New City, New Language, and the Art of Starting Over

On August 2nd, I made the move to Vienna, Austria, starting the next chapter in a journey that has taken me through six countries. Three were English-speaking, and three were not, and unsurprisingly, the latter always presents a bigger challenge when it comes to integrating into new communities.

This time, the challenge is compounded by moving with the little sausage dog, Louis, who also needs to adjust to a new environment, new sounds, new smells, and new routines. It’s a learning curve for everyone, one I’m tackling with anticipation, caffeine, and the occasional panic attack.

Today is our 6-year wedding anniversary!

#1 - First Impressions

Moving to Vienna has been a lesson in contrasts. When I first arrived, all my focus was on Louie, my little sausage dog, because he started barking his head off the moment we landed. But once the chaos settled, the first thing that struck me was the quiet. There’s so much space here, so much greenery. Even though Vienna is a capital city, it feels so empty of people in comparison to Malta. Apparently, summer is the quietest time of the year here, which surprised me because I thought it would be the opposite.

#2 - Early Challenges and Small Victories

Adjusting hasn’t been without its bumps, and it's still ongoing. At a life drawing session on August 7th, I tried to speak German to another artist. It came out choppy and imperfect, and she didn’t understand me. Ugh! I was so embarrassed and ended up reverting to English. In my anxious mind, I feel like English should never be an option, but I know that's silly.

But there have also been small victories:

• At a dog park, I laughed and told someone in German, “Er ist zu klein für ihn” (“He is too small for him”) when Louis approached a bigger dog who completely ignored him.

• Buying a German book and successfully asking the assistant for a specific title.

Even tiny successes like these remind me that progress is happening, and they give me confidence to continue putting myself out there.

"Haben Sie das Buch von Patrick Süskind, Das Parfum?" - Do you have the book by Patrick Süskind, Perfume?

#3 - Finding My Rhythm

Right now, I’m mostly “waiting my turn.” Louis is settling in, my husband is adjusting to his new job, and I’m focused on studying German, caring for Louis, and researching creative groups and communities while working on small mixed media studies in our temporary studio apartment.

Once Louis is more comfortable and I can venture out independently, I’m excited to:

• Attend exhibitions and gallery openings

• Jump into the giant art shop and be around art supplies.

• Prepare a game plan for my artist residency in September.

  
  

It’s a time of learning, observing, and connecting and slowly building my confidence, finding my community, and my studio practice in this new city.

Closing Statement

It’s so easy to make a checklist of tips and strategies for integrating into a new city as an artist, such as things you should do to meet people, join groups, and get involved. But if I’ve learned anything from moving between countries, it’s this: everything takes longer than you want it to. No matter how proactive or prepared you are, it always feels like it takes forever to find your place in a community.

I need to remind myself every day that all good things come with time. It’s a cliché because it’s true: the slow work of settling in, of connecting, of finding a routine that works for you, is exactly what builds something lasting. I just hope I don't have to do it again. I'm getting to old for this sh*t!