School Daze

I have now been in Austria for just over one month! It's amazing how fast time flies. It seems like it is going even faster now that I have officially started classes. It was almost a surreal feeling to be in class again. I have gone 3 months with no class, no paper, no homework, and relatively no stress, so last Monday when I had my first class I was a little out of practice. It did not take me long though to become overwhelmed, and maybe just a little stressed, okay a lot stressed this is me we are talking about. I desperately wished some one had prepared me for the differences between school in Austria vs the US. I wish I had a survival guide, so I decided to write my own. 

Surviving School in Austria: Well at least JKU in Linz

1. Class schedules: are very different than the US. Planning out my schedule was like one big puzzle. Planning out a schedule in the US is also a puzzle, but nothing compared to JKU. In the US there are set days, either Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Tuesday, Thursday. You also know that you are more than likely to meet either 3 or 2 times a week every single week of the semester. There are also set times so there is no worry of one class starting when another is not yet finished. I basically had to forget everything I knew about making a schedule. In Austria, most all classes only happen once a week, some classes last all day or half a day, while others last for an hour and a half. Some classes happen every week, others happen every 2 weeks. Then there are the classes that are all day for 3 days straight. Some classes don't even last the whole semester. This was so confusing to me, it was such a process to find the classes I wanted and not have them overlap with any other classes. Another major difference is that there usually is only one or two sections available for a class. Compared to the US, where on average I have 3-4 choices of class times, this made the process even more complicated. Somehow, by some miracle, I was able to create a schedule that had no time overlaps and kept my friday's free from class. Although, I had to decide between a lot of classes so I am not taking all the classes I wanted, and I don't have time on Tuesday for lunch, after two weeks I'm happy with my choices. 

2. Long Classes: Only having a class once a week sounds great until you realize that some classes are 3hours and 15 min, while my shortest are 1 hour 30 min. In the US there is the occasional long class (in fact, I have possibly 2 next semester, i'll be so prepared). Most classes are an hour or an hour 30 min. I always tried to avoid the hour and half classes because I thought they were to long.  This is a major adjustment because you have to find ways to keep paying attention even when you feel your mind has met full capacity. Also always bring snacks to long classes! You might not think you'll get hungry but trust me sitting in one class for 3 hours is tiring and makes your stomach rumble. I learned this the hard way my first 3 hour class where the last hour all I could think about was the emptiness of my stomach.

3. Number of Classes: When you only have class once a week you have to take a lot more classes. In the US the average student takes 4-6 classes. In Austria one class is considered half a class in the US so I am taking 8 classes! I feel though I am doing just as much work in my classes as I would be back home. The average student in Austria takes 8-12 classes. I don't know how some of them keep their schedules straight. 

4. Reading, Reading, and more Reading: Now of course there are readings in the US, and maybe sometimes I do them but most of the time I am able to not do them as we just learn about whats in the text in class. We rarely have to discuss what we read, and we don't get tested over it. At JKU this is completely different, for almost all my classes I have over 100 pages of reading to do. When you get to class you need to be prepared with thoughts, questions, and be prepared to discuss. There are also sometimes pop quizzes at the beginning of class regarding the texts. The teachers instead of telling you straight out, encourage you to find the information in the text and then discuss it in the class. I also may just have so much reading based on the  classes I'm taking, I do not know if all classes have as much reading as mine. 

5. Where's the Cushion: In the US the grade book will be filled with papers, tests, quizzes, and various assignments. There are plenty of ways to bring up your grade after one mishap or two. In Austria most grades in a class are made up of 4 or 5 items. For example, one group paper or presentation, the final, two short tests, and participation. There is no cushion, most times my grade is saved by all the assignments and papers, here there is no assignments just big papers and tests. I don't think I like not having the cushion.

6. Group Projects: All my classes have either a group project or group presentation or both. I actually like this because not only am I learning to work with other people and improve my communication skills I also get to work with people from all over the world. All my classes are a mix between Austrian students and other exchange students. In the US, I usually only have 2-3 group projects a semester. 

7. Relax: I get the feeling that there is a more relaxed atmosphere here compared to the US. For one thing, most students in Europe do not pay to go to school. They do pay for there housing and books (which is a lot less than the US I paid $30 for all my books) but, not the actual tuition to the school. Therefore, if they fail a class it is not like watching $1000 go down the drain, in fact they can just take it again and pay nothing. They also don't have a concept of a GPA or scholarship. They are just concerned with passing, if they get a good grade then yay but if not it's okay. In the US you constantly stress over your GPA and how it will effect your scholarship money. This semester is not effecting my GPA, I just have to pass. I'm finding it very hard to remember this, with the past 8 years of my life worried about a GPA it is hard to spend one semester not worrying.

8. Full Steam Ahead: All in all, going to school in another country is different. Actually just going to school in a different state in the US would be different. I'm excited to learn from these differences because in the end, they will make me a better student and hopefully a better worker later on in life. 
I now am looking forward to my two week Easter break where I will be traveling to London, Dublin and Amsterdam! Hopefully I can finish my three papers before my departure on Tuesday.
" The roots of education are bitter, but the fruits are sweet."-Aristotle
Love Always,
Alex

Just a Child in a Candy Shop

I remember when I was little and I got the chance to go into a candy or toy shop, I wanted to touch everything, eat everything, and look at everything. I didn't have enough eyes to see all the wonders surrounding me. Over this past weekend, I went to the city of Prague, where almost immediately from my first glimpse of the city I was a child in a candy shop again. I didn't have enough eyes to absorb all that was around me. I hadn't even left the bus yet and I was already in love. Once in Prague, the group was taken on a boat tour with a buffet. Lucky for us, the weather was a little bit cool but sunny with blue skies. The tour allowed me to see even more of the beautiful city. After the tour, we traveled up to the castle where the church is actually the highlight. As we reached the castle the sun was setting over the city, a truly beautiful site. Once entering the castle, I was greeted by a beautiful church, at the time the hour was changing so the church bells were ringing. I felt like I was in a movie. Unfortunately, the church was having a service so the group was unable to go in. On Saturday, I went with a group for a semi city tour. Just walking down the streets was the best part for me. Prague is defiantly a tourist haven, and honestly is made it so much more interesting. Surrounding me were people from all over the world speaking several different languages enjoying the beautiful city just like me. If one thing is clear, people are different all over the world with different cultures, languages, and habits but, no matter the differences everyone is connected by a love of travel and a appreciation of the beautiful city they are visiting.  As I walked through the streets of Prague, I again did not have enough eyes. With street performers, chocolate shops, beautiful architecture and various shops this is only understandable. I would suggest going on an off season month though. It is only the beginning of March, not even the beginning of the tourist season and there were people everywhere. It reminded me of being at Disney World. If Prague was beautiful during the day, it was gorgeous at night. With most people either in their beds or at the clubs the swarming streets during the day are desolate at night. I loved walking around the city center and over the Charles bridge at night. It was so peaceful and beautiful. I was only in Prague for 2.5 days but, I feel like a grew so much in just those two days. With countless more experiences under my belt. For one thing I stayed in my very first Hostel. Only ever traveling in the US with my family, I was very nervous for my first hostel experience. I have heard some horror stories as well as success stories. Let me just say, if every hostel experience from here on out is like my first, I will come home with no horror stories. The only remotely negative aspect was sharing a bathroom with 9 other people. Lucky for me I have plenty of experiences with limited bathrooms from my countless summers at camp and several mission trips. Hostel Mango if i'm ever in Prague again i'll be sure to visit. I also had the chance to tap my own beer. 

The very first night the group was taken to a bar where you could tap your own beer. The beer is brewed at the bar and then at each table is a tap. They give you tips on how to tap it based on how much foam you like. The bar had a very fun atmosphere and was a great way to become closer to my fellow students. 

Words and pictures will never be able to give justice to the exquisiteness of Prague. But here are a few snap shots from my weekend in Prague.  

The Charles Bridge

Church in the Castle 

Prague Specialty, Tredelnik. Served plain, with ice cream, berries, or chocolate.
I had three of them, one original the first night and then one with ice cream and one with chocolate 

view from the castle 

" Eiffel Tower" of Prague

 John Lennon Wall

My time in Prague was brief, but I loved every second of it. As the bus journeyed home from Prague, I was overcome with so much gratefulness to my family and friends who encouraged me to take the steps necessary to study abroad. I can not thank all those who believed in me enough. Without you, I would not have been able to experience the breathtaking scenery of Prague. As I sit in my dorm room writing this blog, I am giddy with excitement for all the adventures the semesters still has in store. " I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world" -Mary Anne Radmacher

Until Next Time,

Alex