We’re back with another shoutout from another one of our Her Campus contributors, Taylor Evans.
“Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my two puggles, Biscuit and Honey. I’ve started many late night arguments with my roommates about who has the cutest dog (my dogs always won, love you Alex and Rachel). Being away from them when I’m at college sucks, but what sucks even more is being away from them for four months while in Denmark for the semester!
In Europe, it’s pretty unusual for people to ask dog owners if they can pet their dog, an unheard of social custom in the US. But I’ve tried to stay strong and assimilate to Danish life, even though those puppy dog eyes call out to me each time.
A couple weeks ago, some friends and I were in Vienna for a school trip, and we decided to spend our break in a park nearby. As we were walking along the canal, all six of us caught sight of a beautiful Golden Retriever getting a belly rub from her owner. Our hearts must have collectively melted because the next thing you know, we’re all scrambling over to ask this woman if we could pet her dog.
I have to say I was a little terrified at first. The woman had a badass vibe to her. She wore tight, black jeans, a leather jacket with studs, pointed sunglasses, and had a harsh haircut. But she saw the look in our eyes, and immediately stepped aside to let us pamper her pooch.
Not only was this dog, adorably named Nala, the sweetest thing ever, but she was super photogenic and was featured on just about everyone’s snap story that day. As we fawned over her dog, the woman began asking us what we were doing in Vienna, as our accents had given away our American identities.
She gave us some places to check out, some food to try, and some sights not to miss. While the encounter only lasted less than ten minutes, talking to a friendly person, being welcomed to pet her dog, and getting to enjoy the sun in a beautiful park made the day the best one yet.
So here’s a shoutout to the Viennese woman with the Golden Retriever who indulged six girls missing their own puppies back home.”