Boxed Up Your Life, What Now?

Having Started my studies of International Business Administration on Wednesday was next big thing coming up for me in the last week. Therefore, I needed to move. Get out of the countryside and dive into the urban flair of Vienna was the ultimate devise for me the last couple of days. Luckily I was spared with the whole odysee-like search for the perfect apartment and got to move in a family apartment in the 7th district of Vienna: Neubau. Sweet home, Neubau…

Been there, done that. Here is what Dan Barham adds to his picture: We spent $200 on cardboard boxes for our impending move. Of course, I did what any self-respecting person would do and built an awesome fort.

Plus, don’t miss the new announcement for philsblogging.com at the end of the post. My newly acquired marketing skills make you read the whole post. Jump, do it.

Moving requires this little I call boxing up your life. It includes all the things we wouldn’t miss if you where on a seven-month travel through some country, but would want to be part of our new everyday life in the new place we are going to stick around for a while (who knows how long, thouhg?!).

I’m talking about the things that make your new home a home, make it feel cosy, make it a place you look forward to going after a night out. I’m sure you know what I am talking about. Think of 3 things you would also take to a deserted island and wouldn’t want to miss in my new place; among other essential things that’s what I took with me. My Macbook, a fine assorted collection of books and DVDs (I know that will boost the “3 things you take on a deserted island, but I thought I could trick you with the singular “a fine assorted collected” - I know, I’m manipulative and back-stabbing) and last but not least my favorite Dr Pepper PJs most of you envy and wish you could jump in and wedge day in day out.

So here’s my take on what Vienna can hold for you if you make the most of it. Now, exclusively dedicated to my fellow university starter-ups.

Now part of the moving into and adjusting to a whole new place is the sniffing your surroundings. Vienna is really huge, I can see that. Coming from a village where nearly everybody knows everyone and everyone greets everyone when passing, the city vibe can hit you hard. You’re just one in a million. However, I’d rather interpret the city’s vibe as dynamic, interesting and a vibe offering new possibilities. It’s going to be a new chapter in life; a new passage for your lifetime stories. So the best thing you can do about it is embrace it, seize it making the most out of the opportunities you only get in a city like Vienna. Museums (Mumok, anyone?), art collections (Van Gogh at the Albertina), movie theather (English original soundtrack movies at the Burgkino or Hydnkino) and bars at the Guertel and pubs (Irish pub at Waehringer Strasse). There are plenty of things to do in Vienna, so don’t you dare crawl up in a corner and whine about how “at home, everything used to be better and more familiar”.

Also, and some might not like that crucial fact, there are new responsibilities (With great power comes great…). If you move out of the cosy mom and dad driven household, you’ll soon see that the shopping is not done by mom anymore and Dad won’t fix things at the snap of your fingers. Nopes, you’re on your own and it’s a good thing. Because it’s time to grow up. Sorry to burst your bubble there. Don’t hesitate to take a step closer to independence (like possessing a washing machine and therefore can look down on the kids who go home on weekends with their trolleys filled with dirty clothes).

Check out Vienna Metblogs

So I look forward to how I do in the new pond. And therefore I would like to make an announcement about a novelty in terms of my blogging habits. Vienna related topics will from now on be posted at the Vienna Metroblogging network that I happened to be invited to. Of course, you, lieber Reader will get a notification here as well. For all the hardcore fans out there, subscribe to the Vienna Metblog feed here. I am afraid some freaks are out there. Did you just see my sarasm blinker going on and off?

The post title “Boxed up my sieben Zwektschken” is a mini Lingo Bingo. Sieben Zwetschken is a Austrian Mundart (~dialect) term for your belongings, your things that you need to pack up to, for example, go some place. Litterally translated it means seven plums.

So stay stoked. So what’s your take on moving from point A to B? What is so exciting about leaving behind things and embracing the new? What makes some of us feel weary about it?