Week 5: Vienna & Prague

Week 5 was the best one yet! We took a study trip to Vienna, Austria and spent our free weekend in Prague, Czechia. 

Vienna!

Vienna was beautiful. On our first evening, our program group had authentic schnitzel in an 800 year old wine cellar! It was sooo yummy. We then walked around a bit and peaked into the enormous cathedral in the city center. The next day, we took a walking tour of the city, and our professor dressed up as a plague doctor. I had the best ice cream coffee with my lunch! Then we toured a crypt - it was creepy and strange but cool. After dinner, Trinity, Maia, and I went to mass at the cathedral. On our second day, we went to the best medical history museums. The first museum was a collection of wax anatomical models of all kinds of body parts, organs, and the like. I especially loved the brain section. Then, we journeyed to the Sigmund Freud building in which we had a lecture about psychoanalysis! It was in the same building Freud had his practice. I was geeking out. We also saw his room and home. Next, we went to a museum of medical oddities - not my favorite. There were all kinds of specimens kept in jars. We then got ice cream and went for dinner! After dinner, many girls from our program went to a rooftop bar with beautiful views and then to a bar called cactus. We had so much fun dancing and singing. On our last day, we went to the Natural history museum, ate chocolate cake, and headed off to Prague.

Prague!

Prague was so fun. We spent most of Friday traveling, so we had dinner at a nearby Irish pub. We met some hilarious Brits outside who joked about us being from Texas and wanting guns too. On Saturday, we walked all over the city. We went to the giant castle, the cathedral, a panoramic view  wine bistro, and a monastery for mass (and beer). We had delicious Czech food and met the other girls for dancing. We went to a five story club and each floor had a different theme. It was a little weird haha but glad we got to experience it. The next day we travelled back to Bonn!  

Week 5!!

 This past week was so much fun and Vienna and Prague are my favorite places I've visited.

On Monday, we had regular classes and a pre-departure meeting. On Tuesday, we left for Vienna very early in the morning. The train ride was very long, but I watched all the Hunger Games movies during that time, which made it go by faster. The hotel we stayed at was very nice and the complimentary breakfast was a bonus. We all went to dinner the night we arrived at this very excellent restaurant that was in an old cellar. The atmosphere made the experience and the schnitzel was delicious. The next day we did a field study where Dr. Wasser was dressed up as a plague doctor. It was very entertaining, but I know he was sweating in that outfit. We visited some very interesting sights and we partook in some fun "medicines" that would've been used back in the day. The candy was tasty, but the alcohol and vinegar were not. Then we attended the drug museum which was very interesting as well. We looked at what an old pharmacy would look like, we saw how herbs and medicine were incorporated in perfume, and at the herbal medicine that was a part of the drugs we use. Then we headed to a crypt underneath a cathedral. The cathedral was beautiful. The crypt was really cool. We learned about the traditions of death in Austria and we got to observe some bodies in the coffins. It was very interesting and so was our tour guy. He was very funny, but I was taken a bit off guard when he grabbed one of the bones down there. The next day I went to a surgical museum that had anatomical wax models. These were very cool to see. Everything was so detailed and meticulous. There were models for each system and portion of the body. There were even very old ones of the entire body that can be taken apart and used in medical school and are made with real hair. Then from there, we moved on to the Freud house. We had a lecture there and then got a tour of the house. We then moved on to the next museum which used to be an old hospital. Within the hospital, there were models and real artifacts of diseases and interesting body parts. This was one of my favorite museums, I thought the entire collection was very interesting and educational to look at. Later that night, we went to an orchestra which was something I was looking forward to. The music was beautiful, I wish I was a little closer to the front, but it was still really cool to be a part of. On Friday, we went to the national history museum. We got to see some dinosaurs, minerals, and some zoology. 

Vienna had some really good schnitzel and hot chocolate, but I would say the famous chocolate cake was not that great. From Vienna, I went to Prague. Prague, like Vienna, was beautiful. The architecture is amazing and all the famous sights are gorgeous. I did all the basic tourist things like seeing the clock, going to the palace, and going to the monastery. All of it was really cool, but was quite a hike. It was worth it. The train ride back was a gamble. A 20-dollar euro ticket to Frankfurt at 5 am with a 4-minute change. We missed our second train, but we hoped on an ICE that took us all the way to Cologne, which made it worth it. 

That week was so much fun and by far my favorite locations. I am looking forward to going home, but I am going to miss Bonn and my new friends. One week left!

Week 5

 This week has been a whirlwind of travel! Vienna was a stunning city. It was filled with so much life and the cathedral we saw coming right out of the metro station took my breath away. This by far has been my favorite class excursion. The train ride there was SO LONG but the dinner we had definitely made up for it. The next we had a walking tour led by the infamous Dr. Schnabel. We learned so much about preventative medications for the plague while exploring the city. For lunch we went to Cafe Demel and the cake was so delicious. It was unfortunately too hot for the famous hot chocolate, but I loved the rich, creamy texture of the chocolate cake. It was undoubtedly hot in Vienna, but some ice cream and refreshing boba helped cool us down. My favorite place we went to that day, was the crypt. As a crime show enthusiast, I definitely felt like I was in my element. Later that night, my friend and I went to see the Little Mermaid and it did not disappoint. There are so many good songs!! The next day was packed with medical museums and I especially LOVED the Josephinum. The wax figures were so detailed and it was so very cool to look at. On our last day, we went to the natural history museum and I felt like I could've spent the whole day there. I was so amazed by the specimens they had preserved especially for the ocean exhibit. The rocks and jewels exhibit were also very nice to look and learn about. 

This weekend we went to Venice and it's surrounding cities. Walking through the streets, it for sure made you think of summer in Europe. Gelato and pizza were a must and they are a foodies dream. One thing we learned while there was that there is a distinction between the private and public beaches. We might have spent some time on the private beach before getting scolded at. :D We spent a night at a hostel, and I wasn't sure what to expect but this was a very nice place. It was like a mix of a dorm facility and summer camp vibes. The buildings in Italy were GORGEOUS. The bridges, the buildings, and the gondolas added to the summer feeling and I could not have been more in awe. I cannot believe we only have one week left before this program ends. These weekends have truly been magical. 

Week 5 Post

    Week 5!! We went to Vienna! Vienna has been one of my favorite cities we have visited. I loved the walking tour and watching people's reactions to Dr. Wasser's plague doctor attire. It was also really cool taking all the herbs/drinks we tried to ensure we were safe from the plague. My favorite 'medicine' we took was the gummies or the vinegar with herbs in it (which tasted like pickle juice to me). I enjoyed the Fraud lecture as well. I have never heard of Fraud, but I found the lecture interesting. I enjoyed learning about the super-ego, ego, and id. I just find it amazing that Fraud categorized the way the brain works and how each division is very distinctive/unique. Also, I had no clue that cocaine used to be so easily accessible to the public which high key blew my mind.

    In Vienna, I loved trying the sachertorte at the Demels and the restaurant we went to the first night had AMAZING schnitzel. I enjoyed the concert as well. I always love listening to Mozart and Beethoven while studying, so it was cool to hear the music live especially in such a beautiful church. Lastly, I really enjoyed walking around the city at night. Hannah and I watched The Little Mermaid and then walked around when it was super empty which was a really cool experience.

    On the weekend. Hannah and I visited Venice, Italy, Italy was such an amazing place. The city was very vibrant and there felt like there was so much to see. We even went to the beach for 3-4 hours. The beach was BEAUTIFUL and the water was clean and cold which was a nice change from the Texas beaches. We even visited cities like Burano (famous for lace) and Murano (famous for glass blowing). The best part of Italy by far (at least to me) was the gelato and pizza. They are totally worth the hype and I could have eaten the gelato for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 

    I can not believe we leave this Sunday, but I am excited to go to Berlin and head home to my family!

Best Gelato (Cherry and Chocolate)

Adorable Black Cat in Library in Vienna

Tower in Murano

Venice Bridge

Cool Statue in Venice

NHM in Vienna

Sachertorte (yum)

Hannah and I love Vienna

Doge's Palace

Canals in Venice

Week 5

 A week in Vienna and Prague!

This week we traveled to Vienna and Prague. I think this has probably been my favorite week so far. We started the week off with a day of class. I loved the lecture about Da Vinci and how he drew different animals, especially the birds. Tuesday, was a long travel day to Vienna. While the train ride was super long, it didn't feel awful. I enjoy the travel days because it gives me time to just chill and be with my thoughts. That night we went to a restaurant that was in a really old cellar and it was so cool.

Wednesday, we started off with a walking tour of Vienna led by Dr. Schnable. This tour was very interesting. We got to see an old lecture hall which was amazing and made me jealous that I have to go to class in Blocker. That day we also went to the Drogisten museum which was so cool. I love seeing what kinds of herbs and medicines people before us used. I also loved to see the prints of the plants that they used back then. The last thing we did that day was visit the crypts beneath the church. I thought the crypts were cool, but I always get a weird vibe when seeing a place where people are buried. The mummies gave me a little bit of a creepy feeling but it was interesting to see how they were preserved for so long.

Thursday, we first visited the Josephinian Military Academy which was totally awesome. The detail of the models was astounding and it was so cool to be able to look at and study them. After, we visited the Freud Museum and learned about Freud and his work in the field of Psychoanalytic. There were so many things that I didn't know about Freud's early career in researching cocaine, and it was interesting to be able to see where he worked after learning all about him. The final thing we did was visit the Narrenturm. This was so interesting. All of the preserved specimens and models were interesting to see, and it made me think about all of the different things that can affect humans and their health.

Friday, we started off the day at the natural history museum. We saw so many stuffed animals and really cool meteors. I also loved the dinosaurs. I think that paleontology is one of the coolest fields of study and the recent discoveries on whether the dinosaurs had feathers is fascinating. After the natural history museum, we went to the cafe Demel which I thought was underwhelming. The chocolate cake wasn't what I was expecting, but it was still okay. We then got on a train to Prague where we met a new friend named Jakob who was so helpful in telling us about food and places that are must-sees in Prague. That night, we went to an Irish pub for karaoke where we met some English people who were fascinated by the fact that we were from Texas.

Saturday, we headed up the hill to the palace. I thought the palace and the cathedral were really cool, but there were so many tourists that there were times when I couldn't see some of the things and it took probably 5 times the amount of time to walk through the palace. The most interesting part of the palace was the defenestration window. Defenestration has been one of my favorite words for a long time and I think it was so interesting that they actually threw people out the window. We then got lunch at a winery which was beautiful and we got to see the beginning of a wedding in the winery I think I found where I want to get married one day. We then headed to the monastery where we got beer made by the monks. I didn't know that beer was typically made by monks but it was interesting to learn that they do in a lot of monasteries.

Sunday, we woke up at 4:30 to hop on our 5:45 train back to Bonn. While we missed our second train, it ended up working out because instead of having to get on 3 different trains after, we were able to hop on an ICE train and we ended up getting back to Bonn an hour earlier than we were supposed to. 

Overall, it was a great week and I am excited and sad to be entering our last week of the program.

Week 5- Vienna and Zurich!

 Last week was the best week by far!!

Vienna was absolutely stunning. The city is full of rich history and beautiful architecture. The best museums were also in Vienna. My favorite was the Josephinian Military academy of Surgery because of how interesting the wax figures were. The wax models were beautiful and intricate and showed a complex understanding of the human body even almost 200 years ago. 

I also really enjoyed the natural history museum. The only other natural history museum I have been to is the one in Houston but this one in Vienna was by far better. 

The crypt in Vienna was very interesting. As someone who does research on bone regeneration and healing, I found the bones the tour guide showed us fascinating. The broken fibula and tibia that shifted and fused together was astonishing. I can’t believe someone lived with that and dealt with the pain in a time of questionable medical beliefs. I wish I could’ve taken a picture to show everyone else in the lab I work in  

After Vienna I headed to Zurich and it was the relaxing weekend I needed. We hung out by the river all day and went swimming. Besides the sunburn and how expensive food is in Switzerland, I had the perfect weekend. 

With only a few days left in Europe I’m having mixed emotions. I miss my dog, my family, and my boyfriend, but I’m having so much fun in Europe. I guess this is the part of the heroes journey Dr Wasser talked about not wanting to leave “paradise”. However, I’ll go back to Texas and not stay here forever, I’ll just miss Europe a lot. 

Week 5 Adventures - Vienna and Prague

 

Hi guys!!! 

This week was so awesome!! We left for Vienna on Tuesday and spent the rest of the week there learning all about the history of medicine. The city was beautiful and it was so cool to see how it related to everything we have been learning. My favorite part was the walking tour where Dr. Schnobel taught us about different medicines and history in Vienna. 

After Vienna we went to Prague which was so pretty too!! We saw the palace, the clock chime on the hour, and crossed the bridge. My favorite part of it was the pedal boat we took on the river. Also we tried traditional kolaches that were to die for. 

This week was so much fun!! I’m so excited for next week and Berlin, but so sad the trip is coming to an end!! Thanks for reading!! Bye!!

-Ava Brown

A week in Vienna and a weekend in Zurich!

 Another week full of amazing experiences and unforgettable memories!

We started off the week in Vienna which has been my favorite city so far! The city is absolutely gorgeous and is filled with so much rich history.  We went to so many cool museums and learned all about the history of the city! My favorite part was definitely when Dr. Wasser dressed as a plague doctor and gave us a tour around the city (and gave us a literal shot at 11 in the morning). I also really enjoyed the natural history museum and learned so much at the Narrenturm (including the fact that they used to treat Syphilis patients by infecting them with Malaria). 

I definitely think this week in Vienna solidified my interest in possibly doing a master's abroad! I think it is so unique to be able to learn about the differences between healthcare in Europe versus in the US and in order for things to improve or change more people need to have expanded perspectives and experiences.

After our week in Vienna, we spent the weekend in Zurich! Zurich was absolutely amazing and so relaxing. It was the perfect way to spend the weekend after living in the city for the past few weeks! We went to a garden and read our books and even went to the river and spent the rest of the day jumping off bridges and swimming in the river 10/10! 

Bonn Breakdown Week 5

 This week I only spent one whole day in Bonn while the rest of the week I visited Vienna and Zurich...so not much to say about my time in Bonn. However, my 4 days in Vienna were amazing! Vienna is such a beautiful city full of really cool places with medical backgrounds. I really enjoyed this particular excursion because we got to see a lot of medical museums, my favorites being the Narrenturm, the Natural History Museum, and the Josephinian Military Academy of Surgery. I was in awe at how large the collections of specimens that all the museums had. With the Josephinian, I loved the concept that anatomist and artists could work together to create anatomically (mostly) correct wax figures to aid in the teaching of anatomy and physiology. I'm a sucker for medical oddities so the Narrentum was soooooo cool because they had such an amazing collection of all the different weird and outrageous medical conditions. The Natural History Museum had everything you could think of when it came to evolution and anything found on this earth. I loved learning all the little facts about the different animals that are extinct or still exist today. I also enjoyed Dr. Wasser's lecture on Sigmund Freud because I honestly didn't know that much about Freud and why he's so infamous in the psychology world. I thought it was interesting to hear about Freud's 3 theories about the human psyche and how they all kind of balance each other out, not always in a good way. I don't think I could ever be psychoanalyzed though. Lastly, I really enjoyed going down into the crypt because I'd never done anything like that before. It was interesting to see how much you could learn about a person just looking at their skeleton and how they were buried. The tour guide was also a hoot.

After Vienna, I was so excited to get to visit Zurich! It was beautiful. Even just the train ride through Austria and Switzerland was beautiful because we got to pass through the Alps. We didn't do too much in Zurich because we only had a day and we didn't want to spend too much money there since everything was pretty expensive. Lucky for us, the weather was nice and Zurich had a bunch of peaceful parks to visit. We even got to go to the Unterer Letten Swimming Area which basically was like a public pool except the pool was a flowing river. It was so nice to just sit out, read my book, and jump in the river now and then to cool off because that water was pretty cold. It was nice to finally have a pool day with how hot the weather has gotten. I really enjoyed Zurich and it's beauty and someday I hope to do a little more hiking and maybe even ski in Switzerland some day.

Coming to the end of this week, I'm starting to get sad that I only have one more week left in Europe. I will definitely cherish this last week and I can't wait to visit Berlin!

Tschüss und bis später!

Week 5 - Vienna and Prague

Wow this week was fun!

We started this week with the class trip to Vienna. On the first day we spent most of it on the train ride that was over eight hours and then had dinner at a really cool place that looked medieval. I was very happy with Motel One as it had air conditioning and very nice breakfast buffet. On Wednesday we started the day with a city/history of medicine tour. I was a little disappointed at first to hear that Dr. Wasser wasn't leading our tour, but out of nowhere we were greeted by Dr. Schnabel. This plague doctor gave us insight into medications that were used to fight the plague and explained how his outfit was designed to prevent close interactions from his patients. Also in Vienna we did many different museum tours, my favorite being the "medical oddities tour" or the Narrenturm. 

On the weekend several of us visited Prague. This has been my favorite place I've visited, the views were amazing and there was so much to do, I definitely want to go back. We made the hike up to the palace and got to see an aerial view of the whole town. We also did a pedal boat on the river which was so fun. I am looking forward to this last week and expect it to fly by so fast. 

Week 5 - Vienna and Prague :)

 

Week 5 is complete and were moving into our final week here in Germany. We went to Vienna and toured a few really cool museums. Vienna was absolutely gorgeous and I hope I have the opportunity to go back in the future. After Vienna we went to Prague for the weekend and rented a paddle boat for an hour, and ate the best kolaches. I can't believe we only have one week left, I've had so much fun and learned a ton.

Tschüss!

Week 5: Vienna and Zurich

Hi Everyone!

This Tuesday we took a train to Vienna, once we got there we went out for a group dinner and I had some very yummy food and some strudel that was to die for. On Wednesday, we first went on a medical field study tour where we learned how to protect ourselves from the plague and we also got a nice tour of the city and some background on some of the historical buildings. Also on Wednesday, we went to the pharmacology museum I found this museum to be pretty interesting and educational. Finally, on Wednesday we got to go down into the crypt!! The crypt was a really cool experience, getting to see all the graves and mummies, while also learning about the history of some of the bodies that were down there. On Thursday, we first went to this really cool museum called the Josephinian Military Academy of Surgery. This museum was filled with wax figures of the human body that were really cool and displayed many parts of the body. Most of these figures were used for learning purposes but I found this museum so fascinating, it's probably my favorite museum we've been to so far. After this, we got to learn all about Sigmund Freud with a lecture and a museum tour from Dr. Wasser. Later in the afternoon, we went to another museum called the Narrenturm. This museum was super unique, it had a lot of anatomy, illness, and death displays. I found this museum to be really cool and I enjoyed it a lot, we got to see a lot of different diseases and birth defects that a lot of people don't even know about. Thursday evening, we went to an orchestra concert in a church in central Vienna. The church was SO pretty and the music was very nice as well. Finally, on Friday, we went to the Natural History Museum and got to see a lot of organisms, crystals, and even some dinosaurs. They had really incredible exhibits. 

On Friday, we took a train to Zurich, Switzerland after we were done in Vienna. In Zurich, we went to a park and sat by the water, explored the park a little, and then we went to a swimming place on the river. The swimming place that we went to was so much fun, you jump in the water and the current of the river takes you downstream until you hit the ladder and then you climb back up and you can do it again. There was also a diving board you could jump off of. We spent most of our day there but after we had a nice dinner. 

We just made it back to Bonn this evening and tomorrow is the Rhine River cruise so I'm excited for that. I seriously can't believe we only have a week left, next stop is Berlin!!

Maia's Adventure in Germany week 5

This week involved a lot of travelling so here it goes. We started off the week with a trip to Vienna. I wish I had more time spent hre, because it might be my favorite city that I have visited so far. I loved the Freud lecture in the man himself's house. Although I will be over analyzing my dreams for the rest of this trip. I also loved going to the natural history museum. I've been to the one in New York but the collection in Vienna is unmatched. Learning about the mammals and seeing the 36,000 year old statue was a high part of my days there. It would not be a travel blog if I did not mention food at least once. I am familiar with Pakistani food, as my host mom loves to cook us some key dishes, but that restaurant filled me up fat and happy.

The tour around Vienna led by Dr. Schnable was a high point of my week. Although I have much respect for Dr. Wasser, there was no better person than the plague doctor himself to lead us around the city and allow us to sample some of his medicinal herbs.

After Vienna, I spent the weekend travelling to Prague. I will say that Prague is one of the more affordable places that I've been to visit so far. I never spent more than 15 euros on a meal and the food was devine. We even tried some Mexican food, and while I was nervous about it, it turned out absolutely delicious and I would recommened the place to even some of my friends from Mexico (Las Adelitas was the name). Prague was full of history including the palace and the gardens, the clock towers, and the cathedrals scattered arounf the city. I find myself looking at all of the paitings in the church trying to see if I can identify the saints whithin.

Only having one more week to go has made me reevaluate all of the places and people I have met. I understand why my mother was so adamant about me spending times overseas. Better make the most of it!

Week 5!

 Vienna and Prague

Boy was this past week busy! After a restful weekend on Bonn, we started the week with a few lectures from Dr. Wasser and Dr. Fajt on Monday before we left for Vienna. 

Tuesday, we headed to Vienna on a long a train ride. Though the train ride was long, we ended our long travel day by eating at Zwolf Apostellkeller. I had the delicious veal schnitzel and an apple and cream strudel. Our first full day was jam packed with lots of tours and activities, starting with a city tour from Dr. Schnobel. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour as we got to see a lot of the city, gained some cool historical lessons, and witnessed how people were naturally so interested in the Dr's uniform. After a lunch at the America themed Sparky's, we headed to the Drogistenmuseum where we got a chance to see the evolution of pharmacology and the development of pharmacies. Overall, the herbs and the various historical drugs and perfumes were very interesting to see and learn about. After this museum was the crypt! This was my first ever crypt to enter, but it far exceeded my expectations. It was a bit spooky at first, but seeing how well the remains have kept up and what you can still tell from the people that lay in their coffins was amazing. My expectations for other crypts will be so high now. 

Our second day in Vienna was busy, starting with the Military Academy filled with wax models of various anatomical structures and systems. This was such an interesting museums because it really showed how artistically beautiful the body can be depicted. We headed to the Freud Museum after this and received a wonderful lecture from Dr. Wasser about the life and philosophies of Freud. I really didn't know much about him, but found everything about our subconscious and the processes he did to come to his conclusion very interesting. We had a yummy Pakistani lunch after this then headed to the Narrenturm museum where various illnesses and were presented by more wax models and other preparations. Despite the gross nature of the preparations, this museum was cool to see. If anyone needs a place to get sushi in Vienna, go to KitchA, it was super delicious. We finished the day with a great performance at the string quartet concert. 

Our last day in Vienna began with a trip to the Natural History museum, which may have been my favorite museum. The variety of exhibitions and beauty of everything presented was really cool to see, I wish we could spend forever in there. It was also in the very pretty museum district of Vienna. Later, we headed to Prague, Czechia! Overall, this city was super cool architecturally and had lots of great options for food and exploration. While we were there, we toured the palace and cathedral on the palace grounds, while also getting great views of the city. The gardens below the palace had the best views of the city and beautiful flowers everywhere, but had so many stairs I could get my workout in for that day. The Czech Republic is known for its kolaches, and I can confirm they do live up to the hype. I wish we had more time in Prague to explore the other side of the river and learn a little more history, but that means I will just have to go back. 

Now that we are nearing the end of our study abroad, everything has seemed a little bittersweet. We are all tired and missing home a bit, but these experiences we have made have been so important and so memorable. I'll make sure to soak in every bit of this last week we are here with all of our classmates and house family!

Week 5: Vienna and Prague!

 This week was definitely my favorite week on this trip. I loved experiencing the cultures in Vienna and Prague. My favorite parts of the Vienna trip were the wax models in the medical university museum and the Freud lecture and house tour. Both were so interesting, and I learned so much about anatomy and psychology. I liked learning about Freud because some of the psychology we talked about related to what I have learned as a neuroscience major. I loved getting know other girls and teachers better on this trip too! 

We saw as much of Prague as we could in only two days. We walked across the Charles Bridge, saw the John Lennon Wall, and hiked to the Prague Palace. All three locations were beautiful, but my favorite was the view from the palace. We rented a paddle boat and cruised around the river. We saw lots of ducks and a few river rats. We ate amazing Mexican food, which I have been missing so much, and had authentic kolaches. As we were walking through old town, we stumbled on a Hispanic festival and market. It was so cool to find such a fun place without using google maps, which has been draining my phone battery every day. I have loved experiencing such different cultures across Europe on this trip. 

Week 05: Vienna and Munich

 Vienna 

I have undoubtedly decided that I love love love Vienna. In fact, I found myself falling so deep in love with the city that it is my main motivator to learn the german language just so I can visit it many times over. My favorite part was the Field Study Narrenturm due to how interesting it was to learn about the different diseases and conditions existing in the world right now. I feel like it has been the first museum on this trip that has catered to my academic interest since I want to become a diagnostic radiologist. While I understand that what I was seeing were wax models of various conditions, it was still fascinating to observe the symptoms displayed and see how it connected to the illness. 

Another exciting thing I did in Vienna was go to the Belvedere museum with my bestie Olivia. We had a one track mind going there: see The Kiss. It was a beautiful painting in real life undoubtedly, but I had higher expectations like seeing the gold glimmer more brightly under the lights. However, it seems like time has dulled its spark. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful painting and it continues to be one at that.

Munich

Olivia and I tend to get ourselves into strange situations someway somehow. We never know how it happens but there always has to be some bizarre event for us to witness like a major arrest in a park while we were enjoying our boba after an exhausting day of sight seeing.

Other than that, my favorite part was our visit to the Munich Residence. It is so grand despite it not being a palace with 130 rooms filled with extravagance that one can not imagine ever living in within this lifetime. One of the rooms had wall to wall gold decor. It makes me question how it must of have felt to live in a place that screams wealth and valuable culture back when it was constructed. 

Week 4

 This week was a bit slower after getting back from Amsterdam and Norderney! On Monday we went to Remagen, and learned about an old bridge that played an integral part in WWII. We got to walk along the Rhine and it was really nice. 

On Wednesday we had the aib Summer party, and it was really cool seeing all the other host families and getting to know them. I also tried tapas here for the first time and it was SO good. 

On Friday we went to Bingen and Andernach. We learned about Hildegard von Bingen who was a total badass and went against the patriarchy to be a female who preached to a mixed audience. We saw the “Hilde-garten” and identified some herbs that she would’ve used in her medicinal remedies. Then we went to Andernach and saw a very detailed medical history museum with a lot of interesting artifacts, such as an iron lung!

This was a great and more relaxed week, but I’m excited for next week when we go to Vienna! 

Tschüss,

Cassandra 

Week 4 Abroad!

 We just completed our 4th week abroad! Every week Im surprised by how quickly time has been passing since we’ve arrived in Bonn. 

Sadly, this week I received some unfortunate news. My host mom would be leaving on Thursday for a 5 week rehab for work. I was really sad to hear this because I have had such a great time with her and I didn’t want it to end. We made the most of the rest of the week and had a family dinner with my host parents and their 3 kids on Tuesday. This was really fun since their kids are my age and I enjoy spending time with them. Then on Wednesday we went to the AIB party for the host families and got to meet some of my friends’ host families. That was my last night with Annette, but we made the most of it! Now, it is just me and my host dad Stephan. 

This week at school we learned a lot of interesting things and I was particularly interested in the lectures about Da Vinci. On Friday we took a study trip to Bingen and Andernach and got to learn and see lots of cool things about the history of medicine!

After our study trip, me and some friends went to Brussels for the weekend! We ate chocolate, waffles, beer, and frites which were all amazing. I’d say the highlight of this trip for me was going on a pub crawl around Brussels. We made lots of friends that were traveling and had lots of laughs while also getting to taste some Belgian beer. I had a great time and I can’t wait to go to Vienna next week!!!

Maia's Adventures in Germany week #4

This week has been one of my more slower weeks here in germnay. On Monday, we visited the bridge in Ramagden. I learned of the significance of the bridge and how the Germna's attempted to destroy it in order to prevent the Maericans from invading this side of the rheine. The bridge itself was beautiful and the breeze that came of the Rheine was peaceful, as if I could sit there for hours without getting bored. Later in the week, we learned about Hildegard and her badassery. She is now my new role model when it comes to defying social standards. I loved learning about her and her journey across europe to spread her knowledge. And people listened to her! I hope to be as corageuous as her one day. We decided that we were in dire need of a "nothing" weekend. The endless days of travelling can be hard on ones body and mind, and sometimes we need a break from adventures around Europe. Hailey and I decided to venture around Bonn, and ended up at the Rheinaue park and had ourselves a little picnic. We read our books and discussed our upcoming final weeks here in Germany. We sadly had to say goodbye to our host mother this weekend, as our travel schedule and her work schedule would no longer align. She has taught me so many new things in such a short period of time. Everytime I fly in a airplane now, I will now know the secret ins and outs of being a flight attendent.

Week 4!

 After the travel week last week, I was excited for a more chill week this week. On Monday, we went to Remagen to visit the freedom bridge. I loved visiting this museum and learning the history of both the bridge and the town. I have always been interested in the history of World War 2 and so the bridge was super cool. For the next couple of days, it was just class and relaxing. This week in our history of medicine course we talked a lot about women in medicine and Hildegard von Bingen. I think Hildegard was so cool. I think the way that she was able to assert her own importance and power over the people around her at a time when it was hard for women to have their voices heard was so impactful. I also loved the discussion after the women in medicine lecture. It is always so cool to hear other women's perspectives on being a woman in STEM. On Friday, we went to Bingen and Andernach. Hildegard's garden was amazing and it was fascinating to see what kind of plants that the healers of Hildegard's time used to heal people. The medical history museum was also really cool. I felt like a lot of the information that we had learned over the program was presented again during the tour of the museum, so it was cool to see it all together in one place. On Saturday, we went to Dusseldorf in the afternoon. There was some sort of soccer event going on and there were so many different groups of fans there. Overall, I am excited for what this next week brings in Vienna and then Prague!!

Week 4

This week was mostly spent in Bonn. On Monday, we traveled to Remagen to take a guided tour of the Peace Museum Bridge at Remagen. This small museum detailed the first world war and the history of the bridge that sadly no longer exist. :( 

Monday through Thursday was lots of classes. Some interesting topics we have been discussing about in pharmacology class include drug monitoring and distribution and different biases shown in reports. We've spent a lot of time learning how to search up articles and how to read different case studies/reviews which I think are pretty valuable skills for my future career goals. In our History of Medicine class, we have discussed a lot about women in medicine which is refreshing to see the different perspective even in medieval times/early 18 and 19th centuries. One women we talked about a lot was Hildegard von Bingen. I was very inspired by her story and I think it's very cool how she was able to be an exception to many standards whether it be religious or medical. On Friday, we were lucky enough to go to Bingen to walk through the Hildegarden and the Museum am Strom. The thing I liked the most about the museum was the depictions/artwork of Hildegard's visions.

This weekend, I spent it in Paris and the bus ride was SO LONG. We might have spent a few hours figuring our way out of the metro station when we first arrived, but once we made our way above ground it was everything I imagined. We saw the obvious sights like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Arc de triomphe, but we also went inside the Sainte Chapelle and the stained glass work was breathtaking. My favorite thing in Paris was the bakeries. The display cases were so beautiful and the smells were so inviting. In the end, we didn't get to eat a baguette, but the fig and cheese roll + the raspberry tartlet was heaven. I'm so grateful for the these weekends since they give me the chance to explore new cities, but I cannot believe we're almost done with this program. Until next time! 

Week 4 - Bonn, Remagen, Bingen, Andernach, Dusseldorf

This week was spent travelling to various German cities, growing in friendship, and becoming even more comfortable in Bonn. 

Monday!

After our journey back from Rome, regular classes at AiB resumed Monday morning. We had two pharmacology courses followed by a study trip to Remagen! Remagen is a quaint town just 15 minutes away from Bonn. We visited the Friedensmusem (peace museum) to see the remnants of an important bridge in both world wars which now serves as a memorial to peace and freedom. The US Army captured this bridge and broke open Germany's defenses in the west. Thus, this bridge is an important monument to both Germans and Americans today. 

Tuesday!

After a long day of pharmacology classes, a bunch of us headed to our favorite biergarten on the Rhein, Rheinlust. The manager there loves that we are Americans, so he has been more than generous with free drinks :) So many people from our program joined us, and we even met some German students as well. It was such a good time - we played cards, laughed, chatted, and told jokes. Many liters of sangria were consumed by the group haha. So yummy. The manager invited us back on Thursday. 

Wednesday! 

Wednesday was another long day of classes. We had history of medicine lectures all day, and then after class AiB hosted a summer party for all the students and host families! The school has a cute courtyard that was decorated and had drinks, music, and food. So many people came, and our host mom joined us too. 

Thursday!

Thursday was again full of classes & time at Rheinlust. It was a few of the students' last time in Bonn as their program was ending, so we spent a long time hanging out, drinking, and eating pizza. Lily pinky-promised Flo that we would come back!

Friday!

Friday was a full day of excursion. We stopped in Bingen, a southern city, to visit the St. Hildegard museum. She was a really cool medical saint and visionary from the town of Bingen. I love that Germany has such extensive history, especially religious history such as the story of St. Hildegard. We then journeyed to Andernach, another small city, to visit a medical history museum. It was a kind of creepy museum because it had many old medical tools and diagrams that were a little icky, but it was interesting nonetheless. After our tour, Trinity's aunt and uncle came to visit us there! They live nearby in Germany and Trinity had never met them. We sat by the Rhein at a biergarten and had brautwurst, then we went to an Eis Cafe (ice cream cafe!). It was so nice to spend the evening with them. There is something so comforting about being around family (even though they weren't my own haha). They walked us to the train stop and gave us big hugs and well wishes. 

                            

Saturday!

My host sisters and myself slept in for so long on Saturday. It was our first free weekend in awhile. Once we woke up, Trinity and I cooked a big breakfast (which was such a treat.. Germans don't really eat breakfast). The four of us decided to head to Dusseldorf, which is a big city north of Cologne. We wandered around the city and found beautiful parks, interesting architecture, shopping malls, and finally a huge festival! There was some sort of soccer celebration happening.. we're still not exactly sure what it was. There were soooo many people in jerseys, bands playing music, and delicious food to be had. I ate a big steak and we all had delicious mojitos as we people-watched. 

Sunday!

Sunday was another wonderful day of going with the flow. My host sisters and I went on a hike to a nearby castle. Boy, the incline was steeeeep. We were out of breath the whole way up, but it was SO worth it! The castle was gorgeous and intricate. There was a beautiful view of the city, so we stayed to eat at the castle cafe. Once we hiked down and traveled home, Trinity and I went to mass at Bonner Munster. It was a "youth" mass, so many younger people were there. We met a lovely girl around our age named Johanna. She invited us to the church garden after mass for a little social. They had pastries, lemonade, and beer! It was so cool - we met other German students who go to mass there. We met a guy named Patrick who invited us to mass the next morning, which I just got back from! It was so cool.. we cannot wait to hang out with them again. 

Tomorrow we head to Vienna, Austria! I have no expectations, but I've heard it is a beautiful city. 

Week 4!!

 It was nice to be back in Bonn this week!

We started off on Monday by going to Remagen. This was a historical bridge from WWII. It was very cool to go inside and the view was beautiful. The history of the bridge was very interesting and it was an educational trip overall. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, we resumed the normal classes. However, on Wednesday, we had the AIB summer party. I had so much fun and the food was delicious! I need the name of the caterer. It was fun to bring our host mom out and meet some of our friends. 

On Friday, we did a lot of traveling. We went to Bingen where we learned about Hildegard von Bingen. We learned about her in class the day before, so seeing everything in the museum was very cool. I enjoyed seeing her images displayed. Her visions were very interesting and abstract. I also liked seeing the old surgical artifacts and how they were compared to modern-day ones. Then we moved on to Andernach where we had another delicious meal. I got the steak, which was so good and made me miss my Dad's grilling back at home. Then we moved on to another museum that was filled with medical history. This has by far been the most fascinating museum. It was a tight fit for everyone, but the displays and things within the house were very cool. The polio chamber thingy? That was cool. The optometrist chair, the old stethoscopes, and many more cool artifacts. I liked being able to see where modern-day devices came from and how they have changed over time.

On Saturday, my roommates and I explored Dusseldorf. The DB did fail us again throughout the day, but it could've been worse. We walked down to the Rhein where we ran into a soccer festival of some sort. Apparently, Dusseldorf is hosting a soccer tournament next year. It was very fun and lively down there with people all in different jerseys and lots of music. Then we stopped in Cologne on our way back to get some fantastic ice cream from a place called 4D. Then we went home and ate dinner. 

On Sunday, my roommates and I decided to go explore the Schloss Drachenburg. It was very hot and the hike up was a bit of a struggle. It was very steep. By the time we made it to the castle, we were drenched in sweat and out of breath. We eventually went on and explored the castle. The view from up there was amazing. The architecture and design of the castle was beautiful. Everything up there was awesome. There was a cafe in the castle, so we ended up getting lunch, which was delicious of course. When we were exiting the castle, the security guard stopped us and told us in German "Chocolate for the princesses". Of course, we were a bit confused at first, but then he pulled out chocolate coins and gave them to us. It was definitely a highlight of the day. Then made the adventure back to our home and at lasagna for dinner. 

It is crazy to think that we only have two weeks left. This trip has flown by, but I know there is still much to do and learn. I am excited to see what Vienna and Prague have to offer this upcoming week!

Week 04: Bonn, Bingen, Andernach, and Remagen

Remagen

This week had been quite busy with it being spent traveling to three different cities outside of Bonn. The first one had been a cute little riverside town called Remagen, where I learned about a bridge that once spanned across the Reine. It was quite interesting to see the history leading up to its collapse, as while many sums of its demise due to the bombs from the Nazis, it was actually the opposite. The bridge was still able to stand up on its own after the bombing but collapsed due to time instead. Aside from its use during the second world war, this bridge was also used for economic reasons like importing furniture and such. 

Bingen

I find Hildesgard to be quite the woman in more ways than one. In Bingen, I had the opportunity to go to the Hildesgard Museum where I found the exhibit of her visions drawn out really interesting. It was interesting to see that although these visions are predicted to simply be migraines, they are as colorful and distinct in holding a message as they are. 

I also found it fascinating to learn about how from these visions, she was able to extract her medical knowledge. Furthermore, I find her to be quite the role model, given that she was able to live progressively as she did in a time when women were always looked down upon. It's nice to see an intelligent woman working her way through history the way she did.

Andernach

The museum in Andernach has been my favorite one out of all the others. I found the progression of medicine incredibly astounding given the little changes that have occurred in our techniques. Furthermore, for the facts about the human anatomy or bodily function that were correct in their own way, our knowledge did not change from it but was simply tweaked. 

I find black plague doctors really cool, so seeing the uniform that they used to wear was quite the sight. While I knew that these doctors usually stuffed herbs in their masks, I never knew that the mask shape itself was constructed to help maintain distance. Furthermore, I did not know that the herbs were believed to protect the doctors, as I had learned that their main function was to cover the stench of the sick people suffering from the plague.

Bonn

I spent this weekend in Bonn where I walked around the city to explore any sights I have yet to see. I went to the botanical garden where I was astounded by the health of all the plants of different varieties. This isn't something that I often see in Texas due to the difficulty in maintaining healthy plants due to the hot weather. It was beautiful, though, and it made me appreciate nature all that much more. 

Week 4!

After week three was full of adventures, cancelled trains, and traveling, week four was very relaxing. I enjoyed class this week and I loved learning about the huge role women played in the history of medicine. It was refreshing to hear about important women when history is usually based around the roles of men. My favorite lecture this week was the one given by Reagan, my favorite part being our discussion at the end. As young women pursuing a variety of careers in the medical field, I think it’s important to understand the hardships of women in the past and how their struggles have given us the opportunities we have today. 

I also thoroughly enjoyed the Johann Winter museum. It was so cool to see how intricate some of the procedures in antiquity were especially with their lack of technology. I usually don’t think of these civilizations as capable to perform medical procedures but after seeing evidence of trepanation in the Roman Civilization and even earlier, I now think these civilizations are much more intelligent and complex than I thought. They had a greater understanding of the human body than what I once thought.

It was also intriguing to see how fast things have changed in recent years. Within the last 50 to 60 years, technology in the medical field has vastly increased and is continuing to change. It was so cool to see how machines we still use today looked so different when they were first invented in the 70s and 80s. 

This weekend I traveled to Brussels, I had no expectations other than I just wanted to have a fun time and that I did! We did a pub crawl Saturday night and I was surprised by how many people in the medical field I met. I met multiple people studying biomedical engineering, one of which does research in orthopedics so me and him had fun talking about our research projects! 

I’m excited to travel to Vienna! I can’t wait for the Freud museum. I learned some about him in high school and I’ve always been intrigued by his thought process and how drastically he messed up the psychiatric field while still bringing awareness to it. 

Week 4

 I can’t believe we have already finished our fourth week in Bonn. It feels like time has flown by. I enjoyed learning about WWII history at the Remagen bridge on Monday. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate, which made the experience much more compelling. This week was full of good food. The Spanish tapas at the aib dinner party were amazing. I especially loved the bacon wrapped dates. I also tried pork schnitzel for the first time. Honestly, I was surprised by how much I liked it. It was very similar to chicken fried steak in my opinion. 

This weekend Ava and I went to Salzburg, Austria. I was not expecting Salzburg to be such a pretty town, but it was beautiful. We went hiking outside of the city and enjoyed the view from a mountain top restaurant. We took a ski lift up the mountain and rode the mountain coaster down. It was so fun and the view was amazing. We saw different sights from The Sound of Music at the Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron and Mirabell Gardens. 

This week was definitely my favorite so far, and I can’t wait to visit Vienna this week! 

Tschuss

Week 4 in Germany

 

Hi guys!!!

I can’t believe it’s already past week four. This week was very chill in Bonn, but so cool to so much history this week! We went to remagen, andernach, and bingen! 

This week we learned the beauty of rewe and hot easy it is to get good lunch there! I’m going to miss that place and their sushi. 

This weekend we met our friends in Salzburg and it was so pretty there. We went to the top of the mountain and then rode a little rollercoaster down it and it was so fun! We also snuck into the hotel where they filmed some of the sound of music which was beautiful. Overall Salzburg was a 10/10 and my favorite place I’ve been to so far. I’m so excited to go back to Austria on Tuesday! I’ll tell y’all all about it next week!! Bye!!!

-Ava Brown

Week 4: Bonn and Brussels!!

 Hi everyone!

This week was a really good week packed full of classes and some other activities. We had an AiB summer party where we got to bring our host families on Wednesday. My host mom really enjoyed it and it was a lot of fun. On Friday, we went on a study trip to Bingen and Andernach and got to go to two really cool museums. My favorite museum was the one in Andernach that we stopped at last. It was a lot of medical tools and history and I found a lot of the displays to be very interesting.

After our study trip, a few of my friends and I went to Brussels for the weekend! Brussels was so so much fun and we really enjoyed our time there. Our train got canceled both on the way there and the way back so that sucked but we figured it out and got to where we needed to be. In Brussels, we went to the Atomium and that was really cool to see and there was a lot of lights on the inside and then we took the elevator all the way up to the top to see the beautiful view.  We also went on a pub crawl on Saturday night in Brussels and it was a lot of fun, we got to meet new friends and experience the city at night while in a big group! On Sunday morning,

we had a chocolate tour and also got to make chocolates. Our guide showed us all around the best chocolate shops and we got some tasty samples of course and then we went and got to make our own chocolate, the whole experience was a lot of fun and I would definitely recommend. Brussels was a beautiful city and we had such a good time there this weekend.

I can't wait for next week with our trip to Vienna coming up so soon and after Vienna my friends and I are going to Zurich so we are really excited for that as well.

Thanks for reading!!

Week 4 in Bonn

 Week 4 !

This week was a nice week to stay in Bonn. Kendall and I had a picnic at Rhein Aue Park and I got to spend a lot of time reading. Wednesday had a fun AiB party where we ate delicious tapas it was great. On Friday we took a class trip to Bingen where we explored the Hildegard van Bingen museum. I loved walking through the garden and getting an insight to how her garden might have looked. Then we visited Andernach and my favorite museum of the trip yet. It was a medicine museum that housed many ancient medical tools and we got to walk through time with medicine and see in person all that we have learned about in class. I am getting a little homesick for a few certain things but I am still excited for my two weeks I have left here in Europe. This next week I will be in 3 countries !!

Week 4

 Week four has ended and I can’t believe we’re already at two weeks left. I’m getting excited to go home and see many family and friends. 

I really enjoyed learning about Hildegard of Bingen this past week. She was a pioneer of her time and an excellent role model. I enjoyed visiting the museum in Bingen about her. 

This weekend I had a very good time in Düsseldorf shopping and eating! On Sunday, I visited Beethoven Haus and attended the Classic Picnic and listened to the Beethoven Orchestra. 

I am very much looking forward to visiting Vienna! I have heard many good things. 

Another Week in Bonn plus a weekend in Brussels!

 Once again we were sidetracked by the mf Deutsche Bahn! Before we had yet another terrible experience with the DB we had a really amazing and jam-packed week in Bonn.

This was our second full week in Bonn was filled with museums, monuments, and of course lots of classes! My favorite part of the week was definitely the Johann Winter Museum. It was super cool to see how many modern medical instruments have evolved over time! Working in EMS I have used many of the items seen in the museum and I don't even think twice about the development of these items so that was really eye-opening (and the Iron Lung was sooooooo coooool to see in real life). 

After a long week in Bonn, we took a weekend trip to Brussels! So far, Brussels has been my favorite city I have visited. Both times the DB canceled our direct train (not surprising) but we were determined to make it to Brussels ;). Even though we were only there for a short time we had so many amazing and unique experiences, meet a boatload of cool people, and made memories that will last a lifetime! 

I think this weekend in particular was really a turning point for me! This past year I have been so caught up in school and work and really burnt myself out trying to balance everything, I felt like I lost myself along the way, but this weekend I finally felt like myself again!

I am so grateful for every opportunity I have had thus far and I can't wait to experience the rest of our study abroad!

Bonn Breakdown Week 4

This week was one of the heaviest class weeks we've had in Bonn because we spent 3.5/5 school days in a classroom. It also doesn't help that it has gotten hotter this past week and Europeans neglect to acknowledge that AC can be a wonderful thing. I did really enjoy the things we learned in both pharmacology and history of medicine. In pharmacology we got to dive more into affective researching and how to find valuable sources. I found this incredibly helpful especially when it comes down to trying to find sources for a specific question. We also learned about how to form a PICO question for which we base our source search on. In history of medicine we learned about the healthcare systems in both the US and here and Germany. The lecture I found the most interesting was history of women in healthcare. Not just because it applies to our all women group, but also because I got to learn more about more badass women in history, especially Hildegard. I never knew who she was until Dr. Wasser's lecture on her. I always like to hear about a powerful, influential woman from history because they helped pave the way for what women can do now. They're also inspiring for me to want to also make an impact on future females in STEM because yes, we've made a lot of progress compared to 100 years ago, but there's still more that can be done. 

Our little field trip to Bingen and Andernach was really cool. The Hildegard Museum was really interesting but my favorite was the Johann Winter Museum. I loved seeing all the historical medical tools and the progression they had to what we have today. I also like museums with cool little oddities and trinkets like this museum had. The schnitzel we had in Andernach was also delicious along with the ice cream courtesy of AiB. 

My favorite part of this week was getting to visit Brussels over the weekend. Besides the fact that both our direct trains going to and from Brussels got cancelled (honestly think DB has a vendetta against us), once we got to Brussels, it was a blast. The first day we went to this amazing brunch spot that had savory waffles under eggs benedict which is literally the best brunch invention I think has ever been created because it was DELICIOUS! We then went to the Atomium which was really cool because it had these techno lights along with sci-fi music. Later that night we went on a bar crawl and got to meet a bunch of cool people while also getting some free drinks. We met 2 students from Georgia Tech, an Australian couple who were on their honey moon, and a girl from Hawaii who serves in the military and is based in Naples. It was fun to hang out with these people for a night and here a little bit about their lives. Our last thing we did in Brussels was a chocolate making and tasting tour where we got to go into a few chocolate shops and learn about what good chocolate is supposed to taste like while also getting to see a few historical landmarks of Brussels. We also made some of our chocolates to take home with us. I must say, Belgians know how to make good chocolate. 

Overall, this was a super fun week and I can't wait to experience this coming week because we're going to Vienna!! Tschüss und bis später!!