I haven't schnelled in awhile.

As I approach college graduation and ultimately entrance into Medical School, I often find myself reflecting on my overall college experience.  These are “the best four years of one’s life” and until this year I did not honestly believe that conception. I accomplished many milestones throughout my educational journey, yet I knew I wanted to achieve more. I’ve never been to Europe, let alone study the History of Medicine in Europe therefore I knew on this trip I would encompass many firsts. Yet it is not until I returned to the states that I realized how much I’ve really learned about myself, others, and different cultures on this journey.

         As an American I am guilty of not knowing much about non-Americans  or cultures other than my own. Germans are magnificent people with a beautiful country.  There is a lot I did not know concerning their history, culture, and even healthcare that I quickly was informed of during our journey. I felt crippled that I came to a foreign country and the only words I knew how to say in German was  "Sprechen Sie Englisch". Surprisingly, they were very accommodating to foreigners and spoke perfect English. Something that is rather disrespectful in America is something of the norm in a country with a plethora of languages and culturally aware citizens. It is my goal to become bilingual, maybe even trilingual. A rather ambitious dream, but the world is neither monolingual nor monocultural so I see no reason I should be.

         I would also like to add that their healthcare system is something I am rather envious of from the patient’s standpoint, but as a future doctor I am glad to be an American. The fact that medical bankruptcy is unheard of would put every American’s mind at ease. It means that a chronic illness would not be the end of your world or pocketbook.  This could possibly attribute to the thriving German economy in a time of global economic distress. Yet, as a doctor and going through the numerous years of school, stress, and debt I would love to be compensated as an American doctor. But German doctors do not have to worry about the latter due to free schooling. On that note, I think America should take some notes from these very very smart people.

          I also learned that I am capable of much more than I thought. I grew as a person as I immersed myself in a new culture and new people that I embraced with open arms. Also coming from a Historically Black College and University and also being considered African-American, it is interesting to see people who “look” like you, but have a different history than you do. Because there is a huge difference between African-American and African-Europeans, our stories are different, our history is different, and we even see ourselves differently than each other.  But luckily for us  a gorilla would see us as all the same.

         I am also surprised that I gained the most knowledge outside of a formal classroom and textbook. The museums, tours, and immersing myself in the culture allowed me to speak better German in a short amount of time, use public transit, and distinguish between anatomical parts of a human model. This is something rather surprising for someone who was raised on traditional schooling and sat in front of a professor and book and regurgitated knowledge. To anyone who thinks the latter is a greater teaching tool, try to ordering food when hungry or looking for a restroom in one’s time of need will and you will learn anything and everything in as little amount of time possible.

         Another thing I learned is that people bond over the minutest qualities. My ten classmates and I were the visitors in a foreign country. Our confusion, wonder, and eagerness brought us together and held us together. We have many stories about how lost, tired, confused, or a combination of all three we were. We were held accountable for each other and we looked out for each other. To my dismay we successfully made it back from New Years and Prague!

         Lastly, free restrooms and free water are human necessities, but in Europe are very profitable businesses.  But unexpectedly, these are the only two things that I missed about the states.  I actually did not want to come home to traffic, gas prices, and a stressful last semester of school.  These are all troubles of the United States, but not Germany. I want to go back soon, but I also want to go back with the same amazing people.  I could not have traveled with greater peers who are all unique and lovable in their own way, an instructor who always kept everyday new and exciting, or an Olaf who could make me schnell for the longest 10 more minutes of my life. It all happened so fast! I can’t believe that I’ve seen so much in so little time. I miss going on a new adventure everyday and most of all I miss Europe.

Definitely Going Back!

Studying abroad in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria has had to be one of the most exciting experiences I have ever had. It was a little difficult getting back and having to settle back into College Station’s time zone. Although the trip was relatively short compared to semester long study abroad trips, I still felt like I gained a lot of experience and knowledge about the different cultures, foods, languages, histories, and health care systems.

It was very eye-opening for me to see the similarities and differences between European countries and the United States. The first thing that stood out to me was that the restrooms, water, and refills are not free, which is something that we see as a norm here in the United States. Something I really liked seeing in Germany that I would really like to see here in Texas was the walking from place to place and being able to use inexpensive public transportation. Just being pushed in to a country where the primary language wasn't English was a bit difficult. Although most Germans, Czechs, and Austrians speak English, it was fun to practice and speak a little German. I now feel the need to learn another language other than English or Spanish. I really wish I would have learned a little bit of more German to be able to fully immerse into the culture. However I think that being in a new place with a different language made it that much more adventurous and interesting to me.

Prior to landing in Germany, I did not know a single German dish. I was even afraid that I would have an idea as to what to order. However I feel in love with the most simple and most available food in Germany, currywurst. As soon as I arrived in College Station I kept missing that small piece of Germany. As soon as I could, I took the bus to HEB and purchased some bratwursts, curry, ketchup and a few other spices. It was not as good as the ones from the streets of Germany, but to my surprise, they weren't that bad.

Being able to see another country’s views on politics and health care has allowed me to be able to compare their health care and our soon-to-be “universal health care”. Ever since I heard of the idea of the Affordable Care Act or a reform to our previous health care system, I was very excited because I grew up in a family where diabetes and other chronic illness were prominent. However, there were some family members that were stuck between not being poor enough to apply for Medicare, yet not being rich enough to pay for health care insurance. As a young adult, I was still unsure if I completely trusted this idea because it sounded more like a fantasy. It was so great to see people undergoing surgeries without the worry of being unable to pay for the procedure once they wake up. It was reassuring to see this process not only work, but work in a country such as Germany, which is known for its medical advances and beneficial research. Observing the surgeries at the University Clinics was the first time I had ever been in an operating room.

The trip overall was a great learning experience, from my first New Year’s Eve away from my family, to my first surgery observation. I was able to grow as a person and make new relationships. This trip really inspired me not only to go back to Germany, but to look for more countries to visit in the future.

Back in the USA

Being back in the United States for the past month and a half, and getting back into the swing of school and work, has been bitter sweet.  It is nice to be back home; however, sometimes I wish I still had the feeling of adventure and discovery that accompanied me during the study abroad.  I feel as though I have developed a connection with Germany and Austria, and I catch myself missing the beautiful cathedrals, running along the river, and being immersed in completely different culture.  Though I was ready to come home at the end of our two and a half week foray through Europe, within a few days of being back in America, I missed being a part of the European culture, hearing German, even if I didn’t always understand, and being able to just walk and explore a new city.   

            More than anything, the study abroad taught me to expand my horizons.  I have always been a fairly adventurous person, but I know I can also be closed-minded at times.  When I signed up to attend the trip, my main reasoning was to explore, not necessarily to immerse myself in a new culture, or to gain knowledge about current medical issues and health care.  Going in, I didn’t think my views were going to change.  Within even the first week of the trip, I was forced to reevaluate my ideas, mostly by fellow students.

            I enjoyed sitting down to dinner and becoming engaged in discussions about religion, politics, healthcare, medicine, and our backgrounds and families.  I loved being asked tough questions that made me really think and discover exactly what I believe.  Best of all, never once during the trip did a controversial conversation leave me with a bitter taste in my mouth, and I believe there are very few groups of ten people, who had never met, that could challenge me like that and mesh so well.

            Since arriving back home, I’ve noticed that my opinions, especially those on medicine and healthcare, have, I think, become more informed.  Rather than being based on preconceived ideas and on other’s opinions, my beliefs regarding the different aspects of health care and medicine are more my own deduction.  Specifically, after learning so much about different types of health care programs and having the opportunity to speak with those benefiting from a universal health care system, my view of the subject has changed dramatically.

            College has been the most amazing few years of my life, but I think this study abroad has been the highlight of my college experience.  Never before have I been so profoundly influenced by a culture, my professor, and my fellow students, and, since then, I have missed the museums, the food, the public transportation, and yes, even the city walking tours.  I hope that I will get the chance at some point of my life to go back (and hopefully, the next time around, I will know a little more German).  

The Shift

           When I look back on my experiences in Germany and Austria, I remember little things: perfect cappuccinos, sweet gummy bears, cobblestone streets, and breath-taking architecture. I remember my painfully-slow attempts to express myself in German, the polite chuckles I received in return, and how practically everything was conveniently translated to English.

What I recall immediately are just details that do not inherently matter, and yet I feel as though I have absolutely been changed by this experience. It’s difficult to put into words at first, and so I revert to the laundry list of European nouns that made up my original understanding of their culture. How ignorant I was!

All of my life I have seen things from my perspective. My American, Texan, conservative, Caucasian perspective. I suppose I considered myself an open-minded person, but now I see that was just a lack of self-awareness. I can’t pinpoint the moment I changed, but there are several foundational experiences which I believe catalyzed my shift in perspective:

Stereotypes are notoriously inaccurate, but I am going to draw one anyway: Germans are a kind, accommodating, and respectful group of people. Whether at restaurants, on the street, or on the train, my attempts to speak German were met with good-humored laughter and polite corrections. In general, people made an attempt to help me improve my pronunciation before switching to English to give me directions or take my order. No one ever refused to answer me or made me feel stupid. It’s give a man a fish vs. teach a man to fish all over again. Each person I spoke to helped me express myself a little better the next time.

The hospitality of the German people was truly humbling. It made me think about how people, myself included, sometimes view immigrants in Texas who speak very little English. So often I have made an assumption about someone’s intelligence simply because they didn’t communicate in my language. And I didn’t even stop to consider the technical difficulty of learning a new language in a foreign country, or the psychological experience of being frequently misunderstood, feeling like an outsider on a daily basis.

I cannot talk about Germany without mentioning Olaf, our program coordinator. He took such care in handling our group’s affairs and ensuring our safe travels, and he met us every morning with a cheerful and genuine smile. I remember one morning, during a tour of one of the anatomical museums, I became very cold but had already checked my coat at the door. Without a word, Olaf took off his coat and put it around my shoulders. I thanked him, and he just smiled like it was nothing and continued looking around the museum. Olaf’s quiet kindness contributed much to my opinion and understanding of the German people, and I am so thankful to have met him.

On that thought, I owe so much of my new knowledge about German history and culture to Dr. Wasser, our professor for the History of Medicine course. Not only did he have an encyclopedic knowledge of everything German, but he expressed it with such contagious passion. He lectured during several museum tours, and frequently the tour would grow, doubling or tripling by the end as small groups of Germans joined our group to hear Dr. Wasser speak.

We were very lucky to have a professor who taught more than what was in the textbook. One lecture that stands out to me regarded the various health care systems, both domestic and abroad. It allowed me to open my mind to the possibility that there are more than two viewpoints on healthcare. I live in a country where progress is generally stifled by two dominating, polarizing political parties. I guess what finally struck me is that things are frequently not black and white; there is usually an option “C” and “D” and so on. I now truly understand that compromise is the key to progress.

Each person approaches problems from a perspective based on unique experiences and ideals, but in the end we are all seeking a solution; the realization that we are all on the same team is so elementary, yet it took me 21 years to come to it. Humankind poses a strange contradiction: from our DNA to our experiences, we are individual, each bringing something unique to the table. But at the end of the day we are the same: we search for purpose, for love, and for knowledge with a common intensity.

            I feel now, as I write, the enormity of my shift. Study abroad is about learning to think differently, making connections where you never imagined they could exist, and breaking out of your comfort zone in order to grow as a person. I am so grateful to have been a part of such a wonderful experience, and I think it will always be dear to me.

Affected

   The Olympics proved to be quite different for me this year. I of course rooted for the USA, yet surprisingly I was equally excited to see German or Austrian flags raised above the rest. Although I may not speak the language, I now feel a connection to this part of the world. A connection not only to this small area of Europe, but on the global scale. My study abroad experience allowed me to view the world in a new light, one that illuminated the beauty of cultures much different than my own.
   This experience affected me in so many profound and life-changing avenues. As a soon-to-be medical school applicant, I have gained an entirely new view of medicine. And not only medicine, but of global issues and policies. United States Capitalism is toted as the survival of the fittest, and those of lower income may "easily" work to become successful. Americans seem to live and die by this ideal, the American Dream. Yet as we face increasing poverty and the realization that we are no longer #1 in many aspects, is this dream still alive?  
   "Socialism" and lower quality of care is often linked to universal healthcare in the minds of Americans. How different the term truly means when executed correctly as they have done in much of Europe. Nothing struck me quite as much as the German's lack of medical bankruptcy. Students were not faced with enormous debt to struggle with for the remainder of their lives. When I hear others speaking about the evils of universal healthcare I no longer robotically agree. I am able to prove the success of such programs with the knowledge I gained while in Germany. The reaction people have to the notion of free college has been quite comical.
   My time abroad also served as a reminder of the beauty of humanity. The world is a vast and expansive place, yet all those who inhabit it are wonderfully connected. Born and raised in Texas, it becomes quite easy to neglect the thought of any other cultures and ways of life. However, seeing the size of weiner schnitzel, I can honestly say not everything is bigger in Texas. Nor is the oversized truck the only acceptable means of transportation.
   Not only did this journey change my global perspective, it also ignited a need to see more; to travel, to learn, to explore, and to experience all this world has to offer. I am simply too comfortable in my little Texas bubble, and now that I have ventured outside of it I see the value of being uncomfortable.
   Adjusting to life without world-class museums and public transportation at my fingertips proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. Without a moment to truly reflect on my experience, the Spring term began and I was instantly hit with reality. The daily classwork, organization meetings, hours in the library, and nights without sleep greeted me once again. In the bustle of day to day activities, I would at times remember how I had spent the past month. Exploring parts of the world many can only dream of, I was given the greatest opportunity and now it was all over. The excitement and anticipation leading to the trip lasted months, yet the realization that it was truly over occurred in one gut-wrenching moment.
   The trip may have ended, yet the memories and friendships certainly haven't. Let's face it, when you spend a month with others you either get along with them or succumb to misery. I was extremely nervous not knowing a soul before flying across the Atlantic, but little did I know the group I would be traveling with would include such funny, brilliant, and caring people. And never did I think these strangers would continue to support me even after we stepped foot back on American soil. Yet that's exactly what happened, and I am thankful we manage to stay in touch despite our hectic schedules. Our own catchphrases (shut "unspecified city" down, that's what she said, etc.) live on in the US and I hope we can all continue to be close.
   Sitting in microbiology on an ordinary Thursday, I first heard of this opportunity via an excited and eager Dr. Wasser. Sure, traveling to Europe would be exciting, but I never imagined I would be able to study abroad or that I would be so greatly affected. As I sit here recounting the numerous lessons and friendships I have encountered, I believe I made one of the best decisions of my life on that ordinary Thursday.

Another life time...

It blows my mind that less than two months I was getting on a plane and taking a risk. So much has changed since December 26th. It seems like a different life ago - when our plane landed in College Station, natural habits took their role and walked me through my days. Without a doubt, I am purely exhausted. School is overwhelming and there just seems like there is no time for anything. Or rather, that I am doing everything for everyone else. But going to Germany was that one thing that I did for myself, and it was one the best decisions I could have ever possibly made. Going on this trip changed me a number of ways, and differently than my past trips have changed me.

First off, I learned that my family means the entire world to me. Having the ability to see them during my free weekend was such a blessing, and it reminded me of the amount of love we give each other. They are without a doubt my support and rock.

Secondly, my viewpoints and appreciation of history drastically changed. 200 years of history here is about an hour of history there. The architecture, culture and overall historic events were breathtaking, and the feelings it produced when I knew that I was standing at such a site where so much had taken place, could never be replicated.

Third, keeping an open mind to a new way of living, is crucial to the appreciation of the culture itself. Those "ten-minute walks", paying for water and the restrooms, and using public transportation everywhere was definitely the shock I needed to realize that although similar, our cultures are very different. An essential component of traveling anywhere is learning to keep an open mind, and I am so blessed to have already had an experience that allowed myself to do that.

Fourth of all, I learned so much about medicine more than I ever did shadowing anyone or talking to any physician. Learning about the German and Austrian healthcare system opened my eyes to how screwed up ours really is. Furthermore, the amount of medical occupations and opportunities are so much more than "just going to medical school", whether it is working for Pfizer or in research, this trip displayed drastically how many doors can be opened to different areas of medicine.

Lastly, I learned that if I want to learn anything knew in life, I need to step out of my comfort zone and do things on my own - without the help from others. As I grow mentally, I want to have the satisfaction that I can do anything on my own, and that whether I am in my comfort zone or not, that I can always handle the situation. This trip was a good dose of finally doing something independently. I have been traveling for as long as I can remember, and even by myself in many cases, but never have I done it to where I would travel with new people, whom I only saw at a few brief meetings. Never have I had to maneuver through cities where I didn't know the language, or attempt to order my meal or drink in German, or further use the public transportation system (especially coming from a place where my car is my best friend). These were all experiences that I learned on my own, in those very short two and a half weeks that I spent abroad.

I still catch myself saying "bitte", "danke", and "tschüss" all the time while I am here. I attempt to explain to people about Germany and Austria's different health care systems. I can barely stand to not walk to places anymore - I try to walk everywhere on campus, and when people complain about it, I just think of all of those "ten-minute" walks I took for granted. I'd like to think I brought a little bit more back from Germany than just pictures.

I am still tired, and I think I am still recovering from all of the tours and walks and excitement. But without a doubt, I would do it all over again.

Bis bald, Deutschland!

Let's go back

There aren't many days since we left Vienna that I haven’t found myself thinking that I wish I could go back, that I was still in Germany—especially every Tuesday and Thursday when I sit through my German class.  As the stresses of this semester continue to pile on, I would trade my car for a flight back to Germany to continue studying there—well my car might be exaggerating a bit, but I would definitely rather still be abroad than wrestling with biochemistry.  

In my German course this semester the focus is on contemporary issues and life in Germany, but there does not seem to be any that can even begin to be discussed without first thoroughly considering their past and history and how it affects life in Germany today.  So many topics we have covered thus far relate at least in part to some new knowledge that Dr. Wasser so kindly imparted on us or a museum, city, or place that we visited.  I had no idea prior to the trip that it would correlate so closely with my course, but I love being able to sit in class and connect all of these ideas about contemporary Germany not only with the weekly German films and readings but also with what I learned abroad this winter.  There was a tempting opportunity for anyone in the class to travel to Berlin the first week of April—I will not going, partly because I was just there, a lot of the itinerary was covered on our trip, and my course load is much too demanding to miss an entire week of school, but also because let’s face it my class is not nearly as much fun as the group we had.  All of the INTS students who have traveled with Dr. Shandley before swear that you will never do more walking in your life, but I refuse to believe that they walked more than we did with our always-on-the-go itinerary.  (And I think Savannah’s pedometer has all of the proof needed.)

As I try to think back to everything we did and experienced in Germany, my memories are filled with an abundance of medicine and German history and culture, but I find it most curious that I took a trip abroad and came back with a more thorough understanding of some contemporary American issues—most specifically our healthcare system and its looming reforms.  I’m a lot more knowledgeable about how our current system works, and some of the details of the changes which Obamacare represents are much more clear— information that I most likely would not have taken much time to become familiar with on my own.  And although I am not going into the human medical field, I still find it important for individuals in the country to be well informed on such large prospective changes and am confident that I can now at least hold an intelligent conversation on the topic.  As far as all of the excursions revolving around the history of medicine, a lot of it still remains relevant to things that I am studying in veterinary medicine and makes me eager to put my education to more practical use in the field.  I am probably correct in assuming that I had my first and probably last opportunity to scrub in on a human surgery on this program, and I think that the open heart surgery will always be one of the coolest things I’ve ever witnessed.

After spending those brief weeks abroad, I have definitely come to a greater appreciation of free water, refills, and restrooms. The Germans are seriously deprived of some good mac and cheese, but I loved how easily accessible and affordable public transportation was, and the historical buildings and city sights are far more appealing than the endless College Station construction.  I’ve been to Germany once before, but this experience was by far the better of the two, and I think that faculty-led programs are one of the best ways to first experience a different country and study abroad.  This program was a fantastic opportunity to learn and explore all while being in the company of someone who knows the country and customs much better, and with this experience I’d feel much more comfortable going back to Germany on my own.  It’s instilled in me a stronger desire to live abroad for a more extended period of time at some point in my life and also resurfaced the aspiration of working harder to become more fluent in the language.  I constantly find myself wishing that I would have studied in Germany for an entire semester, but I suppose if I choose not to graduate a semester early in the Fall I still could.  Such decisions. . . 

Thank you Dr. Wasser and Olaf for a great time!