Posts tagged ‘Fernweh’

Apr 15

DISTANCE HURT – Austrian word of the Week

Fernweh: Oh yeah. Americans feel it too. But maybe the-powers-that-be thought it wise not to allow it into the English language, for fear that the English-speaking wage slaves amongst us with little to no paid vacation time could be chronically ill with Fernweh. Wittgenstein knew exactly what he was talking about when he said the boundaries of our language are the boundaries of our world. No name? No reality. Better to let those European German-speakers name and suffer from their Fernweh ailment as they plan their month-long annual jaunts to distance lands, exotic beaches and tropical paradises. Because who the heck isn’t suffering a bit of distance hurt whenever Poldi from three cubicles down, keeps sending the company Whatsapp group amazingly gorgeous photos of hippos or

Don’t be fooled. Whatapp Hippo Photo sent to induce Fernweh and envy.

rhinos and clear blue African skies while the rest of us peons are battling the last of our winter colds, suffering through Lugner Presidential raps and elbowing Omis in Billa for the last pack of the spring’s first ripened strawberries. Yes, unbelievable but true, even if you are fortunate enough to reside in the world’s most livable city, you can suffer from bouts of Fernweh. So if

Vienna store sign bragging about being on vacation instead of simply posting “closed.”

you’re like me, it’s not that you weren’t desperate to get out of Dodge while living your hamster-wheel 9-5 existence in small town USA, you just didn’t realize there was a proper name for it and that folks just like you all over the globe were suffering from the exact same thing – Fernweh! Yes, Fernweh!

More Words of the Week

Beuschlreißer: Lung Ripper

Beach in Panama – guaranteed to grant Fernweh sufferers relief while experienced – unless they’re too busy trying to hide something else.

Blechtrottel: Tin Idiot

C-80

Eierbär: Eggsbear

Eifersucht, Frühlingsmüdigkeit, Hungerlohn, Torschlusspanik, Schadenfreude, Weltschmerz, Katzenjammer, Freitod, Holzpyjama, Lebensmüde, Fernweh

Fetzenschädel: Rags Skull

Geistesvernichtungsanstalt: Spirit Annihilation Asylum

Gespritzer

Häuslpapierfladerer: House Paper Thief

Hatscher

Krautwacher: Cabbage Guard

Putzgretl: Cleaning Gretl

Saubär: Pig Bear

Treppenwitz: Stair Joke

Jun 2

The Language of Toothache Sufferers

In his Notebook # 14 written from November 1877 – July 1878, Mark Twain has several references to the trials and tribulations he endures while learning German. He claims that the person who invented the German language was “… some sufferer who had to sit up with a toothache.” Nevertheless, the language enlightens Twain to the purpose of eternity. He writes, “ eternity was made … to give some of us a chance to learn German.” Though I have not been immune to similar stints of exasperation in tackling this challenging language, I have enjoyed becoming acquainted with a language exceptionally apt in combining words in such a way as to render a new term particularly adept in describing various ills and afflictions.

In German, Frühlingsmüdigkeit – Spring tiredness – could be gnawing at your ribs – particularly if you’ve been slaving too long for a Hungerlohn – a hunger income (wage so low it keeps you hungry). But things could be far more dire. Young couples might be struck by Eifersucht – fanatic addiction (jealousy). Unmarried women in their late twenties, for example, are prone to attacks of Torschlusspanik – the fear of being left on the shelf – to the Schadenfreude of all their married female co-workers.

But guys are not immune either.

European students and artists who hang out in the cafes by day and pubs by night are particularly predisposed to bouts of Weltschmerz – world pain (a gloomy, romanticized state of suffering along with the pain of the world). Oh what a Katzenjammer – cat wail – (depressing state) life can be when all loss of Lebenslust – life desire (happiness and joy of life) drags you down. Those too Lebensmüde “life tired” help support Austria’s suicide rate by electing a Freitod – free death – and plunging into the Danube. They join the hundreds of Viennese who are eternally resting in their Holzpyjama “wooden pjs” looking at the potatoes from underneath in the Friedhof der Namenlosen “The Peace Courtyard of the Nameless.” (Cemetery of the Unknowns).

Personally, I seem to suffer from a chronic case of Fernweh – distance pain – (longing to travel some place far away).

What’s your ailment?

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Information on and Map to the Friedhof der Namenlosen in Vienna