Homesick for Vienna Past Review
By A student (Music and Spanish, Vanderbilt University) - abroad from 01/11/2012 to 05/19/2012 with
IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I learned that no matter what the situation is, I will be okay. A theme from our Institute was "have personal Teflon," because you will undoubtedly have some strange situations. I was stranded in Paris, but I made it back to Vienna alright. There were some awkward "lost in translation" moments, but you don't let them stick to you; you keep moving. This trait is invaluable in life. I would study abroad over again in a heartbeat. There's no reason not to take a chance in a different culture and see what happens. It will change you, ultimately for the better.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes offered were reasonably challenging. The best aspect about the classes that I took was how city interaction was stressed. Most of my classes involved trips around the city or investigating historically important sites. This really added to my learning experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The faculty at the IES Vienna center really know what they're doing. They plan for ANYTHING and are truly knowledgeable about Vienna. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was pretty cool to live in an apartment building with Viennese families. While interactions weren't that involved, everyone was always polite and you casually got to know which family lived where. |
| * Food: |
I'm rating food as such because no meal plan is provided with this program. Groceries, however, are very inexpensive once you figure out where to buy what. Meal prep can be as easy as you want it to be. Hofer is by far the cheapest place to buy groceries (same company as Aldi), and Billa has great sales. The Naschmarkt (Kettenbrückengasse U4) is great for its appeal and restaurants, however the vendor prices tend to be higher than other outdoor markets. The Markt at Brunnengasse/Yppenplatz (Josefstädterstrasse U6)is much cheaper. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was able to take lessons at the major music university in Vienna, and my professor there always invited me to the flute studio events. I also played in the Orchesterverein, which was a great way to meet other musicians and practice my German while making music. IES Vienna does a great job offering events and programs to students for integration. There is also a language buddy program that pairs you up with a Viennese student to practice speaking your respective language. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The Health and Safety coordinator was very vocal about staying healthy and what our options were in the event we did get sick. There was a doctor near the Institute that we could go see. My only healthcare-related experience was when I went to the Apotheke (drug store). The Apothekerin (pharmacist) was extremely helpful, and gave me a natural remedy to get rid of a nasty cough. I was surprised at the vast popularity of natural remedies; things like aspirin or Nyquil had no equivalents and weren't options. All medications could only be purchased at the Apotheke. They are all over the city and not hard to find if you do need something. |
| * Safety: |
I always felt safe in Vienna. There is a visible police presence. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
You can have a great time in Vienna and not spend a lot of money. My grocery bill (including meat) was between €10-€15 a week. Entertainment and otherwise, I probably spent a similar amount of money depending on what was going on. There are a lot of free concerts and inexpensive ones also across the city. Clubs usually offer student discounts for cover if they charge at all. My biggest expense was a Monatskarte for Wienerlinien. This was €50 a month, but it included all bus, subway, train, and streetcar transportation. It was really worth it for me because I had an internship three times a week on the other side of the city from where I lived. |
| * 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? | €30 or so. I never really went over that. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan ahead and really stick to a budget. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | n/a |
| 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? | Just try to use the language. I didn't know any German prior to arriving in Vienna. I was surprised at how quickly I began to pick it up by the time my semester was over. People appreciate it when you at least try to speak their language. The more you apply your language skills, no matter how basic, the easier it will become. You will become street-proficient, at the very least. |
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?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | I'm glad that I went with my limited knowledge, because it made my learning experience that much greater and thorough. If anything I would have learned more German to facilitate the learning and speaking process, because the first two weeks were rough. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
