Expat Article in 'Ether Magazine'

Feb 20, 2008 - 13:00 PM PST

So, this is a space for me to try and write the article that I was asked last night to write for the Vienna online magazine for English apeakers in Vienna. I know a few people who write for it and they had someone drop out at the last minute, so it looks like its me... Im also going to be interviewed to be on the radio show they have once a month. (Radio Orange... can hear it on the internet I guess... and the magazine is www.ethermagazine.at ) Bit of a rush and I'm not a writer, not so sure what to say, but seeing as it is the kind of evaluation I wanted to do of my time here, it will help get me started in that way...

ok, so here goes... (Has to be 350 words.)


Okay, so I love my friends old style flat (From which I am writing this!), riding my bike,travelling on a Strassenbahn and walking for a couple of hours around the city. One of the best feelings I had was a couple of summers ago. It was the one I got every day as I cycled under the blue skies, over the Danube Canal, through the green Prater, past the Riesenrad, down the road, over the Danube, and down another road... to work... I cherished every moment. Now I can easily walk through the beautiful city centre as part of my journey to and from work.

I like the food here (all the traditional but vegetarian dishes.) When I feel a bit hungry I can easily find a bakery with fresh bread and not just ordinary bread, but freah organic bread! The feeling of biting into a nice fresh Semmel with cheese, (...and for not much money) is something I very much enjoy. I would also like to mention the standard of the Pizza, the Falafel and Veggie 'Sandwiches' and last but not least the Profiteroles swamped in chocolate sauce. MMmmm (The word 'Mahlzeit' ringing in my ears.)

So... Ive been in Vienna for 5 1/2 years. Of course I never planned to stay so long. But when I think about it, I did come with an open mind. Having spent a few years in London, loving meeting the people from all around the world who came to my previous work, I decided that it was my turn to experience a different land and language! (Yes its an exclamation mark. Something Ive learnt to use since living in Austria! On the topic of communication, I also learnt the both cheek kiss and the handshake the first time you see someone on any particular day.)

I came to take part in a European Voluntary Service project for 9 months in a refugee home. It was not an easy time, and created in me a cautious view of Austria. There was a balance though, and as a volunteer, I was also introduced to the more tradaitional side of Vienna. As I was coming to the end of my 9 months, I thought about staying. No, it was not the traditional romantic story of a relationship that kept me here, but more a feeling that 9 months was just not long enough to really get to know another culture. (People had said from the beginning on that it takes time to get to know Austrians.) I had wanted to work with children for a long time, and saw that there were lots of opportunities to work as an English Speaker in a Kindergarten. I also love learning German, which I had done so in Vienna from scratch.

So, I stayed. In my first Kindergarten, I learned a profession as a Montessori teacher. I worked in English, but saw that I kept other things and friends in the German language. It seems a cliche, but living in this renouned musical city gave me the extra push I needed to develop a keen interest in singing, and eventually joined a real choir! That was one of my dreams fulfilled! In the past 6 months I worked on a smaller scale with children, working in a parent run Kindergruppe. It is a style of education that does not really exist in England, but one I appreciated being able to take part in. I find the Apotheke's also very exciting. There are herbal and homeopathic remedies for everything!


Of course I have had some low times here, orientating and reorientating myself through the years. I lived alone for the first time and dealt with various things in another language and naturally with other ways of doing things. I was grateful that I lived in the era of the internet and cheap phone calls. Importantly I valued the strength of my English friendships.

One thing I will never forget about Vienna, is how it really is a city for all seasons. Never before have I known so clearly which events are coming next in the life of a city. I didnt need to be sad that the Christmas markets and the time of Punsch were over, as I knew that now would be the time for ice skating in front of the Rathaus. (And the New Danube if it was cold enough.) Its also still the Maroni season. Theres a certain sense of security one gains with such cycles.


I am pleased I stayed as long as I did as I feel I was able to fully experience the ups and downs of Vienna life. However, it is now the right time to go 'home' and spend some time with the friends and culture that I have increasingly appreciated and missed... back in England. I leave though with the belief that Vienna is a place of great opportunity for many. Hopefully it will also be so for those less fortunate. There is always space for new ideas in this relaxed city.