I am a rose, and a trend breaker

Today was fantastic. 
Let us see, I -big breath- shopped at three yarn stores, two of which I had never been to before. The first one I found with no difficulty, the second I went to I bought a zipper at, and at tge third I went in every wrong direction possible before finding it. The upside to getting' lost' is that it was a great part of town with huge, wonderful buildings, so I didn't mind. Then I got there, and it was locked! I looked inside and found the yarn I was searching for. Sigh. Remembering the clamor for visual reminders of my trip, instead of leaving right away, I took a picture of the really colorful sign for the shop. And lo and behold, the owner comes and opens the shop again. I get my yarn, and thank my lucky stars that you all demanded pictures.
After that, I went to "Hancock" (in English), and enjoyed the music so much at the end I was dancing on my way out. As I made my way to the U-bahn entrance on the street, I was happy and content. Then I thought, "When did living in Vienna become normal?" I thought it again as I walked down 'my' street that connects to the apartment. 
When did I get accustomed to this crazy place? This is where I have witnessed three violent drunken outbursts, where it is fashionable to wear tights instead of pants, and where hearing English is as rare as a blue moon. I heard people speaking English twice today, and I spoke to the people the second time. They were students from Florida and...somewhere only staying a couple of days. They seemed impressed by my six weeks. I told them that hearing English "in the wild" here is rare, and it's true. 
I can now mentally read signs with the correct consonant and (mostly) vowel sounds in my head. I started that at the beginning of my trip. 
This is a place of unspoken and spoken rules. Greetings at coming and going in a shop are mandatory, you do not take up two seats in public transport even if you have a giant backpack and a violin, people are on time (the movie started on time, too), and the ice cream is perhaps the best in the world.
What did I do besides all that? Well, I bought two scarves and a shirt. Packed partially, did laundry, and went and had ice cream with everyone who is still here. We went to Zanoni and Zanoni's, which was huge. They are the Walmart of ice cream here, open every day every hour, except the quality is excellent. I want to go to lunch there tomorrow. 
Oh yeah, and I made biscuits not thirty minutes ago. 
I realize that I am getting random, it's 1:22am here,

I think I'll go to bed now.
Greeny

Retrospective of Vienna

Tomorrow looms with import upon today. 
Don'tcha love portentious statements? 

Alas, it is but 3am your time, but hey, the miracle of the internet is helpful to my endeavors to captivate you.
My last posts have all been attempts at something that I can't seem to hit the right way. I wanted and still want to sum up my experience here, but lack of time, sleep and proper thought upon the subject have all interfered. So...here we go again, wish me luck.

Things I've done: traveling, sleeping, touring, eating, watching TV (did you know that is an actual verb in German?), studying, attending classes, practicing, reading books, reading knitting blogs, drinking (in tiny amounts), shopping, and living.

I have never found travel to be the most exciting thing in the world. Some people really enjoy it, but I have only come to appreciate it for its relative quickness. I have a routine (big surprise to anyone who knows me or my dad) inside a plane. I find my seat, analyze my seatmate for conversational possibility, and we take off. I always order ginger ale and the biscoff crackers, if possible. Then there is reading, thinking, looking out the window during take off and landing (esp. landing). 

This trip was my first real experience with jet lag. I don't really remember having it this badly before, it felt like I was being pulled down by solid chains of tiredness. It took two-three days for it to wear off. 

Touring is fun, I have learned. If done right, it is enjoyable and informative, otherwise, its a drag. 

When in Rome...eat as the Romans do. I've already summarized a few interesting food I ate while here. Adding onto my list of elderberry juice, blood sausage, and kebab, there is a mystery bacon-like meat, Schoko-bananen (banana-flavored marshmallow covered in chocolate, odd stuff), raspberry pop, pizza with corn (very popular here), and a few traditional Viennese dishes. 

I only watched a small amount of TV (insert "Really?" here), as there is only three English channels here. I was briefly taken by a nighttime soap that had to do with a salon (I know, interesting how desperation affects the mind), and there was also some Doctor Who. It made me happy.
To fill my time here I went through a few phases: TV, reading, and finally I landed (hard) on knitting blogs, they inspired me, and I have bought yarn enough to make stuff for my family. 
Of course, I had to study and practice, too. That was usually at the end of the day. I stayed up until 6:30am here writing a paper, my first official all-nighter. 

Drinking, I shall refer you to a previous post. I have had some alcohol while here, and I have learned a fair bit about its effects on others. 
Shopping: most of my shopping here was for groceries (I finally found baking soda, it only took me six weeks). However, I did get some pants, a few scarves, and the everpresent yarn. 
Living: I have had too many experiences here to relate. I have only been late to classes a few times, and only missed one school-related appointment. I was approached three times for directions and had no idea where anything was. I have been greeted on the street by three black men, the last of which is featured in yesterday morning's post. I never really went anywhere on my own on the weekend until yesterday. My roommates and I never really bonded, and I don't mind that much. They were annoying to hang out with for very long. I felt like one of the smartest people here, not the most learned, but faster than most everybody else at picking up stuff. 

Four of my flatmates are gone now. Ben left for a trip to Holland with friends yesterday morning, Andrew moved to a hotel yesterday night, Brooke left early this morning, and Hayley left shortly after that. Elana is leaving after me tomorrow, and I think Kenya is leaving today. Oh yeah, I learned nearly everyone's name. That is a big deal for me, I am horrible at names.

Wow, I did it. Whew! That is a relief! Getting everything while it was fresh was really weighing on me. 

I am off to complete the circle of days, I'll tell you all sometime about my 'full-circle' theory.
One day left.
Greeny

The Last Day

This, my friends, is likely the last post I will make in Vienna, or abroad, for that matter. I am filled with inexplicable nostalgia and longing. I guess this kind of trip makes an impression. 
I have already posted what little I can string together about what happened here, so I shall just be rambling for a short while. 
Today (my last here) I went and proved my love to my family. What else would you call walking around and taking pictures (lots and lots of pictures) for hours? Well, I find "tourist" too transient a word to describe my...um...passing through? No, I embraced my inner tourist, which is something, considering how much bad press the word was given when we got here. I went and saw quite a few places that were my first sights in Vienna, including the Bank-o-mat. I have not lost my passion for detail. 
After putting this off for nigh two weeks, I know why. It took a while, like, three-four hours. And at the end I was exhausted, so I stayed in, made dinner (more spaghetti, but with lots of vegetables, and Almdudler), and read until now. 
Other things also happened before this, however. Elana and Kenya took their leave, I talked to our landlady, Elly, twice. I bought two (english) books for amusement purposes on and off of the plane (it will never cease to amuse me to buy American/British things here). I had lunch at Zanoni and Zanoni's, a huge crepe with ham, cheese, lettuce, and tomato, and an Eis Schokolade. An Italian-looking dude flirted with me at a distance, and I made a conscious effort not to be cold. I also noticed that a few guys were looking at me today. It was a good hair day, I (brace yourselves) blow-dried my hair for the first time since coming here, and dang if my clothes are not spiffy. But, is it just looks? Have I changed in some fundamental way in order to attract (or simply notice) this attention? Ahh, my mind, it spins.
Overall, a really good day. Not as exhilarating as yesterday, perhaps, but still very nice (the weather was great). Last, but not least, I also bought flowers for my landlady at the request and euro donation of my now gone roommates (bless their hearts). I bought a live plant of yellow roses for 7 euro! I hope she likes them.

I intend to post, though less often, after I return to the States. 
Talk to ya then. (Old dude in Monty Python: "I feel happpyy!")
Greeny