before you go
all the information, none of the work!
It's all Deutsch to me...
Despite the fact that many courses at the schools in Vienna are offered in English, it would be a good idea to learn a little German before you leave. You can usually find instruction at your local high school, through private lessons (if you can afford it!), through self-paced learning (i.e. learning tapes or through reading) or through computer software. Translation websites are also available but are usually only limited in their usefulness.
Try these links for information:
www.systranet.com
www.languagetranslator.com
www.translation.net
Use your visa! (Not THAT one...)
It is important also to obtain a student visa if you will be studying in Vienna. This can be obtained at any Austrian embassy for free, and takes about two weeks. Here are some sites that may be of use:
www.austriaemb.org.au (Australia)
www.austria.org.eg (Egypt)
www.austria.org (USA)
www.vol.cz/AUSTRIA/botschaf/deutsch/botsch.htm (Czech Republic)
www.austriacom.or.th (Thailand)
www.bmaa.gv.at/embassy/uk/ (United Kingdom)
Medication
If you have to bring any prescription medications with you, make sure you have enough to last you the entire time you are there, with a little leeway just in case you decide to stay a little longer (or are forced to because of some wildcat train strike in Italy while you are travelling...). It would also be good to have a letter from your doctor confirming the necessity of this medication for you, otherwise you may find yoursefl turning it over to some surley customs officer when you arrive. In addition to this, make sure to bring enough over-the-counter drugs to last you a while too. The pharmacies in Europe are the only places you can get things like painkillers and stomach relievers--and they are always closed on Sundays and holidays! Just make sure that they are not illegal in the country you are visiting....
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/travel-medicine
www.travelhealthline.com
www.lonelyplanet.com/health
Although Austria does not usually require you to be vaccinated or tested before entereing the country, it is important to ensure your medical records and immunizations are up-to-date, thus minimizing the chances of anything happening while you are away. It is also important that you ensure that you have enough medical insurance to cover you in the event of a medical emergency while you are away from home. Hospital stays can be costly when you are not at home, and if you are travelling on a limited budget, they can be even more of an inconvenience!
If you need a doctor or dentist while in the city, the international student's office can usually recommend one. If not, you can always consult the friendly Vienna yellow pages (if you can find a phone book!)
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