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.