The first week of the EMU Europe Intercultural was spent in Salzburg, Austria. The group spent the time getting adjusted, learning the culture, and exploring the new area. For me, it was full of emotions. Excitement and Sadness are the most present. I was super excited to have this new adventure, but leaving behind my family and the EMU community was a much more difficult task than I had expected. In such a short time, I have realized that the self-growth I will gain from this trip will be significant and I’m excited to continue learning about the new area and myself.
Some of the things we did in Salzburg were climb the Untesberg, a highlight for most of the group, explore the Salt Mines in Germany, see the Grossglockner High Alpine Highway and Glacier, take a boat ride through the Königssee, and explore the history of the city of Salzburg. My favorite part was the boat ride and hike through the Königssee. The mountains and the river were so vibrant that it didn’t even seem real. At one point, the guide played a trumpet and we could hear the echo spreading throughout the entire area.
As we leave Salzburg, we have become so much closer as a group, and are continuing to learn new things about ourselves and each other. It is a very exciting time and I am very excited for the future experiences the group will share together.
-Gracie Conner