First Impressions of Vienna

When I first landed in Vienna I was overwhelmed by how many different people were speaking German and the different ways in which they spoke it. After a surprise flight from Tokyo (I originally thought I would be flying out of Denmark), I was exhausted and ordered a cup of coffee from the coffeehouse in the airport. My first time having a German conversation in Vienna, I was extremely flustered and fumbled around with my words. While my first few conversations were like this, I eventually got used to it and now conversations with the Viennese aren’t as scary. I love having the ability to constantly practice German – whether it’s by actually conversing with someone or hearing a mother talking to her son as she takes him to school in the morning.

All of the old buildings in Vienna also fascinate me. This city has such a rich history and it goes back so much farther than the US’s does. I love being around the different types of architecture. With every street corner I turn there always is an interesting building. I love the juxtaposition of the old buildings and the modern aspects of the city. 

The U-Bahn system in Vienna is super useful and easy to use. With only a few days, most of us were able to navigate ourselves using the U-Bahn. I also like how it is precisely on time and we can know when it’s coming thanks to the electronic signs. However, I do get a little freaked out when I see young children alone on the U-Bahn. It surprises me and makes me a little bit uncomfortable that so many children are walking around the city by themselves.

Bread is a big deal here. Everywhere I turn there is a bakery. When I ate out at a café for breakfast on the first day, the menu consisted of different variations of bread and spreads. It also amazes me how much better quality the food here is than in the United States. Everything here is made with real ingredients instead of a mixture of chemicals.

I am in love with Vienna. As strange as it sounds, I feel more comfortable here than I do in Seattle. Vienna definitely is one of the places I want to live in later in life. While the stores closing early and smoking everywhere will take some time to get used to, I love the people and the culture of this city.