We’ve been here less than a week (one week ago, we were on the plane and on our way here) and I’m already noticing a difference in my ability to communicate. Obviously, I’m in a country where I don’t speak the native language, so I’m stifled in my ability to communicate in German. That’ll be true until my vocabulary extends beyond the half-dozen words I know (which are almost all for kinds of food). But I’m shocked to find that it’s effected my ability to talk to people in English, too. My English is broken. I’m sure it’s not irreparable, but I’m definitely having trouble using it.
Archive for the ‘Em’s blog’ Category
Broken English
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011A grande soy chai is still a grande soy chai
Monday, April 11th, 2011Today was probably our busiest day so far: we looked at two apartment possibilities in different parts of town, Dan went by his new work to get some of the paperwork started and out of the way, we went shopping for non-food grocery items (which here you don’t buy at the grocery store), we went to the bakery (one of my new favorite places) for a loaf of bread and we had the cleaning lady come by. And that was all before dinner, and in addition to the normal activity of life in a new place with two little ones. Whew!
Apartment hunting
Sunday, April 10th, 2011We’re looking for a more permanent home here in Vienna. The place we’re in right now is only ours until the 16th (this coming weekend). It’s a bit of a daunting task: trying to find a place that will be good for us, fun for the kids, enough room to make us comfortable, not too expensive, in a good neighborhood, a reasonable commute to Dan’s new job and close to grocery shopping/pharmacy/bakery/market/train/tram because we don’t have a car here. And we don’t really know what we’re doing because we moved here less than a week ago. We don’t really have an educated idea of exactly where we want to be, and we don’t have an idea of what is reasonable to expect from places or from landlords. It’s a challenge!
Skills I didn’t even know I had
Saturday, April 9th, 2011There are lots of things that I know I’m good at. But today I gained appreciation for something that it turns out I was good at, but didn’t realize. I used to be really good at grocery shopping. I could go in, take an efficient route through the store, shop for the best deal, manage the self-checkout line and get out quickly — with Benjamin or Liam, and usually without a meltdown from any of us. I never really realized that this was something to be proud of until I learned something else today: I am NOT as good at grocery shopping in Austria.
Hallo, Gelato!
Friday, April 8th, 2011Our adventure today took us to the Viennese equivalent of Tysons Corner mall. It’s just outside the city, about the same number and style of shops, and even had many of the same shops. Ironic, of course, that we’d move to Europe to go to a mall nearly identical to one that was blocks away from where were living, but we were in search of new phones, and that is where the search took us. (It was to no avail on that front, but that is not the purpose of this story.)
The same “hund” as the Queen
Thursday, April 7th, 2011So today, some observations.
First, allow me a moment of American ridiculousness: Busch Gardens has gotten so many things right. Seriously, walking through the little cobblestoned streets of Vienna today, I kept thinking of Busch Gardens and how the way they depict the winding alleyways and tiny shops in a way that’s really quite accurate. More trees at Busch Gardens, though.
Well, here we are
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011So, our adventure begins. I’m going to try to write a little, every day, about what we’re experiencing, but I’ll keep it short today and blame the jet lag.
Welcome, Liam
Monday, November 1st, 2010Hello little Liam! We are so glad to have you. The month since you came into this world has been the busiest one I’ve had yet. So quickly you have shown us that you are your own person — the tools and tricks we learned with your brother are not the same as those we need for you. You are so wonderful: sweet, accepting, aware . . . happy. And you sleep! Hooray and thanks for that! 
Your arrival was so anticipated. Even before we knew you, we loved you. We couldn’t wait for the exciting moment where you would join us. And you so promptly arrived right on your due date (I can tell you’ll be taking after me in that regard). Your actual arrival was maybe a bit TOO exciting, however. The moments after your birth were the most frightening and stressful of my life – a strange experience when mixed with the joy of having you here. It was so hard to see you struggle so much in your first moments of life. I wanted so much to hold you and comfort you, but I couldn’t. In that first moment, I already loved you so much it amazed me. Our first days together were hard. I wanted peace and comfort for you, but those were hard to come by in the first few days. You were certainly loved, though! I was there with you every moment I could be. And you were so loved by everyone. Your family came to visit even though they couldn’t see you. Everyone supported us however they could so that we could be with you. And the wonderful nurses and doctors loved you and took care of you when we couldn’t be there. Although it wasn’t the start I would have planned for you, you could not have been more loved or better cared for, which makes me happy and incredibly grateful.
To my dear Benjamin, on your second birthday
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010My darling child, I love you so much. With every day that goes by, I am so grateful that you are in my life and that I have the wonderfully good fortune to spend so much time with you every day. You are truly an amazing joy to be around. You are so smart and strong and loving. I love you so very, very much. It is hard for me to believe that you are two already. It is startling how rapidly the time passes. You are quickly leaving your babyhood behind and becoming a wonderful little boy. (Of course, you are still my baby – I still call you that, and I suspect that will be a hard habit for me to break, so forgive me in advance.)
To My Son, on the occasion of your first birthday
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009My darling son, it is shocking to me that an entire year has passed since the morning you came into this world. Your first year! What a wonderful one it has been, but it has passed so very quickly. Already you are walking, and starting to talk to us. We only understand a few of your words so far (“mamamama” — which can either mean me or food, “dadu” — for your daddy, or sometimes your grandma, “da!” — for “I want that!”) but you are working very hard on beginning to communicate with us (and we are working very hard to keep up). It amazes me how much has changed in the past year. One year ago today was only our third night home with you from the hospital. I’m very proud of myself, and of your dad — we’ve learned an awful lot in the past year, and we’ve gained a great deal of confidence. But mostly, I am proud of you. You are growing into such a lovely, sweet, smart little boy. It is hard to believe that is has been a year already.