I always like to say that I suffer from wanderlust. Since I can remember, I have wanted to see every inch of the world, something I believe began because of moving around at a young age. Therefore, study abroad was always in the cards for me.
As an international affairs major, going abroad was also a requirement. Salzburg, Austria became my choice due mostly to the fact that German is the language there. Though I studied German in high school, I have not gotten a chance to practice daily since then. Having the chance to learn by exposure was a great opportunity I could not pass up. My biggest goal is to become better at speaking, something I struggle with due to my introverted nature. There are only three people in my German class and I feel comfortable with them, making my goal easier to accomplish.
Overall, I am not really sure how I will be changed. This will be my fourth time living abroad, so fears and expectations are limited. I have learned through my travels that sometimes it is best to go with the flow, so to speak. I’m hoping I might become a little less shy and learn to just jump into things, but we will have to see if that actually comes about.
I am honestly most looking forward to being able to travel all around the continent. Austria is in the middle of Western and Eastern Europe, giving me the chance to experience the culture from two very different areas of historic relevance. I just want to go to places I may not have a chance to get to again, or at least not as easily.
