Unforgettable Vienna!

The walk from my apartment to the IES center is something that I miss often. I got the opportunity to walk past the Naschmarkt, an outdoor market, which was usually bustling with vendors selling row upon row of fresh fruit and candies. Imagine getting the opportunity to walk past the famous Staatsoper every morning on the way to class. Right past the opera house is Hotel Sacher, where the world-renowned Sachertorte was created and continues to delight lines of curious tourists and locals alike. The IES center is right in this central location and is an old palace converted into private apartments and teaching facilities. Imagine studying in a room with a stunning crystal chandelier and a hand-painted ceiling! That’s just a fraction of what you get to do in Vienna.
I got to stay with five other girls in an old, but gorgeous apartment built in the 1800s. The apartment had huge glass windows overlooking a residential street filled with beautifully architected buildings. I was a three-minute walk from the grocery store, the U-bahn (subway system), and a small bakery with pastries unlike anything you can find in America. Luckily, the IES staff explained the grocery-buying process to us on the first day as well as the U-bahn, taxi, emergency, and safety processes in the city. They provided us with emergency phone numbers of the city and even their personal contact information in case of an emergency. It is obvious that the staff loves Vienna and wants each student to love it as well.
The classes focused on German language and psychology. My German professor was a native of Austria, so her true Austrian way of speaking as well as her personal advice made the class a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My psychology professor was a sweet Viennese woman who was able to give us anecdotes from her own career as a psychologist. The classes were valuable, but I have to admit that the weekends were best for me. Over the course of five weeks, I got to travel to Hungary (Budapest), the Czech Republic (Prague), Poland (Krakow), Slovakia (Bratislava), and Salzburg, Austria. These places were all just a train ride away for no more than about fifty Euros. Being able to travel to a different country every weekend is something that I will always remember fondly.
I truly made the best memories on my IES trip. The program is in Vienna, but the experience can take you all over Europe, including on IES-organized trips to Budapest and Semmering, Austria. Even now that I am home, I continue to benefit from the program as I have made the most genuine friends from this experience. What else can bond a group of people like getting lost at a castle in Budapest? I have yet to find out.