Henry Braun, ’25
Program: Austria
Major: Political Science and Global Business Leadership
Minor: History
Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you decide on this program?
I chose to study in Austria because I wanted a program that would match my genetic heritage, but also a place where I could travel around the rest of Europe very easily. A majority of my family comes from Germany, so the culture of Austria seemed very appealing to learn more about, and the people. Furthermore, it also provided an easy place to travel to other countries of Europe, which was a huge goal of mine for the past couple of years.
Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your program that made a lasting impression.
During late September, Salzburg has a festival called St. Rupert's Festival, basically a minor Oktoberfest. A majority of the people in the program got together to visit the site and all got dirndls and lederhosen, making the experience even more memorable. It was a great time meeting locals around Salzburg and also being a part of a tradition that has been around for hundreds of years.
Describe your overall study abroad experience.
Overall, this study abroad program is one of the best experiences I have ever had. I did not get the opportunity to go on the German trip my high school hosted because of Covid. This program allowed me to fulfill my desire to travel around Europe, but it also gave me an outlet to make lifelong friends from even outside Saint John's/Saint Ben's. Some of my favorite memories of my college studies so far have come from this program. Best decision of my life.
Based on your experiences abroad, what are some of the benefits of spending a semester abroad? How has studying abroad contributed to your personal, academic, and professional development?
I think without my study abroad experience, I would be less developed personally and academically. This comes from the experiences and challenges I faced abroad which helped me learn a lot about myself. One of these challenges was learning how to study and take classes in a different form of teaching than I have been used to. On the personal development side, I felt I grew a lot through studying abroad because of the friends I made while there and also some of the things I started to realize about myself.
What advice can you offer for CSB+SJU students who are considering or planning to study abroad?
Before leaving the United States, really prepare the main places you want to visit and budget accordingly. Money runs out fast before you realize it, but time runs out even faster. You cannot visit everywhere you want, but with planning, you can see almost all of it.