Leaving Vienna

I have officially left Vienna. In fact, as I write this, I am on a train to Rome; from one empire to the next. The past two months have been busy, adventurous, and I’ve learned more than I ever expected. For my final post, I will reflect on spending my summer as an intern in Vienna.

I didn’t always plan to intern in Europe. But after studying abroad at the University of Zurich in Spring 2025, I missed the German immersion and Alpine landscapes, so I applied the following winter to IES Abroad Vienna. I committed to the program early and began the internship placement process in spring.  

Side note: If you’re considering interning here, I would advise that you provide your three potential categories very carefully. I put education as my third choice (you must give three placement field options) and was only offered a teaching position. I loved teaching, but I chose Vienna because of the city's rich psychological history. I wouldn’t necessarily change my path, but I would simply advise that you put three categories entirely aligned with your aspirations. 

I confirmed my internship position in April and committed to working at the International Early Years Academy in Vienna. I bought my required work outfit and began to plan my stay. I brainstormed trips, reached out to some students from the program, and confirmed my trip itinerary with IES Abroad Vienna. 

I flew to Vienna in May and moved in. I appreciated how guided the move-in process was and enjoyed the welcome week activities. We sat in German class, went on field trips, hiked to a Viennese heuriger, and even attended the Concordia Ball. I made friends and got to know the city. 

When you intern with IES Abroad Vienna, you take a concurrent seminar based on your studies. I was in the psychology-adjacent internship course. After learning that a classmate of mine was interning with our professor, I asked after class about research opportunities. I was offered a second internship on the spot (a testament to my luck and her kindness) and decided to balance two positions over the summer. Being a dual intern has defined my experience in Vienna, and although far from the traditional path, was a perfect fit for me. 

Twice a week, I woke up early and commuted to my school placement. These workdays were most often 8:30 A.M.–3:30 P.M. with a 30-minute lunch break. Although teaching wasn’t my first choice, I loved this position and every day flew by. I worked with children and colleagues from all over the world. I got to experience Austrian school routines, culture, and witness developmental psychology firsthand. It was joyful and fulfilling to work at IEYA. 

Two other days a week, I worked in my research position, the SCAN Unit at the University of Vienna. I did this most often remotely because my housing, The Social Hub, had air conditioning. My shifts were not based on time spent, but rather on task completion. I found that this helped me manage my time and effort more than the traditional “work X hours per week” model. Every week had a new task, and I learned more about social affective neuroscience than I ever had before. Once, I even laid in an fMRI machine to help pilot a study. Working in the SCAN Unit was the research experience I didn’t know I needed. 

Interning four days per week means having three-day weekends. I spent these traveling in and outside of Vienna. I visited the Netherlands twice, Prague, and Budapest. I also grew familiar with the Vienna city center, the Prater, and towns outside of Vienna. If you’re coming to Vienna, I would recommend dedicating one or two weekends to the city and Austria itself. I understand the temptation to visit as many countries as possible, but this is your new home! Get to know it. 

I will miss Vienna, but I don’t doubt that I’ll be back. It’s the sort of city you can never entirely explore, and I still have plenty to do. I appreciate IES Abroad Vienna coordinating so many activities and helping me work in the imperial city. Bis bald, Wien!