01 December 2011
One word has worked itself into every aspect of the last few months of my life in Vienna: Homework. My last semester of graduate school is almost complete and I am really looking forward to having my life back!! Three years ago, I decided to embark on this journey through advanced education not understanding where it would lead me (or how insane it would be coupled with full-time employment!). It has helped me understand this crazy world of clinical research to a point I did not even know was possible. Now, with the finish line arms length away, it is overwhelming to feel the joy coated with disbelief that it will soon be over.
The concluding moments of this past summer were marked by days of warm, beautiful weather and with me sitting outside at Café Kandinsky. Reading, writing, pondering and being served delicious coffee and tasty creations in a great environment made my inner-student shine. The café’s owner is a nice man who was the first Vienna-born person able to judge my accent as not only North American but from Northern Michigan.
My late summer development of severe Achilles tendonitis and bursitis in both heals offered plenty of time to focus on homework. It was difficult to walk, much less practice yoga…and my basketball playing and zumba shaking was completely halted. In the days I desired to walk through Volksgarten or spend time exploring the Vienna Zoo or Schönbrunn and the surrounding grounds, I was instead sitting and healing. And, of course, diligently churning out homework.
Once it turned cold and sitting outside at nearby Café Kandinsky nearly threatened frostbite, I found another great location to research my final school assignments: my couch. The wall of windows in my living room is amazing and the couch is nestled directly in the midst of it! I have decided, one day when I build a beautiful house overlooking the sea, windows like I have now will be a mandatory component of the architecture.
On one nice Sunday afternoon, I actually took a break from homework and met up with some recently introduced folks at the Vienna Oktoberfest in the Prater. It was big tents, lederhosen and dirndls as far as the eye could see. Amongst the traditional Austrian heritage, the huge beers and good company were a very welcome break from all that damn homework. And now, I leave you with some pictures as I contemplate returning to finish the last of the homework…
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| My spot at Cafe Kandinsky |
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| Cafe Kandinsky is located down a beautiful walkway |
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| Cafe Kandinsky - the view from my table... |
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| My windows :-) |
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| A tent in the Prater for Vienna's Oktoberfest |
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| Girls in Dirndls holding a xylophone...only in Austria. |
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