Just when I thought this month couldn’t get any better… Week Two started. Here are my reflections day by day!
Weekend #1: Salzburg
We left for Salzburg pretty early in the morning, around 6:50 am. We were on the 7:45 am train from Graz to Salzburg. The train ride was around 4 hours, but between sleeping and taking in the beautiful scenery, it almost seemed like we were teleported to Salzburg. We checked into our hotel, and then went to see a hospital that pre-dated Florence Nightingale. It was so interesting to see the issues she may have had with hospitals and why she may be named the Mother of Nursing. After that we had a quick lunch break on our own, before returning to the big group for our Dom Quartier tour. This tour included staterooms, churches, chapels, art-works, and rooms of the Archbishop. It was BEAUTIFUL. It was such an engaging experience. After that, my friends and I trekked up to an overlook terrace/balcony to take in some views while it rained. We then went to St. Peter’s Cemetery, Church, and Catacombs. It was such a peaceful intricate spot, and the history behind this spot is insane. We finished up our night with dinner, and then I set off to do some work and catch up on some posting.
Saturday was our first official day out in the town. We woke up bright and early to take the bus to Untersberg and to take the cable car all the way to the top of the mountain. It was an amazing time the entire trip. We didn’t get the luckiest with the weather, but the vibes were high. We then went to Sound of Music scenes throughout that area, came back and went to Mirabell Palace and garden. It was a beautiful location. We went to a killer lunch afterwards, the pasta was amazing and great company. After lunch, we walked over to a marketplace and bought souvenirs for our loved ones. Then we took the Funicular up to the fortress and explored the grounds. The weather cleared up and we saw the most radiant landscape that Salzburg has to offer. We then grabbed a snack and made our way to the Nonnenberg Abbey… truly an underrated spot. HIGHLY recommend it if you are into photography!
We had a slower start on Sunday, we ate breakfast in the hotel, and watched the Salzburg marathon runners (so cool.) We then made our way to Mozart’s house and birthplace. It is such a historical museum, there is truly a special ambiance to it. After that, we people watched and hopped on the Salzburg River Cruise. It was the most serene 45 minutes of the trip. We got a hefty lunch, went to the Nature and Science Museum (free with Salzburg card,) and met with the big group to walk to our train. It was a great end to an even better weekend.
Week Two:
Monday was an early start… but very worth it. We went to the Marianum – Caritas Sozialzentrum Mariengas. This is a social service facility that provides healthcare and food for asylum seekers, lower socioeconomic groups, and those who may not have insurance. It was so interesting to tour the facility. They think about dental, vision, women’s health, social work, mental health, etc. They had a truly intersectional facility. Then we had a lunch break and made our way over to the Red Cross. At the Red Cross, we got to see real ambulances that they send out when there is a call to an operator. They also spoke about all the things that the Red Cross in Austria overlooks, and it is a much more hands-on and intensive NGO than Red Cross in America. After that my friends and I conquered laundry (finally), and then as a class we went to a Memoriam for Margorie Agosin, a Jewish Chilean American poet that worked very closely with the University of Graz and helped international students all over the world. It was such a beautiful experience.
Today was our field trip day! We started off early and went to Piber. This has to be the highlight of my trip, but there are SO many highlights. Piber is the training and breeding center for the Spanish Riding Horses that are shown famously in Vienna in front of past emperors. There is such a rich history. These horses are beautiful and so majestic, it was truly a treat being there. We then visited a church that was created by a famous artist, Wasser. It was a beautiful colorful church with a WWII memorial. There were beautiful stained glass windows and mosaics everywhere. The altar is actually made of glass. We then bused to an Apotheke in the town. We learned about how pharmacies in Austria function… Each prescription is 7.55 euro… that is unheard of in the U.S. We even got to make our own lotions and watch the pharmacists use their tools! We then made our last stop at a farm to table restaurant… the food was SO fresh. The view was unbelievable. Truly no picture can do it justice…. Truly just an amazing day in Graz.
We started off the day with Guido and Maria. They picked us up from Hotel B & B, and we made our way to Vinizdorf. This was one of the most wonderful visits. Truly such a touching moment… This facility is a NGO for men who are houseless citizens and have a past in addiction and substance abuse. The experience and speaker was so eye-opening. Our entire class felt so strongly that the U.S should adopt something like this and aid those who are houseless and do not have any sense of support. We then had a break to go back to campus or our rooms to study for our exam! We studied and ate lunch, and then went to the Elizabethan Hospital. This is a hospital that also involves nuns as nurses. We were given a presentation by a nun herself, and met others as well. We understood the history of the hospital and why three women (nuns) traveled from Germany to Graz to create this hospital. We also got a tour of the new wing of the hospital. It was made out of timber wood and they had a heavy emphasis on sustainable materials and making a patient feel at home. It was truly a beautiful hospital! After that, my friends and I grabbed poke and ate outside enjoying some sun. We then studied for our exam and hit the sack!
Thursday… The big test day! Orin tested us on our Austrian history knowledge and some healthcare knowledge from the U.S. He is an incredibly fair tester (so don’t stress!!) We then had a little break, where Jess, Anna, Aletris, and I walked to the Beanery (a local cafe) to do some work on our websites and other assignments. We enjoyed lunch as a group, and came back to class to present our very own healthcare bills. We wrapped that up… enjoyed a quick meal and a break before going to the University of Graz’s Speech and Debate meeting. It was cool meeting up with other students and talking about their lives in Graz!