Where are you from? Tell us about yourself!
Hi, I’m Estephany! 🫶
I’m from Arequipa, Peru—often called “la ciudad blanca"—but I grew up in Lima. I studied Industrial Engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and lived some years with my big family and on my own during my last years there.
Apart from numbers, dance has always been a huge part of my life—I was part of two dance casts and completed an "Ausbildung" as a Latin dance teacher during lockdown.
I also spent some time in Cusco my last 7 months in Peru, helping my dad with his startups while working also in another small startup. Life in Peru was fulfilling—dancing, working, enjoying trips around Peru, going to the beach often, eating super delicious, family, friends, love. I had everything I wanted.
Still, there was something there telling me to move abroad, it was not my inner voice it was my big brother 😂, who had been living in Spain for 10 years for that time.
He kept encouraging me to explore life abroad - “if you like it, you stay. If you don’t, you come back. But you should give it a try COÑO” 😅.
At first, I resisted - I was super “caprichosa” with the idea of staying in Peru 😅 - but eventually, I felt a shift. One day, I started looking at master’s programs overseas, and that’s when I knew it was time to take the leap.
What city in Austria did you move to?
I Initially, I was considering moving to Canada or Germany. These two countries are very attractive for South Americans due to their strong education systems and opportunities. However, Austria popped up unexpectedly in my search, and I ended up loving the idea of studying and living there. I was definitely excited but also nervous.
I moved first to Steyr, Upper Austria. Then I did an Erasmus in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Now I’m living in Vienna and working in Linz - also in Austria.
I chose Steyr because of a master’s program I found while researching universities. The program really appealed to me, and the idea of living in a small town after spending my entire life in Lima, Peru’s largest city, seemed like an exciting change.
That's how, at the end of 2021, I ended up in Steyr, studying for a Master’s in Global Sales and Marketing.
Later, I moved to Vienna (back to a big city 😅), and I work in Linz. What attracted me is its international atmosphere and career opportunities (Another Deutsch Gym student, Ahmet, had a similar experience after moving to Austria).
For people from big cities, a 2-hour commute is nothing, right? You can sit on the train, study German, read a book, or meditate—it's perfect! 😅
Moving to a new country where I didn’t speak the language fluently was daunting. But the excitement of starting a new chapter, learning a new language, and immersing myself in a different culture outweighed the fear. It was a mix of emotions, but mostly, I was eager for the adventure.
Nowadays, I've fallen in love with this country and decided to stay.
How were your first 6 months Austria?
My first six months in Austria felt like having a constant headache, as a new language was being imprinted in my brain, and I also had to improve my English for my master’s studies. The job search took me nine months—it was a really long process.
I sent around 340 applications and received only six positive responses. Along the way, I’ve discovered many local bars, restaurants, and places to relax—especially in Vienna, near Donauinsel, which has become my favorite spot in the summer.
In the winter, I love visiting the Christmas markets (see our practice conversation topic on Christmas Markets), but for January and February, I’m still figuring things out—maybe my favorite place for those months is Barcelona! 😅 I’m a very social person, so yes, I’ve made a lot of friends.
They range from Austrians who love Schlager music (auffe aufn Berg und oba mit dem Ski 🎵—and yes, I’ve grown to like it too 😅) and speak in dialect, to others who are really into Latino music and culture, as well as people from all over the world.
Studying in Steyr and then living in Vienna has really broadened my network and given me different types of friends. This year has been a roller coaster for me, especially with the stress of job hunting. Since I started working, I feel calmer, but I’ve also been putting a lot of pressure on myself to give my best, knowing how hard it was to land a job.
But on the bright side—I love to dance! I’ve been able to share that passion with others, which helps a lot.In all honesty, this year felt like one of the worst years of my life, starting with my birthday, which was the most terrible one 😅.
But now, I feel like the roller coaster is going up, everything is becoming clearer, and I’m sure it will only keep getting better from here.
What are the cultural differences between Lima and Vienna?
At the beginning it felt that it wasn’t much of a cultural difference between Lima and Vienna, but here definitely is!
Starting with communication – We Peruvians tend to express a lot when something bothers us. On the other hand, I’ve noticed that Austrians often keep things to themselves and don’t always tell you directly what’s bothering them.
Next, social interaction – Spanish speakers, in general, tend to be louder 😅 (sometimes a bit too much), while Austrians are much more respectful of each other’s personal space.
For example, in a restaurant, you can easily spot the table of Spanish speakers versus the table of Austrians. On the other hand, in parties the centre of attention for Peruvians is the music is the one who makes you feel in the mood for partying; meanwhile, for Austrians is the good company and a good BEER.
Then, there’s the food – We Peruvians love to mix all sorts of flavors because, “why not, right? 😅” Meanwhile, a traditional Austrian might hate that kind of experimentation. But, of course, there are some who are totally open to it!
Supermarkets – What’s the deal with supermarket cashiers? Why does everything have to be so fast here? This is definitely a cultural difference. In Peru, you go to the supermarket and get greeted with “hello beautiful/my dear/precious, how can I help you?” Here, it’s more like a quick glance that says, “I’m in a rush, hurry up!”
Transportation – I have to say, I love how practical and convenient the transportation system is here. It’s so fast and comfortable to travel from one city to another.
But overall, I’ve learned to appreciate the beautiful aspects of my own culture, while also adapting to the wonderful things from this culture.
Now, I don’t feel fully Latina nor fully Austrian. I feel more like a citizen of the world, creating my own way of seeing and enjoying life :)
What is the cost of living in Vienna like?
Renting is cheaper than in other major cities. For example, you can find a WG (shared apartment) for around 350 euros and a flat for about 600 euros.
Food is definitely more expensive than in Spain but still cheaper than in the Nordic countries. As for going out, drink prices vary, but I don’t drink much alcohol—I’m more of a tea person 😅, and tea ranges from 3.5 to 6 euros.
There are job opportunities here, but they become fewer if you don’t speak the language. Austria is a fairly traditional country, so referrals from friends, family, or Austrian companies are highly valued when hiring.When it comes to universities, the tuition fees are affordable—for non-European citizens, it’s around 700 euros per semester.
Did you in enrol in a German language school in Vienna?
Yes, I studied intensively from February to May at Deutschakademie, and it really helped a lot (see our guide to learning German in Vienna). Nowadays, I speak both German and English.
At work, I speak English with some colleagues and German with others. With friends, I’m trying to switch to German, with a touch of dialect, because honestly, I love how it sounds—especially the dialects from Salzburg and Upper Austria.
At first, though, it was a bit challenging to speak German because locals often feel more comfortable speaking English.
When your German isn’t fluent, they tend to avoid speaking Hochdeutsch, especially in rural areas. However, in Vienna, which is very international, even Austrians tend to speak Hochdeutsch more often.
How has Deutsch Gym helped you?
The biggest benefit was realizing that I can actually speak the language, which really boosted my confidence.
Before, I was always hesitant to speak, worrying about making mistakes or not being understood.
But the intensive practice in the Deutsch Gym classes gave me the push I needed to finally start speaking.
It made me realize that perfection isn’t the goal—communication is. That shift in mindset has been a game changer for me.When I wasn’t working, I attended classes regularly and could really focus on improving my skills.
However, now that I’ve started working and commuting, finding the time to keep up with language practice has been a bit more challenging.
But I try to stay consistent in other ways, like listening to German podcasts, reading books in German or practicing with friends whenever I can.
What makes Deutsch Gym stand out for me is that it really focuses on helping you speak the language, which is, in my opinion, the most important skill to master when learning a new language.
Speaking regularly forces you to use what you’ve learned in real-life situations, which helps you improve much faster than just focusing on grammar or vocabulary alone.
That practical approach has helped me improve my German exponentially, and I’ve found that the more I speak, the more natural it feels.
If you want to boost your confidence like Estephany, try a 5-day free trial for our German conversation classes.
