vienna debrief

It has been four days since I woke up in Vienna. 

Four.

I remember when it was four days until I would wake up in another country. 

People always say when about kids growing up, but I think it can be appropriately applied to this situation as well: time flies.

Coming home on Friday was an adventure in itself. After waking up early & taking a scary taxi ride to the airport, we had to figure out this boarding process on our own. There was no professor guidance this time around. What a scary realization at 7am; especially when you are flying back to a country that is a lot stricter with passport control. 

We were only in the Vienna airport for a short time before our plane departed & then we had a quick turnaround in Düsseldorf. The flight across the pond was close to 10 hours. Awesome -- this has great nap potential, but unfortunately I have not yet perfected trans-Atlantic sleeping yet. So instead I watched just about everything they offered on our little screens. 

Chicago is when the real fun began. Since those who booked our flights didn't know how long it would take us to get through border control (psh, only took us 30 minutes), we had a 5 hour layover in the Windy City. In that 5 hours, our gate changed 4 times (I now know terminal B like the back of my hand), we bonded, & we watched the storms roll over Oklahoma. Storms that cause 25% of the flights out of Chicago to be cancelled -- um, say WHAT?! 

Luckily, the storms blew south of Chicago & our flight was able to get out. It was clear skies until we started approaching home. The clouds got a lot darker & the turbulence turned extreme. Becca & I held hands to the point where our knuckles turned white. We literally thought we were going to die. 

Thankfully, we landed & my parents were waiting at the end of the gate to welcome me home. 

One of the bet moments of my life! I've missed everything about them. 

I think what has kept me from writing this closing post is that it means that my adventure is finished. I'm home and Austria feels like a dream. After planning for months, the trip is done & over in a matter of weeks. So sad.

I learned many things on this trip. I accomplished my goal of learning the history of Austria, but what I didn't expect was to learn so much about myself & what I am capable of. What I like & what I don't. Who I am as an independent individual. And to that I say: bring it on, world!

This has also only increased my deep passion for travelling. Now I want to see the world even more than I had wanted to before. Places that I have never before considered are now at the top of my list. I am just so pleasantly surprised at what this world has to offer & can't wait to see more!

The biggest gift Vienna has given me is friendship. Over the course of my 3 weeks there, I became so close to 5 wonderful girls. I hold our friendships close to my heart & will cherish them forever. I hope we will always be in touch & travel again together again soon :)

Vienna is incredibly beautiful & rich in history. The most common question I've gotten from friends and family since my return is: "would you go again?"
The answer: in a heartbeat.
This experience is invaluable & I think students should definitely take the time to study abroad at least once & that everyone should see Vienna in their lifetime. I wish to go back for a visit soon to see all those I left behind. A part of them will always be with me!

I am thankful for every aspect of this trip...the ups & the downs, prime conversations with friends, FRIENDS, food, a home, the challenges, the professors (Doc is the definition of greatness), the culture, music, laughter, & travelling.

While I am glad to be home & in my own bed once again, it is bittersweet to have to say goodbye to the city that has become my second home.

So until next time (which I hope is soon!),
auf wiedersehen, wien! You are loved.