Upon arriving in Vienna, I was quite excited to see what the city and Austria as a whole had to offer. In the early morning taxi ride to my apartment, we passed through many parks and neighborhoods, and I was surprised to find that it felt very similar to home. People were walking their dogs or going for a jog, and buses were full of people on their way to work. It wasn’t until I stepped out into the main city that I experienced my first wave of culture shock.
The central square was surrounded by large baroque buildings and was bustling with people going into cafes, bakeries, and “Würstelstände” (sausage stands). This sight was much different than anything I have ever experienced in the United States. All around the city are massive cathedrals and palaces, each with their own story to tell (admittedly, most of the stories involve the Habsburgs). Just outside of the city are rolling hills with castles and wine vineyards that rival the beauty of the inner city. All together, it makes Vienna one of the most gorgeous places I have ever seen, and I’ve only been here for six days. The majority of people I have met speak perfect English, and while the Austrian people do not go out of their way to make conversation with strangers, they are very willing to help when I ask them questions.
After 4 days of classes, I can say that WU is a wonderful university. The first thing I noticed when I stepped on campus was the crazy architecture. In contrast to the rest of the city, WU’s campus looks extremely modern. Every building has a different look, and they are all eye-catching. The classes themselves are very different from Texas A&M. They are 4 hours long, with 15-minute breaks spread throughout. The courses have a heavy focus on sustainability and social causes, which I found to be remarkably insightful. The professors are extremely knowledgeable and have gone out of their way to help those of us with questions.
Although the local language, architecture, and teaching styles are different than in America, I have found that the people are very similar, and I am sure that I am going to have a great time studying in Vienna this month.
