Posted By: Career Enrichment Network

Liberal Arts student, Nataliya Gagarkina, spent her summer in Austria. Nataliya took part in a faculty led program that traveled to Vienna. Vienna, Austria: Intercultural Communication, is a four week program that includes two courses, Intercultural Communications and Communication in the European Union. Students must be at least rising Sophomores and have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Content contributed by Nataliya Gagarkina, Paterno Fellow, double majoring in Psychology and Economics:

I chose this particular program after Ines Meyer-Hoess came in to my Calculus class to talk about the program. In all honesty, I hadn’t considered studying abroad, but then Ines made it sound so exciting that I came out of that class already looking up potential study abroad programs, it was just a matter of time before I decided on Vienna.

Being a double major and a Paterno fellow, I had to use the program to fulfill certain requirements and the two CAS classes were a perfect way to fulfill some of my general education requirements.

Not to say that other programs could not have done the same, but Vienna was just so different. So many of my friends have studied abroad in Paris, Florence, or Barcelona. Vienna seemed more unique in a way. The program also seemed to be more ‘personal’ than so many others. Our group came down to only six students, Veronica- our wonderful TA, and Ines of course. Being so small, we really got to know and care for one another.

Studying in Vienna, I had the opportunity I could not have had being in Paris or Florence. With a focus on intercultural communications, our curriculum also covered the Holocaust. We even got to meet a 103-year-old Holocaust survivor! We have all studied about the Holocaust, but studying about the persecution of people and then being able to visit their homes, schools, and places of worship, make it an entirely different experience. An experience no one could ever forget.

I chose the summer semester after my sophomore year to go abroad. I planned to study abroad at one point, and the timing of the summer semester just seemed perfect. I did not want to study during the year, partly because of the strict coursework requirements that could not have been completed off campus, and partly because I knew I couldn’t handle being gone for a full semester. I did not like the idea of being away for half an academic year and then having to start all over. So I was looking for a shorter commitment, and “Vienna in Action” fit the bill!

While in Austria, we really got to know some of the Austrian students there. One part of our final project was to conduct a field research which included interviews and other research. For my project, I interviewed 5 different Austrians and got to know them on a personal level.

This allowed me to better understand the differences between our cultures and even become good friends!  As I have mentioned previously, I am a double major in economics and psychology. I am hoping to study law after graduation, and the study abroad has prepared me to see the differences of people with different backgrounds. It has taught me to recognize that we do not all see things the same way, and that if you want someone to agree with you, you first have to make them understand why you are thinking what you are thinking. The College of the Liberal Arts was there every step of the way leading up to the study abroad. The preparation for the trip was as simple as it could have been.

And now that we are back at Penn State, I know that Ines is there for us as both a mentor and a friend.

The experience has impacted my life in ways I could not even begin to describe. Well for one, anyone who studies abroad will agree that being in a new country, not understanding the language, and being forced to learn your way around is exciting but at the same time frightening. Personally, I love experiencing new things. And I am all up for adventure. But there are times, like when you find yourself in a new country that these things are being put to a test. After all, you are out of your comfort zone, and you are expected to find your way back.

In short, the process of learning to adjust is also the process of learning responsibility, which then leaves you with a sense of maturity.

In terms of academics, I was able to take Communications Arts and Science classes for the first time ever. We had the opportunity to visit broadcasting stations, publishing houses, and the EU offices among other places. What we were taught in classes, we were then able to apply during our field trips, and actually ask the people involved questions about their jobs.

Our Austrian professor, Thomas Bauer, is a renowned scholar and an important member of the organizations in charge of Austrian Media. His style of teaching was different from what I was used tohere at Penn State. Instead of focusing on specific facts, he instead tried to make us see the different ways of thinking. Instead of asking Professor Bauer questions, we were the ones that had to explain why we
were thinking the way we were. This ‘new’ kind of way to perceive information was probably the most valuable thing I brought back from Austria. It is the skill that I now apply to my classes and even my day-to-day life.

My favorite experience was probably meeting with the Holocaust survivor. Hearing what he had to say really made me realize the effect of the Holocaust on people’s lives. He was separated from his family and friends, and had to witness the death of his loved ones. He was then asked to stand up and rebuild the Jewish community in Salzburg. Hearing his testimony really made the Holocaust ‘real’ for me. 

Applications are open for this Summer 2016 and are due on February 1, 2016. All Liberal Arts students studying abroad are eligible for Enrichment Funding. To learn more, please schedule an appointment via Network Symplicity or email Jackie Smith, Global Experiences Coordinator (jds54@psu.edu).