Spring Break in Vienna

Last year the Wendling family had the opportunity to travel to India.  The purpose of our trip was for Rosanne to get the training that she needed as CAS Coordinator for GSIS and Kevin had training in the Diploma Program. A result of this trip was not only a memorable time experiencing Indian culture and seeing many historical sites in Hyberdad and Agra but also a contact that Rosanne made from Danube International School, Oliver Gubius.  Oliver is the CAS coordinator for DIS.

Over the past year Oliver and Rosanne have planned a CAS project for DIS and GSIS - an exchange trip between Korea and Austria, and so this past Spring Break 10 students, and 1 teacher - Ms. Risa Kim, from GSIS and all members of the Wendling family travelled to Vienna for an exchange trip.

After a 10 hour flight the group from GSIS arrive in Vienna where they meet Mr. Gobius and his students who were to host us for the week, and what a week it was.

For Rosanne this was her second time in Europe but for Kevin and the girls it was their first time.  At first glance Vienna is a city with many different types of Architecture - from Romanesque to Baroque to Gothic.  With modern buildings dispersed between Castles and Cathedrals.  

Such a diversity in surroundings was quite foreign to our group - in particular to our Korean students who are use to a very modern city and surroundings that for the most part are no more than 60 years old.

During our time in Vienna the students from GSIS were able to:


- meet with other students from the school

- understand their CAS projects - in particular the students from GSIS were able to learn about the social service system in Austria - a system that greatly differs from the one in Korea

- participate in various classroom activities

- hike in the Wine Country of Austria

- view the unique architecture

- visit the UN Headquarters in Vienna

- go to Jewish quarter of the city and see the memorial to the 60 000 Austrian Jews who perished in the concentration camps during the 2nd World War

- view the Schönbrunn Palace and Gloriette structure

- partake in some excellent food that included: Wiener Schnitzel, Sausage, Goulash, Sauerkraut, and much, much more

- visit a traditional "Easter Market"

The trip was amazing and very different from anything that the Wendling family had seen in Asia.  When Rosanne and Kevin first looked in teaching internationally they looked to Europe, but for many reasons it did not work out.  That being said, the opportunity to travel to Vienna with our family and students is something that we will not soon forget.

Education truly happens in many different ways and life can have many different teachers.  The Wendling family and the students from GSIS were able to learn from our friends in Vienna at DIS.  

More importantly we await them to return the visit to Suwon, Korea in the Fall of this year.  Preparations have already begun as this will be another first for GSIS.

Until our next Adventure...Tschüss!!