What a waste!

Monday was a holiday in Austria, commemorating the day the last occupying Russian soldier left the country in 1955. We spent the weekend in Tirol with my mother-in-law. We had Friday off too, which we spent driving all over creation to gather yet more paperwork and then hand it in to apply for my so-called [...]

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Hazy shade of winter

I just got back from running.  My regular route takes me up one of the highest hills in the Linz area, and I can look down on the city on one side, the country on the other, the mountains in the background, etc.  There was a really awful hazy smoggy brown cloud hanging over Linz today.  [...]

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I don’t really know how to feel about this incident

It’s been the headline in Austria for the past few weeks:  Arigona Zogaj. In 2001, Arigona’s dad fled Kosovo and illegally entered Austria seeking asylum.  Asylum-seekers are permitted to remain in the country while their case is being processed, and because this is Austria, that often takes years.  In 2002, however, his application was denied.  [...]

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Back in Austria

Lovely, much-needed vacation. But now it’s over. But it’s spring in Austria, which is the most beautiful time of year here, I think. Tomorrow I am joining my fun job on a field trip to Bratislava, a trip guaranteed to be full of English-speaking relaxation and drinking with my colleagues. Fortunately, they are fun colleagues, [...]

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Public transit etiquette

Hello again ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to another edition of, “How the world would be run if Sabine were in charge”. Today: “How to ride public transit in Vienna without pissing me off” 1. The U-bahn (subway)– boarding, exiting. When the train comes to a halt, the people inside need to get off first. So [...]

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Shit

Well. In the last year since I got my last visa, carting all the documents of all my relatives from one “Amt” to another, they’ve managed to revamp the immigration laws. This seems to be a pattern in my life of recent. Just when I think I’ve got something figured out, it changes completely. I [...]

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Long time, no write!

Every time I check my friends’ pages, I look at the date of my previous post and think to myself, “Man, I really need to update or my family may have me declared dead to cash in on my inheritance, such as it is!” Well, here I am. Not dead. Spring has sprung here in [...]

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Man, am I a bad updater!

Well, what to say? The weeks have been rushing by like nobody’s business. I have, of course, been up to my ears in work. My schedule is starting to balance out, but it is still stressful and I still go to bed thinking about my classes, which is not good. I’m finding it very hard [...]

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I’ve surrendered to the power above that wants to see me squirm

So yesterday I took the train to Graz to meet my family, because we are going on vacation (a vacation from the vacation so to say) next week. On the way, Stefan called and said that the Embassy called him and said that my passport was finished and ready to pick up! Unbelievable! Only two [...]

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Bastards

So. Let me tell you about my wonderful week. It all started after I was sick with a fever and soar throat all weekend. Then my family came to visit and we went out to eat at the Naschmarkt. As we were eating, the guys sitting behind us, who I didn’t even notice, got up [...]

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