As I return to the states this week, I reflect on the past six months I spent in Vienna Austria. My experience was nothing short of amazing and exceeded all my expectations. Vienna is a beautiful city that brings together people from all different backgrounds and cultures, which enabled me to learn and make connections with other students and people from all over the world.
In my classes, I was able to experience a completely different class structure compared to A&M. All of my classes had an international focus and it was amazing to learn about the way businesses operate worldwide. Additionally, there were students in my classes from all over the world (Germany, Chile, Colombia, France, Hungary, China, New Zealand, to name a few), so it was incredible having discussions where we could compare and contrast how our own countries operate. In one of my classes, we took a field trip to Oracle?s office in Vienna and learned about the future of technology from the director of that branch. We also got to see the AirportCity Space and learn about the future innovations that were being experimented there. If I had not gone to Vienna, I would have never been able to experience that!
During my time abroad, I was able to visit 20 different countries, including 30 different cities, something I never thought I would have the opportunity to do. Vienna was such a centrally located area, allowing me to travel any direction I wanted to. With the friends I made in Vienna, along with my roommate, Annie (also an Aggie), we got to learn and explore so many different cultures by making it a priority to go to museums, take walking tours with locals, and experience life through the lens of whatever culture we were in.
Throughout all the weekends and holidays I traveled, I was always ready to get back to what felt like home, or Vienna. It?s just a city where you can easily walk around, learn about the history, and explore new places. In my free time, my friends and I would have picnics in city parks, explore new museums, go to cafes, go to the Prater (the amusement park in the city), drink wine at the evening wine stands, grab a hot dog at the many hot dog stands, and so much more. One thing I loved about Vienna was how lively it was. There was always something going on, whether it be celebrations or wine festivals, we always found something fun to go do. One of my favorite memories was attending a Viennese ball with my friends. Balls are a major part of Viennese culture, so getting to dress up with my friends, enjoy a Viennese waltz, and celebrate a part of Vienna?s culture was definitely a moment I will cherish forever.
Out of all the places I traveled to, Vienna is definitely my favorite. I am thankful for the six months I got to experience there, the people I met, the things I learned, and cannot wait to go back one day!