In the Midwest, everyone so far seems to be friendly.
Now I am studying abroad somewhere else that is unfamiliar to me! Austria is a country in Central Europe, bordered by Slovakia, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Hungary. So far, I’ve been to all of the bordering countries except for Switzerland and Slovenia! Vienna, nicknamed “the City of Dreams” as a reference to psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, is Austria’s capital. Situated in the northeastern part of Austria, Vienna is most well-known for its art and music, with big-name classical composers, like Mozart and Beethoven having both lived in Vienna. Vienna also has a world-renowned opera scene. Back in September, I had the unique opportunity to visit the Wien Volksoper (Famous Opera House in Vienna) and see a tear-jerking rendition of La Traviatta.
In comparison to New York, Vienna becomes a still, quiet city at night. With the unspoken rule that 10 pm means the start of quiet hours, locals have mastered the art of whispering and talking at indiscernible levels. Vienna is also ranked as one of the safest cities in the world, which is evidenced by how children as young as ten years old are seen taking public transportation on their own. Speaking of which— the public transportation system in Vienna is amazing! The trams, buses, and subways (U-Bahn), as well as spacious bike lanes that stretch across the entire city, make Vienna an extremely commutable and walkable city. I never expected that the U1 in Vienna would be faster and much cleaner than my go-to 2/5 train stop.
