Day 041: I am a 60's student radical
36yearsago.com
Vienna 1971—A Student Journal
A year of music, study, travel, sightseeing &
friends.
Day 41
— I am a 60's student radical
12-September-1971
(Sun.)
TRANSCRIPT
Last night I tried to contact Joan S. from the
States. I was supposed to meet her and spend some
time with her while she was in Vienna. Couldn’t reach
her last night.
Today was very frustrating because I tried to contact
her all day, but I couldn’t reach her. I was under
the impression that she was at a certain hotel, and
they were even taking messages. The last time I
called, they suddenly said no one of that name was
staying there. I even went to the two hotels and got
the same result.
This infuriated me, because it had to be the fault of
the hotel—they were either misleading me or just
plain stupid.
Usually when I have a bad experience, its with some
form of big business. I think it’s the universal
principle that once there’s money in the picture,
that’s the only objective, and that everything else
(i.e. helping people, etc.) is thrown out the window,
unless there’s money involved. Sometimes it seems
obvious and other times not at all. Maybe I shouldn’t
generalize.
Well, I’ll be glad to eventually learn (from Joan)
what actually happened.
REFLECTIONS
After reading today’s entry, I thought that this was
my college classmate Joan that I met in Salzburg.
Actually, I now remember that Joan was a girl that I
had only recently met in New Jersey and dated a few
times before I left on this journey.
Obviously, there are plans to meet her based on a
letter she sent. I am frustrated and immediately
blame the hotel, the hotel staff, language, financial
institutions, greed, money, and the entire “business”
establishment—was I the 60’s student radical, or
what?
See tomorrow’s entry.
Once again, another example of a
“youthful-jump-to-conclusions overreaction based on
emotion rather than
patience.” Adults
are the same. I apologize to all youth. Thankfully, I
have learned a bit of patience as I have gone through
life.
My sincere apologies to all the hotels and staff
members of Vienna. I am the stupid one.
John
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