Hello again from Vienna! This past month has been packed with traveling, classes, and the
crazy unexplainable!?Classes started this month, and it feels like just yesterday I was landing in Austria. My schedule?includes a marketing class, supply chain, project leadership, and a European Law class. There?are a million differences between A&M classes and those in Vienna, so I’ll highlight the big ones.
First, my classes are condensed and scattered. What I mean by this is I can have a six hour
Euro Law lecture on one day, and not have a Euro law lecture for another two weeks! Because?of this strange timing the material is condensed into 4 or 5 lectures followed by an exam.?Second, all of the professors are full time professionals in their field. For example, one of my?professors is one of the Directors in the Austrian Energy Council, which means office hours do?not exist with many professors! Lastly, the atmosphere in the classroom is unlike anything I’ve?seen in Wehner. Many times the lecturer will say “let’s have a coffee break!” and won’t give a?time to return to our seats…so we end up walking across the hall to a cafe and coming back?whenever we feel like it. This super relaxed attitude really threw the Americans in the class for a?loop. Also, students in my classes always jump at the chance to weigh in on the topic being?discussed. This really makes the material feel like a flowing conversation and less like a?monologue.
Finding the real Vienna was another thing accomplished this month. After the touristy events?had been checked off my list I got down to the knitty gritty Vienna. I set up a bank account,?almost got mugged, gave directions to tourists, and even began picking up some German.?While this month wasn’t all glamorous, I can say that I’m really glad I found myself in less than?ideal situations. It made me realize that I can handle moving to a completely different place.?Adjusting to this country has been tough, but fulfilling and fun. I think the biggest reason why?this is true is because of my international friend base. It’s great to know that there’s 400 other?students going through the same obstacles as you, and at the end of the day we laugh and?have fun too!
Lastly, March was the beginning of my travels! With my new friends and stuffed carry on bags, I?ended up in Ireland for St Patrick’s Day. Those few days were really great. Not only were the?views off of The Cliffs of Moher stunning, but the people were some of the nicest I’ve ever met.?Their kindness actually made me homesick and missing Aggieland! We are now on ” Easter?Break” and I am currently typing this blog from London, which I’ve spent the past three days?exploring! I definitely recommend it. Next up my group and I will be traveling to?Amsterdam,Brussels, Berlin, and Geneva! Then it’s back home in Vienna to continue class and?figure out that city even more.
That’s all for now, it’s off to the airport tomorrow to continue the journey!