Coming from a rural background and never having lived in a big city before, I was worried about adjusting to a more urban lifestyle by coming to live in Vienna. I didn't know how my Appalachian identity would fit in here. Remarkably, it fits in pretty well.

Back home, so much is different from my life here. I have to drive to get anywhere back home, the supermarkets have all I need in one stop (cosmetics, groceries, and pharmacy), and it's quiet since there is not much to do during the week. But luckily, despite its size Vienna still feels kind of like a large town.

Being an introvert in Japan is an extremely humbling experience. Everything is new and overwhelms the heck out of me. It was my first time traveling alone to a new place, and I remember having a panic attack as soon as I boarded the first plane. Not only that, BAM! Orientation started immediately, so I had to deal with new people and new locations.

If you are in a slump and need something to energize yourself for the week, look no further than the Bomba de Tiempo concerts that are held at the Ciudad Cultural Konex. Every Monday, you can find yourself surrounded by the vibrant waves of people grooving to the steady beat of the drums. At the beginning of the IES Abroad orientation, our program leaders took us to see Bomba de Tiempo and it was a blast enjoying such an abundant music culture. Just the past week, I was invited by a friend whom I met in Patagonia to join his hostel and watch the band's concert.

I am finally back from my study abroad experience in Amsterdam, and I am already dreaming about my trip back! As I reflect on my time there, I feel like now is a great time to give all prospective and accepted students the absolute rundown on how to prepare, what to expect, and how to maximize your experience while you’re there. 

What to pack: 

When should you start preparing for your spring break?

Spring breaks are such fun getaways from the chaos of the semester and the academics. But they get even more exciting when you are abroad. This article has all the tips and tricks of when to start planning your spring break, and how you can travel on a budget while checking off countries from your bucket list! 

1. START PLANNING!

2 weeks in Vienna

Time goes by so quickly over the summer semester! Next week will be midterms for my classes, and I have already planned some trips for my upcoming weekends. The past two weeks have been so much fun, and every single day has been so meaningful. With that, I want to share a few tips from my first two weeks about studying abroad.