By Lucas Baker
My name is Lucas Baker. I was born in Houston and raised in Austin, Texas. I’m currently studying German at Austin Community College, and when I’m not in class or at work, I’m usually reading, gardening, or immersing myself in the German language.
I’m most passionate about two things: culture and ecology. Not necessarily where they intersect, but each on its own. I’m especially drawn to minority cultures like Frisians, Amish, or Texas Germans, not for their food or clothing, but for their values, mindsets, and languages. I’m equally interested in alternative farming systems, especially those rooted in local tradition and ecological awareness. Both interests tend to point me in the same direction, which is people who live close to the land, with intergenerational memory and deep-rooted traditions.
This summer, I’ll be traveling to Vienna, Austria, for an art appreciation course and also to start a research project that’s been in the works for a while. I’ll be looking at the cultural foundations of Austria and Texas, especially how historical migration patterns and cultural values shaped each place. Studying rural culture is as important as urban culture, since it is usually more constant and native, studying the past is important for understanding the present, and studying the context a culture finds itself in (neighboring or parent cultures) is important for understanding why something may be the way it is. So, in addition to modern studies on genetics, linguistics, values, or attitudes, I will also be investigating history, neighboring cultures, and primary documents like diaries, novels, and philosophy.
I’ve already started building a foundation through reading. One focus has been a book containing letters and diary entries written by women on the Texan frontier between 1821 and 1910, which is great material for understanding early Texan mindsets. On the Austrian side, I’ve been working through German-language books on Austrian history, Central European anthropology, and cultural psychology.
Once I’m on the ground, I’ll be using my German to have real conversations with locals, especially Austrians with family roots in the countryside. I’m planning to do interviews to get a better sense of how people there think about identity, values, and history. Art also plays a role in this, since it’s a good window into a culture’s mindset. Seeing Austrian art in person should help me round out my understanding of the cultural landscape.
I’ve spent over 1,000 hours reading, speaking, and listening to German, but I’ve never used it all that functionally outside of conversation for the sake of conversation. I’m hoping my German’s good enough to make people feel comfortable, though my speaking partners say I’ll be fine. If everything goes well, I’ll finish the summer with stronger language skills and a clearer sense of how Austrian society works.
Mostly, I’m looking forward to talking to people. Every Austrian I’ve met so far has been easy to get along with, and I’m hoping to meet a lot more. I plan to take every opportunity to ask questions, listen, and learn for the sake of the research, and just because I’m genuinely personally interested.
Some of the books being used in my research:
HSF House Blogs 