Return to Reality (Final Post-Trip Blog Post)

It’s been crazy since returning from Germany. Sometimes, I still feel like the semester has just started, but in reality, we are already halfway through! Now that Spring Break is around the corner and tests have winded down temporarily, I finally have the time to write about being back home since going abroad. And on that note, this break also marks the first time I’ve been “home” home since leaving for Germany. I’m finally getting the chance to sit down, look out the window, and think back to my time abroad.  

In retrospect, the trip was an incredible experience. From the food, to the culture, to the history and everything in between, this was definitely a growing opportunity for me. Back when I first arrived home, it was a jolting experience.  In less than 24 hours, I went from Vienna to College Station. Being back at A&M wasn’t a visually appealing transition as the environment transformed from flowing, classical architecture to grotesque, mismatched buildings. It also didn’t help that school started the very next day. I had no time. No time to fully take in everything I experienced over the past 3 weeks. No time to get a break before classes started. No time to go home. And no time to even get mind and body ready for the new semester. Through everything, going to Germany was exhausting. Day in and day out, we were at someplace, doing something somewhere. As wonderful as it was to have packed schedules throughout the trip, it was also exhausting; rarely did I ever find time to take a breather: it wouldn’t have been too bad had I had some time to transition back to college. Thinking back to the first week, I remember being very tired; jet-lag obviously ruled over my body and mind during much of that time. It was ironic because I ended up going to sleep at a time for a normal person. Of course, my sleeping schedule has been screwed up since then. From then till now, I can say that I’ve been fully adjusted to being home in Texas. It feels almost as if the trip never even happened. The photos I have and the memories in my head are some of the only ways I can prove to myself that I traveled to Germany over the winter break.

I didn’t feel like I experienced the phases of leaving home and returning. I didn’t have culture shock either. Maybe it was because I have already traveled to Europe. But nevertheless, it was great taking in everything Germany had to offer. The people were friendly and the unique cultural experiences were something. I found out that young people in Germany are almost no different from young people in the US. Many of us listen to the same music and hang out with friends. With globalization being a massive influence on international culture and relations today, it’s quickly making the world a smaller place. McDonald’s and KFC can be seen quite commonly in Germany. T-Mobile envelopes the world with its international mobile coverage. In fact, when I didn’t want to pay for a bathroom (which is standard in Europe), I would just find a fast food restaurant; chances were good that the bathroom was unguarded. So I have to say that the bathroom situation and the expensive water/drinks were my two least favorite things about traveling to Europe. So for anyone that wants to go to Europe, bring a water bottle; you won’t regret it.
 

 

One thing that I found absolutely amazing was the public transportation system. Being able to walk everywhere gave me self-awareness about health and it was encouraging for me to know that I was reducing my carbon footprint on our environment. It was easy and efficient to take the subway system when traveling around Germany. The only thing to be aware of is that when a train says it’s leaving at 12:30 PM, it is leaving at 12:30 PM. Being late is a big “no-no” when dealing with the German transportation system. Not having to deal with vehicle traffic for 3 weeks definitely made my life interesting as I transitioned back to the land of individual motorized vehicles. Getting behind the wheel after being almost a month out of practice was a bit disorienting for a little while. And despite German food being really delicious, I have to say that it overall isn’t too healthy. Don’t get me wrong; I love meat and potatoes, but that’s really the core essence of German cuisine. Potatoes came in all shapes, sizes, and preparation methods. Mashed. Fried. Boiled. Broiled. Stir-fried. Take your pick. And schnitzel. So much schnitzel in Germany. Personally, my favorite German fast-food item was currywurst.

Furthermore, it was really interesting to learn about the health care system of Germany and how medicine developed there. It’s neat that all of it integrates to form the modern medicine that we know (and love?) today. Visits to places such as the Otto Bock Science Center, Hygiene Museum, and the Charite taught me concepts beyond merely going to class and reading a textbook. And besides learning all about German history during and before WWII, this trip really gave me a chance to see so many things firsthand. The prison and the gold bricks adjacent to many buildings reminded me of the tragic past, but also showed me the future of acceptance and understanding as well. And as quoted from a previous blog post, I felt this bit of writing did a good job of summing some things up. I want to share these words of advice again with the hope that it will help provide some closure to others (myself included) about this whole experience. "To end, I want to say that this trip was a wonderful experience and I made some great memories. From the perspective of just getting back, there are a few points I want to make. If you haven’t studied abroad, DO IT. Even if you think you don’t have the time. So many people don’t go abroad in their undergraduate years and they regret it. It is overstated but study abroad should change you and make you see the world differently. But you have to do it right; merely showing up won’t do anything. That’s because you need to approach the opportunity with an open mind and a hunger for learning. Try things that you normally wouldn’t back in the States. You may surprise yourself. I didn’t think I would ever eat apple sauce with horseradish and I’ve learned that sparkling water isn’t so bad. Make mistakes when trying to communicate with people in another language. Sure you get laughed at, but how else can you learn a language this late in the game?"

Finally, although the trip had its share of ups and downs, it was a study abroad journey well worth attending. It was the best use of a winter break and a chance for me to make new friends and learn more about my field of interest. Living and learning in Germany taught me not only more about medicine, but how to interact in the rapidly globalizing community. I truly enjoyed seeing the sights and people of Germany and realizing just how immense our diverse planet is. Next time I find myself in Germany (Spring 2014?), I hope to know a bit more German. It will definitely add to the experience.

Lastly, to everyone on the trip, it was fun traveling with you all; have a great rest of the Spring 2013 semester! And best of luck to you all in your future endeavors.

Warm regards,

Austin Wang