I’m two months into my time abroad and I haven’t started two of my classes yet. What is this madness, you ask?
Well, Salzburg College is set up on a block schedule, with the first two classes taking place in the first half of the semester before spring break and the second two taking place after. I’ve just finished my break, so that means I’m about throw myself into two new classes. It’s exciting to have a change up at the semester midpoint, where things can normally tend to drag, but odd to know that I have two full classes to complete, start to finish, in less than a month and a half. My spring break-mode mind is having some trouble catching up with that one.
Honestly though, I appreciate the way Salzburg College sets up its classes. Having only two at a time makes homework and studying very manageable and simplifies normally busy periods like midterms and finals. Since there’s so much extra I want to see and do while I’m here, and so much more to adjust to, that simplification is a good thing.
The first two classes I took this semester were Understanding Austria and German, both of which were required. I’ll be honest: learning foreign languages has not and will probably never be my thing. All I’ve leaned from five Spanish classes is that I don’t like Spanish classes, so German wasn’t really my favorite course. However, my professor was pleasant and helpful and I was able to do well in it, so I don’t mind. On a positive note, the enigmatically titled Understanding Austria was very enjoyable. It focused on Austria in the past and present in a very general sense, and was, true to its name, incredibly helpful when it came to understanding the country. My favorite parts of the class were the historical elements, because I find history fascinating but haven’t had the chance to take a course in it since high school. A note to friends and family: prepared yourselves for mini lectures on the Hapsburg monarchs and the post-World War 1 instability when I get home. It’s happening whether you like it or not.
In terms of studying, my classes have required work and thought, but have been somewhat easier so far than those at Northeastern. Like I mentioned above, there’s a lot of additional activity to engage in when you’re in a foreign country, so I make good use of my free time and am grateful that my studies are easily balanced with travel and hands-on experiences.
Though I’ve crossed an ocean and live on another continent, some things, like my study habits, haven’t changed. My favorite study location is my bed. I could say that’s because Salzburg College’s physical location is very small and doesn’t contain a real library. However, Northeastern has a state-of-the-art, multi-story library and I still just study in my bed there, so I can’t really blame this one on Salzburg College. I like my bed, guys. Fun fact: I don’t even own a desk at home. Why would I need one with my warm, cozy bed just feet away…
The Leherhaus where I live does provide a nice study space for us. My roommate is able to use that space frequently to help her focus on assignments and before a test, but I haven’t made much use of it. Why? Because it isn’t my bed.
Still, I’m grateful for the resource.
This week I’ll be starting my second two classes, History of European Art and the Art of Propaganda. Those subjects could not be further from the classes I normally take at Northeastern, and I never expected to be taking anything like them. Like everything else about this trip, they’ll be a new and unexpected experience.
