Week Two!

This past week has been very busy. I spent last weekend hiking, visiting a food festival, and going to a fair. Then we went to Köln, which was very fun. I enjoyed the food in Köln and the architecture. Then we had several packed days of school followed by traveling to Norderney! Norderney is very quaint and beautiful. I am enjoying the air and the island style. 

I have enjoyed learning about the development of pharmaceutical drugs. I had previously had never thought about how a person would come up with a medication and found the process very interesting. 

I enjoyed learning about the Bade house as well as the Saints in medicine. It is interesting how some are more medically related and some seem almost randomly placed with an ailment. 

I am looking forward to visiting Amsterdam at the end of our time in Norderney. 

Norderney!

We had such a beautiful week in Bonn, and now we have finally made it to the long awaited trip to Norderney. I feel like I've been hearing about it since we arrived in Germany and now we get to see it for ourselves. Learning about the bade:haus has been fun, but I'm excited to have the opportunity to experience it. We also started our pharmacology class this week, which has been a great addition to the history we have already been learning. I feel like I can really center my chi in this place :) 

Tschüss!

Week 2 in Germany!

 While this week consisted of a lot of class time, we were also able to visit Cologne on Wednesday. The cathedral was unlike anything I have ever seen. It almost looked fake from the outside, and the inside was even more beautiful. After our walking tour and authentic German lunch, we stopped at one of the many ice cream shops and ate the largest parfait of ice cream I have ever seen. Afterwords, feeling bloated, a group convinced me to walk to the top of the Cathedral. I am not a fan of heights, so this experience was not easy for me. Even though I struggled through this climb, I was very glad my friends convinced me to do it because the view was incredible from the top. 

On Thursday we went on the pub crawl lead by Finn and Elisa. Due to the large number of participants, the pub crawl turned into a sort of walking and drinking tour of Bonn. Walking around town with drinks felt so strange but also freeing. We stopped at different kiosks, which are basically German gas station stores, and pubs. The crawl ended at the large lawn in front of the university. It was so nice to experience an authentic night in Bonn and to meet people from different programs. 

I have enjoyed Dr. Fajt’s pharmacology class so far. I desperately needed some help breaking down complicated journal articles and learning to understand the important pieces of the literature. The articles we have discussed thus far are very interesting. I am excited to continue her class next week.

Now we are in Norderney, which is such a cool town. We seem to be some of the only people from the US here. Last night, the owner of a local fish restaurant was so excited to practice his English with us and even face-timed his wife to tell her that there were Americans eating at his restaurant. While this was a bit strange, he was so kind and welcoming. I am excited to explore the island more and visit the sauna tomorrow. Norderney is my favorite place we have visited because it is so relaxing and the beach is my happy place.

Tschüssy!

Germany Week 02

 Cologne, Germany

I had the absolute pleasure of visiting Cologne for the second time in my life and found the cathedral to be as astounding the second time as it was the first. Unlike many of the other cathedrals I have seen in my life, this one holds a special relic that even the most infamous ones, like Notre Dame, lack. The Cologne cathedral possesses the shrine of the three wise men. It is rumored that the three wise men were buried inside the cathedral, and although it is not known for sure, the idea of it all seems surreal. The time of Christ is such a phenomenon and for there to be a lasting piece of evidence of biblical stories makes it so modern times seem so in touch with ancient times. '

Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed our time with the tour guide. He was so interesting to listen to and had very funny quips he would make here and there. I thought his recollection of the things that made Cologne the way it is today and the impact of its ancient history on its modern societal and city structure was fascinating. I never knew that Romans would build on top of the already existing foundation when they had new renovation plans and so learning that Cologne was situated on top of many Roman archeological structures interested me greatly. 

Norderney, Germany

Norderney is everything I imagined it not to be. With empty streets, that at times almost made it seem like an abandoned city, and lots of sightings of people under 90 years old, this was not the Norderney I had in mind. Moreover, the people here do not look like sauna people. Professor Wasser had excitedly taught us about the wonders of the saunas in Norderney, and although I don't know what sauna enthusiasts (Prof. Wasser) look like, the people on this island do not seem to be that. I had expected every resident to look like they spend 24 hours of the day in a bathhouse instead of inside the house sipping tea and chatting. Though there is nothing wrong with that, in fact doing those two activities are my favorite way to pass the time, I suppose I just expected the population here to not look as hip as they do. 

In addition to that, I had envisioned Norderney to be a small town that was buzzing with old people with a subdued Miami Beach vibe going on. Instead, the entire island resembles the American dream. It is very suburban and calm. Perhaps it is due to the fact that I had arrived on the weekend, a time when Germans like to be more laissez-faire, but as of right now, I have never felt more tranquil or in tune with the world around me.  

While I am too tired to join the group on the beach tomorrow morning, I am excited for what the next three days will hold for me in Norderney. I want to experience this island the way Prof. Wasser has described it: with enthusiasm and fascination for the world surrounding me. 

Bonn Week 2!!

 Week two has flown by!!

Lectures this week were very interesting. My favorite so far has been the lecture on Leonardo Da Vinci. Again, looking at this with my background in art history I was so excited to learn about the other things he did! This lecture brought back memories of going through a Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit at Moody Gardens with my parents. I remembered some of the drawings Dr Wasser showed in class but back then I was too young to understand the importance and impact Da Vinci’s work had. 

Cologne was absolutely beautiful. The cathedral was breathtaking. I honestly don’t understand how humans were able to build massive and beautiful cathedrals like that but still have little to no understanding of their own bodies and health. 

Today starts our stay in Norderney. The island is beautiful and the people here seem very friendly. We definitely are the only Americans here right now and I can tell locals don’t see Americans here very often. At dinner our waiter told us the sound of our English was “refreshing” and when we told him we were from Texas he asked how we ended up in Norderney!

I am most excited for the mud flat hike. I hope to see some fun wildlife!  

Bonn Week 2!

 This week has been nothing short of exciting and entertaining. Once I adjusted to the time difference and getting into a routine of school and life again, I am finally able to take in all that I am experiencing and truly reflect on what we have experienced so far. 

This past weekend, we took a spontaneous trip to Munich, exposing us to much of the struggles behind Deutsche Bahn and travel. Nonetheless, this short trip was unlike something I had done before. I am not usually one to say "let's go on a weekend trip to such and such." I like the comfort of home and relaxing. However, we are only in Europe on a study abroad trip once, so we have have to make the most of our time here. We ate delicious pastries and food, saw some beautiful scenery, and learned about the history of the German royalty that once lived in Munich. It is a place that I would definitely go back to in order to experience the whole city and all it has to offer. 

During the week, class always seemed to bring exciting and interesting knowledge to the table. Not only are we learning from Dr. Wasser and Dr. Fajt, but we are also learning from each other as we share stories, experiences, and our own knowledge. Our first pharmacology class set the pace for the rest of our time here, making us all excited to learn more about the development, research, testing, distribution, and economics behind pharmacology. There is so much more to it than simply pills and the creation of medications. Our history of medicine lectures were quite intriguing, as we learned about the many intricacies Leonardo Da Vinci was so accurate to identify as well as the history and science behind true German and Finnish saunas. This lecture alone made us all excited and interested to see what an actual sauna experience should be like. If we have been in an American sauna, we know these experiences to not be a true and accurate representation of authentic sauna experiences. 

I can't forget our day trip to Cologne either! I am so glad this city is so close to Bonn because it really is the perfect place to run to on a whim and enjoy every second of your time there. Stepping out of the hauptbahnhof to see the humongous cathedral really does take your breath away. This structure is unlike anything I have seen before, and its sheer magnificence almost stops you in your tracks. Not only is it beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside, with huge stained glass, relics, and catacombs. Being guided on a tour throughout Cologne and having authentic Kolsch was only a sneak peek at what Cologne has to offer, and I will certainly be returning soon. 

Lastly, as we prepare for our week in Norderney and all this beautiful island has to show, we are also gearing up for a long travel weekend to Amsterdam. Past experiences will prepare us for the coming adventures we will have along the way. I can't believe two weeks have already flown by! 

Week 2

 This week consisted mostly of getting used to the class schedule and getting into the swing of things. I learned how to use the street bahn, and got comfortable using the public transit to get around, which was super cool! We spent the week getting a tour of Bonn and a museum, as well as a lot of time finding good places to eat and shop. I also discovered a locals climbing gym, and on Saturday we went on a hike up to Löwenburg! I have realized how ingrained it is into the German culture to care about nature and the environment and spending time outdoors, which I think is so great! Next week we are going to Norderney which is our first big excursion, so that is very exciting! 

Week Two!!

    This week involved a lot more class and traveling than the last. We started the week as a typical day of classes, but afterward, we went to the opera. The show was called "Merry Widow". My roommates and I have been preparing for this the week prior. We read the entire plot at least once every day because we knew the show would be in German and wanted to understand what was going on. Overall, the show was exciting and good. I still did not understand a lot of the show, but I had a decent understanding of the general basics. Later in the week, we went to Cologne. This was an enjoyable trip with great sights. The cathedral was beautiful and not to mention, ginormous. After the city tour and a very interesting prison tour, we indulged ourselves in some delicious gelato and went to a few shops. The next day, we finally started our Applied Pharmacology class. I was looking forward to this course because I thought it would be very interesting and fun. This class so far is delightful and informational! My roommates and I also tried this Italian restaurant, which was terrific. It was so good and I will definitely be going back. We also attended the student activity Thursday night but decided to leave a little bit early to eat some Mcdonald's. I also tried this new crepe stand right by my bus stop and it was tasty. It had an entire banana in it! 

After this week, I am definitely getting used to things and city travel. I feel like we've got a steady schedule going, but more travel is to come. I am now packing for Norderny and Amsterdam and am looking forward to this next adventure and the saunas!

Week 2

I cannot believe we're done with week 2 already. Time has definitely flown by. I am constantly amazed with the diversity of this city and the food never disappoints. This week I've finally tried the Doner Sandwich and it does not disappoint. It may be one of my favorite things yet. We also went to the grand opening of Cheese Bonn and the pasta was so creamy and rich. I love love love pasta and

One of the highlights for this week was our class trip to Cologne. The cathedral right outside of the station is beautiful and it was very exciting to see all the saints that we had learned from class previously. The architecture was beautiful and I was pleasantly surprised to see the Three King's Shrine in person. The tour of the city was very enjoyable and it was nice to see the culture of Cologne. I very much enjoyed the restaurant we ate at. This was the first time I had eaten schnitzel and I'm not much of a potato lover, but those potatoes were delicious. 

We're off to Norderney tomorrow morning and I couldn't be more excited. I have heard nothing but praise for this island and I cannot wait to try out the sauna. Following Norderney is our long weekend and packing 9 days worth of clothes into a backpack is hard, but hopefully all will be well. I could not be more excited for the next week of traveling and adventures! 

Week 2 in Germany!!

    Week 2 has been just as great as Week 1! I loved traveling to Cologne and learning the history behind the city. I have slowly gotten used to the public transportation system which is great and is calming my nerves about showing up late to class. 

    Week 2 classes have been very fun as well. The lecture about the different saints has been my favorite. The saint's stories and the ways to identify them in a painting have been one of the most interesting topics we have discussed. My favorite saint we have learned about has been St. Bartholomew (the patron saint of dermatology). I just love the way he is portrayed in paintings holding his skin and a flaying knife. My second favorite saint is St. Margaret (the patron saint of childbirth). I love her story about bursting out the dragon and becoming the saint for women to pray to for successful/easy childbirth. It was also kind of neat to apply the knowledge we learned about the ways to identify the saints at the cathedral in Cologne. 

    The lecture about saunas was pretty interesting as well. I am excited to apply what we learned when going to the bade:haus. It is very interesting that there are different rules about the sauna when comparing Germany and Finland. I have never been into a sauna so I am a little nervous about how my body will react, but still very excited to experience something I have never tried.

Bonn Breakdown Week 2

This past week in the Germany Journey consisted of delicious sangria, climbing a lot of stairs, and getting to try schnitzel for the first time. A group of us found a cute little restaurant bar on the Rhine which had the best sangria I've ever had. We also got to visit the city of Cologne, or as the German call it Köln, and it was amazing. My favorite part was getting to see the view from the top of the Cologne Cathedral because I had to work for it a bit by going up about 533 steps. I was surprised as to how dizzy I got going down the staircase because it was just like walking down a non-ending spiral staircase. But it was all worth it because the view of the city was beautiful along with the view of the Rhine. We also learned a lot about the city itself from the city tour and got to go to EL-DE Haus which is a Nazi-victim memorial in a former Gestapo headquarters. I had learned a bit about the Gestapo but it was surreal seeing the cells, the writings on the walls, and the actual offices used for interrogation all in real life. 

Along with a cool day trip this week, we also got to start our first pharmacology lectures with Dr. Fajt. During the first lesson, she made us list all the drugs we could think of that we've seen or used and I didn't realize how many drugs I use in my daily life and that my family members use. It was also interesting to learn how to narrow down certain aspects of a medical article to help you figure out whether that article can be useful or not. In the continued Dr. Wasser lectures, we learned more about medical saints, I didn't know there were so many! I was extremely interested in his sauna lecture and to learn the history behind why saunas are still used today. 

We leave for our first excursion to Norderney tomorrow and I'm beyond excited. I've never been to a bath house and I'm curious to see how the mud flat hike will go because I love hiking but I've never done one in that type of setting before. I'm also just generally eager to experience all that Norderney has to offer and to see what the mud treatment will do for my skin.

Tschüss for now!

Bonn Breakdown Week 1

 My first week in Bonn has already been lifechanging. Getting off the plane, sitting in the Frankfurt airport, I felt like I was in limbo. It never hit me, and I don't think it still has hit me, that I am in Germany. Walking around the first day in Bonn felt like a dream. I loved looking at all the shops and smelling all the food. The weather has probably been the best difference so far because I can walk outside and not immediately pop a sweat like I do in Texas. My hostess has been amazing. The food she prepares for dinner has been all delicious so far. My favorite dish she's prepared has a vegetable called kohlrabi that I've never had before. She has been very welcoming and has given us good suggestions for weekend activities.

Of course, this is a study abroad so there is school involved. I've learned about prehistoric medicinal practices and how that has impacted ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian medicines. I didn't know that human autopsy was forbidden at that time since they had record of human anatomy from ancient Greeks. I was also surprised as to how becoming a physician turned from being an educated experimenter to just being able to recite what those in the past have already written. I'm enjoying all the class material so far and am excited to also start pharmacology this coming week. 

After just one week here, I feel like I've been here for months. I can't wait for what else to come!

Ciao, bis spater!

Germany Week 01

I think there are a lot of things I didn’t expect to do in Germany and one of that was falling in love with the country. I like to find the beauty in every place I go to, but at the same time I feel as if I only take my experiences at face value. Moreover, I did not expect to enjoy my host family as I would have presumed. At first, there was this overwhelming feeling before I met her about how it would be so strange and awkward to live with someone I don’t know in a country I don’t know. Although the more I think about my anxious feelings, the more I realize it’s because I’ve never set foot in a country I don’t know the language of. 

As a person who is trilingual and with a family that speaks multiple languages, traveling to multiple countries had never been too difficult or scary due to us knowing the languages to keep us suspended and safe in the country. Germany is a whole different ballgame for me.

Back to my thoughts, I love my host mom. She is the sweetest person alive. Although sometimes I do feel awkward having to tell her if I like her cooking or not, I do love the fact that as I come home from school, she always takes the time out of her day to sit with me while I have dinner and talks about mine and her day. I enjoy listening to her stories and the adventures she used to have. She had experienced so much before me and I truly do inspire to be as well traveled as she has been.

Class has been interesting so far and I’m really loving the fact that it is my side interests (history) combined with my main interests (medicine). While most of what I have learned pertains to European medicine, it has been really cool to see the crossing of the techniques with Asian ones. It makes me feel in tuned with the world seeing how no matter how far apart certain practices takes place, the medicinal knowledge still managed to travel to Asia or Asia coming up with the same ideas despite probably never meeting a European.

This weekend I traveled to Cologne and had a wonderful time with my friend. It startled me at first seeing how it was mainly a party city as some would say. However, with the comforting presence of my friend I managed to feel more at ease.

First week in Germany

 Hallo!

So much has happened in just one week. My previous blog feels like ages ago. The plane ride and bus to Bonn was all a little tiring, but we arrived in Bonn with beautiful weather! Everyone said it was the best weather all year, so I guess we brought the Texas sun with us. Meeting my host family was definitely a bit intimidating at first, and I felt a little out of place, but we are slowly getting to know each other more and are having some great conversations. We always discuss interesting topics about the current and past history of Germany and the world and it is very interesting. One of the most interesting things I’ve learned since being here is the history of western and eastern Germany. I knew that both sides were only reunited recently, but after going to the history museum and after talking with Eva, my host mom, I really understood that there is still a divide between the two areas just because of how the communist ruling affected the people, and I feel like it parallels some aspects of history in the Unites States as well.

Aside from that, living in Germany has definitely been more difficult than I thought. I thought with a few phrases, I would be ok to order things and get around, but it is much hard than I thought to just be thrown into a new country that speaks a different language because it’s so much harder to read and understand basic signs or phrases. However, even though the learning curve is big, I am pushing through it!

I’m looking forward to next week and to getting ready for Nordeny! 

Tchüss!

Bonn Week 1

Week 1 in Bonn!

This week was a great time spent exploring the city of Bonn. I got adjusted to the time difference after our first day of travel which was rough. After orientation I felt back to normal and excited for my time here to begin. This week in class we started with an overview of the early chronological years of the History of Medicine. The Humorous theory was interesting to me in which they believed humans had four fluids inside them and health was a balance of these fluids. This weekend Kendall and I got to take more time to walk around downtown Bonn and go into shops and restaurants. We went to the food truck festival today and had some delicious honey chicken. Also this week we started Tai Chi lessons, I did not know what to expect but I definitely enjoyed it and felt more stabilized after the session. 

Week 1 - Hallo from Bonn!

Hallo from Bonn!

Adapting to Change

I have been in Bonn nearly one week. So far, I have learned lots about Germany, others, and myself. The first few days were challenging in dealing with jet lag and adjusting to a new schedule. In the past, I have had trouble adapting to change, but this time was a bit easier. It is so nice having Trinity and my fellow host home sisters to figure things out with! Our first challenges included adapting to our host home, learning to use public transportation (in German of course), ordering food and making purchases, and scheduling free time. All of these mundane, daily tasks took on a greater meaning this week. Humility is crucial, and it is essential to rely on others and ask for help!

Our Host Home Familie!

Trinity, Grace, Lily, and myself live with Mutter (our host home mom) in her neighborhood of Hozlar, which is across the Rhein from the university. Her house is huge! Trinity and I share a room upstairs, while Lily and Grace share a room in the basement. Mutter has really eclectic decorations and lots of natural light in the home. There is no AC here - the windows are always open unless it is cold at night. This reminded me of California homes. Trinity and I share a bathroom, and it is quite different from the bathrooms in the states! Germans are very conscious of how much energy they use (this has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine), so the shower consists of one handheld nozzel. Mutter rents out one room in the basement to a woman and one room upstairs to a man named Jonas (we have not met either of them - we jokingly refer to them as 'the man upstairs' and 'the woman in the basement'). 

Mutter is so sweet and helpful. She makes us dinner every night after class, and all five of us sit at the table for hours and chat. She does not like to waste food at all, so we have to stuff our faces with German staples such as spätzle, schnitzel, and fresh ederberries (strawberries). She used to be a German teacher and teaches us common phrases and words. We quickly realized that Mutter knows best - all of her recommendations are the best! She knows all the best bus stops for our travels, bakeries to get fresh bread and coffee, and biergartens to relax at on the Rhein. 

Living with Trinity has been so fun. I feel relaxed and calm navigating a new place alongside her and our other Schwestern (sisters), Lily and Grace. We have had limited cell service, so each time we go out in Bonn, all we end up doing is drinking a Kolsch and talking. I have been enjoying all of our funny, deep, and bonding conversations immensely. 

Classes

So far we have had four History of Medicine lectures from Dr. Wasser. They have been extremely thought-provoking and informative. Particularly, I find it intriguing that the entirety of the history of medicine is deeply intertwined with religion. It was not until the modern times that experimentation and secular medicine dominated the practice. Either way, the lectures have been wonderful. Trinity and I immediately dissect the philosophical, theological, and moral implications of all that we learn after class as we walk through Bonn looking for lunch. Additionally, Dr. Wasser loves Tai Chi, so we have been learning that practice as well. He also brings his golden retriever to class. She is sooo cute and reminds me so much of Roux. We have had one German class to learn basic sayings, and next week we begin Applied Pharmacology with Dr. Fajt. I cannot wait to keep learning!

Some of our Adventures!

This week has been the week of trying all the foods and drinks of Germany. Each class day lends us an hour for lunch, so we have been eating at new places in town each day. We've tried pasta, bakeries, currywurst, and gelato. We have also had many beers at Pendal (our favorite spot) and sangrias on the Rhein. 

In addition to getting settled in our new host home, we have explored a lot! We went to the Bonn Street Food Festival and got yummy sandwiches (followed by gelato at Teatro), and we went hiking in the middle of nowhere (some town that is named something along the lines of Margaritaville lol). The hike was SO much fun - we went with lots of the girls from our program. The nature was peaceful and divine. 

Trinity and I have been spending lots of time praying at Bonn Münster, the cathedral in Bonn. There is a crypt with perpetual adoration right next to our university. I love that I can practice my faith even in the most random place across the world. This Sunday, we went to mass at noon and celebrated Pentecost. The mass was all in German, but it was incredibly beautiful. During the psalm, rose petals were released from the ceiling! I felt so in awe of our faith.

Danke!

I cannot wait to see what the next days have in store! This upcoming week, we are going to an opera, travelling to Cologne, going on a Pub Crawl, and of course spending more time getting to know each other and ourselves better. 

Week 1 Recap

 Today is Sunday, May 28th and we have just completed our first week here in Bonn, Germany! I am already having such an amazing time and loving this country. 

    This week we started off with orientation and I started to get to know the other girls in the program and also get to know the city. My host mom took me on the train for my first day of school, but I still struggled a bit to find my way back. Finally, with the help of Google Maps, I have been able to master taking the train to and from school. It has been challenging navigating a new place where I don't speak the language, but I am gaining confidence in myself and learning lots of new things. Now, I am a lot more comfortable taking public transportation and other things like going to the store and ordering at restaurants.

    Living with my host family has been such a great experience even though I have only been here a week! They make me feel so welcome and they make such amazing food. So far we have had pasta with shrimp and asparagus, Gulasch with pomme frites, bratwurst with veggies, Mediterranean pitas with falafel, and more. I also was very excited to have dinner with my host parents and their kids who live in other areas of Bonn, where I really got to feel like a part of the family. We even planned to go hiking to the "Dragon Slayer" Castle called Drachenfels over the weekend. 

    Some of this week's highlights have been getting drinks at Pendel, hiking to Drachenfels with my host family, and hiking at Lowenburg with the other girls on my trip. I am already having so much fun on this trip and I'm looking forward to what we have planned in the future, especially going to Norderney next week!

Week One in Bonn!!

My first week in Germany was excellent! 

First of all, the first week of class has been great. It is incredible to learn how far we have come in medicine. One of the most interesting things we have learned in class has been how people used to strongly believe in the word of Galen. It is crazy how he used to be such a strong influence. When Dr. Wasser explained how people would be looking at proof he was wrong they would refuse to believe Galen was incorrect. Another one of my favorite things we have learned in class was how different the Hippocratic Oath used to be (like having to take the oath to Greek gods). I have only learned very few things about the history of medicine in the past in high school, but going such in-depth has been enlightening and I am amazed at how we used to experiment with medicine.

Germany overall has been a great experience so far. I loved visiting the Rhine River, the Biergarten, and the shops in the market square. I have also loved hanging out with my host mom and trying different German foods. One thing I need to still figure out is the public transportation system. I hope by the end of the trip I will be easily able to navigate the city with public transportation, but who knows what will happen.

Lastly, I have been able to go to Bruges, Belgium which was so fun. Hannah and I did a chocolate-making class which was just a great experience in Bruges as Belgium is very well known for its chocolate. The city of Bruges had such amazing architecture and I just thought the city was very beautiful.

I can't wait to go to opera, see Cologne, and go to Norderney this week!!

Week One!!

 The first day after flying to Bonn was rough. The plane ride was not horrible, but I did not sleep. Sitting in the airport and waiting to sleep and the jet lag for the first few days was terrible. After getting a tour of the city and learning how to use the bus and train I felt much more aware and ready for this adventure. The food from the market square was delicious and there was a great variety. I tried Greek, Turkish, and even some produce from the produce stand. On our first free weekend, a bunch of us hiked 6 miles total to see castle ruins at the top of a mountain! The next day a few of us met at a food festival along the rhein, where I tried a really delicious BBQ pork bao. My roommates and I found our favorite ice cream place so far. It is conveniently at one of our bus stops on the way home. 

Overall, this week has been a lot of learning. This includes the classes themselves, overcoming the language barrier, and the new culture. The few classes we have attended have been very interesting and I really enjoyed our group trip to the house of history. I have learned a bit more of the German language, but it is still difficult to remember and catch up. However, most people already know English, which makes ordering food a lot easier. Our host mom was very thrilled to hear that we were taking a German class and had taught us new words herself. One thing that surprised me here is that we have to pay for the public bathroom. This is very interesting to me, but I do enjoy seeing and smelling the fresh bakeries on every street. I love the architecture of the cities and how we go from being in the city to out in the neighborhood with lots of fields and trees. I am very excited about our next few trips to Cologne, Nordeny, and my personal trips to Amsterdam. 

Week #1

 This first week has been nothing but surprises and new adventures. Some of my favorite things have been walking through the market and people watching. I'm in awe of the diversity and the culture. I love trying new foods and the market has such a variety. The very first thing I tried was the frites and they so good. We also tried the souvlaki pita and this is my favorite thing by far. One thing that has been a challenge is ordering food. It's much different than in America and it is especially hard when the entire menu is in German. 

This weekend we did a day trip to Brugge and this is one of the most breathtaking places ever. The cobblestones and old building make it all the more beautiful. My favorite activity that we went did was the chocolate making workshop. We had the opportunity to make both mendiant and praline and it definitely brought out my inner chocolatier. This week has been a whirlwind of fun and I cannot wait for next week! 

First week in Bonn!

We are officially done with week one!! This week has been awesome! Sophia and I got all settled into our host mom's apartment and she is the most adorable and kind woman I have ever met. She's been cooking us yummy meals and taking very good care of us. 

The first week of our history of medicine class was pretty cool. During high school history was one of my least favorite topics and I haven't had to take any history classes while at Tamu but the history of medicine class has actually been very interesting so far. We learned a lot about Galen and how he was this amazing physician and learned about his journal/book that had a bunch of information on how he thought the body worked and pumped blood. I especially found it very interesting that everyone just assumed he was right even though they figured out that he wasn't, it was a very captivating story. I'm also looking forward to our pharmacology class starting next week!

On Saturday, a few of the girls and I went on a hike to see the Löwenburg castle. The castle was very pretty, the hike was nice, the weather was amazing, and the nature was BEAUTIFUL. Overall a very good day and we went to a super cute restaurant on the way back down.

Today I went to a food festival with some of the other girls in the program and it was a lot of fun. I got beef street tacos and little mini pancakes. I think the pancakes were my favorite but all of the food looked so good and I really wanted to eat everything there, I had trouble deciding what exactly to get. 

Overall, Germany so far has been a dream and it's amazing to be here, I can't wait for the upcoming week with our excursion to Cologne and Norderney super soon as well!

A week in Bonn!

 Oh my freaking gosh! I feel like this week went by so fast! Bonn is absolutely beautiful and there is so much to explore and see. This first week was all about getting adjusted to classes and exploring Bonn. 

Every day after class a group of us walked around the city and always found something fun to do or see. I really enjoyed walking along the Rhine after class and getting to-go drinks from a Mexican restaurant. I think the best part of the week was definitely going on a hike and visiting the Lowenburg castle! The hike was gorgeous and we even took a break to do Tai Chi in the woods!

This week has definitely exceeded my expectations and I personally feel like I have grown in so many ways already I can't wait to see what next week has in store for us! 

First week in Germany!

 I have learned a lot about Germany and myself this week.  Living in a different country has definitely been interesting and challenging. The most challenging part so far has been learning how to use public transportation. I thought the Aggie Bus was confusing before coming to Germany. With some help from friends and practice, I have become more confident using the bus and trains. It has also been difficult to be in a country where I don’t know the language. Sometimes I get embarrassed when I pronounce a German word wrong and often I give up and ask if they speak English. Despite this language barrier everyone has been so kind and excited when they hear I am from Texas. 

This weekend a group of us went to Munich. We went to an Oktoberfest festival and it was so cool to be a part of the Bavarian culture. I definitely want to go back to Munich because there was so much to see.

I have enjoyed our history of medicine lectures so far. I particularly liked learning about ancient, natural medicines made of plants and herbs. I am interested so see how this concept of natural treatment will be incorporated in our study trip to Norderney and our pharmacology lectures next week.

Turmstrasse 14

 

Halo! 

Only one week in and so many new experiences! Jasey and I moved into the apartments, found new places to eat and drink, and new beverages to try, figured out how to ride the buses, and learned a little bit of German. Today we went to the street food festival and I had some really yummy tacos. I'm really enjoying my time here, so far it has exceeded my expectations. I truly underestimated how much I'd learn in such a short time. I'm looking forward to see what other new things I learn in the next seven days.

Tschüss

Germany Week 1 Adventures

 Hey guys!! 

Happy one week in!!! I’m currently sitting on the ICE train back from Munich thinking about how much I have learned this week. 

Having gotten to Germany a week ago, I finally feel accustomed to the different time zone, using cash in the form of euros, and the sun setting at 9:30 every night. The biggest thing to get used to in my opinion was the public transportation. Before this my knowledge of public transport was limited to the 22 Excel Aggie bus. Similarly, Lila and I went to Munich this weekend, and on Friday trying to navigate all the train stops and changes made us unsure if we would ever actually get there because all the room for error. When we finally got there and saw our friends it was truly a miracle and we were so excited, and now we consider ourselves pros at the train.

Munich was such a cool city and the people there were so nice. They all loved that we were from Texas and wanted us to tell them all about America. I thought it was interesting most of the people we talked to had done an exchange year in high school in America so it was cool to hear their experience. My favorite part of the whole weekend was a mini Oktoberfest festival. We all dressed up in lederhosen and dirndls and ate pretzels and brautwurst, and drank beer. Munich was 10/10 everyone should go if they get the chance!! 

However, I am excited to go back to the much smaller and slow paced city of Bonn and continue learning about the history of medicine. My favorite thing we have learned so far is Tai chi whenever we finished it on Wednesday, I actually felt like I was floating, and I was so relaxed.

Looking into next week, I am so excited to go to the opera, Nordeney, begin learning pharmacology!

Thanks for reading!!!

-Ava Brown

Maia’s Adventure week 1

 This week has been a doozie that’s for sure. The start of classes has been an exciting experience. I’ve never been very interested in history before, but these past few lectures I have never been more captivated. Learning about Galen and his unfortunate theories, or the arabic translation of his works and the problems that come from that will forever stay with me. I’m excited to start our pharmacology classes next week and the ins and outs of its benefits. 

I have put myself on a mission to eat as many different types of cuisine as possible while I’m here. My current favorite meal has been the döner (a must have in germany) I’m excited for our next german class because I am lacking in the ordering food department. 

This weekend, some of the girls and I treckend down to München for the weekend. If anyone has questions about public transportation, we are basically experts at this point. My favorite part of this weekend was our trip to the Residenz, which was the palace of the bulvarian royals. The architecture was astounding and left my jaw dropped on multiple occasions. I was telling Hailey that it is nice to appreciate structures like these because we don’t have 500 year old building in our young country. I hope to come back to München one day because I feel we barely scratched the surface of sites to see in München. 

History of Medicine week 1!

 Wow this week has really flown by. This experience so far has created a mix of emotions as we adjust and learn how to do life in another country.

Germany is like nothing I have experienced. For one, it is beautiful whether you are in the city or the countryside. And it only takes a couple minutes to go from city to country side, giving many opportunities to experience various settings. Life also seems so much slower here, as people in the middle of the week will casually be out at the market or leisurely walking the streets. I love how much rest is taken seriously, which is something we really saw as we travelled to Munich our first weekend. Whether rest includes active or inactive things, Germans will take the time to take some time off to themselves on the weekends. 

The concept of the other and the transformative potential of this trip has really stuck with me this week. With this being the topic of our first HoM lecture, I was able to get my mind in the right headspace to be open and welcoming to new opportunities and to remain present as I experience these new things. 

This week has been a whirlwind, but I’m excited to see where the remaining weeks take us! I can’t wait for Cologne and Norderney coming up on our schedule here pretty soon. 

Beautiful Bonn!

 My first week in Germany is complete!

Bonn is a very beautiful city. I have been loving how bright and green everything is here. I love walking around Bonn and finding new places to hangout. It's been very refreshing to use reliable public transportation since there's nothing like this in Texas.

I have really been enjoying Dr. Wasser's History of Medicine class. I was surprised to see how much material has been overlapping with the AP Art History class I took in high school. In this class we also learned about the Code of Hammurabi but we never talked about the laws on it that dealt with physicians. It's been interesting to use a medical lens to look at pieces of history I'm already familiar with. 

I'm very excited to go to Cologne next week, I'm looking forward to touring more museums!

Deutschland ist wunderschön

Germany is so incredibly beautiful. I've been to lovely places in Texas but they by and large do not match the scenery here. I've tried several different types of food including: Turkish doner, bratwurst, German ice-cream, and more. I have enjoyed walking around Bonn. 

The material we have been learning in History of Medicine is interesting! I had previously heard of the four humors in AP Psychology in high school, but they made it seem as if it was a short fad. I had no idea it was the prevailing idea for a long time. It seems ridiculous by the standards of today.

I am grateful for Galen's work but it is kind of crazy that he was considered the genius in his area but he hadn't done a single human dissection. I am glad that we have determined that our livers are not lobed like a dogs. 

Headed to Germany!

Today I am headed to Germany to begin my study abroad program, History of Medicine! I am starting this journey with an open mind and minimal expectations. I have experienced very little German culture, so I am excited to see how my love for biology and human medicine is interwoven in this country's rich history. I hope to learn lots of German, travel skills, and history! I am also looking forward to developing friendships and relationships, both with fellow A&M students and native Germans.

I signed up for this study abroad primarily to see another facet of the world. I love how history, philosophy, religion, culture, and art influence the study of medicine. I know I will become a better student in medicine through understanding the world and human beings in a fuller depth. 

Trinity and I are headed to Frankfurt from Houston! We grabbed a glass of vino before takeoff and are so excited to get to Germany with fellow aggies. 

Off to Germany!

My excitement continues to grow as I wait for my flight to Frankfurt. Both excited and nervous, I cannot wait to get to Bonn! I feel so grateful that what started as Ava’s exciting idea is finally becoming a reality. I am so excited to get to know everyone on this trip and learn about the German culture. I have never traveled internationally alone, so this is a new experience for me. Even though I am not sure what is in store for this trip, I hope to gain a new perspective of the world from traveling in Europe. I think it will be interesting to have an educational experience and take classes abroad. This trip is unlike anything I have done before, and I can’t wait to get started! 

Germany Here I Come!

 I am currently sitting on the plane waiting for it to take off. I am so excited to study abroad in Germany but also nervous because I don’t really know what to expect. Back in January when Lila and I planned this, I never thought that this day would come. Now that I am here I couldn’t be more excited to explore a new part of the world while meeting new people and creating memories together that will last a life time! 

Awaiting Departure

I’m currently sitting in the IAH Airport as I await boarding. I’m feeling nervous, excited, and curious all at once. While Germany has been on my need-to-visit list I have a feeling it should have been added a long time ago! Here’s to all the adventures that await me :). 

I expect a lot of things out of myself from this program. Especially as a pre-med student I’m highly anticipating all the knowledge I will soon acquire and all the new people I will encounter that may teach me more about empathy, patience, and medicine. I’m very excited for all the excursions and I’m hoping that after this study abroad, I may be able to figure out problems on my own and know how to be more independent!

All of these things are the reasons why I signed up for this opportunity and I am more than sure it will live up to my expectations and beyond that! 

Pre-departure

 After a slightly stressful night and afternoon, I am finally packed and headed to the airport! I had a small going away party with my family last night, and everyone is excited to see where this journey takes me. I am currently in line to check my bag (hopefully it is not over weight 😬), and anxious to get to Germany. During this program, I hope I get to meet a lot of new people and experience a whole new culture. This will be the first time I am traveling abroad for such a long period of time, so it’s exciting but also a bit nerve-racking. I really hope to travel and learn a lot about myself over the trip.

Hoping for a safe and smooth trip to Bonn!

- Olivia Davis

The Adventure's Beginning

 My adventure began at the Houston airport, when my Dad dropped me off at the terminal. This was my first time going to the airport all by myself, and I felt a little nervous that something could go wrong. Although I am dreading the 9 hour flight ahead of me, I am excited to embark on this journey without needing someone to help me along the way. Almost immediately upon entering the airport, I ran into Sophia, another student on the program with me! We were able to go through security together and found a place to sit, where I am now writing this blog post.

The main reason I chose to go on this program is because my family is German, so I have always thought that I might want to move to Germany after I graduate from A&M. However, I don't feel very confident in my German skills, so I hope that living with a host family and studying in Germany will allow me to grow more confident in my second language. Along with this, I want to try and make friends with other Germans my age, because so far the only German practice I've had is with my Mom and Oma.

Secondly, I have always known that I wanted to study abroad, even before I came to A&M. My parents met studying abroad, so you might say that it is literally in my genes to seek out this kind of adventure! While I have a vague idea of what is planned on this trip, I hope to have many diverse experiences, and meet as many new people as possible. 

Ts & Gs,

Cassandra

Airport Lounging

     After saying goodbyes to my family and boyfriend I was lucky enough to find Cassandra. It's my first time leaving the country without my family and I couldn't be more excited and nervous all at once. Flying gives me horrible anxiety but luckily Cassandra is a seasoned flyer and has been helping me calm down as we made our way through TSA and found our gate. I have a lacrosse ball in my backpack that I use to roll out my back and hip muscles (I recently found out I have a messed up hip flexor) however TSA didn't like this lacrosse ball and my bag got pulled to be searched. After the TSA agent pulled the ball out and examined it, he asked me what it was, laughing slightly when I told him it's just a lacrosse ball. 

    We still have about an hour until our plane boards. I'm feeling pretty nervous since I don't fly very often but I know soon these anxious thoughts will be pure excitement. I can't wait to meet my host family. I'm looking forward to this new cultural experience. I can't wait to see how this trip will change my life and help me grow as an adult in this world. 

Cheers to six whole weeks of new experiences!

Waiting for my plane!!

 I am currently sitting at my gate waiting for my plane to get here at the Airport in Austin, TX. I am super excited about my flight but also nervous because I have never traveled alone before at all. My family and I travel internationally a lot so I am very familiar with this airport it's just a very different experience now. 

I am honestly pretty nervous mostly because I have never flown alone before and I didn't sign up for this trip with any friends. But I'm really excited to get to know the girls and I'm sure we will have a super fun time!

It was difficult to say goodbye to my parents at the gate and felt really weird that they weren't joining me for this trip. But, I am so excited to get to Germany and can't wait for the upcoming adventure!! 

D15 - DFW Airport

My dad just dropped me off at DFW Airport, a place I've probably been to a least 100 times. This time feels a little different. It's my first international flight without my family. Pre-departure is filled with excitement and a little bit of nervousness. I am excited to go to places I've never been before, make new friends, and learn about the culture. I am also a little nervous for some of the same reasons, going to a place I've never been, and making new friends. It's all about perspective :)  I expect this experience to be eye opening, and enlightening, and I hope to have experiences in Germany that I can remember for the rest of my life. Jasey and I are gonna hang here until we board!

Pre-Departure

 

Kendall and I just got through security and are sitting at our gate waiting to board. I am a little nervous as this is my first international trip and the longest flight I have been on. I am planning to sleep the whole flight if possible so I can wake up in the morning in Germany. 

I am expecting to learn some of the language and culture while in Germany. I don't think I'll get the opportunity again to stay in a different country for a long amount of time like this trip so I want to make the most of it. I am most looking forward to our excursion to Nordeney Island. I have signed up for the Hero's journey because I think it is a once in a lifetime experience and I hope that it will broaden my perspective through experiencing a different culture.

T-24 Hours

 I can't believe that in less than 24 hours I will ACTUALLY BE in Germany! This trip has been in the making for over a semester and it has been something I have been looking forward to all year! 

I honestly don't really know what to expect. I think I will be more excited once I actually land and get off the plane. As of right now, there are a lot more nerves than excitement, likely due to the fact that I have never traveled internationally alone. 

I believe that traveling and immersing yourself in other cultures and new experiencies shifts your persepctive and opens your eyes in many different and unique ways.  Everyone that I have talked to has said that their study abroad experience was one of, if not the best aspect of their college journey. 

Althought all of the unknowns are scary and stomach-twisting, I think that adds to the excitment of the whole experience and I cant wait to see what the next 6 weeks hold!

Godbye Houston and Hello Frankfut!

Airport Thoughts

 As I'm sitting here waiting for the airplane in my terminal, my heart won't stop racing. If I'm being honest, saying bye to my Mom at the airport was harder than saying goodbye for college. I'm excited to see where this trip will take me and the friends that I will make on the way. I'm very excited to meet my host family, as my host mom has already promised a great first meal (and gluten free as well :)) Ever since I was little, I have always had a travel bug that I haven't been able to shake. Hopefully this trip will scratch that itch a bit.

    On this trip I hope to learn more about medicine practices and possible career tracts that I would not have known about from staying in the U.S. I have already begun to learn new things, like how large DFW is. Seriously, I thought I was lost walking in here. I have to restrain myself from buying coffee, so I can sleep peacefully on the plane. I have zero clue as to how these next weeks are going to be like but I am ecstatic nonetheless. See y'all in the motherland.  

Next stop: Germany!

    Today's the day! In a couple hours, I will be on a plane to Frankfurt to start my summer abroad in Germany! The days leading up to this trip have been nerve-racking especially since I hadn't heard from my host family until two days ago. There were some technical difficulties and neither of us was receiving emails from each other, but I finally received my letter from my host family and I'm beyond excited to meet my host family Annette and Stephan and their kids and dogs! (I'm especially excited to meet their dogs since I will be missing my own pets very much on this trip.)

    I wanted to come on this trip because I have always loved to travel and experience different cultures, and I think that studying abroad is a great opportunity to do so. I also am looking forward to growing my confidence and having my own personal growth during this trip. I've been a little nervous about coming on this trip not having known anyone previously, but I know I will meet so many great people and I'm hoping to make lifelong friends.

  Next stop: Germany!

Crossing the Pond

Tomorrow is the start of the Germany History of Medicine Program! While I’ve traveled internationally before, I’ve never done so alone, so I am slightly nervous. Packing went more smoothly than expected, I sincerely hope I don’t forget anything! I am excited to see the differences between the United States and Germany. I am also interested in seeing what similarities there are! I am especially interested in seeing how healthcare differs between the two. I can’t wait to get started. Wish me luck!

The Germany Journey Begins

 Today's the day!! I'm beyond excited and a little nervous to finally start my journey to Germany. I've never flown internationally before by myself and I've never been to Europe, so this is all new to me. I'm excited to finally go somewhere new and experience a whole new culture. Alongside the different food and architecture, I'm especially interested in getting to live with a native German. My host seems very sweet and welcoming, and I can't wait to meet her and learn more about her. Lastly, I'm very intrigued with getting learn about the history of medicine in an older country that actually came up with some practices that are utilized today. 

Getting to immerse myself in a new country is the adventure I always knew I wanted to take and I finally get to start it today! Wish me luck and Auf Wiedersehen for now!

On the Way to Germany

 I am super excited about this journey of mine. I look forward to immersing myself in new cultures and exploring new adventures. I have been looking forward to this trip since January and now it is happening. Here I am in the car driving to the airport. I am counting down the hours until I am in Germany. 

I expect to try many new foods and learn about the history of Germany. More importantly, I will be learning about the history of medicine in Germany. I am very intrigued by this and am looking forward to it as well. I am a little nervous about the unexpected, but I guess it is just part of the experience. 

Headed to Germany

  I signed up for the Hero Journey’s program because I want to experience a different culture other than my own. I am excited to meet new people and explore countries I’ve never seen before. I have always wanted to go to Europe and this program gave me the amazing opportunity to explore Europe with my best friend. 

My expectations of the program are to just give me the opportunity to learn more about a countries culture and allow me to fully be immersed in the experience. Plus my sister has done a study abroad trip and told me that is was one of the best experiences she had done in college so I hope it is as great as she says it is.

On My Way!

I am super excited for this trip, but at the same time I am nervous as this will be the first time I am flying alone on a plane. There are a mix of emotion, but excitement is by far the biggest. My expectations for this trip is to learn more about European culture, the history of medicine, and to have fun. I cannot wait to travel to London and Paris. I want this to be an eye-opening experience as well as a time where I can explore and be adventurous. I signed up for this program because I was always interested in participating in a study abroad program and this was perfect for me since I have always wanted to travel to Europe. I cannot wait to learn and experience new things. 

The Journey to Germany

 Wow the day is upon us. We are headed to Germany today! There are so many mixed emotions that come with the preparation for travel. I have never gone to Europe before, and traveling there by myself has definitely sprung some nerves. But more than anything, I am extremely excited for a new experience and to make some new and unique memories. What better a time than now do we have to go and travel abroad with our school. 

There are so many unknowns. What will we see? Who will we interact with? What kind of experiences will we have? What is the weather like? So many questions that I’m sure will be answered in due time.

At the moment, I am highly anticipating Vienna, as many of my friends that have travelled abroad deceive the architecture as being grand and beautiful. I also plan to hopefully make it to Amsterdam. I have only ever heard positive and raving reviews of this city. 

I will be on the plane soon enough and off to Germany in just a few hours. Germany here we come!! 

Em's Week 6: Berlin and Bye!

 I remember making my schedule digitized on Google calendar prior to this trip and thinking, 'Oh wow, by the time I get to Berlin, this trip will have almost ended.' So, when we rolled into the city, I was so eager to see it, the history, the people, the place, but I was also sad that I knew the trip would be coming to an end. 

Berlin lived up to all of my expectations. The food was delicious. The tour I had of the city with Ryan really had the history of Berlin unfold before my eyes. Seeing the book burning memorial made me feel as though I was walking through my history classes. Seeing checkpoint Charlie with my own eyes made me feel as though I entered any cold war movie I grew up watching. Walking through the disorienting Holocaust memorial made me realize how easily these people watched their loved ones disappear. I also learned about the oppression of the gypsies and political opponents of the time, which was new to me! 

Also, the museums we visited were incredible too. Seeing the natural history taxonomic collection was awesome. I've never seen such a collection. The musical history museum was so cool. I grew up playing piano and violin, but to see a man be able to pick up and play any instrument in the museum for us that he would like to play, blew me away. You could tell he put in his 10,000 hours! Lastly, visiting Sachsenhausen will be something I will always remember. It was truly an experience that humbled to my core and made me understand the precious gift of life and our call to protect humanity.

When we had a break, Jenna's mom had asked her why she hadn't seen the Berlin wall covered in art. So, we set out to find the gallery, and walking through the art was amazing. To see something that once stood for oppression now stand for justice and peace was beautiful. Also, I loved getting to see one of the first veterinary anatomical dissection classrooms!

Lastly, spending our last night eating dinner together, passing stories and jokes, and just celebrating was the sweetest way to spend the night. Also, the karaoke bar we went to afterwards was fun too :)

The end of the beginning

 I am writing this last part of the blog about 4 days after I have come back to the United States. I have gotten over the euphoria of just being back home, and I simply miss a lot of the aspects of Germany and Europe. The train rides along the Rhine every day, the Solo Qui gelato, the meals with my host family, and the weekend trips. Life here in the United States seems a little lackluster, but I am really trying to just look for those small little moments to hold on to just as I did in Germany. That is the perspective that I have gathered from this trip to Germany. Also, I have learned that I need to strive for new experiences. Do with my life what I want to instead of being so cautious.

Now I will get into detailing my last week in Germany. The river cruise of the Rhine was a very nice and peaceful moment. The tour of the Marksburg castle offered some great views of the valley and the whole of the area surrounding the castle. I really enjoyed the tour of the castle, and the rushing down the hill to get to the train on time was quite funny yet exhilarating. The trip to Trier involved one of my last complications involving the DB, a service I have grown to love yet also violently criticize at times. the trip to Trier was an interesting one as I began to see a different perspective than I usually get from my similar BIMS colleagues. Either way, the project was a good exercise in interdisciplinary cooperation that I hope will guide me in my academic pursuits later in my life. The last day in Bonn was a bit anticlimactic as the Rhine walk was enjoyable yet not out of this world. That night is when the interesting started. I was all packed up and about ready to get to sleep and awake early for the train ride when I felt a sudden nausea develop. I felt a need to rush to the restroom which I satisfied, and you can probably guess what happened next. Anyways, I didn't get much sleep that night, but I was determined to get to Berlin, so I woke up and dragged myself to the train station in Bonn with the help of my host mom. The next 10 hours or so of travel and waiting were agonizing, but I eventually made it to the hotel room in Berlin where I subsequently slept for around 15 of the next 17 hours. This refreshed me and I was able to do most of the activities on the second day. I was sad to miss the walking tour of Berlin on the first day, but I simply had to. I'm gonna be honest, Berlin was not my favorite place to be partly because of the whole stomach situation. It felt like a very anticlimactic ending to an amazing trip, but it made me more willing to come home and see my family.

I had to take an overnight train from Berlin to Frankfurt  with 3 other people because of a cancelled flight, but we made it to the Frankfurt airport at 2 AM. We had to wait many hours for our flights, but it ended up working out. I arrived in Houston, saw my parents and they took me back to San Antonio where at about 10 PM I promptly passed out on the couch and woke up early in the morning. Just like that I was back in my element, and the trip was over. I am sad it is over, but I am so glad I was able to take part in this amazing opportunity.

Here are 3 pictures without context. Try and find out what they mean.

Berlin

Being back home is bittersweet. I am glad to be surrounded by family, but am missing Germany and the program. Berlin was a great excursion. It was very insightful to the history of medicine, World War II, and Germany, as a whole. I think the walking tour was my favorite part of the excursion. Going to the concentration camp was a unique experience. Our final group meal was a blast. I wish I could have stayed the whole time, but I had to catch my train to Frankfurt Airport. 

Finally, Finally Home

Yesterday Luke showed me a news article titled " Americans hoping for European vacations this summer should prepare for one thing: Chaos". At the time this was hilarious as I could not sum up my experience trying to get home in better words. After passing through security at the Berlin airport seamlessly, our flight from Berlin to Frankfurt was unfortunately delayed 25 minutes. This led to both of us sprinting down terminal Z of the Frankfurt airport to barely make it to our connecting flight in time. There was just one problem: we made it to the plane in time, but our checked baggage did not. We were told we could not board the plane and were instead directed to the Lufthansa service center. Now the fun begins.

After taking our place in line at 1:35 PM, we slowly crept closer and closer to the service desk over the course of 4.5 hours. This was when two men wearing Lufthansa suits began consulting other people in line behind us about what was in "the passenger's best interest". We were informed at 6:30 PM that the service desk would close abruptly at 8:00 PM, and that those left waiting in line would be just out of luck. They then told us that since we were American citizens, we could receive a voucher for a hotel room and could comfortably rebook our flight using Lufthansa's phone help number. The only condition: we would need to give up our place in line. This information sounded unreliable, so we proceeded to call the help desk while still in line. The call was dropped and all other "resources" the men provided turned out to also be unresorceful. They then tried to convince us to leave using an emotional argument. Supposedly, if we received a new plane ticket from the help desk, we would be preventing someone else from receiving help who would not be legally allowed to leave the airport due to visa restrictions. That person would therefore have to sleep on the floor of the airport with their luggage, as all overnight beds were full. In spite of this, we remained in line, and at 7:30 PM finally received help rebooking our flight for the next day.

The next morning I ran into a couple from El Paso that had stood behind us in line. They informed me that the help desk did not close at 8:00 PM, but remained open until all people who did not give up their spot in line were served. The men had apparently been lying to reduce the number of people who had to be helped. I am so happy that I was able to board the plane yesterday and will not be flying again as long as I can help it. 

 

Ich bin ein Berliner

Contrary to the title of this blog, I am actually not a Berliner (or a jelly donut). Instead, I am just passing through. I had a great time in Berlin, and it might have been one of my favorite excursions. The walking tour the group went on with Ryan was amazing, and I really got to learn a lot about the history of Berlin. Even though I had background knowledge on Berlin, there was a lot I didn't know, and this walking tour helped me get my bearings and learn more about Berlin's history. Walking through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe was insane. Even though it was more abstract than most memorials, I feel like I interpreted it in a way the artist wanted: the gradual rise of the blocks represented the gradual oppression of the Jews. Furthermore, it was easy to get lost in the blocks, showing how it was easy to get separated from your loved ones. Even though this was a very serious memorial, I appreciated it and felt like I learned a lot. I also appreciated the empty library monument in Bebel Platz. That was very sad to see and learn about. The last somber moment I'll talk about was the tour at Sachsenhausen. I learned a lot about concentration camps and the Holocaust in elementary school and high school, and getting to see a camp like this in real life was difficult. There is obviously so much sadness surrounding these places in Berlin, but it's important to remember these moments so that it doesn't happen again. I'm really grateful I got to see these parts of history in real life. 

Despite these sad parts of Berlin, there were places I greatly enjoyed. I loved the last group dinner we had together, and the belly dancer was so fun! The food was great, and the company was even better. I also enjoyed going to the karaoke bar afterwards with some people from the group. I also had a great time at the museum for musical instruments. At first, I was skeptical about it because I didn't know anything about musical instruments or music in general, but the tour guide we had was awesome. He did a great job teaching us history and demonstrating how the instruments work. The organs was the best part. 

Overall, Berlin was great. I learned a lot and made some great memories. It was a perfect end to our amazing time abroad, and I'll miss being in Europe with everyone. 

Microplastics in MY food?!

When I first joined a history of medicine program, I never expected to learn about the environment. However, I'm so glad I was pushed outside of my comfort zone to learn about microplastics. I realized that even though this might not directly relate to what I set out to study, it still ties back to medicine and to the health of our bodies and our earth. Getting to collaborate with art students helped me learn about microplastics in our reproductive system. I learned that microplastics can easily lower sperm count and sneak into the placenta. Plastics in the placenta ultimately damage fetal development. What's worse is that microplastics can be transgenerational, meaning that the microplastics in my body can be passed down into the microplastics of my grandchildren. This means they will accumulate in the future generations, creating more health risks and more damage to DNA and hormones. Learning this was insane to me! Then getting to collaborate with art students only made me learn about it more. I got pushed outside of my comfort zone trying to create artwork for this, which was really exciting. I love being challenged, and brainstorming abstract art pieces caused me to use a part of my brain I haven't used in a long time. This was a great exercise and project, and I hope I get to see the final product the art students come up with.

Getting to learn about this stuff was really interesting to me. We further learned about microplastics by walking on the Rhine. I got to learn even more about the damage that plastics cause and how they escape into rivers and pollute our water systems. I have loved learning about the body and medicine, but this was a nice break from the scientific and historical side of the program. It's always great to learn something new! It made me critically think and analyze how we are hurting our earth. I realized I need to be more careful with what I purchase, and that I should warn my friends and family about the damage we are causing. This was a great addition to our program, and I'm so glad I got to participate. 

Vienna

 Of all the excursions, Vienna was definitely my favorite. Beautiful sights, good food, fascinating history, and incredible music: Vienna has it all. 

The museums that we went to were some of my favorites of the entire trip. The tour of the Fool's Tower was both incredibly interesting and very disconcerting. As we walked around and around, viewing the grotesque exhibitions, it was easy to imagine how a person could be driven to madness by wandering the halls. 

My other favorite was definitely the Museum of Natural History. First off, I love dinosaurs, so seeing dino fossils always makes me happy. Secondly, I was mind blown by the sheer size and quality of their collection. The wonder it inspired reminded me of being a little kid discovering science for the first time. 

Lastly, the group dinner and musical performance were awesome. The food was delicious and the restaurant was really cool. Also, seeing Bailee play the violin was an added bonus. 

Overall, Vienna is a city to which I definitely intend to return. 

 

Norderney

 I truly loved Norderney. I have never been one for the beach, but the cold water and the beautiful sunsets made this one worth it. Learning about Thalasso therapy was very interesting. I had always been one to scoff at alternative medicine, but the data that was presented to us painted a compelling argument. 

The Badehaus was interesting for sure. It was extremely relaxing and fun, but also forced me to come to terms with my own hang ups on nudity. Seeing a bunch of people just leaving it all out there without any embarrassment or fear made me rethink my own perspectives. The sauna was very hot and the mud bath was weird but I would recommend it all 100%.