Car Trouble

If you didn't know this about me, don't be alarmed...I didn't even know this about myself. I found out while in Austria that I have this problem of falling asleep in the car. And as much as I try to fight it, any distance over 45 mins. is sure to make me feel lethargic and it's highly probable that I will start dozing. I am convinced that it is the movement of the wheels and the soft roar of the engine that has this power over me and causes my eyelids to get heavy and my head to roll back. (NOTE: I am getting a full 7-8 hours of sleep every night, so you must not think that I am sleep deprived.)

It is embarrassing to say the least for several reasons but two primarily. First, I am missing the awesome views of the country...all of it becomes a bit blurry as I fight off the slumber. And second, when a member of the family or whoever else is in the car with me asks me a question or throws a comment my way I have to snap to attention, figure out what was said to me and pretend that I'm invested in what is being said.

I'm still trying to find a solution to my problem. Almost all our destinations from Königswiesen are one plus hours away or more so I am in a bit of a pickle. I've tried pinching the inside of my hands to cause my mind to focus on the pain, but it ends up hurting and I back off on my hold pretty quickly. I've also tried bribing myself. I tell myself that I can buy gelato if I don't fall asleep...this doesn't work either as I end up buying myself a cone regardless of whether I fall asleep or not. So...still trying to figure out how to keep sleep at bay.
I am heading to Innsbruck with the host family tomorrow which is four hours away, so I'm anticipating another battle. Oh well! If the only thing that I'm fighting is sleep I think I'm in a pretty good place, yeah?

Everyday business

Oma (Grandma) baking!

Austrian cake with cherry jam, bananas, and whipping cream

BBQ

Getting ready to eat

Sausages

Hot coals

Mushroom picking

Found some!

Yay!

At home: Austrian style

Rome last week was a blast, but I'm definitely finding the daily life with the Karlingers more fulfilling and interesting. In the past few days I've: baked a very yummy Austrian cake with Ingrid, cooked with Oma (Ingrid's mom), went running with Franz through the hills, participated in a BBQ, and went mushroom picking with Moritz and Franz. My days are full just by living the day to day with the family.

There is something very simple about the way the Karlingers' live. They are a busy family and throughout the school year Ingrid has informed me that it's difficult to manage everyone's schedules. And yet...I don't know why, but they don't seem to get bogged down by the little stresses of life. For some reason it seems as if they enjoy life more. The way they care for their family, neighbors, restaurant, home, and even the earth causes me to step back and reevaluate who and what I love.

I wish I could meet people like the Karlingers wherever I go. I realized shortly after I got here that the family decided to like me before I even arrived. They chose to take me in and welcome me into their family without any hesitation. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all have that advantage with people and be liked before we even knew each other?

Before I left for Austria, my brother and I were talking over a meal and I said that one of the reasons why I'm traveling is so that I don't take for granted the things or people in my life that I've been blessed with. And his response was something like, "You will. When you get back from your travels you'll end up taking things for granted." I recall being somewhat bothered by his response and then after some reflection realized that he was right. I will undoubtedly forget some of the things that I'm learning...but I guess that's why I'm trying even harder to be in the present, to remember as much as I can and experience as much as I can so that I won't forget what is important.

Rome

I just got back from Innsbruck a couple of hours ago. We started in Königswiesen, drove an hour to Linz where we then boarded a train for 4 hours to land in Innsbruck. After staying the night in Innsbruck, we took a bus for 7 hours to Rome where we stayed for three-days touring the city. The Karlinger family and I tagged along a tour bus of 20 students to Rome as the tour guide was Uncle Adi who is part of the family (great uncle to the boys). Here are some pictures from the trip:

Boarding the train to Innsbruck

St. Peter's Square

St. Peter's Basilica

Vatican

School of Athens

I know the Sistine Chapel is supposed to be the favorite in the Vatican...but this piece is my favorite. There is something comforting and warm about it.

Pesto pasta

Arch of Titus

Colosseum

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

Hello chocolate croissant

Blue doors that I fell in love with

Pantheon

Trevi Fountain

Piazza di Spagna - Spanish Steps

Königswiesen II

Pictures of Königswiesen and the Karlinger family:

Tobias & Moritz

First taste of gelato with Claudia, Tobias, & Moritz

Family restaurant

Königswiesen at 5:30 am

Austrian couple I met on the first day. They are wearing traditional Austrian clothes.

Tobias, Claudia, & Ingrid

The boys: Simon, Moritz, & Tobias on the train to Innsbruck

Königswiesen

After a brief layover in London, I made it to Vienna yesterday afternoon. If I could, I would like to fly internationally from now on (even on domestic flights). Not only was I able to eat this wonderful tandoori chicken like meal on the plane, I watched two movies and then a couple of TV shows. How wonderful!

Anyhow, Claudia (my host mom's sister) and Tobias and Moritz (2nd and 3rd child) picked me up from the airport. The first thing we did was hit up a restaurant (a family after my own heart) and then an hour later we ate gelato at Schörgi...a famous konditorei. The tiramisu flavor was to die for. We finally made it to Köngweisen at 6 pm. :)

The Karlinger family is amazing!! The boys (Simon, Tobias, and Moritz) are so fun to be around. They are so great and want to spend as much time with me as possible. Simon, oldest son (13) is brilliant at agricultural work and has two gardens that he manages. He is the quietest of the three, but he is astute and very courteous. Tobias (12) is a true sports junky. He loves football (soccer) and riding his bike..and swimming, and really anything that can be done outdoors. He is also the most devious...he has that certain sparkle in his eye. Moritz (6) is a cutie. He was super shy at the airport, but since has opened up and has asked me to play in the lake with him and put a puzzle together. He talks to me in German as if I understand, but it is very adorable and when I respond in English he gives me a shy smile. Moritz has the biggest sweet tooth and understands my love of chocolate. Franz (host dad) is super quiet, but very warm. I haven't seen him a whole lot, but it's because he is at his restaurant pretty much all the time. Ingrid (host mom) is terrific. She is the best at speaking English (she is a school teacher) and we talked about health care and respective education systems today. Her thirst for learning more English is inspirational and reminds me that it's important to continue to be curious.

Austria is so gorgeous...so lush and green. It is possibly the most beautiful country I've been to. The rolling hills and quaint houses are gorgeous...no wonder Julie Andrews twirled around in the Austrian mountains. Who wouldn't? I've been taking a lot of pictures and will post some soon!! (I'm pretty sure my host family thinks that I'm camera crazy).

Hugs,
Bo

Family

I've always enjoyed visiting Sun and Jenn in Maryland. Every time I come I get spoiled rotten and I love every minute of it. However, this visit has paled in comparison to all the previous visits to the eastcoast. I was able to meet my nephew, Nathan Youbin Bae for the first time and let me tell you~ he is a gem. Not a little one, a big one. He is everything I thought he'd be and more.
There is nothing I don't love about him. I like the way he sleeps with his mouth open a little bit and his face crushed up against my shoulder and the way his breathing falls into this certain rhythm that's a combination between a sigh and wheeze. I am particularly fond of his chubby arms and legs that constantly move when he's awake. But my favorite thing that he does is make these soft cooing noises when he yawns. It's really the sweetest noise you'll ever hear. If I could, I would sneak Nate in my carry-on and whisk him away with me to Europe. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure his mom and dad would catch up with me and demand to have him back. Boo for loving parents! :) (Check out the pics of the fam below).

Thanks to Sun and Jenn, my birthday came early this year and I was gifted with so much love!!

I don't know how my journey is going to get any sweeter than it already has, but I'm hoping that the fun times will continue as I head to Austria tomorrow.

Let the good times roll!

Precious Nate

Isn't he THE cutest?

Lovely Mama and Son

Squeeze

Making some of that happy noise

...love...

Check out those kissable arms and legs!