vienes, Viena y vas

Hallo,

A bit over three weeks in Vienna. Things I love: coffeehouses (I am writing this in one right now), sunny days (haven’t had many, though), fur coats, antique shops, and museums. Things I don’t like (at all): the weather, the schedule (why does everything close so early?!), the lack of chips in the supermarket, and Sunday unavailability. Still, Vienna has been fulfilling in ways I have yet to comprehend fully. It has allowed me to navigate my inner workings and rearrange what I knew (or thought I did) about studying abroad. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done with so much intention.

I had my first trip with the friends I made through IES Vienna. We went to Copenhagen, where I learned that enjoying a place goes beyond a well-curated schedule. The only thing that got me through the cold was pure laughter and an overwhelmingly amazed heart. Nothing incites bonding like airport exhaustion!

Don’t worry if you don’t feel like you have a group or a bunch of “friendships” in the first week. Let relationships simmer. It takes time and space for connections to bloom. Take the pressure off. Your essence will match you with the right people. Moreover, do go out of your comfort zone if you feel a spark with someone. Ask them out for coffee, wine, or just walking to school together. It is not “intense” or “pushy”; it is kindness and bravery all in one action.

In three days, I’ll be going to Lourdes on my first-ever solo trip. Studying abroad is, indeed, a great opportunity to build long-lasting friendships. Even so, the relationship that deserves the most investment is, yeah, shocker, the one with yourself! You are the only person you’ll always have access to across the globe and 24/7. It is a gift to enjoy yourself, especially as you discover your host city/country/continent.

I invite you—go to a cafe by yourself. Take yourself out to a meal. Walk around without a destination. Read a book at a plaza. Treat yourself to that dessert or trinket. Have a self-care night. Write a letter to end-of-semester you. What do you hope for them? Let romance perfume your experience. Feel your growth. Connect to every breath; I promise there is no rush. The calmer your soul is, the more you’ll get out of the moment.

This might read as too airy, but I can’t deny that’s how I feel. I get chills just going to the supermarket. In the end, I’m getting eggs in Vienna! I’ve been blessed to have connected with amazing human beings who offer so much to my experience, and for the last three hours, I’ve been watching people walk by the Albertina while I eat my cinnamon roll. Not all days are like this, I testify to that. But they happen more often than not if you craft your actions toward an intentional life. You’ll travel a lot and become an expert in carry-on weight and personal item measurements. Do remember that the most important space is the one you allow for growth within yourself.

xoxo, Viv