Tschüs!

Friday morning kicked off with a lecture over the medical school process in Austria, which has fundamental differences from the way ours is set up. Even though this isn’t my area of study, it gave me a much greater respect for the medical students – they have to write a thesis on top of exams that cover a year’s worth of material. We visited the Josephinum wax anatomical models that were used as study tools for medical students during the summer months when dissections were a bit smellier… These models were extremely detailed; they used silk threads and wax to construct the veins, and real hair. After a short stop at the University of Vienna (so much prettier than A&M, I wonder if I would take it for granted) , we trekked through the snow to grab some Indian food, and headed to the Narrenturm. This was the first insane asylum established in Austria, by Emperor Joseph II, and it was packed with a collection of moulages representing various diseases, preserved organs, and various pieces of old medical equipment, including some wooden prosthetics! Like the Josephinium, the wax models here were extremely lifelike, and showed extreme symptoms of diseases that modern medicine has more or less kept under control. Next we finished off the day with a wonderful dose of free time! We shopped downtown in the picturesque pedestrian zone, the streets were lit with Christmas light chandeliers, and there was an accordion playing in the distance. We decided on a cute restaurant with the BEST schnitzel I’ve tasted on the trip (stuffed with ham and cheese, dipped in cranberry sauce and lemon juice), dumplings, and mélange. Chris stumbled on the biggest chocolate shop known to mankind, which was so overwhelming I attempted to take footage of it, and then we headed to the Danube. The snow was falling again, and it was so cold our butts froze on the stone wall next to the river, but it was gorgeous! It felt like time had frozen, or we were in a snow globe of sorts… the lights from the bridge and the buildings across the river were reflecting on the water, and it was perfectly quiet, save for the river. After a bit of exploring, we headed home.
On Saturday the group visited Hospital Mӧdling to watch a coronary catheterization for diagnosis of atherosclerosis. We learned the details of the procedure, and how to recognize stenosis and stents in the coronary arteries. The second patient we observed had complete occlusion of the left anterior descending artery; we could see the branch indicating the beginning of the vessel, but past this the artery was completely invisible (no flow through the vessel). We observed some unusual echo cases, analyzed an ECG for disorders, and learned about an awesome technology that can piece together a 3D model of the heart for a surgery to treat atria fibrillation. Next we listened to lectures on the Austrian Red Cross and homeopathy. I think it was just as entertaining to watch all the faces of my classmates during this as it was to listen… everyone had a look of stark unbelief or “this is a joke, right?” stamped clearly across their faces during the homeopathy section. But it was a great eye-opener, we were forced to take a step back from the traditional views of medicine we’ve been studying and growing up with and consider something without western scientific proof or numbers, etc. After a bit of talking into by Dr. Wasser, I reached the conclusion that if it helps as a supplemental medicine, then why not try it? For our second to last dinner, we had traditional Viennese food (dumplings, lentils, pretzel bread), and we topped off the night with some dancing at the Volksgarten!
Sunday was our last full day, and it was filled with Freud’s house, the Natural Historical Museum of Vienna, and a final dinner of schnitzel and goodbyes! The Freud museum was great, we had our last lecture with Dr. Wasser on Freud’s life and theories, and we saw his original entryway and waiting room. It was a bit strange and very cool being in the house and workplace of a person who had (and still has) such a huge impact on modern thought and psychoanalysis. The Natural Historical Museum was gorgeous; we saw a bouquet of jewels gifted by Maria Theresa to her husband, and too many models of animal species to count! Packing up that night wasn’t exactly a happy occasion, but I’m making a point of returning. I am so thankful for being a part of this journey, for all I’ve learned and experienced, and for all the wonderful people I was able to meet!