Holy Week in Holy Land (Israel)

By:

Joseph Thang

Published:

Countries

Demographics

, , ,

Majors

Regions

Joseph Thang

<i>Home Institution</i>: University of Texas, Dallas <i>Expected Graduation Year</i>: 2025 <i>Academic Major / Minor</i>: Information Technology Systems <i>Destination</i>: Vienna, Austria <i>"Hello" in your host country's language</i>: Hallo <i>Demographics</i>: Asian/Asian American, U.S. Immigrant, First-Generation College Student, Community College Student <i>Future Career Goals</i>: My future career goals are to work in tech companies after graduation and maybe continue my master depending on my job situation. <i>Top Three Study Abroad Goals</i>: Learn how to ski; Learn some German; Make some life-long friendship

I spend my whole Easter Break in the Holy Land with a group from my faith community in Vienna. We were in Israel for 11 days, making a pilgrimage from Jerusalem to the Sea of Galilee. Being in Holy Land during Holy Week as a Christian Catholic was surreal and unbelievable. I never imagined being in Holy Land with a group of students from Vienna while studying abroad. This trip will be the highlight of my study abroad.

It was an eye-opening experience to see how Jerusalem is a Holy City for three different religions Christianity, Jewish, and Islam. It was always crowded inside the old city wall since there were pilgrims from all over the world. I had an opportunity to see the different cultures and how their religion plays a pivotal role in daily life. I also had a chance to learn about my own faith while physically present on the sites. Hence, the trip allows me to continue to grow in my faith.