Graz also has a large university population, giving it a lively, youthful atmosphere.
Outside Austria, the furthest I have travelled during my Fulbright grant is to London, England! I visited a friend there during Herbstferien, which means autumn or fall break in German. Austrian schoolchildren have a break in late October, which is especially nice because it coincides with several important holidays. October 26 is Austria's National Day, celebrating the country's declaration of permanent neutrality in 1955 following the end of the Allied occupation after World War II. The break also falls around All Saints' Day (November 1), a Christian holiday honoring saints, and All Souls' Day (November 2), when people traditionally remember and pray for loved ones who have died.
As a teacher at an Austrian school through the USTA program, I had the week off too, so I took the opportunity to spend a few days exploring London's wonderful museums and art galleries with my friend! It was exciting to see so much art in an entirely different country.
One thing I find fascinating about living in Europe is how relatively close everything is. A train ride of just a few hours can take me to another major Austrian city, while a relatively short flight can bring me to an entirely different country. Compared with traveling across the United States, where journeys between major cities can take many hours, exploring different countries in Europe can be surprisingly easy!
