One of the things I love about Vienna is that the Rathaus serves more as a city and community center than I have ever experienced before, even when I lived in much smaller towns. It seems that every week there is a new event happening at the “Rathausplatz.” During Christmas time they have the Christkindlmarkt, and while I’ve been here they’ve had (among others) a Styria fest, a Formula 1 race car event, and, my favorite, a skating rink!
The weeks have been going by so fast! It's already May and I cannot believe it. A lot has happened since I last wrote and I am so glad I finally have the time to share my experiences. I chose to go on the field trip excursion with IES to Chiloe. It was an incredible decision on my part. Chiloe is an archipelago, south of Santiago. It is a beautiful place filled with a distinct culture. It is known for its folklore. IES planned a historian to talk with us about the legends surrounding the area.
Leaving Siena was incredibly difficult and while I'm happy to be seeing friends and family again there is so much I miss. Our last few days of the semester were filled with finals which were partially stressful because there were a million other things to do before leaving and kind of helpful as it definitely distracted us from sadness of it. Saturday we had a little get together of everyone in the program and their language exchange partners and Italian friends. It was really fun having everyone together and meeting new friends.
Culture shock is defined as the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, a move between social environments, or simply travel to another type of life.
Finals week observation: I always thought that Red Bull looked a lot like gasoline. In that case it’s not a little punny to say that I’ve been burning a lot of midnight oil recently. I have a large backload of material to publish on the blog, so forgive me in advance for the flood.
In a similar vein as my last post, I’d like to share a reflection on my internship this spring semester. I’ll try a new format.
As the days get warmer and longer, Amsterdam really comes alive. People are biking and walking from the morning until late at night. As I sit in cafes and day dream while avoiding a certain final paper, I wonder if anyone actually works or goes to school here. The locals always seem to be out an about making their way to whatever destination they are headed to or just laying alongside the canals. I envy their relaxed nature and attitudes.