Live With an Austrian Family
 To offer you as much involvement with the Austrian community as possible, housing is arranged with carefully selected Salzburg families who provide a “home away from home”.
Since you take many of your meals with your host families and participate in day-to-day activities, interaction can be very close. Becoming part of a host family and understanding different customs and values and learning to appreciate them is one of the most exciting aspects of the “European Semester” at Salzburg College. Many lasting friendships have been formed over the years.
Family situations
From Our Students
My host family will always hold a place in my heart. Never before has anyone been so welcoming as my (host) mom.
-- Katherine Hodgson, University of Missouri
My host family welcomed me with open arms, immediately making me feel as though I had always been part of their family. When it was time to leave at the end of the semester, I felt like I was leaving home… to go home.
-- Andrew Pyle, Ouachita Baptist University
Sitting down with a family again at dinner time was one of my favourite parts about both semesters.
-- Jimmy Whalen, Southern Illinois University |
The Austrian families represent many different ways of life, in terms of social background and family structure. The family may consist of parents and several children or the children may have left the house and are now replaced by the Salzburg College sons and daughters. Sometimes two generations live in one house. Some students share a home with a single lady. In many families at least one person knows enough English for communication, and many families speak it fluently. Some do not speak English at all. This seems to roughly correspond to the needs of students in the program, some of whom want “German only” situations to improve their language proficiency and others who feel safer if they can initially communicate in English.
Matching students and families
From Our Students
Living with a host family was a rewarding experience. I was able to be part of an Austrian family and see their way of life as it really is. Taking time to group students and families was a great idea. Little differences matter.
-- Jennifer Murray, Southern Illinois University
My host mother has become one of the most influential people in my life.
-- Chelsea Walker, Hardin-Simmons University |
The process of matching you with your Austrian host family is something we take very seriously because we realize that the home stay will constitute a major aspect of your European experience. For this reason, assignments are not just based on the housing forms that you complete, but more so on personal interviews during the initial one-week field trip through Germany with which the program begins. We will meet in small groups or individually to discuss your needs, preferences, and concerns. These may include the degree of involvement with the family, language requirements, children in the family, and practical aspects such as allergies and a vegetarian diet. Upon arrival in Salzburg , at the end of the Germany field trip, you are met by your host family. Throughout the semester, except for the mid-semester break, the families provide breakfast, dinner, and all meals on weekends as well as "a home away from home".
All meals included
From Our Students
The food was AMAZING. My host mom always cooked a new wonderful meal for every night and it was delicious. I loved how nice, warm, generous, helpful and caring my host mom was. She always made me feel comfortable and at home! She added so much to the experience. She was always willing to talk with me and help me.
-- Emily Jones, Hardin-Simmons University
My host family was really great and would always have fun stuff we could do whenever I wasn’t busy. They went out of their way to make sure my time here was great!
-- Kristin Robertson, Montana State University |
Unlike most study abroad programs, Salzburg College includes housing and all meals in the one-time program fee. Breakfast, dinner, and all weekend meals are provided by the host families. A delicious home-cooked lunch is served every weekday at the College. Students are responsible for some meals during the Germany and Vienna field trips and when they travel independently.
What about my independence?
The Austrian host families recognize that Salzburg College students are young adults. There are no curfews or similar rules (other than adjusting to family customs such as taking off shoes in the entry hall, locking certain doors, etc.). Students are expected to exercise common courtesy such as letting the Austrian mother know early if they will be late for a meal or miss it entirely, or coming in quietly after a late night out. Ultimately, it is up to the students to what extent they want to be more involved in a family life or more independent. This is one of the aspects discussed in the initial placement process. Students who prefer greater involvement can be placed with families of the same preference. Most families, however, are prepared to go either way.
Commuting to the College
From Our Students
“Living with a family was such a unique experience and one I will never forget. I now can say I have a family in Europe.”
-- Jocelyn Barton, Fairfield University |
Some students live in walking distance, fifteen minutes to half an hour from the college. Others use the local bus or bicycles to commute. Public transportation is very efficient and the Salzburg College study center is located down the street from the main intersecting point of the bus system. Students pay a weekly or monthly pass which allows them to use the bus at all times, not just to commute between the home and the school. Many students prefer to use a bike. Bicycles can be rented (a simple one would cost around $100 for the semester), or sometimes families provide them. Bicycles are not recommended in heavy snow, which may be typical for January/February, or if you are not used to riding bicycles in traffic.
Other options
Students who do not feel comfortable with the homestay option, especially non-traditional students or married couples, are encouraged to request an alternate option, which the Salzburg College staff will be happy to arrange. |
