Off to Austria!

Welcome to my study abroad blog!  I will study in Austria with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) from January - May 2015.  Throughout my time in Austria, I will record my travels, daily experiences, and observations on here.  Hope you enjoy reading the ramblings of a Midwestern girl exploring Europe for the first time!

My life included cross-cultural and linguistic interests for as long as I can remember, making the decision for study abroad a natural one.  My parents often invited international visitors into our home and my oldest sister took off for Russia during her last year of high school, when I was around 4 years old.  Watching my older siblings learn German and my own German studies beginning in early elementary school fostered my deep love of languages.  I found a deep personal connection to the German language after my mom shared with me about my German-speaking heritage and the community surrounding it, which extended back to the Ukraine and Prussia.

Although I possess German heritage, the country of Austria particularly held my interest.  I cannot exactly explain my reasoning, but I know that tidbits from Austria´s Hapsburg empire, Mozart, Haydn, my sister´s experiences in Austria, The Sound of Music :-), etc all contributed to my fascination.  Ultimately, a study abroad program in Austria fit the best into my university plan based on a variety of circumstances.

I left for Vienna, Austria on 8 January from Chicago, where I had visited several consulting firms with an academic program from my school.  Upon later reflection, I realized that I encountered nearly three different cultures within a span of three days after leaving Chicago!  The first culture was the Chicago business world, a far cry from the small Midwestern town in which I spent my teenage years.  After an overnight flight (in which I fortunately slept due to a free seat next to me), I encountered a second culture in a maze of beauty and confusion amongst gorgeous Vienna streets and Vienna´s public transport system.  Several friendly Viennese helped me make my way through a train, a subway ride, and a final interesting walk through Stephansplatz with my suitcases to the IES center!  The study abroad staff at the IES center warmly greeted me and directed me to a nearby cafe for lunch, Cafe Oberlaa, where I experienced some excellent Viennese food! 

I encountered the third and final culture by experiencing a piece of the U.S. in Austria amongst the IES study abroad students at our orientation in Mariazell, to which I went after lunch in Vienna.  In mid-afternoon, I traversed my way to the bus station (with clearer directions this time), where I took a bus to Mariazell, a small Austrian town in the mountains known as a famous Catholic pilgrimage place.  I ran into an Austrian RA for IES named Kevin on the bus and we had about a 2-hour German conversation!   My conversation with him and asking for directions in German throughout Vienna made me realize that I can use my German decently in (some areas of) real life!  But the next few days let me know the many lessons I must still learn...