Posted March 20, 2014 by UTS Think Global1 Comment Global Exchange

Appreciating Austin

As typical as this may sound for an exchange student, I really cannot believe that my semester at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) will be over in 7 weeks! Where did all my time go? Let me try recall…

It was only at the 2 month mark, when Spring Break was suddenly around the corner, that I’d realised I needed to use my time over here more efficiently. Up until this point, I had pretty much stayed on campus and only ventured out a handful of times to do some shopping or attend student organisation events. This hadn’t been much of a problem though, as there is so much happening around campus. I’ve been to free musical and talent shows put on by students, attended Longhorn basketball home games, saw Wicked and American Idiot, went to Imagine Dragons concert… There’s a bunch of museums around campus and I’m still trying to visit them all, but finding time for it can be hard when 4 hours isn’t enough in the Texas History Museum alone. I have also been volunteering for a Texas Student TV program called Local Live, which invites a local band into the studio for a live performance each week. We’ve had remote shoots a couple of times as well, so it’s really given me a chance to learn more about the music scene here in Austin.

I’ve got to say, I didn’t think Austin was anything interesting for the first few weeks I’d been here but I’ve come to realise how much it has to offer – in the arts, history, live music, longhorn spirit, state pride, cultural diversity, recreational facilities and the great outdoors. I’ve now made a conscious decision to see more of Austin and Texas and the only real challenge is balancing school work with time for traveling. So little time, so much to see! Surprise, surprise that my Spring Break was spent traveling. I will let the photos do the talking.

The view of UT campus from my dorm

The parade on Martin Luther King day began on campus, Jan 19.

Texas vs Kansas, Longhorn home game Feb 1, 2014. I will truly miss these games.

Setting up mics for the band at remote shoot, WXWC

Bullock Texas State History Museum. So much to learn!

Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar on East 6th St. Great rowdy crowd on a Wednesday night.

A rainy riverside at San Antonio – 1.5 hours south west of Austin. Only costed $7 one way by Megabus so it makes a good weekend trip.

The hot sauce section of Rustlin Robs Texas Gourmet Foods, Fredericksburg, 1.5 hours west of Austin. This was only one tiny section of the shop, it was filled with shelves upon shelves of jams, salsas, peanut butters, honey butters, dips, chocalate, etc for you to taste test. The shop was packed with people so there was no shame for pigging out!

Enchanted Rock – 30 minutes north of Fredericksburg. A lot of families were there which wasn’t surprising considering how easy the hike was to get a good view.

Enchanted Rock didn’t look like anything too special at first, but the fact that you can get to such heights without any barriers or restricted access…feels different and definitely feels good!

McKinney Falls State Park, on the edge of Austin, about 20 min drive from campus.

McKinney Falls is a camping ground and has many flat hiking trails. The grey, rocky ground and twisted, bare trees aren’t what you would typically describe as pretty, but I loved it. It was just so different. Would be a good location for a horror or thriller film, but it wasn’t creepy at all. It was peaceful. And filled with many families/happy campers.