The
major skill that I gained in History 280 and then applied to International
Studies 316 was map reading, particularly transportation maps. In the class
during spring semester we studied the maps of each city and had map quizzes of
the locations of the most significant locations in the cities. This made it
much easier to find locations when we were actually staying in the city as part
of the summer course. Looking over the tram and metro maps ahead of time also
made navigating the metro and tram systems much easier. The navigational and
map reading skills that we practiced during the spring course before the trip
were very helpful during my International Studies 316 course.
 |
| Oktogon Stop: M1 Research |
The
knowledge that I gained during History 280 in the spring was also essential to
International Studies 316 in Central Europe. While I am a history student so I
know a lot of the broad history of Central Europe, gaining a closer historical
perspective of the cities and specific locations we would visit was imperative.
In order to understand a location, the history that place is essential. We also
learned a lot about the music we would hear in Central Europe in the class. It
made recognizing and appreciating the music we heard much easier. It also
prepared me for what aspects of music to listen for at the various performances
we attended. For instance, I knew what to expect at the opera, so I could more
fully enjoy the performance and talent of the performers. The background
knowledge that I gained in the spring course was essential to the summer
course.
 |
| Metro in Leipzig |
The research methodologies I gained in
History 280 were also very important to my experience in International Studies
316. In our spring class I was part of a small group that did a research
project on the M1/Andrassy Ut metro line in Budapest. When we were in Budapest,
we did field work along this line. The research and presentation at the
conclusion of the History 280 course gave me a lot of background about the M1
and also gave me some idea about what type of information I would need to
collect during my field work. The advice of the professors for research
collection as well as the presentation in the spring course prepared me very
well for my own first-hand research during the summer course.
I
feel that the History 280 course during the spring semester was an excellent
preparatory course for the International Studies 316 course while we were
traveling in Central Europe.
Picture References:
1.
Emily
Herkert. Out the Train Window. June
2, 2014. Germany.
2.
Emily
Herkert. Oktogon Sign. June 19, 2014.
Budapest, Hungary.
3.
Emily
Herkert. Metro in Leipzig. June 3,
2014. Leipzig, Germany.
