In and Out of Hannover

On Wednesday, we left Germany for Austria, though it seemed at the time as though we had just gotten to Hannover.  We only spent one night in Hannover; however, the medical school hospital and research center have left lasting impressions.  Two presentations we heard were especially motivating and memorable.

            On Tuesday afternoon, we heard from the chief cardiology resident about a specific type of cardiac implant to assist the heart’s pumping.  Since I am planning on specializing in cardiology after medical school, being able to see a patient and hearing exactly how the procedure was performed was fascinating.  Moreover, she made me think about other types of cardiac surgery other than heart transplants, and honestly, it made more excited to get to residency.

            Then, on Wednesday morning, we heard a presentation from a research team working with axolotls and spiders.  When working with the axolotls, they research the biology behind limb regrowth and regeneration.  However, even more fascinating to me was their research with spiders.  The group harvests spider silk, which is surprisingly strong for its diameter.  The aim of their research is to repair nerve damage.  In one trial, the patient was unable to move his arm due to nerve damage.  Spider silk was used to connect the nerve ends and provided physical scaffolding for nerve cells to follow in order to repair the nerve.  Nerve cells can divide just like other cells, but cannot reconnect separated ends if the damage is too extensive.  Now, the patient has regained some functional use of his arm and hand.  I am excited to see whether research like this will be applicable to spinal cord injuries in the future.

            Overall, our time in Hannover has solidified my desire to become a physician.  Research and medical treatments are advancing by leaps and bounds, and I cannot wait to become a part of it in the coming years! 

There's Something About Austria

   It felt so strange to fly out of Germany yesterday and not head home. Instead, our little group of world travelers landed in Vienna, Austria. I am a little homesick, but with only 2 days left I am determined to power through my craving for family time and nostalgia for pop tarts!
   Vienna is really a spectacular city. The architecture is breathtaking, and it looks as though it is still Christmas in Vienna. There are long strings of twinkling lights strewn from building to building, lighting the way down cobblestone streets. Fully-decorated Christmas trees mark the entrances to all the various shops and cafes. Hot chocolate and cappuccinos are easy to come by. It's like my own personal winter wonderland, sans-snow. Vienna is a grand city, but it certainly lacks the hustle-and-bustle feeling of Berlin; everyone seems to be shopping or eating or traveling to do one of the previous.
   I'm not sure I have a clear impression of Austrians as a collective group. Olaf has plenty of opinions to share, but he is German and therefore disinclined to give compliments to his neighboring nation ;) On the street and the subway, the Viennese seem slow to smile. In this way they could be compared to the Germans, who tend to show a neutral facial expression, except for what Olaf calls "Austrian face". Essentially, the default facial expression in Austria is the frown. From what I've seen, this is not an unfair stereotype. There does not seem to be any reason for me to smile at passersby because my nonverbal greeting is almost never returned. That said, Vienna does not seem to be a young city in the sense that many of its people appear to be, well, old... and I guess old people frown more :P
   The funny thing is that aside from small details like facial expression, and even there I'm reeaally grasping for a common characteristic, I often feel as though I could still be in Germany. The dialects may differ, but both Germans and Austrians speak German, so I understand about the same amount of what strangers around me are saying. That is, I understand very little :P Since we have only had time to explore one Austrian city, it is difficult to glean many cultural differences between Germans and Austrians, although I'm sure if I ask Olaf he could come up with about fifty.
 

Let the good times roll in........Praha and Hannover!!

I am not combining these cities because they are anything alike in fact I am combining them because they are complete opposites.
Our free weekend was spent in Prague at a 4 star hotel, and it was probably the most amazing place I have visited to this day!! The city is gorgeous it is the perfect mix of old and new.  The streets are cobblestone and the buildings are as old as the city itself, while there is still concrete and new buildings all around.  On our first day we were able to get all the way to Prague with no problems, when we got there that was a whole other story, without Michael's phone we probably would have ended up staying at the subway station for the night; Once we got to the hotel we checked in and went to have an amazing dinner.  The next morning we slept for quite a while and then just went and walked around the city.  It was really nice not having to be anywhere at a certain time, it allowed us to see the city for what it truly was.......beautiful. After having a great night on the town we had to say goodbye to Prague and move on to Hannover.
Hannover while it looks nothing like Prague has its own sort of beauty.  The city is a whole lot newer then any of the cities we have been to including Vienna which we will leave for tomorrow.  While we did not see as much of the city as I would have liked we were able to visit the hospital and see the nephrology and cardiology departments.  This was actually a whole lot more fun then I thought it was gonna be because we were able to meet a patient who had a LVAD, and get his perspective on the whole procedure.  We then were able to go to the zoo the next day, which I would have to say was just so amazing. It allowed us to unwind and get a little out of the whole learning vibe, I will say it was a well needed break.
While it has been fun in Germany I look forward to seeing what Austria has in store for us, but most of all at this point in my European adventure I am most looking forward to going home and being able to sleep in my own bed! Until next time let the good times roll!

YOPO!

Excitement and anxiety overwhelmed me as I looked out my train car window on the journey to Prague. The graffiti on the walls quickly reminded me that I do not know German, but I really do not know Czech. As we finally arrived to the train station a sigh of relief eased my nerves, but at this point we've only completed half the battle. We found our way to the hotel by way of Michael's handy dandy smart phone. Without him, or rather his phone, we would probably still be in the train station to this day.

Every time we go to another city I think it is prettier than the last, but Prague is absolutely gorgeous! There was so much to do, but so little time.  It was the greatest destination decision for a free weekend. Very tourist, but not wallet friendly as there were numerous souvenirs to buy and food to eat. Luckily the Christmas Market was still open so we were able to get a glimpse of what we missed in Germany. It was marvelous to see so many different types of people at different stages in their life all commence in a central location.  This is something I am envious of as the only thing even comparable to this in the United States is Black Friday.  It holds the same purpose, but they contrast just a little in some aspects. 

All in all Prague was a magnificent trip where my peers and I bonded more than we have the whole time we've been abroad. We learned more about ourselves, each other, and even matured more as young adults. As we were in a foreign city with only our classmates to rely on it taught us to be resourceful, dependable, and leaders. I absolutely loved Prague and this a weekend that none of us will forget.   

Schnell, Schnell, SCHNELL,,'

Berlin was fun, fast, cool, exciting, basically it was a plethora of emotions. But in all I absolutely loved Berlin. This city defines Germany! Brandenburg Gate on New Year's Eve was a night to remember. Well even the treacherous journey to the gate was enough excitement for me. The streets of Berlin were comparable to a war zone, but instead of AK-47s there were fireworks rocketing from every able bodied, but not necessarily able minded person. Ducking and dodging, but still gazing in awe made this event a night to remember, as we shared this experience with thousands of our closest friends. This by far was one of my favorite nights in Germany!

There are so many beautiful cities so close to Berlin! The German transit system is every young travelers dream. Dresden was beautiful, so much history and culture in a town that often goes unnoticed. Yet, it was the Hygiene Museum that was the highlight of the day. Rather than a museum on how one must brush his or her teeth, it was a compilation of the science behind human life and all the variables that often affects it. It was a very exciting and innovative way to learn science outside of classroom or textbook. 

Otto Bock Science Center resembled a scene from back to the future or maybe even Artificial Intelligence. The prosthetic limbs that were built and designed were far more advanced than devices that were developed a decade ago. I respect engineers far more now because doctors hold the knowledge of how to use tools, but without engineers to invent the tools doctors are knowledgeable carpenters with an empty toolbox. I'm intrigued by orthopedic surgery so maybe if I'm lucky in a decade, or two, I could be apart of an innovative research that will change the way of prosthetic limbs.  

I gotta hand it over to Hannover

As I sit now in the Vienna hotel, I have begun to reflect on my experiences in Hannover. It was such a quick visit.

Since we got in late, the first night we were there, a couple other students and I walked around the town to try to find something to eat at 10:20 pm. Little did we know, Hannover is a small town where everything is closed at 10.  After coming off huge metropolitan cities such as Prague and Berlin, I wasn't expecting a town to be this "sleepy."

The next day was spent at the University Clinics at the Hannover Medical School. I really enjoyed listening to the doctor speak about the new cardiac device that is serving as a temporary therapy for patients waiting for a heart transplant. As an engineer, I love seeing the effects of medical devices on patients and I enjoy seeing patients who were terribly ill now be able to live their lives almost as fully as they once could.

Today was an interesting one too. Today was all about animals, and deemed by the students "Meghan's Day" as Meghan Wanstrath is the only vet student on the trip for the wintermester.  I enjoyed learning about regenerative biology in the Axolotl Research Center and to understand a creature that has different properties than humans was really intriguing. The axolotls were so cute, and I was so close to wanting to take one home as a pet! The zoo was a blast too. I haven't been to the zoo in a long time, so it was fun to see the baby orangoutang and a baby elephant that was born only 6 days ago! 

For now, it's out of Germany and off to Austria!
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye!

Went to Prague: Czech

How to describe Prague: Beautiful. That's really the only word that comes to mind when I think about the few short hours I got to spend in Prague.

It was interesting waking up on the train ride and seeing a completely different language on the screen. To go from somewhat finally minimally understanding German to looking at a language similar to Russian was one of the weirdest experiences. To cross in borders in few short hours blew my mind. We got into the train station, and honestly I wasn't sure if we were going to ever get out. I imagined Olaf asking us on Monday how the weekend went and all we would be able to say is, "The train station bench made a good bed." We finally figured it out and to the Eurostar David Hotel we went.

The next day we walked around the town and had a nice sit down lunch. It was wonderful to be able to look at the architecture and just enjoy the beauty of the city. The day was so relaxed as we traveled throughout and we even found a Christmas Market! Even though it was rainy, the colors of Prague still came through.

That next day was beautiful. It was incredibly to look across the St. Charles Bridge at the colors and the river. I even am now sporting a new profile picture from that very day! Prague was incredible, even if it was only for 36 hours, but I hope to return some day.

A Quick Hallo from Hannover

   Hallo! We only got one and a half days in Hannover, so this will be a petit post! I found Hannover charming yet busy; the romantic architecture of the apartments surrounding our hotel as well as the general lack of urban noise makes the city similar to Bonn. Yet, like Bonn, Hannover is well connected by its metro system and contains a quality medical school/hospital (we visited each!). I really enjoyed spending time in the nephrology and cardiovascular departments. In both cases, we were able to have a Q & A with one of the doctors and kind of explore the corresponding hospital wing. 

   We also had a longer lunch break between these excursions. I was pleased to be able to sit down with some fellow Aggies at a little cafe inside the train station and just enjoy the beautiful day! I have decided German cappuccinos are made with some kind of addictive drug because I seem to need one at least once a day. Coffee is given the attention it deserves in Germany, and that's all I'm going to say about that!

   Tomorrow we travel to Vienna via plane. It occurs to me that just under two weeks I have visited six European cities, and in less than one week I will be back in College Station, waking myself up for CHEM lab. Time is moving so quickly, I'm having a wonderful time, and I'm learning so much, but at the same time I am beginning to really feel homesick. It's so difficult to be separated from family and my boyfriend for a long period of time, and by such a long distance. Never in my life have I been this far from home...

   On the one hand, I am so grateful for this incredible experience. Traveling to Europe is the bravest thing I've ever done. On the other hand, home is where my loved ones are, and I am beginning to count the days until I can come home.

Czech Please

   The free weekend possibilities seemed endless, with the option of trips to almost any part of Europe. Would it be Spain? London? Amsterdam? We deliberated and finally decided on Prague because we had heard how beautiful the city was and it's convenient proximity. After saying goodbye to Berlin, we somehow managed to navigate the train and city and settled into our hotel.
   The second we stepped off the train it was quite apparent we were no longer in Germany. The station was almost empty, there were strange words everywhere, and English was not everyone's second language. Another big surprise was the use of the Koruna, which is roughly 20 per one US dollar. I never did get used to spending 100 Kc on a bottle of water.
   Our first glimpse of the city the following day was of the Prague Castle along the river. It was as if I was walking in a postcard, minus the rain of course. We explored the old town shops and visited the Christmas market located in the square with the  famous clock tower and the Church of Our Lady. The giant Christmas tree was lit across from a stage of traditional Czeck band, and the  trdrlnik was so amazing I think we each ate two.  We  experienced the Prague nightlife  and met people from Italy, Germany, Russia, and the good ole USA.
   Prague is a city I will hopefully visit again and I wish we were able to spend more time there. However, I  am thankful we  were able to enjoy the town and get some rest. The Czech Republic did us well and I will never forget the memories we made!

Let the good times roll in............Berlin!!

Our arrival in Berlin was pretty amazing!! We had our first lesson in the breakfast room, which was probably not the most practical but it got the job done, from there we left for the biggest party in the world NEW YEAR’S EVE!!! The amount of people who were there and the all around atmosphere was one of the wildest things I have ever experienced! Our walk back was a little scary because it felt like we were walking through a post apocalyptic world where anarchy ran rampant, this apparently is a very normal New Year’s Eve and will be one that I will never forget. Over the next few days we went to many different places and experienced many different things.  My most favorite of them all would have to be the Charite Museum  and the Deutsches Hygiene Museum.  The Charite Museum was very interesting and made me kinda queasy, we were able to see an awesome medical collection with lost of very different specimens.  Not only were we able to see the collection, but we also got a tour of their skills lab and I did my very first intubation !!!!The Deutsches Hygiene Museum was also very cool because we had to tach ourselves we were split up into groups and then gave a small lecture about what we learned about in our room.  This was a very interesting technique but one that i enjoyed quite a bit because it allowed us to be able to decide what we found the most interesting and spend a lot more time on those individual items.  Though my time here in Berlin has been a very special one I look forward to what is going to come next in our adventure. Until next time let the good times roll!

Multiculti Berlin

   The first impression of Berlin I experienced during the festmile on New Years was that it was a culturally diverse and vibrant city, and throughout our stay this remained true. "Multiculti" Berlin offered so many opportunities to learn about history and the German's past. On our tour of the city it was surreal that we were standing over the very spot where Hitler took his last breaths, or where the first victim of the Berlin Wall was killed.  History lessons pale in comparison to experiencing and learning  simultaneously.
   Dreaden was our destination for one day and it was quite beautiful. The street musicians played  classical music as we walked along the old buildings and enjoyed Turkish cuisine.  The treasury housed some of the most incredible and intricate objects from centuries  ago as well as the world's largest green diamond. We visited the Hygiene Museum and acted as our own tour guides, which was quite a  feat  considering  all of the captions were in German.
   Our last  full day in Berlin we visited the Charite  Hospital and  learned about the old and somewhat barbaric practices of medicine. The museum housed a collection of preserved diseased or misshapen body parts, and it was fascinating to see conjoined twins or the brain of a Syphilis patient. We also had the opportunity to visit a practical training center of the medical school and speak with German medical students. Getting  their perspective on medicine and learning the steps to becoming a German physician was interesting, and they even taught us how to intibate a training dummy. There are many similarities between the United States path towards becoming a physician, however it shocked me that the only basis of being selected for medical school was grade point average.
    Before leaving for the free weekend, we made a visit to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. This was extremely humbling and brought the Holocaust into reality for me. At that very  location, thousands were murdered and their bodies burned. Such a horrific camp now seemed so peaceful and it served as a reminder to be thankful for all the blessings I have.  As we rushed to make our train to Prague , I hoped for the best since we had absolutely nothing planned. As the train rolled away, Berlin became a memory and I will never forget my New Years spent there.

HAMBURG

I don't think my free weekend could have been any better. It started off with our last day in Berlin as we went it the Sachenhausen Concentration Camp. I've never been so emotional on a historical site tour. It's one thing when you learn about the treacherous things people underwent at the camps. It's a completely different story when you place your feet and you are in the actual presence of a place where thousands of people suffered. Understanding their suffering made me count my blessings even more.

Emotions changed when the free weekend began. My uncle picked me up from the Berlin HBF with Kendra, and we drove about 3 hours to Hamburg. After dropping off the Kendra, and dropping off my suitcase at his house, the first thing on the list of things to do was simple: eat of course! We went to a Persian restaurant and took care of my homemade meal cravings. It was SO GOOOD! That night we drove around the city, and being the "cool" uncle that he is, he took me to Reeperbahn, the street with a million strip clubs. A million is an exaggeration, but you get the point. We obviously didn't go in, but I did get to learn the purpose as why it is located where it is, which is because it's right next to the harbor!

After Reeperbahn, I was exhausted, and I rebooted myself with 10 hours of sleep that night. The next day, breakfast was exquisite, with my uncle's famous eggs. And later I was even surprised by my other uncle, whom I thought was Iran. Seeing him was probably the cherry on top to this fantastic weekend, even though it was only for a few hours. That day we completely relaxed, played card games, and cooked a delicious dinner. The following day I was fortunate enough to be able to stay an extra night. I don't know how else to describe it other than it was AMAZING. We explored Hamburg, my uncles old undergrad university, and we did a bit of shopping, but it was more important for me because we did so much bonding. I got some fantastic pictures and surprisingly even learned about the city.

We arrived to Hannover early morning the next day. I didn't think saying goodbye to my uncle would be so hard.

There is one thing I learned about myself this weekend. It may not be related to the German culture, but it's related to my Persian culture regarding family. Nothing in life is worth it without family. Family makes all the difference in the world, and they make life enjoyable. And in the future, when I do begin to travel and explore more, I'll make sure that they are with me. Having a family that provides so much love is hard to find these days, and I am beyond blessed to have mine.

Prague Blog

   I have had an incredible week in Germany. However, between all of the city tours, museum excursions and interesting lectures, there has hardly been a moment to stop and smell the metaphorical European roses. My feet were tired from trekking through city after city, and I hadn't had a decent night's sleep all week. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to relaxing over the weekend in Prague, Czech Republic.

   A group of nine TAMU students, myself included, spent five hours on the train from Berlin to Prague, and by the time we exited the train I was just itching to quickly get to the hotel, shower, and go to sleep. And stay asleep. For a long time. Sometimes my naivete surprises even me...

   For one thing, none of us had ever traveled to Prague before. We were as unfamiliar with the tram/metro system as we were with the Czech language. It occurred to me finally, as the nine of us stood looking around the almost empty subway station, how very unprepared we were to visit Prague.

   Thanks to my sensible fellow Aggies, Google maps, and mostly the good Lord above, we managed to get to our hotel safely, via the subway and about 20 minutes of walking. The EuroStar David Hotel was fancier than we expected considering its fair price, although we were so happy to have made it there safely that we barely noticed until the next day!

   We spent our free day wandering kind of aimlessly around the city, stopping here and there for souvenirs and food. Every restaurant seemed to serve cheeseburgers, which I think is great. The strangest part of eating at restaurants in Prague is the sheer number of languages into which the menus are translated. At one restaurant, you could read off the specials in Czech, Russian, Spanish, and English. The default language in Prague is clearly English, and I often observed strangers from non-English-speaking countries communicating in English. I wondered what things would be like if the lingua franca was Mandarin, Russian, or German instead.

   I also thought about how much easier it is for us, as native English-speakers, to travel abroad. In so many places, we don't have to learn the native language to successfully travel. I see so many people politely converting to English to communicate, and I feel very humbled. I also feel like I should continue studying French, and maybe start another language, too. Being mono-lingual is a disadvantage in our globalized world, and one we Americans hardly suffer because English happens to be the language of business and trade.

   On the train back to Hannover, I conversed (in English) with a young Egyptian man traveling to Leipzig to teach Arabic to German university students. He explained that the political turmoil in Egypt led him to leave, and again I was struck and humbled by my incredibly blessed life.

   I am studying abroad by choice, and at the end of two and a half wonderful weeks I can return home to a safe country. THAT is truly a blessing. 

Goodbye Germany, Hello Czech Republic

            Yesterday, we said goodbye to Berlin, but our last evening in Berlin was the most memorable (and the longest) by far. After getting off the train, we somehow managed to navigate the Prague tram system and streets to get to our hotel (thank goodness for Google maps).  The old town center of Prague is beautiful and the Christmas market was awesome.   

            While in Germany, I felt like I could communicate a bit; however, in Prague, though quite a few people speak English, I have absolutely no grasp of the Czech language.  I cannot even begin to guess what some of the signs mean, and not knowing even how to properly pronounce “please” or “thank you” is extremely disconcerting.  I’ve never experienced, while in another country, a language so foreign that I cannot even guess what words mean, and it has really changed my point of view from what it was while I was in the United States.

            I have always liked the fact that the United States is such a melting pot of cultures and that the quote, “Give me your tired, your poor/your huddled masses yearning to breathe free/the wretched refuse of your teeming shore/Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me/I lift my lamp beside the golden door,” is the mindset that the U.S. in general mostly maintains.  However, with the recent debates on immigration and citizenship, I feel like I have slowly gained an unforgiving attitude.  I generally think that those traveling to the United States, especially from Spanish speaking countries, needed to know English, or at least have a functional knowledge.  However, I also thought that Spanish for American high school students should be optional, not a requirement.

            After being in Europe for a week and a half, I realized how close-minded I have been on this particular subject.  Mostly, when I spoke to someone while in Germany, I was hoping that my meager German could get me through the conversation.  While we have been in the Czech Republic, I just prayed that they could speak English.  It is actually sort of a scary experience to be unable to communicate clearly, and I believe that Americans, me included, could be much more understanding of those who maybe don’t have much experience with English.

            Studying abroad has been enlightening so far and it is exciting to experience situations that challenge and change my point of view.  I look forward to more eye opening encounters as we travel back to Germany tomorrow!

Bouncin' around Berlin

Berlin. How to describe Berlin. I would say Berlin is filled with so many different types of people: people from all over the world speaking multitudes of languages.

The first thing we did in Berlin was attend the "Fest Mile" on New Years Eve.  Berlin is one of the top four places to bring in the New Year and I was so excited to be apart of it.  The best part of the night was meeting people from different countries. It was exciting and intriguing to see not only Germans, but Americans, Chinese, French, Spanish, Brazilians, Canadians, Finnish, and all other people celebrate the New Year. I even pulled out some of my old Spanish knowledge to communicate as best as I could with some people from Brazil.  My favorite part of the night was walking back to the city tram station on the streets. People were blowing fireworks and having the time of their lives. It got me thinking how often I want to stick my head in the sand when school and life get hard. Why not enjoy it? Why not turn trouble into triumph? We only get this one day, this one time, so let's celebrate every day, not just the New Year.

The tour of Berlin with Sion and the concentration camp were also interesting. It was cool to see the sites that pertain to so much of old history classes. We hear the same old song and dance about the Nazis and the Berlin Wall, but it was neat to see the real time and the real place where these history changing events occurred. Seeing the actual places made history in a sense come alive.

Now, it's off the Prague for the free weekend!! Can't wait to see what the Czechs have got goin' for them!

Culture Shock

Coming from Bonn to Berlin was most definitely a culture shock. You went from semi-traditional to modern in the blink of an eye. Again, one common theme popping up in every city has been history. I understand how influential history is to a country, but I feel as if the impact in the Germany is even greater than in others. One reason for this could simply be because both WWI and WWII seem like they were apart of a different lifetime than what I am used to. In reality, both wars were just around the corner. The city tour of Berlin really put my mind into perspective. Putting my feet on either side of where the Berlin Wall used to be was a feeling that I don't think I could ever forget, knowing that that wall changed so many lives.

After visiting Dresden today, I realized how although Germany is a unified country, the west and the east still view each other differently and have been taught separate things. By its architecture, Dresden is by far the most beautiful city I've seen so far (although Köln comes in a close second). One of the most interesting things I picked up on this day trip was how much of the population consider themselves atheists/agnostics. And to be a little bit geeky, the Museum of Hygiene was my favorite excursion of the day - maybe it's because I could apply education to real life or because I actually understood the material more than anything! The best part of my day, however, was rapping Baby Got Back with Dr. Wasser on the train ride back. If I will remember anything from this trip, there is a possibility it will be that!

And now to back track to New Years Eve! BEST EXPERIENCE EVER. How many people can say they've been to the Brandenburg Bridge? A lot of people, because that's how many there were. According to my family who watched it on TV, the reported population that night was around 1 million people. WHAT! I thought Kyle Field was huge! Experiencing the aftermath of New Years in the streets was a whole other story. Navigating our way through Berlin and seeing how many people raided the streets with alcohol and fireworks was astonishing. Why? Because you don't see that in the US. Props to Germany though for keeping it classy and still making me feel safe, and not to mention how well they cleaned up the city afterwards.

The free weekend is almost here!

Frohes Neues Jahr!

   I've always been intrigued at different New Years celebrations across the globe, but never did I imagine I'd be able to experience any firsthand. The Brandenburg Gate and "party mile" we spent the holiday was everything I expected it to be, filled with people from every nation excited to ring in the new year. As the crowd yelled "drei, zwei, eins," fireworks and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra brought us into 2014. But what a year 2013 was, and ending it on this amazing study abroad program only seemed fit.
   The last days of 2013 were filled with new friends and adventures. From currywurst to viewing my first surgery, Germany has provided so many opportunities already. What struck me most about the cities we visited was the assimilation of the ancient and the modern. The thriving shops and markets of Cologne still line the same street as the shops of the Romans, and a few meters under the soil of Bonn lies an ancient heated floor. The United States prides itself on its history, yet here many of the buildings are older than our nation's founding.
   Throughout my history classes I have always been taught the Allie's version of World War II, Germany=bad and America=good. And for all intensive purposes, this sentiment is true. But what I never really learned was the humanity of the German people. They were not simply the enemy, but families and children who were swayed by a manipulating dictatorship. Visiting the Gestapo prison in Cologne and discussing the euthanasia program T-4 truly showed the cruelty and sadistic nature of the Nazis. Yet the Nazi party is not synonymous with the Germans, and Germany has taken great efforts to move on from this period they wish to forget.
     As we begin exploring Berlin and taking a peek into its past, it's incredibly important to realize how much the German people have accomplished. Today they are one of the globe's largest powers with one of the top healthcare systems. The new year will hopefully bring even more lessons and widen my knowledge of the European way of life. Cheers to 2014, to new friends, and to the new experiences that await us!

Happy New Year!

   Every New Year's Eve, I watch the ball drop in NYC on TV. I have been to a few parties over the years, but never in my life have I experienced New Year's like we did in Berlin. It was as if the entire city, and an additional million tourists/students, showed up to ring in the new year. I'm told there were about 2 million people celebrating with us at the "festmile", an annual celebration that spreads out over a mile of street, terminating at the Brandenburg Gate. Along the way, there are a multitude of vendors, selling hats and New Year's paraphernalia, hot food, and of course, drinks. Music booms from small stages along the street, as well as from a tent where people are dancing excitedly.
   I was happily surprised to hear a significant amount of American music, and even more surprised to hear Germans joining in. The atmosphere was one of electric excitement, and it was a pretty young scene, although I did see a number of middle-aged and elderly couples who chose to brave the crowds.  
   The closer we moved down the festmile, the more crowded the street was. I would estimate we only made it the first third of a mile before we simply could not move forward any more. Holding hands was necessary to navigate the crowds, and as we snaked around clusters of people, we managed to have little conversations with other young people. In addition to Germans, we met a happy group of Australian girls and several Canadian boys, who seemed thrilled to have found some Americans with whom to talk. The boys were about our age, and Quebecois, so I was finally able to practice my French! :) A group of six from TAMU stayed together and spent time talking with these young men for the hour and a half before New Year's. I was so happy to learn about school in Quebec and discuss various cultural differences and commonalities between America and our Canadian neighbors.
   As the New Year drew closer, the performers at the Brandenburg Gate became increasingly animated. We could only see them on a giant screen, but we could hear the music loud and clear. Everyone began counting down, and soon there were cries of "Happy New Year!" and "Einen guten Rutsch!" It wasn't long before we began trying to make our way back down the festmile and toward the train station, but so were over a million others. We did our best to stay together, and thankfully we didn't lose anyone even for a second. After about fifteen minutes of just being squished by the crowds of excited people, we managed to exit the street and begin making our way more quickly toward the station.
   The streets of Berlin looked as though a bomb had gone off. There were firecrackers and little fireworks exploding near our feet, and broken glass lay everywhere. The smoke from the fireworks left the city in a foggy haze; it looked like we were facing another apocalypse. It seemed as though we were the most tired people around. While others continued cheering and partying, we hurried to find Alexanderplatz and our correct train. It felt like a miracle when we finally made it back to our hotel.
   Everyone was truly exhausted, but we agreed we had been part of an incredible night. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. If there's one thing I've learned, Berliners sure know how to throw a party!

Bonn

There are definitely certain things that I remember from my first trip to Germany, but somehow paying for water and the bathroom seem to have eluded me for the past seven years.  It's strange since I always drink so much water with meals and never even think twice about a refill because it's free--so I am thankful that I remembered to bring a water bottle and that the tap water is safe to drink!

I'll admit I was fairly worried about observing a surgery from within the operating theatre at the University clinics since human blood tends to make me a bit woozy.  I'm not sure why, but for some reason I react completely different to seeing animal vs human blood and was sure I'd hit the floor and embarrass myself so I was extremely surprised (and maybe a little proud of myself) when I wasn't ever overcome with the feeling that I needed to sit down or back away.  Observing coronary heart surgery was easily one of the neatest experiences I've ever had and honestly the doctor's inclusion of us and hands on teaching had me convincing myself that'd I'd really enjoy and do well in medical school.

In regards to my german language skills, I am trying to read and understand as much as possible but am still hesitant to talk.  I'll order in german and talk to the waiter, but perhaps a lack of extensive vocabulary keeps me from engaging in more conversation.  I know that two and half weeks is not near enough time to significantly improve my speaking, but I do a least hope to learn a little more and become more confident trying.

I'm not in Kansas anymore!

Wow I cannot believe I am actually in Germany. A day that I waited for months to come is finally here. Flying alone to a foreign country is honestly the most frightening thing I have ever done. I did not know what to expect as I did not know the other students.  Anything could happen in seventeen days were the thoughts that plagued my mind throughout the plane ride. Eating at an authentic German restaurant was a great way to end a long day of traveling and ease my nerves.   I'm glad to have tried new dishes as I'm trying to fully embrace the German culture.  However, this will probably be my first and last time to eat blood sausage.

Embarrassingly, I do not even own a bus card in America, but here it is second nature to hop onto a train in order to get to a destination. The mass use of public transportation is something I admire about Europe.  Due to the vast size of Texas it may be difficult to mimic such a successful transit system, but I wish we could cut down on the wasteful use of gasoline and single passenger travel.

It amazes me how everyone knows English and they do not find it disrespectful that I speak to them in my own language. In America we do not like to accommodate for foreigners, but here it is normal to have signs in translation or to be multilingual. I never thought I could learn so much in my short stay here. Tomorrow is Berlin, I'm ready for a new adventure!

Berlin's Not Ready!

This trip has been a roller coaster filled with exhaustment, but excitement! Arriving at Frankfurt was so exhilarating, and meeting the rest of the group just made it all that better. Needless to say, Germany has been absolutely outstanding.

Immersing myself into a culture and language was always on my list of things to accomplish, and I now realize how blessed we all are to be doing this together. Never before have I attempted to order food in German, or would I think to watch a classic German holiday film! Of course with my lack paying attention, I almost got lost the first night, or so I thought. As I was taking pictures of the restaurant on our night in Bonn, I realized I couldn't find anyone, even when I went searching inside the building. I asked the waiter if he spoke English, to which he replied no. I squirmed outside into another cafe, thinking I was in the wrong place. Five minutes later, I found the group in the back of the restaurant. Did I get butterflies? Yes. Will I handle that better next time? I hope so.

If there is anything that has surprised on me on this trip, it has been the history. Not necessarily the events that have taken place in the history of Germany, but how it has shaped and influenced the country into what it is today. I personally believe that Germany is one of the few, if not the only country, that has bounced back so quickly from some of its past horrendous events.  .

Köln is incredibly stunning. It is not everyday that you get to attend mass in the Cologne Cathedral! The fact that in Köln people view each other on the opposite side of the Rhine River in different ways interests me so much in how it correlates to the times of the Berlin Wall  (although the two cannot nearly be compared). The most eye opening aspect of our visit to the Köln was the Gestapo Prison. It is one of those indescribable feelings - to know that people suffered and were killed where you stood is humbling, and it forced me to count my blessings numerous times.

Visiting the Medical School in Bonn was outstanding! Although I have observed surgeries before, I had never seen them done on the throat. More interestingly was how similar the operating room was like in the United States. Obviously, science is the same, but I never realized how similar surgical culture was between any countries at all. (Although, I learned that Germany uses some anesthetics that the US doesn't!)

And off tomorrow we go to Berlin! I cannot wait to start another adventure 🚊

First Few Days

Coming to Bonn, I didn't know what to expect.  I was so nervous on the plane, and I was worried about fitting in with not only 10 new friends, but also an entire country. How do they eat? How do they act? What do they order at a restaurant? How do they walk on the street? The littlest things that I wouldn't give a second thought to in America finally became so important.

Ordering my first sandwich in the Frankfurt airport is one of the most frightening things I have done in a while. Constant thoughts flowing through my head. Does she think I'm stupid because I can't speak German? Am I being rude? I hope I am not offending her. It's so hard to know the boundaries and customs in a country you have never been to.

As we travel around, taking city tours, visiting museums, and even eating in local restaurants around Bonn, I have learned three lessons. One, it is important to try everything. Try the language, try the food, try seeing life as how a local would and take a walk in his or her shoes. Two, ask questions. Life is different here, in customs and in actions. Learn about everything you can, from traditions to history to even something small as how boys talk to girls.  Everything is just slightly different, and its interesting to know. Three, don't be scared. Take a risk, take a chance. This is a once in a life time opportunity, so I might as well use the next twelve days to soak in everything I can and live this time to its fullest.

For now, its Bon Voyage to Berlin.
See you kids at the Brandenburg Gate for New Years!

Day 4

Although I was so excited for this trip, I admit I got a little nervous on the way over. Being alone on the flight, getting no sleep, and adjusting to the time change while trying to navigate through a foreign airport didn't make me feel any better. As cheesy as it sounds, all my anxiety melted away as soon as I saw Olaf's familiar face and seconds later met up with the rest of the group. Having such a great person to lead us around who knows the area and friends to talk to in English, and maybe a little German, was a relief. 

Now four days have already flown by and I still feel like we just got here yesterday. Until I start to think about everything we have already done! Staying in Bonn has been lovely. Exploring the town, enjoying some German food and traditional holiday drink, and even watching a traditional new year's eve movie was the perfect way to start the trip. Not to mention learning some more German history at the museum with possibly one of the best tour guides ever!

Our day trip to Cologne was just as fun and interesting. The cathedral was gorgeous and since we visited on Sunday we had the unique opportunity to actually go to mass in the cathedral. And we didn't let a little rain ruin a walking tour which included some interesting history about the city itself. Our tour of the Elde Haus was a very sobering change of pace that really made me, and I think everyone else, focus not only on the terrible events that occurred but how it affected each individual. 

I can't finish this post without mentioning our last day in Bonn today where I got to stand in on two orthopedic surgeries. That was the first for me! We also had the great experience of visiting the Museum of the History of Anaesthesia. It was a treat, especially knowing we might be the last group of the program to do it.

I have enjoyed so much from this trip already and it keeps getting better. Tomorrow, on to Berlin!

On to Berlin!

As day 4 in Germany comes to an end, I can definitely say that I have learned a lot about its Roman and medical past. It has been a blast touring through Bonn and Köln and being able to take in all of its beauty. I have never been to Europe much less out of Texas so to me these cities are amazing. I really wish we would be able to stay longer or visit these cities again. Now I’m just looking forward to New Years in Berlin.

I can also say that I can order food and be able to survive in Germany. I’ve enjoyed trying the different foods such as döner (from the street and restaurant), currywursts, wurst croissants, Berliner (jelly doughnut), lift, chocolate, and kölsch. These foods are definitely different yet still taste very good.

Being able to experience mass at the Kölner Dom was a once in a lifetime experience. Although I did not understand most of what was being said, I still felt a connection to the church and the people in being able to take part in the event. There was also strong connection to the Gestapo Prison and the people who were once in there.

I am already looking forward to the next 12-13 days in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria.

Off to Berlin!

As our time comes to a close in Bonn, I'm disappointed that we are leaving so soon (even if it is for Berlin).  It seems strange that Bonn is technically a college town.  When Dr. Wasser mentioned it, I kind of pictured a city like College Station, but nothing is further from the truth.  In both Bonn and Koln, I love that there are older elements like churches and monuments that are hundreds of years old and fresh food markets in the square, as well as the modern elements. I especially enjoyed learning about the two thousand year old history preserved beneath Bonn and Koln.  I never considered the relationship between the Roman Empire’s and Germany’s history.  

I think the best part of the past few days has been walking through Koln (which is quite possibly my favorite city in Europe) and learning the history behind each element of the city.  We certainly covered a lot of ground; my pedometer said we hit almost 20,000 steps (about 10 miles)!  I only wish we could have stayed for a few extra days!

Now that we have seen what a smaller European city is like, it will be interesting to transfer to a city like Berlin.  I feel like culture shock is imminent with the New Year’s Eve party at the Brandenburg Gate tomorrow evening, but I’m excited to experience it!  

Let the good times roll in........Bonn and Koln!!!!

Over the past week I have been able to experience Germany for the very first time; while I have traveled all over Europe, I have never come upon a culture like theirs.  I would have to describe it as almost British.  Bonn and Koln are very old cities with pasts that are connected to the very memorable Romans, but the cities have adapted into a new city vibe with old city structures.  While it is something that I did not expect to come across it is still extremely pretty.  
Today, I was also able to experience a brain surgery for the very first time!!!! It is definitely the most memorable part of the trip as of yet.  I learned not only about the brain but also the background of the anesthesia that was used to keep the patient asleep.  
All though I have been having a great time here in Germany, I am now missing some of the comforts of home like my own bed (mostly because the bed that I have been sleeping in is not that comfortable even though the hotel is gorgeous), and food from my favorite places (Fuego and Jins…Yum).  
As I get ready to leave for Berlin tomorrow I know that I will encounter some of the coolest things tom row night for New Year’s Eve, but I am kind of worried that I will not have enough room for all of the stuff that I have bought in both Italia and Germany!!! Until next time let the good times roll!!!

Off to Deutschland... FINALLY!

It is entirely surreal to be here at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport in Terminal D getting to know my new friends who will accompany me to Germany! Ever since I was in seventh grade, I have learned and studied and gained a true appreciation for the German language and culture. My teachers Frau Peterson and Frau Boshier are both Germans who grew up in Germany (and were both one of a set of twins, actually) and are two of the greatest blessings in my life. By their example, I was inspired to pursue a greater world view and consider myself a world citizen. I have missed many opportunities to study abroad in Germany as a young person, and I know that this is the best timing for me to visit, as I am just about to graduate! I am so excited to put my knowledge of the German language to practice, to meet new German friends, and to finally visit the country that my mentors call home.

This study abroad program in particular sparked my interest because of its relevance in terms of today's healthcare climate. As a future healthcare practitioner, it is more important than ever to understand not only the world we live in, but also the logistics of how citizens receive healthcare and how it is funded. In addition to submersion in the German and Austrian culture, I hope to learn how Germany's healthcare system operates and how it compares to America's, in order to better understand the environment that I will work in in the future. I hope to interact with physicians in a professional environment and maybe gain some medical knowledge, too!

Finally, I am excited to learn about German history, in particular its history in terms of medicine. I hope to learn about German and Austrian pioneers in medicine and the series of important events that shaped the medical world and our ways of thinking about medicine today. I hope to get at least some glimpses of Nazi history in Germany in addition to the rise out of Nazism and fall of the wall. Finally, I hope to learn about current events in Germany, in particular how it relates to the rest of the world.

They are calling us soon to board the plane, my first international flight ever! I am thankful for this opportunity to finally visit and learn about people who live and work in a different country, as I have been looking forward to for a long time. Deutschland, ready or not, here I come!

Waiting at the Airport

As I write this, I am sitting at the DFW airport. I have just arrived from McAllen, TX and I am waiting for the ticket counters to open. So my adventure starts today. I just experience my first flight and I am about to experience my first sleep over at an airport. 

I still cannot mentally processes that I will be flying into Germany in only a few hours. When I arrived at College Station I had always planned on studying abroad. I just can't believe that it would be my second year in college. It was a little challenging for my parents to grasp the idea of me leaving the country when they barely let me leave the city, but I am happy I applied anyways.

I am really looking forward to learning a lot, not just from the class itself but, from the different culture and people. Right now my main worry is that I did not spend enough time trying to learn German. I hope that I can get by with what I know. The food is something I am also excited to try. Besides the language, I feel ready to arrive at Frankfurt and take it all in from the moment we step out of the airplane. 

Until then, I will sit here in the airport enjoying some Netflix and trying to cram in some more German phrases.