Alumni Interview with Margaret Young
Here's what it's like to go on an IES Abroad program!
Margaret Young is a 21-year-old student from Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston. She attends school in Austin, studying Anthropology and Psychology. Before studying abroad, Margaret had only been to Canada. Now she has a passion for traveling abroad and experiencing as many different cultures as possible. Margaret is passionate about traveling and the outdoors, and loves kayaking, hiking, photography, and her dogs.
What inspired you to go abroad?
I always knew I wanted to go abroad before graduation and when I found IES Abroad's Psychology program in the amazing city of Vienna I knew I had to go! I had heard such good things about Vienna and it was something different than your typical program in London or Paris.
Why did you choose IES Abroad?
The psychology program attracted me because it gave me the perfect classes to finish my psychology minor at my home school and IES Abroad offered a program I couldn't resist with field trips included and an amazing PALACE for a classroom!
What was your favorite part about Vienna?
Vienna was everything I had hoped for and more. The city is very laid back and offered just the right amount of culture shock while still feeling inviting and comfortable. The city is always alive with people and street music, as well as tons of museums and activities every weekend. The country is amazing as well and traveling around Austria offers everything you could want from beautiful scenery in the tiny town of Hallstatt to the quaint little town of Salzburg and everything in between.
What made your experience abroad unique?
My experience was unlike anything I could get here in Texas. The city was our classroom and we had weekly "field trips" throughout the city to get some first hand experience in what we were learning, it is the birth place of psychology after all! In addition to the unique classroom experience, being in Vienna and only having class Monday-Thursday allowed me the opportunity to travel to new cities and entirely different countries every weekend. I left my study abroad program having been to 5 new countries I never expected to visit.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The staff at the IES center were amazing. They gave us all the information we needed about adapting to the local culture when we got there and they were always available to answer and questions and provide local insight.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
If I could change one thing, I would have loved to interact more with locals in German. By the time I left I felt comfortable enough to understand what waiters and locals were saying to me but I was always afraid to sound silly fumbling over my words trying to respond in German. The people are very understanding and often appreciative when you put in an effort to speak German so just go for it!
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
We woke up and had breakfast and coffee in our apartment before heading off to the U-bahn to get to the center. We had our German class in the morning then typically ate lunch and worked on our homework before our psychology class in the afternoon. After class, we spent time exploring the city before we headed home for dinner and either hung out with roommates/friends or headed back into town to explore the night life.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
There is so much to do in the city it feels like there is never enough time to do it all. Some of my favorite things were relaxing in parks, exploring small coffee shops hidden in side streets, walking the Naschmarkt, and of course going swimming in the Danube to escape the summer heat.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
I stayed in a small but very new apartment with 3 other girls. We were not too far from the city by public transportation and were in a nice neighborhood with small parks, shops, and restaurants. I loved the cleanliness of our apartment and being in a neighborhood surrounded by locals.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
Bring a rain jacket! I forgot to pack one and definitely wish I had brought one because the rain can be unpredictable sometimes and umbrellas aren't always practical, especially if you plan on exploring the nature and countryside. Also, go to a ball if you can! They are an incredible experience, like something out of a movie!
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
Traveling abroad has impacted me in ways I never expected. Of course, it was very insightful to meet people of different cultures and develop a greater appreciation for difference all over the world. The classes were taught in different styles than I was accustomed to and allowed me to be a more well-rounded student. The biggest impact from my time abroad is how I changed personally. Going to a new place without knowing anyone or knowing what to expect, I had to be open to meeting and forming relationships with people very different from myself. Going into the trip, I was very shy and unsure about making new connections with people but by the time I left, I gained a new confidence in my ability to interact with complete strangers and form bonds with others who I never would have expected to connect with. This has created a lasting impact and has given me new confidence in many aspects of my life.
Would you recommend IES Abroad Vienna Summer to others? Why?
Definitely! This program is great for anyone looking for a unique experience in a place that isn't your typical study abroad city. The staff is friendly and relatable (the staff is young and is a great tool for finding things to do) and the city is as beautiful as it gets.