I have officially concluded the portion of my study abroad program conducted in Slovenia! The past week in Slovenia was spent taking part in healthcare site visits and workshops, lectures on history and language, and cultural experiences in Maribor, Ljubljana, Bled, and rural Slovenia. For the healthcare portion of the week, we were able to…
Tag: Graz
Auf wiedersehen, Austria!
After spending time in Graz, Salzburg, and Vienna, our program’s time in Austria has officially come to an end. Learning the history of the Austrian nation, experiencing Austrian culture, and exploring different healthcare institutions all tied together to give me a holistic understanding of how Austria’s universal healthcare system functions. In Austria, roughly 99% of…
Cultural Excursions in Rural Austria
Hello again! I am reporting back after my second week in the Comparative Healthcare in Graz program. Last weekend, I enjoyed a weekend trip to Salzburg, Austria, and this weekend, I had a beautiful getaway to Budapest, Hungary. We only have one week left in Austria before we head to Slovenia! Between the two weekend…
Willkommen in Graz!
Hallo, my name is Nora! I am a rising senior Nutrition Science major on the pre-PA track, and I have officially completed my first week of Pitt’s Comparative Healthcare in Graz program! As an aspiring healthcare professional, I chose to go on this trip to learn more about how Austria’s universal healthcare system functions to…
Guten Tag from Graz, Austria!
Hello! My name is Arushi Bansal. I just finished my second year at Pitt as a Public Health major and Bioethics Certificate student. I am excited to say I have reached Graz, Austria, as part of the Comparative Healthcare in Graz program! I knew I wanted to participate in this program before I even committed…
My Rx for Reality: An Uncomfortably Close Look at Austrian Healthcare
Our program dove deep into healthcare, offering a whirlwind of eye-opening site visits and tours. We observed the innovative care and technologies at the Albert Schweitzer Geriatric Center, learned how the Marieambulanz Clinic offers free medical attention to uninsured migrants and asylum seekers, witnessed the profound compassion at the Vinzidorf Shelter for men with severe…
Hallo Austria, it’s Ethan!
Hello! I’m Ethan, and I’m studying abroad in Austria and Slovenia for four weeks through the Comparative Healthcare in Graz Program. As I waited at gate B02 for my final connecting flight from Frankfurt to Graz, it hit me. It wasn’t the feeling of dread over whether I packed the right clothes, or even the…
Trains, Trust, and Open Borders
One of the first moments I really felt like I was in Europe was when I started using public transit. Back home in the United States, I am used to cars being the main way of getting around, but in Europe buses, trams, and trains were the heartbeat of daily life. I bought a pass…
The Charm of Slower Shopping
One of the most difficult parts of my host culture to adjust to was the way businesses operated and how much earlier everything closed compared to the United States. At home, I am used to having access to grocery stores, pharmacies, or even restaurants late into the evening. Abroad, I quickly learned that most places…
Bridging Barriers Through Language
During my time abroad, one of the most surprising and rewarding lessons I learned came from experiences outside the classroom. I discovered how powerful it can be to make the effort to speak another language, even if only a few words. When my friends and I tried to speak German in Austria or Slovenian in…