Debate about education (the Austrian point of view)

Every time when I move to a new country (and Austria is my 5^th one, actually), I pay attention to the new things around me and certain aspects of life suddenly become redefined.

This time my appreciation for education which I’m getting in the UK has risen dramatically... Some of you may laugh, but those who've seen both sides might understand what I'm talking about. 

Here in Austria I’m studying at Universität Wien and I couldn’t be more happy that my torture will end after one term… Most of my professors, the well-educated people that they are, prepare their lectures at home (I’m not complaining about that!), but then they come to the actual lecture with sheets of printed paper and they read out loud whatever they’ve written at home. What is the point of this, I'm asking?! Not to mention that it's a lot harder for me to understand when I'm listening to someone reading out loud the academic text (and in German of course) which I don't have in front of me... 

But I’m even more amazed when I see some students typing every word on their laptops... What are they learning really? How to be a secretary?!

There are no essays, no room for critical thinking, no initiative, nothing. Teachers around the world are complaining that students can't write and, instead, they "copy and paste". But what is it that we're doing here? Listening to somebody's lecture, "copying" the content in the form of notes or even word-for-word report and then, on the day of exam, "pasting" all the info we were able to remember by heart. Isn't that what it is?

One Austrian girl told me I must've been unlucky, because not all lectures are like this. And I admit, I have one professor who TRIES TO explain and talk, rather than read about books that we're "analysing" (or, to be more precise, HE IS), but nevertheless I must say - I do feel sorry for Austrian students, for they spend a few years of their lives "copying and pasting", instead of learning how to think.

A little experiment...

I always plan everything. My diary is FULL and there’s never enough time for spontaneity on my to-do lists if I want to do everything I LOVE. A few days ago my friend sent me a link to Billy Joel’s song “Vienna”. Inspired by lyrics I decided to go out for a photo-walk, and then for about 36h I took whatever life was giving me. Without planning. Without overthinking. Like a little experiment…:

And so I am taking pictures in a park and I hear some guys speaking British English. It feels so pleasantly familiar here… but I keep walking. Vienna’s waiting for me, sings Billy Joel to me. I’m passing a Mexican restaurant and I see a note on the window – they’re looking for a waitress! I walk in. When can I have a try-out day? Tomorrow? Ok! I go to meet a friend. We eat delicious cake before going to a theater. It turns out following the play there’s a gala there – best actors, actresses… and a red carpet! What a funny coincidence that we happened to go to there on that day...

 The next day I’m nervous. Working in German? What if I don’t understand something? I go to work anyway and there I just KNOW what to do and I understand enough. Ufff... I get the job. :) Those guys from the park walk in to the restaurant. We talk by the bar. After working till 2am I meet them again and we go for a party. At 5am I have a feeling it’s time to stop this freestyle and go back to doing what I want to do. Or, in this case, not doing what I don’t want to do… 

I didn’t really like this party and so I decided to leave… exactly a minute before a huge fight broke out! I could still hear it while going home…

It certainly was an interesting time, but I’ve never been much of a freestyle/accidental-life fan. I've always preferred to tango. With passion.

But hey, as a result of my experiment I got a job! That can't be too bad, can it? ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZdiXvDU4P0

October

The surprises are just getting better and better... :)

You never really know what the day might bring you until it's over...

A few days ago we left to go to a theater and we ended up in the Opera, watching and listening to La Traviata. And all of that joy just for 3 euro!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8zE-WNA6os

Yesterday, however, we finally managed to get to that play and it turned out that following the play there was a gala and they were awarding best actors and actresses.
Obviously I didn't even recognize any of those people who are famous in Austria, but I can say I've been there ;)

Vienna is a fascinating place, where once you know your way around it is easy to live a very cultural life for a price equivalent to just a coffee and cake. ;)


It's autumn here, and very beautiful. Did you know?

Universität Wien

So here is a little tour around University of Vienna. The main building (which is where I have almost all my lectures) is very old and bigger than I thought. I realised this when I first had to find my lecture hall and I got lost at least three times on the way.... ;)

Corridors are very spatious and ceilings remind us that it has never actually been finished! There are spaces for ceiling paintings, but since University run out of money when they were building it, the original plans have never been introduced.

The library is my favourite place. Very stylish! ;) And it has surprisingly strick rules as to how much you can actually bring in. No handbags allowed!

View from the courtyard. That's where I was spending first couple of days stealing Uni's Internet before I organised myself ;)

When I first came it was always full of students. But I took a picture quite late in the afternoon. Plus it's much colder now....

And this is one of the only two rooms which were actually finished according to the original plan. Unfortunately we don't have classes there, but if anyone is interested in graduating from University of Vienna then this is where your graduation ceremony would take place. ;)

unexpected surprises

I’ve lived in this city for a week now and as every newcomer I keep being amazed at things that a true Viennese finds normal. The other day I went to the office where I was supposed to register my stay in Vienna. I was truly surprised to see that behind the desk where people deal with all that bureaucratic issues on the wall hung posters with half-naked Johnny Depp and Justin Timberlake. I found this clash of serious paperwork and frivolous room decoration amusing.

The role of an observer is sometimes unexpectedly surprising. =)

Vienna. Ready Steady GO!

I'm in Vienna! It's time to begin this adventure. :) Scared and stressed I arrived on Saturday, but I'm already feeling very good about all of it. But tell me, who wouldn't? if the sun is shining and you can cycle through the greenest capital city in the world!?
I've just registered as a student and I'm proud to say that when they asked me in the office if I want to do it in English or German, I said German and did not use one english word! Ha! :D
This is going to be a good day! :] (although I still don't know what exactly will I study here;p I'll find out soon enough though)

Lots of love and hugs and sunshine to all of you!
K.