Artistic Expressions

Eric and I have visited countless art galleries since we've been here in Europe. Some we've found more interesting than others. (One favourite was the Picasso museum. One least favourite was the Uffizi in Florence.) Mostly, they're not really our thing though. We sometimes enjoy the buildings they're in more than the art on the walls. 

Today I was actually inspired by one of the paintings. This one here: Funny right?

This painting is called The Controversy of the Coachmen and it's painted by Johann Michael Neder. It was a really random painting, quite small and seemingly insignificant. What I thought about was the inspiration that Johann would have had for this. I imagined that he actually saw this happen in the street and chuckled to himself and decided to go home and paint it. If I saw something happen like this in the street, I would probably chuckle to myself, take a picture of it, and come home and tell all of you about it. 

Back in his day people painted and sculpted and drew the things that inspired them or that they loved or that just entertained them that day. Today there are still people interested in and really good at those arts too, but I am not. I do enjoy taking pictures and I do enjoy writing. This blog is my form of artistic expression. It may never be printed and put in a museum, but it's my way of sharing my experiences and inspirations with those I know and love.

That's all. That was my thought walking though the gallery. I also saw The Kiss by Gustac Klimpt, but this one meant more to me today since I've already seen that one of every mug, tshirt and key chain in the shops of this city, hundreds of times.

Thoughts from Sunday

K:

This morning was kind of a mess for me. I didn't sleep well, I woke up still upset about something from last night, and we woke up kind of late to get to church on time. Eric had to speak and I wasn't even sure if I was going to make it at all, so I sent him ahead. I stayed back and got ready at my own pace, and thought a lot while I did. 

Something you may or may not know about me is that I'm kind of an in the moment, instant gratification type, but sometimes it comes back to haunt me after things settles a little. I almost always have buyer's remorse with big purchases, and often feel the same way in real life situations too. This morning I thought a lot about that. I almost decided that I wasn't going to go to church today, and then I started to think about the consequences of that. I knew that if I missed Eric's talk specifically (even though I was still just a little bit upset with him), that I would regret it later. This thought haunted me and drove me out the door. 

The whole way to church, and while I was there I thought about the ideas of agency and responsibility for our choices. In lots of situations since I moved away from home, since I've been married and especially since I've been in Europe I've had some regrets about the way I've done things or handled situations. Lately though I have thought about this principle before I make the choices, and it has helped so much. I use the phrase "I chose this" a lot. I think to myself, "later will I be happy when I say this is what I chose?". Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it's no. Today it was no, so I altered my decision accordingly. I went to church, and I'm obviously glad I did. It's not that it was a magical experience that changed my life, but this afternoon I was content with the fact that I could say "I chose this", and not regret it. 

What I do is make the results of my choices my own responsibility before they even happen and then it helps me to make the choices that I won't regret later.

Languages

I have recently become really fascinated with language. It's really interesting to be in a place where I can't understand anything that goes on around me. I realize that I have always taken for granted my eavesdropping abilities, for one. A couple times lately Eric and I have been on the train overlooking some intense or riveting conversations, but we have no idea what they're actually saying. Yesterday we got in a elevator with a cute old couple and he laughed a little and muttered something in German, and I wanted so badly just to know what he said so that I could know if smiling and nodding was an appropriate response.

I'm sure a lot of you know what this is like, being in a place or just a situation where language becomes a barrier. It's so tricky sometimes. I don't expect all of Austria to turn themselves upside down and learn English, then change all the signs and library books and menus to English, but it would be really nice for me if they would.

It's fun though, trying to learn a new language. I've started to recognize some words or phrases and that's exciting when it happens. It's also really fun for me to notice patterns or to figure words out on my own. I filled out a form for something the other day and it was in a few different languages (German and English being a couple of them), and one of the slots said "city, stadt...and then a couple other words for city". I finally realized then that Stadt Park here in Vienna is City Park and that Stadt Halle must mean City Hall. It was really fun for me, and now I notice that word everywhere.

Another fun one: we were printing some things at Eric's school, where the computers are all in German, and the word for the Print button was Drucken. Then I was in a shop yesterday and saw that word on the door. It also means Push.

These are all really fun little things that get me learning and adapting to this German world I live in. But it just starts me thinking: how did I learn French? I went to school for French from grade 1-12. Half my classes every year were French, and I guess you could say I know French. But I've been thinking, what is it to know a language; to really know it? I mean there are some words that I just think "when did I learn what that word was in French"; or the young man who gave a talk in our ward today, "when did he learn that word in English".

On Monday night we had Spencer and Rachel over for dinner and Rachel shared with us a little message. First a short message on something specific that interests her, that none of us know anything about yet (philosophy), then one spiritual one as well. The philosophical one she shared with us, I can't really try to explain in this entry (so I Wikipedia'd it and you can learn more here if you're interested. I think it's super cool), but it was fascinating to me. Just a little bit about one person's perspective on different ways to learn and teach language, which I thought was cool.

I have decided that I think I want to learn some more German. There are a few things that maybe I would like to know how to say or to pronounce properly, but mostly I am interested in the recognition and repetition of words and phrases. I want to be able to recognize and apply important words, or maybe phrases. I am not claiming that I will know the launguage of German when I come home, so don't quiz me or anything. But I am going to take the chance I have here, to learn more about language itself, specifically applied to German. It's like a really fun and long word puzzle kind of. It should be interesting, and I'm actually kind of excited about it!

Catching Up

K:

We're finally "caught up" with the blog and things that have happened, but I really wish it hadn't worked out like this. I wish I'd actually gotten a chance to write every time I wanted to. The details just aren't the same when you're remembering them a week later. I really want to get better at it; at saying what happens when it happens. So much of the emotion and spirit of our day to day life here is lost when we have to just give a timeline update of what's happened two weeks ago or so. 

For example: this week we haven't been out to see much of Vienna, as far as sites and museums and stuff goes. In fact we made several plans to see the zoo, the giant wheel and the aquarium on different days this week, but it just didn't quite fit. Eric spends more time at school these days because his semester is finally getting going. Sometimes I miss him, sometimes it's nice to have the house to myself. But for better or worse, it definitely leaves me with more time on my hands. I have more time for real life, and we have less time for the fairytale version of this European adventure. 
This week's real life emotional struggle: school! For me actually, not for him (although he has had his fair share of struggles with the group work he's been doing for his classes). My struggle with school is different than his, because I'm not even in school. I LOVE being in school. I absolutely love to learn. I haven't been in school this year, I've been working and now I'm here! I didn't think I would get to go back until next fall either, but Eric and I have decided together that we'll just make it work for January; provided I can decide what I want to go back for. Hence, the struggle of the week for me. 
I was studying criminal justice and psychology before, and I think I would enjoy going back to that. I liked the classes I took the last semester, and the information is certainly interesting to me, but it does have it's downsides. Example: Eric finds it depressing. I can't really talk to him about school, or about work later, if he finds it all depressing. That's one con for criminal justice. 
There are other options I've been mulling over lately too though. Should I do a shorter course, maybe earn a certificate or a diploma that will have a more practical use in the future. Should I study a field that will be more helpful and applicable and easier to work in if I have kids someday. There are just so many choices that it's really wearing me out. I am so excited about school and going back, that I feel like I need to make this decision instantly, but I've found it's not an instant decision unfortunately. It's also not one Eric, or anyone else can make for me, like where we're gong to eat dinner tonight. I have to  make it, and I want to make it quickly. I want to be able to just know what I should do, like some people always have, but it hasn't been that easy of course.

So this is what I've really been doing lately. No pictures, no beautiful buildings, no zoo. It's just been me in this house and at the school working on lists and lists of options and of courses and of things in general that interest me. Today's task: lists of pros and cons. Eric told me this is something I just have to do, so that's what I'll be working on for the next hour or two or three or however long it takes to get it done, or for him to come home from school today.

Planning Redemption Session

Well after a review of yesterday, Katherine and I expressing some feelings, giving some apologies and then attempted to plan again. Planning was a success! What a relief from yesterday. I’m excited for all of the things that we’ll go see. We’re going to Cover from Paris to Rome, and Bled to Nice.

We visited a flea market after our planning feat. The sight was a grid of divided shambles. Little pots of sellers with his or her items ranging from treasures scrimmaged from a land fill, to used hand-stitched leather bags and homemade broaches. We walked by large piles of clothes, unorganized, unsorted, piled to a peak. Simply, it was like the biggest yard sale I’ve seen, with near one hundred participants who had rummaged up what they could, from who knows where, trying to make a Euro. Between the heat and among the minority of non-smokers, Katherine and I didn’t linger very long. I found nothing to arouse my bill fold, but the sight itself was priceless.

For dinner I ate noodles and Katheine had a donair style rap. We both have had successes with these two meals, but this time only Katherine was a winner. My noodles, usually thick and very oriental, were replaced with cheap spaghetti noodles. Never again will I go to that stand without fighting the urge to burn it down.

Tonight was the first session of conference. It started at 6 and went to 8. We got there at 10 to 8. What happened? Well, the tram that we needed to get to the chapel was broken or something and never came. Later we heard something about a huge marijuana party on the tram track. What a perfect place to party. We weren't the only ones not too thrilled to be down a tram. It seemed to put out crowds of people that were waiting just like us. Before knowing about the bong fest up the line, we ventured down the line by subway to see if we would be able to catch a tram closer to the church. Still no luck.

The Lord promises us his grace after all we can do; so Katherine and I rented bikes setting out to peddle our way to hear from the mouth of our prophet. Vienna has stations around the city where you can rent bikes and then return them to the next station, and the first hour is free. K: I haven't riden a bike in probably ten years, and you can see by my outfit of the day that I was just thrilled about this plan. It was an adventure though and it was fun. 

It was an adventure, and though we arrived with only ten minutes remaining, we made it. Victory! The last ten minutes we were pleasured with the remarks of President Uchtdorf’s message—“You matter to Him”. It was worth all the effort just to hear what we did.

Sunday September 25th

E:
Were we ever late for church. We felt horrible for not being on time, but we really just didn’t give ourselves enough time. it’s an hour trip, not a half hour. Oops. Katherine and I tried hard not to let our discouragement ruin church.  It’s hard—being here long enough to have known better, yet making the honest mistake of miss-judging the time to get to church.

Spencer and Rachel Steenblik just moved to Vienna like Katherine and I; they are recently married and Spencer is doing some school here. I for see the 4 of us doing plenty together; the two of them seem to be one of those couples ready to go do fun things.

This afternoon I was a wreck. I took one of those naps that seem to suck every ounce of energy out of you except for that which is needed to stay alive. That’s all I want to say on that. Hopefully tomorrow I will wake up with the power to do more than survive.

Day One of Strategic Management

E:
German--not so much my thing. Strategic Management -- what a refreshment to be able to follow and understand what’s going on. My teacher is quite entertaining, a life saver for the fact that the class is almost a 4^th of a whole day... 5 hours.

During the lecture, the professor asked, “Who is Porsche’s competition?” He got responses like Ferrari and BMW. Since I spent a summer listening to CBC radio, I was able to apply my knowledge gained from The Age of Persuasion with Terry O’Reilly. “Louis Vuitton,” I responded, “Porsche competes with other luxury brands.” The demand isn’t transportation, but for a status item. It just happens to be a car. The professor loved the answer and proceeded on with that idea for a little while. I regained a portion confidence lost from the German classes earlier this week.

A quick note on the spiritual side: I prayed that I’d be able to get into a good group for the group work part of the course. The answer to my prayer came rather easily. Two of the native students came over to me and another exchange student, whom I was sitting next to, and asked if we wanted to be a group together. They seem to be the sort of students that will be good to work with, and our group happens to have both locals and exchange students. We also picked up one more exchange student at the end of class who will be good.

Day Two of German Class

E:
The teacher speaks only German, which is tricky, and the class is 3 hours. So near the end I start to feel like Calvin from Calvin and Hobbs. All I’m hearing is waa wa waa wa... in an Austrian accent. I don’t know that I’ll ever learn German. I’m the only one in the class who knows only one language. I think that the kid from Lithuania knows 8 languages. I’ll keep at it and see what progress I can squeeze out of this class. It doesn’t count for credit and it’s free, so I’m not too worried about it.