Hallo! My name is Cora and I just spent this last spring Graz, Austria for my Beyond the Classroom Experience. Graz is the second largest city in Austria and is home to four universities, including the one I was studying at, Universitaet Graz. Graz is designated the UNESCO City of Design because of the historic and well preserved architecture in its historic city center. Graz is situated southeast of the Austrian Alps and only two hours away from Austria’s capital city of Vienna.

During my time abroad I was able to travel throughout Western Europe, participate in a field course, and explore my global theme which was Resources and Sustainability. The European Union has a more extensive sustainability framework for its members when compared to the United States. Learning about the differences between the environmental policy in the United States and Austria was very insightful. I took a course that was named Geotechnologies for Monitoring Protected Areas, which explained the legal framework Europe uses to achieve conservation goals, including Agenda 2030. Being exposed to different perspectives and strategies to achieve sustainability will better prepare me to solve problems by implementing ideas I’ve learned from these different approaches. My global challenge was to explore alternative economic systems to capitalism. I took a course on the Circular Economy model, which allowed me to understand how businesses can look at different models and structures to promote sustainability. 

I was also able to take an Alpine Hydrogeology field course that was conducted in the Austrian Alps right outside of Gesaüse National Park. During the field course I learned how water moves through Karst landscapes, specifically in Eastern European landscapes. I learned how to conduct a variety of water discharge measurements, and a tracer test to determine the path of water through the karst system. I was working with graduate and PhD students, which pushed me to produce a higher level of work. This experience was incredibly interesting, and sparked my interest in hydrology.

Resources and sustainability were not the only things I took from my Beyond the Classroom Experience. While I was abroad I was able to travel to eight different countries, which was a very eye opening experience. I was able to learn about different cultures and connect with people from around the world. I hiked up the northern coast of Spain on the Camino de Santiago. On this trip I learned a lot about the history of the Catholic Church and importance of this pilgrimage.

My time abroad pushed me to grow in many ways, and I will see its impacts in my life indefinitely. I am so grateful that I was able to experience new cultures and learn outside of the United States. I am excited to continue to travel, learn, and explore. Bitte schön!