My name is Ben Bills and I am from Naples, New York. During my Junior year at St. Lawrence, I decided that my undergraduate career would not be complete without a semester abroad. So, I decided to travel to Vienna, Austria. During my time abroad, I lived in the 7th district of Vienna - Neubau. Growing up on a farm in western New York, and going to school in the North Country, the shift to an urban setting in Central Europe gave me the most incredible culture shock. I have lived away from home before, yet while living in Vienna I was exposed to so many different challenges (not to mention the language barrier), that I had never faced here in the North Country.
Not knowing much about Austrian history, I initially chose to study abroad in Vienna because I thought it would be a great jump-off point to explore Europe. It’s true, throughout my trip, I was able to visit 9 different countries. However, I had no idea how much there was to explore in Austria alone. My favorite class I took while abroad was called the History of the Hapsburgs. The course opened my eyes to the immense history that had taken place beneath my very feet, and really allowed me to appreciate Austria much more.
While in Vienna, I also learned a bit of German, and took classes about the origins of the European Union and in Entrepreneurship. From our Orientation program, which took place in the Austrian Alps, to the 10-day trip my class took throughout Eastern Europe, I am so very grateful I decided to go to Vienna. I hope to once again live in Vienna after I graduate. It was an experience I will never forget!
Best,
Ben
