The program is located at the Austro-American Institute of Education, run by the Weissgarber family for many years, in the heart of Vienna. During the August orientation session, students are introduced to Austrian culture — and study German language (an intensive language course for German language students, beginning level for non-language students) — in the beautiful mountain village of Dorfgastein. Upon the return to Vienna, students move in with their Austrian host families. Students study German language at the University of Vienna, near the Institute, with the remaining courses taught by faculty at the Institute. Across the street is the world-famous Vienna State Opera; with museums, theaters, and beautiful gardens just a quick bus ride away.
Grüß Gott? Grüß Gott readers! I have to admit something so unfortunate and sad- today was our last day of classes at the Austro-American Institute of Education, tomorrow the gang leaves to go home meaning that this is my last blog post. My semester ended today but in a couple days my family will visit me here in Vienna and we will travel around Europe together. After about two weeks, we head back to the States together just in time for Christmas.
I feel both sad and fulfilled about my time here. Of course I am going to miss being in Vienna and Austria as a whole. I will miss the people that have helped and supported us during our studies and I will miss the cultural traditions of Vienna I won’t get when I am home. However, I feel quite fulfilled by my time here. I don’t know how to describe it. It is almost like a pit in the bottom of my stomach, telling me that it is okay to say goodbye to the amazing experience I have had in Europe. These past few days I have tried my best to soak in every last moment hanging out with professors, seeing our favorite sites and eating our favorite foods one last time. I feel so content with my time here that I know the memories will stick with me forever.
A last day of class picture of Lizzie in front of the giant welcome sign in the Institute main hallway.
I believe that in life we all have different versions of ourselves and that while being here I have become a better version of me. Realizing that makes my heart jump with joy and smile as wide as I can. I think I have become a more confident and grateful person. I have tried my very best to step outside my comfort zone and try every experience presented to the gang and I. Being a student abroad inherently means that you are willing to be a risk-taker and be curious about the world around you. While being here, I have also pushed myself mentally to think more critically about the world around me and to immerse myself in Austrian culture.
Thank you for taking the time to read these blog posts. Although perhaps the posts didn’t highlight daily life in Vienna, you could learn about my experiences doing some really fun things! I truly believe that by traveling and being a part of other cultures than your own, you will be changed for the better. I hope you have gotten this sense from reading my posts. If you are thinking about studying abroad, just go for it. If you are like me, you won’t regret it.
My last day of school in Austria picture in front of the Institute’s sign. Remember my first day picture? I can’t believe how fast time has gone by!
Grüß Gott? Grüß Gott readers! This month the Linfield gang and I had the amazing opportunity to attend a special Austrian event. On a sunny Sunday morning, the gang and I took two trains and a bus to a town outside of the province of Vienna, called Perchtoldsdorf. The director of the Institute, Ingrid, is from this town and she invited us to come to her village and participate in the festival, “Hiataeinzug,” translating to watch guard parade.
A view of the Perchtoldsdorf bell tower from the village
For over 600 years, the community of Perchtoldsdorf has come together to express their gratitude for a rich wine/grape harvest. The vineyards are absolutely beautiful and although we didn’t see them at the time, Ingrid told us that scattered throughout the vineyards, there are small white cabins/cottages, where wine watch guards would sleep and live for a number of weeks while the grapes become ripe. These guards would make sure that people wouldn’t steal the grapes and would even shoot at them if they thought they encountered a thief. After the harvest, the guards come back to the village and everyone celebrates the harvest. Although, nowadays guards don’t really live out in these small cottages, but the community still comes together to celebrate.
When we got to Perchtoldsdorf, the streets were busy and bustling. I didn’t have any expectations going into the day, but I quickly realized that there were a ton of people present and the excitement was palpable. As we arrived there was a church service that was just ending. The festival starts with a sort of thanksgiving service that includes some really amazing music. Even though we weren’t able to make the service, we were able to hear some of that music as it was ending. It was so gorgeous, including Schubert and the like.
A photo of the beautiful outside of the churchLook how crowded the streets were during the procession!
With the service ending, we were able to meet up with Ingrid. With the end of the church service, comes the start of the processional. First comes the Hüter (literally “guardians,” more like the watch guards) on beautifully and festively decorated horses. Then comes the band that was inside performing during the service. Following the band is the heavy “Hiatapritschen,” a huge wooden pyramid decorated with leaves, ribbons, that is constantly being held and rotating, being held by a strong person. Ingrid told us that the Hiatapritschen is extremely heavy and two people need to stand on either side of it to make sure it doesn’t fall.
A photo of the beautifully decorated horses.The crowd watches the horses go byA banner of ribbons to signify the beginning of the processionThe Hiatapritschen about to go in the procession
After the service and the processional, everyone moves towards the stage and people on stage sing a bit, people give speeches, and then some people start to make fun of the prominent members of the village (like the mayor or priest). This is all done in good faith though and even though everything was in German and I could not understand, it was clear that this was both a comical and heartwarming event.
During this time, the gang, Ingrid, and I waited for the local taverns to open so we could get some delicious food. While we waited, we snacked on local desserts and sipped on the newest batch of wine that had been produced by the local vineyards. During this time we also decided to climb to the top of the bell tower (which is part of a historical defense tower) that Perchtoldsdorf has. When we got up to the top we had 360 degree views of the village and off into the horizon. It was so beautiful and I am so glad we were able to see everything in such an exquisite light.
Andrew and Lizzie enjoy some very fluffy cotton candy from a local vendorThe clock face of the bell towerThe beautiful view of Perchtoldsdorf and Vienna in the distance from the top of the bell tower.The beautiful forest and nature surrounding one side of Perchtoldsdorf seen from the top of the bell towerThe Linfield gang (Sage, Rachel, Andrew, and Lizzie) and Ingrid beam for the camera at the top of the bell tower in Perchtoldsdorf
After our time in the bell tower, Ingrid took us throughout the village to different restaurants where we first had a delicious meat goulash and then later some fried meats and potatoes. As well, since this was a festival to celebrate wine and the village’s heritage, we all drank wine to celebrate. Glasses of wine were incredibly inexpensive. Each glass was only about 3-4 Euros. Ingrid told us that this festival was a bit of an excuse for everyone to come together and drink heavily. Although I knew that drinking and alcohol are a big part of Austrian culture, I think that was the first time where I had been around Austrians that were heavily intoxicated. I will say, I think I heard German in its loudest form!
Lizzie enjoying a Rosé spritzerThe gang and Ingrid smile after sipping some wine
Most of the attendees of the festival were wearing tracht- or traditional Austrian clothing. For men this is typical lederhosen and for women- dirndls. Rachel and I had set out on a quest to find some dirndls earlier in the week to wear during the festival. During one of our classes another professor of ours had taken us to a shop that produces tracht. It was so fun to try on all the outfits. I was amazed, though, that the dirndls we were trying on started at 1000 Euros and the cost could keep climbing (we were able to find a great quality dirndl at a lower price at another store). A dirndl consists of a short blouse, a long dress (it can be other lengths too), and an apron. Traditional dirndl dresses often have corset-like tops and can be quite form fitting.
Many people in the city don’t wear tracht out and about. Most of the time, they wear them to special events or to work in the service industry. However, out in the mountains or in rural parts of Austria, people still wear tracht as their everyday wear. Ingrid told us that it was so special at the festival that people of all ages were wearing tracht- it meant that a cultural tradition was still intact.
Lizzie and Rachel smile wearing their dirndls!Lizzie smiling wearing her dirndl!
All in all, it was so great to be invited to spend time with Ingrid in her village celebrating something that is pretty uniquely Austrian. It was so fun to take part in an experience where everyone was happy and excited to do what we were there to do. We were so honored that Ingrid asked us to come and see something that was clearly very important to her. Gosh, it will be so hard to say goodbye to her- we have all formed such a strong bond with her! The event also highlighted how serious people take their traditions and just how important it is to keep these traditions going. It is so serious that it was inscribed in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Austria by the Austrian Commission for UNESCO in 2009. Each tradition listed on the inventory conveys the richness of Austria’s cultural heritage and strives to continue these traditions into the future.
Andrew and Sage walk into the night to the bus stop after saying “Auf Wiedersehen” to the festival.
Grüß Gott? Grüß Gott readers! One thing you should know about me is that I love traveling. Spending a couple years overseas as a child had an enormous effect on me. During that time, my family traveled around Asia, mostly (and some other places in the world), and this invigorated my love for travel.
I believe you can learn so much about yourself and the world around you from interacting with another culture. While studying abroad in Austria, the Linfield gang and I have tried to take advantage of the ease of traveling in Europe. It is so easy to find a flight, train, or bus that can get you to your destination that you could be in your desired country by nightfall.
Since knowing I would be studying in Vienna, I have said that I want to try to get to all of Austria’s neighboring countries. Although I have not completed this goal, I have made it to over half of its neighboring countries as well as two others. My journey across Europe has included Germany, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Czechia, and Greece (also Switzerland, Slovenia, and Croatia if you count just passing through). While our travels have been fun and more on the positive side overall, I have realized some important things that I want to share with you all.
ALWAYS, always, always check multiple times to make sure you have your passport with you! When Rachel, Sage, and I traveled to Greece, we woke up at 1:30 am to leave from my apartment for the airport together and Rachel realized she couldn’t find her passport. We ended up having to Uber to her apartment (public transportation had either slowed down or stopped for the night) and we waited outside her building for 20 minutes to see if she found it. She eventually found it in a drawer in her room, but during the time we didn’t know where her passport was, it was really nerve-racking. After that day, we all know to triple check to make sure we know where our passports are at all times. This way we would never have to go through a situation like that again.
Lizzie looking absolutely exhausted and stressed waiting on the sidewalk at 1:30 in the morning while waiting for Rachel to find her passport.
Make sure to research where you are going! When we headed to Greece, we didn’t do much research. We decided to stay on the island of Corfu after hearing that it was very beautiful and fun for young travelers. However, we didn’t realize that Corfu was actually quite a big island and that where we had chosen to stay was a bit off the beaten path. Although the village of Nissaki on the island was absolutely beautiful, it honestly wasn’t what we expected. It was small and rural, and not exactly something we had experienced before. If we knew beforehand the ins and outs of the island, I think our time in Corfu would have been much different and we would have come to the island with maybe some different expectations. We didn’t know the village would center around this very small beach, but once we settled in, we spent most of our time here and it was phenomenal!
While we didn’t know much about Corfu before arriving, we quickly saw its beauty, like in this picture of the sunrise looking out of Nissaki Bay, Corfu, Greece.
Plan your itinerary in advance! During our time in Europe, we spent time in Budapest and Florence. I have found that our experiences there were vastly different. I think one part of this is that when traveling to Budapest we didn’t have a concrete plan. We were more going with the flow and finding suggestions quickly online. Yet, with Florence, Sage and I sat down and talked and meticulously researched what seemed to be everything about the city. That way we were able to synthesize all the information we absorbed on the internet and then create an itinerary before we arrived. I think our trip then went much more smoothly and we were able to then be flexible with our itinerary if we wanted to do something else during the day.
Rachel, Lizzie, and Sage on the train to Budapest with no idea what they will be doing once they get there. Only pure (and maybe naive) joy is present on their faces.
Take advantage of cheap deals! Flights within Europe can be notoriously cheap. So cheap that sometimes you would only get to bring one bag with you on the flight. For example, we found €24 plane tickets to Greece. For our fall break (a full week off of classes), we had to take advantage of that! None of us had been to Corfu and we thought “well, let’s do it!” We were able to chill on the beach for 5 days because our flights were so cheap!
Even though the flights were cheap, the views (even at night) were priceless.
Don’t be afraid to try something new! One way that we traveled in Europe was on a Flixbus. It was a very cheap option to travel from Florence to Vienna. Although there were many bumps in the road during that travel day (which may or may not have included one of us almost getting stuck in Bologna, Italy, and not just because it was a bus ride), Sage and I were excited to go on the bus. We knew that the conditions were not ideal but when can I say that I was 20 taking a night bus throughout Europe ever again?
A blurry picture of the Flixbus pulling up to the next destination on its journey (where Sage and I got on). This is the only picture I have from that whole experience…there were some traumatic and frustrating moments I didn’t want to remember in the end!
Have fun! A saying that I have lived by my entire time in Vienna and Europe is “you will never be 20 in Vienna again.” This has really made me feel like it was okay to have fun and enjoy life. At times I really felt guilty being abroad. My family and friends were at home and weren’t getting to experience what I was experiencing, but again I am never going to be 20 in Vienna again, so why not make the most out of things?Lizzie floating in the Ionian Sea, feeling at peace and enjoying life.
Grüß Gott readers! In this blog post, I want to tell you about my experiences with Austrian cuisine. It is something that I think is essential to Austrian culture and honestly, it is a bit underrated. Austrian cuisine often consists of fried, hearty food usually with some sort of grain on the side and fresh vegetables with dessert or sweets as a must-have.
Traditional Austrian breakfasts vary from person to person. However, I have noticed that eating cold cuts and cheese with bread and some sort of topping in the morning is very typical. I have been enjoying a traditional Austrian bread roll in the morning topped with a local jam and a bowl of cereal. Many Austrians enjoy pastries in the morning with a coffee or tea. Walking through the streets of Vienna there are tons of small shops that specialize in selling delicious pastries you can take to go with you on the subway or tram. It is hard to stay away when you smell the delicious aroma of baked goods while walking down the streets!
A basket of Kaiser Semmel rolls. These rolls are popular breakfast foods; they originated in Austria, and are inexpensive at grocery stores.A selection of cold cuts, butter, and spreads. Although not taken at breakfast time, this selection is what would typically be present at a “traditional” Austrian breakfast.
Both lunch and dinner are quite similar. Many people eat more than one course for their meal. This can include an appetizer course, entree, and dessert (or a combination of these courses). Something you will find on the menu of a traditional Austrian restaurant is frittatensuppe. This is a beef broth soup that has herbs and sliced savory pancake strips. Sometimes instead of the pancake strips, you will find the broth with hearty bread dumplings. It is so filling that sometimes I will only get this as my entree. It is also perfect after a cold day of walking through the city. Entrees typically also include an ample piece of meat. It depends on the restaurant, but the type of meat could be veal, turkey, pork or chicken.
Frittatensuppe (a beef broth based soup with herbs and sliced savory pancake strips)Frittatensuppe (a beef broth based soup with savory dumplings)
For a main entree, what I recommend to all people who eat meat is Wiener Schnitzel. This is something that Austria is known for and is a popular dish among locals. In a traditional Austrian restaurant, Wiener Schnitzel is a focus point on the menu. Wiener Schnitzel is made up of a thin, breaded, pan-fried meat cutlet. Typically, the cutlet is veal, but veal is often more expensive than other meats, so turkey or chicken is becoming more and more common on menus. Served with the Wiener Schnitzel, parsley potatoes or thick cut potatoes are expected or some sort of salad. My favorite Wiener Schnitzel that I have eaten has come with a sweet cranberry sauce on the side. It gave the dish a sweetness that was desperately needed with the substantial fried taste. A lemon wedge is expected as well to cut down on that rich decadent taste of the fried meat. If you come to Austria and don’t have Wiener Schnitzel, I am not sure what you are doing with your life! It is essential that you try it at least once. Even so, I personally cannot eat too much Wiener Schnitzel in a week, because even though it is delicious, it is so savory and rich.
Wiener Schnitzel with parsley potatoes on the side.
Alongside Wiener Schnitzel, other representative entrees often include potato-heavy dishes (like gnocchi), dumplings with meat or cheese, or some sort of stew like goulash. Of course, this is not every option that is available but just some of the conventional Austrian foods I have seen while being here in Vienna.
Käsespätzle (a hearty dish served in the Austrian Alps), which consists of noodles and lots of melted cheese and caramelized onions on top. Seen here before being eaten by the Linfield Gang in Dorfgastein
As for desserts, well let’s just say I am in heaven here when it comes to dessert. Austrians love their sweets. Ice cream, pastries, and cakes are popular everyday treats. Every cafe or restaurant you go to has desserts on the menu. There are also confectionaries and bakeries on every street. Delicious sweets are easily accessible here and it has been so fun getting to try out so many different treats. I have loved apple strudel, the heisse liebe (ice cream with hot raspberries as toppings), and maybe the most out of all- the pastries that include fresh strawberries or raspberries. Austrians also love mid-day tea or coffee with a sweet treat. The Linfield gang and I have taken part in this willingly and gladly!
A picture of the well-known Austrian cake- Sachertorte. It is layers of chocolate cake, chocolate glaze, and apricot jam. Delicious!A cup of chocolate and raspberry gelato from a local gelataria. Austrians love their gelato and ice cream!A picture of Lizzie’s favorite dessert, the Heisse Liebe (chocolate ice cream with hot raspberries), which translates to “Hot Love.”Lizzie smiling before diving into a vanilla and raspberry cake at the famous Viennese cafe, Aida.The famous dish, apple strudel (Apfelstrudel) with a side of whipped cream and cinnamon ice cream.
The last thing I want to talk about with you all is drinking culture in Austria. It is well known that in Europe and Austria the legal drinking age is young. People are exposed to alcohol at a much younger age than in the U.S. It is ingrained in Austrian culture to have a beer or glass of wine with dinner. Beer is quite cheap (not as cheap as maybe Czechia or Poland) and wine is readily available.
Vineyards and breweries are scattered through the Austrian countryside. It is not uncommon as well to see people drinking in public. It is legal to openly carry alcohol in Austria and It is also not uncommon to share a drink with a professor. Something that I learned pretty much immediately upon arriving here, is that in terms of a cultural thing, people do not drink just to drink. People drink to socialize, to gain common understanding, and learn about new refreshments available. As someone who doesn’t prefer the taste of either beer or wine, at restaurants I often order a soda or just stick to water. This has gotten me some strange looks and small quips from friends and professors alike. They don’t understand why I don’t order a beer with my dinner or try a glass of wine. However, this doesn’t mean that I have ever felt pressured to drink alcohol here. While drinking may be a part of Austrian culture, it is not a requirement and no one is obliged to drink with their meal. This is just something that should be thought about when going out to eat.
Andrew about to enjoy a local beer at a Dorfgastein tavern.Orange schnapps (on fire) presented to the Linfield gang as a gift after our dinner of Käsespätzle at a local Dorfgastein restaurant. Schnapps is a popular and typical alcoholic drink that Austrians consume.Homemade schnapps presented to the Linfield gang as a gift on the last night of our stay in Dorfgastein at our bed and breakfast. It was made by the host of our bed and breakfast from a type of tree. Schnapps is a popular and typical alcoholic drink enjoyed by many Austrians.
Overall, Austrian food is delicious. I don’t see it in the States. Although I knew the names of some Austrian dishes before coming here, I don’t think I had ever tried Austrian cuisine. As well, many Americans don’t know much about Austrian foods. This is incredibly sad to me since Austrian foods are so delicious and what I can only describe as comfort foods. The only thing I ask of you is that sometime in your life you try Austrian cuisine, which hopefully includes Wiener Schnitzel. Guten appetit (enjoy your meal, bon appétit)!
Grüß Gott readers! The Linfield gang and I (we have affectionately and comedically titled ourselves Mozart’s children, after, well, Mozart) have been in Austria for a little while now, it’s been a heck of a time. Although there has been a fair amount of laughter, happiness and amazement, and even though I have traveled before, nothing prepared me for the toll traveling took on me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. However, over the past month, I have had such a great time learning about Vienna.
I want to sincerely apologize for not publishing any blog posts recently. Something I have learned about myself is that writing is not the first thing to come to mind when I need to vent; it is usually listening to music or watching comedies on Netflix. However, now that I am settled in, I want to sit down, go back in time, and tell you readers about what I find as the most important characteristics during traveling.
Flexibility and adaptability. Nothing, in my opinion, is more important while traveling. Sage and I traveled from Portland to Vienna together and overall, it was a 30+ hours travel day. We were absolutely exhausted, hungry, dehydrated, and annoyed by the time we arrived at the Vienna airport. Then, after all that, I found out my checked luggage did not make it with me to Vienna. Although I was very frustrated by this, I was basically just done with the whole day, so I tried to not let it get to me. Everyone was so surprised that I wasn’t freaking out more, but I reminded myself that this often happens during travel and focused on figuring out my next steps.
This situation spanned the course of 6 days until my luggage was delivered to me. I had to adjust my expectations . Everyone (maybe naively) thinks that traveling is super easy and people are able to do it with so much grace. In reality, traveling is hard. Being so exhausted and losing my luggage, then having to navigate a big dinner the night of arrival with professors from our school and our host families was very overwhelming. Trying to listen to conversations around the dinner table and trying to enjoy my first Wiener Schnitzel was marred by the fact that I just wanted a shower to wash off the endless hours of travel and frustration.
Although the first week being in Austria could be personally characterized as pretty rough, I really tried my best to adapt to each day I was given. I realized how lucky I was to even be in Austria, even though I was so frustrated and tired. To get away from our travel troubles and lots of jetlag, we spent a week relaxing at the spa, going on hikes, eating delicious Austrian food, and generally just getting to know each other better in the small alpine town of Dorfgastein. Two of our professors from the Institute and a young man who worked at the Institute came along with us and they helped introduce us to this new culture.
It was such an exciting time! Every day, we did something fun and ate the most delicious food. I realized how scrumptious Wiener Schnitzel and traditional soups are. We were also constantly outside or surrounded by nature, which infinitely boosted my mood. As a group, we did many walks and learned about the environment around us. Even though I was upset by my luggage situation, I could count on both nature and the group to cheer me up. After a while, I was less stressed about what was going on and I could enjoy the beauty and newly-found friends around me.
Austria has been great so far, even with all the twists and turns. I can’t wait to write to you next time about the cultural differences I have noticed between the U.S. and Austria.
Auf Wiedersehen for now! Lizzie
Wait! Wait!!! Before we part, let’s look at some fun photos from this time!
From left to right; Andrew, Rachel, Sage, and Lizzie beam at the camera after arriving in Vienna after their over 24 hour travel dayA quick snap of an assortment of Austrian chocolates from the village of the Institute’s director, given to us as a welcome treat at our welcome dinner.A picture of Lizzie’s first Wiener Schnitzel- a traditional Austrian dishLizzie’s bedroom in ViennaWalking into the Institute for the first time and seeing this poster welcoming us!Lizzie smiling for the camera in Dorfgastein wearing clothes bought from TKMaxx after her luggage didn’t show up!From left to right; Sage, Rachel, Lizzie, and Andrew smile for the camera in front of a museum/exhibition dedicated to learning more about the environment and Austria’s national parks.From left to right; Sage, Andrew, Rachel, and Lizzie smile in the pouring rain in front of a beautiful waterfall on a hike.From left to right; Ingrid (Director of the Institute) and Lizzie take a selfie on a walk back to their BnB after a traditional Austrian dinner in Dorfgastein.The Linfield gang, professors Ingrid and Elisabeth, friend and coworker Moritz, and farmworkers pose for a picture with freshly made sausage and schnapps after taking a tour of an organic farm about an hour hike outside of Dorfgastein.
Grüß Gott? Grüß Gott readers! According to my friends who have been to Vienna and my English-to-German dictionary, this is a common greeting in Austria and originally meant “God bless you.” In one month from today, I will be traveling to Vienna to study abroad until December and I will most likely be using this phrase daily. If you don’t know me or haven’t seen me around campus, I would like to take the time to introduce myself in this first blog post. My name is Elizabeth Arnold, but everyone calls me Lizzie. I am going into my third year at Linfield and I am a history major with a potential double minor in Latinx Studies and Anthropology. I work for the History Department as well as the Archives on campus and I am involved in a few clubs when I am not working. I love music, reading, hiking, dogs, learning, exploring, traveling and I am so excited to study in Austria and learn more about the country. My family has deep ancestral ties to Austria and I have always been fascinated by World War II, which has been interwoven into the fabric of Austria’s modern history.
As a student who goes to a small, private, liberal-arts college, I have recognized that I have a lot of privilege. Part of this privilege is the option to study abroad with countless places and topics of study to choose from. Growing up, my family lived abroad in Singapore for a couple of years. That experience infused my life with a fascination with other cultures and learning about traditions and perspectives different from my own. When choosing a college to attend, I based the choice on certain criteria, one of which being the school’s study abroad program. Something that intrigued me about Linfield was the wide variety of interesting and educational programs to choose from in the International Programs Office. Linfield has already proven itself in this regard. During Jan Term 2023, I took part in the course going to New Zealand. Alongside two professors, 12 of us students learned about endemic New Zealand plant life and the current political landscape in regards to the environment. We even backpacked over 50 miles putting together everything we learned. Even though I have traveled abroad before, my professors during this month taught me so much.
Something I will take with me from New Zealand and my professors (hi bestie John and bestie Pat!!) is writing down everything in a journal. I don’t think I scribbled enough observations, quotes, or notes from that month. Now, I am ready to record everything during my time in Austria. Even if it is the pattern on the leaves outside my bedroom window, you can count on it being in my journal (and maybe possibly in this blog). I hope to use this blog as another way to communicate my thoughts and feelings to an audience outside my close friends and family. I also hope you will continue with me on this journey.
In these journals my professors asked us to write in, they recommended coming up with a cast of characters, or people we interacted with during our course. Our cast included everyone from our class, one of our professor’s kids, plus the people we met along the way- like our hilarious bus driver or the quirky nature guide we met. In every journal entry I updated our cast of characters to include these new people. I found this a great way for me to organize my thoughts and not forget the people who accompanied us on our journey through New Zealand. Plus this way I could also have a clear picture in my mind when I look back on this experience in 10, 20, 30 years. I aspire to include a cast of characters to everyone in my blog posts, as if the people I meet are a common thread through my journey.
As of right now, there are four people in my cast of characters. This includes Andrew, Rachel, Sage, and myself. We are the students that make up the 2023 study abroad semester to Austria. Below I have inserted a photo of the four of us so you have an idea of who I (presumably) will be blogging about often. Although we only met a few months ago, we have already formed a group rapport, texting often and making sure each other is in the know about all things Austria. As I get to know the three of them this upcoming semester, I have faith you will too through this blog.
From left to right: Lizzie, Sage, Rachel, and Andrew smile for the camera at an orientation event for all students studying abroad.
In exactly one month, I am leaving home for Austria, where I will be living, studying, and exploring during my fall semester. Now that I know who my host family is, I have my visa, and I have started to gather my belongings to start packing, it is really starting to get real. Although I am a bit scared and anxious, I know those smiling people in the picture above will be there for me, as well as the support staff in Austria and my friends and family back home. I will have my knowledge from living overseas and my course in New Zealand.
Honestly, I am looking forward to everything, even though the nerves are there. I mean, who gets the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Vienna for a semester?
One of the amazing aspects of studying abroad is the ability to travel wherever. Even in these dark times of the pandemic, so long as the appropriate precautions are taken, traveling is heavily encouraged! I have had the special privilege to travel several times since my stay out here has begun and it has led me to understanding so much of the rich and diverse culture that is right around the corner here! I mean, travel in any direction and things start to change. I have been to the Czech Republic, Poland and I even found myself in Bulgaria! I emphasize the word privilege because these countries and the cities and/or small towns I have found myself in, have opened my eyes not only to the general culture but also, the family values, religious values, burial traditions, and so much more!
My first excursion, if you will, was to Prague in the beginning of the semester. It was only 6 hours away by train and once a part of the Austrio-Hungarian empire, but my goodness how quickly things can change. One of my colleagues quickly made the side remark that people were already starting to dress more alternatively here. The Bohemian tradition still runs very deep and within five minutes of getting off the train it was explicit. The history here ran twice as deep. From Old Town to the Jewish Quarter and all the way up to the Prague Castle – this city, like many others, holds a plethora of stories to tell.
Bohemian street music in Prague.
My second excursion was to Bulgaria over my fall break. Another one of my colleagues and Linfield student has family there and we had the treat of being able to stay with them. Two hours outside of the city of Sophia, there is located the small town of Troyan. It is filled with tiny, quaint farms that are blocked side by side with little romantic courtyards filling the middle. Here I grew a stronger understanding of the Orthodox Church and how that really aids in creating the fundamentals of the family structure here. This is something I will cherish.
We were able to see one of the oldest monasteries in Bulgaria, learn some of the brutal history behind religious wars and struggle and see some of the old remnants of the Eastern block from the late portion of the 20th century.
Chris and I (Dmitri) standing in front of one of the oldest monasteries in Bulgaria.
Third, was my recent trip to Poland. Much like Troyan, the signs of the Eastern block can still be seen. However, we spent the majority of our time in Krakow, a prospering city that mostly went untouched by the fabled War. This trip was primarily centered around the Jewish population and included a very hard, yet very needed, trip to Auschwitz. We also had the lovely opportunity to attend traditional Polish music performances. (Which if you have never listened to it- DO IT -RIGHT NOW. You can thank me later.)
A traditional band playing in the streets of Krakow.
Traveling here is vastly different to the United States. Sure, you may get some different aspects of our own culture as you go state-to-state or town-to-town, but it all varies so quickly out here it truly can make your head spin.
This week we’re going to do a very minor deep dive on a very special tradition over here in Austria that my colleagues and I had the special privilege of both witnessing and simply touring; a farm (Bauernhof). But farming is not so similar to the way we do it back home, where on average one of our typical farms encompasses roughly 444 acres, Austrian farms average maybe 55. The size and function of the farming caters to the luscious mountain sides we romanticize, the Bergbauernhof. This style of farming is placed on steep slopes that run into the mountains. But more fascinating is that of the Alm.
The alm is an area further up in the mountains that is mostly for hosting the livestock between May and September. As fall begins to set in; the families and others helping on the Bergbauernhof herd the animals back to the farm at the base. This is an incredible sight to see. Folks wearing traditional Trachten running alongside a herd of sheep or, if you’re lucky, cows. When they get all animals home, they hold festivities to celebrate both the survival of the animals and a good year. The ‘lucky’ reason I mentioned above, in light of the cows, is that they in particular wear a celebratory collar with a large bell at the end. This is where the Sound of Music actually (kind of) got Austria right: the hills are in fact alive with music.
One of the cows that had just returned from the alm post-Almabtrieb (literally means: Alm down herd)A herd of sheep on their Almabtrieb that actually blocked off the road we were trying to drive up.
Festivities aside, another differing factor here is that of the care which goes into the production of everything that comes out of these farms. Austria’s regulations on food are actually quite strict but ensure the greatest quality. They produce meats, cheeses, eggs, schnapps, you name it; and with the official “AMA” stamp on the produce, you can literally trace an egg back to the coup it came from! The Bergbauernhof is also a strong attraction for tourism. Keep that in mind if you ever find yourself out here. After eating some of this food, you WILL NOT regret it.
One of the many hens at Schmaranz posing for a quick photo shoot.Eggs with the codes one can use to trace where they came from.AAIE Director, Hermann Weissgärber holding up a carton of eggs from Schmaranz, a Bauernhof we visited in the Gastein Valley.
Over the course of two weeks, I have been wondering what to write my first blog post about. Should I do a quick deep dive on agriculture? An excerpt on moving in with a host family? The night life that is so popular here in Austria? The Austrio-American Institute itself? We can tackle these in the weeks to come. But as I have struggled with deciding how to introduce this, I have noticed myself adapting in certain ways to the etiquette and cultural norms around me and I feel as though this would be worthwhile information to anybody thinking about studying abroad.
Before you decide to make the, truly, life-changing decision to take that leap of faith for a month, semester and/or year; take the time to look at how you carry yourself at home. Now compare that to how you carry yourself around your superiors; whether that be in an academic sense or a work environment. There are different means in which we choose to present ourselves and our behavior. This will only be amplified moving into a genuinely foreign land. Practices are different. But as a student abroad; you are inherently expected to try and blend in.
Now the question may arise; where is he going with this? Something as simple as good table manners can be the beginning to blending in with your environment. Over here in Austria, dinners are much more different than at home. It is not just a meal. It is a time to converse. A pause on the day to just talk.
Our study abroad group in Austria enjoying pizza with some of the AAIE folks.
Sure, each household has their own expectations. But here, those differences can separate you entirely. Head/elbows on the dinner table? No go. Feet on the empty chair across from you? Big no go. The honor system does not just apply to the public transit here, it is much more deeply embedded. My overall point is that understanding what the new people around you subconsciously expect will help you so much!
My final weeks in Vienna were probably some of the most bittersweet moments. With finals being close and classes being almost over, we took this opportunity to do more cultural things in Vienna (which, there is ALWAYS many to choose from.)
SPÖ Chairwomen Rendi Wagner speaks alongside the rest of parliament.
There was this hearing at parliament and we were lucky enough to sit in and listen to the Austrian parliament. Though our German wasn’t exactly good enough to understand the politicians, it was fun to see all the politicians that we’ve been learning about for months in real life.
Art on display before the show
The next thing we did was an absolute must in Vienna – the Vienna State Opera! The four of us got all dressed up for the event and even though the show was all in Russian, they provided each seat with a screen where it would translate the show into your desired language. It was great to finally see the inside of a building I passed hundreds of times on my way to class.
Our farewell party at the institute was a fun way to say our goodbyes to institute staff, professors, language assistants, and other students at the institute. We took lots of photos and it was hard to say goodbye to the institute and the people who helped us with so much in our semester abroad.
Legendary sorority squat photoleft to right: Gretel, Delaine, Kara, me, Anna, Hermann, Wolfgang, and DaneOur professor Heinz Kröll; this was his last year teaching (or so he says)Amazing chocolate cake at Cafe Central!
With finals being over, we took the final days in Vienna to do some of the touristy stuff we had left for last. Delanie and I finally waited in line to get into the famous Cafe Central and I can definitely say it was worth it!
On our final day in Vienna, we went ice skating at Rathausplatz. It was my first time ever ice skating, but luckily Delanie and Dane were good at supporting me while I got used to the ice. Melissa, a participant from the Austria program in the year before also joined us. It was great to exchange experiences and talk about the things we missed from back home.
Trying to keep my balance while we took a photoFinally got the perfect picture after help from the ledge
Studying abroad in Austria has been one of the best experiences of my life. Linfield could’ve not partnered with a better institution, AAIE is amazing and the people that work there really care about giving students the best experience possible.
My host dog, Pitu
My host family was amazing and I will forever have that connection abroad.
Vienna itself is a city full of culture, history, and art. If you are considering studying abroad here, do it! You won’t regret it.
