Experiential Blog 9

After completing this study abroad I found that information about the history of the lives of royal family members is the most meaningful to me.  This is because before I studied abroad I viewed the empire as a machine instead of a tight knit family.  Learning about how each person lived within the empire was extremely interesting because I felt as though they became humanized rather than viewed as political figureheads.  This new information could have changed a situation I experienced in the past because I was very close minded about government and politics prior to this trip.  I believe the new information I have learned is extremely beneficial especially with the presidential election approaching.  I will use the knowledge I learned to analyze the candidates more in depth in order to help me make an informed decision.  This new information can change my perceptions, interpretations, judgements, reactions, and behaviors in the future because I will be more patient and understanding towards people.  Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has experienced different events throughout their lives and I plan on taking these facts into consideration while approaching a conflict with someone and while getting to know a new person.

Experiential Blog 8

During this study abroad I was enrolled in both the German Culture and History class as well as the Gothic Literature class.  Having taken both of these courses while in Europe I have been exposed to a plethera of new knowledge.  Some of the new knowledge I have gained during the empire class revolves around the inner workings of the empire itself and who was involved within the monarchy.  I learned that Franz Joseph was a very systematic and routine oriented person who truly cared about his empire and he ruled with a great deal of respect for his people.  I also learned about the tragic life of Sisi and how the empire was in complete control of her life as well as other noble women.  Some knowledge I gained in the gothic class is that the gothic was a genre written in response to oppression.  The gothic was a revolt hidden inside the pages of books and it allowed people to feel and recognize their true emotions.  What I learned in class relates to my daily life because I will recognize buildings and their architecture by what style (gothic or victorian) they were built in.  I will also be able to go to art museums and not only see a painting but a story.  I have learned in a drastically different way during study abroad compared to in a classroom at UC because the classes I am taking require a lot of interpretation and analysis.  Typically I would not take either of these classes with my curriculum because I am an engineering major so I had to drastically adjust my learning style from memorizing repetitive processes to learning how to read and analyze excerpts as well as paying close attention to places and monuments that we visited. 

Experiential Blog 7

During my time abroad I have been exposed to a variety of interactions with people of different cultures.  People's attitudes about time, personal space, foreigners, and moral are notably different in Europe and change in different countries as well.  A large and general difference throughout Europe from the United States is that most European countries use military time.  Whenever I would look at a clock in a bus, on a plane, or in public I would see the time reading 20:17 for example and I would have to do math in my head to realize what time that actually meant (8:17 pm for those of you who were wondering).  In regards to how people spend their time I have noticed that a lot of Europeans do not waste their time.  In Vienna, Prague, and London it seemed as though everyone had somewhere to go or some task to complete.  Although everyone was busy no one came off as stressed out which surprised me.  Perhaps this is because America is a lot lazier than European countries, and in America people look forward to and plan for leisure time while in Europe people find leisure while completing their daily tasks.  Personal space has changed from city to city.  In Vienna most of the locals kept to themselves and did not appreciate loud voices or crammed spaces.  I mostly noticed this trend in the subways because no one spoke to each other while on the train and everyone had a personal space bubble around them.  In Prague people were very vocal and personal space was not a big issue because the streets were very narrow and crowded.  In London I felt a happy medium between Vienna and Prague because people were polite but charismatic, and personal space was respected but if a subway was crowded I did not receive weird looks from locals if I accidentally bumped into them.  I felt as though foreigners were treated with lower regards in Vienna because the imperial city had a great deal of pride surrounding its history and as a foreigner I have not grown up with or truly experienced this history.  In Prague foreigners seemed to be treated as gullible and vulnerable because Prague is a new capitalistic city and most of their money comes from tourists.  In London foreigners were treated with little difference.  I feel this is because London is a hub for international relations between people so foreigners were not anything new or special there.  My assumptions before traveling to Europe were that most people would have the same views as myself in regards to 'universal law', I was expecting the tone of voice and personal space to not be as different as it was and I was not expecting to be viewed as a blatant tourist.  This critique taught me to be more open minded and accepting of other cultures because I did not grow up with the same morals, history, and manners as others.

Experiential Blog 6

In London I noticed that although the people spoke the same language as myself that their English was very different from mine.  The British use different terms such as 'cheers' which means many different things.  The people in London also spoke with medium tones and shouting was rarely heard.  Everyone seemed to be very mindful of their surroundings and they were friendly as well as polite.  England's communication is different from America's because in the states people are very loud and outward with their emotions.  What I learned from these differences in language are that you should not assume that although people in different countries speak the same language as you, that they have the same mannerisms and morals as you.

Experiential Blog 5

Travelling with this study abroad is easily one of the best decisions I have made.  I have been euphoric during our travels outside of Grantham and I have made Harlaxton like a second home.  I find time to reflect on myself and the history of the cities and cultures I'm learning about.  The adjustments to different cities were fairly easy but strange.  In Vienna my voice had to be lowered and I had to be very cautious of my manners.  In Prague I felt more laid back and as though most of the people there were also just visitors touring the ancient city.  In London I felt very welcomed because the city seemed to be very friendly to young adults and people my age.  Although there have been some conflicts within our American group I believe that they are resolved in mature ways.  Cultural insights that I have gained are that you must be respectful of other people when you are visiting their countries and cities because you are the minority.  I also learned to appreciate rather than question others' cultures.

Experiential Blog 4

The buildings of Prague were very old and uneven but they were never very tall.  Old Town consisted of much older buildings and the streets were narrow and winding.  New Town had wider streets with the palace being at the top of the hill.  The palace was difficult to recognize because you would not realize that you were in the palace unless someone told you.  New Town was built into the hills and all of the buildings looked different to display the styles of different rulers.  The main city of Prague had a mix of old and modern buildings because Czech Republic is a new country that is jumping into the capitalist system.  There are also many statues and displays of artwork and graffitti throughout Prague.  I was surprised with the buildings and landscape of Prague because when we exited the train station I thought Prague was dirty, old, and crowded but once we walked to the river I was in awe of the beautiful historical districts and the hills surrounding it.  The buildings and landscape influenced my knowledge about the culture because Prague is a very busy and energetic city.  The confusing, winding streets also were symbolic of the confusing bureaucracy of their previous governments.  The cultural insights I gained are that the people are proud to live there because of the new founding of the Czech Republic.  The city is also very proud of its history but some of it remains hidden, such as Konopiste.

Experiential Blog 3

The buildings of Vienna were not tall and had little space between them.  The city was split into different districts and there were many green spaces throughout the city.  The landscape was very organized and orderly with simple streets and buildings grouped together by purpose.  An example of this is the palace being the center of the city with all the museums grouped together in the museums quarter.  My expectations of Vienna were very different from what I experienced because I expected a smaller and more spread out city while Vienna was very large and compact.  The buildings and landscape directly reflect the simplicity, organization, and vastness of the Empire.  Many of the buildings were historical and served as mementos of previous rulers.  Cultural insights that I have learned and gained are that Vienna is very proud of its history and heritage.  Many of the shops I walked past and visited were all local and not chain stores, and the buildings were all historical.