outside, admiring this amazing building, a woman came up to me and was asking me for help.  She had a long sob story to tell me and then, just before asking me for money, she said "I feel terrible to bother you while you're trying to enjoy your vacation."  I responded, "Oh, it's ok...I live here."  And that's when it hit me, I REALLY DO live here now.  It finally feels REAL!   And it's about time considering I've been here for over a week now.    ...At first I wasn't going to help the lady but then I thought, even if she is con-artist, what's 2 euros?  I mean you never really know, right?  I didn't want it to be one of those situations where you reject her and then find out later that she's really just an angel sent to test you and see what you would do in that situation.  (Not that I think this really happens...but again...you never know)  So I handed her one coin and she went on her way and I went on mine, enjoying the fact that I really do live here.

On my way home I decided to make a stop at the Donau Insel (Danube Island) and really get a good look at the river I've always wanted to see.  I sat there for a while admiring the blue water but was soon disappointed to see that I needed to head back home for a dinner social.  But then the words I'd said earlier came back to my mind and I realized that it's ok....because I live here.

Calling all kids (Penny) who have to do chores regularly...and HATE it!!!

Like most kids I had to do chores regularly and, like most kids,  I HATED it!!  For years I tried to avoid doing chores, and for years I failed miserably.  The chores (along with mom of course) ALWAYS  won in the end.    But now that I am a little bit older and am actually starting to understand the importance of chores, I have finally found the perfect strategy to avoiding them!  So for all kids who still do chores, and kick and scream everytime *cough-Penny-cough* , listen carefully because I am about to share with you the secret that took me years to figure out.    -Be adopted into an AUSTRIAN family!!!!!!!!!!!

When I first got here I noticed that the mom and the nanny did everything! Literally!  These kids don't do anything for themselves, heaven forbid!  "What?! Put a game away when I'm done playing?!?!"  "You mean I should clean up the juice I blatantly spilled everywhere?!?  I've never heard of such atrocities!"  "I'm only 9! Why on earth would I wipe my own butt?!?"  ....Ok the last one may or may not have been but definitely was an exaggeration.  lol    At first I thought it was just "my" kids, but after talking with a few other families and nannys, I've learned that the people here believe that kids should not have to do any form of work until they have kids of their own!!!  Don't get me wrong, "my" kids are really good and fun kids an I love them, but still...I mean come on they don't even clean their own rooms or put their own clothes away....EVER!  Now I do understand that moms all over the world work very hard cleaning up after their kids and would help them with anything, BUT at least most of them try to teach their kids the concept of self-reliance and independance!

So for all kids who hate doing chores, it's simple really, just convince you're parents to ship you to Europe!!  

Schoenbrunn

My first night into the city of Vienna was awesome!  Nicole White (the previous nanny) took me in the day after I arrived to show me around.  Our first stop was....the bus stop?  Not exactly the coolest place in town but it definitely led to one of them!  We rode the disgusting city bus for a very long 45 minutes and got off only to get on another form of public transportation, the U-Bahn.  blah.  People always say that public transportation is sketchy, very unclean, and just all around unpleasant and....they're exactly right.  It was definitely not fun.  But when we finally arrived at our destination it was amazing!  Not only because it felt great to get off the train, but also because we were now at a huge and beautiful palace called the Schoenbrunn Palace.   Just past the entrance to the majestical building were the Schoenbrunn Gardens which was where a Phil-Harmonic Orchestra concert was being held!  Now I know the picture of me at an orchestra concert and being excited about is probably not computing...but it truly was amazing.  It was beautiful, peaceful and full of Vienna culture!!  The only bad thing was that when it was over...it was back to the bus.  :)

Blue Bandana

I arrived in Vienna, Austria Wednesday evening after the worlds longest, most uncomfortable flight.  I literally thought my life would end before that plane ride ever did!!  After going through customs and receiving another cool stamp in my passport, I sat at the baggage belt waiting for my luggage.   Now for anyone who doesn't know, on my trip to Europe last year the airline lost my suitcase (but that's an entirely different story),  so I'm slightly paranoid when it comes to other people handling my luggage.   The first suitcase onto the belt was my large one with the bright orange bandana tied around the handle, and I was so relieved to see it!!  Now all I had to do was look for the one with the blue bandana and I would be good to go.  However, after watching the same suitcases, none of which were mine, go around and around and around I started to feel a little anxious. Ok maybe more than a little.  I decided to wait a little longer but their was still no sign of the blue bandana.  :(  So there I was back at the counter filing ANOTHER missing suitcase complaint for the SAME suitcase that got lost in Ireland only a year ago!   'Slightly' irritated, I followed a bunch of people who looked like they knew where they were going (becuase I certainly didn't)  hoping they would lead me to wear I could get picked up by a family I had never met.  Sure enough, I was soon looking at tons of people standing there waiting.  Many of them were holding signs with names on them but none of them read Nicole.   I scanned the crowd for what seemed like an eternity hoping to recognize faces from pictures I'd seen and praying that they would actually be there.  After a while I heard a voice say Nicole?...and my first thought was "oh man I wish I knew Liam Neeson!"  But when I turned around it was in fact my new temporary family and NOT an albanian terrorist.  Thank heavens.   We introduced ourselves officially (they really do that kiss on each cheek thing by the way...yikes)  and then we were on our way to my new home in a neighboring town called Gross-Enzersdorf.  :)  I thought the kids would be shy at first but I soon learned otherwise.  I was barely through the doorway before all four kids were fighting over me!  "Nicole come color with me!"  "Nicole come jump on the tramp!"  "Nicole come play a game!"   My head was spinning and I was so tired from the flight I thought I might pass out!  But nonetheless I did all of those things before the kids allowed me to rest.   After they went to bed, I took my stuff (only one suitcase :( ) downstairs to my new room and fell asleep almost instantly.  (boy do I love jet-lag!!  lol)   After dreaming about my crazy week, the next year I would spend in Austria and a million other things, I woke up to find the suitcase with the blue bandana waiting outside my door!  It had been shipped to me immediately upon it's arrival!  :) :)