Sunday, January 22, 2006

VIENNA, January 22

Went to church at Calvary Gemeinde. Took the underground and then walked to the church. The Moscow wind has come—it was snowing when we left, but it stopped. After church people pick up the chairs and put down small tables so everybody stays a bit and visits. You can buy drinks—tried some kind of chocolate mousse torte (very good). Visited with a young Bulgarian girl, Krasi, who is working at a dry cleaners. She said there was nothing in Bulgaria so she is trying to make it here. She knows German, but her English is very weak. She was reading a Bulgarian Bible. I know life is tough for her. Also visited with a Nigerian computer networker—he is a dual British-Nigerian citizen. His job here has ended and he is looking for something else. His son wants to do something with aviation so I mentioned LU and that I taught there. His son had visited with Dan B. last fall when he was on an admissions trip to Wien and really wants to come to LU. The big issue is money. He can get a degree in Great Britain much cheaper, but he would still like to come to LU. Walked back to the downtown through some bitter cold wind. Saw a processional coming out of St. Stephen’s with everyone dressed in traditional garb. Stopped in at Gerstner’s Konditorei and for dessert when we get home bought an Obsttorte (Fruit torte) and a Gerstnertorte (the house speciality; Gerstner’s is one of the more famous tourist sites—but there are very few tourists here now).

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