As I watch the wildflowers sway in the summer breeze along Vienna’s walking paths, I find myself reflecting on the past few weeks—an experience filled with curiosity, challenge and connection. From listening to The Marriage of Figaro in a Viennese opera house to rafting down the Danube River, our class excursions have offered a truly immersive introduction to the city.
The course, focused on cultural memory and urban life, uses Vienna as its classroom. Some of our most memorable lectures have taken place not in a traditional room but outside—seated in a shaded park or beside a historic building, learning about the past as we stand in the middle of it.
One of the most memorable experiences so far was attending The Marriage of Figaro at the Volksoper Wien. Before the show, we had a lecture on Mozart’s life and work, which helped contextualize what we were about to see. I’m not a classical music expert, but it was fascinating seeing Mozart’s work mixed with a modern interpretation. Sitting in that historic opera house, surrounded by locals and visitors alike, I felt connected to a tradition much larger than myself.
That said, our rafting trip along the Danube River surprised me differently. As I am not usually an athletic person, it pushed me out of my comfort zone. But as we learned about the river’s evolving role in Vienna’s history and listened to our guide share knowledge about native plants and birds, I felt a growing appreciation for the natural environment—not just here in Vienna, but everywhere. It was a reminder that cultural memory isn’t only found in monuments or music, but also in landscapes and ecosystems.
Of course, language learning has been its own adventure. Every weekday begins with German class at 9 a.m.—an experience I was initially nervous about. Picking up a new language in such a short period felt daunting, but our professor made the process fun and approachable. One of our lessons involved playing Battleship to help us master the pronunciation of letters and numbers, and it’s easily been one of the most unexpectedly fun ways I’ve ever learned.
While the academic components have been rich, some of my favorite moments have come during quiet, everyday observations. One evening while walking home, I stumbled upon an open-air musical performance in the park.
Even though I couldn’t understand all the lyrics, I found myself drawn in by the atmosphere—the costumes, the melodies, the joy of people gathering together. Watching the opera unfold in a different language, I was reminded that emotion and storytelling can transcend language. There were people of all different ages sitting on the grass, sharing a moment of unexpected beauty.
As the program continues, I look forward to diving deeper into Vienna’s history, architecture and art. But more than anything, I’ve come to value the balance this experience offers: structured academic exploration alongside moments of personal discovery. Every day brings something new to learn—sometimes from a textbook, sometimes from a tree, a concert or a conversation.
This post was contributed by Angela Santos, a Global Ambassador for Summer 2025. Angela is a senior studying abroad in Vienna, Austria.
