While I’m still in Vienna, I wanted to reflect on my summer so far and share about my time here. This was one of the most fun-packed, travel-heavy, and learning-intense experiences I’ve ever had, and it feels important to talk about what my summer here was actually like.
After traveling (almost) every weekend of my summer to other cities besides Vienna, I would say I’m pretty well-versed in how to travel well around Europe. Here are some of my top tips to enjoy visiting other cities during your study abroad experience!
Coming from Bainbridge Island, Washington, I’ve grown up heading to the beach on every hot, summer day. I really wanted that habit to continue while abroad, but I didn’t know how successful I’d be at finding good places to go. Luckily enough, through the IES Abroad program, my internship supervisor, and friends doing some research, I was able to hit up quite a few good locations and thought it was only fair to share my findings! There are swimming spots in Vienna that are perfect for every type of vibe or activity, and I would say that you can’t really go wrong with any of these places.
I am actually a little sad that it is over. In the beginning, I was a little scared since I knew no one and the language barrier was real. Now, I feel like I have bonded with some of the most unique and awesome people I have ever met. I actually want to take this opportunity to thank the staff at IES Abroad Tokyo for the time and dedication they put in for us to enjoy our time abroad. They did an excellent job at welcoming us and making us feel cared for.
Vienna now holds some of my favorite memories. Like a lot of other people, I was unsure at first if I wanted to go abroad for a summer. There were 2 main reasons. The first was that I was unsure if I wanted to spend the entire summer away from my family and friends. The second was whether the summer term was the right choice for me, did I want to have classes over the summer or would I rather do an entire fall or spring semester abroad? Now that I have completed the program I come back to these memories.
I am a first-generation college student. I have known since I was in high school that I wanted to study abroad before I graduated; however, I wasn’t sure how I was going to afford it since it can be very expensive with tuition, flight costs, and room/board.
After spending lots of time online and talking with my school’s financial aid department, here are some tips to apply for scholarships and budget while still enjoying your time abroad!
When you think about Germany, the first thing that comes to mind might be sausage. This makes sense. In the U.S. there’s plenty of meat consumed that is originally from Germany. Like Bratwurst. When I decided to study abroad in Germany, I was a bit worried about this. I’m vegetarian. Would I not be able to try traditional German food? Would I not be able to go out to eat? But when I got here, my questions were quickly answered: There’s vegetarian food EVERYWHERE!