The Value of a Semester Abroad: My Journey from Vienna

In my first year of university, someone said ‘semester abroad’ and I said ‘I NEED to do one’.

The journey from Edmonton, Alberta to Vienna, Austria was a long one, but the six months I spent abroad changed me forever.

My Journey: Vienna

My semester abroad, where I spent four months of my time, was pretty smooth sailing.

As with many things, you go through the process months before you step foot in the country, so my classes, accommodations and everything was completed before I even got there.

The only thing was I needed to take a bus to Bratislava, Slovakia and apply for my student visa.

This was where I first connected with my travel group. A bunch of Canadians, some Dutch and a Scottish man, what could go wrong (other than too much partying).

During this time I went to Budapest, London, Krakow, Hallstatt, Salzburg and more! 

I also met my father in Ireland for a three-week tour around the beautiful island.

Vienna is an amazing place to see in it’s own right… beautiful old City, wine region and sloping hills in or around the City, what more could you ask for?

By the time I left Vienna, I had made friends from across the world and connected with more people than I ever thought possible.

My Journey: The Balkans

I decided to extend my stay and spend two months travelling the Balkans from Slovenia to Albania and back again!

If you’ve never been, I highly recommend.

Buses in this region are as low as a few bucks per ride and accommodations were affordable, easy to find and the owners were SO KIND.

I was fortunate enough to meet with my best friend during my time in the Balkans.

Looking back, the most glaring thing was the time she got us so lost on the way to the airport that I was driving on a dirt (generous) road littered with massive holes in BEHIND THE TARMACK.

At one point I ask her when the road is going to end and she says “I don’t know…. google maps just stopped.”

To say the least, we needed to circle all the way around the airport (and apparently a government facility) in order to make it back and return the car.

Why Consider a Semester Abroad?

I’ve narrowed it down to five main reasons why you should consider a semester abroad, and I’m doing to include snippets from my own journey to convince ya.

• One: you meet the most amazing people. From Korea to Brazil the people I have met and connected with on the journey have been the reason for some of my most amazing memories.

• Two: learn about a new culture, language and history. I have gotten to learn about so many empires I never heard of in Canada. I also now speak four languages at an elementary level, primarily due to living in countries abroad.

• Three: FOOOOOD. Need I say more? (check out my Instagram Story Highlights for some awesome food shots).
• Four: landscapes and architecture. While Canada is beautiful, there is nothing like exploring a beautiful building that is older than your country (on paper at least).

• Five: experience things you never could back home. Some highlights I will never forget include:
  • A free concert from the Vienna Orchestra in front of the Schloss Schoenbrunn.
  • Pouring my own Guinness beer in the factory.
  • Taking a hot balloon ride in Cappadocia.
  • And so much more!
    

So why take the leap and do a semester abroad? Because the experience you have will change you forever.