Hallo von Wien!

And so it begins.

Yes, I am here, and I don’t quite believe it. I have been trying for days just to figure out how to explain how I feel, how to describe this momentous occasion in my life, but the truth is – it just feels normal. So it must be right. Right?

And so, putting profundity aside for now, I’ll simply fill you in a bit about my trip here. It was essentially without incident, and I like the way my son described my departure:

“That's one small step for Mom...one giant leap for Momkind.”

The day I left was actually a bit surreal - almost too mundane for what was about to happen. Although I always get a bit anxious before air travel (worse, the older I get!), it was all systems go on Thursday morning. I was packed, ready, and strangely calm. My only real concern was about how the trip would go for Scout.

The young man who checked me in at Austrian Airlines was really sweet. He said, “Bad news. You have to pay for your dog, and you have to pay for the extra bag.” I was prepared, and said, “I know.” So he referred me to the lady whom I would pay for Scout, and he told her that the dog was medium-sized (which was really a downgrade from the online weight guidelines, according to which Scout was a Large). So her ticket ending up costing only $215, rather than the $400 I was expecting. Then, I think he simply forgot to charge me for the extra bag – and, he never even weighed them. So that was a good beginning, ja?

Scout was clearly suspicious about what was going on at the airport. She didn’t put up too much of a fuss going into her crate, but it was very hard for me to hand her over to strangers, knowing that she was confused, scared, and whining for me. But I had to hurry … the security check-in snake line went on forever, and was moving slowly. I finally boarded – barely 20 minutes before the scheduled departure; then we sat for about an hour and a half on the runway. Amazingly, we made up the time, and arrived only half an hour late.

And what a sweet arrival it was. My bags came quickly, even though it was another anxious 20 minutes or so until Scout was brought out. She was clearly a bit distressed, but quite happy to see me. Then we proceeded through the gate and met our wonderful landlady and her son. Such a comfort to see her familiar face, and not to have to even think about how to get to the apartment.

The apartment was just as I had remembered it, and she told and showed me everything I needed to know. It’s now day three, and I feel completely at home here.

Scout and I have taken several long walks around the neighborhood and started getting to know our surroundings. I also did a little grocery shopping to pick up a few items. Other than that, I have been mostly unpacking, organizing, writing e-mails, Skyping, planning, and studying maps and language. In other words, I’ve been ‘nesting’ in my new home. It’s a completely different experience than coming to a place to visit or tour. I’m staying here to live, and I feel no time pressure to run out to do or see things.

For better or worse, the rainy weather that bade me farewell in NJ was here to meet me in Vienna. But it doesn’t faze me and, as I said at the beginning, it can be considered good luck, and perhaps an auspicious beginning. Very auspicious, in fact, because the forecast is for rain and/or snow until the 15^th!

So I guess all in all, it was an easy birth. The baby giraffe is already standing and making her way in the world, this new world. (I promise – that does it for the giraffe metaphor!)

Specific plans are already developing for this week, and I will let you know how things go. Until then, here are some photos of my new digs. More to come.

Old world on the outside ... 

The front door of my apartment building.
Come on in.

Climb the stone steps up one mere flight to the first floor.
Good thing too, because the lift is not yet working!

Apartment 6.
No doorbell .. just knock!

New world on the inside ...

A quick peek at my küche

Trying to get the hang of news
auf Deutsch!