Why did you study abroad with AIFS at the University of Salzburg?
Brette: Once I decided to study abroad my sophomore year, I began researching where to go and what program to use. My schools study abroad office had tons of brochures with locations all over the world but most students from my school go to Ireland or England. I knew I wanted to try somewhere different, to go somewhere alone and to go to a central location where I could easily travel to and from. With those three requirements in mind, I began to explore my options.
Flipping through brochures and pamphlets, I kept coming back to Salzburg. To me, it looked more beautiful than any other country. The idea of living in the snow-covered Alps and going on a horse drawn sleigh ride to an Alpine hut, as described in the AIFS booklet, truly drew me in. I knew that this was the type of country I would truly enjoy. I come from German roots and knew a little of the language, which made me even more excited about going. By the time I read the whole description of the semester in Salzburg, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that that was the only city I wanted to live in.
What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Brette: Studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria is unique by default, since not as many students choose to study there as in other popular cities such as London or Rome. While my fellow classmates on my program chose Salzburg for all sorts of personal reasons, something special about the city reeled us all in and made us want to live there. We became an extremely close-knit group and bonded over our experiences and our love of Salzburg. Studying abroad in Salzburg is special to me because it is a period of my life where I grew into the person I was meant to be. I became more outgoing, met incredible friends who I will be friends with for life, and was able to experience Europe in a way that only living in the heart of Europe allows you to do.
Salzburg is such a culturally rich city of music and history that there is always something to see or do. You can go to Munich for a weekend, see the Salt Mines, the Fortress that once protected the city from invaders, or simply stroll along Getreidegasse and take in the sights. Even though Salzburg is a small city, with approximately 150,000 residents, you will never feel bored or alone. The people are helpful and friendly and the scenery from any corner is extraordinary. The fortress atop a hill in the center of the Alt Stadt gave me a sense of comfort, of home, while living in Salzburg, because I knew whenever I saw it that I was safe and that I was living in one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. As my friends all like to say, we all left a piece of our hearts in Salzburg and can’t wait to go back and visit again. Three years after my experience, a day hardly goes by that I don’t think about study abroad and the wonderful time I had living in the Austrian Alps.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Brette: Studying abroad opened my eyes to so many opportunities in life that I would probably have not even considered had I not gone to Europe. Moving to a foreign country not knowing a soul and being successful and happy there gave me the courage to know that I can do anything I set my mind to. I learned that it is up to one individually to take advantage of opportunities and that sitting out will only give you regret later. Academically, studying abroad gave me a unique knowledge base for appreciating cultures and made me a more understanding individual. Professionally, studying abroad is a great resume builder and talking point in interviews. It shows employers that you are independent, cultured, and willing to try new things. While many students study abroad, only a small percentage of them study in Salzburg and that will make you even more unique and strong as a candidate.
Studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria was by far the greatest choice I made during my college career. Before I went abroad I would talk to as many classmates as possible that went abroad to get an idea of what I was getting myself into. They all told me that it was an indescribable experience that changed them and at the time I couldn’t comprehend how living four months in Europe could be THAT life-altering. Now I know that it is an experience that changes you forever, that helps you grow as a person, and gives you the some of the best friends and memories you will ever know. Studying abroad in Salzburg only makes the experience better because you will be in the heart of Europe, in a city rich in culture and history, living atop the Austrian Alps!