The Emotions Before

Tomorrow is the big day, the day I get to spend over 10 hours on a plane and the day I get to go insane with many emotions before touchdown in Europe. I have always wanted to visit Europe, I am fascinated with the culture, architecture, and rich history. I also love that so many different countries are so close geographically, yet are so different. As I have been preparing for excursions, packing, and researching for this trip there are two competing emotions. These emotions are fear and excitement. 

Fear: There are many things that worry me about studying abroad, because so many factors can go wrong. While I have traveled out of the country, I have never been to Europe or been without a large pack of family members. Will I break or lose my phone? Will something go wrong with my credit card? Will my bag get lost? Will I stand out as an American? Will I get pickpocketed? And of course, will my host family like me? 

Excitement: Countless things about this study abroad experience are exciting. The idea of being able to experience another country, not from the outside, but as a resident is something I have never been exposed to and I think will impact my learning greatly. I also love meeting new people and while I do have great friends to help me try and zip up my jam-packed suitcase, I can’t imagine the kind of friendships that will be made throughout the summer. I’m excited to take in a new amazing view every week and use up all of my phone storage taking pictures of places I never want to forget. One thing that never fails to make me the happiest girl in the world is food, I am so ready to try authentic and new foods that we cannot find anywhere else. 

The reason I chose this trip, is because the excitement immensely outweighs the fear. In fact, the fear is really just anxiety of not being able to plan out all of the variables, but that’s also the beauty of travel. Nothing will probably go as planned and it will create memories that cannot be imitated or replaced. 

See you soon Europe,

                 Lauren Baker

How do you speak German?

I can’t wait to begin this 6 week adventure in Germany! One of the things I’m most excited about is living with a host family. I think that the best way to get to know what a place is really like is to live with the people who live there. Last summer, I spend two months living in a rural village in Uganda and getting to know the family whose house my group was staying at was one of the best parts of the experience. They taught us so much about the culture of the village and I am so excited to have that experience again, although in a very different place. I am also very excited to travel on the weekends. I have been to Europe before with my family, but I’ve never traveled here by myself/with friends, so I think it will be a fun challenge. One thing that I hope to learn (other than what we learn in class) is how to speak a bit of German. I don’t know a thing about the language, but I know that people tend to really appreciate it when visitors make an effort to learn the local language so fingers crossed that it’ll happen!!

Auf Wiedersehen Texas! Hallo Bonn!

In just two short days our program in Bonn begins, and I can't believe its finally here! I have been in Europe the past ten days traveling around Italy with my family. On Monday they will drop me off in Frankfurt where I will get to meet up with the group and begin our six week adventure! Although I have been abroad before, it has always been with my family. This program will be there first time I really go off on my own to Europe, and I am equal amounts of nervous and excited. I cannot wait for the adventures the next few weeks will bring, and to get to know the other people on this trip.

I picked this study abroad mainly because of the topic, History of Medicine. I think it will be an amazing experience to learn about it in Europe, where so many advances in the medical field were made. I had some biomedical engineering friends participate in the spring study abroad and absolutely loved it! So, I cannot wait to experience it on my own!

One of the things I am most excited about is getting to become friends with the people on my trip. Going in, I don't know many of them so I think it will be really cool to see how my relationship with these people evolve. So far GroupMe has been my main form of communication with them, so it will be fun to put the faces to the names.

I would have thought that since I had been abroad before packing would be a breeze, little did I realize, packing for eight weeks is an entirely different ball game. Since I have already been in Europe a few days, I am already starting to realizes some serious packing mistakes. For example, did I really need to bring that many pairs of shoes, and maybe the seven huge books I brought might be taking up a little bit too much space... Also I am very happy to get to Bonn, where for the most part I get to leave my suitcase in one place!!! Woohoo!! Let me tell you, lugging a suitcase through Italian train stations is hard work!


Ciao from me and my family! See you soon Bonn!!

My mom, grandma (we call her Nonnie) and I in the Colosseum! 

Me and the parents in Cinque Terra!

Guten Tag

In two hours I will be driving to Dallas to board a flight to New York City to celebrate my brother graduating from high school. I feel some sadness at only being in the city for 25 short hours, but am anxious and excited about the journey and adventures that wait in Bonn and beyond. 

Naturally, going abroad and experiencing things outside of my norm make me anxious (as much if not more than the average person), but I know that the experiences I have will be teach me not only things about Germany, but about myself. I hade never had any desire to study abroad, but after a few life-changing events in my life, I realized that I had nothing to lose. My main reason for participating in this program over others is the opportunity to continue investigating medicine and the amazing things it does. 

Although a little unrealistic, I hope to be able to construct a conversation in German when the trip concludes in Berlin. Being able to order a meal without Google Translate or speaking to the waiter/waitress in English would be a great achievement, especially considering I have no German language experience whatsoever. I also hope to deepen my desire for the field of medicine.

A quote that I recently read by Mark Twain describes how I hope to live this experience and everyday that follows: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”

See you soon,

Matthew

What To Expect When You're Expecting

I'd like to think about traveling to study abroad in a similar way to expecting your first born child and all the questions to follow (from what I would assume...not from experience).

1.  The Anticipation
The days of arrival are filled with incredibly mixed emotions. You're equal parts nervous and excited, not knowing virtually any German doesn't help at all. You're packing. Probably way too much. But, you never really know what the circumstances will be so that justifies packing every shade of blue jeans, right?

2. The Ride There
Getting to the actual destination is full of stress and all of your family members are worried about the things you brought, or forgot to bring. It's hard to convince people that you have everything under control and that things will be just fine.

3. The Arrival
It's time. The moment you've been waiting for...will it be everything you thought it would be? You meet with everyone who's responsible for your safety and well being. You're going to have to trust the people you just met to guide you to what you need to do. For once, you're not in complete control of a situation and it's freaking you out just a little. You're wondering why all of these people are dressed funny.

4. The Adventure
After having some time to get used to the changes in your life, you finally get the hang of things. This new lifestyle isn't so scary, and it's different but a good different. You're meeting people you would never normally talk to due to this new situation. It's a good life, and you're content with all the new experiences you're going through.

While this not an exhaustive list of all the stages of travel, I'm hoping that I can resonate with this new chapter of my life. Except this time, my belly is filled with food...and not a baby.

8 Songs You Must Listen to Before Studying Abroad

Studying abroad is simultaneously thrilling and terrifying. Although these next 8 songs are specific to my experience, you may relate to these anxieties and expectations. 

1. “American Idiot”- Green Day

Don’t want to be one, but maybe I am one. I make loud jokes, seem friendly (which may come across as fake), and indulge in food too much. I fit many stereotypes of a typical obnoxious American which many Germans HATE. But hey! There’s much to learn from the seemingly reserved Germans that could be incorporated into my current lifestyle.

2. "Just Around the Riverbend”-Judy Kuhn (Pocahontas)

It seems as if adventure is waiting for me at every corner, and that’s because it is! On this study abroad program, I have the freedom to explore Germany and the rest of Europe. In College Station, it is so easy to just stay in my room and waste the day away on a screen; yet abroad, I do not see myself doing so when there are many exciting places to experience. Ultimately I want to carry over this zeal for life back to the States and explore my own town as if it was foreign to me. Like a common idea in Disney movies: adventure is out there. 

       3. "All The Small Things”-blink-182

There are so many small tasks that need to get done before the trip. Planning ahead is not my strong suit, but completing all of the preparations has been a fun yet stressful challenge. I’m nervous that I haven’t done enough planning because it seems like there is always something new added to the “To-do Before Germany” list. 

1.      4. "Here Comes the Sun”-The Beatles

“It's been a long cold lonely winter,” but, “that ice is slowly melting.” This study abroad experience could not have happened at a better time. I have had the worst year in college thus far. My motivation for school was at an all-time low. The only thing really keeping me going this past semester was knowing that if I just passed my classes, I could still go abroad this summer. I have never been this kind of student before. Hopefully the enjoyable educational experiences abroad, including touring research labs and watching surgeries, will revamp my passion for science that led me to pick my major in the first place. I may not be the kind of student I was before, but I plan to grow past that. The Sun is coming, and man is it warm. 

1.      5. "Supermodel (You better work)”- RuPaul

Unlike College Station or my hometown, there may actually be a fashion scene in Europe. I enjoy putting fun fashion combinations together over wearing a baggie oversize t-shirt and workout shorts. I’m hoping to feel almost liberated (and fierce) while abroad by dressing with more style, specifically when I go to Amsterdam. 

1.      6. "Try”- Colbie Caillat

Honest confession, I have poor body image. I have had this since I was 10. I cannot tell if Europe will emphasize my insecurity or lessen it. Europeans are seemingly more thin compared to their overweight American counterparts. Although this may be a myth, I am nervous I will feel insecure while abroad. Nonetheless, I’m sure I will learn something about how I perceive beauty while abroad.

7.  “Cool for the Summer”-Demi Lovato

I would be lying if I said I hadn’t dreamed about meeting a handsome European man while abroad. I mean hello, accents! Unlike the other songs on this list, I am less concerned about this becoming a reality. But if it does, a point for the hopeless romantics! My mom knows me too well and keeps sending me news articles about woman traveling abroad and get into serious life threatening danger because they were tricked by attractive foreign men. I will be wise and focus more on myself than on any boys while in Germany. But I have to admit this topic has crossed my mind and is worthy of a song on this list. 

8.      “The Great Gig in the Sky”-Pink Floyd

This is probably the most reappearing concern of them all, death. But not just dying, but the idea of dying before I even get to go to Germany. From a car accident to a heart condition, I’ve been so worried about never getting to even travel to Europe, thus living life unfilled. For years I have wanted to go to Europe. Yet no day is promised. I have to get through about 2 more days to make it there, and maybe live at least 3 more to get a bit of a feel for Bonn before dying. This may seem irrational, because it is, but it is also honest. There’s so much I am looking forward to while on this program. It is scary to imagine never getting to experience the adventures on this study abroad program despite spending the past year saving money and preparing for it.  

Bonn, here I come!

In two short days, I will be boarding the plane to Frankfurt and saying goodbye to my family and all of the comforts of home! Despite how foreign (haha) the idea of moving to Europe for the summer is, I truly do not think I have ever been more excited about an experience before - the fact that for eight weeks I will be traveling throughout Europe with fellow TAMU students all the while learning about global healthcare and the history of medicine in Germany is just baffling to me. I feel so insanely grateful to have been given this opportunity; it is truly difficult to even begin to fully express that gratitude!

The decision to come on this trip was an easy one; since high school I have known that studying abroad was at the top of my list of priorities for college. Having the privilege to travel throughout Europe freely isn't too frequently an option in life. As the sometimes daunting and serious reality of adulthood draws nearer and nearer, it has become more obvious to me that it is best to take advantage of experiences like this when they are presented to you! In the wise words of mother, you must strike while the iron is hot. While I sure hope that there will be other instances in my life when I have the ability to travel around Europe, this program really seems to be a once in a lifetime opportunity and something I cannot wait to be a part of! When browsing through the various TAMU study abroad programs, this one stood out to me immediately. I somehow stumbled upon this blog (not sure how) in my research of the History of Medicine program and ended up spending an entire evening reading through a large amount of the blog posts written by former History of Medicine students. In reading about the growth that they experienced while abroad, the wonderful adventures that took place, and the learning and fun that they had I immediately knew that I had to be a part of it all! The combination of the location in Germany, the emphasis on medicine and healthcare, and the opportunity to live with a host family made it a quick decision as well. For the past five months, I have been thinking about this upcoming adventure every single day. It quite literally got me through spring semester and my not too wonderful course load. From reading Rick Steves' travel books to spending an inordinate amount of time on the internet researching each city I plan on visiting, I have poured so much time into hopefully becoming as prepared for this trip as one can be. The friendships I hope to make, the cultural literacy I hope to gain, and the memories I will make/have for the rest of my life are right around the corner and I could not be more thrilled! For the next two days, I will be soaking up time with my family, making final packing decisions (it is proving to be quite difficult to not bring my entire closet), triple checking that I have all of the necessary documents, and enjoying some of my favorite foods from home (specifically tex mex and other good Austin eats). Here is to a wonderful summer ahead and making so many new friends abroad! 

Bis bald in Deutschland!

-Catherine

Get Your Feet Wet

Howdy! My name is Robert Saldana, and this is my first blog about embarking on this amazing study abroad program in Bonn, Germany. I chose this program because my friend Kathryn Ellis recommended it to me a while back. She told me that it was the most amazing experience she has ever been on, so amazing she plans to go again sometime in the near future. I love trying new things, so that’s why I wanted to be part of this program in Germany. I have never been to Europe, so this should be a major step in my traveling experiences.

My past two summers I have done a fair share of traveling. Two summers ago, I traveled to Cusco, Peru for 2 weeks, and last summer I traveled to Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi’an in China for 2 weeks. I haven’t been too anxious about this trip. I would say I am more excited than anything. I haven’t packed a single thing, and my flight leaves in a couple days. I have been planning my weekend trips, which is something I am really looking forward to. As of now, I will be traveling to Dublin, Ireland, and Interlaken, Switzerland.

Traveling is something I want to keep doing for the rest of my life because throwing yourself into a new culture is truly an eye-opening experience. I hope to learn about the German culture, go on spontaneous adventures, and come back to The States with memories that will last a lifetime. Gotta get your feet wet!

Texas-Sized Gratitude

The past few weeks at home have been a mixture of joy being with my family, boredom and eagerness to start learning in Bonn, stress in trying to plan weekend trips, peace in realizing that the weekends will fall into place and be incredible, and a lot of prayers and attempts to pack. Yesterday I finally went through my suitcase and surprisingly have lots of room left in it, but not surprisingly most of my wardrobe ended up in the colors of blue, light blue, navy, or white. Classic me.
I was riding my bike on a familiar route a couple days ago, and I couldn't help thinking about how beautiful Texas is and everything that I will be leaving behind. It was the evening and the sky was turning pink with fluffy clouds painted above the treeline. My route took my past the neighborhoods, through a park, and into pastures. I was covered in sweat even though summer had yet to reach it's full wrath of heat, and I took my time as I rode past the longhorns in the fields. One in particular had his head sticking through the fence and was snacking on the grass. This got me thinking about my excursion to Germany...
"The grass is always greener on the other side"... in the case of the big, old longhorn it ironically was greener. For us, as we are about to head off to a shiny new country, many of us never having ventured outside of our nation, sometimes feel like going to a new place is "greener". Exciting images of beautiful castles, bustling cities, grand mountains, rich history, and a new culture. It got me thinking about how the Germans might view Texas as "greener". In what ways do I take for granted so many beautiful things about the way I get to live and where. In what ways do we get caught up in the idea of travel and Instagram pictures as opposed to living in the moment and experiencing where we are in each day, no matter where that may be.
Riding back I passed some tall, feathery grass, and it was stunning. The last rays of sunshine glowed as the blades danced in the summer breeze, how lucky are we. This is Texas: boots, two-stepping, southern tea and southern heat, steak and brisket, Tex-Mex and gauc, pastures, cornfields, and pecan pie. I think my host family will be able to confirm many Texan stereotypes. So as I leave for Germany, I know that I will be blown away by all that I see and learn, but I will remember where I came from and what that means to me. It will be interesting to reflect on the ways that my love for Texas may grow as I grow in love with Germany and the people within.

Off to Germany!

I never believed that I would have the opportunity to head to Europe while in college, and I can't put all of my excitement into words. I have only traveled inside of the United States besides a Caribbean cruise that my family went on. That being said, even though I am incredibly excited, I am also a little nervous. Being surrounded by people in an unfamiliar area who don't speak English is a concern of mine. I have never been in a crowd of people where I have not understood what they said. I am also slightly nervous about living with a host family. I am hoping that I will get along with the family well and become close to them. On the other hand though, I am EXCITED. Lets be honest, one of the things I am most excited about is the food. I am ready to eat as much as possible in the next six weeks. I also can't wait to learn about the history of the old and beautiful cities I will be visiting. Although I don't know much German, meeting people and learning about their culture and passions will be a great experience. Will I look like a fool over there? Probably. Will I try to take as many touristy pictures as possible? Absolutely. I want this to be an experience that I will never forget. This is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I hope to soak up the beauty and excitement (even if that excitement means getting lost) that each day will offer.

Until next time,
Mikayla

Almost time to go!

My travel experience thus far in my life has been mostly limited to the U.S. except the one time my family and I went on a vacation to Mexico. However, that is not even remotely comparable to what this experience is about to be. My entire life I have had the burning desire to travel and see the world but just never had the guts to actually do it. If you had told me one year ago that I would be packing a suitcase to spend a month in Europe I would have said that you were crazy.  Studying abroad was never really something that crossed my mind until the end of last semester when my friend simply mentioned that I should look into it. When I found out about the Germany History of Medicine program I immediately knew that I needed to do it. I knew I needed to take a leap and try something that I had never done before. My biggest reason for deciding to go on this program is that it is a travel experience unlike any other, and if I did not take the opportunity to do it now then I might not ever get the chance to do anything like it again. I am so excited to be able to learn about a field I love, while getting the opportunity to experience German culture firsthand in a host family. I want something to put me farther outside of my comfort zone than I have ever been before and this will undoubtedly do just that. I am about to embark on a journey that is almost entirely full of first experiences for me and I am definitely anxious about all of the unknowns that come along with being in a foreign country. Since I have never been to Europe before, I’m most nervous about the communication barrier especially when trying to travel around Bonn and to other countries. I am trying to prepare as best as I can for those situations, but I also know that I need to keep an open mind about everything and appreciate the process of learning. I know that this program will challenge me, and change me in ways I cannot even imagine at the present time as I sit here and write this. I am looking forward to exploring Europe as much as possible and meeting so many new people. I cannot wait to arrive in Bonn, and it is crazy to think that in just one week I will be there!

From Paris to Germany

I am current on a train from Paris to Munich. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel with my parents for two weeks leading up to our time in Bonn. We left for London the night of May 15th, and traveled to Paris on May 19th, the day of the royal wedding. Being able to travel in Europe before starting our study abroad has helped me overcome some of the anxieties I had about staying in a foreign country, especially one where the primary language is not English. My biggest anxiety about coming to Germany was that it would be hard to communicate and get around, even though many people speak English. Being in France, without knowing any French, I found that I was quickly able to learn common phrases and found it pretty easy to navigate with the help of Google maps. I am still worried about communicating in German. I think I am like most people when it comes to learning a new language, because I tend to understand words much sooner than I feel comfortable speaking them. I was anxious to speak even simple phrases in french, because I was nervous that I would pronounce them wrong. Luckily, many people appreciate the effort to learn their language even if all you can say is things like hello, goodbye, thank you and "do you speak English?".  I am most looking forward to being able to stay in Bonn long enough to learn what its like to live there. I have lived in Texas my whole life, so it will be a very new experience for me.
Only 5 more hours until I reach Munich!

Round 2

So my experience is quite different than what others going on this trip have. Last summer, I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain for 3 months and got to travel to countless amazing places and see more than I ever imagined. This trip is much more out of my comfort zone however, because I know absolutely no German. I could fluently speak to just about anyone in Spain, but I'm really nervous going into Germany knowing nothing! I think that will be a cool experience on it's own though, because where else would you learn German better than in Germany?
I also recently changed my entire career plan to wanting to work in global health, so I'm extremely excited to get to see health care in another country! I think this will help so much with my perspective on it. I'm mostly excited to see so many other students fall in love with Europe and the culture like I did last summer. It's a much different world living in it as opposed to visiting and I'm glad I get the opportunity to experience it again!

I also learned that no matter how good at packing you think you are, it is still awful.

On the way to the airport

      There is only one hour left before I leave to go to the airport to begin my journey to Germany. I am so excited and nervous at the same time. It has been quite an adventure just getting to this moment. Although I have been packing for a little over a week now, I still found myself at Walgreens 20 minutes ago gathering last minute supplies. I have never gone on a trip like this before so I am not sure what to expect. I keep imagining getting off the plane and speaking perfect German. I must mention though that I know very little German. For the next six weeks I will be studying and trying my best to take in the European way of life. 

      I chose this program not only because it allowed me to finish the last six credits I need before I graduate, but because it is giving me the opportunity to experience a new culture. I am hoping that this experience helps me become more independent as well as teaches me new skills about planning trips and budgeting time. After looking over the weekly schedule, I realized that I could not have picked a better program. I am looking forward to going to Norderney and learning how to use the bus/train systems. Living in College Station has taught me how helpful public transportation can be.
     The four days before the program starts I will be staying with my uncle and aunt who have been living in Frankfurt for the past three years. He is currently serving as the Consulate General for the United States. It will be a very unique experience because he knows perfect English and German. Lastly, I cannot wait to get to Germany to see where my mom is from. During the four days before the program, I am going to Heidelberg to see the city she was born in. Only four more days until the program starts!!
     

A Summer to Remember

            Wow to be back in the states. I think it’s finally starting to feel normal again. After being in Europe from May-July for 2 months it was really strange being surrounded by English speakers again. I had a pretty quick turn around when I arrived back home. I was offered a Co-Op position in California to start barely a week after I got back. I think being thrown into unfamiliar territories throughout my study abroad experience prepared me to accept another challenge in a place I’m not all too familiar with. I’ve been here for the last month and have gone in with an open mind to the cultural differences and the many new people I have met here. I can’t say that I would have the same attitude without going through what I went through this summer on Study Abroad.

My experience on the History of Medicine Study Abroad program completely exceeded my expectations in every aspect. From a learning standpoint, I had so many incredible experiences on excursions to museums, hospitals, medical centers, and more that put me right in the heart of the material we were studying during lectures in Bonn. I want to highlight a couple of things that still standout to me. Number one was the trip to the Bonn University Hospital, the least “hyped” excursion of them all. I went in thinking I would see routine procedures that I had seen before, which I would have enjoyed as well, but I did not expect to walk into a room in which a man’s sternum was sawed through and a beating heart was lifted almost entirely out of his chest. The procedure itself was amazing to watch and I admired the skill and confidence of the surgeons. What was also really cool about that experience was the environment itself. I spoke hardly any German, but to be right in the middle of a hospital in a foreign country and to be able to interact with German medical students, nurses, anesthesiologists, and surgeons was something I never even thought I would get to experience. Getting to see current medical solutions while studying the history of different medical procedures way back in the day, I was able to admire the progress but also see the parallels and similarities in the way people thought and how different procedures/products developed to what it is today. History of Medicine was a very valuable course for me, even as an Engineering major. I’ve always had an interest in healthcare and am still hoping to keep medical school as an option, but seeing heart valve technology, the development of anesthesia care, and my favorite the orthopedic arm and leg prosthetic devices at the Ottobock was amazing for me as a Biomedical Engineer.

On top of all of the educational excursions, we had free time to explore and immerse ourselves in the culture of many different foreign countries. During my time in Europe I was able to visit 11 different countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Spain, Italy, and Vatican City (If you count that one). The variety of different experiences we had was incredible. From biking through the busy streets of Berlin to the remote island of Norderney. From staring up at the glowing architectural feat that is the Eiffel Tower, to the spiked mountain ranges in rural Switzerland. We really had a chance to see it all, granted only some trips for a couple of days on the weekend, but we tried to get as much into this adventure as possible. I keep saying “we” because within days I made friends with a great group of people who tackled these adventures and challenges along with me. We still talk about study abroad and the things back here in America that take us back to those days across the world. We went through a good amount of challenges along the way, such as missing trains, purses being stolen (and thankfully taken back), bike crashes, and more but it all added to the experience and I wouldn’t change anything except for if I could’ve stayed longer. I did my best to keep an open mind with the new things I tried. The food, easy. I dove right into every cuisine in every country without a second thought. It’s making me hungry thinking about the Schnitzels, Brats, Potatoes, and Bread in Germany. I also tried many new things such as the Saunas and Mudbaths in Norderney. I think my skin is still feeling the effects of that now. I even got used to the public transportation throughout Europe, and Dr. Wasser was right in saying people usually miss that when they go back to the US, because I surely do.

One of the big things that made this program so great was meeting so many people from different countries and relating and connecting with them on so many levels. Yes, Mr. Trump was a common topic that people I met brought up, but on top of that it was nice to feel so many similarities to people growing up across the world. I also felt so welcome in these many different countries. For some reason going into it, I wasn’t entirely sure how people would feel about American tourists, but I can definitely say the welcoming and hospitable reactions greatly outweighed the negative ones. I hope to be able to travel back to these countries and meet back up with Henning, who became basically one of our group by the end while concurrently helping us around unfamiliar territory in Germany. And to go back to Swizterland, where Manfred, someone I had never met and knew through one of my parents friends, let a few of us borrow his car and travel around his beautiful country. He even invited us to stay in his hidden away cabin in the Sevelen Mountains, while being one of the nicest people I have ever met on top of all of that. Those are just a few of the people that really made my experience even better, and I haven’t even mentioned the countless strangers who gave us advice and helped us around or that I just had a casual conversation with in English, Spanish, or my very basic German.

I’m really glad I had the opportunity to go on such an incredible trip with a fantastic group of students and professors. It truly was THE best summer to date. I would recommend this to any inquiring students, and I really hope I get an opportunity to travel back to these places again in the future and expand my cultural horizons a little more.

A Trip to Remember

It's been 8 weeks since I boarded my flight back to America, and I miss Germany more and more everyday. I never would have imagined that a trip could have such a huge impact on me, but it has.

After I left, I landed in Newark and went straight to Starbucks. I had to catch myself when I went to order in German, as I had for the past 6 weeks. Even then I almost said “Dankeschön” to the guy who handed me my drink! It was strange coming back to America and hearing English all around you after being immersed in the German language for so long. Oddly enough, when I landed in San Antonio and got off the plane, I recognized some people speaking German and it was so normal! Hearing people speak German in the SA airport is far from normal though. Originally, I had planned to go to Alamo Café for some good ole tex-mex when I got back, but sadly, my flight from Newark to San Antonio ended up being delayed 2 hours or so, and my only option was Whataburger. Not that I would consider Whataburger settling, but I just really wanted some queso. Luckily my thirst for some queso was quenched the next day. Adjusting to life back in the US was not very difficult, however my sleep schedule was thrown off for weeks. The last time I had been in Europe, I wasn’t affected much by jet lag, but since I had no time to sleep the day away before beginning class at 8am the Monday after I returned, I was quite tired for many days. I took lots of naps and finally got back on track. Overall, it was strange to no longer have public transportation everywhere, and I actually missed picking up a fresh Rosinenbrot from the Bäckerei on the way to AIB for class. Life somehow seemed simpler there, which is odd since that is probably the busiest I’ve ever been in my life. After being back for about a month, I made a visit to our local German restaurant in Boerne to satisfy my craving for some German food. I never thought there would come a day when I would crave sausages and sauerkraut, yet there I was. It turns out, their food is actually not as good as I used to think it was. Germans really do it best. I have no clue what they do differently to their sauerkraut, but whatever it is, we should figure it out because it’s amazing and difficult to replicate. Maybe someday I’ll find some bratwurst that lives up to my high expectations.

Even though I was only there for 6 weeks, Bonn became like a home for me. If you had asked me before I first left for Germany if I thought I would love it so much, I probably would have said no. That country surprised me in many ways, partially because adjusting to life there was so easy. I expected to be homesick the first week or so, and I wasn't, not even a little. All of the people, including my host family, were very nice and easy to communicate with; their lifestyle seemed so relaxed, and the food was incredible. I think oftentimes we think that Europe is a very foreign place, but really, it's not all that different from the way we go about our everyday lives here. Having this experience with study abroad allowed me to explore the country in a way that you normally can't when you are travelling. Being placed with a host family made all the difference in the world to me. You truly get to experience what their life is like on a regular basis. When you are travelling and staying in hotels and eating out for every meal, you miss out on a lot of the authenticity of the place you're in. It becomes much more special when someone welcomes you into their home to experience life with them for 6 weeks. My host family made me feel so at home with them. Dinner always took hours and hours because my host mom and dad, Anne and Gunter, and I would talk for so long! I definitely did not expect to enjoy living with a host family as much as I did. I figured it would be awkward and maybe slightly uncomfortable, and yet it was anything but that. There were a few nights that I was even left alone with just my host sisters, and Viky and Rike made dinner for me and hung out with me. It really helped me to forget that I was in a strange place with people I barely knew.

On top of that, I could not have asked for a better group of people to travel throughout Europe with. Europe itself is incredibly amazing, and it would be very difficult to have a bad time while you’re there, unless you just hate life, but these people are what really made this trip a once in a lifetime experience. Going into the trip, I only really knew one person, Gabe. I had known him for years and years, but knowing 1 out of the other 24 people that would be on this trip with me still was not very comforting. I was very nervous about making friends and finding people I got along with. In retrospect, that seems so silly, because it seems like I have known these people all of my life. During the first week, I can’t even tell you how many people asked Hailey and I how long we had known each other because they thought we were friends prior to the trip! Naturally, when you spend all day everyday with each other for 6 weeks, you get to know each other pretty quickly, but these people are friends for life. I cannot imagine what I’d do without them now, and I have this experience to thank for that. I will never forget the inside jokes, constantly giving Carter a hard time about only owning lacrosse clothing, getting stranded in the middle of the German countryside thanks to an incompetent taxi driver and our endless other grat tims. These people changed me in more ways than one, and I’ll be forever grateful for that. They helped me to let go of my OCD tendencies and just live life to the fullest, going with the flow, taking in each moment, and stopping to take a breath of fresh air every once in a while. I have always been someone who likes to plan things far in advance of when they will occur, and this trip forced me to be okay with making last minute decisions. Worst of all was when we spent 3 weeks saying “we need to plan our last weekend,” and then promptly waited until the WEDNESDAY BEFORE WE LEFT to book a flight. Probably have never been so stressed out in my entire life, but somehow I had faith that it would all work out; and it did. In fact I’d say a last minute trip to Mallorca for 200€ is a little more than just working out. That trip was amazing, and I’m sure we’ll never be able to pull off something like that ever again. I’m now convinced there’s no better way to bond than 7 hour train rides, navigating through foreign cities with a language and currency you do not understand, and picnicking beneath the Eiffel Tower. I will never forget all of the amazing memories I have with y’all. Thanks for being my people. I love y’all.

As I sit here writing this post, it is pouring rain outside, and has been doing so for the last 29 hours. Additionally, it shows no signs of stopping anytime soon thanks to good ole Hurricane Harvey. The good thing though is we don’t have to walk everywhere, so it’s quite soothing and far less of an inconvenience. It does remind me of one of our last days in Berlin though. We were in Alexanderplatz heading back to the hotel, it was pouring, and I had my Birks on. I remember the puddles were so bad I took my shoes off and walked barefoot the entire way back to the hotel for like 30 minutes. Probably super unsanitary, but at least I mostly saved my Birks. They’re still a little crunchy to this day, but that’s okay because it reminds me of the memories. It’s the little things like that which often cross my mind during the day and remind me of all the fun we had over there. I still compare every scoop of ice cream I eat to all the stracciatella in every wonderful European city we visited. Somehow Blue Bell just isn’t the same now. Everytime someone asks me if I miss it, I always tell them I would hop on the next plane back to Cologne, and I seriously mean that. Germany will always hold a special place in my heart, and I cannot wait to go back and visit, hopefully sooner rather than later. Until then, I still have all the memories, pictures, videos, and anecdotes from the trip of my life, so that I can relive it on a weekly basis. And trust me, I do reminisce about once or twice a week. I am so thankful that God blessed me with such an amazing experience and some incredible new best friends. As cliché as it sounds, this trip changed my life. I am a much more adaptable, independent, self-sufficient human being because of this experience. Sometimes it takes a little adversity to get you out of your comfort zone and help you to grow. Germany did that for me, and I’ll be forever grateful.

To the greatest place on Earth: you are deeply missed, and I will see you soon.

Auf Wiedersehen Bonn!

Reflection

As I write this post, I already know what emotions are going to be flying through my head; they're all good ones. The first 6 weeks of this summer I got to experience things that most people will never get to experience in an entire lifetime. The places, the people, the things, and the friendships made will be the biggest things I will take away from this trip. The roller coaster of culture shock and the whole adjustment back to "American" life... just a few more things to point out.

First, the people in our summer 1 program were absolutely amazing. The trip would have been no where as fun if our group as a whole didn't get along. Although most of us had never met before, after 6 weeks it was almost as if we had been best friends our whole lives. I am glad to see that even now, back in the states, we are still close friends. Just last night I saw pictures of Nick, both Sarah's, and Joanna on Northgate haha. For an American, Europe isn't just a place, it is an experience. And my experience wouldn't have been the same without these people. Thank you all for that.

Second, the places. Nick and I traveled to 7 countries in our short time over seas. Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Austria, Czech Republic, and Ireland. Before this trip the only time i had really traveled outside of Texas was to visit family in a different state. It blew my mind how geographically close people are while being so culturally different. For instance, a 1 hour train ride later, we'd be in a different country speaking a different language. From each place I went, I made sure to take a moment out of my day to make a mental picture of the situation I was in. In Prague I sat down on a bench on top of the Prague Castle and just looked at the skyline as the sun began to set. I think that is when it finally hit me that I wasn't in America anymore. Words cannot describe the insane amounts of cultural shock I went through. And I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of all my new friends.

For every place we went, one of our two professors, Dr. Wasser and Dr. Waltz, always knew something. It became something of a competition to ask a question one of them couldn't answer. After seeing open heart surgery along with the countless of medical museums, hospitals, and exhibitions, I can say that my view on medicine is definitely different than before my trip over there. In Europe, almost all healthcare is universal; everyone will get the help they need regardless of their financial position. Back home in the US, I see what we are trying to do with Obamacare, medicaid, and medicare. I don't think we are implementing it in the most efficient way however, after spending time in numerous countries that had universal healthcare, I know for a fact it can be done. I also have a new found respect for the European doctors. I made the decision to pursue a career in medicine only about 2 years ago. In the United States, that is fine however, in Europe you are admitted into medical school straight out of high school. The doctors over there knew exactly what they wanted to do in life by the age they were 18.

Although I missed home while abroad, I think about Germany and Europe as a whole almost every day. So many things I was able to see and so many experiences I was able to experience. I am currently in the process of planning my next Euro-trip for the summer after I graduate and (hopefully) before medical school. I will most likely visit Köln and Bonn on a second trip. Mostly just to eminence on all the craziness that happened in those 6 weeks. My advise to anyone thinking about studying abroad: do it, there is literally no way possible you could regret it.

Germany History of Medicine in Retrospect

Sometime during the Fall of 2016, I made it a goal of mine to one day go abroad, although for some reason I didn’t think it would happen anytime soon. I did not realize at that moment just how possible it was for me to do so, and that I could do so that very next summer too. Funny enough, just around that time I received an email from Dr. Wasser, where he talked about the Germany History of Medicine program for the summer of 2017. As a pre-med student and Biomedical Sciences major, this program was just too perfect and exactly what I was looking for. I went ahead and applied, not thinking or worrying about how I would pay for it, knowing I’d have lots of options and resources available for financial aid here at A&M. This was by far a decision I could not be more glad I made, and have not once thought twice about since the trip.

It wasn’t until I was on my way to the airport that it actually hit me that I was about to travel across the Atlantic and be thousands of miles away from home for a whole six weeks. I was suddenly nervous, excited and somewhat scared for a second, then I figured it was normal to be having all these feelings at once given what was about to happen. As far as expectations go, I went into this program with a very open mind, willing to take on whatever came my way and hoping to take in as much as possible while in Europe. I of course knew a few things going in, such as some of the cultural and language differences, the difference in transportation and how people got around in Germany, the way money is handled, etc. I’ve got to say though, once you’re actually there and take a second to look around and reflect on what is going on, it’s quite amazing. You’re at a place you’ve (probably) never been before and maybe never even thought you’d ever be, as it was in my case. All of the sudden everyone around you speaks a different language and behaves differently. The architecture is completely different than in the states, the currency, the food, and even the license plates in cars. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s at the same time extremely exciting.

There were many surprises for me during my time in Germany, most of which were not very pleasant, but nonetheless added to the experience. First, water is not free at restaurants, in fact, it’s usually pretty expensive, which encouraged me to go for the cheaper, not as healthy drink alternatives. Most places do not accept credit cards so having cash at all times is essential. Public transportation is heavily used and depended on by most people, including us students. Pickpocketing is real, and so is straight-up robbery in major cities (not to scare anyone, but we did have one or two attempts made on us).

There were also more pleasant surprises, such as the amount of people that spoke English there, making getting around a lot easier than it would’ve been otherwise. The depth of the history that is held in Europe was also quite surprising. The number of museums and sites we were able to visit. The number of cities and countries (I managed to visit 8 different countries during those six weeks). The natural beauty of places like Switzerland. Overall, just the amount of places, people, and information I was able to learn about and visit, in just six weeks. Needless to say, the entire trip had me exhausted towards the end, but it could not have been more rewarding.

This is something you hear often from people who have gone abroad, but it is for a reason because it’s very true. And that is, that going abroad changes you. It changes your perspective on the world. It makes everything you’ve ever learned or heard about Europe that much more real. It makes you no longer see your country as the center of the world. It makes you appreciate the little things in life, things you often take for granted back home (such as free water). It enlightens you as to why international students often have a hard time adjusting to their new environment. It gives you a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It allows you to further grow and discover yourself, your interests, your passions.

To finish this off, I’d like to share some advice for anyone considering studying abroad. Don’t think twice about it, and just go for it. It’s going to be scary at times, you’re going to be stressed, worried, tired and confused, but will not once regret your decision. Prepare and educate yourself as much possible beforehand, learn a bit about the language and culture, places you’d like to visit, foods you’d like to try, etc. This will make the experience a lot smoother and more fulfilling. Try new things and step out of your comfort zone, explore. Make the most out of your time there since who knows when you’ll have a chance to go back. Take a moment every now and then to look around, appreciate and take it all in. Immerse yourself in your new environment.

I’m now back in the United States, where I’ve readjusted back to my old life, but with a completely new perspective of myself and the world, and countless and amazing memories that will last a lifetime.

Jubel zum besten Sommer meines Lebens,

Miguel G.