Dear four months ago Anna,

Wow, this past semester has been an absolute whirlwind. Right now, you are probably starting to panic a little bit as the scariness of going abroad is finally sinking in. I want to tell you that, yes, it will be scary. Throwing myself into the deep end with this program may have been one of the scariest things I have ever done. However, now that I am writing you this letter in my final few days, I can wholeheartedly tell you that going abroad will be the best decision you have ever made. You will make some of the best friends you will ever meet. I want to encourage you to say yes to everything, especially at the beginning. That is the way you will meet people the fastest. Although, remember to take good care of yourself. Traveling every weekend will start to take its toll, but it will be so worth it. I would recommend traveling every other weekend because the city of Vienna is so fantastic you will want plenty of time to explore her as well. You have so much fun in store. Some of my favorite highlights have been experiencing Oktoberfest in my traditional Austrian dirndl, waltzing at a Viennese ball, learning how to ski in the Austrian alps, going on a gondola ride in Venice, and swimming in the Danube River. If I could go back, I would try to approach this experience with a more realistic outlook. Getting your footing, in the beginning, can be very difficult, which is okay. There will be times when you will be horribly overwhelmed, but it is getting through those times that you will grow in ways you cannot imagine yet. I would also tell you not to micromanage everything; some of the most fun you will have is letting go of the plans and letting the day take you where it wants to. You will also learn less German than you think you will. I would have immersed myself in the language more than I did if I could go back and do it again. Before you begin, I advise you to pack significantly less than you think you should because you will want to buy many souvenirs from all the fantastic places you will visit. Then, four months later, you will be me trying to figure out how to fit everything in your suitcase to get it home. Comfortable shoes are imperative; your feet will thank you later. Overall, no matter the struggles you face during this journey, it will be the best you have taken so far, and enjoy every minute of it because it will go by quickly.

Sincerely,

Anna