October 5th: Vienna Day

University in downtown Vienna, Austria

It was so nice to be able to once again explore Vienna and have some new experiences.  We were taken to Shopping Center South which is the largest mall in Austria and one of the largest in all of Europe then from there we would take the tram to the downtown and more of the sights.  It is much easier to get around Austria now that I know a little more German from last time and am able to read signs and things which helped with the tickets as we had some confusion at first trying to figure out which tickets to get.  I always admire Europe for their public transportation and how well worked it runs but it is very confusing at first to understand.  It would be hard for the States though in some areas since we tend to be so spread out sometimes and people love driving their cars.  That is another reason I would like to live in Austria someday is the simplicity of life and how most people don’t need much and bigger is not always better.  Getting downtown I immediately went my way to get some time to myself and be able to do some of the specific things I wanted to do.  I got my Kebab, Gelato ice cream and Raddlar.  After some touring around and just soaking it all in being back in Vienna and the beauty of the city I did a bit of shopping for gifts and found a nice place to rest and have a drink for awhile.  It was fun watching people downtown go about their day and just observing the diverse group of people around.  The style is much more sophisticated in Europe and people actually care how they look in public and take care of themselves is what I noticed.  They are proud and feel they should look good and clean when presenting themselves out in public or going about work and normal business.  That is something different from the States and the style in Austria.  After the shopping, touring and food and drinks I got back on the train to the mall to do a little more walking around and shopping before heading back to Haus Edelweiss.  It was a great break from the work and the school but not the main reason that I was able to come back to Austria.  Such a blessing to be here and enjoy these things but even more to be able to serve the students and staff here and help out in any way possible.  Being around all the cultures here at the school and in Vienna today is such and experience and something that people can really learn from and expand their thinking and living all together.  I really enjoyed Vienna today and just being able to watch the World go round and just “observe” people today.  We really are a creation and everyone has a unique purpose, personality, and character that was created for a specific plan by God.

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” - Ephesians 1:11-12