Back in Bonn

What I thought was going to be a more laid back week in Bonn, was totally the opposite!  We began the week at a relatively slow pace with a few lectures and a tour of the Kleis Organ Factory.  As interesting as that was, Tuesday really livened things up!  We all hopped on the bus to the Bonn University Clinics where we were given the opportunity to shadow surgeons.  After slipping on scrubs, clogs, and a hair net, we were off to witness live surgeries!!  I watched a laparoscopic shoulder surgery, an adenoid removal, and - best of all - a coronary bypass surgery!  I did not get to see the entire heart surgery, but I was in awe just to see a live human heart beating inside someone's open chest.  I also thought the procedure for pulling the sternum back together was pretty awesome.

 

The next day we had a few more lectures, including our German class in which I have learned to count, tell time, inform waitresses of my nut allergies, and order ice cream. :)  After class we went over to Koblenz to tour an opera house built in the 18th century.  We spent Thursday touring the city of Cologne and their beautiful, humongous cathedral!  We got the chance to not only tour the main level, but also the balconies and one of the massive towers.  Construction on the cathedral began in the 1200s, but wasn't completed until the 1800s and is still constantly worked on to this day.  Can you imagine building something for CENTURIES?!?!  All the detail in the stained glass, the gargoyles, and the stone work made the length of the construction more believable.  Check out the view from up top!

After class on Friday, Meaghen, Mikayla, Maddi, Shelby, and I departed for Paris!  Our AirBnB was not as glamorous as the pictures depicted, but it worked for our weekend getaway!  We spent all day Saturday roaming around the gorgeous city and seeing some of the sites.  We got to go into Notre Dame and the Pantheon, but we, unfortunately, did not have enough time for the Louvre.  Looks like I'll just have to make another trip back to see the Mona Lisa in the future!  After a little souvenir shopping and crêpe eating, we found a nice spot in the grass in front of the Eiffel Tower to admire the lights and enjoy some wine.  The Tower was lit up in black, red, and gold to honor those who were killed in Munich on Friday.  I think the support most EU countries show each other is so admirable considering the death and destruction we seem to be facing almost every day.  

Being so close to these terrible attacks makes me a little nervous, but I refuse to spend the rest of this adventure in fear!  Life is too short to be spent worrying.  We are, however, being extra cautious and trying our best to keep away from any possibly threatening situations.  For now I ask that you keep Munich in your prayers as well as our History of Medicine group as we start to wrap up our study abroad!