The Sounds and Tastes of Austria
Oct. 1-11, 2025
Join us as we take a journey through Austria's cultural landscape, guided by two experienced connoisseurs of all things Austrian: Sonja, a historian and native of Austria and Mary, a cultural enthusiast with deep ties to the country. This trip is an opportunity for an immersive and authentic Austrian adventure.
We'll start in the imperial city of Vienna, known for its music heritage and architectural grandeur, and then visit picturesque and charming Salzburg, Mozart's hometown. Our adventure will include classical music, historical treasures, and unforgettable art. Expect to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of Austria, including Vienna’s famous coffee house culture and wine gardens, historic palaces and gardens, exhibits at premier museums, live concerts, and famous Austrian dishes and desserts.
This trip is designed for all, from frequent voyagers to those embarking on their first travel experience. Come along with fellow Concordia College alumni and friends for a memorable trip, discovering Austria's enduring cultural gifts.
Faculty Leaders
Mary Maus Kosir, executive director of Concordia Language Villages, is a visionary leader renowned for her expertise in education administration, global program innovation, and entrepreneurial flair.
Armed with a unique blend of a Bachelor of Arts in English and German, along with advanced degrees in higher education administration and international development education, Maus Kosir's career in education spans decades, and includes international assignments in Austria as a Fulbright scholar and in Germany as a Bosch fellow. She finds joy in traveling with her family, hiking and walking with her dogs, and reading anything she can get her hands on.
Maus Kosir was born and raised in Minnesota and has been working at the Villages since 2020.
Dr. Sonja Wentling is a professor of history and dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Concordia College. Her study and teaching of history and the myriad ways Americans have interacted and connected with the world inform her passion for the arts, the humanities, and the sciences. She came to Concordia in 2003 to join the History Department and served as director of Global Studies from 2021-2022.
Born and raised in Austria, and educated in Europe as well as the United States, her educational journey is one of discovery and possibility. She earned a master’s degree in German and European history from the University of Vienna, Austria, a Master of Arts in American History from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and a doctorate in U.S. foreign policy from Kent State University.
Wentling loves to bake Austrian desserts and spends a lot of her free time running to work off the calories. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family at the lake.