Happenings with the Hapsburgs: My Experience in Vienna Past Review
By A student (International Studies—European Focus, Trinity University) - abroad from 01/11/2012 to 05/11/2012 with
IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I think I learned a lot about people from my experience abroad. Initially I was very hopeful that I would make lots of friends abroad, but found that not to be the case. The majority of the student body was very forgettable and uninteresting and only interested in partying in Europe, and so I didn't gell with a lot of students, unfortunately. A lot of students were only skin-deep, friendly on the outside, but then would never acknowledge you again, even if you had had a long conversation with them recently. I found this very frustrating and so, came to dislike the majority of my fellow students. Then I also began thinking that maybe this is how becoming an adult works, and if this is true, that real friendships rarely happen when you become an adule because everyone is acting this way, I don't want to become an adult. That behavior is shallow and selfish and should not be tolerated at all.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Aside from learning lots more German, I don't think I learned much else. The courses, aside from German, were overall, a disappointment, since they all looked so great at the beginning, but either the instructors were bad or material was not interesting. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was great and had a very nice mix of native Austrians and Americans. Always felt comfortable around them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I got to live in the best apartment I've ever lived in. Could not have dreamed of better. The Housing Coordinator, Helmut Summesberger, is also one of the best people I've ever met. |
| * Food: |
Amazing food, wherever you went. I'm vegetarian too, and had absolutely no problems finding things to eat. They do food much better than Americans. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Austrian culture (or maybe, Viennese culture) took some getting used to, even for me, who has a lot of international experience under his belt. The locals look very mean and rude and therefore intimidating on the outside, but when they let their guard down, you find out that they are some of the best, most real people you've ever met. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had any issues, so I can't say for sure. |
| * Safety: |
Always felt safe and IES had a great network that I could get in touch with if I ever felt threatened. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Vienna was not as expensive as everyone let me to believe and I believe I saved and learned about my money habits much more from being abroad. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Between 100 and 150 euros per week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You're going to make mistakes with your money. This happens to everyone and is a totally human characteristic, so don't feel ashamed when it happens. It's infuriating when it does happen, but I find it much more stressful and infuriating to try to live on a shoestring and cut all I can than spend and occasionally make a mistake once in a while. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
The German teachers were all fantastic, both from what I experienced and from what I heard from other people. We used German so much and it was so satisfying to see yourself learn and grow in the language over time. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate I German |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | You have to use the language all the time. When your out on the street, buying groceries, or even booking international train tickets (and yes, I'm absolutely serious about train tickets). It was incredibly frustrating when I would speak German to someone and they would immediately answer in English. But don't speak English then Continue with German (or whatever language) and force them to switch. They will have many, many more opportunities to practice their English than you will with your foreign language. Too many times, I saw this happen to Americans and they would give up and speak English. Do not do this. When you are living in a foreign country, you speak their language. Words cannot express how important this is, both for your skills and other things, like self-confidence. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Nothing. I was very well-prepared. |
