We put them in rest homes, we kinda kick them under the rug and make believe they don't exist. They [the people in Vienna] don't feel like that. In a lot of these older places in the world, they value their older people and their older people feel they can still be a part of the community and I thought: This is a terrific idea - that old people are useful -and that means I don't have to worry so much about getting old because I can still have a use in this world in my old age. I thought "Vienna waits for you..."

-Billy Joel

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Last week in America! ...What?!

Well, this is it! T minus 7 days (proud of me, Dad?) until I leave for my big adventure. I will be in Vienna, Austria for 3 months studying abroad, and I decided to start a blog to update family and friends on what I’m doing! So here it is! I’ll try to write posts as much as I can keeping in mind classes and whatnot. :)

I decided to name my blog “Vienna Waits For You” based off of Billy Joel’s famous song…which I love! It’s catchy and I love the lyrics:

Slow down, you crazy child 
you're so ambitious for a juvenile 
But then if you're so smart, tell me 
Why are you still so afraid? 

Where's the fire, what's the hurry about? 
You'd better cool it off before you burn it out 
You've got so much to do and 
Only so many hours in a day 

But you know that when the truth is told…
That you can get what you want or you can just get old 
You're gonna kick off before you even 
Get halfway through 
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you? 

Slow down, you're doing fine 
You can't be everything you want to be 
Before your time 
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight 

Too bad but it's the life you lead 
you're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need 
Though you can see when you're wrong, you know 
You can't always see when you're right.

You've got your passion, you've got your pride 
but don't you know that only fools are satisfied? 
Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true 
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you? 

Just say it, I'm cheesy! But I know that so it's okay. :)


This reminds me of the always forgotten advice that we just need to relax and enjoy where we are at this point and time in our lives. People are often so busy and caught up with daily life that they forget to sit back and think about what got them there and who helped them in that journey.  To the younger people: slow down! I believe having goals and ambitions and being excited for everything to come is so great and a necessity! But the future isn’t going anywhere—don’t try to get there TOO fast.  To those older folks: getting older is a gift…not a burden. Embrace it baby! ;)

I know, I’m so deep.

  So I get thinking about how grateful I am for this opportunity to travel to such a beautiful city and experience all there is to experience in the next few months. It will be a good break from life and a chance for me to do some thinking of my own. It’s something I wanted to do while I still could, so I put my heart to it and went for it! I know I will learn a lot—academically, spiritually and personally.  I want to enjoy every minute of it and I don’t doubt that I will! :)

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