DB Train and Chill

Week 1 is down and it has already been an incredible experience. 

Day 1 (May 27): This was the first day in Germany! I landed in Frankfurt at 7 am and waited until 1pm to meet with AIB and head on a bus to Bonn. We drove on the Autobahn and it was a pretty cool experience to be driving on a highway I had only ever talked about in history class. 

Maddie caught me passed out on the way to Bonn. Neck pillows are the move. 

We arrived at the AIB and were given some initial information, but nothing crazy. Then Carmen Kinzig, Maddie and my's host mom, picked us up. We drove to a village right outside of Bonn, across the Rhine, called Oberdollendorf. This is our home for the next 6 weeks. Carmen showed us around the town and how to take the tram into the city. The village is beautiful and quiet with rolling hills in the nearby distance. We also met Wolfram, our host dad, and the two of them are amazing people. I am so grateful to be spending this next month with them. 

View from my window. Hills of the Siebengeburg.

Day 2 (May 28): This was a day full of navigating and getting a feel for the city. Maddie and I took the tram for the first time to Bonn Hbf and didn't get lost which is a good sign. We did some orientation stuff and then took a tour of Bonn. After the tour, Maddie and I made our way back home and ate dinner with Carmen and Wolfram. I really enjoy sitting down and eating with them and conversing. Something interesting is that for dinner they eat a cold meal which consists of bread, meat, and cheeses while we eat a hot meal which is usually what they will eat for lunch. After dinner, Carmen told us how to get to the Rhine River from our house so Maddie and I decided to take a stroll down to the river. It was about a 10 minute walk and when we made it to the river, it was gorgeous. Everything feels so surreal. I can't believe I am here in Germany with a river only a 10 minute walk from me.

Took a walk down to the Rhine.

Day 3 (May 29): This was our first day of class. We had a German lesson in the morning and then Dr. Wasser gave us his Hero's Journey lecture. I am very excited for this summer of growth and adventure. After this we went to the Haus of History and Dr. Wasser gave us a tour and taught us about the history of Germany after WWII. It was very interesting to learn about how Germany was divided and how its past shaped its present. After the museum, Maddie and I caught a train to Cologne to explore the city and meet up with a friend. We saw the lock bridge and the Cologne Cathedral which was massive and gorgeous. 

Maddie and me in front of the Cologne Cathedral.

After sightseeing, we ate and walked around in search of gelato. Instead, we walked upon a wine festival in one of the platzes. It was so fun seeing so many people walking around with wine glasses and spending time with each other. Since we happened to be there, we ditched the gelato and grabbed a glass of wine instead and walked back to the Rhine where we sat and enjoyed a view of the cathedral lit up at night. After we enjoyed our time there, we headed back to the Central Station and hopped on an ICE train back home to Bonn. 

Cologne at night. 

Day 4 (May 30): This was a pretty chill day. We had our first full day of classes and I am already really enjoying the material. Professor Waltz and Dr. Wasser are excellent and clearly love what they teach, which makes it easy to learn and get engaged. After class, we walked around Bonn and also laid out in the Hoffgarten. There were so many people just relaxing, talking and playing in the field, it was such a picturesque scene. After strolling around Bonn all day, I finally feel like I am getting a hang of the city. 

Day 5 (May 31): This day was also very similar to Day 4. We had classes and then I walked around Bonn and took a nap in the Hoffgarten. For lunch today, we went to a pastry shop and it took all my self-control not to buy all the delicious looking sweets. One thing I have noticed here is there are so many pastry shops selling fresh items and baked breads. The produce in general seems really great. I had strawberries and they were probably the best strawberries I have ever tasted. A big group of us went to a biergarten on the Rhine in the evening and it was packed. So many people were out enjoying a drink and conversing. Overall, it was a good time. I went home and ate dinner with Carmen and Wolfram after. I really enjoy having dinner and talking with them in the evening. It is something I look forward to every day. They are very nice and super intelligent people. Also Carmen is a wonderful cook. 

Day 6  (June 1): AMSTERDAM. This morning we woke up super early to catch a train to Amsterdam in The Netherlands. I didn't know what to expect, except that my sister told me she loved the city. When we rolled up to the Centraal Station I was in awe and it continued as we left the station and started walking around. The city is beautiful. With tall buildings lining the crisscrossing canals, walking through the city was a dream. Every corner we turned something unexpected and beautiful in its own right greeted us. We did a lot of walking around the city and found a park with nice weeping willow trees to relax under. 

Canal in Amsterdam.

Then we went to the Heineken Experience. This was actually a very cool tour through the brewery. I learned all about how beer is made and there were many interactive exhibits that made it a lot of fun. Towards the end of the tour, Maddie realized she lost her phone and we had some shambles, but we stayed calm and went to the front desk to see if they had found a phone and luckily they had. To celebrate the fact that we weren't dealing with a lost or stolen phone, we had a couple Heineken's. Prost! After this, we ate dinner and chilled. Maddie and I walked until we found a nice outdoor bar on the water. We sat by the water and enjoyed seeing the lights reflect off the canal.

Having a Heineken with the rest of the group. Prost!

Day 7 (June 2): Our second and last day in Amsterdam was just as wonderful as the first. We went to the lookout spot and saw all of Amsterdam. It was gorgeous. Then we walked to de Food Hallen. It was a long walk but worth it. The food was so delicious and the whole area was very cute. It was also nice to walk some more through the city. After this we went to the Van Gogh museum. It was very cool. I loved learning about his life and seeing how his painting style changed throughout the years. After this, we found a nice cafe on the canal and enjoyed some snacks before heading to the train station to go back to Bonn. On our way back, our first connecting train got cancelled. There was another leaving an hour later so we took that one. It wasn't a big deal, but we got home later than expected so we were super tired. Maddie and I passed out when we got home at 1 am. I don't think I have ever slept better. 

On top of the Amsterdam Lookout.

Well, that is the end of Week 1 of the History of Medicine Study Abroad. I have already learned so much this week and I am excited to learn more. I am very grateful for having this opportunity and words cannot describe how immensely happy I am to be here. Every moment of the day is a wonderful experience. I have noticed that even when it feels like a million degrees outside or my feet hurt from walking all day, I am still smiling. There is nothing better than feeling a little sore or tired knowing it is from exploring a new place. Okay, well that's all for now. Tschüss!