I couldn't have wished for a better semester abroad

My semester in Vienna was nothing short of amazing. I fell in love with the city and the Austrian countryside will never stop calling my name. I was able to travel (inexpensively and efficiently) to incredible places surrounding Vienna on any given weekend. Events in the city, museums, operas, concerts, and shows are constantly going on and the talent is above and beyond anything I had ever seen or heard. I lived in wonderful apartment (clean, safe, 30 min. commute into the heart of the city, nicely furnished) with four other students. I went to class every day in the center of the city and spent most weekends traveling to the countryside or other countries and exploring the city. I learned a lot from my professors and really enjoyed my classes. They were thought-provoking and challenging but not too rigorous so that I had time to have fun and relax. The staff at IES Vienna are amazing and were so friendly, helpful, and supportive. Not knowing any German before leaving the country and moving to Vienna was scary but I did just fine and IES prepared me pretty well to be able to converse with the natives. I would have liked to make native friends and be a little more immersed in the culture.