Notice that this list is about things. Of course I miss people the most, so we're just going to jump over that category.
- Jalapeños - seriously I have not seen one fresh jalapeño anywhere. Not even at the farmer's markets. There are Birds Eye chili peppers, which are darn hot. Plus there is one vendor at the Naschmarkt who sells habaneros. But it's not just heat I'm going for. It's that fabulous flavor of the mighty jalapeño. I've heard there are a couple Mexican grocery stores who sell pickled jalapeños and I will definitely be buying a jar (or 4). But next year I will definitely plant some jalapeño seeds on my balcony. [Any Vienna friends who know where to find fresh jalapeños…I will forever be indebted to you!]
- Hmmm...
Apparently my list is quite short. I mean, sure I miss my car, but it's kind of a pain to drive when public transportation makes everything so easy. And now I'm in the groove of riding my bike to the store with my fancy bags I hook on the back, so I don't have to wrestle my groceries on the bus.
I don't miss my house. I really thought I would. Downsizing to a two bedroom apartment makes everything SO much easier. We are grateful for our rooftop terrace, so we can still entertain groups. In fact, we're having 20-25 study abroad students from Houghton College over for dinner on Monday. We are REALLY hoping for good weather or it will be quite a tight squeeze!! But you know? You just make it work.
The beach? We have the Danube River.
Village Baker? Being that the Vienna coffee house is listed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage site, it's a suitable substitute. Click here to watch a BBC clip on the uniqueness of Vienna coffee houses. But it is true that nothing can replace those Village Baker pretzels!!
Television in English? Okay, we do get BBC and CNN news, which is tolerable only in small doses during unfolding critical news events. We have become more intentional about what and when we actually watch TV.
I remember when we had lived in Baku, Azerbaijan only a few months having this huge feeling of frustration. It was only when I had said "I'll be happy when..." for the third time in only one week that I realized just how ridiculous I was getting. I was really going to let my happiness be determined by curtains (granted they were lace and the streetlight was like a spotlight on my pillow) and cupboards (granted the landlords had filled every cupboard with their things for storage so we didn't really have a place to unpack)? It was a huge lesson for me to really consider in which things I wanted to place my happiness. Yes, acknowledge the annoyance, but don't let it ruin me. Dave's mom repeats a great saying, "I will let nothing rob me of my joy today!" More and more do I believe it's in these moments of real life that we see the power of the Holy Spirit manifest itself. Left to my own nature I can be a real complainer.
I guess I really am enjoying my new life in Vienna!
