I lived here as an exchange student for 6 months last year. I stayed with a host family in St. Poelten, the capital of Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria). Living in a foreign country, learning the language and experiencing a different culture truly opened my eyes to the world. Most Austrians I met were very friendly, fun-loving people who are proud of the beauty of their country. I visited various areas in Niederoesterreich, Vienna, Steiermark, the lake region in Oberoesterreich, Salzburg (City and surrounding area). The most beautiful place was the Wachau, a stretch of the Donau (Danube) River just west of Vienna. It is the only part of the river in Austria where mountains line both sides. This area is full of castles, ruins, klosters (like Stift Melk), and thousand year-old wine terraces—a truly gorgeous land.