Happiness is a Choice

Today, I had to continuously remind myself that happiness is a choice and that anger wouldn’t serve anyone, myself included.  It was just one of those days.  I’m glad to say, however, that I didn’t actually get angry (although it did bubble up a few times) and chose peace and happiness at every turn (OK, almost…).  Parts of my day were actually awesome, so in my heart I’m only focusing on those, but in this blog I’ll share the full story because it makes for better storytelling 🙂

I woke up at my normal 5am after almost 8 hours of sleep and my body begged for a restorative yoga session, which I was glad to oblige.  By 7:50am, I had done my yoga, had half my breakfast, showered, dressed, and was out the door for a very short drizzly walk to the corner where I waited until they opened the doors to Denn’s organic supermarket.  I needed fresh fruit for my breakfasts, but I also needed to stock cupboards.  After a week playing tourist and eating out, it was time to learn to cook without my steamer.  It took me about 45 minutes to go through the store to select various fruits & vegetables, goat milk cheeses, hummus spreads, pesto, quinoa, brown rice, lentils, seeds, and a whole variety of gluten free breads, pasta, and tamari.  I’ve kept my receipt so I can learn the German names – it came out to 95.84, which was perfect as I had only brought 100.  I’m thrilled with the variety of healthy organic foods available here. Yay!  I put everything away while eating my raspberries and then headed out for my day of exploring the public transportation system.

That had been my goal from the start, so in a way I should be grateful for what happened next.  Do you remember the 3-hour walk I took to the Magistrat last week only to find out that they were closed on Wednesdays?  Well, after successfully buying my 1-week pass from a machine with a 20 Euro bill and getting change (yay again!), I asked a few people which tram to take to the Rathaus (City Hall). Being a major landmark, I figured most people would know, but the group I asked couldn’t agree. I kept walking a little and another man suggested I take the #6 tram for 1 stop to the Westbanhoff (train station) where there was an information kiosk with staff that speak English.  I’m glad I already had my pass as the information office was 3 levels underground beside one of the subway lines (for which you need a ticket to get to).  They had sold out of maps for the bus / tram lines (I wanted to do it above ground to see the city), but it was very simple and quick underground. I easily found the Magistrat’s office. If you’ll recall, it was the clerk at the government agency I went to last week to register my residency address who told me that this is where I needed to go to ask questions about extending my visa.  Before going to office #44 (which is where the helpful man at the front counter told me I should go), he escorted me to the elevator to show me how to get to the washroom (as per my request – this is not a Viennese courtesy offered without asking).  That’s where I got my first omen (forgive the graphic details if you’re sensitive to such things – again, it makes for better storytelling).  As I was crouched over the toilet, I heard the distinct sound of metal hitting ceramics and cringed.  As I looked down into the bowl that I had just urinated into, I saw my precious Our Lady of the Miraculous medal that my father had given me last Christmas.  What to do?!  I just couldn’t bear the symbolism of flushing it down the sewers, and so I had no alternative but to pull my sleeve up and fish it out.  I’m relieved to say, however, that this was a single washroom equipped for the handicapped and so there was actually a sink right beside the toilet, which I immediately used.  Both Mary and my hands got a good wash before I proceeded to the royal bureaucratic run-around that was to follow.

I went to #44 and figured out that I had to enter the office and ask the assistant for a ticket to see a clerk (many places have a ticket dispensing machine outside). I then sat down at her desk and explained to her that I had a question about extending my visa.  She did just as the clerk at Hermangasse had done last Wednesday. She told me I was at the wrong office and handed me a paper with an address and map. Having limited German (and she had very limited English), I simply forwent the complaining, smiled, breathed, and said “Danke, Auf Wiedersehen” (Thank you, goodbye).  Before venturing through the underground system to get there, however, I decided to walk the 4 blocks back to the Bank of Austria where I had put money on my Quick Card (for laundry) last Friday. Last week’s simple request had taken quite a bit of time while the clerk seemed to have trouble with the machine and was called away to help her colleague).  That had given me the time to really observe my surroundings, something I naturally do as a visual person.  I had observed how my 2 blue 20 Euro bills looked angled and superimposed on the counter versus the single red 10 Euro bill on the counter behind (which had me curious – I don’t usually see money lying around on back counters at banks).  I also took the time to count in my head how many loads of laundry 40 Euros would cover, hoping it would bring me to Christmas so I wouldn’t have to return here. When she explained that there would be a 1 Euro commission, I wrote on my expenses sheet in my wallet 39+1, thinking she would deduct it, but was surprised when she asked for an extra Euro.  No problem. When I got home and ventured to do the laundry, the card reader said I had 20 Euros on the card.  When I got upstairs and checked my bank receipt (not checking it there was my mistake), it said 20 Euros.  So I went back to the bank this morning to explain and to ask if their cash balanced out on Friday and if they were by chance 20 Euros over.  My banker wasn’t there today.  Today’s banker asked her colleague and checked through some papers, but informed me that the cash balance was clear at the end of Friday.  I asked if there was any way to check the TV cameras above as the time was stamped on my receipt.  She took my email address and said she’d do some checking through the Quick Card system, but it’s the end of the business day now and I haven’t heard back.  I’m 100% sure I gave 40 – the idea of the bank shortchanging me did get the anger bubbles rising a few times, but I kept reminding myself that these are all lessons learned and that I should have checked my receipt.  It’s hard to think of such basic things when so much is going on in a new country – all the visual, auditory, sensory stimulus can put a person like me in a state of overwhelm.  I had been so happy to find this bank after trying about 6 others last week, that I thought it was a done deal and that they knew what they were doing because they do it all day every day.  Who knows, however…. she could have had a really bad day and she’s also human. Mistakes happen.  I’m still hoping.  $27 of laundry makes a difference.

From the bank, I ventured back underground and found my way via 2 lines to St. Stephen’s Cathedral station and then up through the streets to the office where I was told to go.  The fact that there were 2 doors with the same address on the same block was a bit confusing, but I managed to find my way. There were many foreigners there of various countries and various odorous states.  When it was my turn, I explained what I wanted and the receptionist went to get someone for me in a back office. Great! no line up!  Unfortunately, this woman explained to me that this was a counseling office to help immigrants, but not the one that specializes in students.  Also, they have no official power – they are an NGO that simply help with advice.  So she gave me 3 other addresses I could go to.  Supposedly, the office that actually gives the permits will no longer answer questions – you simply go there to apply. Again, I thanked her and said goodbye.
As I stood outside in the beautiful square with a statue in the middle, I was at a loss as to what to do next.  Do I try these other addresses?  No, I’d had enough of that for one day.  Instead, I turned 360 degrees to feel where I should go next and my eye caught that Godsend of a sign – Pizza!  I’m glad to report that I haven’t had potato chips in a few weekw (pretty good for a chipaholic) – but I’ve had pizza almost every day, at my hosts or on the street.  So much for all that gluten-free shopping I did this morning…  This one was cheap – 5 EUR and made fresh in front of me in a little hole it the wall with 3 tables and bar stools. Oh was it good!… that is until the 2 gals beside me finished theirs and lit up.  So it’s not only on terraces! Again, I chose to be happy and enjoy this treat while looking at my map and deciding my next step.  I needed greenspace.

The nearest park of any size was the Stadpark, which was on my wish list of places to experience.  It took me about 20 minutes to walk there and about 45 minutes to walk through.  There are sidewalks lined with benches through the whole park and statues of musicians everywhere, including the famous one of Johan Strauss.  It’s a nice park, but it didn’t really help me ground or connect to nature. I’m glad I went, but I don’t think I’ll go out of my way to return again.  I will go back to the Botanical Gardens though.
Once I had finished my walk, I hopped on the first tram I found and just sat and watched the city go by until the end of that line and then hopped on another and went to the end of that one.  When I recognized that I was close to home, I got off and found the stop for the #5 that passes on Kaiserstrasses at the corner from where I live, but a block down.  Right at the corner was a store full of rough stones and fossils – really impressive!  I got on the 5 to find out that the last stop was actually the train station where I took the underground this morning, so not far from my place. I stayed on as it turned around and went to the other end of the line (although I missed a few sights as I kept nodding off).  The final stop is the Prater, that park with the ferris wheel.  There’s quite a bit of nature around there too, but I was too tired to explore and stayed on it again as it turned around and took me home.  That’s when I found out that there was another shop diagonal to the first, this time full of polished stones and fossils – some to make jewelry (and they have a club/courses at the back) and others that I would love to stick on paintings.  What a thrill!

When I got home, I noticed my note on the table was at a different angle and heard a “hello!”.  I was greeted by Monica, my new roommate from Spain, who will be studying Economics here. She also studies law in her country.  Interestingly, her courses will also be in English, so we can communicate easily. It won’t help my German though, but that’s OK.  She’s out exploring right now and has friends in town in another residence, but she asked me a few questions about how things worked and it felt very strange being the expert around here.  It’s all relative!

So there you have it – plenty of opportunity for disgust, anger, frustration, disappointment, and more, but I chose otherwise and am quite happy about that. Today was a good day. Tomorrow, I have a meeting at school and we’ll be distributing posters around town, so I’ll get to know the city (and its art stores) some more.