First Working Holiday Visa Awarded at the Embassy

Virginia Myers (left) and Ambassador Petra Schneebauer.

Photo: Austrian Embassy Washington

Virginia Myers, a native of Virginia and a recent graduate of Wake Forrest University, was the first applicant to be awarded the newly established Working Holiday visa at the Embassy of Austria. On the occasion, Ambassador Petra Schneebauer congratulated Ms. Myers and asked her about her upcoming plans in Austria:

What are your plans for the Working Holiday Program in Austria?

I believe that the best way to find myself as a recent college graduate is to try living somewhere new; a place radically different from both my hometown and my small college town. Austria, my favorite country to which I have ever traveled, is where I hope to formulate these new transformative experiences.

With the Working Holiday Program in Austria, I plan to immerse myself in Austrian culture. While I hope to live in Vienna, I will commit myself to traveling around Austria to get a better sense of the nation as a whole. I hope to secure a position working for an art gallery, celebrating the accomplishments of Austrian artists, and to volunteer with the Vienna Museum. Alternatively, I hope to attain a position within an international organization like the IAEA to better serve my greater international community from a perspective outside of my American culture. I also plan to take German language courses at night and meet friends through taking yoga classes throughout the city (a pursuit in which I am passionate about, as I work towards becoming a yoga instructor).

What motivated you to go to Austria?

I have visited Austria twice throughout my life. My first experience with the country was a trip to Vienna. I was captivated by the feeling of community which permeated throughout the city during public events, the commitment to sustainability through public transportation, and the beautiful works of art I witnessed in the Albertina. My second experience in Austria was my trip to the Alps. While within Vienna, I experienced the modernity of Austrian cities, the Alps offered an entirely different experience. I connected with nature in a way I never have before, and was constantly stunned by the natural beauty that surrounded me. The Alps quickly became a core memory for me; I was stunned by the way the grass is not green, but imbued with so many different colors of wildflowers.

I am motivated to return to Austria for a year because it fundamentally changed who I am and how I want to live in just two weeks of being there. I believe the opportunity to work in Austria for a year will leave me with countless memories and a different perspective on life that will enrich my future years.

What are you most looking forward to in Austria?

What excites me most about my year-long experience in Austria is the opportunity to learn more about the Austrian people and the culture that makes the country so great. In two weeks, I experienced the beauty of both Vienna and the Alps. What my short stays did not allow was the ability to connect with the Austrian people. Within my lifetime, I have learned that it truly is the people which make the place. Thus, I hope to take German lessons and really commit myself to meeting members of the Austrian community. Furthermore, I hope my year in Austria will allow me to better connect with the culture of my favorite country in the world. I will take full advantage of the museums, the food, and the nature that will surround me throughout my stay.

If you are interested in applying for the Working Holiday program in Austria, please follow this link for more information.