As the final week of the trip approached, many of us were a little sad, nostalgic, and sentimental. Most of us agreed this past month had been one of the best months of our lives and we didn’t want to leave. I think this was probably the best month of my life; I made some great friends, got to experience Europe for the first time, had almost a never-ending supply of pastries and museums, hiked in the alps and swam in rivers, and I now feel more proud of my Jewish heritage than I have before.
I was excited for this trip since I bought the plane tickets, but I truly underestimated the impact it would have on me. I’m so glad I took so many pictures and have everyone’s contact information, so I hopefully won’t ever forget this trip. This trip was kind of a test of study abroad for me to see if I wanted to do a longer program in the future, and I honestly can’t wait for the next time I get to travel and study abroad.
I’m already thinking about planning a weekend trip up to Davis to reunite with all the amazing people I met on this program. Taylor, one of my classmates said that this trip made her feel more knowledgeable but at the same time the trip made her feel like she knew “absolutely nothing.” I think that sentiment truly encapsulates what it feels like to travel and live in a country that is not your own. This trip opened my eyes in so many ways, but also revealed to me how insanely big the world is and how little I’ve seen and experienced.
During the farewell dinner, Father Ambrose, the canon who gave us a tour of Klosterneuberg said “it is the United States’ military industrial complex that allows countries like Austria to exist.” He meant it in the context of Austria’s extensive social welfare programs, which we were discussing at dinner. Throughout entire program, I admired Austria’s various social programs and environmentally friendly initiatives. Without looking at the bigger picture, my instinct was to just simply wish the United States would implement policies like Austria’s and get angry about the fact that the US hadn’t yet. I don’t see that statement as something that inspires despondency about the situation in the US; I see it as an idea that encourages us to think about the world more broadly and internationally. That statement really opened my eyes and made me think about things like international relations and social welfare in ways that I hadn’t previously. In that moment I felt like I knew more but I also knew “absolutely nothing.” Everything is more complicated than it appears.
I’m so glad I actually read a mass email from the history department back in January and decided to look into this program. I think I am a better person for doing this program and I can’t wait to travel abroad again.
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