and I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that I am in Vienna…

Despite my impatience during the rather slow summer months, I eventually left all my worldly possessions behind (except for the things that I would need in Vienna) and flew off to Hotspot Alpha-- known to you plebians as "Austria." Without bombarding you with too many details as to "what I've done so far," I'll attempt to organize my thoughts in the following manner:

THINGS THAT MADE MY ARRIVAL IN AUSTRIA SPECIAL

1) After landing in Vienna and feeling quite peckish in the airport, I treated myself to a traditional Scottish meal at a place called "McDonalds." Having placed my order for a "Big Mac" (what I could only imagine would be similar in style to haggis), the "specialness" kicked in when I was then presented with a FREE McCafe mug! Huzzah for gratis things!!

2) Michael Zwinger PERSONALLY came to pick me up from the Flughafen so that I didn't have to look like a goober carrying two backpacks, a suitcase, and a violin around the public transportation of Vienna. Once he brought me to my Studentheim, he gifted me with eating utensils, loads of chocolate, and most importantly, a half liter can of Stiegl beer. I just about cried...

PEOPLE I'VE FORCED TO MAKE MY ACQUAINTANCE

Once I unpacked my plethora of things, I got busy right away stopping random people in my building and asking if I could introduce myself. There doesn't seem to be a lot of students here yet (I suspect they got the warning that some crazy American was accosting people in the corridors), but I've managed to meet Kia from Tehran, Frank from Nigeria, Michael from Duesseldorf, and Isaak from whereabouts unknown, all with whom I was able to carry on very respectable conversations auf Deutsch. I anticipate meeting more victims/friends tomorrow... I also found out that the person who lives next door to me is actually from Vorarlberg (the province furthest west in Austria, near Switzerland- even Austrians joke that their accent is impossible to decipher), so I anticipate a lovely year not understanding a single word he says to me.

REASONS I FEEL LIKE A VAGABOND

Although I made two lists upon arrival: "food" and "other things I need" (including such items as a bath towel, cutting board, bed sheets, etc), I was only able to complete the task of buying $120 worth of groceries (very much shocking the cashier, who asked me if this was "all for me alone?") before I began to feel the enervating effects of transatlantic travel. I therefore fell promptly asleep at 7:30 PM without the good graces of dinner, a pillow, or even sheets for my bed! Given the state of things, I hadn't felt like a vagabond when I passed out earlier than a 2nd grader's bedtime, however, when I awoke at 4 AM, I had the uncomfortable feeling that something was amiss. At this point, my dear mother would undoubtedly argue to you that this situation was redolent of my inability to re-sheet my bed after doing the laundry (implying that I should somehow be used to such a travesty), but I swear that waking up in a dark, empty room in a foreign land with NO SHEETS ON MY BED made me believe that even the most black-hearted criminals were probably sleeping more comfortably than I...

It is now two and a half hours later (after writing ANOTHER shopping list, skyping with Kevin stateside, and attempting to go back to sleep), and I've finally come to terms with the fact that I am in Vienna...