Study Abroad in Vienna: Everything I wanted Past Review
By Sabrina Boggs (University of the Pacific) - abroad from 08/21/2017 to 12/16/2017 with
IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I got to study with a master violinist, perform a lot, see major ensembles like the Vienna Phil and Vienna State Opera for free or for very cheap, take classes that I could use for my major, and meet a lot of locals, one of them being a lifelong friend that I'll never forget. I also learned so much more German in just one semester than I thought I would, seeing as I didn't know any when I got to Vienna. I lived in an apartment that was about 20 minutes away from the city center, which I thought was really nice--close enough and far away from all the tourists. I also took advantage of a lot of the IES Abroad opportunities like Student Council and Student Forum, which I found rewarding. There really is nothing more that I would have wanted.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My classes were all very interesting and insightful. They were 3 hour long seminars which was a little hard to get used to, but I found myself enjoying it because it meant I had more free time. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in the 5th district, which is 20 minutes from city center. I thought this distance was perfect--away from all the tourists, but close enough for it to not be inconvenient. My apartment was really nice. |
| * Food: |
Wiener schnitzel! Pastries everywhere! Coffee is to die for!!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was lucky because I made close friends with my "Resident Austrian," and she took me out a lot to parties with her friends, clubs, and other events around Vienna. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Vienna is super safe. |
| 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) |
For the most part I was fine. I just came back with almost no money because I paid for a lot of extra lessons. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep your priorities straight. Do you want to travel a lot, do you want to eat a lot of food, do you want to focus your time on Vienna on social/cultural events or museums/concerts? Having one or two main goals you want from your experience will keep you spending money on the right things so you have enough for all that you REALLY want to take away from it. |
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? | None |
| 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? | Start learning before you go. Study a lot, and encourage yourself to speak the language even if you're embarrassed. Get a language buddy. Even if locals in stores or restaurants start talking to you in English, keep talking in German. They'll realize you actually want to practice. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | I know a lot more German, but I wish I had started with more knowledge so I could have gotten even further in the language. |
