Vienna waited for me, as it does for you.

Let's type our feelings out- Hola, Hello, Hallo. 

Going away is not easy, it's brave. It's (usually) very uncomfortable, but a sign of true perseverance. It's not for everyone, but it is for you. As I, once again, make my suitcase, I think about my essentials to go abroad: weather appropriate clothing (Wien ist sehr kalt!), hopes (no expectations), cute going out tops, comfortable tennis shoes, my pink rosary (must.), passport, and all the trust in God that I am entering one of the greatest adventures of my life. It's about survival, and that list pretty much sums up all that I might need along the way. My friends and family might be subject to a 8-9 hour time difference, yet I find calm in knowing that they are one facetime away (and I make sure they are aware I have the right to call at any time!). 

This is not my first time leaving home. Nonetheless, it is my first time going to a place where I am not fluent in their language. It's terrifying when I put it into true perspective, so I just don’t. There is a certain magic when diving into a totally different adventure, especially one you’ve craved for so long. I think about the people I’ll meet, the laughs waiting for us; the museums full of art and history, seen by so many yet waiting for me to mesmerize at them; the restaurants and coffee shops full of local food, ready to host my thinking sessions as I reflect about being abroad. Let the emotion simmer. Close your eyes, and let it run through you. Feel the sentiment of going towards exactly where life needs you to be, at the exact time. Own it, this is your moment to grow and enjoy. Yours to share, yours to experience, yours to yearn, yours to love. 

I, as not a very “ go with the glow” girl, started learning German the moment I decided where I wanted to go abroad. My mind was set on Freiburg, Germany, but God (and Billy Joel) knew Vienna was waiting for me. I changed my destination one day before registration, and I might as well say I changed my destiny too. Don’t let the noise of life crowd your thinking, listen to your heart. This is my fourth time moving, pursuing my education and feeding into my love for exploring the world. I have rejoiced in being fully certain in my decisions and destinations. When you know, you actually do know. Question, research, read, ask, inform yourself about what you are looking for and which places can fulfill just that, don’t settle for less. For me, Vienna is cultural, historic, rich, fun, well geographically placed, safe, size adequate, and most of all– authentically mine. It is a corner of the world I have not had the privilege to enjoy, but will soon own a version of me that is incomparable to all the others, and I feel completely comfortable with that path. 

 I know me because I’ve been her, the girl away from home, so many times. Some of my fondest memories have been with strangers, people I'll never see again, but studying abroad gifted me with those special moments, that even though brief, impactful. In the end, studying abroad isn’t just about traveling—it’s about meeting the version of yourself that only exists on the other side of courage. It’s about answering the quiet invitations the world has already prepared for you: a coffee shop with your name written in its warmth, a song in a language you don’t yet speak, a mirror in a place you’ve never stood. The world is waiting—not urgently, but patiently—for you to arrive. And when you do, you grow in ways you never thought possible. You learn kindness from strangers, resilience from challenges, confidence from independence, and love from the small, fleeting moments that change you forever. Studying abroad is the bridge between who you are and who you can become. And if you let it, it will give you not only an education, but a story—a story filled with places you once dreamed of, people you were meant to meet, and a life that was always waiting for you to step into it.

Much love,

Viv