Hi everyone! I have waited to make this second post, because I wanted to be able to write about both the Austrian and Slovenian communities that I have come to know and cherish. Writing this blog post in Austria would be an injustice to Slovenia, as both countries have a vivid lifestyle.
Living in both of these Central European nations, the most striking difference was their pace of life. The best way to describe their lifestyle is laidback. I want to emphasize that this in no circumstance means that they are unproductive or inefficient. On the contrary, the Austrians and Slovenians have mastered a quality of life that works in harmony with nature and themselves. This can be seen in their urban infrastructure, accessible transportation system, eco-friendly hotels, a myriad of green spaces, emphasis on herbal medicine, and preference for local produce.
An example of this can be highlighted through taking a look into a day in my life in Graz. A normal weekday for me begins with an early morning start, typically 6 or 7 AM, after which I get ready and head to the hotel restaurant for a traditional American breakfast (e.g. eggs, toast, oatmeal). My daily breakfast was my way to maintain some semblance of normalcy from my life in the States, and I can safely say, the Austrians definitely knew how to cook! Afterwards, class typically started at 9 AM, and the ride to the university was a quick 10-15 minute tram ride. Since our study abroad program was a shorter length than most, accommodating 6 credits in the span of 4 weeks meant having large class time blocks. However, Professor Orin James ensured an interactive, relevant, and interesting course load, therefore, even though our content was dense, it was immensely applicable.
We would have class until lunch, which was at the mensa, or the university cafeteria. This was where I noticed one of the most striking differences between Pitt and the University of Graz. The food options in the mensa were delicious, healthy options that catered to many dietary restrictions. As a vegetarian, it is quite difficult for me to find food that isn’t a salad or pizza, and at Graz, I realized that the city was extremely vegan/vegetarian friendly, and knowing that my food was easily accessible and inclusive created a welcoming environment for me.
Lunch in Graz was more than an hour, which was another jarring difference compared to Pittsburgh, because at Pitt, I am scrambling between classes to grab a quick bite to satiate myself till dinner. However, each meal in Graz, and Europe in general, is treated as a celebration. After lunch, we would typically continue to have class until 4-5 PM, or go on a cultural or medical tour in the city, and that was the end of our “school” day.
In the evening, my friends and I would peruse through the shops and walk through the cobblestone streets. We would choose a different local restaurant everyday, working our way through all the cuisines. We would spend some time in our hotel to do some schoolwork, and at night, we would typically be out once again, walking alongside the river, climbing up to the Schlossberg to enjoy the view, or host a game night.
Each day, I was able to balance a life involving an extensive education, a healthy social life, as well as cultural and culinary experiences. Through this all, I learned that in America, our mentality prioritizes our career and our work-life. However, in Austria and Slovenia, work is only a subset of the day, and thus only a portion of someone’s life. Therefore, they enjoy all aspects of the day, from something as simple as lunch at the university cafeteria, to sipping wine and laughing with friends into the late hours of the night.
I enjoy living in both Pittsburgh and Graz, and seeing the beauty and uniqueness in both cities has been a truly gratifying journey.
