riitta and me went to villach last sunday. the city museum displayed their new exhibition “the uncle from america” about austrian emigrants that moved over to the usa and canada in the first half of the 20th century. back then europa was an economic desaster, people were poor and looking for a future. some of them found it in the new world, were even whole quarters and cities were named after austrian towns and regions. when i read all about these people, saw their pictures, their few belongings they could take on the week-long journey on the ship, i slowly started understanding that we are all – in some way or another – chasing the same dream. so what i saw there was as well my own dream, my own wishes and hopes filled into pictures taken decades ago. i asked riitta what she thought of it afterwards and i guess she loved it. there was also a display of pictures of people who imigrated to austria, where they came from and who they were. and i guess in those pictures riitta found a bit of herself as well.
i believe.