Back in Bonn (well kinda?)

Being on the road traveling is always great fun, but being back in Bonn for a few days and at a (semi) slower pace was good, especially with the crazy busy upcoming week of traveling we have planned. Tuesday's History of Medicine lecture was probably my favorite thus far. We compared the health care systems between Germany and the US. I have taken a few classes that have touched on the idea of different health care systems and how there is always room for adjustment, but this one lecture by itself seemed more impactful and informational than others. Germany has a very interesting health care system following the Bismarck model. All Germans are guaranteed health care coverage, plus those who may not be citizens (yes, taxes are higher here). Insurance companies are not-for-profit companies. Each individual has the ability to choose which physician they want to see, but they need a referral to see a specialist. There are often misconceptions on the waiting period to see a doctor, where actually the average wait time is shorter than seeing a doctor for critical care in the states. Germany also spends less money than we do on healthcare and have better health statistics (life expectancy, infant mortality, recovery rate after disease/infection, etc). At home in the states, there are 28.6 million uninsured, and we are the only developed country that relies on for-profit insurance companies. Granted, anyone can receive medical care from an emergency room, but the medical bill will be very high. So those who may not have insurance (for whatever reason, be that they do not meet the requirements for ACA coverage, but don't make enough money to buy appropriate coverage, or whatever other reason), they may never see a doctor until something is so bad they go to the emergency room and have to pay a bill for something that could have easily been treated elsewhere or completely prevented with not such high of a bill. The US does, though, have some of the best research and "newest and most improved" medicine compared to other countries. From the courses I have taken in the past, and this lecture, I still do not know what is the best way. Should we guarantee medical treatment to everyone who needs it? It isn't an easy question, and there is no easy solution. There will never be a perfect program that everyone agrees on. As a pre-med student, and even just as a citizen and consumer of healthcare, I think it is very important to understand at least the minimum basis of how our healthcare system works, and those around us.

But enough with the heavy topic, let's talk about the BEAUTIFUL Cologne Cathedral. Seriously, it was stunning, and I was blown away (literally, because it was so windy that day). The cathedral took over 600 years to complete, stand 157 meters high, and they have been constantly restoring the building since WWII. The tall ceilings, the detailed columns, and unique statues are fine examples of the gothic era. The back of the cathedral holds the Shrine of the Three Kings, and is said to be the resting place of the three wise men. Of course, nobody really knows for sure, but it makes for a fun story. Above all, though, my favorite part of the cathedral was the stained glass windows. The walls were painted in beautiful glass that, when the sun shines, brings in vibrant colors inside the building. Not only are they stunning to look at, but they also tell stories, which was actually the original intention for those who could not read.

While in Cologne, we also went to the Romano-Germanic museum. This museum displays many Roman artifacts that were found from the Roman settlement that is now today's Cologne. Personally, Roman history hasn't been of great interest to me because I was never a history gooroo, but I was really surprised to see how advanced the artifacts were, and how well they were preserved. Dr. Wasser sent us out on a hunt to find an item in the museum to talk about in our blog, and see what treasures we could find. Nothing describes treasures more perfectly than jewelry, so when I came across some Roman funerary jewelry, I thought it was something different and interesting. Romans took great pride in their burial rituals. Depending on how wealthy an individual was, the more accessories the dead would be wrapped in. These pieces in particular were made of thin gold foil and included designs such as diadems and wreaths of flowers and/or leaves. They really emphasized making the dead feel honored and beautiful as they rest.


Yesterday we went out to Koblenz to see one of the oldest and still functioning opera houses. We were able to go back stage and see the costume and make up rooms, woodshop, and prop rooms, which were really cool. I did theatre when I was younger, and always wanted to continue in high school but decided not to because of sports, so I felt like a little kid again walking backstage. It also really made me want to go watch a live musical. I sometimes feel like the appreciation for live theatre is slowly fading away, but places like these do their every best to keep it alive and they love living the theatre life. After the opera house, we took a gondola (cable car lift, not the little boat) across the Rhine and visited the Ehrenbreitstein fortress where the original foundations date back to 9th century BC. At the top you got a beautiful overlook of the Rhine river and you can physically see where the Rhine river meets the Mosel river, and can see as far as the eyes will let you.

Week 3 in Germany is nearly complete. Now off to finish my essay and pack for the weekend in Brussels!

Tschüss!
Emily