SUMMER 2019 in Cologne, gave the first of two presentations. He explained what he does and Letter from Salzburg, June 2019 how he used his degree and study-abroad experience to find a job in Germany. Subsequently Dan graciously allowed several of our students to shadow him on business trips to Vienna and Munich. At the second European careers session In another few weeks, AYA Salzburg 2018-19 will come to a close. I would Kimme Scherer (M.A. 2005), who lives in Salzburg, spoke about her experience as a love to say to this moment in time: “Verweile doch, du bist so schön!” (Yes, translator in Austria. we went to see Faust I at the Landestheater!) It has been another wonderful year in Salzburg, my eighth and last year directing the AYA program. Extremely gratifying for me this year has been having so much contact with former AYA participants, first in summer 2018 – at the 50-year celebration and during the The year was filled with excursions, often led by our geography instructor Fritz Salzburg summer program, which I directed – then throughout the year as many Baier, including orientation walks through Salzburg and daylong excursions alumni travelling through Salzburg stopped by. To name a few: Amy Young (M.A. into the countryside, e.g. to the Dürrnberg salt mines and Keltic museum in 1994), Jenn Hesse (M.A. 2011), Brian Pfaltzgraff (dual M.A. German/Music 1994) Hallein and to the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern, where we went snow-shoeing. and, most recently, Kenneth Sponsler (AYA 1977-78). In the fall we went to Vienna for the traditional week-end stay. This year we celebrated Thanksgiving at St. Sebastian and resumed our old custom We are now at the end of the year in Austria, and it is a pleasure to reflect back of inviting the instructors and friends of the program. The students prepared on how much ground we’ve covered as a group – through the courses, excursions, dinner with turkey and all the trimmings in the dormitory kitchen for some 50 internships, and through the friendships and personal travels. There were guests. Another highlight of the year was our five-day trip to Berlin at the end certainly ups and downs; life abroad is hardly a walk in the park… which is, after of May. all, the point. New this year was the introduction of European career sessions with I would like to end this letter by presentations by AYA alumni who live and work in Austria and Germany. thanking the wonderful team of Dan McMakin (M.A. 2011), who is a district sales manager for PFM Medical Austrian colleagues in our AYA Program, who continue to give Fritz Baier with students on the Mönchsberg tirelessly of themselves inside and outside the classroom. I would also like to thank this year’s enthusiastic and kind group of undergraduate and graduate students for a fun and smooth year in Salzburg! I wish everyone a relaxing summer and the students a good transition back to life in the USA! Herzliche Grüße aus Salzburg! Christina Guenther In the Nonnberggasse Guest Editor: Dr. Margy Gerber WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES 203 Shatzel Hall, Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 Phone 419-372-2267 and 419-372-7693 | [email protected] Student Comments | Experiencing Salzburg Homemade pies for Thanksgiving Here is a sampling of comments from “Salzburg is a little city, so it feels quickly like students in this year’s program: home – you run into classmates everywhere and recognize people at the supermarket or on “The city of Salzburg is one of the most beautiful the train. It’s easy to get connected through the cities I’ve seen. You can see the Alps from the university’s Buddy System, the DaF courses and university building. Universität Salzburg has an the dorms. Internships are a great opportunity incredibly diverse student population, and I have to use German in a work environment, and to made friends with people from all over the world meet and network with people working in a field – Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic, Finland, that you want insight into. During my internship to name a few. My internship at a local bakery has at the university’s International Office I got to made me feel more in touch with Austrian culture attend meetings regarding the new Austrian visa and the language, and the locals are all incredibly requirements, advise Austrian students going to kind in helping me better my German. One of my the US, help design an ERASMUS survey, give a favorite excursions took us to the National Park presentation for the university’s International Day, Hohe Tauern where we snow-shoed through the translate and edit part of the university’s website, hills and valleys. Others have told me, and I know and help organize a photo exhibit!” myself, that this year has been a huge personal –Taylorann Lenze growth experience for me. Studying in Europe is very different from in the U.S. in that the students “It is important to experience culture shock at are much more independent – there is also no least once. It gets you out of your comfort zone centralized campus. I feel more confident about my and really challenges you to develop perseverance. decision making, which was very difficult for me Being here gave me the chance to reflect on A pensive moment at the Wall Museum in Berlin before this year.” myself and learn what about me is valuable –Monona Martin and admirable – what makes me different. I learned and did a lot of planning, budgeting, “I’ve really enjoyed learning about the differences and contingency planning. And I got to see in culture here. But above all else, I appreciate beautiful places. I had mishaps, some really bad what I’ve learned about myself throughout this homesickness, which eventually taught me how to experience […]. I feel that people in the US are keep my chin up and evaluate and appreciate cut off from the rest of the world in a way, and my wins.” we don’t really realize it until we step outside of –Zoe Oswald our little corner of the world. Although all of us are human, we’re so different from each other, sometimes in the most unexpected ways, and it’s so much fun to have the opportunity to interact with these differences.” –Calli Randolph And here we are in Vienna! In the glass dome of the Berlin Reichstag 2 Announcing the 2019 AYA Salzburg AYA Austria Alumni Reunite at Reunion at BGSU during Homecoming: BGSU Homecoming Sept. 14, 2019 Lisa Lipcamon’s Report on the 2018 Homecoming Reunion Last year we started the tradition of an annual AYA reunion during BGSU’s Homecoming Weekend. This year’s date is Saturday, Sept. 14. The AYA Austria Alumni Reunion at BGSU’s 2018 Homecoming was a rousing success! The weekend kicked off on Friday evening The day will start at 10 a.m. with a “Meet and Greet” brunch on the porch of at AYA Austria alum Eric Hise’s Bar in Genoa, Ohio (near Bowling Shatzel Hall on the old campus – an opportunity to meet old friends and make Green). Beer, wine, and pizza were very generously on the house; the acquaintance of AYA alumni from other groups and current BGSU students in a good time was had by all. On Saturday morning the “Meet and the German Club. Greet” on the porch of Shatzel Hall moved indoors due to the A leisurely walk through campus to the Homecoming tents sponsored by Arts chilly temperatures. At this well attended gathering Dr. Raymond and Sciences and the Office of International Programs/Partnerships is planned Craig, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, addressed the for the early afternoon. German Club guides will point out/explain new buildings group. He shared memories of his own experiences abroad and and other campus changes along the way. expressed his strong support for study abroad programs. The university’s new degree program, the MA in European Studies, For football fans, the game BGSU vs. Louisiana Tech begins at 3 p.m. Those not was also introduced by German Professor Dr. Edgar Landgraf. wishing to attend the game can relax with fellow AYA alumni, have coffee (and Kuchen) at Grounds for Thought on Main Street or raise a glass at the BG Beer Linda Van Blaricom, Adjunct German Instructor and past Summer Works (a new local brewery on N. Grove Street), or simply visit old haunts on Program Director presented Dr. Craig and Dr. Landgraf with AYA campus or in town. Austria Celebrating 50 Years Polo-shirts on behalf of the alumni. A campus tour and lunch at the Homecoming tents sponsored by In the evening, AYA alumni are invited to dinner “chez Landgraf,” at the home of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of International Dr. Edgar Landgraf and his family. Programs and Partnerships showcased changes around campus. We hope to see you on Sept. 14! Bring along snapshots from your year(s) After several hours of independent exploration/free time during in Salzburg! which some attended the football game, while others visited a To better plan the reunion, we have prepared an RSVP form for the day’s events, coffeehouse, brewpub, etc., the group reconvened at the which you can access and return at: https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/ Landgraf residence. world-languages-and-cultures/languages/german/study-abroad-salzburg/ The pièce de résistance, an amazing dinner spread prepared register.html single-handedly by Angela Landgraf, awaited.