The Christmas markets and seasonal drinks of Austria hold a tender place in my heart. When I think of Austria now I often imagine a wintry scene with snow, and people's hot breath drifting from their mouths like the steamy sigh of an extinguished dragon. If you can imagine such a thing...
Funny how you come to remember places.
I think of the many cafés and the copious cups of coffee washing down words, oiling conversation and bonding friendships. I remember too the cake and strüdl. Funny how much of my recollection is filtered through food and drink.
The last weeks and days flew by. It was an emotional time. It is hard to tear oneself from new friends. In situations where groups of people are tossed into new surroundings, and they have to swim or sink, searching for accommodation and striving for the perfect lesson plan inevitably brings people together. Nothing like borderline trauma to temper the links and bonds between a network of people.
But ultimately I did not mind leaving the city. It is true it does take time to adjust to a new lifestyle and to readjust to an old one but while I wondered would my new friends stay friends and what jobs or experiences life had for me beyond the next meander-the things I would miss the most might not stay in Vienna. They were not fixed inanimate objects and to live is to change-they could move maybe even come visit and Vienna would be there. As Billy Joel reminds us 'Vienna waits for you'.
I packed my things and folded my memories tucking them all away for safekeeping. Vienna is a gem of a city but I had a greater treasure waiting for me at home.
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