It’s not easy to be an American Jewish expat in Austria and if, like me, the gods that determine your fate put you in a small town, an additional layer of complication descends on your life abroad. Understanding Austrian politics is difficult if you happen to share color, religion, or basic values with your neighbors, but if you don’t, Austria becomes even more frustrating and inscrutable. I was reminded of this last night while reading of the death of Austria’s popular – and populist – Joerg Haider, a politician known for his remarks that sounded like Nazi sympathy, his willful stance against minority communities, and his good looks, among other things. Haider was drunk and going too fast on one of those windy alpine roads and now, he is no more.
Austria
The hills are alive
Austria Haiku
“We would have sent you home,” said Teresa, our hostess. “It was freezing up there, there was new snow. You made the right choice to stay in bed.” It was a painful choice, though, one wrapped in self pity and despair. I had a window of relief from whatever flu I’ve picked up, just enough …
Antibiotics and Hot Love
This is not, I can assure you, how I’d intended to reacquaint myself with Austria. I did not want to take breakfast in my room, I did not want to hand over my credit card to pay for a pile of medication, I did not want to miss the field trip to the high meadows. …
Back to Austria in 2011
When I fell in love with my husband (we met on a trip across the Australian outback), I began series of long haul flights between Seattle and Vienna or Salzburg. On my first trip I went for two weeks, or maybe it was three, and my trips got longer and longer. After a while, I …
Ukulele Diplomacy
I’m delighted to tell you that my audio piece about ukulele diplomacy is up at World Hum. And the uke you hear in the background? That’s me. Go here to listen.