Journal Update From December 30th to January 11th

Day 6 – December 30th
We departed at 8:53 am for Berlin from Dusseldorf by high speed train. It took a little over 4 hours to get to Berlin. Upon arrival, we checked into Hotel Amelie, but as they weren’t ready for us, we went to have some Italian food at a nearby Italian Restaurant. I had rigatoni casa which was very lecker (delicious). The waiter was also very nice. After that, we checked in. I was in a triple this time with Yao and Andy. We then got free time. We went as a group to the Berlin Wall. We then went to Alexanderplatz area to look at the shops in the train station which is basically equivalent to a mall. We then visited a jazz club and had a few drinks. As this was my first time at a jazz club, it was quite the experience. Its harder to find such clubs back where I live in the states. We then headed back to the hotel, but stopped for döners and pizzas at a place along the way. That’s it for this entry.
Day 7 – December 31st
Today is New Year’s Eve! I got up and ate breakfast, which is similar to that served at the CVJM Hotel. Then , I headed to the internet café to post my entries, but could not find the usb adapter. Then, with Yao, Courtney, and Nancy, we headed out for sightseeing. We first visited Checkpoint Charlie. It had many historical billboards set up so we could understand the significance f each of the locations. There were some supposed Bosnians soliciting money there. I gave them some euros, but I am never too sure whether I am being duped by beggars. So, back to the sightseeing. We headed to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, but it looked to crowded and so we opted to skip it for today. We then headed to the Charlottenburg Palace. We had a guided tour by recording through the palace. Unfortunately, there was no photography, so its all in this mind. The two most significant items of interest was first the picture of Napoleon on a horse. Yes, that one that’s always in the textbooks. The next one is the picture of Napoleon as Caesar. I was particularly impressed by the one with Napoleon on horseback. The picture is much larger than I imagined it. The colors are much better in person and the size really helps to set an atmosphere of grandeur. It is a must-see when going to Berlin. We then returned at 4:00 for an hour lecture about EU and euthanasia. It was quite interesting comparing German policies towards euthanasia against those of other European countries. After lecture, I napped until around seven. We then got up for the New Year’s Eve celebration at the Brandenburg gate.. In Berlin, the celebration is a big deal. Fireworks are shot off in the streets and stalls are set up with food, alcoholic drinks, and clothing. I had gluwein, which is a hot red wine. I also had a berlinerweiser, which is a beer with syrup in it. The bratwurst from the stands was vielen lecker (very delicious ). The fireworks set off at midnight were particularly spectacular. The New Year’s Eve celebration in Berlin is the most exciting one I have ever been to! Being tired, however, some of the group and I then turned out early.
Day 8 – New Year’s Day
Today is New Year’s Day, and I got to see the beginning of snow! We went to the Pergamum, Old Master’s, The Altes Museum, and an Egyptian museum all in one day. They are located in the island of museums and the total costs for a student was only 7 euro! The Pergamum had lots of Greek sculptures and art as well as Islamic art. In the Old Master’s, we saw paintings by Cezanne, Renoir, and many more well-known artists. The Altes museum had many older pieces of art dating to the Baroque period. The Egyptian Museum contained the head of Queen Nefertiti! After all this museum walking, I am spent out! That’s it for today.
Day 9 – January 2nd
Today we were led by a very informed tour guide on a tour of Berlin. We saw significant sights like an old Nazi bunker as well as the “shadier” part of the city. There really is a lot of German history in Berlin! I had Turkish milk during lunch, which I would not suggest to the uninitiated. I also had a very delicious Turkish meat loaf. After the tour, we went to visit the Charite Museum. Charite is a hospital that was established to aid the poor and indigent in Berlin. The museum contains many specimens featuring several different types of disease. Of particular interest were are genetic defects of several baby specimens. After this we were given a very interesting lecture on Virchow, a very well-known German physician. It is interesting how the well-meaning Virchow’s statements were twisted by the Nazis.
Day 11 – January 4th
Yesterday we visited the German Historical Museum. We were given a tour of Germany through time. The museum has very interesting material to read and artifacts to look at. We also went on a trip to do our laundry. Today we took a train to Dresden and back. In Dresden, we were given a very interesting tour of the city. It has so many shops as well as a world-renowned opera house. After the tour of Dresden, we visited a very hands-on Hygiene Museum. It has many interesting hands-on activities that involves a museum-goer in the experience of health. For example, there is a balancing beam that measures the balance a person has. I would definitely suggest this museum if one is in Dresden. I had some Chinese for lunch and it was very good. Dresden’s weather was the coldest I have come across yet probably because of the high winds. I was wearing gloves and my hands still felt cold!
Day 12 – January 5th
Today I took a short train to Potsdam and visited the different landmarks in the area. Of particular interest is the Sanssouci Park and Sanssouci Castle. The park’s path is lined by trees and bushes all the way. It was beautifully white in the winter, but I bet it is even better in the spring. There are fountains at many path intersections. The palace itself is not towering, but well placed on a hill overlooking a large courtyard lined with trees and a fountain with ducks. The frozen river winding through the park was stunning as it was my first time seeing a body of water at that size frozen. This park has so far been the most beautiful sight I have seen in my life.
Day 14 – January 7th
Yesterday, before leaving for Hannover, I went with Yao, Courtney, and Nancy to see the Victory Column. I am not sure if I spelled that right. It snowed that day in Berlin before we left for Hannover. The ride to Hannover was about 2 hrs. long by high speed train. The Haus Martens, the hotel we are staying in Hannover, is the best so far. It has a lot of room, and we even got a balcony. There was scrambled eggs available for breakfast like back home. We visited TiHo today, the veterinary school in Hannover. I thought it was interesting that TiHo uses non-preserved specimens for dissection. We then visited the medical school in Hannover. The medical school is well known for kidney transplants. We got a good overview of how medical schools in Germany are different from those in the U.S. For example, they are much cheaper. Medical practices in Germany, since it is socialized medicine, is also very different and constantly trying to readjust. Doctors in general don’t make as much money here and are not as good at teaching. Also, the training that nurses go through are not as thorough as in the U.S. Afterwards, we went to a frat house and were given free drinks and also a dinner. The dinner had sauerkraut, a very soft ham, and also potatoes. Several of the veterinary school members were part of this fraternity.
Day 15 – January 8th
Today we visited Bad Oeynahsen’s Heart and Diabetes Center. I got to see a heart bypass surgery. It was interesting since it was my first time to be so close to a surgery. I learned a lot from the anesthesiologist who was attending the patient. We then had a very enjoyable and cheap lunch. We were then taken on a tour of patients with heart pumps and artificial hearts as a bridge to transplant. Getting transplants in Germany was estimated by the physician taking us on the tour to take double the time as in the U.S. After this tour, we were given a lecture on MRI and identification of problems in the heart. I am feeling a little sick today and so will stop here.
Day 16 – January 9th
Today, we packed our suitcases onto a charter bus that took us to a research farm. I was amazed at their self-milking system for the cows. Although it is extremely expensive, the cows are happier because they choose when they are milked. The whole system depends on this automated milker. Another advantage is quick storage of information on each cow’s milking efficiency, which may be an indicator of sickness. Even more interesting, the cows teach each other how to use the back scratcher! We also saw chickens and pigs. Although it was interesting, the limits of attention were weakened due to the cold I had. I hope I will get better before leaving Germany. We then took a train from Hannover to Munich, a four hour ride in which I mostly slept. The new accommodations in Munich are nice, though not as nice as those in Hannover.
Day 17 – January 10th
Today we went on a tour of Munich and saw various old churches, even some as old as 13th century! We saw the styles gothic, roman, and baroque converge in Munich. We also learned about the history of the kingdom of Bavaria. We then had lunch and then shopped around. I mostly slept because I still am stuffy and mucous-filled. I woke up and took a shower in preparation for the night. We were given a lecture by Dr. Wasser about experimentation in concentration camps. Many of the Nazis’ experiments seemed very pointless and unscientific. Surprisingly, most of the Nazi scientists were well-known to be good scientists before the outbreak of World War II. I guess politics and funding can change many people for the worse. We then went to the Hoffbrau House in Munich for dinner and drinks. The waiter there gave poor service, making us wait 20 minutes just to order our food! I am going to rest. I still am praying that I will get better before the flight on the 12th.

Day 18 – January 11th
I am still sick but optimistic for recovery because I am emptying the mucous in my body. Today we visited a Max Planck Institute in Munich for psychiatry. We learned about the origins of the institute and about one of their leading scientist’s role in the Nazi party. I find it appalling but not surprising that many scientists are willing to stand still while the Nazi eugenics program occurred. We then visited the infamous Dachau concentration camp, the first established by the Nazis. We toured the torture cells, the barracks, the crematorium, and also the gas chamber at the camp. It is startling how far a human will go to make life more unbearable for another. For example, the prison cells had heaters; however, they only turn on the heat during the summer! It is amazing any people survived such camps and is a testament to human courage, resilience, and comradeship. Later tonight we will have a farewell dinner. I think this will be my last entry in the Germany. I will write about the other events on later blog entries.