Talk about the trip of a lifetime. It's hard to decide how to even begin this final blog, but here goes nothing...
First things first-- I absolutely COULD NOT have asked for a better group of people to spend my Christmas break with. This includes all of the students, Dr. Wasser, Steffi, Olaf, Dr. Zack, and all of the tour guides, professors, doctors, surgons, and various others we can in contact with over the course of the trip. From day one in Germany, I felt at home with everyone, and there really was never a moment that I felt lonely or without a friend. I had such a great time getting to know everyone, and keeping in touch with people once we got back to the states. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this semester.
Before the trip started, I really didnt know what to expect, and had no idea what I would gain from the experience, though I knew it would have a profound effect on me without a doubt. I remember being surprisingly calm about going on a trip to another country with 14 other college kids that I barely knew. Although I also remember being being nervous about actually making it across the Atlantic and to where I was supposed to be, by myself. Traveling successfully on my own was what I was the most proud of myself for, and was a big confidence builder-- I feel like I can go anywhere and do anything on my own now!
I cant say that I really experienced any reverse-culture shock since returning to the states, besides the fact that my life in Texas seems very boring compared to my 3-week life in Germany. Although its nice to be back on my normal routine of classes, tests, and trying to have a little fun inbetween, the first few weeks back I felt a little empty inside. Making my scrapbook of pictures and old tickets stubs helped ease a little bit of the pain though.. ;)
It still seems surreal to me all the amazing places that I was able to see, and for that, I am so blessed. Seeing the Anne Frank House and the Sachsenhausen concentration camp are two of the first things that come to mind when people ask me about the trip, and are experiences that I will cherish forever. It is places like these that can change the way you look at the world and and the way you look at life. Seeing the open-heart surgery in Bad Oeynhausen and the cow surgery at the vet school in Hannover are experiences that I will NEVER forget, and that I will being telling people about for years to come.
I can definitely say that I have a new-found passion for German history, and I have Dr. Wasser to thank for that. One of the first things I did when I got back home to College Station was rent the movie Downfall, and buy a book about the euthanasia and Nazi Doctors. Learning about history in a classroom in College Station, Texas can hardly compare to learning about the history of a place while you a there to actually experience it. Having a lecture about Sigmund Freud IN Sigmund Freud's old house is something that not many people have been able to do.
I remember mentioning not knowing what I wanted to do with my life career-wise in my first blog, and saying something along the lines of hopefully gaining some perspective in this area while in Germany. The experience undoubtedly gave me a growing passion for a career in the medical field-- whether that be medical school, PA school, working with medical devices, etc. Medicine is something that is studied and practiced in cultures all around the world, and there is so much to be learned and experienced. I aspire to work abroad sometime in my life, and studying in Germany has only made me more inclined to do so.
My overall experience during the trip exceeded my expectations far more than I could ever express. I cannot thank Dr. Wasser enough for all that he did, and it was so great getting to know him as a proffessor and as a friend. I also cannot go without thanking Steffi, Olaf, and Dr. Zack again for all the hard work they did for all us. I hope to one day see all of them again. I would recommend this trip to ANYONE and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. This trip is something that I will remember forever, and will hopefully be telling my grandkids about someday.
Danke and Auf wiedersehen!!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Prost!
I will attempt to put my European trip of a lifetime into one final blog, but I'm afraid I will do it no justice. This trip exceeded my expectations a million times over and I would do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I really was in no rush to return to the United States. I was secretly hoping there would be something wrong with my ticket so I wouldn’t have to go home, but then I felt bad because it actually happened to Jon (sorry about that!).
My trek back included Wall-E (yes!), a little Freud, and some vino (for this 20-year old, over international waters of course). My plan was to act as European as possible until the plane touched down in Houston, but even after 3 weeks of attempting to achieve that European chic air, I still couldn’t do it. Despite my failure of looking like a European and return back to the states, I had my reunion with my mom to look forward to which helped with my Germany withdrawals.
Once I was back I was able to distribute my souvenirs to my friends and family, and included was a copy of The Diary of Ann Frank for my 9-year-old twin cousins. I want to share with you a part the thank you note I received from my aunt because I think she sums up part of the reason we traveled to Germany along with all of its amazing medical history.
“Your cousins want to know why would Sarah want to go where the Nazis are? This has opened up a series of questions about WWII. I can’t think of a better way to explain it than with your gift.”
It’s important for us to remember our past but at the same time not let the past characterize who we are as an individual or a nation, like Germany is doing today. If my trip has allowed for my cousins to learn at a young age that a nation like Germany has more than just the memory of Hitler to offer, then I have gained so much more from this trip than I could have ever imagined.
Between all of the schools, hospitals, and museums we visited while in Germany I was able to do a lot of thinking and question what I thought was most important in my life and future. At times this pondering led to minor anxiety attacks as I began to question my future in veterinary medicine, something I’ve aspired to do since I was in 4th grade. For the first time I was able to see myself as something other than a DVM, but never straying too far from the medical field. That was very scary for me, but at the same time liberating. Even now as a junior in college, I still have options, but alas the trip to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna confirmed my passion for horses and equine sports medicine. The world makes sense once again! Along with confirming my career path (as of right now) I am also considering taking a semester off to study in Argentina and work on polo horses and from the looks of the other blogs I have read, I am not the only one suffering from the travel itch.
I want to thank each and every one of you for making this trip very special; it wouldn’t have been the same without you. We have experienced a lot in a short time, some more pleasant than others, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way! Dr. Wasser, thank you from the bottom of my heart, I know that the highlights and elite access of this trip would not have been possible without you, with Stefi’s help of course! I will recommend this trip to everyone I’ve had the pleasure of sharing my German adventures with, and to be honest I already have! Danke und auf wiedersehen.
My trek back included Wall-E (yes!), a little Freud, and some vino (for this 20-year old, over international waters of course). My plan was to act as European as possible until the plane touched down in Houston, but even after 3 weeks of attempting to achieve that European chic air, I still couldn’t do it. Despite my failure of looking like a European and return back to the states, I had my reunion with my mom to look forward to which helped with my Germany withdrawals.
Once I was back I was able to distribute my souvenirs to my friends and family, and included was a copy of The Diary of Ann Frank for my 9-year-old twin cousins. I want to share with you a part the thank you note I received from my aunt because I think she sums up part of the reason we traveled to Germany along with all of its amazing medical history.
“Your cousins want to know why would Sarah want to go where the Nazis are? This has opened up a series of questions about WWII. I can’t think of a better way to explain it than with your gift.”
It’s important for us to remember our past but at the same time not let the past characterize who we are as an individual or a nation, like Germany is doing today. If my trip has allowed for my cousins to learn at a young age that a nation like Germany has more than just the memory of Hitler to offer, then I have gained so much more from this trip than I could have ever imagined.
Between all of the schools, hospitals, and museums we visited while in Germany I was able to do a lot of thinking and question what I thought was most important in my life and future. At times this pondering led to minor anxiety attacks as I began to question my future in veterinary medicine, something I’ve aspired to do since I was in 4th grade. For the first time I was able to see myself as something other than a DVM, but never straying too far from the medical field. That was very scary for me, but at the same time liberating. Even now as a junior in college, I still have options, but alas the trip to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna confirmed my passion for horses and equine sports medicine. The world makes sense once again! Along with confirming my career path (as of right now) I am also considering taking a semester off to study in Argentina and work on polo horses and from the looks of the other blogs I have read, I am not the only one suffering from the travel itch.
I want to thank each and every one of you for making this trip very special; it wouldn’t have been the same without you. We have experienced a lot in a short time, some more pleasant than others, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way! Dr. Wasser, thank you from the bottom of my heart, I know that the highlights and elite access of this trip would not have been possible without you, with Stefi’s help of course! I will recommend this trip to everyone I’ve had the pleasure of sharing my German adventures with, and to be honest I already have! Danke und auf wiedersehen.
I Ain't No Fortunate Son
That's a lie. It's true that I've been blessed with a lot in my life. This trip has made me appreciate that since I've been back. I've had this desire to want to be on my own for the last month, just to get away from everything. Maybe you could call it a travel addiction, but it seems that I just like being on my own. It was high time for something like this to happen in my life, with me going off to medical school and all. It's with this new experience that I hope to start anew with hope and ambition in my heart. I guess I've just learned that I can make it on my own, and have found such a self-satisfaction in that.
I've also been much more laid back since returning. I may have had more culture shock returning than on my arrival. Even in Atlanta, when I had to change flights, I was unsually perturbed by the uptight nature of airport security at what I thought were the most trivial things. The pace at which everyone walked and conversed was much quicker than in Europe, and made me long for the slower, easy going lifestyle abroad. So pretty much, I learned a lot about life while I was away, and have tried my best to remember and maintain those lessons since I've been back. I'm eternally grateful to everyone who made this trip what it was: Dr. Wasser, Steffi, Dr. Zack, AIB, and the other students. I haven't been keeping up with anyone, my life is crazy at the moment, but I need to make a few calls because I realllllly need to find out who makes the best pasta between Brian and La-Lew.
PEACE
Asher
I've also been much more laid back since returning. I may have had more culture shock returning than on my arrival. Even in Atlanta, when I had to change flights, I was unsually perturbed by the uptight nature of airport security at what I thought were the most trivial things. The pace at which everyone walked and conversed was much quicker than in Europe, and made me long for the slower, easy going lifestyle abroad. So pretty much, I learned a lot about life while I was away, and have tried my best to remember and maintain those lessons since I've been back. I'm eternally grateful to everyone who made this trip what it was: Dr. Wasser, Steffi, Dr. Zack, AIB, and the other students. I haven't been keeping up with anyone, my life is crazy at the moment, but I need to make a few calls because I realllllly need to find out who makes the best pasta between Brian and La-Lew.
PEACE
Asher
Jus Jon 13 ( The Finale Paper)
Hello, my name is Jonathan Brown. I know that it has been a while since I have been on the blog site, but this is my return. I just want to talk about my experience in Europe. I have to say that by far, this was one of the best times of my life. It was so worth the time. I got to meet new people, go on a midnight excursion with a European, and see a new land that I never ever imagined that a poor kid like me would ever be able to see. It was a life changing experience.
First, I would like to talk about my trip back home. This was so messed up. When I got to the airport, I was checking in and the lady said that I “did not exist.” If there is anything that has ever sought me on fire that did. It was absolutely too early in the morning (5 am something in the morning) to be telling a brother that he “did not exist” on a plane ticket that he had proof that was purchased for him by the professor himself. Then, I had to wait for a Lufthansa lady to see what was up with my ticket. Apparently, she didn’t even know either. She told me the same thing. I was just upset at this point. So, I did what a good student who didn’t want to get in trouble and bring embarrassment upon a good program, person, and university. I called the Dr. Not just any doctor, Dr. Wasser. (I learned that wasser means water in German). After a few discussions with the Dr., a calming down talk with Tarah who was so calm that morning it calmed me down, and after a Dr. Wasser phone call to the lady at the Lufthansa desk, I was on my way back to the states. Thanks Dr. Wasser, and Tarah for those long talks that morning cause I was not in the mood for an airport hiccup. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. When I was upset, I almost lost one of my bags at the airport. What happened was that I went to ask one of the guys at the cash register for change so I could call Dr. Wasser; he said he didn’t have change. So I walked off and went to ask the next guy at the next café. In this time period, I left my bag on the bench without knowing it. So, after the nice guy gave me change, I went and made the phone call to Dr. Wasser, and got my confirmed ticket to the United States thanks to the Dr. All this time, I didn’t realize I was missing my bag until I was halfway in the process of getting a ticket to the U.S. I suddenly went looking for my big bags little brother. I backtracked and retraced my steps like a man who had lost a gold nugget in 1905 in the Pike Mountains. I found it and the cops. The cops came looking for me. They asked me what my name was and everything. Unlike me reacting a little nasty to the German cops on the way back from Amsterdam, I just took it easy. I asked him had he seen a purple bag it was about yeah high, draw string, and lonely. He had, and once I found it, I embraced it gladly. The cop looked at me funny. I didn’t realize until 10 minutes later that the cops were looking for me because they thought it was a bomb. Sorry cops, no bomb here. After this, I left Tarah for my plane that I came close to missing. It turned out that I and Sarah actually came on the same plane to Germany and we only sought five rows within each other. That was cool. Anyways, the plane ride home was just relaxing. I could not wait to get home. I wanted to see my mom most of all and my family. I ended up sleeping almost the whole way home. On the way to Germany, I sought between two Lady Longhorns. The ladies weren’t that bad. I actually held a good conversation with them. It was one of my better conversations. The Lady Longhorn by the window and I talked a lot. She knew I was an Aggie, but she was cool with it. She didn’t really care a lot. She talked to me anyways. The lady in the isle seat didn’t say too much to me but she was okay. The lady by the window was a lot friendlier. Once we landed at Bush Airport, I and Sarah went to go get our bags. I got my bag first and I was going to wait for her to get her bag so she wouldn’t be alone there, but she said she was okay, so I left. After this, I meet my scholarship coordinator who brought me to the airport and took me back home. We talked a lot about the trip, President Barack Obama, and my schooling. I was happy to see my scholarship coordinator and I was glad that he remembered to come back and pick me up. For an old guy (I totally have nothing against old people at all and I don’t mean to be offensive at all) he gets around like he is 20 years old. I wouldn’t actually know what it’s like to be a 20 year old because I haven’t lived that long. I must say that when I got back to the airport, it did feel weird. All those people at the gates waiting for their loved ones and the security was all tight like prison security.
Now, to talk about my experience since I have been back in the states. When I got back to the states, all I wanted was chicken strips. I was craving strips. I actually love strips. The first thing I did when I got home was go see my brother to get the car so I could go see my mom. He ended up coming back to my mom’s place to see my mom too. My mom was excited to see me and I was excited to see her too. From here, I went to my brothers’ friend birthday party. It was a cool party. Jet lag hadn’t sought in yet though. The next day, I left and came back to Texas A&M University, got my things for school, and began to get back on the school track again. The things that got me were the wider roads, no more subways, there was no slippery ice on the road, everybody was speaking either English or Spanish, SUV’s were in full force, and I didn’t want to be around a lot of people. I actually didn’t want to be around anybody. I just wanted to get used to the scene again before I actually see anybody. These are just a few things about my re-entry into life in the U.S. It took about a month for me to get over jet lag, getting used to being around large crowds of people, going back to the recreational center and exercing with a lot of people, and seeing so many people in one place. It also took me a while to get used to seeing my friend again. It felt weird being around him for awhile. I actually like him a lot, but I don’t know what it was but I just felt different being around him. I kind of still do because from the trip, I realized that we are so different and moving apart. I actually found out that he might be leaving and it hasn’t quite sunk in, but I just don’t know what I’m going to do since we have been friends since Freshman Year. He’s the first friend I’ve had since elementary school. Anyways, I also felt weird on escalators. In Europe you stand on the right side of the escalator and let the people walking up the escalator walk by on the left side. It got me for a while, but I’m back to normal on that perspective.
This trip has also changed my way of thinking. I used to be one of those people who did not like to think about a lot of stuff because it was so taxing of my energy. Now, I just think about anything that I feel I want to. I don’t hold back on thinking anymore. I see people differently now. I used to think that people were not that interesting, but I found that every person is different and that I should get to know people better before I write them off of my list. I also learned that drinking is not bad if done in moderation and not excess. My favorite drink was the Berliner Kindle. It wasn’t like a mug of beer, but it was very good. My favorite cocktail is the San Francisco. I absolutely love this drink. Another way my thinking has changed is that I like the thought of dating. Before, I seen dating as pointless and not worth my time, but now, I have given it some thought and I just may date. You never know. I have also learned that time is of the essence and must not be waisted at all. Before the trip I used to give myself a lot of leisure time, but I don’t anymore. I have cut my leisure time in half and have devoted my time to studying more. It’s working out so far, but the ware is catching up with me and I will probably need more down time though. I have also found something that I am interested in as far as what I want to be. I have decided that I want to be a Homeopath for animals or a Botanist. I like the Homeopath idea more. Every since that lecture in class in Bonn by the special guest that Dr. Wasser provided the class, I feel like it is what I want to do. It entails everything that I want in a job and I like the idea of me being a Homeopath.
I also look at the world differently. Before I went to Germany, I thought black people and other people who were not white were looked down upon and not wanted in Germany and in Europe. I found out that Europe really doesn’t care what color you are. They are into who you are. They want to know you as a person not your superficial features. I really felt more at home in Europe than here in the U.S. I liked that idea of walking around in Europe and people not looking at me weird. I liked the architecture, operas, the rich culture, history, and the kindness of the people. These things made my experience so much better and gave me a more informed perspective on the world. I had heard stories before I left about Europe that scared me a little, but I found out that Europeans are just like people in the United States. They go about their lives trying to make a living, and they do a lot of the things that Americans do. I used to think that world peace was overrated, but I think that now, maybe it’s something worth trying to establish. I feel that if we can all just get along, which this may never happen, life for people everywhere would be much better. I also see that maybe having friendships with people is worth it. Before I left, I felt that making friends with people was highly overrated and not worth my time really, but I feel that having friends makes life a little bit more interesting and easier for you because you have someone else there who cares about you and who likes you. So far, I have been working on this. So far, I have been trying this out. I have been keeping in touch with a few people from the trip and hanging out with people more instead of the library and my school books which are great friends too. Also, I have decided to visit with other clubs on campus to see how they are and how they work. I feel like I need to learn more about different cultures, people, and lifestyle. So far, I have loved doing this and people on campus have not been shy at all about telling me about them and their culture. They actually don’t mind it. I’m glad for that. I have also decided to be closer to my family than being distant. Before I left to go to Germany that was my first time home in a very long time. Like months long. My mom really missed me and I really didn’t see a point in going home, but since I have came back from Europe, I feel the need to at least try and see them more. I really love them a lot.
Well, as you can see, I am very wordy and long winded about this paper, but I felt that it was necessary to get as much as I could out there to you about how much this trip has changed me. Due to this trip, I have renewed motivation to get through college. I also have a profession that I want to pursue and I feel that I should do everything within my power to get to this goal. True, my goals may change, but at least now, I have a destination. I just have to find a route to it. If it wasn’t for the mercy of Dr. Wasser for letting me go on this trip and the mercy of others I probably wouldn’t have ever gained such rich insight to the big world out there that awaits me, and a major that fits me. Thank you so much for giving me the chance to go on a life changing trip. Thanks.
First, I would like to talk about my trip back home. This was so messed up. When I got to the airport, I was checking in and the lady said that I “did not exist.” If there is anything that has ever sought me on fire that did. It was absolutely too early in the morning (5 am something in the morning) to be telling a brother that he “did not exist” on a plane ticket that he had proof that was purchased for him by the professor himself. Then, I had to wait for a Lufthansa lady to see what was up with my ticket. Apparently, she didn’t even know either. She told me the same thing. I was just upset at this point. So, I did what a good student who didn’t want to get in trouble and bring embarrassment upon a good program, person, and university. I called the Dr. Not just any doctor, Dr. Wasser. (I learned that wasser means water in German). After a few discussions with the Dr., a calming down talk with Tarah who was so calm that morning it calmed me down, and after a Dr. Wasser phone call to the lady at the Lufthansa desk, I was on my way back to the states. Thanks Dr. Wasser, and Tarah for those long talks that morning cause I was not in the mood for an airport hiccup. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. When I was upset, I almost lost one of my bags at the airport. What happened was that I went to ask one of the guys at the cash register for change so I could call Dr. Wasser; he said he didn’t have change. So I walked off and went to ask the next guy at the next café. In this time period, I left my bag on the bench without knowing it. So, after the nice guy gave me change, I went and made the phone call to Dr. Wasser, and got my confirmed ticket to the United States thanks to the Dr. All this time, I didn’t realize I was missing my bag until I was halfway in the process of getting a ticket to the U.S. I suddenly went looking for my big bags little brother. I backtracked and retraced my steps like a man who had lost a gold nugget in 1905 in the Pike Mountains. I found it and the cops. The cops came looking for me. They asked me what my name was and everything. Unlike me reacting a little nasty to the German cops on the way back from Amsterdam, I just took it easy. I asked him had he seen a purple bag it was about yeah high, draw string, and lonely. He had, and once I found it, I embraced it gladly. The cop looked at me funny. I didn’t realize until 10 minutes later that the cops were looking for me because they thought it was a bomb. Sorry cops, no bomb here. After this, I left Tarah for my plane that I came close to missing. It turned out that I and Sarah actually came on the same plane to Germany and we only sought five rows within each other. That was cool. Anyways, the plane ride home was just relaxing. I could not wait to get home. I wanted to see my mom most of all and my family. I ended up sleeping almost the whole way home. On the way to Germany, I sought between two Lady Longhorns. The ladies weren’t that bad. I actually held a good conversation with them. It was one of my better conversations. The Lady Longhorn by the window and I talked a lot. She knew I was an Aggie, but she was cool with it. She didn’t really care a lot. She talked to me anyways. The lady in the isle seat didn’t say too much to me but she was okay. The lady by the window was a lot friendlier. Once we landed at Bush Airport, I and Sarah went to go get our bags. I got my bag first and I was going to wait for her to get her bag so she wouldn’t be alone there, but she said she was okay, so I left. After this, I meet my scholarship coordinator who brought me to the airport and took me back home. We talked a lot about the trip, President Barack Obama, and my schooling. I was happy to see my scholarship coordinator and I was glad that he remembered to come back and pick me up. For an old guy (I totally have nothing against old people at all and I don’t mean to be offensive at all) he gets around like he is 20 years old. I wouldn’t actually know what it’s like to be a 20 year old because I haven’t lived that long. I must say that when I got back to the airport, it did feel weird. All those people at the gates waiting for their loved ones and the security was all tight like prison security.
Now, to talk about my experience since I have been back in the states. When I got back to the states, all I wanted was chicken strips. I was craving strips. I actually love strips. The first thing I did when I got home was go see my brother to get the car so I could go see my mom. He ended up coming back to my mom’s place to see my mom too. My mom was excited to see me and I was excited to see her too. From here, I went to my brothers’ friend birthday party. It was a cool party. Jet lag hadn’t sought in yet though. The next day, I left and came back to Texas A&M University, got my things for school, and began to get back on the school track again. The things that got me were the wider roads, no more subways, there was no slippery ice on the road, everybody was speaking either English or Spanish, SUV’s were in full force, and I didn’t want to be around a lot of people. I actually didn’t want to be around anybody. I just wanted to get used to the scene again before I actually see anybody. These are just a few things about my re-entry into life in the U.S. It took about a month for me to get over jet lag, getting used to being around large crowds of people, going back to the recreational center and exercing with a lot of people, and seeing so many people in one place. It also took me a while to get used to seeing my friend again. It felt weird being around him for awhile. I actually like him a lot, but I don’t know what it was but I just felt different being around him. I kind of still do because from the trip, I realized that we are so different and moving apart. I actually found out that he might be leaving and it hasn’t quite sunk in, but I just don’t know what I’m going to do since we have been friends since Freshman Year. He’s the first friend I’ve had since elementary school. Anyways, I also felt weird on escalators. In Europe you stand on the right side of the escalator and let the people walking up the escalator walk by on the left side. It got me for a while, but I’m back to normal on that perspective.
This trip has also changed my way of thinking. I used to be one of those people who did not like to think about a lot of stuff because it was so taxing of my energy. Now, I just think about anything that I feel I want to. I don’t hold back on thinking anymore. I see people differently now. I used to think that people were not that interesting, but I found that every person is different and that I should get to know people better before I write them off of my list. I also learned that drinking is not bad if done in moderation and not excess. My favorite drink was the Berliner Kindle. It wasn’t like a mug of beer, but it was very good. My favorite cocktail is the San Francisco. I absolutely love this drink. Another way my thinking has changed is that I like the thought of dating. Before, I seen dating as pointless and not worth my time, but now, I have given it some thought and I just may date. You never know. I have also learned that time is of the essence and must not be waisted at all. Before the trip I used to give myself a lot of leisure time, but I don’t anymore. I have cut my leisure time in half and have devoted my time to studying more. It’s working out so far, but the ware is catching up with me and I will probably need more down time though. I have also found something that I am interested in as far as what I want to be. I have decided that I want to be a Homeopath for animals or a Botanist. I like the Homeopath idea more. Every since that lecture in class in Bonn by the special guest that Dr. Wasser provided the class, I feel like it is what I want to do. It entails everything that I want in a job and I like the idea of me being a Homeopath.
I also look at the world differently. Before I went to Germany, I thought black people and other people who were not white were looked down upon and not wanted in Germany and in Europe. I found out that Europe really doesn’t care what color you are. They are into who you are. They want to know you as a person not your superficial features. I really felt more at home in Europe than here in the U.S. I liked that idea of walking around in Europe and people not looking at me weird. I liked the architecture, operas, the rich culture, history, and the kindness of the people. These things made my experience so much better and gave me a more informed perspective on the world. I had heard stories before I left about Europe that scared me a little, but I found out that Europeans are just like people in the United States. They go about their lives trying to make a living, and they do a lot of the things that Americans do. I used to think that world peace was overrated, but I think that now, maybe it’s something worth trying to establish. I feel that if we can all just get along, which this may never happen, life for people everywhere would be much better. I also see that maybe having friendships with people is worth it. Before I left, I felt that making friends with people was highly overrated and not worth my time really, but I feel that having friends makes life a little bit more interesting and easier for you because you have someone else there who cares about you and who likes you. So far, I have been working on this. So far, I have been trying this out. I have been keeping in touch with a few people from the trip and hanging out with people more instead of the library and my school books which are great friends too. Also, I have decided to visit with other clubs on campus to see how they are and how they work. I feel like I need to learn more about different cultures, people, and lifestyle. So far, I have loved doing this and people on campus have not been shy at all about telling me about them and their culture. They actually don’t mind it. I’m glad for that. I have also decided to be closer to my family than being distant. Before I left to go to Germany that was my first time home in a very long time. Like months long. My mom really missed me and I really didn’t see a point in going home, but since I have came back from Europe, I feel the need to at least try and see them more. I really love them a lot.
Well, as you can see, I am very wordy and long winded about this paper, but I felt that it was necessary to get as much as I could out there to you about how much this trip has changed me. Due to this trip, I have renewed motivation to get through college. I also have a profession that I want to pursue and I feel that I should do everything within my power to get to this goal. True, my goals may change, but at least now, I have a destination. I just have to find a route to it. If it wasn’t for the mercy of Dr. Wasser for letting me go on this trip and the mercy of others I probably wouldn’t have ever gained such rich insight to the big world out there that awaits me, and a major that fits me. Thank you so much for giving me the chance to go on a life changing trip. Thanks.
"I'm holding onto a fairytale"...
^Those A Day to Remember lyrics describe how I felt just a few days after I got back from this amazing trip. Before we left, I was so nervous/anxious/apprehensive about leaving the country with a group of people I barely knew for 3 weeks, but now I know I didn’t need to worry! I came back with so many great memories and a whole new group of friends, and I am so glad that I decided to step way outside my comfort zone and go.
In regards to the history of medicine aspect of the trip, I found the subjects of Nazi-related medicine and history intriguing, since we visited several places in Germany where various experiments and discoveries took place. Though most of these advances that Nazi physicians made were based on terrible human experiments, they were fascinating to learn about. I really appreciated the fact that we learned about these events, because the history of Nazi Germany is something that we should all know about and remember. The environment in which we learned about all this gave the history and facts more meaning and importance, for me anyway. I came away from this program with a much more educated view on Germany (and Austria) and its past, and I would like to continue learning, on my own, about its history.
Though the trip was mainly for gaining medical knowledge and experiences (the surgery is still the first thing I think about when I remember this trip!), the cultural interactions that I had during the short three weeks are unforgettable. Without getting too long-winded, it would be impossible for me to describe how the drastically different culture of Europe changed how I see things now. However, in a nutshell, Germany changed my outlook on life, people, and priorities. That sounds completely cliché, but it really did. Things that used to be so important to me no longer seem like such a big deal; I no longer stress over every little detail in my life or worry about petty things. Also, after speaking with people my age that were travelling around Europe, I found that they seemed more… for lack of a better word, cultured, which is something that I hope to become after seeing more of the world.
Last but not least, the group that went on this trip was incredible! Despite a series of rather uncomfortable gatherings at the pre-departure meetings (by the way guys, sorry I was so anti-social at ALL of them), we managed to loosen up and become friends as soon as we set foot in Germany! I am so glad that many of us still see each other and talk, and I hope that we will be able to reminisce about our awesome three weeks together for a long time. I am so grateful for much regarding this trip: that I was given this opportunity to see/learn/experience so many incredible things, DR. WASSER, Steffi, Olaf, Dr. Zack, everyone that lectured and gave us tours, and all the lasting friendships that I made during our time in Deutschland. I hope to return in the near future! Farewell.
“It’s time to say goodbye”
In regards to the history of medicine aspect of the trip, I found the subjects of Nazi-related medicine and history intriguing, since we visited several places in Germany where various experiments and discoveries took place. Though most of these advances that Nazi physicians made were based on terrible human experiments, they were fascinating to learn about. I really appreciated the fact that we learned about these events, because the history of Nazi Germany is something that we should all know about and remember. The environment in which we learned about all this gave the history and facts more meaning and importance, for me anyway. I came away from this program with a much more educated view on Germany (and Austria) and its past, and I would like to continue learning, on my own, about its history.
Though the trip was mainly for gaining medical knowledge and experiences (the surgery is still the first thing I think about when I remember this trip!), the cultural interactions that I had during the short three weeks are unforgettable. Without getting too long-winded, it would be impossible for me to describe how the drastically different culture of Europe changed how I see things now. However, in a nutshell, Germany changed my outlook on life, people, and priorities. That sounds completely cliché, but it really did. Things that used to be so important to me no longer seem like such a big deal; I no longer stress over every little detail in my life or worry about petty things. Also, after speaking with people my age that were travelling around Europe, I found that they seemed more… for lack of a better word, cultured, which is something that I hope to become after seeing more of the world.
Last but not least, the group that went on this trip was incredible! Despite a series of rather uncomfortable gatherings at the pre-departure meetings (by the way guys, sorry I was so anti-social at ALL of them), we managed to loosen up and become friends as soon as we set foot in Germany! I am so glad that many of us still see each other and talk, and I hope that we will be able to reminisce about our awesome three weeks together for a long time. I am so grateful for much regarding this trip: that I was given this opportunity to see/learn/experience so many incredible things, DR. WASSER, Steffi, Olaf, Dr. Zack, everyone that lectured and gave us tours, and all the lasting friendships that I made during our time in Deutschland. I hope to return in the near future! Farewell.
“It’s time to say goodbye”
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Curious Case of Brian Gibson
This has truly been the trip of a lifetime. There were so many new experiences, so much fascinating history of medicine, and personal epiphanies. The best part of the trip is what I have taken from it. It has been a very long time since I have been that comfortable around strangers. This was one of my first times to truly enjoy the college experience.
There was never really any culture shock for me because we were there for what seemed like a relatively short time. I still say danke sometimes just for fun and fantasize about the taste of just one more doner. I do not think I will ever taste beer as good as the dunkel beers in Berlin, nor will I ever eat sausage more delicious than the ones in Hannover. This does not make me sad because I will always have the memories of these tastes.
One of the really important things that I did not expect coming out of this trip was the fact that I now have a travel addiction. Because this trip went so smoothly and I learned so much about myself and the history of medicine, I decided to take a trip to Costa Rica for spring break. It is not one of the stereotypical spring beaks because I will be working and learning rural medicine. We will be doing tons of medical work (i.e. vital signs, exams, different tests) under the watchful eye of qualified physicians. This will be a challenge for me because I do not really excel in situations like that but I will be confident and be loose like I was on this trip.
The overwhelming amount of information that was presented over the course of the two weeks would be impossible to absorb. The highlights in my opinion were the unique struggle between medical knowledge and ability to use it throughout the ages. We visited many places where the actual technology and techniques were developed. This has truly inspired me to be more thorough with my studies because I want to be able to make a small scale impact for the greater good of science. The ability to trot on some of the same paths as some of the greatest scientific mind of all time as in Humboldt University and the medical schools we visited were truly humbling. Another thing I really enjoyed was getting to know Dr. Wasser and hearing his stories. It was fun to spend extended amount of time with a professor instead of just listening to a lecture twice a week for a semester.
I cannot express how much this trip has influenced the way I view medicine and the way I view the world. I do sometimes have a quick temper when I hear Americans grumbling about stuff and think that the Germans would do it just a bit better. This trip has inspired me to not jump to conclusions to fast and to value every culture. I will definitely be involved in more trips and maybe even more TAMU led trips because of my incredible experiences.
There was never really any culture shock for me because we were there for what seemed like a relatively short time. I still say danke sometimes just for fun and fantasize about the taste of just one more doner. I do not think I will ever taste beer as good as the dunkel beers in Berlin, nor will I ever eat sausage more delicious than the ones in Hannover. This does not make me sad because I will always have the memories of these tastes.
One of the really important things that I did not expect coming out of this trip was the fact that I now have a travel addiction. Because this trip went so smoothly and I learned so much about myself and the history of medicine, I decided to take a trip to Costa Rica for spring break. It is not one of the stereotypical spring beaks because I will be working and learning rural medicine. We will be doing tons of medical work (i.e. vital signs, exams, different tests) under the watchful eye of qualified physicians. This will be a challenge for me because I do not really excel in situations like that but I will be confident and be loose like I was on this trip.
The overwhelming amount of information that was presented over the course of the two weeks would be impossible to absorb. The highlights in my opinion were the unique struggle between medical knowledge and ability to use it throughout the ages. We visited many places where the actual technology and techniques were developed. This has truly inspired me to be more thorough with my studies because I want to be able to make a small scale impact for the greater good of science. The ability to trot on some of the same paths as some of the greatest scientific mind of all time as in Humboldt University and the medical schools we visited were truly humbling. Another thing I really enjoyed was getting to know Dr. Wasser and hearing his stories. It was fun to spend extended amount of time with a professor instead of just listening to a lecture twice a week for a semester.
I cannot express how much this trip has influenced the way I view medicine and the way I view the world. I do sometimes have a quick temper when I hear Americans grumbling about stuff and think that the Germans would do it just a bit better. This trip has inspired me to not jump to conclusions to fast and to value every culture. I will definitely be involved in more trips and maybe even more TAMU led trips because of my incredible experiences.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Concluding Thoughts...
I struggled with writers block for a while before beginning this final blog. I am not sure if I should attribute that to the fact that as an engineer I am rarely required to put more than two sentences together or because it is difficult to condense all of the memories and emotions of the Germany trip into a single coherent thought. (Realistically, I think I am suffering from the latter.) But I can easily begin by saying that The History of Medicine- Winter Abroad program was with out a doubt the best time of my life and an invaluable educational opportunity.
To catch you up to speed, my trip did not end at my last blog. I concluded my European excursion with a four-day trip to Paris, which was absolutely amazing, complete with a trip up the Eiffel Tower, a walk around the Louvre, a breathe taking church service in Notre Dame, and a stroll down the Champs Elysees! But after nearly of month of constant travel I was exhausted and ready to return home. In all consideration my travel method back to the United States might not have been the best idea, but it was an adventure nonetheless. I spent my last day in Paris alone, because my travel buddy, Tarah, departed early that morning. I remember enjoying the sunshine and the considerably warm weather very much that day, while lounging in the Jardin de Tuileries until it began to down pour. However, a little rain didn’t ruin my day. I devoured the BEST chocolate, banana crepe in the history of the world, then lost track of time in the most adorable bookstore, and did some last minute souvenir shopping. My last day in Paris could not have ended more suitably; I enjoyed a glass of red wine and crème brulee, tucked in the corner window seat of the restaurant watching people, traffic, and the drizzling rain. Then the journey began…
I did not really consider timing or scheduling prior to boarding the train that would take me back to Koln, Germany and ultimately to Houston, Texas. About six hours after leaving Paris, I arrived at the Koln train station around 1:00 am. It felt great to be back in familiar territory, but my mood deteriorated a little when I realized that the next train to the Airport didn’t leave until 3:00 am. (But, problem solved; I chilled in BK for two hours watching Germany Music Videos!) I have no clue what I had anticipated doing for 5 hours in a desolate airport in the wee hours of the morning, but the situation did not present the many good ways to kill time, except sleep, which was evading me. So when I finally sat down on my one hour flight from Koln to Munich, I knew I would pass out immediately, but such was not the case. My seat neighbor, David, had the most amiable disposition and instantly struck up a conversation with me. He was a native Kolner, and travels to Munich every Tuesday and Thursday for business. We shared a love for nature and outdoor activities; David is a huge bike enthusiast, and I am an avid trail runner. We exchanged notes on our future travels. He told me about his dream to ride a motorcycle with his best friend, from California to Alaska and I shared my hopes to backpack from Ireland to Greece. Despite my exhaustion, I enjoyed our conversation very much, and it fully confirmed that Germans are the nicest people in the entire world! (I was excited to read a Yahoo new article the other day that ranked Germany second among all the countries in the world for the most friendly to foreigners. But I already knew that!)
There is still more to tell about my final adventure home…I had a layover in Washington D.C. for a couple hours on Inauguration Day!!!!!!!! This was very cool, because I got to talk to so many people who witnessed the historic event first hand.
One of the best things about the entire trip was that it reaffirmed my desire to pursue a career in the medical field. In the months prior to the trip I was really struggling with whether or not medical school was for me. Becoming a surgeon has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. And, although I have done a lot in recent years to help prepare me for such a career, I was beginning to doubt if I was willing to endure the long and hard road that lay ahead. The study abroad program did the best job of acknowledging the breadth and depth of the medical field and introduced me to areas of medicine that I knew relatively little about. This was extremely encouraging because it reminded me that medicine extends much farther than surgery (although watching open heart surgery was definitely a highlight of the trip) and that the important thing to keep in mind is my love for medicine and my desire to help people, which makes the road ahead so much more approachable.
The second thing that this trip affirmed was my love for travel!!! I live for adventure, and there is nothing that compares to the excitement of new discoveries and the ultimate freedom found in the unfamiliar. I am really missing the all of the opportunities for spontaneous excursions and adventures that were available while traveling around Europe. I am struggling to find Viennese coffee, Parisian crepes, German Pubs, breathtaking cathedrals, and unparalleled art museums in College Station, Texas. I guess that only means that I need to continue my worldly travels!
Before I say “Auf Wiedersehen” I want to reinforce how grateful I am to have been given such a wonderful opportunity. To everyone who participated in the program, I had so much fun getting to know all of you and look forward to continuing our friendships. Dr. Wasser, thank you a million times over! You did the best job of organizing the trip, putting up with 15 college students, and I really valued all of the insight and knowledge you passed along. And to anyone else who reads this, if you are presented with a similar opportunity, all I can say is DO IT!
To catch you up to speed, my trip did not end at my last blog. I concluded my European excursion with a four-day trip to Paris, which was absolutely amazing, complete with a trip up the Eiffel Tower, a walk around the Louvre, a breathe taking church service in Notre Dame, and a stroll down the Champs Elysees! But after nearly of month of constant travel I was exhausted and ready to return home. In all consideration my travel method back to the United States might not have been the best idea, but it was an adventure nonetheless. I spent my last day in Paris alone, because my travel buddy, Tarah, departed early that morning. I remember enjoying the sunshine and the considerably warm weather very much that day, while lounging in the Jardin de Tuileries until it began to down pour. However, a little rain didn’t ruin my day. I devoured the BEST chocolate, banana crepe in the history of the world, then lost track of time in the most adorable bookstore, and did some last minute souvenir shopping. My last day in Paris could not have ended more suitably; I enjoyed a glass of red wine and crème brulee, tucked in the corner window seat of the restaurant watching people, traffic, and the drizzling rain. Then the journey began…
I did not really consider timing or scheduling prior to boarding the train that would take me back to Koln, Germany and ultimately to Houston, Texas. About six hours after leaving Paris, I arrived at the Koln train station around 1:00 am. It felt great to be back in familiar territory, but my mood deteriorated a little when I realized that the next train to the Airport didn’t leave until 3:00 am. (But, problem solved; I chilled in BK for two hours watching Germany Music Videos!) I have no clue what I had anticipated doing for 5 hours in a desolate airport in the wee hours of the morning, but the situation did not present the many good ways to kill time, except sleep, which was evading me. So when I finally sat down on my one hour flight from Koln to Munich, I knew I would pass out immediately, but such was not the case. My seat neighbor, David, had the most amiable disposition and instantly struck up a conversation with me. He was a native Kolner, and travels to Munich every Tuesday and Thursday for business. We shared a love for nature and outdoor activities; David is a huge bike enthusiast, and I am an avid trail runner. We exchanged notes on our future travels. He told me about his dream to ride a motorcycle with his best friend, from California to Alaska and I shared my hopes to backpack from Ireland to Greece. Despite my exhaustion, I enjoyed our conversation very much, and it fully confirmed that Germans are the nicest people in the entire world! (I was excited to read a Yahoo new article the other day that ranked Germany second among all the countries in the world for the most friendly to foreigners. But I already knew that!)
There is still more to tell about my final adventure home…I had a layover in Washington D.C. for a couple hours on Inauguration Day!!!!!!!! This was very cool, because I got to talk to so many people who witnessed the historic event first hand.
One of the best things about the entire trip was that it reaffirmed my desire to pursue a career in the medical field. In the months prior to the trip I was really struggling with whether or not medical school was for me. Becoming a surgeon has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. And, although I have done a lot in recent years to help prepare me for such a career, I was beginning to doubt if I was willing to endure the long and hard road that lay ahead. The study abroad program did the best job of acknowledging the breadth and depth of the medical field and introduced me to areas of medicine that I knew relatively little about. This was extremely encouraging because it reminded me that medicine extends much farther than surgery (although watching open heart surgery was definitely a highlight of the trip) and that the important thing to keep in mind is my love for medicine and my desire to help people, which makes the road ahead so much more approachable.
The second thing that this trip affirmed was my love for travel!!! I live for adventure, and there is nothing that compares to the excitement of new discoveries and the ultimate freedom found in the unfamiliar. I am really missing the all of the opportunities for spontaneous excursions and adventures that were available while traveling around Europe. I am struggling to find Viennese coffee, Parisian crepes, German Pubs, breathtaking cathedrals, and unparalleled art museums in College Station, Texas. I guess that only means that I need to continue my worldly travels!
Before I say “Auf Wiedersehen” I want to reinforce how grateful I am to have been given such a wonderful opportunity. To everyone who participated in the program, I had so much fun getting to know all of you and look forward to continuing our friendships. Dr. Wasser, thank you a million times over! You did the best job of organizing the trip, putting up with 15 college students, and I really valued all of the insight and knowledge you passed along. And to anyone else who reads this, if you are presented with a similar opportunity, all I can say is DO IT!
Final Blog
The Germany trip was unlike anything I have had the opportunity to experience before. I haven’t lived in a bubble my whole life by any means, but my cultural experiences have almost always been those people who come here to the US. Never have I been immersed into a culture where I am the one who is the foreigner. It was an enlightening experience. There is so much the world has to offer. We grow up knowing and hearing about other cultures, but it never really sinks in how people can live in such a different lifestyle from one you’ve known your whole life till you see it firsthand. Most people have a deep attachment to their country that they refuse to loosen. I will always feel at home in the US, but after this trip I see the world is where my attachment lies. Meeting and conversing with people from around the world makes us all seem closer, and many of the perceived differences melted away. I hope to travel a lot more during my life and experience all the world has to offer. Before this trip traveling may never have been a priority, but that has easily changed.
Upon returning I didn’t have any type of reverse culture shock. I never lost myself in the cultures I visited, despite the amount I enjoyed it, but things did seem a bit stale compared to all the excitement there was to be had in Germany compared to College Station. Going back to classes wasn’t much fun to say the least either, but it’s been a month now and I’m finally back In the swing of things, enjoying myself between test weeks when I can, continuing on my degree path to becoming a doctor. The medical experiences on the trip only cemented my desire to be a doctor, especially after watching the open heart surgery. Learning of other types of medical systems was a definite plus as it gives me another perspective on how things could be handled instead of the one I have known all my life. It’s always good to get a different point of view. Just experiencing another culture will have a great impact on my future career. It is important for a doctor to be able to handle patients with different backgrounds in a respectable manner. All the experiences on this trip will help me to be a better doctor both with the information I learned and the cultural experiences I shared.
I can’t wait to travel again. Who knows what I will learn next time. Italy Summer ’09 here I come!
Upon returning I didn’t have any type of reverse culture shock. I never lost myself in the cultures I visited, despite the amount I enjoyed it, but things did seem a bit stale compared to all the excitement there was to be had in Germany compared to College Station. Going back to classes wasn’t much fun to say the least either, but it’s been a month now and I’m finally back In the swing of things, enjoying myself between test weeks when I can, continuing on my degree path to becoming a doctor. The medical experiences on the trip only cemented my desire to be a doctor, especially after watching the open heart surgery. Learning of other types of medical systems was a definite plus as it gives me another perspective on how things could be handled instead of the one I have known all my life. It’s always good to get a different point of view. Just experiencing another culture will have a great impact on my future career. It is important for a doctor to be able to handle patients with different backgrounds in a respectable manner. All the experiences on this trip will help me to be a better doctor both with the information I learned and the cultural experiences I shared.
I can’t wait to travel again. Who knows what I will learn next time. Italy Summer ’09 here I come!
But if you left it up to me, everyday would be a holiday From real
I can’t believe that we’ve been back from Germany for one month already. Getting back was probably my most adventurous part of the trip. After missing a flight in Paris and then missing another flight in Atlanta, I finally made it home. If anyone needs advice on how to kill time when missing flights, I’m definitely an expert now. I will admit my first two meals back in Texas were fajitas and ribs. It was sooooo good. Although the donners and Italian gelato were amazing, nothing compares to my Tex-mex. It took about a week for me to feel my toes again, but since then I have taken full advantage of flip flops and shorts. When I first left for Germany I was nervous about being away from my family and boyfriend for what seemed so long. But once we got there time just flew by. We made it to Vienna and I couldn’t believe that we only had a few days left together. I was also surprised that I did not miss my family as much as I thought I would, but don’t tell them that. It took awhile to get back into studying from a textbook and not just experiencing firsthand, and my first round of test grades can attest to that.
Participating in this study abroad program has been by far the best experience of my life. We all had access to opportunities that would be hard to come by in the US. Germany had so much history that we all learned throughout our academic careers, but seeing it up-close and firsthand could never compare to textbook pictures. The same goes for the massive cathedrals in Europe. I wish here in the United States, well mainly in the South, we had churches that looked as grand and majestic. I had never traveled by train before this trip. Then it basically became all I knew after those three weeks. I always complain that it takes an hour to drive from my house to downtown Houston (yet its only 30 miles), and I am convinced if they installed a direct train it would cut the time to at least half an hour. The sizes of the Hauptbonhoffs still blows my mind, they were the size of small airports. The timeliness of all their trains was awesome. I cannot stand being late to anything, so those trains made life a bit easier. The motion activated escalators were probably my favorite.
I was the most impressed with their socialized system of government. I volunteer in a clinic in Bryan for the underinsured and uninsured. I’ve witnessed firsthand how frustrated these people get trying to jump through hoops so they can get medical attention. Seeing the patients in Germany who had no insurance and had been in the hospital for several months would be inconceivable here at home. Germany is so advanced in their technology and methods of medicine. Last summer I spent a week and a half in El Salvador shadowing my mom’s cousin who is a doctor there. All of the equipment was from the ’80’s and by the end of my first day I was running the EKG machine on patients. So it was a HUUUUUGE difference, and thoroughly educational.
While I have enjoyed not having to dehydrate myself so I won’t pay for carbonated water or the restroom, I miss Germany..and Austria…and Prague…and Amsterdam. I’m so glad everyone on the trip was really easy to get along with. It’s safe to say the Karaoke night was a great way to spend our last real night together. It has been the best experience of my life, and I would like to thank Dr. Wasser for really knowing his stuff and being so prepared, the trip would not have been anywhere near the same otherwise. In the years to come, after I pay off endless amounts of future loans and start actually making money, I fully intend to return to Europe (preferably in the summer). I would like to see Spain, more of Paris than just the airport, and more of Germany.
Participating in this study abroad program has been by far the best experience of my life. We all had access to opportunities that would be hard to come by in the US. Germany had so much history that we all learned throughout our academic careers, but seeing it up-close and firsthand could never compare to textbook pictures. The same goes for the massive cathedrals in Europe. I wish here in the United States, well mainly in the South, we had churches that looked as grand and majestic. I had never traveled by train before this trip. Then it basically became all I knew after those three weeks. I always complain that it takes an hour to drive from my house to downtown Houston (yet its only 30 miles), and I am convinced if they installed a direct train it would cut the time to at least half an hour. The sizes of the Hauptbonhoffs still blows my mind, they were the size of small airports. The timeliness of all their trains was awesome. I cannot stand being late to anything, so those trains made life a bit easier. The motion activated escalators were probably my favorite.
I was the most impressed with their socialized system of government. I volunteer in a clinic in Bryan for the underinsured and uninsured. I’ve witnessed firsthand how frustrated these people get trying to jump through hoops so they can get medical attention. Seeing the patients in Germany who had no insurance and had been in the hospital for several months would be inconceivable here at home. Germany is so advanced in their technology and methods of medicine. Last summer I spent a week and a half in El Salvador shadowing my mom’s cousin who is a doctor there. All of the equipment was from the ’80’s and by the end of my first day I was running the EKG machine on patients. So it was a HUUUUUGE difference, and thoroughly educational.
While I have enjoyed not having to dehydrate myself so I won’t pay for carbonated water or the restroom, I miss Germany..and Austria…and Prague…and Amsterdam. I’m so glad everyone on the trip was really easy to get along with. It’s safe to say the Karaoke night was a great way to spend our last real night together. It has been the best experience of my life, and I would like to thank Dr. Wasser for really knowing his stuff and being so prepared, the trip would not have been anywhere near the same otherwise. In the years to come, after I pay off endless amounts of future loans and start actually making money, I fully intend to return to Europe (preferably in the summer). I would like to see Spain, more of Paris than just the airport, and more of Germany.
Monday, February 23, 2009
I left that road far behind
It’s been well over a month since we’ve been back in the states, and I still get sad every time I have to say “thank you” instead of “danke schön”. In the three weeks we spent in Germany (and Austria) I grew accustomed to adventure. Every day was a new city, a new place, and strange people. I loved it. It was quite a shock to go back to the same routine the first week home, but then two weeks, three weeks, and now a month later I’d say normal life feels normal again. I look back on our trip and I am amazed at all that we learned, all the material that we covered in a way that felt, ounce for ounce, far easier to take in than material presented in a more traditional manner. The formal and informal curriculums both have made a great impression on me and my perspective. I have gained a deep appreciation for the men and women who were pioneers in modern science and medicine. Their fruits, our benefits, were the result of hard work, ingenuity and, for many who challenged the conventional wisdom of their time, courage. I also have a newfound appreciation for inexpensive beverages (har har). A meal in Texas is a coffee in Europe.
I find myself looking at the world differently since we’ve returned. I keep asking myself: Who discovered this? How did they discover this? Was this discovered intentionally and through brute force research or was this discovered by the fortune of the right mind being in the right place? My perspective has shifted in ways beyond science, as well. This trip made me appreciate more fully that the center of civilization is always moving. The United States was not always the center, and we will not be the center forever. The places around, the places far away from, the places that were once, and the places that will be the center are of great importance even now. They are sources of culture and knowledge that we benefit from having, and they are homes to people who are doing the same working and living and dying that we’re doing here, to paraphrase Jimmy Stuart.
If I had to be anything other than a proud black-Irish American, I’d be a proud black-Irish German hands down. Perhaps chance will bring us together again, Deutschland. Until that day, I wish you and all the Germany trippers a herzlichen auf Wiedersehen.
I find myself looking at the world differently since we’ve returned. I keep asking myself: Who discovered this? How did they discover this? Was this discovered intentionally and through brute force research or was this discovered by the fortune of the right mind being in the right place? My perspective has shifted in ways beyond science, as well. This trip made me appreciate more fully that the center of civilization is always moving. The United States was not always the center, and we will not be the center forever. The places around, the places far away from, the places that were once, and the places that will be the center are of great importance even now. They are sources of culture and knowledge that we benefit from having, and they are homes to people who are doing the same working and living and dying that we’re doing here, to paraphrase Jimmy Stuart.
If I had to be anything other than a proud black-Irish American, I’d be a proud black-Irish German hands down. Perhaps chance will bring us together again, Deutschland. Until that day, I wish you and all the Germany trippers a herzlichen auf Wiedersehen.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Back to the Real Life in the US...Unfortunately
To be honest, I didn't have much of a chance to adjust being back in the United States before my life started to get incredibly busy as normal. The three days that I had before school started went by way to fast, though I was proud of myself for staying up all day when I returned home, which helped me avoid jetlag. I immediately had a ton of things to do to get ready for school and I feel like my life hasn't slowed down at all since I've been back. I'm a co-chair in Impact, working as a Teacher's Assistant at Becky Gate's Children's Center, taking a full load of classes, studying for the MCAT, and working on internship and medical school applications....talk about hitting the real world of school fast and hard. Since I have been so busy and haven't had much time to really slow down and think about much besides school and everything else that I have going on, I feel like I did not really suffer from reverse culture shock. Granted, there were several things that I had to readjust to back home, but overall I feel like I handled the transition of life back in the United States very well, I just wish I had more time to soak in everything that I had learned and seen while I was abroad before having to dive back into school.
At the end of the program I have to honestly say that I was very ready to go back home. I had missed my family, friends, and boyfriend a great deal and I was very much looking forward to seeing them. However, I was also slightly sad to be going home. There is still so much that I want to see in Europe and I know that it will be awhile before I have an opportunity to go back because of financial reasons. I remember that it was really weird riding in a taxi to the airport because I had not been in a vehicle in a long time and I was so used to subways and trains. I loved the public transportation system in Europe and that has definitely been something that I have missed since I’ve been back home. It was very clean and nice and extremely convenient. I loved that everything was very prompt there also (unlike our Aggie bus system at times). As soon as I left Vienna, I knew that there were several things that I would miss about Europe. One of the biggest things that I miss is seeing many incredibly beautiful and old, historical buildings everywhere I go. Everything is so new and plain here in America, particularly in College Station. I still think there are many pretty areas of the country, both that I have visited and have just heard about, but I also think that many of them are nothing in comparison to the things while I was in Europe, both architecturally and just the land and cities in general. I also really miss being able to walk around easily in all of the cities. I know there are several cities that are walker-friendly in America also, but College Station is not really one of those cities. People give you funny looks or just don’t really expect to see anyone walking around besides on campus. In Europe I loved being outside all the time (well, most of the time, when I wasn’t completely frozen) and just being able to enjoy the scenery and fresh air as we walked around; I felt like there was always something to see. I definitely dreaded having to make the three hour drive to College Station soon after I returned and I like driving less than I used to before I went to Europe. I also noticed that when I came back to A&M I did not mind walking around campus nearly as much as I had before I went to Germany. Nothing is as far as the walks that we took around the cities in Germany and I just enjoy it much more than I used to, as lame as that may sound. I also miss our group that went to Europe too. It was very weird not spending every hour of the day with these 14 people when I came back home. I’m very glad for the friendships I made while on the trip and I hope that we continue to stay in touch. I also really miss the people that I met on the trip, Steffi and Olaf, and I am very appreciative of everything that they did for us. It made the experience so much better than it could have been by having guides that were so helpful and fun to spend time with.
There were several things that I was looking forward to in the United States, most of which are trivial, but still things that I was excited about. Number one is definitely seeing my family, boyfriend and his family, and my friends. It was a great experience travelling to Europe with people that I did not know previously and making friends and I wouldn’t change that for anything because I love meeting new people. However, next time I travel to Europe I would like to go with close friends or family. I was definitely very excited by the fact that I would get free refills (and unlimited refills) the next time I went out to eat at a restaurant. I think I let myself near dehydration several times throughout the trip because I did not want to spend my money on more drinks. I am so used to drinking much more water than I did on the trip so I was also very excited that water is free at restaurants here. I had always wanted to spend time where it snowed a lot because I had never gotten the opportunity to do so, but after three weeks I was ready to be somewhere that had no snow and no slush to walk through everywhere I went. I was very excited to sleep in my own bed because the hotel beds had been killing my back (though I am very excited about this after any trip I return from.) Another trivial thing that I was happy about was free bathrooms, though I have definitely missed the cleanliness of the bathrooms in Europe, it is nice to not have to worry about having a supply of change. Being able to understand everything that is being said around me is also nice, though I do enjoy listening to people speaking other languages, so I enjoyed being exposed to this on a daily basis in Germany and Austria. I am also a very picky eater and although the food turned out to be better than I had expected, I was ready to come home and eat Tex-Mex and cheeseburgers!
Absolutely incredible! That is the only way that I can describe my overall experience in the study abroad program. It was easily one of the best experiences of my life and I can’t think of a way that I would’ve preferred to spend my winter break. I had fairly high expectations for the program, in terms of what we would be able to see and do while abroad though I wasn’t sure exactly what it would be like. The study abroad experience far surpassed my expectations. I learned so much and saw more fascinating things than I can remember off the top of my head. The only complaint that I had during the trip was the cold weather, but that was because I had never been exposed to it for an extended period of time. I am glad that I can now say I have experienced what it’s like to be somewhere that has a real winter though. I am also very glad that my view of Germany just as the place where Nazis persecuted Jews, which I know is a very naive view of Germany, has been completely changed. I am glad to know much more about the country that my family came from and just to have more knowledge of the world in general. The one thing that I know for sure is that I would absolutely love to go back to Europe in the future as soon as I have money to do so. I have always wanted to travel around the United States and Europe, but now my desire to travel is stronger than ever. I realize just how much there is to see in the world and how little I know about places other than where I live. Being in Europe was definitely an eye-opening experience, mostly just by being submerged in a culture much different, yet very similar in certain ways, to our culture. I never knew that I would enjoy learning about other cultures and lifestyles and just experiencing all of those things for myself as much as I did. I have always been open-minded, but the study abroad experience made me appreciate and understand other cultures better than I had before. Learning about the medical system in Europe was particularly interesting to me since the socialized medical system had never been fully explained to me and I had never taken the time to learn about it. This opened my eyes to other ways of thinking also and taught me not to be afraid of change that may occur in our country. I have learned to embrace other cultures and other perspectives because of my experiences abroad. I feel like I have a much closer relationship to the world, if this makes any sense at all. I know that we only travelled to four countries during the three weeks and that there is so much of the world that I still have left to see, but I was exposed to more in these three weeks than I ever had been on trips that I have taken before. My mission trip to Mexico a few years ago was a huge eye-opening experience because I was exposed to the deep poverty that people lived in there, but the study abroad program was a different kind of eye-opening experience for me--just having the chance to see how people in other first world countries spend their everyday lives and learning about their way of doing things. It was just a really neat experience for me and I had gone in with an expectation of just seeing historical sites and learning a lot about medicine, but I came back with so much more than that—having experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be exposed to other cultures in a unique way and having a new perspective on a variety of things.
I have known since high school that I want to go to medical school and become a pediatrician. However, I have also had my doubts along the way, especially when people question whether I really want to go through that much school and spend time paying off school debts after graduating. After returning from abroad, all of these doubts have been removed. I now am certain that I want to go to medical school and that it will be worth the time and effort that I put into it. There is not one particular part of the study abroad experience that made me realize this, but a combination of several things that we saw and did while we were there. The open heart surgery in which the patient underwent quadruple bypass and a mitral valve replacement, the wide range of fascinating exhibits in the Deutsches Hygiene Museum, the many wax models at the Medical History Museum at the Josephinum, learning about the history of medicine in Germany and Vienna from Dr. Wasser, the lectures given by the doctors at the Heart and Diabetes Clinic in Bad Oeynhausen and the artificial hearts that we had the opportunity to see and learn about, were all highlights of the trip and definitely impacted my view of my chosen profession, but the entire trip in general had an impact on me. There was never a dull moment for me when we were visiting these and other places and learning about the history of medicine. I was absolutely fascinated by everything and felt like I could devote entire days to the museums we went to and would not be bored at all. The study abroad program also gave me a more open perspective on working as a doctor abroad and a desire to go on medical mission trips. I know we didn’t really discuss this or anything on the trip, but I never had an interest in working in the medical field anywhere but in the United States until going to Germany and Austria.
The two major things that I got out of the study abroad experience were a desire to travel to Europe and just around the world in general and a higher level of confidence that I want to pursue a career as a physician, both of which I am very happy about. I also feel much more prepared to travel in Europe than I did before and I have confidence that I would be able to survive on a trip just fine if I went with a few friends or family who had no clue what they were doing. The experience was absolutely amazing and I would go back to Germany, Austria, or almost any other place in Europe in a heartbeat if I were given the opportunity to do so.
At the end of the program I have to honestly say that I was very ready to go back home. I had missed my family, friends, and boyfriend a great deal and I was very much looking forward to seeing them. However, I was also slightly sad to be going home. There is still so much that I want to see in Europe and I know that it will be awhile before I have an opportunity to go back because of financial reasons. I remember that it was really weird riding in a taxi to the airport because I had not been in a vehicle in a long time and I was so used to subways and trains. I loved the public transportation system in Europe and that has definitely been something that I have missed since I’ve been back home. It was very clean and nice and extremely convenient. I loved that everything was very prompt there also (unlike our Aggie bus system at times). As soon as I left Vienna, I knew that there were several things that I would miss about Europe. One of the biggest things that I miss is seeing many incredibly beautiful and old, historical buildings everywhere I go. Everything is so new and plain here in America, particularly in College Station. I still think there are many pretty areas of the country, both that I have visited and have just heard about, but I also think that many of them are nothing in comparison to the things while I was in Europe, both architecturally and just the land and cities in general. I also really miss being able to walk around easily in all of the cities. I know there are several cities that are walker-friendly in America also, but College Station is not really one of those cities. People give you funny looks or just don’t really expect to see anyone walking around besides on campus. In Europe I loved being outside all the time (well, most of the time, when I wasn’t completely frozen) and just being able to enjoy the scenery and fresh air as we walked around; I felt like there was always something to see. I definitely dreaded having to make the three hour drive to College Station soon after I returned and I like driving less than I used to before I went to Europe. I also noticed that when I came back to A&M I did not mind walking around campus nearly as much as I had before I went to Germany. Nothing is as far as the walks that we took around the cities in Germany and I just enjoy it much more than I used to, as lame as that may sound. I also miss our group that went to Europe too. It was very weird not spending every hour of the day with these 14 people when I came back home. I’m very glad for the friendships I made while on the trip and I hope that we continue to stay in touch. I also really miss the people that I met on the trip, Steffi and Olaf, and I am very appreciative of everything that they did for us. It made the experience so much better than it could have been by having guides that were so helpful and fun to spend time with.
There were several things that I was looking forward to in the United States, most of which are trivial, but still things that I was excited about. Number one is definitely seeing my family, boyfriend and his family, and my friends. It was a great experience travelling to Europe with people that I did not know previously and making friends and I wouldn’t change that for anything because I love meeting new people. However, next time I travel to Europe I would like to go with close friends or family. I was definitely very excited by the fact that I would get free refills (and unlimited refills) the next time I went out to eat at a restaurant. I think I let myself near dehydration several times throughout the trip because I did not want to spend my money on more drinks. I am so used to drinking much more water than I did on the trip so I was also very excited that water is free at restaurants here. I had always wanted to spend time where it snowed a lot because I had never gotten the opportunity to do so, but after three weeks I was ready to be somewhere that had no snow and no slush to walk through everywhere I went. I was very excited to sleep in my own bed because the hotel beds had been killing my back (though I am very excited about this after any trip I return from.) Another trivial thing that I was happy about was free bathrooms, though I have definitely missed the cleanliness of the bathrooms in Europe, it is nice to not have to worry about having a supply of change. Being able to understand everything that is being said around me is also nice, though I do enjoy listening to people speaking other languages, so I enjoyed being exposed to this on a daily basis in Germany and Austria. I am also a very picky eater and although the food turned out to be better than I had expected, I was ready to come home and eat Tex-Mex and cheeseburgers!
Absolutely incredible! That is the only way that I can describe my overall experience in the study abroad program. It was easily one of the best experiences of my life and I can’t think of a way that I would’ve preferred to spend my winter break. I had fairly high expectations for the program, in terms of what we would be able to see and do while abroad though I wasn’t sure exactly what it would be like. The study abroad experience far surpassed my expectations. I learned so much and saw more fascinating things than I can remember off the top of my head. The only complaint that I had during the trip was the cold weather, but that was because I had never been exposed to it for an extended period of time. I am glad that I can now say I have experienced what it’s like to be somewhere that has a real winter though. I am also very glad that my view of Germany just as the place where Nazis persecuted Jews, which I know is a very naive view of Germany, has been completely changed. I am glad to know much more about the country that my family came from and just to have more knowledge of the world in general. The one thing that I know for sure is that I would absolutely love to go back to Europe in the future as soon as I have money to do so. I have always wanted to travel around the United States and Europe, but now my desire to travel is stronger than ever. I realize just how much there is to see in the world and how little I know about places other than where I live. Being in Europe was definitely an eye-opening experience, mostly just by being submerged in a culture much different, yet very similar in certain ways, to our culture. I never knew that I would enjoy learning about other cultures and lifestyles and just experiencing all of those things for myself as much as I did. I have always been open-minded, but the study abroad experience made me appreciate and understand other cultures better than I had before. Learning about the medical system in Europe was particularly interesting to me since the socialized medical system had never been fully explained to me and I had never taken the time to learn about it. This opened my eyes to other ways of thinking also and taught me not to be afraid of change that may occur in our country. I have learned to embrace other cultures and other perspectives because of my experiences abroad. I feel like I have a much closer relationship to the world, if this makes any sense at all. I know that we only travelled to four countries during the three weeks and that there is so much of the world that I still have left to see, but I was exposed to more in these three weeks than I ever had been on trips that I have taken before. My mission trip to Mexico a few years ago was a huge eye-opening experience because I was exposed to the deep poverty that people lived in there, but the study abroad program was a different kind of eye-opening experience for me--just having the chance to see how people in other first world countries spend their everyday lives and learning about their way of doing things. It was just a really neat experience for me and I had gone in with an expectation of just seeing historical sites and learning a lot about medicine, but I came back with so much more than that—having experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be exposed to other cultures in a unique way and having a new perspective on a variety of things.
I have known since high school that I want to go to medical school and become a pediatrician. However, I have also had my doubts along the way, especially when people question whether I really want to go through that much school and spend time paying off school debts after graduating. After returning from abroad, all of these doubts have been removed. I now am certain that I want to go to medical school and that it will be worth the time and effort that I put into it. There is not one particular part of the study abroad experience that made me realize this, but a combination of several things that we saw and did while we were there. The open heart surgery in which the patient underwent quadruple bypass and a mitral valve replacement, the wide range of fascinating exhibits in the Deutsches Hygiene Museum, the many wax models at the Medical History Museum at the Josephinum, learning about the history of medicine in Germany and Vienna from Dr. Wasser, the lectures given by the doctors at the Heart and Diabetes Clinic in Bad Oeynhausen and the artificial hearts that we had the opportunity to see and learn about, were all highlights of the trip and definitely impacted my view of my chosen profession, but the entire trip in general had an impact on me. There was never a dull moment for me when we were visiting these and other places and learning about the history of medicine. I was absolutely fascinated by everything and felt like I could devote entire days to the museums we went to and would not be bored at all. The study abroad program also gave me a more open perspective on working as a doctor abroad and a desire to go on medical mission trips. I know we didn’t really discuss this or anything on the trip, but I never had an interest in working in the medical field anywhere but in the United States until going to Germany and Austria.
The two major things that I got out of the study abroad experience were a desire to travel to Europe and just around the world in general and a higher level of confidence that I want to pursue a career as a physician, both of which I am very happy about. I also feel much more prepared to travel in Europe than I did before and I have confidence that I would be able to survive on a trip just fine if I went with a few friends or family who had no clue what they were doing. The experience was absolutely amazing and I would go back to Germany, Austria, or almost any other place in Europe in a heartbeat if I were given the opportunity to do so.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
(Cultural) Shock Wars: Episode VI - The Return from Europe
It is a critical time in our lives at Texas A&M. Classes have descended over the peaceful world of College Station and its people (students). The homework, exams, and projects are taking over. The semester has begun and there is no stopping now...
Well, I tried, I can't write as much as George Lucas and I lack imagination to do a full Star Wars-like scrolling dialogue.
Anyhow, it has been a month since we all came back from Europe. It truly seems it hasn't been that long to me. At the same time, since we are busy with classes, exams, and homework, time seems to go by slowly for us as students… well at least for me. The interesting thing about experiencing other cultures is that the more one experiences, the less “reverse culture shock” one gets! Upon returning to the US, I expected to be critical and compare my experiences in Europe with my life in the US. The truth is that I did not. I understand that the world has different cultures and that we have to learn to live in unison with each other.
Understanding a culture means just that; understanding, accepting, and not trying to constantly compare what one is used to with what others do. Sure, in Germany they wait until you ask for the check, and here they don’t but otherwise we are similar in many other ways. Before leaving on this trip I expressed some anxieties about this trip. To be honest, all of them turned out to be nothing more than anxieties. There really was a very small language barrier, and I overcame that tiny percentage with my three week super basic German “course” (ok, I bought a book with lots of pictures and vocabulary). There were no pickpockets, not even in Prague or Amsterdam and we always felt secure, especially since we traveled together. Distance was not a problem, I had communication with my family every once in a while, and I just plain enjoyed the entire trip!
My views of Germany and Europe in general changed quite a bit thanks to this trip. The orientation helped, but being there made all preconceptions go away. Truly, Germany is much more that the Nazi era instigator. It was very important for me to experience Germany to allow me to dissipate all notions of this. Though the Nazi era and the Holocaust and the T4 program all happened, Germany has changed a lot since 1945. Germany today is art, architecture, history everywhere you go, nice people, beer, technology, and medical advances and medical technology. I am very happy I could experience all this. In addition, traveling thorough Europe was an amazing experience. The opportunities to travel to Prague and Amsterdam, to get to experience history, beauty and, yes why not, liberalism, were eye-opening. This trip helped me grow in my cultural experiences and helped me form a better world view. What can I say? If I had any expectations about this trip, now that I am back I realize that being there blew them all out of the water. It was in one short, sweet word, AMAZING.
The experiences I lived during these three weeks have reshaped my world view; they have opened my eyes to a new fascinating culture. Though I did not get into medical school this time around I found that there are many opportunities. They say that for every one door that closes, two more open. Well, I applied for the Study and Internship Program (SIP) in Germany. I loved being in Europe, I loved learning a little bit about German culture, I loved the language and I hope I can go back and immerse myself in it! I realized that there is really no point in learning a language unless you get to experience it (that’s why I will go to Japan and Italy someday and live these cultures as well!). Yes, I changed, this trip changed me. It opened my eyes. I loved observing the surgery, I realize that Germany has a lot to offer in the medical field, and I want to go back and learn more. This will impact my career because the more I learn and experience, the better my chances are of getting into a good medical school next time I apply. I think the trip to Germany and learning about the history of medicine were meant to happen and happened just at the right time in my life. It was awesome and I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to have gone on this trip.
Now I am back in the United States, working hard, learning more. I have experienced a new culture and I did not suffer a reverse cultural shock. I am back, I am here… but who knows, maybe this summer I will be back in Germany studying!!!
Bis dann!
Well, I tried, I can't write as much as George Lucas and I lack imagination to do a full Star Wars-like scrolling dialogue.
Anyhow, it has been a month since we all came back from Europe. It truly seems it hasn't been that long to me. At the same time, since we are busy with classes, exams, and homework, time seems to go by slowly for us as students… well at least for me. The interesting thing about experiencing other cultures is that the more one experiences, the less “reverse culture shock” one gets! Upon returning to the US, I expected to be critical and compare my experiences in Europe with my life in the US. The truth is that I did not. I understand that the world has different cultures and that we have to learn to live in unison with each other.
Understanding a culture means just that; understanding, accepting, and not trying to constantly compare what one is used to with what others do. Sure, in Germany they wait until you ask for the check, and here they don’t but otherwise we are similar in many other ways. Before leaving on this trip I expressed some anxieties about this trip. To be honest, all of them turned out to be nothing more than anxieties. There really was a very small language barrier, and I overcame that tiny percentage with my three week super basic German “course” (ok, I bought a book with lots of pictures and vocabulary). There were no pickpockets, not even in Prague or Amsterdam and we always felt secure, especially since we traveled together. Distance was not a problem, I had communication with my family every once in a while, and I just plain enjoyed the entire trip!
My views of Germany and Europe in general changed quite a bit thanks to this trip. The orientation helped, but being there made all preconceptions go away. Truly, Germany is much more that the Nazi era instigator. It was very important for me to experience Germany to allow me to dissipate all notions of this. Though the Nazi era and the Holocaust and the T4 program all happened, Germany has changed a lot since 1945. Germany today is art, architecture, history everywhere you go, nice people, beer, technology, and medical advances and medical technology. I am very happy I could experience all this. In addition, traveling thorough Europe was an amazing experience. The opportunities to travel to Prague and Amsterdam, to get to experience history, beauty and, yes why not, liberalism, were eye-opening. This trip helped me grow in my cultural experiences and helped me form a better world view. What can I say? If I had any expectations about this trip, now that I am back I realize that being there blew them all out of the water. It was in one short, sweet word, AMAZING.
The experiences I lived during these three weeks have reshaped my world view; they have opened my eyes to a new fascinating culture. Though I did not get into medical school this time around I found that there are many opportunities. They say that for every one door that closes, two more open. Well, I applied for the Study and Internship Program (SIP) in Germany. I loved being in Europe, I loved learning a little bit about German culture, I loved the language and I hope I can go back and immerse myself in it! I realized that there is really no point in learning a language unless you get to experience it (that’s why I will go to Japan and Italy someday and live these cultures as well!). Yes, I changed, this trip changed me. It opened my eyes. I loved observing the surgery, I realize that Germany has a lot to offer in the medical field, and I want to go back and learn more. This will impact my career because the more I learn and experience, the better my chances are of getting into a good medical school next time I apply. I think the trip to Germany and learning about the history of medicine were meant to happen and happened just at the right time in my life. It was awesome and I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to have gone on this trip.
Now I am back in the United States, working hard, learning more. I have experienced a new culture and I did not suffer a reverse cultural shock. I am back, I am here… but who knows, maybe this summer I will be back in Germany studying!!!
Bis dann!
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