On the train

Entschuldigung, ist hier noch frei? ... Is this seat free? Oh sorry for waking you up, I didn't see you were sleeping. ... So - you're not Austrian? Ah. But your English is really good... Ah, Australia's really great. I love the landscape. Amazing scenery. So you're from Sydney then? Oh. Never heard of it. Is that in the outback?

Well , you know, I grew up around here. Yeah. Parents are separated, but that's ok. We've got this house in the area of B. We'll come by B., I can show it to you. It's fine, but I don't like living in Austria very much. Kinda boring. You know, my parents are actually Italian. Yeah, they came to Austria 'bout twenty years ago.

So... you know any Austrian words? Because, you know, there's German German and there's Austrian German. Austrian German is like "Do hauts da in Beidl aufd Seitn" or "Fick dich ins Knie" and stuff like that. Actually I don't like Austrian German. Educated, serious people like me - ha ha! - speak German German, "Hochdeutsch", you know. But seriously - you know any Austrian words? Er... there's for example "anbandln", like, you know - men and women getting in contact. Yeah. Oh, and there's "Feuerwerfer", like flame thrower. And there's "Schnitzel" - a piece of meat. Yeah. But, you know, I don't like speaking Austrian German.

So - have you met THE Austrian guy? Ha ha, not me. You know, I've told you, my parents are from Italy. No. I mean - you know - loud guys, drinking beer, blurping, farting, eating Schnitzel and a "Eitrige", and saying things like "Schnitzel" and "ficken" all the time. No, really, you don't want to meet them. Kinda rude and swearing all the time. Actually disgusting, really.

I'm M., by the way - that's Italian. What's your name? Anne? Anne. That's a good name, Anne. You know what, Anne? I think I'll remember your name. No. I'm sure I'll remember it. ANNE.

So, where you're going, Anne? I just came back from Amsterdam. Travelling all on your own, Anne? Ok - wow! So you're kinda trying to find yourself, right? Yeah. I'm like that, too. I've been thinking of going to China.

See? I'm studying English. I'm just coming from my English class. This is the list of vocabulary we're supposed to learn until next week. "To grab the opportunity", "to seize the moment". Ha ha, funny. Quite a long list, actually, but I don't mind. I like learning. Yeah. I want to open my horizon, you know. Actually I'm quite ambitious, I always want to be the best.

You know, when I look into your eyes, you look really energetic. Determined and full of passion. You know what you want - like me. Just like me. I can see that in your eyes. I can see you look for success. I believe that you can see that in the eyes of people. I can see when they're born for something great, at least that they're not a complete failure. Ha ha.

Yeah, I'm not so fond of people here, you know. They're kinda boring and narrow-minded. You know what - today I was told I'm a Nazi. No, seriously. I mean, that's their problem, not mine. You know, I was talking to that girl... no, not in the English class... er... it was in the break. She told me her brother's name is Blunznschnitzel, I don't know, some Austrian name. She even said, well, that's a typical Upper Austrian name, haha, and I said, yeah, like Hitler. Ha ha. So yeah, this fucking bitch tells me I'm a Nazi. No, really. So I told her she's retarded. And, you know, she's like: Whaaat? Why am I retarded? So she didn't even realise she was insulted. Well, not exactly insulted, I mean, it was self-defense, right? Stupid bitch can't take a joke. No, seriously. I always have to deal with fucking shit like that. No wonder I don't like it here...

So, there's the final station - W.M. You enjoyed my company? You liked talking with me a little? Because I liked it! You know what, I can give you my e-mail address. I know, one day we'll meet again. I just know, this is our destiny. And maybe I'm on the platform and you're on the train, and the train's leaving, and you know what? You'll pull the emergency break. Yeah. You pull it for me. I really believe in fate, and I have already seen this picture in my mind.

Are you on facebook? Oh, I see, you're right - internet might be difficult there. nevertheless. We'll meet again. And remember to pull the emergency break, right?  

Resurrection

Hey. It's been awhile. Quite awhile. More than one year, I know... But recently I've started to think of writing again - maybe because I miss it, maybe because I've always considered it as a defining feature of me... But maybe also because one of my friends has recently started a blog too and I've remembered how much fun it is and how good it feels to put things down in words.

Due to fortunate circumstances, my Sunday isn't as busy as it usually is and I've quickly finished my preparations for next week (however, I'm still ignoring that large pile of homework which still looks at me reproachfully). It was really a maginficent day - the sun was shining and it was somehow warm, so my boyfriend and I decided to take a loooong stroll through the city, enjoying the spring-like atmosphere. People, dogs and pigeons were gathering on the spots where the sunbeams could sqeeze through the buildings - everyone was desperate to catch a little dose of light and warmth. I've taken this picture at Burggarten, where the Palmenhaus was overly crowded today. As there weren't enough seats provided by the café outside, people would take advantage of the art déco facade and literally sat on the decorations on the wall or on windowsills.

The sun was typical of winter - very low and bright. Our mole eyes have to adjust to its radiance, as it pierces through the blindness and numbness caused by winter. A gush of wind that blows away the protective layer of dust, calling us to leave it behind, calling us to awake - to live.