A Retrospective Semester

It’s been almost a week since I returned from my study abroad semester in Vienna, Austria. It feels like just yesterday that I was packing my bags to leave for Europe, not knowing a thing about the world awaiting me. In four months, I have had the utmost privilege to have visited 11 countries, taught English in an Austrian school, befriended students from dozens of colleges around the U.S., learned A1 German, and familiarized myself with the histories, cultures, and religions that constitute European societies.    

A semester in Vienna has left me with both answers and new questions. Here’s what I can tell you about studying abroad: 

Myth: You’ll be left to fend for yourself in an unknown country 
The beauty of study abroad programs like IES Abroad is that you can explore your independence internationally while having a safety net to rely on. You can reach out to IES Abroad for health-related, academic, or emotional support and even update IES Abroad staff on your weekend travel plans so they know where you are in case of emergencies. The difference between “IES Abroad Vienna” and moving to Vienna for a semester is simply that the former allows you to ease into a new environment, as opposed to feeling like you’ve been thrown into the deep end. 

Fact: You will make friends 
Regardless of who you are, where you come from, and how you ended up at IES Abroad, there’s always going to be people who want to get to know you. Studying abroad means engaging with people who—like you—are seeking to break out of their pre-existing social norms and spread their wings. But just like in every other social setting, there’s going to be people you mesh with right from the get-go and people who you… don’t mesh with. Embrace all the ups and downs of forging connections—you’ll be fine. :) 

Myth: You have to speak the language 
Yes, it helps to speak the language of your host country. No, it’s not always a prerequisite. In Vienna, for instance, most locals will be well-versed—if not fluent—in English. Once you arrive at your study abroad destination, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to enroll in language courses (both within and outside of IES Abroad), practice speaking the language in social settings, and familiarize yourself with local jargon. Of course, however, it depends heavily on where you choose to study abroad. 

Fact: It’s important to get your documentation in order 
For as long as you’re studying abroad, your passport is your best friend. It’s important to remember that studying abroad means that you can no longer rely on the legal systems in place in the U.S. (or wherever it is that you fly in from). From the moment you get accepted into your study abroad program to the moment you leave, always make sure that your legal documentation is in order. This can include reading up on your visa requirements and restrictions, finding out what regions you’re allowed to travel to, and filing for a residence card at the city of your stay. Just listen carefully to what your study abroad program has to say about documentation and you should be A-OK! 

Here's to one day returning to Vienna to experience the sweet nostalgia of my semester in Europe.