Vienna Waits for You

For about eight years my favorite song has been Vienna by Billy Joel. It's the song that I put on the first mix cd I make for anyone I care about and it's the song that I cherished in my darkest hours. But despite my love for the song, I never really dreamed I would end up here.
I took what I would normally fit into my SUV and trimmed it down to fit in a suitcase and a backpack.
I'm ecstatic but also scared out of my mind since I only know a few people on this trip and barely at that. The person who had been planning to join me on this trip backed out and I know that I would never forgive myself if I did the same. But so far everyone has been really nice and friendly so it's great!
On the flight over it hadn't hit me what was going on. It felt like I was just on a long flight to anywhere and there happened to be some people I knew on the plane. We were all lined up in a strange alphabetical order in the very middle of the plane so sitting down you might not even have known we all were a group. I didn't get any sleep on that first long flight to our connection in Amsterdam. We made it through customs and a second security checkpoint then speed walked through the airport to find our connecting flight at what felt like 1:30 in the morning. We waited to board and saw a beautiful sunrise as we sat there.

We were all pretty antsy to get on the plane to get to our final destination of Vienna. On the flight they spoke Dutch very rapidly and then translated it in English. I used to want to learn Dutch but German will have to do for now. When we got on the plane they served us chicken sandwiches which didn't make any sense to either of the timezones I was currently operating under. It was good and came in a little box with a windmill on it and instructions on how to make your own wheat bread (in English) but my stomach was hurting from the strange dinner I ate on the plane before so I couldn't really enjoy it.
Our group split up with six of us going to one apartment and five of us going to the other. We settled in and then journeyed out with our professor to go (as we later figured out) grocery shopping. It took us five minutes to figure out which water we were buying and then our professor told us which one was what we actually wanted before we bought it. Who knew there was "mild" water?

When we got back to the apartment I crashed like I never had before. I put on pajama shorts and before changing my shirt as I had been planning I fell asleep. After we woke up we went out to dinner with the whole group and were served a variety of things I couldn't pronounce but boiled down to a soup with "small sliced pancakes" which was surprisingly delicious (frittatensuppe), basically a fried dough with pork in it (weiner schnitzel), and an apple strudel with whipped cream (apfelstrudel).
It was all delicious and was a huge relief after eating plane food. Now I have plans to get breakfast at a cafe with the girls in the apartment and then plan the rest of the day.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Yours until the end of the Internet,
Eiggam

As the Sun Sets on Summer

The clock is ticking down now. As of this weekend I will be unemployed for the next three months, which is a scary thought since I haven't been unemployed for longer than a couple weeks since I started working. But it's all for a good purpose. As I've mentioned before I will be studying in Vienna, Austria for the upcoming semester.

I've had a great summer of interning and nannying. I've learned more through my internship than I have so far in my courses. My favorite part of interning was this: I had a really sadistic teacher last semester tell me that my writing skills were poor and that I should go to the writing center for help. I never went because I am that stubborn. A large part of my internship revolved around writing: emails, blogs, statuses, pitches, press releases etc. etc. My bosses and coworkers thought I did a great job. They were impressed enough to ask me to write for some client blogs when I return to school. So Professor Lady Bowl-Cut, it turns out my writing skills are good enough to make it in the real world and that is good enough for me.

When I was three my grandmother used to sit down with me and write out stories together. My grandmother is a fantastic writer and has written for numerous publications. She's part of the reason that I'm going to try to update this blog more. She loves to read what I'm up to and she is always encouraging me with my writing. (I love you Granny!)

Nannying was also a great experience. I spent time watching over a two year old boy and a three year old girl. I had toys thrown past me and bruised my cheekbone from the little boy leaning his head back way too fast but I also got countless hugs and giggles to get me through. They were my break from the office and helped me know that I can still laugh at a snail climbing up a rock, blow bubbles and color with crayons. I don't have to be a full-time grown up but I can be an adult who can smile at the little things.

My summer was like night and day compared to last summer. Last year I had people yelling at each other all around me and criticizing at every turn for no reason but to make themselves feel better. This year I got to work on an excellent public relations team that encouraged each other, stood up for one another and wanted to do the best job they could. The only yelling I heard was from cranky toddlers and instead of broken plates there were breaks of laughter. I had a great summer. I was able to my longest friend get married, spend time with my whole family and lay on the beach. I am sad to see it come to an end but I am excitedly nervous about moving onto Vienna.

Yours until the end of the internet,
Eiggam

Over the River with your Parents and Boyfriend

How to plan for a long car ride with your parents and boyfriend:

Parents and your boyfriend in one long car ride up to a wedding (bound to be awkward insinuations there, right?) in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the summer? Don't gouge your eyes yet! It is possible and you will survive (just like that song says).

1. Wear Layers: you will probably be in the backseat and the a/c in small cars can be fidgety. My parents like it cold and I like it a bit warmer if possible. Wear shorts and bring a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt to yank on if you feel like you're skiing all of a sudden because your mom pointed the a/c right at you.

2. CD's acceptable by most: I am breaking a cardinal teenage/young adult rule by not recommending ear buds on a trip with your parents. There is a reason behind my madness: Conversation. If you and your boyfriend have ear buds in conversation stops and it can make things last a lot longer. Especially if your parents want to tell you something and one or both of you have to keep pausing your music to listen and respond. You're not going to win everybody's heart with your music selection but use it as an opportunity to make some neat mix cds to create memories to play again.

3. Dramamine. I have never been one of those people that get motion sickness. I always have seen car rides as a time for reading. My parents on the other hand can't go on kiddie rides at carnivals without feeling nauseous and as I get older I am realizing I believe I have caught that gene. I'm almost certain it is because of driving so much more by myself in the past year that sitting in the backseat feels like a life sentence. Packing some Dramamine and taking it before you even climb into your cell helps make it more bearable.

4. Books/Magazines: I said no to ear buds but I will say yes to a book or magazine. I'd recommend both so you can have some light reading with a magazine to buffer drags in conversations or have a book to cope with long silences.

5. A small pillow: Don’t go overboard bringing your body pillow. Just have on hand a small throw pillow. You won’t bang your head as hard on the window if you feel like snoozing and if your back is hurting it can provide some relief.

6. Codigo Cube: This is something I’ll be trying for the first time in a car. Codigo Cube is a trivia game that all you need is your phone and the little one inch by one inch cube. Everyone can compete in this game even the driver if someone rolls the cube for them. It’s very easy to do and you can select different levels for playing. You roll the cube. Scan the QR code. The person answers the question. Then passes it to the next player. Or you can play it as teams. Your parents against you and your boyfriend or guys against girls. Whatever and it’s a fun little game that can be as short or as long as you want.

7. Phone car chargers: The worst days are usually when my phone dies. I love checking up on twitter and this trip I will be partially working so I need to maintain access to my email. Both of these things will suck up your battery so make sure you have a car charger for your phone or tablet if you plan on using them in the car.

8. Snacks and Drinks: Bring some light snacks and a bag for trash. Nothing that requires extra utensils, nothing that makes a giant mess, nothing that will leave a lingering odor. Think granola bars or baby carrots. Find out what people would like to drink. I love juices but am not a huge fan of just water.

9. Sunglasses: I get headaches easily and sunglasses keep me from cringing from the light. (On that note don’t forget Tylenol either). Plus sunglasses make you look cool. And isn’t that what’s important in a road trip?

10. Enjoy the Ride: Sit back, watch the cars go by, and relax. You’re not in the office and you’re surrounded by people you care about. Enjoy your drive. 

Rock-a-Bye Royal Baby

Okay, I have to admit. I am not that fascinated by the royal baby stuff. 

The royal wedding? A million times yes! I was in front of my tv waiting to see them. 

Finding out she was pregnant? Okay that happens. I didn't think about it again. 

Prince George Alexander Louis was born? Can the world please just stop? I am avoiding Google News now even though it's part of my job. 

The kid looks a little cute and I'll probably be more intersted in things like: his outfit was from blah blah, and his stroller retails for money! As pathetic as that sounds it's true. He also looks like my youngest nephew a little except my nephew was born with strawberry-blonde hair. But they both have that alien look going on that I honestly don't associate with all newborns but is true for these two boys.

On the bright side, it's only about a month before I fly off to Vienna! And that's Vienna, Austria. Not Venice. Why do people keep asking me about Venice? "Oh I love Italy." Yeah, me too but that's not where I'm going...It's awkward but if you guys could not think that- yeah that'd be splendid! 

I'm in the middle of an internship this summer and nannying part-time. Both of which are a lot of fun and shockingly less stressful than working at a restaurant on a tourist filled island. I feel like I'm now on the other side of things: picking up food instead of making it and getting paid for facebooking and tweeting. You get people like Fox and CNN emailing you and it gets a little nerve wracking but the whole experience has made me believe I chose the right field to pursue. 

This summer is going too quickly but I can't wait for my vacation. I want to sit on the beach with a pile of books and a refreshing drink of the nonalcoholic variety. And then I want to get in a plane and fly away. 

Yours until the end of the internet, 

Eiggam

Harry's World

Disney may call itself the happiest place on earth but they must never have been on the Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour outside of London. I had tears of joy before even starting the tour. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
When Cyrena and I first started talking about our trip she insisted we go to the Harry Potter Tour. I had honestly no idea what she was talking about until I looked it up. After a thorough google search I was in love and insisting upon the visit as well.
The morning of the tour started with a cup of Costa coffee and a confusion about what Tube station to take (quite like every morning of our stay in that sense). Our first stop was to pick up the car we were renting for the day. I expected to end up with my knees up to my chin in the backseat of a tiny electric car. Instead, we received a shiny black Mercedes Benz
Crossing streets in a busy city is difficult. Crossing streets in London when you're from America is stressful because you don't have any idea which way the cars are coming from. Having your dad drive the streets in London, trying to understand the GPS and not having the tiniest clue of where you're going, now that's a nightmare. My dad's a good driver in America. He was a driving instructor when he was younger and he taught me and my two brothers how to drive. But London was a test for everyone's nerves. First, that pretty Mercedes Benz? Yeah the engine shuts off when you come to a stop. The air vents were louder than the GPS with no conceivable way of lowering them without turning them off completely. Plus the driver's seat was obviously on the other side than what I'm used to. The GPS would say turn left but you would have to turn right to turn left.
Our next stop was Stonehenge. Arriving at Stonehenge was a breath of fresh air after our days in the city. The calm of the area felt like walking into a library. The stones were great and I got to recreate a photo I took with my dad at age 2.Then it was back in the car and heading to the studio with a quick stop at a gas station to get Costa and a potato dog (absolutely delicious and highly recommended). I was starving at that point and the potato dog and granola bar I had felt like my own little slice of heaven.
From Stonehenge to Leavesden, the driving was smooth sailing. We got our tickets and decided to get some more lunch. This part I will remember until I die or get Alzheimer's: I ordered a Thai chicken salad and almost as soon as we found a spot to wait for our food in the crowded cafeteria of the studio the fire alarm went off. Everyone was ushered out the doors and we waited back in the car until the doors opened. When we got back and our food was ready my poor Thai chicken was dried through and as tough as stone.
The rest of our wait before we got in line was spent looking at the amazing gift shop. Cyrena and I lost my parents in the crowd and pointed out what we would get for her sisters, our friends and my roommates.
Now before I bring you into the tour I want to give you a bit of background information at this point about how I came to know Harry and his friends. The books started when I was in kindergarten and by the time the first movie came out I was not allowed to watch or read anything Harry Potter related (because of "witchcraft" which my mom thought would turn me evil). When I was in second grade some of the kids in my school would point and whisper (how kids "whisper" at least aka talking with their hands cupped over their mouths) that that girl looked like "Hermione." I didn't have a clue who Hermione was so I just glared at them. I started hating Harry Potter for awhile after that. In fifth grade my mom finally told me I could watch the movies if I wanted to but I felt so deprived that I refused. Fast forward to the end of eleventh grade. I didn't look much like the "Harry Potter girl" by then and people were only reading the books when a new movie was about to come back. One weekend I was invited by some friends to go see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (the sixth movie). I went and was hooked. I began reading all the books that summer. I brought them everywhere: the pool, vacation, doctor's offices, the mall, etc etc. Wherever I went, Harry went. When I finished a book I watched the movie and by the time Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 premiered, I was caught up.
All of this is to admit, I didn't grow up with Harry Potter. A lot of my friends did and to this day they know the details far better than me but I love Harry Potter in spite of my own shortcomings. And now I love Hermione and I can see the similarities between young me and her when looking back.
After waiting in the infinite line we were ushered into a dark room where a brief clip played about the magic of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling. And tough old me who hates public crying as much as being stung by a bee, cried a few tears of joy. Just being in that building made me feel apart of something as all readers of the series are.
On the tour I got to see up close all the things I never dreamed I would. I saw the horcruxes, the Griffindor common room, the Weasley's home, 4 Privet Drive, Snape's Potions class, wardrobes from all the movies, the Knight Bus, the Potter's house, the bridge to Hogwarts, Dumbledore's office, brooms, wands, and Hogwarts! I drank butterbeer and sat in the Weasley's flying car!
That tour was one of the most magical days of my life. You got to walk through at your own pace and get these little passports stamped. I felt on top of the world that day and I want to go back there as soon as I possibly can.
Yours until the end of the Internet,
Eiggam

London Called and I Answered

I went to London with my parents and one of my best friends Cyrena. I actually have loads of my own pictures but I went with the one you see above from something I found on Pinterest just because I can and I don't want to have a competition between my favorite London photos.
London was one of the most incredible places I've been. Let's get this straight though because I promised myself I would tell you these two things.
1. The crowds will make you want to curl up in a ball in front of a store entrance.
2. Harrods is the biggest time waster in the world in will make you feel like you belong in a trash can.
Let's address number one. I'm usually okay with crowds and the ones in London were horrible. Wall-to-wall people pushing and shoving. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible.
The second. I have heard the name Harrods since I was two years old when my mom bought me a dress from there when we were there the first time. I read in all the travel guides: "Harrods: Must See!" I promise you it is not. Go sit in Costa if someone suggests going in. Or really I would recommend standing in the rain instead of going into Harrods for even a minute.
Torrential downpour? Bring it!
Wait inside the door for me at Harrods? Same to you buddy! I never liked you either!
You will not know what floor you're on when you're there. You will not know which door you entered. You will never find the person you entered with ever again. They have maps of the store though! I promise you will still have all of these questions. You will barely glance at a price of an eraser and you will realize that unless you are a multi-millionaire, you need to go stand on the curb asking for spare change to get by in this world.
Even after reading this, you might find yourself in London with lots of people saying "You have to go to Harrods!" and maybe you will and learn for yourself. I know though I will sleep better knowing that I warned those I could.
Okay so blah blah blah negative negative negative. I went to London and all I can do is complain?? No way Jose. (Are you reading this Jose? I don't know any Jose's but I hope one somewhere will read this.)
I will list my top ten favorite things about London starting from the bottom.
10. The Red Telephone Booths
They're real. I'm not kidding. They don't all have phones in them but they exist and that keeps me going.
9. Baker Street
I'm not the biggest Sherlock Holmes fan in the world but that street was pretty neat for all the Sherlockian things the incorporated into the area. The statue, the subway tiles, the replica house. All really neat to just see.
8. Pizza Express
I'm human. I love pizza but few pizzas have made me feel as alive as Pizza Express Padana pizza. It had my favorite things: onions, garlic, spinach, mozzarella AND goat cheese. I ate that pizza twice in a single week. I dream about this pizza on occasion. It was life changing.
7. Bus 42
This late night double decker bus was the perfect outing. I got to see Big Ben, the Tower of London, Belmont prison etc. etc. Not even kidding there was a stop for a prison. I haven't laughed as hard as I did on Bus 42 in a very long time.
6. King's Cross Station and Paddington Station
I love Harry Potter. And I love Paddington bear. It was just really neat to go to those places.
5. Costa Coffee
Honeycomb Lattes. America learn about honeycomb and embrace it with everything you have. Make it be here all the time. Every latte I had was delicious. But honeycomb, man that made me disappointed in America. Why we're on the topic of honeycomb: Crunchies. Honeycomb covered in chocolate. It's a candybar. Eat, love it, you're welcome.
4. London Eye
It was really cool to see a city that way. Every city needs one of these but let's bring the price down then okay? I wish I could see my hometown from something like that.
3. The Parks
In the midst of the craziness that is London there are beautiful, peaceful, gorgeous parks. I would spend so much time in those parks if I lived there. In Regent's Park there is a little coffee place called The Cow and the Coffee Bean. On a cold January day walking through the park that latte was the best decision I made that day. I spilled some on my gloves and Cyrena laughed at me but hey, memories rock.
2. Hotel Wifi
I love the internet. I have my phone in my hand or close to it constantly. I need Internet. Wifi in the hotel was my life saver. After a day of touring I could snuggle into my bed, post beautiful photos to Instagram, text my boyfriend and tweet until my heart's content. It was the greatest comfort in the world.
1. Harry Potter Studio Tour
Okay. The Harry Potter Studio Tour was one of the best experiences of my life. Without a doubt and for that reason I am going to leave you hanging until the next post. (It'll be sooner than the last I promise.)
Yours until the end of the internet,
Eiggam

Vienna Waits for You

My Vienna Study Abroad Application Essay: 

           

Ever since my first birthday I have been a world traveler. I celebrated my first birthday in Kerry, Ireland. I pretended I was a giant in the famous Bourton-On-The-Water Model Village in Cotswolds, England, when I was two years old. I chased sheep down a dirt road in Scotland when I was three. At the time, I did not know very much about the places I was in they were just my playground away from home.

Most of what I remember from these trips is from stories told by my family, pictures and home videos. My dad had told me many stories about the times he himself had spent in Ireland as well. From these stories, my heart yearned to truly experience it with memories I could hold onto longer. In the fourth grade I had finally begged my parents enough to bring me back to Ireland where it all started.

From fourth grade on the travel bug had finally sunk his teeth in enough so that there would never be an antidote for its effect. Ireland ceased to be this mythical world as soon as we landed. It was real. The people there were real with authentic accents and palpable charm. The dogs that ran around barked and the cows that stood in the fields were much quieter than I imagined. The food was delicious and comforting. The walls of the stone castles were rough and strong. I found there were things I had expected and those I had not even thought of.

I traveled to Italy during my sophomore year of high school. I saw Rome, Florence and Venice during my stay there and to this day I still cannot say which was my favorite. Rome was grand and had the fast-paced city feel that disappeared when you sat down in the café. Florence was plastered with beautiful art and architecture wherever you looked but felt like it could have been your own hometown. Venice on the other hand felt like another world altogether with its waterways and that incredible beauty when you see city lights dancing on the water.

Each place had its own charm, its own quirks and its own personality. That is what I loved about Italy and that is what I love about traveling. You cannot condense all that you have seen in your travels with words. Traveling is about the feeling you get when you stare out the window and watch those passing below you. Traveling to me is that pigeon that landed outside your window and you know it has seen parts of this world you have not. I envy that pigeon. Saint Augustine of Hippo said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” My goal is to heed Saint Augustine’s advice and take hold of every opportunity I can find to travel. I am eager to see what there is in Vienna and what I can find there. I have never been content to see through only a tourist’s eye even though I understand that is what I have been. By studying abroad in Vienna, I hope to take on a new view of traveling as a student and from taking away all the knowledge I can from the culture there.