Why I moved to Vienna
- Ewa Karolina
- Jan 19, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 21, 2020
Since even before I created this blog, I knew that this was a question I wanted to finally publicly address. I have been constantly asked why I moved to Vienna and what brought me here. It's quite a simple question of why, but the answer is in the tea I'm about to spill.
Vienna has been a second home to me since I can remember. With some of my family residing here, I spent many of my Spring, Summer, and Winter holidays in this beautiful and cultural city. Vienna feels like home - they say home is where the heart is. When people ask me what Vienna is like, I always seem to use the same adjective - Magical. There is something about the Austrian capital that truly captivates all that visit. The intricate Baroque architecture, famed Classical music, prized coffee shops, cozy taverns, and Imperial sights are what make this city so special. Some of my life's best moments and memories with family were made in this city.
In April of 2017, my father had lost his heroic fight against cancer. The pain of losing someone so close is immeasurable. Growing up, I had never lost anyone so close to me, and his passing was life altering. I was lost. I was sad. I was angry. Many things had lost meaning for me and I became numb to all that was important in life. For one year after his passing, I was disconnected from reality, and it was not until June 2018 that I made a drastic change. In the span of two weeks, I packed all my life into boxes, two suitcases, left my apartment and my car, and my two girlfriends planned the sweetest going away evening - it was the perfect send off.
On June 28th, 2019, I took a flight that would forever change my life. Arriving in Vienna, it felt like I was coming just for a visit like any other time. I took the escalator down to the baggage claim and everything started becoming more and more real.
During my first couple weeks, I spent my days sightseeing and getting more familiar with my new home, and I spent my evenings catching up with my family. I did a tour of all the best coffee houses in Vienna, with the verdict that my usual Starbucks Cappuccino was no match for Cafe Landtmann's rendition. I mean, I'm in Europe now, HELLO. I enjoyed taking in all the sights and taking time for myself. I spent much of my time reflecting on how I wanted to navigate my life, and I made sure to put myself and my happiness first. After feeling absent for so long, I felt part of the old me returning. My motivation to move forward and start with a clean slate felt so inexplicably amazing - a motivation I had previously lost along the way. Change was exactly what I needed to positively fuel a new chapter of my life.
In the past year and a half that I have lived here, I learned that my greatest loss became my greatest strength. I have discovered my passion and taken a leap into a promising career. Looking back, if I had not taken the risk of moving to a new country, I would have not realized any of my dreams. I believe that everything happens for a reason and I am proud to say that I have found my happiness. Vienna is home, and home is where the heart is.
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