exp 9

I knew that I always wanted to travel, and I was hoping that this much traveling would be okay for a while. However it has had the opposite effect. I don't know how I'll ever be able to stop traveling. Which isn't a bad thing, I am just so amazed at all the wonderful cultures and beautiful cities. I want to see and experience it all.


I also feel more drawn to learning about other cultures, so I'll be looking into some classes when I get home, I won't be learning them like I am now, but I'm hoping I'll be able to understand them better because of taking this course.

I have learned that I'm not always professional when I need to be, and it's something I'll need to develop my senses for to be more aware. I also realized more so in this class over others the severity of my ADHD still and how hard it can make my classes.

I definitely think that my life at some point could have benefited from learning
some of these lessons. For instance in my current schooling process I am considered already a professional in my field and I'll admit that I don't always act like one. Maybe I would have been less prone to distraction and gotten better grades if I was less focused on making friends and more on what I was being taught.

Just being more aware and focusing on that, perhaps devolving my awareness more so that I can recognize when I am doing it and make the appropriate adjustments.

exp 8

I am taking a history course that is focusing on German Culture And the Role of Empire. Everything I am learning is new to me. I'm not a student that really needed a German History class for my degree, I picked it because I am German and thought it would be really neat to learn about some of my ancestors history.

It's a bit different learning things here in a new country. We talk about palaces and then the next day or so we are in them! It's such an amazing way to learn, really just paying attention to everything we are seeing. I am definitely learning faster and better because of the excursions they make a huge difference.

Just knowing more of the Austria-Hungarians empire will be super beneficial. Like learning most history, learning how things worked; or the governments that were formed are all vital to moving forward with an open mind and trying to bring about the best world for everyone.

I am definitely looking for a world culture/ history course when I get back.

Location:Grantham,United Kingdom

exp 7

I have noticed a few different attitudes towards myself and my group from others as we visit their countries. Back here at Harlaxton I see some evening security guards being a little more on edge waiting for the lot of us who may just been out. The second night we were here when we all when to the Gregory I could tell they that were less than excited to be serving some of us, exchanging looks and laughing a bit as they ordered more.
In Wien, everyone was nice, we had a few people take time out of their days to explain tipping to us and how they offered no free water. We did meet a gentleman in front of St. Stephan's who gave us tips on where to exchange money for the best rates while he was selling his artwork. We also received some looks of trains when we were being loud.


I didn't think there would be as many people willing to help us,I did know that sometimes our behavior wouldn't impress them.


My cultural insight that I take away from this blog is that I need to speak up more around others when I may notice them being stared down. However it's a fine line between they graciously accepting your advice or yelling at you to mind your own business and they can be as loud as they want.

Personally just trying to be even more conscious of the other cultures and emerge myself more so. I think I only had an issue in Wien.

Exp 5- Emotions

Traveling with other people can be difficult. You have that many different people together and things will be difficult at some point for multiple people.

I noticed myself feeling excited to explore every day we were in each city. I also noticed how I was comfortable walking around in daytime in all cities but as soon as night came I was a bit hesitant and even called my sister on my walk home in Praha.

I usually just say what I'm feeling, if it's going to affect someone else I tend to think on it for a bit, wondering if it's the best way to say it. I'd like to think I'm pretty authentically me, and sometimes that doesn't have a filter. It can be hard for me to remain professional once there is a certain level of comfort involved in a relationship.

I observed others struggling with the group setting and some people I was willing to help and others not so much based on the way I would watch them interact with myself and others.

Exp Blog 4- Praha

Praha, what a magical city. I honestly fell in love with this city from the train station, even though it was a little rough in that area. Or at least it looked like it was with its run down buildings that hadn't been refurbished yet. Once you got to city center though, Wow! The orange roofs, baroque and gothic style buildings give you views for days.

I didn't really have a lot of expectations for Praha, just from the few pictures I saw I never imagined it to be so beautiful. I love cities by water, and this had such a nicer atmosphere along the river side than Cincinnati does.

Something I realized about my life while there is that I want to find places in Cincinnati that could be a reflection on Praha. Places with outdoor seating, and go to more parks. Just really inspired me to take advantage of the city I have.

Exp Blog 3 Vienna

Vienna was a beautiful city, had a lot of detail in so many buildings. With its gold details, huge statues throughout the city, it constantly reminds you how powerful the Habsburg's Empire was. The city is well taken care of, with not a lot of trash on the grounds and beautiful landscape throughout the city. It's location and "caged" feel contributes to how powerful it feels.

I found that people who were getting money from its now capitalist economy to be the most friendly. Tour guides were very excited to share their cities history, which made learning about it a lot more fun.

Kafka

Kafka did not like empire. His work could be interpreted as anti empire, using metaphors to represent empire in them. He often used his dad in his stories which could be an example of a metaphor for empire and how oppressive it can be. It helped me understand Empire on a more personal level, being able to compare it to my life experiences with an oppressive parent.

Kutanahora

Kutanahora was a church outside of Prague that the bottom was adorned with the bones of thousands of people.


I thought the church was bizzare and it made me feel uneasy. I've never seen anything like it so I couldn't really look away. However I felt really sad, thinking about the lives of these people and how know one knows who they are, someone could be next to there relatives and never know.

It's hard to think that some people's remains were treated as such.

Konopiste

Konopiste was the palace of Franz Ferdinand, his wife Sophie and their family. Franz Joseph didn't want their marriage to happen because Sophie wasn't Royal enough. Eventually he agreed citing that the marriage would be morganatic, meaning that she and their children could name claim to throne, rank, or privileges.

Konopiste itself was so far from the residence in Praha that whoever he conducted business with out there must of felt pretty intimidated traveling such a long way. A very powerful move that a lot of previous emperors used , although none of the other summer palaces were not this far. Franz was a hunter, a very obsessed one. He had over 200,000 of his kills stuffed and mounted on the walls of Konopiste, also another power play. Showing everyone how much he travels and how good he is at killing things.

Sisi

Sisi was a beloved empress, but one with a more tragic life due to her desires to not be part of all the political mess. Sisi wished to be free to do what she liked, including traveling, writing, and learning new languages, and although she was able to do many of these things she felt caged.

After touring some of her castles and getting a visual on her living quarters I couldn't help but to feel sympathetic towards her.

Sisi proved herself useful as an important role for empire when she ended conflict between Austria and Hungary.

Compare and Contrast Palaces

Hofburg vs. Schonbrunn vs Kew

Hofburg- The most formal palace of the Habsburgs. It is a show of power, and a place for the Hasburg's to conduct business. Some examples of how it showed power included paintings and sculptures, large spaces, and ornate details, always reminding people to stay in line.  With its formal waiting room, and straight to the point feel, the Hofburg residience differed greatly from Schonbrunn. In regards to Sisi, the Hofburg was more comfortable because it was geared towards her hobbies/obsessions (exercise and a writing desk), as well as more than double the rooms she was given at Schonbrunn.

Schonbrunn- The Summer palace of the Habsburgs, was more comfortable. A place for state dinners, and more informal business meetings, where the waiting room had a pool table.  Placed a little outside city center, In regards to Sisi, she had three rooms to herself, and didn't have her own bed. Not a lot for her to do, and no privacy. She was confined to a place that was too far away for her to escape.

Both of these Palaces are for the Habsburgs, to project power. Both were used for business meetings. Sisi hated both of them

Kew- A modest summer home for the Hanover family. It was a smaller classical home compared to the Habsburg's residences. It was not a place for business but simply a family home. It was also where the family members went when they were sick. When George went "mad" and was put in a straight jacket, and later when Charlotte died there in 1818. This place soon became associated with sickness. Kew was a modest home with an impressive garden still boasting power like the others.
They were all palaces for the Royal families.

Compare and Contrast Cathedrals

Vienna- St. Stephan's Dom

St. Stephan's Dom was a Cathedral originally built in the 1100s, it burned down then was rebuilt beginning in the 1400s. It was rebuilt in Gothic Style architecture, with ribbed vaulted ceilings, and pointed archs. St. Stephan's interior boasted beautiful stained glass windows and private chapels for wealthy families. The Hasburg's wanted to show people how much power they had, and thought that having a Cathedral and a bishop in their city would signify this. 

Prague- St. Vitus and St. George

 St. Vitus

St. Vitus was a cathedral built in the 1100s in the high gothic style. Much like St. Stephan's the interior also had ribbed vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and private chapels. Unlike St. Stephan's St. Vitus had an additional high gothic feature because of its flying buttresses you see in the photo above.

St. George

 St. George was built in the 900s in the Romanesque style of architecture. It boasts clean arches, capitals and arcades. It is very different in comparison  to St. Stephans and St. George high gothic features.

Freud's contribution to the understanding of the Empire.

I find Freud's theory to be a great metaphor for Empire.

Goals

 My goals for this trip include; interacting with new people, stepping out of my comfort zone, trying new things, and learning alot about myself in the process. I would love to take a million great photographs, some that are frame worthy or even that others would want to purchase. I want to take some time for self reflection and learn to be more grateful for the things I have in my life. Even though it will be hard, I'd like to enjoy the time I have away from my daughter and just gain more of myself back from what I may have let go, because I just simply didn't have enough time.

Empire Strikes Back

dun dun dun dunnnnn dunnnnnn dun dun dun dunnnnn dunnnn dun dun dun dunnnn dunnnn dun dun dun dun.

Immediately what I think of when I think of the word Empire. My personal understanding of what an Empire is, is that it's total power. It's all the bullies teaming up to take on the people that they deem less than them. However I realize that not all Empire's are bad and that some can serve a great purpose and work well for their people. I just think there is no reason for there to be that much power unless absolutely everyone is sharing it.

Foreign Affairs

What kinds of clothing or behaviors might make a person stand out in London, Vienna, or Prague in ways that might affect the group, positively or negatively?

I think there are a couple things that will make us stand out in Europe. Clothing wise I'm told gym shoes, and leggings, brightly colored items. Behavior wise I imagine being loud and super animated would draw attention to us. I think americans can be cocky and this could potentially become an issue for us in foreign country. 

On a positive note, I think that opportunity to connect with people and just absorb their culture will benefit us. America is probably just as interesting to them as Europeans are to us.

Getting Ready

Getting ready for my adventure abroad with the University of Cincinnati. So many things are falling into place, I am currently focusing on pinning down my free weekend plans, finding it extremely hard to pick just one place to go, because everything sounds amazing. I will be pinning down costs and hope that it will help me decide. I also plan to stay an extra week so gathering up those costs may help determine the free weekend as well.