Studies Abroad: Salzburg Year- Accommodations

The University of Portland Center is a fifteen-minute walk from the center of downtown Salzburg. It is also conveniently within walking distance of the train station. The facility consists of two buildings which include student rooms, the classroom, the director’s apartment, the library/computer lab, the dining room, general meeting room, laundry room, kitchen, and courtyard with basketball hoop.

Student rooms are mostly doubles (two triples and two singles) with private bathrooms and showers. Rooms are fairly new and furnished with beds, closets, and desks for each roommate. Several rooms have balcony access. Linens and towels are provided and students can do their laundry for no charge. Both washing machines and dryers are available for student use. Housekeeping staff vacuums rooms once a week.

All meals are provided either home-served at the center or by a meal allowance. Breakfast is available every morning at the center and usually consists of cereal, granola/muesli, yogurt, fruit, hard/soft boiled eggs, bread, and jam, butter, peanut butter and nutella. Lunches and dinners are available Monday through Thursday when classes are in session.

Lunches are served in the cafeteria of a local business and usually consist of a variety of Austrian-style foods such as schnitzel, goulash, and spaetzle (an Austrian noodle dish). Dinners are provided by the center and consist of a variety of soups with sandwich-making materials available as well. Frau Strobl on occasion also makes special additions of bratwurst or sausage. On Sunday evenings, student groups cook dinners of their choice for their peers

On weekends and tours, students are provided with an allowance to purchase their own meals. For students staying in Salzburg, a variety of stores are available for purchasing their own meals. Additionally, nearby restaurants offer various different types of food, from traditional Austrian dishes to Chinese and Thai. Vegetarian students can easily supplement their dinners with these options.

On tour, students are often provided with meals by the hotels where the group is staying or given an allowance to explore local dining options.

Telephones are available in each room for student use, but long-distance service is costly. Phone cards or incoming calls only are a good way to control expenses. During tours and travel weekends, students may find cell phones useful. Additionally, internet access is available at no cost within the computer lab.

Student life at the center is a definitive part of the Salzburg experience. Each semester, students are formed into committees that work to assist their peers in social, spiritual, cultural, sports, and stewardship areas. Each year there are usually retreats, holiday parties (Halloween, Easter, etc.), sports tournaments (basketball, foosball, etc.), and opportunities to visit local museums and attend theatre performances. Additionally, there is a house council (Studentenrat) that discusses program issues with the director. Students and the director meet every Sunday evening to go over events within the community.

Outside of the center, students can attend a Catholic mass or Protestant church service in English within Salzburg, exercise at a local gym, take dance or pilates lessons, hike, or simply shop and dine out. Professors and directors alike usually have recommendations for various activities and events within the area and are happy to share them with interested students.