Hard to believe 30 NAFAns from across the country are already starting to depart for Berlin to begin the long-awaited 2024 Germany/Austria Study Tour!

Almost a year ago to the day, the first questions were asked: Is NAFA ready to re-start Study Tours? Would we find people to plan it and get enough member interest? Could we keep the tour fee reasonable despite inflation? What about adding Austria (and Slovakia) to the mix even though it means a longer stay and slightly higher cost?

The answer to everything has been a resounding YES. Planning has been led by Study Tour Committee Chair Susan Albrecht (Wabash College) and included Daniel Villanueva (University of Nevada, Reno and World Affairs Councils of America), Elizabeth Harrington Lambert (Vanderbilt), Lori Felton (American University) and Scott Palmer (UC Davis). Each will take a turn co-leading as we travel through German-speaking Europe.

Given that the tour sold out in under a day, we think we’ve created an attractive itinerary to meet demand. We open with three days in Berlin, then travel to the classic cultural cities of Weimar and Jena. Then it’s on to magical Vienna, with a day excursion to Bratislava, Slovakia.

Over ten days, visits are planned with a variety of public and private universities and research institutes, Fulbright Commissions in all three capitals, the German Parliament, and cultural attractions in each city. To provide more context, prior to departure participants took part in four online info sessions by the German and Austrian Embassies, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and the German Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS7).

Our volunteer tour blogger-participants look forward to sharing daily highlights of each stop along the way with you, starting with Berlin in just a few days. Auf geht’s! (Let’s go!)

Daniel Villanueva, he/him, Co-Leader