Vienna's Waiting

As the great Bilbo Baggins once said, "I think I'm quite ready for another adventure." After years of dreaming about traveling the world and going on adventures, and one hectic year-  wait, let's be realistic here.. one insane year at school of studying and planning, this experience couldn't be happening at a better time. I am so grateful that I get to spend an entire semester abroad, let alone in Vienna, and can't wait to have this life-changing experience! I'll admit I'm a little nervous about throwing myself into the world as someone who (as you all know) doesn't get out much. I've never traveled alone or been out of the country before,  I can't speak German and I don't know one person in the program. But I think those things will make this trip all the more worthwhile.

I will be living in the city of Vienna and taking classes that mostly just involve learning the history of Austrian culture and going to concerts/operas/museums etc. at the IES Abroad Center, which you know, just happens to be a building that looks like a palace inside :) I have four roommates, an R.A. who is a student at the University of Vienna, and a landlady Mrs. Wurzinger. (She sounds awesomely German)

The last two weeks have been crammed with last visits, packing, practicing, and work. Packing has been way harder than I thought but thank goodness my mom is my mom because she has prepared me for everything! To prepare, I have been listening to Billy Joel's 'Vienna' for pretty much an entire year. It's an awesome song and the lyrics are just perfect, "when will you realize, Vienna waits for you" To be honest it's the morning of and it still hasn't fully hit me yet that I'm going to Austria today. I think I am so thrilled that my mind just can't handle any emotion about it whatsoever. But I'm sure it will hit me in just two hours at the airport! Speaking of, it's time to get one last warm-up in and get ready for my journey today!

I will dearly miss being in Ithaca this fall and of course all of my family and friends but don't worry, you will hear from me soon enough! After galavanting across Europe and hanging out at my European prince boyfriend's palace, I will make plenty of time to skype, email, and keep in touch!

Vienna by Billy Joel

Auf Wiedersehen and Hasta La Vista America!!