I am down to 5 months left in Austria. Not sure how to feel about that. I was talking to Andrea last night, and I have such mixed feelings about it. There are some really exciting possibilities for next year to which I'm looking forward (more on that after they've been narrowed down). But I find a knot in my stomach at the thought that in a few months, Sunday won't mean taking the train into Vienna, getting together with YAG before church, hanging out with the jr. high and high schoolers at youth group. I won't be having dinner or coffee or wandering the streets of the city with my friends from all over the world.
I don't have anything very special to say today, but I do want to document some part of life for myself to look back on later. And you ladies and gentlemen have been so encouraging to me to keep up my writing. Since my last post a week and a half ago, there have been 141 blog views from friends in 10 different countries. If that doesn't give me the fuel to keep writing, I don't know what will. Thank you for that. I love hearing back from you! Here's what I've been up to lately.
A couple friends from church are part of a new organization to bring Christian bands to Vienna. Andrea and I went to support those two. I wasn't really expecting to enjoy the music, but I actually had a really good time! The boys played for the first act, an artist named Skrypt. Then Superstyler Sound System of Austria played, and Good Weather Forecast of Germany--their songs were really catchy, and all 3 groups were really good performers.
The pandas!! I went to the "animal garden" at the Palace Schönbrunn, which is the oldest functioning zoo in the world. It began as the imperial menagerie in 1752(!!!), making it 260 years old in May. The African animals have lost their effect on me since my South African safari, but the sweet pandas could keep me captivated for days (also, the frozen ponds. The Austrian and British friends I was with humored me and let me throw rocks at one for a good 5 minutes before dragging me on. It was such a novelty to me!).
Baby Fu Hu putting on his lunch time show for me.
Like a little English tea sandwich: Caroline and Helene--Michi was kind
enough to take the picture, so he's not in it.
Plane ticket home! That's right, my friends. This girl has finally booked a ticket back to the Golden State. I bought my ticket a while ago to visit family in Boston, but now I've got my return date: Massachusetts to California on July 18th! Yeah, I think 13 1/2 months away from home is plenty long.
Wish me warmth, as I've been told tonight that we're expecting -4 degrees (F) this weekend. HOW DOES IT EVEN GET THAT COLD?? I plan on barricading myself indoors on Saturday. Let's hope I survive the journey to church on Sunday.
Grace and peace,
Hilary
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