On February, 28 I started my semester abroad at CUAS with a warm welcome event offered by the International Relations Office. We got a very good overview on the IT systems and what we can expect during the semester. During the welcome days we made an excursion to mount Dobratsch. We had the opportunity to choose and eat one of the traditional Austrian dishes and we got it free. Dobratsch was such a nice place. There was a lot of snow, which I have not seen in that quantity for a long time due to climate change. The following day, CUAS prepared a “Treasure hunt” which main goal was to introduce us to important places in Villach. At the end of the event, we were awarded with a dessert.
Villach is a great place to be. It is small enough to not get overwhelmed and big enough to find almost anything someone needs. It is easy to visit Italy and Slovenia, as it is close by. Bike routes around Drava are amazing! Austrian weather also suits me well, but still, summer days are a bit too hot.
The knowledge that I got at CUAS was quite different from my degree program in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, chosen courses were good and I could attend them and do well. I enjoyed studying, as the courses were interesting. Homework was also something new for me, as it’s not a thing in my university. Professors were great. They handled “online learning” well and did their best to deliver their knowledge. As nothing was purely theoretical and we needed to use different computer programs or different methods of learning other than talking, it wasn’t an easy job to do. They were friendly and always willing to help or do more if needed. It is not only the case with professors; every other employee at CUAS was amazing. They were always ready to help and they were always ready to give a suggestion on how to make something easier for us.
I met many people of different nationalities, races and cultures. It was interesting to learn about their ways of life and to understand them. With most of the students, it was easy to socialize and they have always been willing to help. I hope that I will get another opportunity to have an exchange semester somewhere. I think that it’s something that every student should experience as it can help them to get another point of view of their studies and life. Moreover, when it comes to Villach, I will go there at least once more in my life for sure.
