A fire grew in my soul for all of Austria Past Review

By (International/Global Studies., Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 09/08/2014 to 12/11/2014 with

AIFS: Salzburg - University of Salzburg

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that anything is possible with a drive. My life was edified with cultural expansion and understanding, gaining wisdom in challenging situations, letting patience cover me when needed, and recognizing that everyone has a purpose that they are seeking as well. This semester was a fairytale, and I experienced beauty that seemed impossible.

Review Photos

AIFS: Salzburg - University of Salzburg Photo AIFS: Salzburg - University of Salzburg Photo AIFS: Salzburg - University of Salzburg Photo AIFS: Salzburg - University of Salzburg Photo AIFS: Salzburg - University of Salzburg Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses are extremely interesting, very hands-on, and catered to the region. Course field trips were normal, and most of what you learned could be seen later while walking through the city.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff took care of every single need. They are amazing at their jobs, and they were so professional. It was very easy to feel like an adult with them, because they gave us a lot of responsibility without leaving us or being too smothering. I can only praise them!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was placed in a hostel in a Catholic church, in which there was student housing on the top floor. I lived with musicians from all over the world, and the location was ideal. You could walk right out of your door and be directly in the middle of the city.

* Food:

I personally have a dairy and gluten intolerance. Austria has an abundance of cheese, yogurt, and bread - all things that I can't eat. Since there was hardly any fresh fruit or veggies, I had a difficult time finding food that fit my allergies. Luckily there was one store that had gluten free food and soy yogurt, but not much else. I learned how to be comfortable with eating potatoes, rice, and meats quite often.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I learned German for many years before coming, so it was easy for me to meet people. For those who don't speak German, you are still in luck because basically everyone under 30 can speak English. I found a group of people with the same interests of Christian faith. Plus, we are offered a free sports class, so a bunch of people in our study abroad group took a sword fighting class!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It was very accessible. A nasty bug was in Salzburg while we were there, and many of us got sick. However, it was very easy to get to the doctors, get treatment for cheap, and the insurance was also a breeze, but the thanks goes to the staff!

* Safety:

Salzburg is extremely safe. Naturally, late at night, don't be a female walking around alone near the bars. I never feared my safety while waking around in Salzburg. Bike theft is common though!

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

2.5

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? On food, I spent about 100 Euros a week (due to allergies), and other expenses stayed around 25-50 Euros a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't buy in bulk! The food isn't covered in chemicals and it goes bad after a day or two if you are lucky. Find time to go shopping DAILY or every two days.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

5. I used my German to talk to locals, to translate for the Americans, for some of my classes, and whatever else I wanted to do.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Advanced German.
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Speaking what you know if helpful. If you only know how to say "thank you" in German, then say it in German. Use your skills whenever possible, if only it is a little bit. The locals will appreciate it, and you will see a growth in understanding.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The opportunies in Salzburg
  • The diversity of the people and locations
  • The people I have met form America, Austria, and International students
* What could be improved?
  • Less smokers please!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had learned more about Salzburg, music, and art before coming to a city filled with art and music.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Hitler und der Dritte Reich

Course Department: German
Instructor: Herr Neunherz
Instruction Language: German
Comments: This course was very challenging. The entire class was in German. The Nazis had a role in Salzburg and our course was able to do history walks through the city to see what the Nazis did while they occupied the city. We also saw what happened after Hitlers death and how the city remembers the victims. I had to write three short papers on three chosen stories from survivors in German, as well as a presentation in German to describe what my term paper was about. My paper was over 2,900 in German about the role of mothers in the Third Reich, with examples of the perfect Nazi woman and a Catholic mother saving 2,500 Jewish children.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not received my transcripts yet, but I expect no issues.
Course Name/Rating:

Sociology/History 312: Contemporary Austrian Culture

Course Department: Sociology/History
Instructor: Stefan Wally
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was challenging in the sense that learning about Austria included everything from politics, religion, history, sports, and more. There was a lot of information for the course, but it also equipped us to understand the country we were living in. Professor Wally worked previously in the state government of Salzburg, and he helped us understand the city of Salzburg more. He really challenged us by having us talk often in the course, and in the beginning of each class session, we were asked our observations of Austrians. We were assessed with either a paper or presentation, plus three exams and a final.
Credit Transfer Issues: My transcripts are being sent to my university.
Course Name/Rating:

Art 303: European Art and Architecture Renaissance and Baroque

Course Department: Art
Instructor: Marena Marquet
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was discussed as the best course to take for the program. It was a perfect mixture of remembering artists, styles, historical pieces, and more, and having the pleasure of going on field trips every week through the city, churches, and art museums. If we didn't volunteer to participate in the course, the professor would call on us. She expected us to describe what we see from what we learned, or in her words, "open your eyes and tell me what you see." We were graded on two tests, a final, attendance, and participation.
Credit Transfer Issues: My transcripts were sent to my university.
Course Name/Rating:

Music 302: Music from the romantics to present days

Course Department: Music
Instructor: Gottfried Franz Kasparek
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was not challenging, but it was very interesting. The content itself was not difficult, but for the tests, it was challenging remembering all the fine details. I loved this course simply because of the exposure of all sorts of music. The professor is extremely passionate about his job and made it very entertaining. For example, we listened everything to Czech Folk to Austrian Waltz to American Earthly Sounds. We had three tests in the course and a final.
Credit Transfer Issues: My transcript was sent to my university.
Course Name/Rating:

Ger 301 Orientation Language Course

Course Department: German
Instructor: Eva Stuppnik-Bazzanella & Elisabeth Schnöll
Instruction Language: German
Comments: All students are required to do a two-week orientation in German, and this course is the most advanced level of German offered. I found this course to be challenging, but both Eva and Elisabeth loved helping us. They both did everything possible to help us understand grammar and all other German language problems. These two weeks revealed to me my strengths and weaknesses in my German, and we were assessed with oral and written tests almost every single day. We also had homework due every day.
Credit Transfer Issues: My transcript was sent to my university.
Course Name/Rating:

Ger 302: German Intermediate III

Course Department: German
Instructor: Eva Stuppnik-Bazzanella und Elisabeth Schnöll
Instruction Language: German
Comments: This course is very intensive and challenging, but my German language dramatically improved. Both professors were incredibly helpful and very talented at their jobs. There was great balance of understanding and respect, and it was easy to want to do the heavy work load. You are expected to study every night, learn new words, have 120 verbs and their tenses memorized, understand the grammar, be able to hold a conversation, and be able to talk about a subject fluently. I participated in this class every class period multiple times. The course is very small with only four people, so we had the luck of being able to dive very intensely into our growth. We had weekly oral exams, every-other-week written exam tests, a mid-term, a final, two presentations, and homework daily.
Credit Transfer Issues: My transcript was sent to my university.