Reflection During My Last Night in Köln

As I sit at my aunt's house, I reflect everyday on how amazing this study abroad program was. For me, Berlin was the perfect end to a fantastic program. The city reminded me of a super-expanded Austin (my hometown). The city was vibrant, eclectic, hipster, edgy, and unique--everything I love! Though we viewed an extensive amount of the city, I feel that I could spend weeks there and still not see everything Berlin has to offer. Some of the highlights of our last week included a trip to the Ottobock Institute for prosthetics, a bike tour around Berlin, the School of Medicine in Charite, the Reichstag, the East Side Gallery the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, and a farewell dinner at the Kasbah. Each visit could be a blog post on its own so I'll only discuss the medical school, the concentration camp, and the Kasbah.

The visit to the School of Medicine in Charite was a very fun one. A nice medical student there explained the peer lead tutoring system and the ways that medical school students help each other out. Afterwards, two students showed us how to intubate, basic suture technique, and showed us various conditions using a model ("Sam") and a stethoscope. While it wasn't anything near the excitement of the Uni-Clinic where I watched open heart surgery, it was still a great experience! For my entire life, I've been a slow-learner. This was evident in our mini "clinical lesson". Suturing was a struggle for me... and as an aspiring PA in Sports Medicine, I'll need to learn! However, I can say that I tried my best and moving forward, I have a tiny bit of experience to work from!

In a way, the visit to the Sachenhausen concentration camp was the highlight of Berlin. The instant we saw the photos leading into the camp, I could feel that the grounds were rich in history. When I saw the sign "Arbeit Macht Frei", I knew something was different; I'd never experienced a similar environment. Oddly, I found myself getting more and more emotional as the tour went. We visited the area where the inmates were killed, their barracks, the treatment of the prisoners, and a glimpse of their stories. One piece of information I never knew was the fact that enemies of the Nazis--whether Jews, homosexuals, Catholics, French, British, Polish, etc.--were thrown into concentration camps. The focus in the history curriculum I learned from only discussed the Jews. The entire visit was an eye-opening and humbling experience. By the end of the day, I was in tears. Luckily, my sunglasses covered up my eyes extensively.

Finally, the Kasbah, our farewell dinner. The restaurant was a beautiful Moroccan venue with classic Moroccan dishes such as Tajine and Couscous. I had the Lamb Tajine and some Creme Brulee for dessert--delicious! I have never tried Moroccan food before, so it was a nice end to the program. The dinner was extremely bittersweet. It consisted of the usual: laughter, funny stories, reminiscing, jokes, selfies, photos of our food. However, we knew it was our last night. We discussed our favourite memories, our favourite visits, our favourite moments, and how our friendships would continue beyond the program. I never quite understood how people seemed to be such great friends after study abroads, but I now understand. In a foreign country, you depend on these complete strangers. You have to depend on these people to find correct directions, figure out menus, and travelling non-stop together always leads to deep conversations. I truly believe that our study abroad group was special. Looking back, I would not change a single thing that happened.

           Creme Brulee (Left)
           Lamb Tajine (Below)


As I sit here at my aunt's house during my last night in Germany, I feel relief; I'm very ready to go home. The exhaustion of travelling non-stop, eating foreign foods, not getting enough sleep, and seeing so much in a short period of time, has caught up to me. I miss air conditioning, dryers, free bathrooms and water, chips + queso/salsa/guacamole, my dogs, my family, and my friends. I do not think I'll fully appreciate this experience until I'm back in the States. I will say though--Dr. Wasser and Olivia were absolutely amazing. They've crafted the program over the years and it was incredible. I hope our paths cross again someday! This visit has had a huge impact on me; I've even dropped Medical Terminology to take German 101 this coming Fall semester! Even though it is goodbye for now, I will be back in Germany someday. But first, let me take a selfie:

                          AUF WIEDERSEHEN, DEUTSCHLAND!!!

Bitter Sweet

I've only been home for 6 days and while it was nice to get some much needed rest, I already I miss my adventures in Europe. This study abroad experience has been honestly a huge highlight in my life thus far. I couldn't be more thankful for the journey I've been on and also the people I got to know. Luckily all of us will be going back to College Station and will be able to see each other still. It won't be the same of course, but I'm glad staying in touch is possible. I'm so thankful for the group that went with me, and I feel like I legitimately made some lifelong friends. I know it's cliche to say but it's true that I made some serious lifelong memories abroad. 

The last excursion we went on was in Berlin. I liked Berlin. I loved going to Ottobach of course! It was cool to get to learn more about biomechanics since I'm torn in choosing my focus of my major in biomechanics or biomaterials. The concentration camp was of course an experience. I never realized that experiments were being done during the Holocaust and I suppose that's ignorant of me but now I know. It shocked me most that Nazi's justified putting Jewish people in such terrible conditions by saying they aren't even human and are nothing like the pristine race, and yet they wanted to do tests on these exact people to find cures for themselves. That just makes absolutely no sense. I mean none of the Holocaust makes sense but having such a strong contradiction I feel like someone would catch on to the total BS that it was. I would think the Nazi's would feel like Jewish people had such a different chemical make up that the cure for them from these diseases wouldn't work on their people. I mean if they are sooo different who is to say they even have all of the same shaped organs and what not. I got pretty hung up on that fact. I liked learning how post world war two affected Berlin as well. I mean I knew it was split into 4 areas but it's different hearing about it from history books and actually seeing where the wall was and the stories of individuals and how their lives were affected. I was surprised when visiting the East side galleries to find graffiti all over the professional artwork. I guess I shouldn't have been beccause people graffiti all over town but the whole time I was in Germany I learned how serious the Holocaust was taken and how it still effects the German's daily lives. It seems like such a respected and serious matter that I didn't think people would graffiti on paintings when some of them are reflecting the Nazi persecution and terrible things of the past. I know the wall and Holocaust are different things but I guess them both having to do with WWII I figured the respect would go hand in hand. 

All in all I loved Berlin and my entire experience abroad! I know it might sound lame but I feel like I can get anything done in life that I need or want to. I mean I just went across the Atlantic, with a bunch of strangers, none of which spoke the language. I'm pretty proud to say that I was bold enough to go on such an adventure without one friend or family member. Of course I didn't do it all alone, Olivia, Dr. Wasser, and my host mother Hilde were always just a call away. They were always so willing to help me with anything I needed at any hour of the day. I love my AIB family! I'm sad Olivia and Hilde won't get to come back to college station with me but maybe I'll see them again one day. 

The End? Or New Beginnings?

Now that I have been back in the States for a few days, my European adventures are really starting to soak in. The trip still feels like a distant dream that was way too awesome for someone to actually experience, but the pictures keep reminding me that it was real. I am forever grateful for this experience and I've learned so much that I know I have been changed for the better. Since I have been back, I have been sure to be extra thankful for air conditioning, ice, and free chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants. 

I was not sure what to expect of our last week in Berlin but I was definitely not disappointed. I loved the city and it was awesome to be able to see the history we've learned about for so long. It's completely different listening to my Papa's stories from the war when I have now seen and explored the places he's always talked about. I think what surprised me most about Berlin was that the effects of WWII  and the Nazi Regime are still everywhere you look. It is clear that the wounds inflicted on the city still have not healed, and maybe they never will, maybe they're not supposed to. I actually think this may be better - it really puts things into perspective when you can see a physical structure or damage rather than hearing a tour guide tell you "well fifty two years ago this was the place where xyz happened...." 

Berlin Wall

I think this was really evident in our visit to Sachsenhausen. To take the same train and walk down the street through town just like prisoners of that camp would have, provides an eerie feeling. To know that thousands marched to their death along that same road is a bit hard to imagine but the visit inside the camp made it all real. 

Gates to Enter Sachsenhausen 

On a lighter note, the trip to Ottobock was awesome!! The technology they have developed there has already and will continue to benefit thousands of people and will allow them to regain their sense of physical freedom. Knowing that I could one day benefit people the way they are makes me glad to be an engineer! I was astounded at how far prosthetic technology has come and how many options and so much hope patients have now. 

Of course I could not come to Germany and leave without buying a nutcracker! Nutcrackers have been a big tradition in my family for many years and we currently have a few hundred that we put out for decoration every Christmas. Several of them are very old and have been passed along several generations so they've become pretty important to us. With a German family heritage, German nutcrackers are a family favorite and definitely the most sought after. We can just all pretend I'm not a bit of a nutcracker expert... 

Unfortunately he would not fit in my suitcase... 

Visiting the Charité was also an unforgettable experience! Here I learned about intubations and sutures which are both things I've yet to experience. It was cool to be able to learn how to do these things because they are such common practices in medicine and people sometimes forget that just because we are studying medicine, doesn't mean that we know how to do everything already. 

Hard at Work!

It was hard not to be sad at our final dinner together at Kasbah. It was nice to come home but I definitely miss Germany and the people who made the trip everything that it was. I am so glad I decided to go on the study abroad trip in the first place. It was everything I thought it would be and more. The experiences I've had definitely changed me for the better and made me realize that medicine is definitely my passion. Because of the program, I am now exploring several different career options that I previously never thought possible and I plan to take advantage of several opportunities I had not seriously considered before. I am forever grateful for Dr. Wasser and Olivia Schaefer as they both did so much to make this program a success. Can't wait to see what lies in store next! 

Tschüss, 

Emily Thompson

Europe withdrawals.

Coming back to America was hard. On one hand i missed my family and friends, but on the other hand Europe was such a different experience to me i just wanted to stay forever!

To say that this trip has changed my life is probably the biggest understatement. My view on the world, the people, and culture as a whole has completely changed. For the better i might add. I met my best friends on this trip and we'll forever be connected by the month we spent abroad.

Each day was a new experience. From our first day in Bonn..

To our first day in Amsterdam..

 The first time we went to a public viewing..

 To the first time we cooked Schnitzel for our family

And that time we found out Cologne had a love lock bridge..

 And when we were in Hannover and we had the red shag carpet so we decided to try and look suave..

 To our day at the Lourve where we found out the Mona Lisa is tiny..

 And when we were in Vienna and went to a palace for the first time..

And watching Germany win the world cup..

 To the first night our entire group went out in Bonn..

 To our first river cruise.. (that most of us were asleep for...sorry)

To getting stuck in the very healing mud in Norderney..

 And having Erika drop us off at Bonn HBF for the last time..

This entire summer was filled with irreplaceable memories that were created by love, laughter and education. Thanks for this experience Dr. Wasser and Olivia. You two made this trip as great as it was and we can't thank you both enough!

Week 5: Cologne Zoo, Berlin, Charite Learning Center

After returning from our last free weekend we had our final week in Bonn. Tuesday we returned to Cologne for our guided tour through the Zoo. Our guides were two zoo employees, one of which has done extensive training with elephants and monkeys. They look us through the zoo making stops by animals that were of particular interest for us as pre-med and pre-vet students. Even though I have been to plenty of zoos before, this one was different. They have some unusual animals that we would not see at a zoo in the USA, like raccoons and a large variety of birds. Also, we got to learn about behind the scenes information on how to maintain a healthy and safe environment for the animals. The guide could give more detailed and sensitive information with us about the animals lifestyles than she could not with the average group that would come to the zoo. One example is of the hierarchy with in the animal groups. When a new male enters the group and becomes the alpha it is natural for them to hurt or even kill the babies of other males to establish their dominance. This is a natural process that might make most people outraged that the zoo did not stop the animals from hurting each other. However, they do not interfere because it is important to make the habitat as much like being in the wild as possible. One of the lasting memories I will always remember is when we entered the area with the Bonobo Aps. The zoo keepers warned us that they may get a little rowdy because they used to train and be in close contact with two of the older aps in the habitat. They had been working there when two of the aps, Bonnie and Clyde, entered the zoo and bottle fed them back when there were not as many stringent rules about animal and zookeeper contact. Still to this day, both aps recognized our guides and even blew kisses to one of them while holding her hand on the glass where they were standing outside the enclosure. It was touching and very shocking to see how easily they recognized them after all these years. The best part came when we got to the new elephant house they recently built. We met the director zoo keeper of the elephant house and saw where their ‘command center' was. From here they can watch both indoor and outdoor areas of the elephant habitat. I have never seen so many elephants in one zoo before! They said they usually have 12 to 14 elephants there at a time but the facility was designed to hold more. The problem comes when you consider the holding areas they use to interact with the elephants. The zookeeper took us in and around the indoor area of the elephant house while the elephants were outside during the day. He showed us the holding area where they can clean the elephants, have the vet examine them or give them shots. All of their interaction with the animals is protected contact unlike in years previous to now. We were all allowed to feed the elephants small slices of bread through the bars dividing the indoor and outdoor areas. Once one came over it wasn’t long before they were all there waiting to be fed. I held out my hand and the baby elephant grasped the bread with its trunk and then put it in its mouth. Even the baby’s trunk was unbelievably strong. You can feel the sheer muscle power and it was amazing.

Berlin! All of us were anticipating the fast paced and enormously historical city of Berlin to end our trip. I could consider New York to be most similar to Berlin in the sense that it is very big, very diverse and the general attitude there is radically different. As we experienced within an hour of being in Berlin, the locals can be harsh without meaning to be. Dr. Wasser explained it as a “Berlin Schnauze”. As we were all trying to enter the regional train to our hotel we were having troubles fitting and an older man was getting mad at us for holding up the train and shouting criticisms in German.

Our first activity was to tour the city on bikes with our enthusiastic guide from Wales. He got a good feel for the city and introduction to the museums and historical sites representing the rich history there. The history there is simply unparalleled. We visited Hitler’s bunker where we lived for the last several months of his life and where he and his new wife committed suicide shortly after the Soviet Invasion. We also stopped by the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie.

The following day we visited the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. The trip was both extremely interesting and educational but I also felt like I couldn’t leave that place without feeling like it took an emotional toll as well, learning about the unspeakable terrors and genocide that took place there. Never the less, I firmly believe that everyone should learn about this so as to ensure such things are never repeated. Rather than bury the past and pretend that these evil things never happened we must remember and reflect on these historical events.

Our final day on the program we went to the Charite Learning Center. We had two medical students tell us more about medical schools in Berlin and Germany overall. They provided a small taste of what their learning center is like for the students. It was created so that students of the original class-based medical curriculum could learn practical skills they will be expected to know when they enter the medical field as doctors. We got to use their dummies to learn how to do intubation and suturing. They also provided a dummy that resembles certain cardiac and pulmonary disorder to test the students. They students were very nice and talkative and happy to help us get a taste of what their learning tutorials are like.

Lastly, we had our guided tour of the Charite Museum, our last lecture on Virchow and our oral exams. It was a wonderful way to end the program and exemplified all we have come to learn and appreciate about medicine in this global perspective.  

Although my travels in Germany have come to an end, I have been traveling around Greece since the conclusion of the program with my family and my international experieces will continue in Italy and France before I return home to Texas. 

Week 4: Hannover & Norderney

After our long weekend I was happy to be returning to the group and to visit the Axolotl Research Center! Now that I have done research at various internships around Houston and at A&M for the past school year I was interested to see a little bit of what the research field is like in Germany. Also the topic of regenerative properties is a very unique area to learn more about. There facilities were not radically different than what you would find in a large city in the US. The biggest difference was that they have no AC! Our presenters did not seem to mind it though. Dr. Reimers gave us a brief introduction to the Plastic Surgery Regenerative Studies they do there. It was great to see the logic of their work from the ground up; starting with the isolation of the messanchymal stem cells from adipose tissue to having them adhere to the scaffold of the spider silk. We got to go into their room with the axolotls and spiders where they harvest the silk and make scaffolds. The graduate student Sara gave us a more in depth presentation about the axolotls they work with. After caring for these animals and studying them so closely she expressed that she cares about them like you would for a pet and even has one at her home! The axolotls were very cute creatures with amazing regenerative characteristic. There were some that you could tell had recent amputations of limbs and were in different stages of healing. We got to observe the difference between an axolotl that had gone through metamorphosis and the original form as well. After metamorphosis is induced by thyroxine or iodine the axolotl grows longer teeth and tongues, loses it gills, and has stronger muscles. The main focus of their studies concentrate on the healing enzyme in the axolotls skin called ‘AmbLOXe’. It is been shown to increase cell proliferation and act as a cell protector under cellular stress conditions.

On to Norderney! I can safely say that our visit to Norderney was a main contributing factor to a major change in how I view health and healing. The moment you step on the island you can feel the relaxing and laid back nature of the island. I loved how there were almost no cars; everyone rides bikes to get around the island. It is a much healthier and environmentally friendly way to get around. One of the most treasured memories of our trip was the Badehaus with Thalasso Therapy. It seems so unbelievable that visitors to the island and to therapy centers, like the one we went to, get prescriptions from their doctors to come and stay on a Kurort for 3 to 5 weeks. I had no idea that there was such a place that took this approach to medicine and natural healing. I felt very thankful and fortunate to be able to actually go in to the badehaus and experience the pools and mud bath therapy! All of the pools were salt water with varying salinity and had warm, if not very hot (fire bath), water. There was even a family friendly pool with a wave pool and big slide, which displayed that people come with their kids to these bath houses. My skin felt soft and refreshed after I completed the mud therapy. The entire experience was extremely relaxing and soothing. There is not very many people there so the environment is quiet and calming. The presentation was also great to display that there is concrete biological basis for the treatments and remedies offered here. They did explain that it is difficult to get further research since the treatment they provide has no gain for the pharmaceutical companies.

Just to round out our healing and mind body wellness on the island we had a rather intense workout on the beach. Olivia lead us and gave a variety of exercises like lunges and squats, jogging, and yoga. It felt great to finally do something active since being abroad.

Overall, I loved the island and would really like to come back and visit! I felt that we were fully immersed in the culture and experienced the finest of what the island had to offer.

An End Full of Beginnings

This trip has been more than I could have ever imagined. As I sit and think of all that I've seen and done in the last five weeks, I cannot seem to focus on one particular event. Each and every day brought something new and unexpected. Each moment led to a new outlook on life. My accepted reality was challenged each and every day I spent in Europe.

Learning how to intubate a patient at the Charite in Berlin.

I am forever thankful for this opportunity. First and foremost, it led me to a passion stronger than I thought I would ever develop. It created chances to see various aspects of medicine that made me fall deeper and deeper in love with my anticipated career. Every piece of information that I learned and every skill that I developed helped me to be sure I am pursuing the correct path for me. Before this study abroad program, I was confident in the security medicine provided. It would provide me with job security and financial stability. Now, I am also confident in the unknown of medicine. There were many times throughout this program that I was unsure and anxious of what was lying ahead. I was nervous to walk into the catacombs at St. Michael's. I felt quite uneasy before entering the operating rooms at the Bonn Uniclinics. I was scared of what I might see in the Fool's Tower in Vienna. However, each of these experiences left me excited and full of butterflies. The things I was most nervous for ended up being some of my favorite parts of this program. Medicine was something I was interested in before coming to Germany. Now it is something that ignites a fire inside of me and makes me want to give absolutely everything I have in pursuit of excellence.

Other students and I preparing to watch various surgeries the the Uniclincs in Bonn.

Apart from learning to love every aspect of the medical industry, my time in Europe led to some other great life lessons as well. My time created confidence in myself and my decision making. I gained a realization of the world like I never expected. I am now able to get from point A to point B on any form of public transportation without internet of any kind. My intuitions of society have strengthened, and my abilities to actually see the world around me are something that I cherish. However, most importantly, I have gained an appreciation for people and truly good hearts. In the last five weeks, I have interacted from people across the globe including teenagers in hostels, professionals in hospitals, students from all over the world, and thirteen other Aggies all of whom have a heart full of selflessness and altruism. No matter what city I was in, there was never a lack of individuals who were willing to help me. After arriving in Paris very late and very frustrated, a sweet woman in the transportation help center was able to help me get public transportation passes and save a little money. In Stuttgart, I was surrounded by families who truly loved me even though we had no blood relation of any kind. In Berlin, I had a waitress at an Italian restaurant who just radiated life and happiness. Each and every city I visited, I experienced genuinely good people. Not only did this trip develop my passion for medicine, but it developed my passion for people as well.

The group, Dr. Wasser, and Olivia on the beach of Norderney.

This trip was a whirlwind of experiences that I could not be more thankful for. I will truly miss Europe and am counting down the days until I can go back. I am truly blessed to have had this experience and hope many more years of Aggies have the same opportunity.

A Life Changing Ending

Europe was more than I could have imagined. I left with high expectations and returned more than fulfilled. It is an experience that I believe every young adult should endure. The entire trip consists of learning experiences far beyond what one can find in just a classroom. Behind the scenes tours of incredible places that not just any person could get. For example, speaking with workers at the zoo about the care and effort that goes into the animals they work with and then getting to get a private tour of the elephant homes was a memory that cannot be matched.
You grow as a person during the time you are there. Learning important aspects about their culture and actually being able to practice them in the process. It creates a respect outside of just reading or knowing about another country. Germany was also one of the most beautiful places in every possible way. Going down the Rhine river and seeing castle after castle, then getting to hike up to a castle and climb tunnels is probably one of the coolest treks through history. They tell you what the castles were used for -tolls on the river and why they were built that way.
We finished in one of the most unique cities, Berlin. A tour through this historic city take one through many time periods all at once. The Parliament House had a very classic look on the outside but the inside was extremely modern and there was a story to every major room. They also have one of the largest department stores in Europe, with the most incredible sixth floor dedicated to every kind of food one could dream of. The robotics prosthetics are by far the most innovative creations I have ever seen, this museum is extremely modern and even the building has a specific design and meaning.
Studying abroad was by far one of the best school/life challenges I have ever put myself to. If I could share every moment that made an impact to me, I would end up writing a book. There's not a moment, lesson or experience that isn't valuable in some way. I can only hope other college students take the opportunity and feel as passionate at the end as I do.

Last Week in Berlin and Post Germany

The program has finally ended, and we all are at our respective homes. Some people from the group chose to travel further, although I think this was a great time to come back to my family and to Texas. The program was beyond remarkable and we made some long-lasting memories. When I first came on this trip, I had doubts of whether this program was for me. I probably had a few expectations, if not any. I reminisce of the day we first landed at Frankfurt airport and my first exposure to an airport with no air conditioning. Did it really ended so fast, or was I in the moment and living every minute of my time while it lasted?
We waved at our host family and left to catch our very last train in Bonn to the HBF. We travelled to Berlin and had a bus tour to explore the city. We noticed that Berlin might not be the lavish city with tall, glass buildings, but it is definitely rich with history, architecturally important buildings and hustling and bustling streets. Each and every corner of that city has history attached to it. Later during that day, my roommates and I shopped at the local grocery store and utilized the convenient kitchen in our apartment to make fajitas. They were accidentally VERY spicy, but it was just amazing having our very first and last home cooked meal in Berlin! To add the cherry to the cake, we had ice cream as well.
The next day we visited the Parliament of Germany, and thereafter, the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. This was perhaps the most emotional part of the trip to me; however I am glad that I was fortunate enough to see the camp after having read stories of nazi prisoners in the past. Knowing that a place used for prisoners just years ago is now a memorial and a historic site perhaps touched each and everyone of us. We were walking on the same grounds innocent children spent their days to death.
In the last two days of our trip, we experienced what it's like to be a medical student in Germany and also visited the Otto Bock Center where we were enlightened with the world of prosthetics and orthotics. I had the chance to perform my first dummy incubation at the Charitè learning center and also had the opportunity to hear different lung and heart problems through a stethoscope.  At the Otto Bock Center, we learned about human muscular and skeletal structures and functions and how artificial devices can change the lives of individuals. Lastly, I saw the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery. The graffiti was simply stunning and the portrayal of ideas through artistic paintings were phenomenal.
Our last dinner was at a Moroccan restaurant. I had couscous for the first time and I loved it. This was perhaps the best group  dinner of all.

That morning, we had flights in groups and saying our last byes was definitely hard. I will miss my HOM2014 family. We bonded very well over the weeks, and being in a comfort zone with everyone around truly felt great. I will also miss Olivia and Dr. Wassser. Thank you for making this trip remarkable. After this trip, I feel closer to medicine. It makes me realize how far we have come over the course of centuries to achieve what we have today in health care. This only grows more respect for the modern procedures and anesthesia currently available. And what is love for medicine without history.

Paris, Elephants and Surgeries! Aug 2nd 2014

There are only 4 more days left for this trip to end. We are on our way to Berlin, and this week had a bucket of fun and surprises. After coming back to Bonn from Norderney, Elisa and I left the very next day to Paris. However, the experience was not as I expected. We landed in a very sketchy area of Paris and found an angel to guide us to our hotel. For the next two days, Elisa and I were always on the look out for danger. Nevertheless, we ventured early in the morning to Angelina’s to get hot chocolate and chocolate croissant. Too much chocolate, I know. Next, we walked to the Louvre museum and took pictures. The line was horribly long since it was the last day of the Tour de France. We went to Orsay museum, saw the Eiffel Tower and visited the Notre Dame Cathedral. An unfortunate event happened on the last day of our small weekend in Paris, and that was the end of everything. This to all future travelers to Paris: NEVER lose or throw your ticket away. 

Anyway, Monday was a day full of lectures. Sounds like an okay start, but this past week we had the chance to go behind the scenes and experience zoo keeping at a deeper level. It was great fun to visit the zoo after so many years, and I loved seeing the animals. We even got to feed elephants, which was not allowed for the public to do. The very next day, we woke up early in the morning to visit the hospital in Bonn. We were divided into operation theaters and I was placed alone in a general surgery room. I was fortunate enough to see three surgeries back to back. The first surgery I saw was a man who had carcinoma on his scrotum. The second one was a little 10 year old boy with moving testicles. What I found interesting about this surgery was the way the physicians took the testicle out and pushed it into the scrotum using a string. The third one was a little 7 year old who had lymphoma in the glands of her throat. Overall, experiencing these surgeries was not something I expected, but a physician has to deal with this one day. I am very grateful and feel blessed to have had the chance to experience not one, but multiple surgeries for the first time. I had decided in the past that perhaps surgery is not meant for me, but now I wouldn’t mind considering it as a future career. The anesthesiologist who I shadowed was also very friendly. On Thursday, we visited the museum on Hildegard and her garden, and we gave our second presentations. 

We are now on the way to Berlin, and it has been a great 2 weeks in Bonn. I will miss the city and AIB tremendously. Hope to come back some day. 

Berlin

*This post was written on Tuesday, August 5th*

Tomorrow I will be flying back home to Texas. I just typed that sentence, said it out loud, and it still hasn't sunk in. These past 5 weeks have been a whirlwind of activity and usually when I've gone on extended trips, at the end I feel like it was "just yesterday" that I had arrived. However, with this program, I haven't felt any "just yesterdays" all that much. We've had so many experiences, met so many people, and have walked so many miles that I've felt like I've spent a couple months or even a year here. I've tried my hardest to live in each moment and remember all of these experiences so that I don't live with the regret that I didn't do this or that while here. And now, the day is here to pack up my bags and return home and I've got to say that I'm happy that it didn't feel like these weeks went by in the blink of an eye because they were truly savored.

Cooking in our hotel room!

Since Saturday morning we have been in Berlin and as usual, each day has been packed with activity. On Saturday afternoon, I went on a double-decker bus tour of the city and made mental notes of places I wanted to see in person and spend time at whether it be in the next few days or in the future if I were to return to the city since we truly would have a short time here. Ultimately I saw the wall, the parliament building, and the largest department store in Europe. Next time, I want to visit the House of Terror and smaller monuments around the city. On Saturday evening, Katherine, Nishah, and I went grocery shopping and cooked fajitas in the kitchen of our apartment-style hotel room, which is something we all really needed! I can't wait to return to Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican food back home!

The Brandenburg Gate

We visited the parliament building on Sunday morning, called the Reichstag, and in the afternoon we visited the remains of Sachsenhausen concentration camp for a guided tour. The Sachsenhausen tour was emotionally taxing, especially because of the connections I made to my research on Nazi medical experiments and the interviews I watched of Holocaust survivors. 

On Sunday evening, Nishah and I visited my mom's cousin and his family in a village just outside of Berlin for a lovely home-cooked meal. I learned that he had lived there since the 80s and experienced the fall of the Wall and got to poke his mind about various topics such as safety in the modern city and the Stasi's activities thirty years ago, since I had just watched The Lives of Others at an AIB movie night. Afterwards, he dropped Nishah and me back off at the hotel and along the way he basically gave us his own tour of the city, which was quite nice. When I travel outside of the States again, I want to stay with locals and experience their hometowns through their eyes.

"Marly" cake at the KaDeWe

Yesterday morning we toured the Otto Bock exhibition center and learned about advances in medical protheses through interactive galleries. During our free afternoon, some of us visited the largest department store in Europe, the KaDeWe, and had desserts at the gourmet grocery store near the top of the tower. This was hands down the second best cake I've had in my life, the first being that at the chocolate factory in Cologne. Afterwards, we visited the East Side Gallery and saw some pretty amazing artwork by commissioned artists along the remaining wall. The girls and I then went shopping for the last souvenirs and returned to the hotel to study for today's final exam.

Practicing my intubation skills at the Charité

This morning we visited the Charité Learning Center at the Medical University of Berlin and got to play around with some of the equipment they use to tutor medical students such as simulation mannequins and suturing kits. In the afternoon, we toured the Medical History Museum of Berlin and had our final exams. The museum is now on my list of favorite museums to visit along with the Fool's Tower in Vienna. The collections were pretty interesting including a large collection of gall stones and preserved anatomical specimens. After the final exams, we had a little bit of downtime before dinner. I just got back from an amazing group dinner at a Moroccan restaurant called Kasbah. I had a chicken tajine stuffed with dates and spices as well as plenty of appetizers and dessert. I'm surprised to have found Moroccan food to be my favorite cuisine over here of all places!

Now I am preparing to return home and so many emotions are coursing through me. I am more glad than I have ever been about a decision in my life that I went on this study abroad trip because I have learned so much about myself and my interests. When I return home, I will undoubtedly be gushing about this program for a very, very long time.

And now, my official Auf Wiedersehen to Deutschland and Thanks and Gig 'em to the AIB, Dr. Wasser, and my classmates for making this trip amazing!

Elisa Vengalil '16

Highlights

*This post was written on Saturday, August 2nd*

I got to feed elephants!

The activities of this past week have gotten better and better with each passing day. On Tuesday, we had a guided tour at the Cologne Zoo and had a behind-the-scenes look at the elephant care facility which included getting to feed elephants! Despite being focused on human medicine, I enjoyed learning about how the animals are cared for. An important concept that I've been exposed to as a Biomedical Sciences major is that of One Health, which suggests that human, animal, and environmental health are all affected by their interactions with each other. Some of my questions about disease spread were answered and we also talked a little bit about organic and sustainable agriculture.

Chocolate as medicine? Sounds about right...

That afternoon we were free to explore the city, so a couple of us visited the Imhoff Chocolate Museum on the Rhine where we learned about the history of chocolate making and how it affects all aspects of culture including its uses in medicine. After our self-guided tour, I had the best hot chocolate ("Aztec"-style with Tabasco and spices) and cake (raspberry Tiramisu) of my life at the café with Katherine and Angelica. Afterwards, we went on a mad hunt for Deutschland World Cup jerseys with little success. All in all, the day was pretty fantastic and I was a bit sad to be leaving such a beautiful historical city. I wonder when I'll be back again and I hope it's soon!

Lovely morning at the Bonn UniClinics!

I'll err on the side of being rather informal and say that WEDNESDAY WAS PRETTY FREAKIN' AWESOME! We all met at the Bonn central train station bright and early around 7 am and took a tram over to the Bonn University Clinics to shadow surgeries all morning long. I was in on one surgery all morning which was the removal of a stage T3 carcinoma from an 84-year-old man's colon. I stood by the attending anesthesiologist and medical student administering anesthesia the whole time and helped out a little with getting materials. Once the tumor was removed, I got to hold the mass of tissue and that was SO STINKIN' COOL!!! You could feel on the piece of colon where it was very hard because of the tumor and the surrounding healthy tissue was quite squishy. I was glad to have all my answers questioned by the attending anesthesiologist about German healthcare and we had a nice conversation about the comparisons to American healthcare.

Me and Angela at the top of Rheinfels Castle

On Thursday, we all took a train together to the town of Bingen, where Hildegard von Bingen was born. We visited the Museum am Strom to view exhibits on her life and afterwards we walked through the attached garden and each student talked about his or her assigned plant that Hildegard had written about in Physica. My plant is the meadow cranesbill, which a pretty purple geranium that Hildegard suggested could be used to treat melancholy and bladder stones. Today it is more commonly used for inflammations, fevers, excessive bleeding, and a variety of conditions. In the afternoon, we went for a boat ride down the Rhine to St. Goar and just about everyone in the group fell asleep in the exhausting heat! We still saw numerous sights along the way including a 1000-year-old castle. When we arrived in St. Goar, we hiked up to Rheinfels Castle and our tour guide took us through the mines underneath which involved a bit of crawling through pitch black dark with the aid of candlelight or cell phone flashlights. That was a neat experience because we experienced a bit of how the castle dwellers would defend themselves centuries ago. 

Obligatory selfie with Beethoven's statue in his hometown!

Yesterday we had a late start and had back-to-back lectures as well as our pre-departure meeting for Berlin. It was bittersweet to realize that it was my last day in Bonn and that these were my last moments at the AIB and with my host family. At the end of the day I had a lovely hot chocolate outing at a café close to the AIB with Nishah, Edward, and Sean and afterwards we got this selfie with Beethoven's statue.

I'd just like to take a moment to say tschüss to my host family and vielen dank for taking care of Nishah and me to the point that I didn't feel homesick at all!

As promised, next week you'll hear about my experiences in Berlin!

Elisa Vengalil '16

Switzerland: My Last Free Weekend

Our time in Germany is coming to a close, and we are making our way to the capital for one last excursion. Berlin is the largest city in Germany and is filled with history. It makes me sad to think about leaving this country, but I am excited to see my family and friends (and new lab puppy) after being gone for so long.

On my last free weekend I traveled to Switzerland with Angela, Edward, and Angelica. We stayed in Lucerne, which my parents had been to before and recommended. Unfortunately, it was raining on saturday which affected our outdoor plans to go kayaking on lake lucerne. My mom's birthday was on saturday and I was able to recreate a picture she took by the Lucerne bridge when she was there.

We saw some of the historic sites in Lucerne, but what I will remember the most is the people we met there. We met a group of students from Michigan at our hostel that we explored the city with on Friday night. On saturday as we were looking for a cafe to have some hot chocolate at, a group of people about our age asked if we would like to join them. We did not have much else planned so we sat down and enjoyed their company for several hours. The group all lived in Lucerne and were already working at the ages of 21 and 22. That seems crazy to me since I will be in school for at least four more years. But most of my friends who aren't going into the medical field will be entering the "real world." Getting to know a group of people our age from across the world made me start to really think about possibly living over seas at some point in my life.

On sunday we planned on hiking up Mount. Pilatus, but when we found out that the hike took at least 2 and a half hours we opted to take the cable car instead. Halfway up the mountain was a toboggan track that we decided to try out which was a great experience! The view was great and it was something none of us in the group had tried before. We also went up to the top of the mountain and even though it was cloudy, the view was breathtaking. Climbing up to different peaks and taking in the sights from the top of the Swiss Alps was something I will never forget. Nor will I forget seeing Yao Ming at the top of the mountain! He was with his family and bodyguard so we were not able to actually talk with the former Houston Rocket. Switzerland was the perfect place to spend our last free weekend in Europe!

bye bye bye (Bonn)

our last week in Bonn was a blur. a stressful, surreal blur. it flew by entirely too quickly (the final week and the entire trip).

my favorite part of the final week was the zoo (and not just because Jens was there lol) i really do love animals. i mean obviously, since i want to be a veterinarian. but it was so interesting to see the way German zoos were set up, i felt like everything was so out in the open. i guess they didn't have to worry about silly people hopping fences to get to the animals or anything.

our final week we also got to cook for our host family. it was honestly the randomest combo of food but we made it work and our host fam ate it all so thats what counts. we were originally gonna try and make queso, but uhhh we couldn't find velveeta, american cheese or pepper jack cheese, so our cheesy night plans totally crumbled form that moment on. we ended up making salsa, guacamole, stuffed mushrooms, sautéed spinach and rice. the fam ate the entire massive bowl of guacamole. i was shocked, i really thought they wouldn't like it too much but they ate it up.

on our last night in Bonn we stayed around the dinner table for about 4 hours just talking and Erika kept saying how much she liked us and that we were her favorite girl host daughters. she was so awesome. i really liked living with her and Makeda and Menelik. they just took us under their wings and taught us all about Bonn, Cologne, and Berlin. they took us to dinners and out to bars and beer fests. they were just such a blessing to our already amazing program experience. having erika drop us off was really sad, i think she almost teared up. we had just all gotten so close in such a short amount of time it was hard to say goodbye.

we are in Berlin now. the final leg of our trip. its really bittersweet. I'm excited to go home and see my family and share my experiences with my family but i also wish i could stay for longer. being in europe has been such a different vibe than back in the US and i love it here. i'm definitely coming back in the future.

Week 3: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich

We had a very early start Monday morning to make our way to Vienna. After all the celebration from the World Cup final win had to pull an all-nighter to packed all my things for the trip. After our smooth flight to Vienna we started our experience there with a tour by Dr. Schnabel (Dr. Wasser in a plague doctors outfit) where he highlighted all of the major medical importance of the city. Later that day we had a guided tour through the catacombs at St. Michael Church. I started with some background information about the church and life at that time in Vienna. Then we entered the catacombs through a stairwell inside the church. As soon as you enter you can feel the difference in temperature and moisture. The area is quite expansive with some smaller rooms that more wealthy families could rent burial space for themselves and their families upon their passing. You could tell how wealthy or prominent a person was by what their coffin was made of. The wealthier people’s coffins were made of iron or other metals with ornate decoration and ornamentation. Most of them were made of wood and some very beautiful paintings of flowers, angels representing life and its beautiful but delicate existence. The large room was estimated to have the resting place of over 400 bodies. The coffins would be stacked one on top of another and when they needed more space they would simply break the coffin at the bottom of the pile to make more space. Sometime before they discovered and excavated the catacombs there was a flood that had caused a lot of the coffins to corrode or rot. One astounding but effective way they displayed how many people and remains were found there was the wall of femurs. Any entire wall at least 8-10 feet high was covered with hundreds of femur bones that had been found there. Likewise, there was a wall with skulls and other various bones. The coolest part was being able to see the mummified people still in their coffins. There was one older man who was a prominent politician of his time, a middle aged woman and a young girl on display. You could still see most of their skeleton and even the clothes they wore when they were buried. Since the plague hit this region very hard several times it is safe to assume that a large part of the people buried there were victims of the plague. The most chilling part was seeing all the smaller coffins that were for small children. I was impressed with their efforts to preserve the bodies with hay and straw to soak up the fluids of the bodies as they mummified.

Our following morning was spent at the Josephinum Museum. It was essentially the first ever body worlds exhibit. They used it to teach the medical students and art students. The models were not always 100% accurate but it was still very impressive for the time. We learned a lot about how certain diseases or conditions were treated back in that time, some of which were similar to what we do today. I thought the obstetrics room was especially interesting. Our knowledge and technology in this area has advanced exponentially since that time. We have always known that many woman died of childbirth in those times but thanks to the visit we could see the various anatomical reasons why childbirth was so dangerous.

One of the most informative and eye-opening sessions we had was our lecture by Prof. Marz at the Vienna Medical School and Clinic. It was wonderful to compare the medical systems of the US and Austria side by side. Other than the varied years of schooling in each the main difference is the context of what you are being taught. American medical schools teach you in a classroom and you study and memorize for exams. The Austrian medical schools like to have more experience based learning where they students are having indirect contact with patients under the supervision of other physicians so they can see why they are learning the things they are in class. I like that approach a lot. Many times it can be difficult to study for a class when you cannot see where you would apply a lot of the material in a real job.  I was curious to know how costs compare and when I asked I was shocked by Dr. Marz answer, they do not have tuition! The tuition is covered by taxes. I am still not sure which system I like better but I know for sure the Austrian system is much more simplified and stress free than the American medical system.

Next as the Fool’s tower. The cylindrical building used to be an insane asylum and living quarters for nurses and doctors who ran the institute. Over time it was converted to a pathology museum with thousands of real artifacts and body parts. Our tour guide was a medical student and asked us a lot of questions about the items in the museum to see how much we knew. We could answer almost every question he had which made Dr. Wasser very proud. Although all of the affliction were sad and slightly creepy it was amazing to see all these real cases and how they tried to remedy/cure them.

That weekend was my favorite of the entire trip. We traveled to Salzburg where we took a Sound of Music Tour and Salt Mines tour. Both tours were exceptionally beautiful and fun. I have never seen such beautiful scenery in my life. We drove by the Monsee Lake which was almost unreal aqua color from all the gypsum that runs into it. That lake with the Alps in the background and the lovely sunny day made for the perfect day for the locals to go swimming in the lake. The salt mines tour was very educational and a unique experience. Through the winding roads up and down the mountains we caught a glimpse of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest house. It was the highest peak in sight but resembled a prison like building to me. The following morning we went to Innsbruck where we went paragliding over the Swiss Alps! It was one of the most incredible and exhilarating experiences of my life. I was very nervous to take off but once we got into the air it was very relaxed and soothing not to mention the spectacular view of the moutains. We were blessed to have beautiful weather the whole time. Saturday night and Sunday we were in Munich where I got to celebrate my 21^st birthday. That day we went on a four hour bike tour through the city. It was a great way to get a quick look at all the city has to offer. I would have loved to spend the day in the English garden where all the locals were out tanning by the river. We visited the Asian Biergarten where we had lunch and had traditional food and bier from Munich. The experience really exemplified the traditions and history of Bavaria and made me wish to come back and visit again one day.

A Visit from Barbara

 Throughout this whole trip we have sat and listened about all the healing practices our family uses. They are very found of homeopathy, and our aunt uses a lot of different things to "balance her energy" as she says. Everything from numbers to colors; they have also showed us some reflexology and ways to open our chakras, very interesting to say the least. One evening during a massage lesson (yes those occur in our household) my aunt noticed my really slight scoliosis in my lower back. Ever since that day she researched methods and exercises I could do to help it and constantly asked about it. She even told me she would examine it when I got back from our two week excurtion to make sure I had been doing the stretches every day. Then she asked if Chanel and I would be interested in having a session with their friend Barbara, a Jin Chen Jystsu healing practitioner. Being open minded and appreciative of their concern we decided to try it out.  

Just as our host mom and host aunt Barbara had a big personality about her. From what I understood Jin Chen Jystsu was all about connecting the energy through all the cells of the body. Barbara would place her hands on two different places on my body and explain that herr hands merely worked as "cables", only transfering the energy we already contained, not adding or taking away any energy. I'd get scared when she'd make questionable noises about what my energy felt like. Things like "hmmmm" or "ohhhh". Whether it was good or bad I have no idea. A lot of the hand placements she taught us can be done on ones self, which is why Barbara said it was great because you could do it on the bus or while talking to someone and no one would know you were treating your body. She talked about the correlation of certain placements with organs or body parts and how the body has everything it needs to heal itself. Sometimes different regions of our body lose communication with each other and how putting them back in touch with each other can fix so many problems. 

I think the thing I appreciated most about Barbara was she realized her practice was something that could seem a little out there. Especially someone used to western medicine. She constantly told us that it was okay if we didn't believe in it like her. If we were willing to try it every once and a while then that was great and if we just gained knowlegde of the subject and never planned on using it that was okay too. 

Overall it was a really cool experience. I love meeting people like Barbara. There's nothing quite like company of people with extreme passions, even if it isn't mutual.   

Overcoming Anxieties

Only four days left, and I cannot believe it. I have spent one month abroad, yet it has passed in the blink of an eye. This week was certainly no exception. From the Beethoven House to Castle Rheinfelds and from the Cologne Zoo to the Uniclinics, the past five days have been some of my favorites. They have made me realize just how much I have grown throughout this experience as well.

My absolute favorite part of the week was observing surgeries at the Uniclinics. I went into the morning very nervous for what was to come. I had only been in an operating room once before, and it was during my time in Kenya. I didn't have the best experience, and it left a very negative association with surgery for me. While I was willing to give it another shot, I was certainly not excited for Wednesday. However, as I put on scrubs and walked into the first prep room, my nerves and anxiety quickly melted away. The anesthesiologist walked me through the orthopedic surgery that was about to occur. She made me feel included and important. I think she could feel my nerves a bit because she continued to explain the procedure while the patient was undergoing the operation. I was comfortable in the operating room and extremely thankful for her thoughtfulness. While I expected to be uneasy and ready to leave, that was not the case. The surgery included the immobilization of a patient's ankle after many unsuccessful attempts at repair. She had a rod drilled through the tibia and stabilized with a handful of screws. I was glad to be comfortable watching the procedure, but I was certainly not hanging on the doctor's every move either. However, this feeling soon came when I entered the operating room with a male patient requiring an aortic valve replacement. I was able to stand directly behind the patient's head and look over the operating field from the very beginning of the procedure. I watched the doctor create an incision and divide the sternum. I watched him cut through the pericardium and then prepare the heart for bypass. I watched the blood flow through tubes into a machine rather than through the heart while the surgery took place. Throughout the entire procedure, I never wanted to look away. I was amazed with every aspect of it. I wanted to ask a million questions and see every detail. I was so disappointed when I had to leave for the afternoon. Never did I expect to not only tolerate, but be absolutely intrigued by any form of surgery. Before this week, I was very confident that surgery and trauma were the two fields I definitely did not want to pursue. However, the Uniclinics made me seriously question my direction for the future. While I don't really care for orthopedics, cardiac surgery made me very excited for what lies ahead. 

I know I've stated this before, but I cannot help but develop a greater and greater passion for medicine as the days pass. After this week, I cannot imagine myself pursing any other career. I am more than thankful for the opportunity to discover my excitement for surgery and medicine as a whole. As we leave for Berlin in the morning, I am greatly looking forward to what these last few days hold.

New Experiences, New Thoughts, A New Career?

Yet another awesome week has passed here and I cannot believe how fast time is flying. I was expecting this week to be a chance to relax and take it easy since we were back in Bonn, but I was wrong! I don’t mind though. I absolutely love everything that we have been doing and am very thankful for the things I got to experience this week.

First of all, I really enjoyed the History of Medicine lectures on the T4 Program and the Nuremburg Doctors Trial because those were both things I have heard of, but have never learned about in much detail. I find it all interesting, terrible, but very interesting. I guess it is just hard for me to imagine that happening today but I do realize that it can, and it has. I think it is important for people across the world to learn about the past, whether it’s pretty or not.

The Thursday cruise on the Rhine was awesome! Being able to see the castles and little towns along the Rhine was really neat. I could not get over the fact that the castles we saw looked just like the images in my head that I gathered from books and movies. Luckily, the weather was in our favor that day and made everything that much better. Our castle tour was pretty incredible as well. I learned quite a bit about what life was like living in a castle like that. It was different than I expected and I wish we had more time to explore there.

Top of Rheinfels Castle!

Probably my favorite part of the whole week was the time spent at the Unikliniks. Watching a cancerous tumor being removed from a kidney was an AWESOME experience. I’d say this was one of the most educational experiences I have had since coming to Texas A&M (besides Dr. Wasser’s physiology class of course…) and really got me thinking about exactly what I want to do with my life. I had never considered becoming an anesthesiologist before and honestly thought the job was much different than it actually was. I found the position of the anesthesiologist to be incredibly interesting. The use of problem solving skills, mathematics, equation balancing, and attention to detail are things that I have learned to do and come to love through my engineering courses. This may seem a bit odd, but I liked the fact that the anesthesiologist has to constantly think ahead and be ready for any situation. He or she must have a superb knowledge of anatomy and physiology to be able to anticipate cuts or stresses that may cause more pain than others based on the location of the nerves. I always thought I would do something with radiation or oncology but now I think I may need to consider other things as well. Of course, I found the surgery itself to be remarkable as well. Both the anesthesiologist and surgeon were very informative and were able to talk me through parts of the surgery to explain them. Since I just studied the urinary system last semester, I thought it was super cool to be able to apply what I learned to an actual patient. Seeing pictures in a textbook or even wax models cannot replace the experience of seeing a functioning kidney inside a live human. Nothing can replace the experience of watching a surgery and that is why I am so thankful I got encounter that. I now realize how important and life-changing experiences like this can be and I now think I will accept a job/shadowing offer that I was previously unsure about for the upcoming fall semester.  

Of course I can’t forget about the Cologne zoo! I am truly fascinated by animals and have become very passionate about them in the past few years so of course I loved the zoo. Feeding the elephants was remarkable encounter that I know I will probably never have the chance to experience again. I am glad we got to do that – it was unforgettable!

Feeding the Elephants!

I am currently trying to make every minute count. I realize my time here is dwindling to a close and I must admit that it is a bit bittersweet but I know I will miss Germany and all the people who have made my time here so special. 

See yall in Berlin, 

Emily Thompson