Irmtraud´s first study years at the University
In the fall of 1963 I enrolled at the University of Vienna in French and History. But I also took a crash course of Ancient Greek, since I felt that a student of humanities should have some knowledge of this language. The classes in French and History in the first year were very easy and so I spent a lot of time on Ancient Greek. The complex grammar of this language intrigued me and I also was surprised how many words in our culture had a Greek origin.
Although my parents had become quite affluent, they provided me with little financial support. In order to survive, I was tutoring students in French and Latin. But nevertheless I could hardly afford a warm meal at the student restaurant. Once I saw in the department of history an announcement of a scholarship for “excellent students”. I read the requirements: results of exams for lectures and seminars should be between excellent and vey good. This was hard to realize. Although it was very stressful, I met this requirement and I received the scholarship for the rest of my study.
Although my parents had become quite affluent, they provided me with little financial support. In order to survive, I was tutoring students in French and Latin. But nevertheless I could hardly afford a warm meal at the student restaurant. Once I saw in the department of history an announcement of a scholarship for “excellent students”. I read the requirements: results of exams for lectures and seminars should be between excellent and vey good. This was hard to realize. Although it was very stressful, I met this requirement and I received the scholarship for the rest of my study.
A career in the diplomatic service?
Since I had to work hard for the grades, I did not engage much in social life. But I liked my study. Diplomatic history was my favourite subject. How persons could influence the course of events by words was of great interest to me.
In my third year I met an official of the ministry of foreign affairs at the history department who tried to attract students for the diplomatic academy.” All you need is a PhD, fluency in French and English and the ability to learn more languages”, he said.
“ If you pass our admittance exam, we provide you with a scholarship during the training.”
“Do you also admit women?” I inquired. “ Of course!”, he smiled.
What an appealing job, to live in different countries and to come to know other cultures!
Since I had to work hard for the grades, I did not engage much in social life. But I liked my study. Diplomatic history was my favourite subject. How persons could influence the course of events by words was of great interest to me.
In my third year I met an official of the ministry of foreign affairs at the history department who tried to attract students for the diplomatic academy.” All you need is a PhD, fluency in French and English and the ability to learn more languages”, he said.
“ If you pass our admittance exam, we provide you with a scholarship during the training.”
“Do you also admit women?” I inquired. “ Of course!”, he smiled.
What an appealing job, to live in different countries and to come to know other cultures!
First a thesis and a PhD
If things would go wrong with the diplomatic academy, with a PhD, I reasoned, I also could apply for a job at the university. An influential friend of my father already had offered me his help. Thus, I put the school teaching out of my mind and searched for a topic of the thesis.
“Why don´t you write something about the daughter of Emperor Maximilian I., Margret of Austria? In my last seminar you showed great interest in this lady”, my supervisor, professor Lhotsky, suggested. “There is nothing written about the famous peace treaty of 1529.”
“But most of the documents are in the archives in Brussels.” I thought aloud.”
“As I know you, you will resolve this problem. Apply for a grant at the ministry of education. There is a student exchange program. It also could be useful to practice French.”, professor Lhotsky encouraged me.
If things would go wrong with the diplomatic academy, with a PhD, I reasoned, I also could apply for a job at the university. An influential friend of my father already had offered me his help. Thus, I put the school teaching out of my mind and searched for a topic of the thesis.
“Why don´t you write something about the daughter of Emperor Maximilian I., Margret of Austria? In my last seminar you showed great interest in this lady”, my supervisor, professor Lhotsky, suggested. “There is nothing written about the famous peace treaty of 1529.”
“But most of the documents are in the archives in Brussels.” I thought aloud.”
“As I know you, you will resolve this problem. Apply for a grant at the ministry of education. There is a student exchange program. It also could be useful to practice French.”, professor Lhotsky encouraged me.
Not only a grant for Belgium but also one for the Netherlands
Full of energy I went to the ministry of education for the application form. The application official turned out to be very friendly. In order to increase the chances of success, he advised me, to get a recommendation of an important person.
As my grammar school was supervised by the junior minister of education, I went to him and indeed he recommended my proposal. When I returned to the application official, he told me that all would go well now. “By the way”, he said, “ I also have a scholarship available for this summer in the Netherlands. There are no applicants, are you interested in?” “Of course!”, I answered spontaneously. I thought by myself that I could take meanwhile a crash course in Dutch in order to study the recent secondary literature for my thesis.
How this accidental Dutch grant and my stay in the Netherlands would influence all my future decisions, will show the next episode.
Full of energy I went to the ministry of education for the application form. The application official turned out to be very friendly. In order to increase the chances of success, he advised me, to get a recommendation of an important person.
As my grammar school was supervised by the junior minister of education, I went to him and indeed he recommended my proposal. When I returned to the application official, he told me that all would go well now. “By the way”, he said, “ I also have a scholarship available for this summer in the Netherlands. There are no applicants, are you interested in?” “Of course!”, I answered spontaneously. I thought by myself that I could take meanwhile a crash course in Dutch in order to study the recent secondary literature for my thesis.
How this accidental Dutch grant and my stay in the Netherlands would influence all my future decisions, will show the next episode.