Grüß Gott? Grüß Gott readers! I have to admit something so unfortunate and sad- today was our last day of classes at the Austro-American Institute of Education, tomorrow the gang leaves to go home meaning that this is my last blog post. My semester ended today but in a couple days my family will visit me here in Vienna and we will travel around Europe together. After about two weeks, we head back to the States together just in time for Christmas.
I feel both sad and fulfilled about my time here. Of course I am going to miss being in Vienna and Austria as a whole. I will miss the people that have helped and supported us during our studies and I will miss the cultural traditions of Vienna I won’t get when I am home. However, I feel quite fulfilled by my time here. I don’t know how to describe it. It is almost like a pit in the bottom of my stomach, telling me that it is okay to say goodbye to the amazing experience I have had in Europe. These past few days I have tried my best to soak in every last moment hanging out with professors, seeing our favorite sites and eating our favorite foods one last time. I feel so content with my time here that I know the memories will stick with me forever.
I believe that in life we all have different versions of ourselves and that while being here I have become a better version of me. Realizing that makes my heart jump with joy and smile as wide as I can. I think I have become a more confident and grateful person. I have tried my very best to step outside my comfort zone and try every experience presented to the gang and I. Being a student abroad inherently means that you are willing to be a risk-taker and be curious about the world around you. While being here, I have also pushed myself mentally to think more critically about the world around me and to immerse myself in Austrian culture.
Thank you for taking the time to read these blog posts. Although perhaps the posts didn’t highlight daily life in Vienna, you could learn about my experiences doing some really fun things! I truly believe that by traveling and being a part of other cultures than your own, you will be changed for the better. I hope you have gotten this sense from reading my posts. If you are thinking about studying abroad, just go for it. If you are like me, you won’t regret it.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Lizzie Arnold