by Clemens Reder (7GR):

On Tuesday, September 23^rd, we, the 7th grade, went on an excursion to the UNO-City and the Presidential Office in Vienna. We set off at 8 AM – everyone was a bit tired but still curious about what the day would bring.

Our first stop was the UNO-City, also known as the Vienna International Centre (VIC). Just seeing the modern, massive buildings made it clear: important things happen here. A United Nations employee guided us around the complex and explained that various organizations work together at the UNO-City to tackle global issues like climate change, poverty, or human rights. What impressed me most was the idea that people from over 100 countries work together here every day. It really felt international!

After that, we got to take a look inside one of the conference rooms where political debates normally take place. That was really cool – kind of surreal to think that decisions about issues affecting the entire world are made here. The huge building itself was also impressive, especially because it was so well secured. I really felt like I was visiting a place of global importance.

After a short lunch break, we continued to the Presidential Office, located in the Hofburg. There, we had the chance to learn a bit about Austrian politics and take a look at the working spaces of the Federal President. The Hofburg is much more magnificent and historical than the UNO-City, which made for a nice contrast. The rooms were filled with portraits of former presidents, and you could really feel the history of the place.

What surprised me the most was the fact that the Federal President actually doesn’t have as much power as I thought. He mainly has representative duties, but he is still seen by many as a moral figurehead. At the end of the tour, we were also told how a state visit is organized – pretty complicated, but interesting to hear nonetheless.

At around 3 PM, we made our way back home. I really enjoyed the excursion because I felt like I learned something about both Austrian and international politics. The UNO-City especially left a big impression – who knows, maybe one day I’ll work in such an international environment too!