Kurt's Story: From Australia to Austria
It's hard to know where to begin. When I got back to Australia people excitedly asked me 'Kurt! How was Europe?' I'd always fire back 'awesome!' with a big grin from ear to ear.
There are too many incredible experiences and events from my eight months away to jam into a five-minute conversation. So today I will tease you with just a few!
Prior to the trip, my knowledge of Europe was very limited. Most of what I knew about Austria was from watching 'The Sound of Music" as a child. It certainly lived up to the scenic beauty of the film. Snowboarding the Austrian Alps, bicycle riding between castles in Lower Austria, milking dairy cows at a friend's farmhouse, trekking in the scenic mountains and swimming beneath a waterfall (in water that had just melted from snow above..brrrr!) are some of my fondest memories.
But of course there was so much I was unaware of when I flew into Vienna. To begin with, the language. Though it seemed very strange to many of my European friends, it is quite common to learn only English in Australia. My knowledge of German (Deutsch) extended about as far as 'guten morgen' and 'gesundheit'. This was definitely the most daunting barrier I experienced on arrival. How to read signage, catch a bus, or even order a sandwich was something I had to learn quickly to survive in Vienna. In retrospect life would have been a lot easier had I enrolled in a beginner German course in Australia or even upon my arrival in Austria. I soon realized after learning the very basics that most people would be much more helpful when I spoke to them in my broken German. Most Viennese could actually speak English or were polite enough to at least bear my attempts at their language. But of course being immersed in the culture, living and studying there, the rewards were far greater than the small barriers I had to overcome.
I found the culture and history extraordinary, exploring places that I had only seen on the discovery channel or in books! During my free time I perused the museums and galleries of Vienna. Roamed the ruins of Rome, and the unearthed city of Pompeii. Explored the streets of Budapest, Prague, Madrid and London to name a few. Ran with the bulls in Pamplona (not sure if my travel insurance covered that one!). Trekked through Italy's Cinque Terre, and relaxed on Spain's beaches. This may sound like a holiday, but it was indeed a university exchange program!
Please don't be mistaken and think that it was all fun and games. The studies were very challenging, yet rewarding. So I will refrain from my boasting anymore and talk about a very important part of my studies abroad, and that is of course study. I was only starting the 2nd year of my bachelor at the time, and the courses that were offered in English were all Masters' courses. I guess you could say I was really dropped in the deep end! I quickly learned how resourceful I could be, always asking questions and consulting the Professors (and my peers) when I was having difficulty. Some units were very theory based, with old Austrian professors talking and writing on old blackboards for hours on end. In contrast some units were extremely practical, with lab work or field trips. In one unit we were fortunate enough to spend a week in the mountains learning about forestry. We participated in some research and learnt methods of calculating the carbon storage capacity of differing forest stands.
Living and studying overseas was an incredible life experience for me. It was like I got to live in someone else's shoes for a semester. I feel now that I could take on anything. My advice to anyone considering studying overseas would be:
What are you waiting for? This is your opportunity to experience something extraordinary... just do it!
Kurt Sorensen
