O Wien

Song of the week: Spirit Cold by Tall Heights
Song of the (last) weekend: Vienna by Billy Joel

AIFS treated us to a weekend in Wien, Austria's beautiful capital. Naturally, I listened to this song a good ten times before arriving in Vienna. I was really curious about the meaning behind the song and decided to do some research.

"So I go to visit my father in Vienna, I'm walking around this town and I see this old lady. She must have been about 90 years old and she is sweeping the street. I say to my father, "What's this nice old lady doing sweeping the street?" He says, "She's got a job, she feels useful, she's happy, she's making the street clean, she's not put out to pasture." We treat old people in this country pretty badly. We put them in rest homes, we kinda kick them under the rug and make believe they don't exist. They [the people in Vienna] don't feel like that. In a lot of these older places in the world, they value their older people and their older people feel they can still be a part of the community and I thought, "This is a terrific idea - that old people are useful - and that means I don't have to worry so much about getting old because I can still have a use in this world in my old age." I thought, "Vienna waits for you..."" - Billy Joel

This passage made Vienna feel all the more welcoming to me. And it really opened my eyes. It's been difficult being in a foreign continent and actually wrapping my brain around the fact that there are so many darn people in this world with so many different lifestyles.

If you know me, then you know my passion for working with the aging population. I was just really happy to feel like I had something in common with Billy Joel, namely, an appreciation for all people and an acknowledgement that we are all going to get old. Let's live while we can. And let's embrace everyone around us. Especially the old folks. Let's care. Let's be sincere. 

And with that, I came to have a wonderful, wonderful weekend in Wien. 

This is what it looks like. 

Highlights:

Naschmarkt - a booming, colorful market with all the foods and goodies you can imagine

Witnessing "Tommy Smiles" a youtube and Facebook dancing sensation who inspires people by dancing very oddly around the world. 

Going to bed early. 

Schoenbrunn Palace - so much history to be learned about the Habsburgs. It was really cool to witness this after learning so much about the Empire in three of my classes here in Austria. 

Just seeing new pretty places with new pretty friends.

Low Lights: 

Not having money to buy gulasch soup in a bread bowl at the Ostermarkt at Schoenbrunn Palace #sadgirls

Most authentic experience: 

Going to the opera (Ariadne auf Naxos) at the Vienna State Opera house for only 3 euros

Taking the underground to get to a bar and having to switch 3 times!

horsies to meet us on Michaelerplatz, an extremely expensive shopping street outside of the Spanish horse riding school

Josh says hi

Naschmarkt

Vienna State Opera (Staatsoper)




Schoenbrunn Palace


Schoenbrunn Palace from the gardens


The walking signs in Austria are two people holding hands with a heart above their hands. I'll just leave that here...

Danke, Wien.

O Gaisbergspitze

On hiking Gaisbergspitze:

Always hike with a solid companion. Especially one who understands and relates to how out of shape you are. And especially one who loves the great outdoors just as much, if not more, than you do. (Shout out to my new bff, Brooke, from Lake Tahoe California).

Two and half hours is a long time to hike up a mountain. Tell the long version of the story.

But while you're talking, pause often to take a breath and also to take in the scenery on the way up.

If a cute old man comes leaping down the snowy mountainside with a big smile on his face, get the heck out of his way.

Look back often.

Most definitely bring champagne to the top.

Build a snowman.

If there's a restaurant with Kaiserschmarrn and beer, treat yoself. You've earned it, sporty adventure dog.

Stay for the sunset.

There's a possibility you will be hitchhiking to the bottom. Yolo on a cloudy day, that's what I say.

Lastly, embrace having a sore butt for the next ten days.

O Königssee

The view at Schönau am Königssee had me nearly doubled over, jaw to the ground, every previous thought of nature shattered into tons and tons of pieces. I wanted to reach out, grab a piece of it, put it in my pocket and keep it under my pillow at night. It was just all so graceful and raw. Seeing this with my own eyes was like molding all my own future daydreams. 

From where I started, I had the view of a deep blue lake with mountains surrounding. Across the lake there was a tobogganing tournament. To our left, there were old wooden boathouses and docks. Königssee is a part of Berchtesgaden National Park in the southeast corner of Germany. It is untouched, undeveloped, and entirely unbelievable. 

We went on a short walk to get to the lookout area and as we did, the lake I had seen before sort of turned into a wide river as it drained into the larger lake, twisting around the mountains. I could only get short glimpses of it through the trees and branches but when I did I remember feeling like Pocahontas (truly an inspiring and momentous revelation for me, as Pocahontas is goals).

And then it opened up; the pinnacle of all amazing views I had ever seen in my life. (Rewind to said doubled-over, jaw-to-the-floor, brain-explosion, teary-eyed experience).

I climbed over a fence and down a steep slope to get up close to the water with a few friends. I was standing on some rock just breathing the air. But how can I fathom?! And how can I put into words?! I am in love with it.

My friend Michi, was standing a few feet behind me. After a few silent minutes went by: "Hey Madeline, do you want a picture?" "Oh. Yes please."

Thanks, Michael. I would have forgotten otherwise.

London: The Initiation

AIFS gave us the option to purchase a flight through the program. This flight would include a weekend in London upon arrival in Europe and also rides from Heathrow airport to our hotel, a flight from London to Munich, and a bus ride from Munich to Salzburg (my new home). I took full advantage of this, so as to avoid buying my own flight and having to find my own way to Salzburg. I didn't feel very brave anyways, but this certainly provided some more security and assurance after surrendering it all before passing through the gates.

Ahh, but don't be fooled. I still cried. I cried quite a bit.

That first weekend in London was so important to me for many reasons. Here's what I think:
1. My first city in Europe
2. I have named this weekend..."The Initiation." Makes sense. First weekend of studying abroad.
3. So many sights to see!
4. I met all of these amazing people for the first time.

It's been almost a month since this weekend, but I still remember it clearly. It was a weekend full of first impressions and tiny adventures and many laughs and many moments of anxiety as my stomach dropped to the floor after trying to fathom that this really is my new life for the next four months. I looked around class today and took in all the faces around me. I just know that I am already going to miss them. I am going to miss learning with them. I am going to miss exploring with them. And that first weekend in London was so special because we were all the same. We all had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We didn't know each other but we were on the same team.

Here are some pictures taken by and with some of my favorite adventure buddies in the very beginnings of our extravagant journey.



@St. Paul's Cathedral Thanks for the photo, Camy!

@Buckingham Palace feat. Brooke

Josh: I wish I lived there. I'd just be sittin' there....eating a snack.

@Big Ben

@The Orangery @Kensington Palace

@Tower Bridge feat. Came and Brooke
Me: I really want some cod and chips.
Brooke: Me too.
Me: Want to split one?
Brooke: Oh yeah. I'm a splitter.
(instantaneously became best friends)



@Abbey Road


@Kensington Park feat. Josh, Brooke, Camy and Peter Pan!

O Extravagant Journey: An Introduction

Hello, again. How've you been?
*Our Little Talks gives me a warm welcoming embrace.*
Thanks little bliggity. Missed you too, honestly.
It's only fitting that I come back to my old blogging ways. I have to tell you about my Extravagant Journey (Thanks for the words, Mary Oliver). And thanks for the funds, mom and dad. And thanks for the call to adventure, God and various instagram accounts!

What: I am studying abroad in Austria for a semester.

Who: Just yours truly. And 50 other random kiddos who I am coming to know and love.

Where: Salzburg, Austria. The city where the Sound of Music was filmed and the home to Mozart. The quaint mountain town on the Salzach River. My daydream in a city, essentially.

When: I arrived in London February 6th and spent the weekend there. I arrived in Salzburg on February 8th and I will be here until May 26th.

Why: Hmmm.

I don't know when I decided to study abroad. I just always knew I would. I walked into my first advising appointment as a freshman at Xavier and I asked Dr. Browne to please set aside some gen ed courses so I could get easy credits abroad. I always knew I would be in this position. I just never thought it would come this quick. And I never thought it would be this magnificent.

Here's the thing. We all crave some sort of adventure. We all have that daydream in mind. A dream vacation, or a goal to achieve, or something. For some, it'e more specific than others. For me, I just wanted to see the mountains. It was kind of impractical, as I don't hike, ski, rock climb or live in a city, state, or part of the US with ANY sort of elevation! I think that if I had to pick something that inspired me to go to the mountains it would be the boat trip I went on with my aunt and uncle or spending a week in Park City, Utah. That was the closest I've come to just pure nature.

Common insulting conversations:
me: Yeah, I'm studying abroad next semester!
x: Oh where?
me: Austria
x: (laughs) you seem like the Paris type

me: I'll be abroad in Austria next semester!
x: Why Austria?
me: Uhm, I just wanted to go see the mountains.
x: hahahahaha okay?

It's all hard for me to explain. All I know is that I've only been here for 26 days and it already is the adventure I had been craving and more. I've been on 6 separate excursions with bunches of brilliant new friends and it's a dream come true. This is just an introduction before I explain the rest of my adventures in better detail. I can already tell you that I will never forget how it feels to drive through the mountains, the site of deep green snow powdered pine trees, mountains with their feet in emerald lakes, laughing with new beautiful friends. My breath is constantly being taken away. But standing in front of all these magnificent and natural structures....ughhhh how can I explain?? It's beauty in its truest form. And it's desolation at its deepest root. And it's God's exquisite masterpiece. While my pictures won't do any of it justice and words fall far from truly explaining, I can say with certainty that I will try my hardest not to take a single moment for granted.

I am so thankful for this Extravagant Journey.

(More to come on my first weekend in London, a sleigh ride in Filzmoos, a day trip to Munich, a Sound of Music hiking tour, a hike in Koniggssee National Park, a weekend in Budapest, and of course the beautiful city I now call home, Salzburg!)