PMU Day 2 & 3
On Thursday, we started our day with two lectures. Frau Holzer provided the first lecture, about various healthcare system models before concentrating on Austria’s system. It was interesting to compare and contrast the United States healthcare system and Austria’s. In 1888, the Austrian Prime Minister, Taafee, introduced a national health care coverage system for state-mandated businesses. They based their health care design on Germany’s statutory health insurance model. The corporate social security model has expanded throughout the decades, covering about 100% of the Austrian population. Healthcare in Austria has a two-tier system. Individuals are provided publicly funded care, however they have the option to purchase supplementary insurance. Austria spends 11.1% of it’s total GDP on healthcare. Health insurance membership is based on the occupational status of the individual. Premiums are equally distributed and employers pay half of the total contribution for salaried people. An interesting part of the healthcare system in Austria is the chronically ill and socially protected patients are exempt from paying co-payments. However, anyone else paying for medications pays around 5 EUR per prescription. Austria’s social security health system provides maternity benefits, child-care benefits and benefits for students. Psychotherapy is also covered by the social insurance. While both the federal government and each of the 9 Austrian states regulate healthcare, it is the state’s responsibility to regulate inpatient care and adequately interlink outpatient, inpatient and long-term care.
Our second lecture focused on the history and culture of Austria. Frau Holzer first discussed a brief overview of Austria’s history, majority of which was covered in Module 2 on this site. We also discussed Austria’s “Green Credentials.” Austria offers organic products, watches their use of energy and provides strict waste management. Trash must be separated between trash, plastic, glass and paper. Austria provides European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN), which is a project that promotes sustainable tourism. The Grosses Walsertal Valley in Vorarlberg is a great example of their use of EDEN (http://www.grosseswalsertal.at/). Food was also a topic of interest. Around lunchtime, Austrians rarely say their normal greeting, “Grüß Gott,” and instead say “Mahlzeit” (translated to mealtime). Food in Austria depends on the region, whether it is influenced by Hungary, Bohemia, Italy or Germany. Meals are normally three courses and people do not rush their meals. When toasting, it is important to make eye contact and say “Prost,” “Zum Wohl,” or “Prosit.” Never cross over arms while toasting, since that is bad luck. You must toast straight on. A popular part of Austrian food is the Würstelstand, which has a wide range of sausages. These stands are scattered throughout Austria and stay open until dawn. People tend to grab a sausage after a night on the town. Humor is different in Austria compared to America. Their joking is called “Schmäh” (pronounced shmay). Austrians tend to make fun of one another so their jokes are not meant to be taken to heart. Not known to be a gregarious culture, Austrians find the quick “How are you” as you pass an acquaintance very strange. However, once they become friends with someone, they take quite an interest in one’s day.
Our lecture time ended with a city quiz. We had to take off to Altstadt (Old City) of Salzburg for a Scavenger hunt created by Frau Holzer. We had to find buildings, try on a trachet (Traditional Austrian dress), and enjoy a Mozartkugel. The dress and kugel were the highlight of our day.
Questions from our City Quiz:
What was designed and built in 1693 and restored in 1732? It was built in the course of building the façade for the royal stables and is named after Herbert von Karajan.
A: Karajan Platz
What is the name of the confectioner who created the original “Mozartkugel” in 1890? Find a shop where the handmade chocolate is still sold.
A: Paul Fürst
What is the name of the Austrian traditional costume? Find a store and try one on!
A: Tracht
What is the name of Salzburg’s world famous composer who was born in 1756? Find his birthplace!
A: Mozart (Mozart’s Geburthaus)
What transportation did the archbishop use? It was also used to transport goods. If you are close, you might hear the clacking of the hoofs on the pavement!
A: Horse-drawn carriages
6. Find the center of the Jewish settlement from the Middle Ages and find the place where you can buy handcrafted
Christmas and Easter decorations year round.
A: Christmas in Salzburg on Judengasse (Ironic?)
7. What was redesigned in 1690 under Prince Archbishop Johann Ernst Graf von Thurn and completely remodeled around 1730 by Franz Anton Danreiter? In is you will find a Pegasus fountain with four statues around the fountain which symbolize the 4 elements: fire, air, earth, and water. The place was opened to the public by Emperor Franz Josef in 1854.
A: Mirabell Schloß
Friday, we provided Frau Holzer with a presentation of our answers to the city quiz and photos. We then headed to the Austrian supermarket to gather the necessary supplies in order to cook an Austrian lunch! We made Käsespätzle and Apfelstrudel. It was incredibly delicious and easy to make. We were incredibly sad to say Tschüß to Frau Holzer. She is absolutely wonderful and made our experience at the Salzburg campus of PMU a great one. Tomorrow, we head to Udine, Italy. We will be visiting Venice all day Sunday! We changed our plans from Munich, Germany due to the huge influx of refugees from Syria trying to go to Germany. This has caused delays in trains and issues with crossing the border. We are not too disappointed about visiting Venice.