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I’ve put off writing this for a really long time because I want to make sure that I include everything that I want to say and I don’t forget anything important. Unfortunately, I currently can’t think of anything coherent to start off with, so I’m just going to make a list of all the things I can think of and say whatever comes to mind first. So here it goes:

• I loved the Hygiene Museum in Dresden. I was just telling my family about it yesterday so I’ve been thinking about how cool it was recently. I wish that more museums had interactive exhibits like that one did and I definitely wish that we had got to spend more time there. I think it’s funny that even though everything was written in German, I still feel like I learned from the exhibits and displays.
• Watching surgery was a really great experience too. It was cool that Katie and I got to see both cardiac and orthopedic surgery and get a feel for the differences between the two types. I wasn’t even really that interested in that kind of thing before, but after talking to the surgeons and seeing how organized and professional the operating rooms were, I’ve kind of been thinking about what it would be like to be a surgeon. Who knows, maybe I’ll have to start considering medical school now too.
• I also really, really like riding on trains. As long as they’re not incredibly crowded, they were a really great way to get around. It was nice to be able to relax and read or listen to music and not have to worry about getting lost or taking a wrong turn.

Also, since I know that it was really helpful for me to read the blogs from previous trips before I left for Germany, I want say a few things to the people who are going on the trip this summer or even next year. And I know that you will probably hear a lot of this stuff from Dr. Wasser, but sometimes, it’s easier to listen to advice when it comes from another student. So, here are my words of wisdom to future generations of globe-trotting Aggies.

• Make sure that you know how to work your phones before you go wandering of in the European wilderness. Okay, so we weren’t exactly lost in the woods or something like that, but it is a little nerve-wracking getting lost in a hospital when all the signs are in German and realizing you can’t get a hold of anybody because someone doesn’t know how to work a phone (yes, I’m looking at you, Katherine Elizabeth Wright.) The numbers that you have to dial are different whether you’re in Germany of another country, so I suggest you figure out what they are before you go, especially if you’re about to leave for one of your free weekends. (By the way, we eventually figured out how to work my phone when we were lost in the hospital and it turned out that we were right around the corner from where we were supposed to be. So, that was a little embarrassing.)
• Invest in SmartWool Socks. I’m serious here, you won’t regret it. If you go on the winter trip, you will be walking through a lot of slush and snow and I don’t care how nice your boots are, you will get wet feet at some point in time. (https://www.smartwool.com/default.cfm#/Womens/Socks/_/_/227/)
• Pack light. Or else you will suffer. I had the distinct disadvantage of not being able to go home between the trip and going back to A&M, so I had to carry around a lot of stuff that I didn’t need for the trip but I needed for class this semester. Unless you absolutely have to bring something, don’t pack it. I had a chance to do laundry three times on the trip (twice for free in Bonn) so don’t worry about bringing enough clothes for every single day of the trip. Just don’t forget to pack a few really important things: lots of socks (see above comment), extra camera batteries, a water bottle (it’s really hard to get non-carbonated water so I usually just filled a bottle up at the hotel each morning), and you’re A&M student ID (it will get you discounts getting into museums.)

Overall, I think that this trip was a whole lot of fun and definitely worth it. We got to do so many amazing things and learned so much. Thank you so much, Dr. Wasser, Dr. Zack, and Nils; I know you guys all put in so much work and the trip wouldn’t have been the same without you! I really miss being in Germany already and I definitely hope that I’ll get to go back to Europe again soon!