I did Austria a similar way to you on my year abroad before I settled in Vienna. I had a year in Western Styria, at a time where no-one had mobile phones, let alone Internet at home. Everything was planned using landlines, an answerphone, a book of train and bus timetables and a diary that was always on me. I definitely made the most of it, and reading the diary from back then, it was still a lot less stressful than the always online life. I certainly remember how reliant I was on the Murtalbahn though.
Yes, Michael, city life and country life are very different experiences, and, as you write, so were the times before smartphones and easily accessible internet. Creating balance in our lives requires so much more thought nowadays, but we need it, so it is worth putting in the effort. I wish I had written a diary during that first year abroad. Enjoy reminiscing.
I did Austria a similar way to you on my year abroad before I settled in Vienna. I had a year in Western Styria, at a time where no-one had mobile phones, let alone Internet at home. Everything was planned using landlines, an answerphone, a book of train and bus timetables and a diary that was always on me. I definitely made the most of it, and reading the diary from back then, it was still a lot less stressful than the always online life. I certainly remember how reliant I was on the Murtalbahn though.
Yes, Michael, city life and country life are very different experiences, and, as you write, so were the times before smartphones and easily accessible internet. Creating balance in our lives requires so much more thought nowadays, but we need it, so it is worth putting in the effort. I wish I had written a diary during that first year abroad. Enjoy reminiscing.