Short message

I don't want to go to lunch. This is not because I am not hungry, this is because I don't want to face possibly unfriendly people who I have to buy food from. Here I am, unhappy and thwarted because I am afraid of embarassing myself. The people I've had transactions with haven't been openly unfriendly, some just look disgruntled, or put upon, and I think it is because I don't speak German. Ich bin eine ninny. I give up. I am hungry, and anyone who knows me knows I like to eat. In America, do we really care if the McDonalds people are happy with us? No. We just want our food. I think I will go now, there is a kebab sandwich (that is lamb) calling me.

Greeny

Triumph!

I did it. Hehehehe! Being afraid of a street vendor is easy enough to overcome, apparently. Just don't be shy, tell 'em what you want clearly, and pay, of course. I am not full yet, it is hard to do that here, oddly. I did walk at least ten blocks just to get to and from the street cars and buses. I don't know. Is it the exercise or the stranger in a strange land business? Oh well. I need to get to class. I will try to describe the experience of living here later tonight or tomorrow.

Life in Vienna (1st and 16th district)

Life is weird. That is one of my mantras. In Vienna it is just a different kind of weird.

Everything is old. Okay, not everything. They do have a commercial, up-to-date district, but overall the Viennese love the past. They call it conservatism. This means that the buildings in both my districts are out of a Mozart movie. The buildings that line the streets are generally four to five stories, no space between them except for streets, and look like they come from 200-300 years ago. The streets here are mostly einbahn, or one way. This is good, it means you only have to look one way when crossing the street.

Speaking of crossing the street, everyone walks and takes public transport here. I don't know of anyone with their own car, yet. I assume perhaps a teacher does. Taking the U-Bahn (subway) or S-Bahn (trams on the surface) or a Bus (bus) is extremely inexpensive. You can get a weeklong pass for €14 (about $20, right now) that covers any and all types of transport. You find a route or U-bahn entrance near you and take it as close as you can get to your destination, then you walk the rest of the way. At each stop I've been to, something comes every 8 minutes or so. They are also very punctual.

There is a certain etiquette for riding public transport. Mainly: be quiet, not too happy, and don't touch anyone, if possible. When you get in, find a seat or standing place and when you are at your stop move towards the exit. If someone is in the way make a movement to alert them or ask them to move. Also, a wide stance is helpful to keep your balance.

Where I am, a music school right outside a major tourist street, there is a lot of music. Someone is always practicing inside. And when the weather is nice, like now (a balmy 82 F degree high today, they think it's hot) there are plenty of buskers (street performers). I have seen some pretty interesting instruments being played.

Also, I have seen more nudity on statues and paintings here than in my entire life. I saw my first naked angel my second day here. The ceilings are never boring. There is always some type of decoration or painting on them.

People here are very security-conscious. Keys are expensive and, therefore, important. You must always shut/lock the door and turn out the lights. Most people here are friendly (freundlich) and helpful, in my experience. It is better if you know what you want. Eating out is expensive, groceries are not, plan accordingly. Most everything here above €15 seems expensive because of the conversion rate.

I could get even more specific, but I want to go home and eat.

Talk at you again soon.
Greeny