People who know me, know I love trash TV. There is nothing like sitting down and watching an episode or two (or three) of “The Mindy Project,” “The Bachelor/ette,” or – my guiltiest obsession – “Dance Moms.” Watching trash TV is my way of winding down after a long day. I can completely tune out everything for 30 minutes and let the story take me away. Before I went abroad, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to keep up with all my television and I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure I was ready for a four-month hiatus. How would I know if Mindy and the lawyer finally got together? Would Juan Pablo be able to break through the language barrier to ask the ladies to “accept this rose?” Will Abby Lee Miller replace her team for the umpteenth time? I was sure the withdrawal would be too much to handle.
When I got to Vienna, I found something that helps me watch my U.S. TV. And for the first month here you could find me on a weekday evening catching up on the TV shows I had missed; the day after a show aired, I was on it. I was spending a (un)healthy amount of time keeping up on them all. If we’re being honest, however, the TV shows were more about retaining a piece of home than about the shows themselves. I love Vienna, but I also miss a lot of things about the States. American trash TV is like comfort food, and since I couldn’t have JIF peanut butter or a decent burrito, I’d settle for “Girls.”
The second month in, however, I’m finding I watch less and less TV. Sure, I generally keep up on the shows I like the best, but if I miss an episode here and there, it’s not a big deal. When I have free time now, I’m usually spending it exploring the city or going out with friends. I still miss certain comforts from home, but I’m finding other ways to channel that energy. (Today, in fact, I decided that I would purchase my very first pair of Birkenstocks to complete my transition into a total Northwest hippie; black ankle socks not included.) I also think that Vienna is starting to feel more and more like a home now, and I find myself wanting to “do as the Austrians do.”
Next time Kim Kardashian is in town, though, I’m going to find her, and I’m not going to be ashamed about it either. Hey. . . I just want to keep up with a Kardashian.
