Day 1. On June 30th, 2025 I left for Vienna and met up with everyone else who was on the exchange to Austria. There was Alex from Tazmania, Patty from Taiwan, Alistair from Northern Ireland, Tija from Slovenia, Lynn from Sweden and Elmeri from Finland. We got to know each other at the Landjugend office in Vienna and learned about what to expect from our exchange from the members of the Austrian Landjugend. We were led by Fabian, Christiane, Daniela, and Eva through the city and got to see the Hapsburg Palace, the Parliament Building, the Heroes Square, St Charles Church, St Stephens Cathedral and the Opera House. We were told that the Landjugend held their 70th anniversary in the heroes square much to the confusion of all the tourists. In the evening we went to a restaurant and shared authentic Austrian food such as Schweinebraten, Zwiebelrostbraten, Käsespätzle, Spinatknödel, Wiener Schnitzel, and Tafelspitz. For dessert we had Kaiserschmarrn, Apfelstrudel, and Sissi Palatschinke.
Day 2. We got to see the Schloss Schonbrunn which is where the emperor and empress Joseph and Sisi spent their summers. It held a beautiful garden that had many statues including the fountain of Neptune and a zoo. We then walked up to the Glorietta Schonbrunn, which is an impressive structure that overlooks the city. On our way up we stopped for ice cream at a vendor called ‘Eis’ which literally translates to ‘Ice Cream’. The vendor started out as a dairy farmer who decided to branch out into selling organic ice cream. It has become very successful and is a favourite among the locals. We then took a horse and carriage ride around the castle grounds.
In the afternoon, we all gathered our things and went to the train station where we all went in different directions to meet our first host families. I took the train to Voitsburg in the state of Styria to meet Angelika Spari. After a mixup on the train where I couldn’t figure out how to open the train door, I was picked up in the town and got to meet Angelika’s family. She has 2 brothers, and her mom and Oma live in the same house at the top of a ‘small’ hill. Our dinner was sliced meats and cheeses with black bread and a pumpkin oil spread. I was then shown where I will be sleeping the next few days at their neighbours cottage which was only a few steps away from their place.
Day 3. On Wednesday, Angelika took me to the city of Gratz. It was a short train drive away and we toured around all day. We got to see the Mur Insel which is an island that was turned into a cafe/ stage with glass walls that gave a cool perspective along the river Mur. Then we went to the Mariahelfkirche and got to listen to some worshipers singing hymns. A few blocks away was the Town Square and a public park. We then went to the University greenhouse where they had 6 different climates and had plants and trees from around the world. We then toured the University which was very cool. It was empty as most students were away for the summer break and we got to explore the different rooms. During the first world war, the courtyard was actually used to grow potatoes and there was a picture that showed the people from the city harvesting the crop. We had pizza for lunch and then went up to the Schlossburg. It was an impressive fort that was built in the 1400s and held a giant clock tower that overlooked the city. Underneath was a tunnel that was built in the second world war by prisoners of war but is now used as a place to cool down from the summer heat and has a kids’ ride and a concert venue. In the evening, we met up with some of Angelika’s friends and went to a latin music festival where her friends showed off their tango skills. We got on the last train back to her home town and retired for the night.
Day 4. On Thursday I got to climb my first mountain. Angilka and I met up with her friend Bianca and went to Mount Reppobet. It took us 2.5 hours and it was a [perfect sunny day with the temperature at the bottom of the mountain being 27 C and around 21 C at the top of the mountain. We passed by some cows grazing and at the top was a bunch of mountain bees lazily flying around. We had lunch at a Hutte where we had sliced meats and cheese and bread with pig fat spread. It was very good and very filling. The owner of the Hutte was a woman who’s in charge of maintaining the area and the cattle on the mountain. She serves food and drinks as an income. Since she has a busy schedule, she only serves food that can be quickly served and doesn’t need to be cooked. The water comes out of the mountain at certain points called Kreppe’s. Since it has been so hot and dry for the past few weeks, some of the Kreppe’s have dried up.
We made our way down the mountain and then checked out the Heldenburg. It is a massive stable that has its own castle and breeds Spanische Hofreitschule horses. These horses are born black but turn white as they get older and the males are trained on the mountain to strengthen their ankles and then sent to Vienna to train around crowds and are used for ceremonies, and touring tourists around. We then went to a unique church in Barnbach that was designed by Friedrich Hundertwasser, who hated symmetry and built the church to look crooked and celebrated religions from around the world.
We said goodbye to Bianca and I had my final dinner with the Spari Family as I was leaving to my next host family tomorrow morning. I had schnitzel and roast potatoes and we had apple cake for dessert. The people I have met so far have been very friendly and hospitable. In the first couple days I have met so many people and got to see amazing sights. I wish I could stay longer but am also looking forward to seeing more of this beautiful country.
